Most Annoying Performance Tie – GARY COLE – Office Space and DOUG HUTCHISON – The Green Mile Best Comedy Office Space Best Ensemble Cast Galaxy Quest – Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Sam Rockwell, Fred Kwan, and Enrico Colantoni WTF did I just see? The Matrix Most overrated movie American Beauty Best juvenile performance Haley Joel Osment in The Sixth Sense Notes from awards committee: Again House Clark veered far away from the Academy choices, with The Sixth Sense being the single common nomination. Despite rejecting the Academy award winning movies, we feel that 1999 was an overall good year for film fans. The rooster in the hen house was without doubt our Best Picture winner, The Matrix. Action sequences in this sci-fi thriller were very much ahead of their time, and still impress when fired up on a Blu-ray disc. The sheer energy and the fluid, poetic quality of this sci-fi classic is hard to resist; it cleaned up at the box office and also was rewarded 4 technical Oscars. I also consider the skin-tight black leather jumpsuit on Carrie-Ann Moss did no harm at all to this film. The Matrix was made back in the day when the Wachowski brothers, Larry and Andy, had balls and put real energy into their films. Oddly they both sex changed into the ugly Wachowski sisters, Lily and Lana, and lost their modest gift for filmmaking. Ignore the Matrix sequels and watch the original. Man on the Moon is a film worth of seeing for the tour-de-force acting of underrated Jim Carrey. He delivers a truly inspired performance, and is awarded the Best Actor Simpson. The best actress goes to Julia Roberts for her perfect turn in the romantic-comedy Notting Hill, with the best line of the year: After all... I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.' Yeah, it might be corny, but there's something eternally charming the way she did it. Fun Surprises - Notting Hill - An unlikely couple played by Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts, with unequal social and economic standing, meet by chance in a bookstore and it is “love at first sight”. The film is really more of a fantasy than a true love story, but with all the eccentric characters, and awkward situatons it is LOL funny. This film was surprisingly good, and was the year’s best romantic comedy, in a low testosterone sort of way. This low budget comedy smashed its way into the exclusive $100 M box office club. Blast from the Past – Christopher Walken and Sissy Spacek make a charming screen couple in this screwball comedy set during the Cold War in a bomb shelter. What? Didn’t everybody have one? Arlington Road - Here we have a shining example of an entertaining, yet forgotten thriller of the 1990s. Domestic Terrorism is explored in the heartland of suburban America (pre-9/11), and proves once again that you don't have to be a conspiracy fanatic to get in touch with your inner paranoia. Top notch cast - Jeff Bridges, Tim Robbins, Joan Cusack, and Hope Davis are all playing roles that perfectly suit their respective talents. Galaxy Quest – I was expecting a Sci-Fi spoof, and got an affectionate, thoughtful, well-written and emotional movie with plenty of laughs. GQ also had the best cast of the year. Aimee & Jaguar - is a one-of-a-kind film based on a true story, and the best foreign film in years. First of all, try finding a movie set in 1944 Berlin, Nazi Germany without being dragged into an underground bunker to hear Hitler screaming at his generals. This film deals mostly with common German citizens simply fighting for survival, moments of normalcy, and even some fun. Ride with the Devil - Great period movies make you feel as if you've stepped into a time machine and visited another era. The mannerisms, clothing, and speech are so different, almost foreign, in Ride with the Devil. It is one of those special films that skillfully captures American history, circa 1860s, and is the only motion picture about the Civil War in Missouri, a key border state. What really makes this movie outstanding is the refusal to over-dramatize, or demonize one side or the other. The film is even-handed in its judgments about the Civil War combatants. The Sixth Sense - This movie is very susceptible to spoilers. If you haven't seen this movie, don't read reviews and trust me that you should watch it. It is suffice to say that the ending is delightfully weird. Bruce Willis gives a great performance – far removed from his usual (fake) tough guy character. Office Space – This is a funny movie with some classic scenes and great one-liners, but was a box office flop. The films biting satire of corporate nonsense is, if anything, more appropriate now than in 1999. Since then we have witnessed enough corporate stupidity to fuel a dozen more comedies of this sort. Go – the crime/ comedy genre is a House Clark favorite, and this film hits all the marks. It is told in episodic style with no weak links. Timothy Olyphant, as Todd Gaines, was the true star of the film and stole every scene as a drug dealer who seems to be constantly on the verge of a violent explosion yet he keeps his violent temper under restraint. Disappointments - American Beauty – Despite all the acting talent, I hated this film. The picture is a con, peddling anti – suburbia attitudes, and perverted Hollywood pedo-fantasies. White, middle class families are portrayed in the most negative, dysfunctional way. Not a movie for healthy minds. Three Kings – is a bad movie with big stars. The plot is plain stupid; it switches from a buccaneering adventure in Iraq, to an odd, humorless political message movie. Watch Kelly’s Heroes to see a fun movie about a wartime gold heist with humor, talent and pace. Star Wars the Phantom Menace – is more of a kid's movie than a film for grown-ups to enjoy. Sure we enjoy mindless entertainment as a change of pace, but who expected the ridiculous Jar Jar Binks, a deeply irritating character with way too much screen time. Nevertheless hordes of children clutching plastic light sabers lined up for the new Stars Wars movie, grimly determined to enjoy themselves.
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Most Annoying Performance SAMUEL L. JACKSON – The Red Violin Best Comedy Performance Adam Sandler – The Waterboy Best Ensemble Cast Shakespeare in Love – Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Affleck, Simon Callow, Jim Carter, Martin Clunes, Judi Dench, Joseph Fiennes, Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Antony Sher, and Tom Wilkinson WTF did I just see? The Truman Show Most overrated movie The Big Lebowski Notes from awards committee: 1998 was an outstanding year for (grown up) movie fans and our choice for best year of the 1990’s. House Clark agreed with a few of the Academy 1999 nominations, but none of the winners. Our top Motion Picture of the year was Dark City, a one-of-a-kind film with wonderfully weird Sci-Fi and a dark film noir vibe. In the Sci-Fi arena, the alternative or parallel universe is a HouseClark favorite, and Dark City presents one of the best ever “not everything is as it seems” mind bender. The movie had me on my toes from the opening scene, when our hero John Murdock (Rufus Sewell) awakes to find his worst nightmare in a shabby hotel room. Director Alex Proyas turns this Sci-Fi movie on its head by seamlessly folding a noir detective story as the driving force of the plot. Murdock runs for his life and struggles to find Shell Beach, a place fondly remembered by all, but nobody knows how to get back there. This ingenious film also has dark, spooky environs together with a touching romance story. I’ll stop there – you definitely need to discover this elite film for yourself. Hollywood went all in on Elizabethan England in 1998 with two major motion pictures; Shakespeare in Love and Elizabeth. Cate Blanchett stars as Elizabeth Tudor in the later, and is awarded a Best Actress Simpson. She successfully portrays the transition of the young crown Princess Elizabeth to the most famous Queen in British history. In the former movie, Judi Dench, with the best “resting bitch face” in the business, excels in a minor role as the aging Queen Elizabeth. She delivers perhaps the best line of the year when she scolds Lord Wessex (Colin Firth) on the morals of his fiancée, “She’s been plucked since I last saw her, and not by you. A woman knows”. Tom Hanks is awarded a Simpson for Best Actor for his performance in Saving Private Ryan as the paternalistic, fearless Ranger Captain Miller. The movie would be far less memorable without him. Fun Surprises - Saving Private Ryan – is a magnificent pro-American propaganda film with Spielberg and Tom Hanks at their best. This movie grabs you by the collar and flings you into the chaotic violence of D-Day with more realism than most of us can imagine, or perhaps desire. The opening act in this film takes place on Omaha Beach, and includes the most spectacular WW2 battle scenes ever filmed. The second act bogs down and is followed by a sentimental third act that borders on cringey. Zero Effect - Who's the eccentric private eye who drinks Tab and avoids people if at all possible? Why, Daryl Zero, of course (brilliantly played by Bill Pullman). With Ben Stiller co-starring as his serious minded assistant, and an excellent supporting cast, Zero Effect is the shiniest Hidden Gem of the 1990 decade. This is one of those rare movies that is perfect for repeat viewing. Wild Things – is not your typical jailbait teenage girl movie. Instead this is a trashy masterpiece with a fast pace and fun twists and turns that I did not see coming. A “tits out” cult favorite that seems raunchy and fun compared to the sexless modern cinema of the puritanical 2020’s. Besieged - A very underrated and impressive film about an unexpected love story. This film gets to the heart of the matter and answers the tricky question: What is the nature of true love? Strong performances by unknown actors, captivating camera shots of Rome and the best musical score of the year make this Bertolucci masterpiece a hidden gem. Soldier - A veteran, professional soldier, Sgt. Todd (Kurt Russell) is replaced by an AI and robot military force (sound familiar?) and exiled to a minor space colony full of pacifists. They are not interested in war, BUT war is interested in them. Todd is the only one who can save them – and it is this Messiah theme that gives Soldier some bite. The lean script, fast pace direction, and splendid acting makes this B-movie a near flawless film that builds to a perfect climax. Kurt Russell, in his late 40s, outperforms actors 20 years younger. Shakespeare in Love – In 1590s London, Will Shakespeare struggles to write a new stage play, Romeo and Juliet, with the help of his muse and lover, Lady De Lesseps (Gwyneth Paltrow). In tune with modern times, Lady De Lesseps is a retro-feminist bravely breaking rules barring women from the Elizabethan stage. She is completely unconvincing when she is disguised as a male actor. How did she get all her long blonde hair under that little wig? The commercial success and SEVEN Oscars represent a triumph of marketing and publicity by Harvey Weinstein Productions. Elizabeth - Cate Blanchett is every inch a queen in this film as she portrays Elizabeth’s rise to power and initial power struggles. The stakes are high; 500 years ago power struggles ended with the losers head on the chopping block. Elizabeth Tudor quickly develops from a tentative, naive young girl into an iron maiden confronting the hostile Catholic powerhouses of France and Spain. Is the film full of historical inaccuracies? Yes, of course; it’s a Hollywood movie so a fake romance story is shoehorned in. Anything to do with Elizabeth’s sex life in the movie is pure fiction dreamed up by the writers. But it catches enough of the overall true history of Tudor England, especially the religious tensions between Catholic and Protestants. When the movie opens, Queen Mary Tudor (aka Bloody Mary) is on the British throne. The burning of heretics by Queen Mary is well documented, and the Fires of Smithfield earned the devout Catholic Queen an ugly reputation. Executions are like potato chips; you can’t have just one. The record shows that Mary ordered 280+ “heretics” burned at the stake during her brief five year reign. The tension between Elizabeth, who was raised a Protestant, and step sister, Mary was very real. Few people mourned Mary’s death, and it was a relief for England to crown Elizabeth, who was considered a religious moderate. And indeed she was. Thursday - This is a dark, sinister new wave crime movie about a tough gangster trying to escape his bloody past. The acting is first rate with Thomas Jane and Paulina Porizkova delivering memorable roles, and an over-the-top cameo performance by Mickey Rourke. Very entertaining and ass kicking movie. Married to the Mob - Irish-Cuban actress, Mercedes Ruehl, with her best Italian accent and tackiest wardrobe carries this crime-screwball comedy about “the war on crime”. Disappointments - Meet Joe Black - moves ponderously from one slow paced scene to another. Conversations drag on and on without much of anything being said, and include lots of lingering close-ups and pregnant pauses. Yet many viewers were touched by the “Life Truths” reveled in the film. Here’s what you need to know: 1) A loving families is priceless, 2) Marry your true love, 3) Good people don't have to fear death, and 4) The Grim Reaper does not like peanut butter. That’s it! I saved you from three hours of boredom. You are welcome. The Big Lebowski – is an odd celebration of stupidity with an excess of vulgarity. The Dude is as sharp as brick, but has a few worthwhile ideas on home décor. Armageddon – I acknowledge that Bruce Willis has a cult following, but this writer is not part of it. For true fans, the film delivers as expected: an ear pounding soundtrack, impenetrable conversations, pseudo-quantum mechanics; a confusing pinball-like journey thru cosmic debris, and plenty of brusque shouted dialogue. This movie was amazingly successful at the box office. The Truman Show – is creepy voyeurism captured on video for a TV show that does not age well and would be stale after one season. Run, Lola, Run – It is painful to watch a bright girl fall for a semi-retard criminal. She deserves so much better. This odd flick is criminal glorification in a flashy student film school sort of way. The Thin Red Line - There are some interesting scenes in this disjointed, overrated flick, but the art house existentialism is miles out of place for a WWII movie. Almost every G.I. fighting in that war knew why they were fighting, and they understood the stakes. The Korean or Vietnam Wars would be the correct settings for the introspective, confused soldier boys depicted in this movie. The movie gets off to a painfully slow start, and rarely picks up the pace. I thought the war would be over before these guys stopped chatting. Eventually we do get to some remote Pacific island and find the Japanese Army– ready and willing to fight. The Red Violin - Spanning three centuries, the movie traces the history of a musical instrument. Did I lose you? Hey guys, still there? Actually the movie is a very entertaining series of short stories jumping through time from the 1600s to the present. This film has one fatal flaw: The main character (Samuel Jackson) is a modern day art expert who turns out to be a sneaky crook. He lies to his employers, and steals the Red Violin from them. 
Most Annoying Performance CHRIS TUCKER as RUBY RHOD – The Fifth Element Best Comedy Performance Jim Carrey – Liar Liar Best Ensemble Cast L.A. Confidential – Kim Basinger, James Cromwell, Russell Crowe, Danny DeVito, Guy Pearce, Kevin Spacey, and David Strathairn WTF did I just see? The Game Most overrated movie The Fifth Element Notes from awards committee: In a surprising change of pace, House Clark agreed with three out of five best picture nominees, AND the Best Picture - Titanic. This is the year the Titanic won 11 Oscars. Yes, eleven. Some dismiss this film as a mere chick flick, but there is no denying the amazing box office success here and the big screen visual impact. Also it is part of the human deep psyche to be fascinated by a catastrophe due to excess human hubris. And we have to admire writer/director James Cameron for his profound understanding of a teenage brat and puppy love. Put it altogether and you are in the Billion $ movie club. (Update June 2023 – The Titanic is front page news again! A submersible taking five tourists to view the wreckage of the Titanic imploded, killing all passengers instantly.) Fun Surprises - L.A. Confidential – is a modern film-noir classic with the most exciting good cop, bad cop theme you will find anywhere. Add to this, production values that are American films' forte and you have a 1990’s masterpiece. The film has interesting character studies, a gripping plot, and strong performances by an all-star cast. Kevin Spacey as Detective Jack Vincennes delivers a charismatic performance, and Kim Basinger is at the top of her game playing a sexy call girl with plenty of je ne sais quoi. Both Kevin and Kim are presented Simpson awards for Best Acting. Rough Riders - In 1898 Theodore Roosevelt forms a volunteer cavalry regiment to fight in the Spanish-American War. Roosevelt’s Rough Riders become part of an American army sent to invade the Spanish colony of Cuba. This is a well-acted, rare look at the Spanish American War with plenty of action and visual impact. The Battle of San Juan Hill is the highlight. There are many military history mistakes in the film, but it gets the heart and spirit of the time correct. It was a short and glorious war for the U.S. As Good as it Gets – peddles the notion that love can cure OCD; not a chance. Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt make an odd couple; what with Jack being 26 years her senior, it is an awkward romance. Aside from the farfetched story, the acting is solid in this low energy, Oscar-bait movie. Chinese Box – is set during the Red Chinese takeover of Hong Kong in 1997 (upon expiration of the 100 year British lease). This is an allegorical, slow burn of a movie that uses the political backdrop to frame a love story between Jeremy Irons and Chinese star, Li Gong. The semi-documentary film style excels as fascinating history - capturing on film a time and place during a key cultural turning point of a world famous city. Game - Be ready to suspend disbelief (again and again) for one of the most fanciful movie stories of all time. Michael Douglas is a natural at playing an uptight Investment banker (I'm guessing he researched the role by watching his last 10 movies) and presents a most unlikable protagonist while Sean Penn is cast as his nutcase kid brother, another natural role fit for an actor. The movie starts off a little slow, but has an action packed second half with the Investment banker performing one incredible stunt after another as he plays a Game that went too far, for too long. So bad; it is good (one of our highest honors.) Wag the Dog - By sheer dumb luck, this political sex-scandal flick hit the theaters just before news broke about the Bill Clinton - Monica Lewinsky scandal in January 1998. So we have here a clever satire of the American political system with enough realism to make it plausible. Jackie Brown – is recommended for adults with reservations, mostly due to a career best performance by Pam Grier, but beware, this flick seems to go out of its way to be vulgar and offensive. A particularly vile scene is one where DeNiro’s character guns down unarmed Bridget Fonda. Most adults have an inner voice reminding us, “It’s only a movie.” But the negative impact on our kids should not be underestimated. Disappointments - Good Will Hunting – The premise of the story is highly questionable – the linking of antisocial behavior and mathematical genius is taken for granted as though it is a gospel truth. When Therapist Robin Williams sits down with patient, Matt Damon, for one of his long monologues, we are reminded again of the Psychiatrist as Savior trope, so beloved by Hollywood. More like a TV movie with a barrage of F-bombs. Not the most cinematic experience. Boogie Nights 1997 – A collection of weird characters, mostly rejects from polite society and their own families; reach for success in the porn biz. A seedy, depressing, low-class film. Amistad – is a big budget, well-crafted Spielberg film about an obscure historical event in 1839 when 55 captive Africans on their way to slavery in Cuba stage a violent uprising, and ultimately stand trial for their actions in American courts. Film critics and Spielberg fans were disappointed – instead of fluid storytelling and fast pace action, we see 150+ minutes of low energy, ponderous, talky courtroom drama. There are touches of genius; the opening scene is remarkable for intensity and chaotic fighting, as one might expect during a slave insurrection on a Spanish slave trading vessel. The Fifth Element – This sci-fi film was ruined by Ruby Rhod - the comic relief from hell. For no logical reason, an extremely annoying and whining character, Ruby Rhod, follows the hero around for a very lengthy portion of the movie. He screams bad lines in rapid fire. He is shockingly not funny. 
Most Annoying Performance CUBA GOODING – Jerry Maguire Best Comedy Performance Flirting with Disaster – Ben Stiller Best Ensemble Cast 2 Days in the Valley – James Spader, Jeff Daniels, Eric Stoltz, Charlize Theron, and Teri Hatcher. WTF did I just see? Omega Doom & American Strays (tie) Most overrated movie The English Patient Best juvenile performance Mara Wilson in Matilda Notes from awards committee: The best motion picture of the year was Fargo which was snubbed for the Oscar in favor of the stunningly boring English Patient. In Fargo, a pack of liars, fuck-ups and cold-blooded killers deliver chaos to Middle America. There is not an ounce of criminal glorification here. Frances McDormand, as pregnant Police Chief Marge, saves the day and the film, with a backbone of decent humanity along with some old fashion police work and straight shooting. In fact she’s almost too good to believe. But the Coen Brothers tight and fast-paced storytelling and bleak wintry setting propels this crime film into the winner’s circle. In a year with several great female performances, Gwyneth Paltrow wins the Best Actress award. She sparkles in Emma, as young Miss Woodhouse, who is the posh and clever queen of matchmakers in her own lovely, little patch of Georgian England. There was an unwritten rule saying that only a woman with the last name Streep can master the art of playing a British lady character on the big screen. Yet Gwyneth Paltrow, an LA born girl, shattered that myth with her brilliant performance in Emma. Fun Surprises - Flirting with Disaster – This is like an old Hollywood screwball comedy, with a wise message – Be careful playing Tarzan in the family tree; you risk finding a rotten branch. A successful screwball comedy is most dependent on rapidity, and Ben Stiller excels as a clueless innocent (idiot?), plunging pell-mell into one madcap scene after another. Ben captures the Best Actor award for his comical and believable character. Emma - Director/co-writer Douglas McGrath brings Jane Austin’s Georgian England to life with colorful characters and stunning visuals of the lush English countryside scenery, pretty girls in jutting hats and Empire-waist dresses to match, candle light-filled Georgian interiors, and fine horses galore. The film is funny and insightful and maybe, after all, Austen's world isn't as different from our own modern times as we'd like to think. Independence Day - is a fun popcorn flick that revived the alien invasion theme in 1996, and just killed at the box office. No one, not even Steven Spielberg, directs big action sequences as well as Roland Emmerich, and he is especially great at directing disaster flicks; it is his gift even though he annoys every film critic on Earth. Bound – I was expecting lesbian hijinks, and instead got a suspense thriller of unbearable tension. Freeway - In this modern day version of the Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale, Kiefer Sutherland is the big bad wolf, and Reese Witherspoon is the damsel in distress. She is awesome; pure TPT – wicked and fun. Tin Cup – Golf is not the crux of the matter here; the unique characters are well presented. TC is a thoughtful romantic comedy with a great ending true to character. The film has entered the Golfing lexicon. When faced with a long shot over a water hazard to the green; the savvy golfer will bravely (or foolishly) announce, “I’m going for the Tin Cup”. Two Days in the Valley - covers a 48 hour period, as a group of people find themselves drawn together by a murder. There’s a great cast here, with James Spader who’s brilliant as ever, and Danny Aiello leading the line as a pair of hitmen. They’re backed by solid B-actors and hot babes Charlize Theron, and Teri Hatcher. It does plenty to distinguish itself above most crime dramas. Mission Impossible - As a loyal fan of the original 1960s television series, I was eager to see this film on the big screen. MI keeps the vintage theme song but differs in acceptable ways. Who doesn't love the theme song? It gets your blood pulsing instantly. Tom Cruise et al, has created a highly successful version in which he seems poised to continue for some time to come. As usual the IMF has all the best toys to trick and deceive the bad guys and there is no stopping them on land or sea. A successful reboot by Director Brian De Palma. Omega Doom - In the dystopian future, Rutger Hauer quick draws against militaristic robots in cowboy gunfighter style face-offs that are oddly out of place. Even more non sequitur are his bursts of bad poetry. On a positive note, the girl robots had an interesting look and style; especially Tina Cotè playing Black Heart. Years later, Trinity in The Matrix pirates her style. From Dusk Till Dawn - The Gecko brothers have that unmistakable flair and style of born losers who never fail to have the black cat of Bad Luck as a constant companion. The Gecko boys are evil to the core and go on a crime spree with armed robbery, murder and kidnapping. Then we hop in the RV with new friends and off we go to Mexico to a biker bar for more fun and games and a few vampires. What could go wrong? Ghost and the Darkness – The British grandees in London concoct an ambitious plan to cross the African continent with a railroad, but it is brought to a screeching halt by two giant man-eating lions. The scenes with the killer lions are so realistic and scary; I decided to cancel my safari hunt. Disappointments - The English Patient – has expert cinematography that I enjoyed, especially the desert scenes. However, midway through, the story bogs down into a tawdry adulterous affair between Ralph Fiennes and Kristin Scott Thomas. Fiennes, Thomas and Willem Dafoe all played unlikeable characters. Once again, we see an example of a modern-day movie that Academy Awards voted "Picture of the Year" and most of the public disliked. Jerry Maguire – was confused about plot; is it a sports story or a romance story? It failed at both. Cuba Gooding plays an obnoxious jock; his locker room speeches with fast jibber jabber, F-bombs and shouting “Show me the Money” were crude and disgusting. Vastly overrated. 
Most Annoying Performance Kevin Spacey – The Usual Suspects Best Comedy Performance Danny DeVito – Get Shorty Best Ensemble Cast Get Shorty – Danny DeVito, Dennis Farina, James Gandolfini, Gene Hackman, Delroy Lindo, David Paymer, Rene Russo, and John Travolta WTF did I just see? 12 Monkeys Most overrated movie Heat Notes from awards committee: It was a glaring error for the Academy to award best picture to Braveheart over Ron Howard’s Apollo 13. The former is an overly violent Scot myth while the latter is a real life American hero story. The Best Picture Simpson is awarded to Apollo 13 for an unforgettable, intense film that celebrates the human spirit and American technological achievement. The Best Actor award goes to Tom Hanks as Astronaut Jim Lovell, in his best ever star performance. The highly successful Apollo program is the one achievement of the twentieth century that we can be sure will be in the history books a thousand years from now. In fairness to Braveheart, we acknowledge that the film single handedly boosted tourism in Scotland. I visited Scotland in 2022, and they still talk about Braveheart and Mel Gibson with deep affection. Few actresses in the 1990s were better at creating an on-screen likeable character as Emma Thompson. And in Sense and Sensibility, with her portrayal of Elinor Dashwood, she exceeds herself. Elinor is the true heroine of the movie and Thompson puts a lot of heart into the role but never gets over emotional or unbelievable. She strikes the right balance in every scene. Fun Surprises - Get Shorty – Crime-comedy is a favorite genre mix here at House Clark, and this film is one of the best. The All-Star cast delivers in every scene with plenty of humor. This is one to re-watch. Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion (BBC), and Pride and Prejudice (A&E) – are three Jane Austen screen adaptions that are some of the very best films of the year. All three period dramas are well worth watching; set design and costumes are very believable and accurate while the acting is practically perfect for most of the characters. And isn't that one of Austen's great hallmarks? Her ability to create characters one can believe and sympathize with on all levels? There is something irresistible in these British heritage films; they provide an interesting window to the Anglo-Saxon past for us to see bourgeois manners and country life of the Georgian Era. We see men and women at their best, better themselves, fall in love, strive, fail, pick themselves up and gallantly try again. A fascinating, ageless look at the human condition. Toy Story - Behold the beginning of the age of Pixar. The rest, they say, is history, or at least movie history. The movie taps the age-old fear of being left out or replaced, and comes to life as toy cowboy, Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks), panics when his owner becomes fascinated with a new toy: Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) space cadet. What ensues is a story full of droll humor and comical characters. 12 Monkeys - If you thought the 2020 corona virus lockdown was bad, trust us, you ain’t seen nothing yet. Compared to the future portrayed in 12 Monkeys, it was practically a utopia. This time travel, sci-fi film tells the story of the central character (Bruce Willis) walking a fine line between reality and insanity as he becomes lost in time. To Die For - Nicole Kidman is stunning in a tight mini dress and stiletto heels as she launches her campaign to conquer the American TV industry, with a detour into murder and sex scandal. The details of the sordid plot are not worth going on about, but this is worth a rent to see terrific acting by Kidman, in her career best role. She brilliantly plays a woman with burning ambition, and a shocking knack for self-destruction. While you Were Sleeping - Bill Pullman and Sandra Bullock are outstanding in this underrated movie. One of the best parts of this film is how realistically it portrays a large, close-knit American family who enjoy each other's company. How refreshing after seeing the dysfunctional families so often presented by the modern Hollywood cynics. A heartwarming story. Nixon – Oliver Stone gives Richard Nixon's life story an element of truth and compassion. The film goes on over three hours, yet never becomes dull. Whether you like, dislike or are indifferent when it comes to President Nixon the person, "Nixon" the movie is an outstanding achievement by Stone. This is one of the more under-rated pictures of the 1990s. Richard III – is a Shakespeare adaption that sets the same story ahead by 500 years to the 1930s. Even if you do not enjoy the Bard’s work, this version is worth watching for the powerhouse cast led by Ian McKellen as Richard III. The film is faithful to the famous Shakespeare stage version of King Richard III as a cruel, ruthless cutthroat. The original stage play was written nearly 100 years after the king was killed on the battlefield at Bosworth Field. Richard’s death marked the end of the Plantagenet dynasty that ruled England for over 300 years. Henry VII was crowned on the battlefield and began the Tudor dynasty. Mr. Shakespeare was careful to please his royal patrons especially the current Tudor Queen Elizabeth I. Just remember this play was an effective piece of pro-Tudor propaganda in 1591. As the old saying goes, “The winners get to write the history.” Rob Roy – Set in Scotland, circa 1700, the production values of this period movie are excellent, and it also co-starred two of the most colorful villains I have ever seen: Archibald Cunningham (Tim Roth) and the Royal banker (Brain Cox). Between Roth and Cox, it is difficult to say who is the most evil and devious and dangerous. They team up to make life miserable for our hero, Rob Roy (Liam Neesen). The film is too long, but stick around for the sweeping camera shots of the lovely Scottish Highlands, and the crowd pleasing ending. Shanghai Triad – Gong Li and director, Yimou Zhang, have teamed for a string of hits in the 1990s – this is one of them. The story of a gang boss in 1930s Shanghai and Bijou (Gong Li), his lovely, troublesome mistress is seen through the eyes of a small boy from the country. Bijou calls him bumpkin; it fits. Gong is lovely as ever and I approve the way Zhang shows the gangsters as pure evil as opposed the American penchant for displaying gangsters as cool dudes. Disappointments - Heat - Cops and robbers, a long time Hollywood staple gets the all-star cast treatment here. In spite of all the high paid, all male talent, the hammered together story is a bit thin, as well as very predictable with the big shoot out, and the melodramatic Hollywood ending. Strange Days – has some cool sci-fi twists and there is an interesting story somewhere to be found in this bloated mess of a movie with a mind numbing 2.5 hours run time. This is Kathryn Bigelow’s hate letter to the American police. In short, she falsifies the crime problem in LA to make it appear the fault of a couple crooked (white, of course) cops. Does Bigelow hate the cops or hate the truth about crime in urban America? Leaving Las Vegas – is the definition of a forgettable “Downer” movie. 
Most Annoying Performance HUGH GRANT – Four Weddings and a Funeral Best Comedy Performance Tie - Johnny Depp & Martin Landau – Ed Wood Best Ensemble Cast Bullets over Broadway – John Cusack, Dianne Wiest, Jennifer Tilly and Chazz Palminteri WTF did I just see? In the Mouth of Madness Most overrated movie Forrest Gump Best juvenile performance Joseph Mazzello in The River Wild Notes from awards committee: In 1994 Forrest Gump dominated the Academy Awards, winning best picture, best actor, and four more Oscars in lesser categories. We liked Gump, but the film did not make our top five list. Sorry, but “Life is like a box of chocolates” is not a deep philosophy, and asking the audience to identify with a simpleton is a bridge too far. Topping our list for best picture is Bullets Over Broadway, one of our favorite crime-comedies of all time. It has an embarrassment of riches – a fun storyline, witty & clever dialogue, hilarious characters, authentic feel of the era and great musical score. The film is a pure delight from beginning to end. And has one of the most talented ensemble casts you will find in any genre; with Dianne Wiest as stage diva, Helen Sinclair, leading the line and earning the Best Actress award. This film is one of Woody Allen’s best, and all the more enjoyable with Woody right where he should be – behind the camera and not in any scene. Fun Surprises - Ed Wood - Without question this is director Tim Burton's career best work. Perhaps it's the total understanding and likeness of his subject (Director Ed Wood) that allowed Burton to connect, or relate, so perfectly here. Ed Wood has been crowned as the worst movie director of all time, yet some of Burton’s bizarre clunkers (Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, et al) could give Wood a run for the money. As far as I’m concerned, this is the film that Tim Burton was put on Earth to make. The River Wild – is a film about a rafting trip from hell and features Meryl Streep at her most athletic and heroic. This movie is a worthy edition to the Streep Oeuvre with delightful and thrilling scenes of kick-ass white-water rapids in the Rocky Mountains. I.Q – is a romantic comedy gem with Walter Mathau in the lead role as Albert Einstein. With a thick Bavarian accent and wild, white hair, Mathau brings the famed physicist to life spouting off great quotes from the real Einstein like, “God does not play dice”. He dotes on Catherine, his charming, whip smart niece played by Meg Ryan, the IT GIRL of the 1990s. Catherine is single and has trouble finding the right guy to marry. Einstein struggles with the challenge of playing matchmaker for Catherine, and attacks the problem with the cool savvy of an ace mathematician solving a complex love equation. Viola! And a Best actor award for Walter. Clear and Present Danger - Harrison Ford plays Jack Ryan, the fictional CIA agent, in a tale about the imperial US presidency in yet another illegal war –this one against a criminal narco-empire in South America. The always reliable Willem Dafoe, and an unheralded, very talented, ensemble cast of B-actors make this flick worth watching. The Getaway – is a remake of the 1972 original that starred Steve Queen and Ali McGraw. We like both versions the main difference being the 1994 version containing more sex and nudity. Both versions are intense and violent with guns, guns, guns. Quiz Show – earned 4 Oscar nominations but went away empty handed. The story about a scandal engulfing a 1950s TV quiz show bombed at the box office and is mostly forgotten today. The film has low visual impact, and yet, there are four or five brilliant acting performances worth watching. To be brief, the actors create realistic characters all of whom are presented in shades of gray. Special mention to John Turturro as Herb Stempel, a high-strung, neurotic Jew from Queens and Ralph Fiennes as intellectual, upper class WASP Charles Van Doren, the tragic, noble hero. The film’s affectionate portrayal of 1950s America is welcome and the thoughtful script with Jew versus WASP makes for a good grown up film for fans weary of super heroes and Disney trash. In the Mouth of Madness – This film is one of Director John Carpenter’s sleeper hits. Sam Neill starred as John Trent, an insurance investigator hired to find Sutter Cane, a missing writer of horror tales. In the process Trent finds himself trapped in the nightmare world of Cane’s creation. Speed - The epitome of a popcorn flick that never tries for the complex plot or something deep. The simplicity of the plot is wise here. Once we’re over the opening sequence, we hop on a bus that can’t drop below 50mph or else it’s going to blow up. On board the bus are Keanu Reeves (a daredevil cop) and Sandra Bullock (the likeable bus driver). The evil schemer is played by Dennis Hopper in one of his best roles. Maverick – This western-comedy is perhaps the funniest film Mel Gibson has starred in. Pairing him with Jodie Foster worked far better than expected. Furthermore, James Garner’s supporting turn is a nostalgic delight. Maverick is a hidden gem that is mostly forgotten in Mel Gibson’s powerful stable of successful movies. The film was a commercial success, making over $100m at the US box office; however, it never got a green light for a sequel. Mask – has Jim Carrey clowning, bizarre magic, a funny dog, and Cameron Diaz movie debut. Also was one of the first films to successfully translate the slapstick, cartoon antics of Looney Tunes into live action. Good family entertainment. Disappointments - The Shawshank Redemption – is set in an only-in-Hollywood prison where the all the inmates are innocent great guys and the prison staff is rotten to the core. I am not the target audience for prison-buddy flicks, but the hype was heavy so I watched it. I think it was nominated for seven Oscars – that must be record for prison flicks. This inordinate praise is in spite of its lack of compelling drama and a clearly ridiculous premise, which sees Tim Robbins escape from prison with nothing more than a tack hammer. Four Weddings and a Funeral – One clever critic wrote, “This movie was specifically made to cater to women who have that ridiculous hope that a one-night stand at a wedding can lead to their own trip down the aisle.” Labeled a romantic comedy, I was expecting some laughs. Sorry, not even a chuckle in this flick. Nor is it romantic. The relationship between the leads makes absolutely no sense and fails to produce a spark of screen chemistry. Pulp Fiction – A Trashy masterpiece that includes repulsive, vulgar scenes I regret seeing. Once seen, you can’t un-see it. QT delights in waving his middle finger at the audience and presenting COOL gangsters. The real killer of this movie is that it has no center no morality, and relies on gun play and violence to carry the film. This technique is disturbing. A Pop favorite people still talk about and compare to every other QT movies. Natural Born Killers - If you liked this movie, do not hesitate; call your local mental health center for help. This movie isn't just a dreadful, chaotic mess, it's seriously evil. 
Most Annoying Performance HOLLY HUNTER – The Piano Best Comedy Performance Bill Murray – Groundhog Day Best Ensemble Cast Tombstone – Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Sam Elliot, Bill Paxton, Powers Booth, Charlton Heston, Thomas Haden Church WTF did I just see? Mrs. Doubtfire Most overrated movie Schindler’s List Best juvenile performance Simon Fenton, age 17 - Matinee Notes from awards committee: The cinematic results of 1993 were outstanding with many notable and rewatchable great films. Sadly none of the best films were nominated for the 1994 Oscars, in fact, the House Clark awards are in 100% disagreement with the top movies and best actor/actress awards made by the academy. The Best Picture is awarded to Jurassic Park; perhaps the ultimate summer Blockbuster and a classic adventure film with lasting cultural impact. The cast of awesome dinos includes a towering T-Rex in ass kicking action scenes. Scientists Sam Neill and Laura Dern make a cute couple and are joined by a collection of misfits that we know will be killed by berserk dinosaurs. We loved every minute of it. This is Spielberg filmmaking at his very best before he took to the pulpit. In one of the worst mistakes in Academy history, Groundhog Day was totally snubbed for Oscar nominations. House Clark is here to correct this mistake; we award Best Actor to Bill Murray and Best Actress to his co-star, Andie MacDowell. Murray is one of the very few actors who can seamlessly combine comedy and serious themes into the same character. I have trouble imagining any other actor pulling off his performance in Groundhog Day. MacDowell pairs perfectly with Murray, and every scene the two are together works. She is kind and generous and a guiding light for Murray’s trip into the time loop abyss. Fun Surprises - Groundhog Day – is the most underrated movie of the year, and maybe the decade. Over the years this romantic-comedy masterpiece by Harold Ramis has gained in popularity. Tombstone - The legend of the gunfight at the OK Corral is one of the paragons of the American Wild West. And like most old legends, the OK Corral is a blend of fact and fiction. Kurt Russell as Wyatt Earp gives a strong portrayal of an ex-lawman struggling with the moral dilemma of killing. He didn't want to get involved until he had no choice but to strap on the wheel gun. However, this movie really belongs to Val Kilmer playing gambler, gunfighter Doc Holliday. He gave his character a sense of tragic fatalism with plenty of style and charisma. A truly unique American Western. Red Rock West - It is a mystery to me why this outstanding neo-noir thriller is so underrated. A mostly unknown film, it is a classic story of conscience, greed, betrayal, mistaken identity, and murder most foul. The cast is solid: Nicolas Cage, Dennis Hopper, J.T. Walsh and femme fatale - Lara Flynn Boyle. The four leads are cast in the types of roles that perfectly suit their individual talents, and they turn in memorable performances. The plot twists are clever, the script is tight and smart, and even the minor characters have good roles. This is an excellent movie for fans of intelligent crime-thrillers. True Romance – adopts one of the common Hollywood narratives of the “hooker with a heart of gold.” The TR director ups the ante and makes his hooker (named Alabama) the breathtakingly beautiful actress and co-star, Patricia Arquette. Alabama is irresistibly attracted to the film’s male protagonist, who is almost invariably a stand-in for the sexual fantasies of screen writer (Quintin Tarantino) and/or director, Tony Scott. In this laughable example of QT fantasy world, the male star, Clarence, instantly wins the heart of Alabama then kills her pimp and steals millions worth of cocaine, as comic-book-store employees tend to do all the time. The story then adopts the old throwback of “two young lovers on the run.” This guilty pleasure racks up the body count with plenty of violence and vulgarity. There are no good guys in this flick. Matinee – October 1962. The Cuban Missile Crisis grips the country, and the military is on red alert. With the Cold War threatening to go nuclear hot, up steps Lawrence Woolsey (John Goodman) - King of B Horror movies. This has to be one of the most underrated comedies of all time. It is funny, touching, nostalgic, and the clincher, a cast of kids that do not annoy. Goodman has a career best performance in the role of a movie director /writer /producer with big dreams, who is also a super salesman. Also outstanding is actress Cathy Moriarty. She shows a talent for comedy with her deadpan, sultry voice, and is the perfect balance to Goodman’s high energy and panache. Menace II Society – was one of the most culturally impactful movies of the 1990s, and appeared on both Siskel’s and Ebert’s 1993 top ten lists. The story follows Caine, a young black criminal, through a series of assaults, murders, thefts and an arrest. Released on bail, Caine is killed in a drive-by shooting in the ghetto. The film’s bleak message was helpful in convincing the real world or “body politic” to crack down on crime. In 1994 President Clinton signed the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act. The results of the act were dramatic; many inner-city, high crime, no-go zones were tamed as more and more violent criminals were locked up in prison. Mrs. Doubtfire – Robin Williams clowning in drag as a “hip-hop Granny” was Box Office Gold. Disappointments - The Piano - in a more normal world, no self-respecting actress would play the disgusting role of Ada McGrath. Grim, perverted Art House crap and a sad reflection on some fine actors. The Fugitive – As far as I’m concerned, David Janssen wrote the book on Dr. Richard Kimble, thirty years before Harrison Ford played the role. Sorry, but this film is just a needless remake; nothing new here. Remains of the Day – This Merchant Ivory film has famous actors, but a terrible story and script that lacks a satisfying dramatic arc and is dreadfully slow. Nothing much happens. A possible cure for insomnia? Schindler’s List – as propaganda films go, this is one of the most polished. But do we really need to be flogged again with the same, tired message – all Jews saintly; all Nazis irredeemable. Overall a punishing 3+ hour assault on the senses and emotions. Sleepless in Seattle – does not hold up and was quite silly when rewatched recently. This romcom has an utterly improbable storyline. 
Most Annoying Performance Estelle Getty in Stop! Or my Mom will shoot! Best Comedy Performance Charles Grodin and Bonnie Hunt in Beethoven Best Ensemble Cast The Player – Tim Robbins, Greta Scacchi, Fred Ward, Whoopi Goldberg, Peter Gallagher, and Lyle Lovett WTF did I just see? Bad Lieutenant Most overrated movie The Crying Game Best juvenile performance Christina Ricci – Wednesday Addams Notes from awards committee: We loved Robert Altman's The Player almost as much as Michael Mann’s The Last of the Mohicans. The two films are very different, and both are excellent, top quality films by ace directors. But the multi-layered element of American history of the 1750s in the midst of the hyper-violent French and Indian War adds enormous gravitas to our best picture: The Last of the Mohicans. This is Director Michael Mann’s best work, yet was snubbed by the academy because the film bucked the current trend to portray Native Americans as peaceful, noble wise men. Mohicans was just too realistic for the academy hipsters. The film includes scenes of extreme violence, but is tempered by the addition of a romance story. Cora, played by Madeleine Stowe with piercing eyes and flowing dark hair, is the love interest and sweeps Hawkeye off his moccasins. Best actress award goes to Ms. Stowe. The plot of The Player centers around Griffin Mill (Tim Robbins), a young, hot shot studio executive who hears about 125 movie pitches per day. Griffin says “No” a hellava lot more than “Yes” and that creates a problem. A. Big. Problem. He is also unlikeable without being so bad he is unbearable. Griffin is a bit of a cypher, so do not expect a drama queen as he experiences true fear for perhaps the first time in his silver spoon life. Robbins manages to strike the right balance and deliver a masterful turn. He earns a Best Actor Simpson award in a year full of great male screen performances. Fun Surprises - The Cutting Edge - is a classic sports/romance movie and one which gets better with repeat viewing. Often called Taming of the Shrew on Ice, and starring a hockey player from the wrong side of the tracks. The chemistry between ice skating princess Kate Moseley (Moira Kelly) and hockey jock Doug Dorsey (D.B. Sweeney) really sells this picture, even before you see the impressive scenery and fantastic skating sequences. The script is filled with quotable gems and funny scenes. Under Siege – gets all the ingredients of the action thriller recipe just perfect including the money shot at the end. This is Steven Seagal’s best performance. He plays a Navy Seal turned galley cook – he is stoic, and lethal with a dry sense of humor. In fact the film is full of twisted humor by a trio of deliciously crazy, madmen bad guys. The lovely Erika Eleniak adds some hot spice, and every guy remembers her sexy scene with the cake. This film stands out as one of the best action thrillers of the decade. A River Runs Through It - Amazing use of the run-time to capture the 1920s and 30s era and the lives of the main character from childhood, to ultimately an elderly man. Really beautiful cinematography and story-telling inspires you to go to Montana and fly fish for trout. Single White Female – Bridget Fonda and Jennifer Jason Leigh give strong performances that drive this low-budget, psycho-thriller. Fonda is lovely and charismatic as Allie, and JJL, as Hedy, is a chameleon – switching smoothly from friendly to menacing. The steadily escalating tension is expertly controlled as the danger is tapped up and up. The movie also suggests that female friends are always one step away from killing each other. Still, it’s stylishly made, and features two great central performances. Christopher Columbus: The Discovery- came out seven weeks before Ridley Scott's 1492: Conquest of Paradise, both of which celebrate the 500th anniversary of Columbus’s first voyage to the New World. Each is worth checking out and comparing if you like real-life adventure and historical drama films. However, Discovery is the better movie and has a superior cast. Scott’s film bogs down and is too long. Both films bombed at the box office. But, let's face it; by 1992 the European colonization of the Americas was no longer viewed in a positive light. The academic lynch mob of Marxists and pinko college teachers made sure of that. Ignore the PC film critics; Christopher Columbus: The Discovery is a good historical adventure. Howard’s End – If you watch only one Merchant Ivory production, make it this one. The story is set in Edwardian England with an all-star cast. Sure, it is a bit of a soap opera, but offers a penetrating look at life in pre-WWI England. Bad Lieutenant - The blunt title turns out to be an understatement: A self-destructive New York City detective, played with raw power by Harvey Keitel is a reckless gambler and a drug addict. His flagrant abuse of the public trust is almost beyond imagination. Warning: some scenes are hard to watch. Poison Ivy – Drew Barrymore, as jailbait teenager Ivy, at her most charming and wicked. Disappointments -
The Crying Game – How did this wreck get an Oscar nomination? This movie is some sort of fantasy about a deeply disturbed transvestite who just happens to be implausibly mixed up in Irish terrorism. Sure, happens all the time. Who is target audience for this? Malcolm X - is a very long biopic of the 1960’s black leader by Spike Lee. Sadly Malcolm was murdered in Harlem in 1965 by feuding members of the Nation of Islam. He was 39 years old. The movie is so full of inaccuracies and lies it’s just not worth the effort to plod through. Bruce Perry, who wrote a well- researched and scholarly biography of Malcom X Little, reviewed the film for the Washington Post and called it hugely inaccurate and fatally flawed with anti-White propaganda. Unforgiven –Two aging contract killers have heart-to-heart chats around the campfire like two normal buddies. OK western but not the Best Picture. Overlong by an hour. One False Move – belongs on the very short list of awful films about violent criminals that are too cool for school. 
Most Annoying Performance ANTHONY HOPKINS – The Silence of the Lambs Best Comedy City Slickers – Billy Crystal, Jack Palance, Daniel Stern and Bruno Kirby Best Ensemble Cast Backdraft – Kurt Russell, William Baldwin, Robert De Niro, Donald Sutherland, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Rebecca De Mornay, Scott Glenn, and J.T. Walsh WTF did I just see? Defending Your Life Most overrated movie The Silence of the Lambs Best juvenile performance Reese Witherspoon – The Man in the Moon Notes from awards committee: The 1992 major three Oscars were sweep by Silence of the Lambs. Sure it was watchable and an OK retread of horror movie themes we’ve all seen before, but the outburst of Hollywood love for SOTL was, well, astonishing to say the least. We picked five of the best movies of the year, and SOTL was not on the short list. Neither were the two stars, Hopkins and Foster, nominated for Best Actor performances. The best motion picture of the year was Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Of course, the film was snubbed by the Academy. With the T-1000 cyborg, Director James Cameron raised the bar and arguably created the most formidable foe with the most sinister stare of the action, sci-fi cinema decade. The relentlessness of the T-1000 is never in doubt. The film is not all action and high tech razzle dazzle; important life themes about fate, fear, responsibility, and loyalty are explored in the film. This ambitious sequel ruled the Box Office. Kevin Costner wins best actor award for his key role in JFK. He makes Orleans Parish DA Jim Garrison appear to be a competent legal prosecutor, when in real life; Garrison was a big of dufuss. Garrison’s murder/conspiracy case against Clay Shaw is really the heart of the movie and foundation of the conspiracy theory. Clay Shaw was unanimously acquitted by the jury after only thirty minutes of deliberation. Meryl Streep is awarded the Simpson for Best Actress for her role in Defending Your Life, a lighthearted fantasy-comedy by Albert Brooks. Streep wafts through the film like an angel and sweeps Brooks off his feet in Judgement City. Fun Surprises - Billy Bathgate - The story of NYC gangster "Dutch" Schultz is told through the eyes of his protégé, a clever, young lad named Billy Bathgate (well played by Loren Dean). This is a first rate 1930’s era movie with the sleek, black Packard limos, fedoras, pushcarts and shabby tenement buildings. This Depression Era gangster film has a touching poor boy meets rich girl story. Black Robe- Black Robe refers to the Roman Catholic Jesuit priests who ventured into the untamed North American wilderness to convert the wild tribes of the New World. It is a very rare film that makes you feel like you are actually witnessing history (circa 1650). The fake, sentimental Hollywood versions of American history (think Dances with Wolves) are childish by comparison to this film. Backdraft - An all-star ensemble cast and the most spectacular firefighting scenes ever captured on film are two reasons to see this movie. The soap opera plot is not worth going on about, but the heart of the movie is true to the men who battle the big blazes. Kurt Russell is effective as the lead fireman admired for his skill as a firefighter, but due to his abrasive, Type-A personality he clashes constantly with the people in his life. JFK - The murder of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963 in Dallas was a turning point in American history. The entire nation was shocked. JFK is the single most impressive piece of conspiracy storytelling I have ever seen. One film critic wrote, “Everything incredible becomes credible and every new revelation helps to connect dots that have no business being together. It is wizardry, black magic, a practicing of the dark arts you can’t look away from.” Whether you are a film lover, historian, pop culture fan, or a hard-core conspiracy believer, this is a must see film by Oliver Stone. The Doors - The movie features a great performance by Val Kilmer as the talented, self- destructive rock star Jim Morrison. It has been written that even the surviving Doors had trouble distinguishing Kilmer's vocals from Morrison's originals. The film is a psychedelic flashback to the later 1960s – the age of the Woodstock music festival, The Summer of Love and the West Coast drug rush. It was a time when Something was Always Happening Somewhere, as the youth of the America reached peak rebellion with the nightmare of the Vietnam War always threatening to spoil the party. Defending Your Life - A gentle and playful fantasy-comedy that actually manages a thoughtful take on the after-life layered with some heavenly romance in Judgement City. During his orientation, Albert Brooks (writer, director and actor) meets another new arrival, Meryl Streep, and falls in love. – what guy wouldn't? Disappointments - The Silence of the Lambs – here we go with another Hollywood psycho-killer. Yes, our cultural fascination with true crime is ghoulish. I propose a couple of reasons – 1) truth can be stranger than fiction, and 2) the camera can avoid confronting the ugly, gruesome facts of the crime and victims. This is an overrated movie about a cannibalistic lunatic. Not really bad, but nothing special either. I really don't understand what all the fuss is about. Movie critics put on rose colored glasses and sang in unison a horseshit hosanna. The Prince of Tides – a boring package of psychobabble and, of course, the standard pair of would be lovers trapped in unhappy marriages. These psychotherapy tales are just too boring for me. Bugsy - Warren Beatty was 54 when he made this movie and despite the hair dye, he's too old for this part. Bugsy Siegel was 31 when he went out West to chase his Las Vegas dream. Bugsy was a tough guy feared by his contemporaries; Beatty just doesn't radiate menace. He’s a Hollywood pretty boy. 
Most Annoying Performance JULIA ROBERTS – Pretty Woman Best Comedy Duo Arnold Schwarzenegger & Pamela Reed in Kindergarten Cop Best Ensemble Cast Miller’s Crossing – Gabriel Byrne, Albert Finney, John Turturro, Marcia Gay Harden, Jon Polito, J.E. Freeman, and Steve Buscemi. WTF did I just see? (Tie) Joe versus the Volcano and Wild at Heart Most overrated movie Dancing With Wolves Best juvenile performance Macaulay Culkin – Home Alone Notes from awards committee: The year 1990 was a banner year for the movies with plenty of fun surprises. But the year was not without disappointments with some over-hyped, silly films. For instance, it was an Academy blunder to award Best Picture to the nonsensical, revisionist western Dances with Wolves. I agree with one critic who wrote, “Costner has feathers in his hair and feathers in his head.” In fact none of the Academy Best Picture nominees made the House Clark top five films for the year. You could say that 1990 was glutted with gangster films, with GoodFellas (pure gangster porn with an exhausting runtime) and Godfather 3 garnering most of the attention, but it was the Coen Brothers Miller’s Crossing that was not only the best gangster film but also the best picture of the year. The movie captures the atmosphere of the Roaring '20's when the Irish mob ran the show in NYC. Tom Reagan (Gabriel Byrne) is a cipher – he’s the smartest gangster in town, and knows all the angles, but is befuddled when he stares into the abyss of a personal crisis. He seeks redemption, but at what cost? The Best Actor Simpson is awarded to Jeremy Irons for his flawless performance in Reversal of Fortune. Irons morphs himself into Claus Von Bulow, an aristocratic man accused of attempted murder of his wealthy wife. Mr. Irons has, without question, created one of the most brilliantly layered characterizations to ever grace the screen; a cold and aloof, yet somehow sympathetic man in the center of a legal storm. Anjelica Huston wins the best actress award for her performance in Grifters as Lilly. She takes the Femme Fatale role to another level in the Film Noir genre. She is a bit over the top but always entertaining. Fun Surprises – Reversal of Fortune - The heart of this film is the two outstanding performances by Jeremy Irons and Ron Silver. The legal jibber jabber and brief courtroom scenes are important but mostly background noise. The movie itself is pure entertainment; it doesn’t try to preach a message that the rich are bad people, nor does it bias the story one way or another. What it does is show a complex story which in real life was fascinating, and one that the mud slinger tabloids just couldn’t resist. The Hunt for Red October – This is one of the better Cold War thrillers, and the beginning of the Jack Ryan franchise that is still sputtering along today. For a pure and simple and unfaltering Chase Plot, HFRO is tough be beat. Few people guessed that by December 1991, the Soviet Union would cease to exist; thereby, ending the Cold War. Narrow Margin – Anne Archer and Gene Hackman team up and play cat-and-mouse with hired killers on a Western Canadian passenger train. This B-movie is enhanced by a top-shelf cast, a tight script, and first rate action scenes with plenty of suspense. Best train movie since the 1985 Runaway Train. Kindergarten Cop - My kids loved this movie. I lost count how many times we watched it. This is a buddy cop flick with a combination of humor, lots of cute kids, romance, and a touch of violence. The star of the film, Arnold Schwarzenegger, shows a surprisingly good flair for comedy as the soft hearted, tough undercover detective. This might be Arnold's most likable role, and he had the best lines in an excellent script. Pam Reed is very good as Arnold’s cop partner. Miami Blues – The movie is an unusual, quirky piece of work with excellent performances by Alec Baldwin, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Fred Ward. Baldwin, as Junior, is creepy, unnerving, and a criminal to the bottom of his pitch black heart. JJL (as Susie) is naïve, gullible and trusting. Her child-like, deadpan delivery in a soft Southern accent is priceless, and adds a welcome comic touch to an otherwise dark and very sad tale about two lost souls. You'll rarely see screen chemistry as good as this. After Dark, My Sweet – An unstable group of kidnappers snatch the young son of a rich family, and their hapless plan goes completely wrong. The film has a slow, deliberate pace and takes plenty of time to unspool the simple plot. The style of the film is nothing special, but it is the highly pessimistic storyline that lands you squarely into Noirsville. If you want a happy ending; look elsewhere. The Hot Spot – TV star Don Johnson is surprisingly good as he tries to keep one step ahead of the law. The atmosphere, casting, setting, and plot fit together like a clever puzzle. For those who enjoy some sleaze in their crime movies, this film is sexy without being crude. Virginia Madsen steams up the film with her portrayal of a gold-digger vixen, and Jennifer Connelly is perfect as the innocent girl with a shady past. Home Alone - Macaulay Culkin, age 8, was crowned a child superstar after his crowd pleasing portrayal of Kevin McAllister who is accidentally left at home by his parents when the family flies to Paris for Christmas holiday. Plenty of slapsticky fun ensues until Mom gets back. HA crushed at the box office. Joe Versus the Volcano – Before he became king of Hollywood, Tom Hanks starred in several successful light comedies; this film is one of those. It's smartly produced and written, wonderfully acted, and very weird! Meg Ryan plays all three female leads and also did the voice of the flight attendant. Multiple roles in a movie are tricky, but Meg pulls it off with remarkable skill and grace. Grifters – is my choice for the best 90’s film noir – mean, seedy, edgy, hardboiled and intricate. The three main characters (Lilly, Roy and Myra) are not likeable people, yet fun to watch as they scheme and maneuver though con jobs and a twisted love triangle. Anjelica Huston’s performance as Lilly is captivating. She is seductive, smart, and tough as nails. She is also the absentee mother of Roy, her bastard son from a teenage tryst. Add sexy Myra (Anette Benning) to the pot and the mixture gets explosive. Ghost – The year’s box office king was propelled by a supernatural enhanced love story. Whoopi Goldberg adds the necessary comic relief as Psychic Oda Mae Brown, and Sam (Swayze) is still the nicest NYC investment banker in film history. Demi Moore is in her prime with a cute pixie haircut. Disappointments - Dances with Wolves is a silly kid’s daydream of being an Indian. When Dunbar (Kevin Costner) has become a Sioux named Dances with Wolves, he writes in his journal that he knows for the first time who he really is. He is no more an Indian than his horse. The Two Jakes – is a weak sequel to Chinatown that missed about everything I loved in the original. Jack Nicholson reprises his role as Jake Gittes, and also directs the movie. Jack fails miserably as a director with a confusing story and deadly slow pace. The villain (Harvey Keitel) strangely transitions into a tragic hero in a cringey sentimental scene of unspeakable fakeness. Pretty Woman – is a sexless sex comedy so horrible, I do not know where to begin. This flick is a Cinderella story, but Cinderella in this movie is a street walker with an obnoxious air of self-satisfaction, and the charming prince is a foppish idiot. Once this movie starts going downhill, there is no stopping it. A vastly overrated flick with an improbable love story that is so ridiculous it shatters suspension of disbelief with a sledge hammer. Add to that zero romantic chemistry. |
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