The MoFos Top 100 of the 90s Countdown - Redux [Archive] - Page 5

seanc

04-19-25, 10:44 AM

Here's the funny thing, the new millennium didn't begin until Jan 1st, 2001.
There was no year 0.
It was Jan 1st 0001... to Dec 31st 0010.
So the next decade, started Jan 1st, 0011.

Decades and Millennia being with a year that has a 1 at the end, not a 0.

Jan 1st, 1971, is the start of the 70s... 1980 is the last year of the 70s.
The 80s don't start until Jan 1st 1981.

Jan 1st, 1991 is the first year of the 90s, the year 2000 is the last year of the 90s.

The new millennium that everyone was panicking about, started a year later than everyone thought.
It also means the Millennium Dome that the UK Gov spent billions of taxpayer money on, and then sold to 02 for £1... was built, used, and sold, 365 days too early.

The Y2K panic seems very silly in retrospect, but it was about the fear computers were going to shut down the grid because of their programming. It wasn’t a magic day pulled out of thin air. Pretty sure computers aren’t worried about the technical definition of millennium.

TheManBehindTheCurtain

04-19-25, 10:44 AM

Blair Witch: Saw this first around the time it came out and it gave me genuine creeps. Revisited within the last year or so, and ... not so much anymore. Back then, the "found footage" technique seemed cool and edgy. But second time through, it was a tad annoying. Nothing against this ... might make a more focused "horror" list for me.

Beauty and the Beast: One of those movies I saw not because I wanted to, but because it was popular and I thought, well, guess I should try it, even though traditional Disney animation has rarely ever moved me. (Except for Bambi, shown to us impressionable first graders in school. Scarred for life. But "April Showers" always impresses.) Anyway ... BATB: Cute, entertaining, fluffy. I cant bring myself to like it or dislike it. It's just another movie. So not on my list.

Seen: 14/24
Ballot: 2/25
Sleepless in Seattle: #91 / My #3
Office Space: #95 / My #23

honeykid

04-19-25, 10:47 AM

Mainly the whole plotline of a FBI agent infiltrating a group of surfers who happen to be bank robbers. It's a ridiculous plot, yet it works in a strange way if you don't take the film seriously. I don't know if I can explain it well, but I found myself strangely moved throughout the film.

If you're looking for that kind of sense in an action movie, I think you're going to be disappointed more often than not. It's probably also not a very good action movie.:D

I really liked BWP when I saw it and I've seen it a couple of times since and still liked it. Last time I saw it was a few years ago and it really felt like a relic from a long time ago. Almost quaint. Strange to remember the reputation it came over here with from the US. So many people I know/knew at the time hated it (either because of the film or the motion sickness/headache they got), but I just ate it up. Folk Horror isn't really my bag, but I just like this film.

Obviously I've not seen BatB.

The Rodent

04-19-25, 10:50 AM

SpelingError

04-19-25, 10:53 AM

The Blair Witch Project didn't make my ballot, but it was one of the contenders.

Beauty and the Beast is pretty good, but it was never in contention for my ballot.

crumbsroom

04-19-25, 11:02 AM

Gummo, Blair Witch, Point Break....

Well at least the ones that matter showed up.

LeBoyWondeur

04-19-25, 11:04 AM

The Y2K panic seems very silly in retrospect, but it was about the fear computers were going to shut down the grid because of their programming.
Have they ever made a movie based on the premise that the global computer crash would have happened?
If not, then I hereby officially claim story copyright for any projects dealing with that concept.

I remember renting the Blair Witch VHS and the lady behind the counter tried to convince me that it was all real, based on "new information" regarding missing actors.
Poor, gullible cow.

The Rodent

04-19-25, 11:06 AM

Have they ever made a movie based on the premise that the global computer crash would have happened?
If not, then I hereby officially claim story copyright for any projects dealing with that concept.

I remember renting the Blair Witch VHS and the lady behind the counter tried to convince me that it was all real, based on "new information" regarding missing actors.
Poor, gullible cow.

Die Hard 4.0

LeBoyWondeur

04-19-25, 11:13 AM

Die Hard 4.0
That's about a cyber attack, not the fallout of an unavoidable failure in the calendar data.

The Rodent

04-19-25, 11:14 AM

Swap out a computer nerd for a system crash and it's the same movie.

TheManBehindTheCurtain

04-19-25, 11:16 AM

The Y2K panic seems very silly in retrospect, but it was about the fear computers were going to shut down the grid because of their programming. It wasn’t a magic day pulled out of thin air. Pretty sure computers aren’t worried about the technical definition of millennium.

Worked for a systems security company in Silicon Valley at the time. Key engineers in the office as midnight began to dawn around the globe. I was on call to update the website in case anything noteworthy should happen. No one ... and I mean no one ... in the industry thought it would be anything but a snoozefest. Which it didn't. But we played the part because we knew that was what was expected due to the intense publicity.

I think one thing that kept the frenzy stirred up was that tech reporting at the time was relatively unsophisticated (still is, exacerbated by click-bait profiteering). I remember one story that drifted around the internet at the time, about the "leading edge" of the crisis, when a Florida business sent invoices for some time in the year 1900. Turns out they were using Windows 95, hadn't updated their system or apps for eight years.

The Rodent

04-19-25, 11:22 AM

Worked for a systems security company in Silicon Valley at the time. Key engineers in the office as midnight began to dawn around the globe. I was on call to update the website in case anything noteworthy should happen. No one ... and I mean no one ... in the industry thought it would be anything but a snoozefest. Which it didn't. But we played the part because we knew that was what was expected due to the intense publicity.

I think one thing that kept the frenzy stirred up was that tech reporting at the time was relatively unsophisticated (still is, exacerbated by click-bait profiteering). I remember one story that drifted around the internet at the time, about the "leading edge" of the crisis, when a Florida business sent invoices for some time in the year 1900. Turns out they were using Windows 95, hadn't updated their system or apps for eight years.

On New Years Eve 1999-2000 I sent out about 400 text messages... I think 100 of which were random numbers I just typed in by hand, not knowing where they were going.

¥

I am the Millennium Bug
By simply opening this message, I have infected your phone.
And I will crash your phone by midnight.
Thank you for your time.
Goodbye

¥

The sheer amount of texts I got back was insane calling me every name under the sun.

mattiasflgrtll6

04-19-25, 11:22 AM

One thing I love about Point Break... is when it was remade in like, 2015, everyone screamed and it bombed.

But when it was remade in 2001, it spawned 11 movies in total, and all of them are worse than that 2015 remake.

I've never heard of the 2001 remake, but the 2015 one is among the worst movies I have ever seen in my life. I would be amazed if they manage to top it in its sheer agressive awfulness.

I would like to check out the original some time.

The Rodent

04-19-25, 11:23 AM

I've never heard of the 2001 remake, but the 2015 one is among the worst movies I have ever seen in my life. I would be amazed if they manage to top it in its sheer agressive awfulness.

I would like to check out the original some time.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fast_and_the_Furious_(2001_film)

mattiasflgrtll6

04-19-25, 11:25 AM

Oh.

It was a joke.

The Rodent

04-19-25, 11:27 AM

Oh.

It was a joke.

Not exactly.
FF is a scene for scene, plot for plot remake of Point Break.

Swap surfing for illegal car racing... everything is the same.

seanc

04-19-25, 11:37 AM

TheManBehindTheCurtain

04-19-25, 11:38 AM

On New Years Eve 1999-2000 I sent out about 400 text messages... I think 100 of which were random numbers I just typed in by hand, not knowing where they were going.

¥

I am the Millennium Bug
By simply opening this message, I have infected your phone.
And I will crash your phone by midnight.
Thank you for your time.
Goodbye

¥

The sheer amount of texts I got back was insane calling me every name under the sun.

Sounds like the beginning of a great Science Fiction Horror movie, when The Millennium Bug texts you back with a message like "You're next!"

seanc

04-19-25, 11:42 AM

Worked for a systems security company in Silicon Valley at the time. Key engineers in the office as midnight began to dawn around the globe. I was on call to update the website in case anything noteworthy should happen. No one ... and I mean no one ... in the industry thought it would be anything but a snoozefest. Which it didn't. But we played the part because we knew that was what was expected due to the intense publicity.

I think one thing that kept the frenzy stirred up was that tech reporting at the time was relatively unsophisticated (still is, exacerbated by click-bait profiteering). I remember one story that drifted around the internet at the time, about the "leading edge" of the crisis, when a Florida business sent invoices for some time in the year 1900. Turns out they were using Windows 95, hadn't updated their system or apps for eight years.

Yeah, it all felt very overblown. I had absolutely no fear leading to it. Of course the AI craze doesn’t faze me either. I’m probably just too dumb to be scared of computers. I guess time will tell, but I’m old as dirt so I won’t be here for the dawn of the machine takeover I’m sure.

MovieGal

04-19-25, 11:43 AM

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fast_and_the_Furious_(2001_film)

Rodent, it doesn't come up for me.

Wow really?!?!

Deschain

04-19-25, 11:46 AM

Blair Witch Project was my one pointer. It came out when I was 12 and my parents wouldn’t let me see it, but the hype alone caused loss of sleep and nightmares, so probably good call on their part. Finally saw it in my ‘20s and it scared the shit out of me, again losing sleep. It seems pretty divisive on who finds it scary or not and I get it. But its impact on horror going forward is huge.

I watched Beauty and the Beast a lot as a kid but haven’t seen it since my childhood. It was part of that big Disney resurgence from that time, alongside the likes of Aladdin and The Little Mermaid. I wonder how well they hold up now, I’m guessing pretty well. Anyone with kids pass these movies down? I bet they still work on new generations.

cricket

04-19-25, 11:46 AM

LeBoyWondeur

04-19-25, 11:52 AM

Swap out a computer nerd for a system crash and it's the same movie.
That's like saying Titanic and Speed 2 are the same movie because of the (potential) high body count.

ueno_station54

04-19-25, 11:57 AM

the film from my ballot i thought had the best chance of making it i had blair witch at #10. was too young to catch it in theatre at the time but i certainly remember the hype and even just watching it at home its still incredibly effective. the best example of found footage horror other than Noroi which perfected the style.

i only saw beauty and the beast once in my early 20's which was not the time in my life i was gonna be open to disney films. i'd be a lot more open to it now i'm sure.

The Rodent

04-19-25, 12:15 PM

That's like saying Titanic and Speed 2 are the same movie because of the (potential) high body count.

https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/1d6uux4/point_break_and_the_fast_and_the_furious_is_the/

Wooley

04-19-25, 12:37 PM

I rewatched Blair Witch a year and a half ago for the 50th Birthday Horrorthon and was floored by how good it really is. I have included a very condensed version of my review...

"There just aren’t that many movies that can scare me any more. Turns out this is one of them.
I remember when I saw it in the theater, I was already a somewhat seasoned Horror fan, and I could not sleep that night, couldn't even turn out the lights. And here I was sitting in my own living room, watching it for the first time in maybe a dozen years, experiencing something I haven't in years: chills running up my spine...
This movie hit because it's extremely well-made, lightning in a bottle, and that's all there is to it... It’s taut, almost propulsive.
...this movie paints a chilling picture of what real witchcraft might look like and maybe that’s why it gets to me so much. That and how very real the terror feels like it feels to the characters.
...Ebert, in his practically effusive praise of the film, was right, the actors really carry this. the almost mumble-core realism of the acting really, really sells the whole thing.
...I was more on edge after this movie than after any Horror movie I've seen in years, even though I've seen it twice or thrice before. This movie often gets shade and I'll never understand why. Some upstart independent filmmakers got a very little money and some improv actors together and made a film that's scary as hell and took the World by storm. It is not this film's fault, everything that came after it. This movie works, period."

In short, The Blair Witch Project is almost magic and is an independent cinematic achievement to be celebrated and to be savored by people who like to be scared.

Citizen Rules

04-19-25, 12:58 PM

Blair Witch I'm not a horror fan, not at all. But when I seen Blair Witch it worked and worked well as it was psychological and not a blood fest. It was a fresh approach that didn't feel like something churned out by a movie making machine aka Hollywood. I live in a rural area surrounded by trees and woods and the movie crept me out for a day or two. Glad it made the countdown, but I have no desire to watch it again as the second time around it might not be as effective for me.

Beauty and the Beast, I'm also not an animation fan. I do like like some Studio Ghibli films and even some of the older Pixar but Disney films, meh.

LeBoyWondeur

04-19-25, 01:06 PM

https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/1d6uux4/point_break_and_the_fast_and_the_furious_is_the/
Sorry, I don't know how to respond to a URL.

Omnizoa

04-19-25, 02:38 PM

The Blair Witch Project is overrated garbage. Let's make an amateur horror movie where nothing happens and shoot it on a shitty camera from the cameraman's perspective so everyone applauds it as "groundbreaking" and "realistic" when we actually put in the least possible amount of effort. It's no mystery why nobody talks about any the director's other movies.

There are paranormal investigation videos where equally as little shit happens.

There are urban exploration videos that are more watchable than this.

There are vlogs (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Yk-sBG5h0ok) that are more terrifying.

I would rather watch Cloverfield. It does not get bonus points from me for being the first in a shitty trend, and it wasn't even the first.

Beauty and the Beast on the other hand was my #26, just barely missing my list.

stillmellow

04-19-25, 02:39 PM

Beauty and the Beast was my #3! I'm actually shocked it didn't rate higher. So many people my age know all the songs by heart.

Perfectly animated and wonderfully performed. The movie is so iconic. And Belle is the Disney Princess i grew up wanting to marry. Hubba Hubba!
Granted, 'falling in love with your captor' has not aged well, but it's still dear to my heart.

Blair Witch was my #27, just missing my list. It gets a lot of flack for starting a genre that overstayed its welcome, but people forget that it's a subtle and brilliant horror/suspense movie, that knows that the scariest things are what you can't see.

Seen: 17/24
List: 3/25

TheManBehindTheCurtain

04-19-25, 02:42 PM

Yeah, it all felt very overblown. I had absolutely no fear leading to it. Of course the AI craze doesn’t faze me either. I’m probably just too dumb to be scared of computers. I guess time will tell, but I’m old as dirt so I won’t be here for the dawn of the machine takeover I’m sure.

I don't know if I'm older than dirt. Let's just say I can remember when Kennedy was assassinated.

And, actually, the AI stuff does scare me. Not the stuff in the news. Again, that's just click-bait stirring a pot that's only half full. There is far more sinister, and deeper, scarier s---- being worked on by hackers, billionaires, and governments (from your own, to rogue states) that you don't hear about. That's the stuff that could tear our reality apart by the seams.

OH, yeah, this thread is about movies of the 90s. Pretty sure The Matrix is in our future. I mean, the future of this thread, of course.

Omnizoa

04-19-25, 02:47 PM

it had a great marketing campaign, effectively using the internet, listing its actors as either dead or missing, posting faux police reports... they went all the way on selling this as the real deal.You should always be skeptical of aggressive marketing campaigns. Often it's to make up for the actual substance of the product.

This post was sponsored by RAID: SHADOW LEGENDS.

Citizen Rules

04-19-25, 02:52 PM

...actually, the AI stuff does scare me. Not the stuff in the news. Again, that's just click-bait stirring a pot that's only half full. There is far more sinister, and deeper, scarier s---- being worked on by hackers, billionaires, and governments (from your own, to rogue states) that you don't hear about. That's the stuff that could tear our reality apart by the seams.

OH, yeah, this thread is about movies of the 90s. Pretty sure The Matrix is in our future. I mean, the future of this thread, of course. I'm going to try and remember your post for whenever we redo the 1980s countdown and this movie makes it:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087803/

It's relevant.

Thief

04-19-25, 02:56 PM

Omnizoa

04-19-25, 03:03 PM

Regardless of our thoughts on Beauty and the Beast as a whole, can we all agree that Gaston is the most loveable Disney chauvinist? Gaston is the best and the rest are all drips.

https://64.media.tumblr.com/899e69f5b8b3c2ec258f97cca1813cf3/tumblr_inline_p4dms1m5fN1tgfcp7_640.gif

Thief

04-19-25, 03:05 PM

Anyway, I love Beauty and the Beast and I thought about it, but it doesn't really crack my Disney Top 5, and I have other 90s Disney favorites above it. Still, it's gorgeously animated and I love the story.

The Blair Witch Project, on the other hand, that's my jam. Saw that in theaters and, even though I don't think I ever believed it, I was all into it. I was a Boy Scout when I was a teen, so having a film about three teenagers getting lost in the woods was something that appealed to me. Moreover, I think it's a perfect example of how movies can take advantage of external factors, like marketing and the Internet, to create a whole different animal out of it. Here's an excerpt of what I wrote last time I rewatched it (and here's the whole review link (https://www.movieforums.com/reviews/2421703-the_blair_witch_project.html)):

But beyond the parts in the woods, I think the film does a great job setting everything up in the first act. I think the "interviews" with the townspeople are really effective and do a great job at putting you on edge. There are some fortuitous things, like the little child covering the mother's mouth when she starts to talk about the Blair Witch. I also seem to recall that the filmmakers didn't want the Mary Brown (Patricia DeCou) interview to be so grainy, and yet, I think that adds a whole different level to that moment.

Anyway, it's amazing, it's my favorite found footage film, and it would probably make my Top 10 Horror film list. Here, I had it at #9.

SEEN: 13/24
MY BALLOT: 3/25

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9. The Blair Witch Project (1999, #78)
10.
11. Interview with the Vampire (1994, #92)
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19. A Few Good Men (1992, #84)
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.

stillmellow

04-19-25, 03:07 PM

You should always be skeptical of aggressive marketing campaigns. Often it's to make up for the actual substance of the product.

This was post was sponsored by RAID: SHADOW LEGENDS.

My sibling Amber always said she could tell how good something new really was by two factors:

1. How many gifs it had on Tumblr.

2. How much porn their was of it online.

Torgo

04-19-25, 03:07 PM

https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/1d6uux4/point_break_and_the_fast_and_the_furious_is_the/I'm not above clicking a URL. Good stuff! Best breakdown I've seen of how similar they are yet. It would be interesting to know if The Lost Boys inspired Point Break as well because you could substitute surfing for vampirism.

Point Break is spectacularly entertaining and ridiculous in a good way, but didn't make my ballot. It would probably make a ballot of 50, though.

Thief

04-19-25, 03:09 PM

Also, for anyone interested, I had the chance to interview Eduardo Sánchez, one of the filmmakers behind The Blair Witch Project, for my podcast. We talked about found footage, his work, and a lot about Blair Witch so feel free to check it out.

The Movie Loot 96: The Found Footage Loot (with Eduardo Sanchez) (https://www.buzzsprout.com/850063/episodes/14073327-the-movie-loot-96-the-found-footage-loot-with-eduardo-sanchez.mp3?download=true)

Very cool guy.

Captain Quint

04-19-25, 04:11 PM

You should always be skeptical of aggressive marketing campaigns. Often it's to make up for the actual substance of the product.

This post was sponsored by RAID: SHADOW LEGENDS.

Hey, call me Sgt Joe Friday, I'm just reporting the facts. I wasn't a fan of the movie personally, not really a fan of the found footage thing overall... with a few exceptions (Troll Hunter, Deadstream), but it was an effective campaign.

And there are folks who liked it enough to vote for it, if it makes them happy, then bravo. Might not be my cuppa tea, but it doesn't have to be.

MovieGal

04-19-25, 04:16 PM

Before Movieforums.com, I belonged to a Horror movie forum and they considered Found Footage horror films shite.

KeyserCorleone

04-19-25, 04:43 PM

Before Movieforums.com, I belonged to a Horror movie forum and they considered Found Footage horror films shite.

Ah, the "metalcore isn't metal" types...

TheManBehindTheCurtain

04-19-25, 04:46 PM

I'm going to try and remember your post for whenever we redo the 1980s countdown and this movie makes it:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087803/

It's relevant.

When that happens, I'm in! The 80s was when I finally re-emerged from college and started watching movies again. I know I've seen 1984 (forgotten about Richard Burton!) but would have to rewatch. I know it seemed outlandish back then ... I fear not so much today!

MovieGal

04-19-25, 04:50 PM

Ah, the "metalcore isn't metal" types...

Everything is subjective.

Some films that are labeled horror are more suspense than horror.

MovieGal

04-19-25, 04:54 PM

When that happens, I'm in! The 80s was when I finally re-emerged from college and started watching movies again. I know I've seen 1984 (forgotten about Richard Burton!) but would have to rewatch. I know it seemed outlandish back then ... I fear not so much today!

The 80s will be difficult for me. I was preteen to young adult in the 80s so my film watching was Teen films. Even as an older adult, i cant watch was popular adult films from the 80s. I really didnt like Against All Odds when i watched it a few months back for the first time. The music in the film was great, the movie meh.

KeyserCorleone

04-19-25, 05:00 PM

Everything is subjective.

Some films that are labeled horror are more suspense than horror.

True, but it DOES get a little annoying when people keep saying "Converge isn't metal enough so they're punk" and "Converge isn't punk enough so they're metal." Way I see it, it's entirely possible to combine the two. I mean we already have crossover thrash, grind, blackened crust. It just seems like a purest attitude either terying to claim a classic band for the joined side or trying to knock off a popular band by forcing them into the opposition. That's why I joined Metal Academy and Metal for the Masses.

I understand the difference between horror and suspense was much more blurred back then, so I'm perty damn happy we've been dissecting the differences on places like this.

Wooley

04-19-25, 05:37 PM

Before Movieforums.com, I belonged to a Horror movie forum and they considered Found Footage horror films shite.

I personally generally do too, though I disagree with the notion of dismissing any form out of hand, for me it's just that they're rarely very good. But Blair Witch kinda invented the genre as far as the mainstream goes and it actually simply does it better than everybody else.

Wooley

04-19-25, 05:38 PM

kgaard

04-19-25, 05:41 PM

Oh, The Blair Witch Project. When I went to see it at a theater in NY (pretty sure it was the Angelika), my then-girlfriend was freaked out and half convinced it was real, and also some guy stormed out the end ranting about being ripped off. So that one screening really captured the range of responses to the movie and it appears nothing has changed on that front. I thought it was well done, pretty scary, though I wonder how well it would hold up now. Didn't vote for it, but I think it belongs, even if only for its cultural impact.

I think I also saw Beauty and the Beast on a date. I was in my early mid-twenties in the late mid-'90s, so this will happen a lot. Decent Disney animation but not one of my big favorites, so no vote from me.

MovieGal

04-19-25, 05:49 PM

Well, that movie was meh in the 80s.

Im sure if you name some 80s films that were not musicals, not teen movies or fantasy/sci fi Im sure that I, more than likely, have not seen them.

Oh, i have seen mainstream slashes.

cricket

04-19-25, 06:02 PM

I'm a big horror fan but I prefer violent horror as opposed to what Blair Witch has to offer. However the one time I saw it when it came out was an effective movie going experience. My wife and I were driving to a vacation destination when we decided to stop halfway in some creepy hick town in the middle of nowhere. We went to see Blair Witch at their creepy old cinema and at least for that one night it worked. A fond memory and I plan on leaving it that way.

Blair Witch I'm not a horror fan, not at all. But when I seen Blair Witch it worked and worked well as it was psychological and not a blood fest. It was a fresh approach that didn't feel like something churned out by a movie making machine aka Hollywood. I live in a rural area surrounded by trees and woods and the movie crept me out for a day or two. Glad it made the countdown, but I have no desire to watch it again as the second time around it might not be as effective for me.

Maybe we watched it at the same cinema

Citizen Rules

04-19-25, 06:21 PM

Maybe we watched it at the same cinema
Ha! Could be:eek:

LeBoyWondeur

04-19-25, 07:13 PM

While aggressive marketing can create a lot of buzz and people buying tickets I think it can also undermine the film's performance.
That's why I often prefer to wait until the dust has settled so I can watch the film or series for what it really is, without being distracted or influenced by everyone's opinion (it's great/it's awful/they should have done this/no, you don't get it! etc etc).

My first experience with The Blair Witch Project was a bit spoilt precisely for those reasons, it was all too much "in the moment".
Now that I've finished my rewatch it's almost as if I've been watching a completely different film.

Is it a great horror? In some parts, yes, but the found footage premise - meaning that it's already happened - didn't do much for me.
I watched it in "real time" and I must say that it's wonderfully scripted and executed, and the performance by the (then) unknown cast is very convincing.
Rather than horror I think the film's real strength is in the dread and misery, the paranoia and disorientation that make them turn on each other. I've had a similar experience with In Fear (2013) and I don't understand why that film has a 5.4 rating on IMDB.

In my opinion, TBWP is the Deliverance we didn't get in 1972. Those characters are physically attacked almost from the very beginning and after that it becomes an ordinary survival story. Blair Witch slowly cranks up the predicament and shock moments, and while the finale doesn't provide any answers (probably one of the reasons why some people felt cheated) it stays in character with the atmosphere created for this film.

4

TheManBehindTheCurtain

04-19-25, 07:24 PM

The 80s will be difficult for me. I was preteen to young adult in the 80s so my film watching was Teen films. Even as an older adult, i cant watch was popular adult films from the 80s. I really didnt like Against All Odds when i watched it a few months back for the first time. The music in the film was great, the movie meh.

I'm an extreme introvert, but I was getting used to going alone without any apologies for trying to see anything of redeeming value. Thus: Blade Runner, Raiders, E.T., Brazil (all I knew about it was the title on the theater sign; gosh, so good), Star Trek II, Terminator, Raising Arizona, Glory, Hoosiers, Ghostbusters, Big, Splash, Local Hero, Road Warrior, Back to the Future. OK, I also did see Body Heat, Cinema Paradiso, Amadeus, stuff that lay outside my core interests. Yeah, AAOs was symbolic of lame "product" that Hollywood has to churn out continuously to keep people addicted.

MovieGal

04-19-25, 07:32 PM

I'm an extreme introvert, but I was getting used to going alone without any apologies for trying to see anything of redeeming value. Thus: Blade Runner, Raiders, E.T., Brazil (all I knew about it was the title on the theater sign; gosh, so good), Star Trek II, Terminator, Raising Arizona, Glory, Hoosiers, Ghostbusters, Big, Splash, Local Hero, Road Warrior, Back to the Future. OK, I also did see Body Heat, Cinema Paradiso, Amadeus, stuff that lay outside my core interests. Yeah, AAOs was symbolic of lame "product" that Hollywood has to churn out continuously to keep people addicted.

I really didnt see much as a teen in the cinema. I had a friend a bit younger than me, who went to a different high school, that i went with. I dont remember any films I saw with her.

I did see Hard To Hold opening night, but I was a fan of Rick Springfield, like most teen girls in the 80s. (My son is named Richard). That film is terrible now watching it as an adult. He became a horrible person at some point in his career.

As a young adult, yes, about average.

Miss Vicky

04-19-25, 07:48 PM

Well… I watched The Blair Witch Project. Out of courtesy to those that love it I’ll withhold comment.

Seen: 20/24

beelzebubble

04-19-25, 07:58 PM

My sibling Amber always said she could tell how good something new really was by two factors:

1. How many gifs it had on Tumblr.

2. How much porn there was of it online.
Those seem like legit metrics for popularity. Amber is definitely on to something.
This pair is a change of pace for me. While neither is on my list, I did see and enjoy both of theses movies.

I_Wear_Pants

04-19-25, 08:15 PM

I've seen Blair Witch Project and Beauty and the Beast. Both are good films. I have no desire to watch either of them again. Neither of them are on my ballot. I feel no scorn for whomever got them on the countdown. I can't remember how much of Beauty and the Beast we watched as kids. As an adult, I never felt compelled to watch it again. And unfortunately watching the remake ad nauseam soured me on the story, which I had to endure because it's one of the ex-wife's "favorites". It got tiresome very quickly.

rauldc14

04-19-25, 08:55 PM

Seen 15/24 with Porco my only film to show up thus far.

pahaK

04-19-25, 09:42 PM

I rewatched The Blair Witch Project for this, but it wasn't as good as I remembered (and I just remembered it being good when I saw it in theaters, not great). It has some of the most annoying characters in any found footage horror, and half of its runtime consists of these morons shouting at each other.

Found footage is an easy genre to make a bad movie cheap, but making a good one is just as difficult as in other genres (more affordable, maybe, but not easier). I consider The Blair Witch Project a very mediocre film and the best films of the genre were made in the next decade (like [REC] and Noroi).

--

Seen: 13/24

16. Interview with the Vampire (1994)

PHOENIX74

04-20-25, 12:29 AM

78. The Blair Witch Project (1999) - The Blair Witch Project is great, and a true cinematic classic. It scared the hell out of me back when it came out (I never saw it on the big screen, but I think it's the kind of movie that plays better on a small screen.) I know somebody who went to see it on the big screen, and when it finished he actually stood and loudly vented his displeasure, such is this movie's ability to polarize audiences. I've seen it perhaps around 30 times or more, and although I'm sure that after some deep reflection I could explain why this horror film is endlessly rewatchable for me, instead I'll leave it a mystery to even myself for now. To me, it's proof that you only need suggestion and an audience's imagination to create some serious chills. Bobcat Goldthwait's Willow Creek succeeded in emulating this factor in his film's last half hour - but the first hour is something of an endurance test that you have to suffer through. With The Blair Witch Project, there's simply found footage perfection from start to finish, with not a single misstep as far as how I vibe with it. I fondly recall, from time to time, how much my mother liked it also - she watched it a few times, a rarity for her. Ah well, horror films (bar The Shining) always end up lower down on these countdown lists. It's amongst the 10 on my profile - so anyone who's peeked at that would be expecting it to be high on my ballot. I had it at #2.

77. Beauty and the Beast (1991) - I made it my mission a while back to watch all of the classic Disney animated movies. I got around to Beauty and the Beast a couple of years ago and wrote this about it on letterboxd : "Beauty and the Beast - it's very nice looking, has beautiful music and has that emotionally authentic Disney appeal that shows up pretenders and their knock-offs. Actually, it's better than "nice looking" - what am I saying? It's a magnificent combination of traditional Disney animation and computer animation production systems - giving life to scenes by computerizing backgrounds and making the result cinematic - a composite where movement gives the impression of a dollying camera. The tried and true music gets through the toughest of defenses as well - and although I was never a big fairy tale kid growing up (I went straight from Dick and Jane to Stephen King novels) it's nice seeing a variant of this old French story. A classic - one that I'd hope kids still watch today." I was impressed! Rated it 4/5. Not on my ballot though.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seen : 24/24
I'd never even heard of : 0/24
Movies that had been on my radar, but I haven't seen yet : 0/24
Films from my list : 3 + 1 pointer

#78 - My #2 - The Blair Witch Project (1999)
#81 - My #22 - Before Sunrise (1995)
#96 - My #15 - Fallen Angels (1995)
1-pointer - Deep Crimson (1996)

iluv2viddyfilms

04-20-25, 02:12 AM

https://static1.thegamerimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/12.-Disney-Wiki-Fandom.png?q=50&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=1.5

I just couldn't find room to add Beauty and the Beast to my top 25 musicals list, as I told myself I was only going to put one animated film on that list. Partly because there were just too many great non-animated musical films, and also partly because I knew the default for many people voting in that list was going to be to have a tendency to overweight their ballots with Disney films just because they are so ubiquitous in our culture, film buff or not, so it made sense that far too many Disney animated musicals were going to show up on a musicals poll; and of course I was right. In any event I went with All Dogs Go to Heaven over Beauty and the Beast for the musicals poll.

However with this 1990's poll, I was really REALLY torn between a handful of films in the 25th spot, but I had to go with Beauty and the Beast, for many reasons, but primarily because it really IS the best musical Disney has put out, certainly the best Disney film since 1991, the best Disney film in the Disney Renaissance, and it's a story that has been retold many times and the fact that the film honors the source material, is influenced heavily by the 1946 Jean Cocteau film, and has the whole European medieval Brothers Grimm type vibe going for it.

https://static1.thegamerimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/1.-Disney-Wiki-Fandom.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=1.5

I love the music... "Be Our Guest" is endlessly catchy and fun, "Gaston" is incredibly hilarious and witty, and "Beauty and the Beast" as sung by Angela Lansbury is so sweet and timeless. This is some of the best music of the Disney canon. As much as I also enjoy the music in The Little Mermaid, I think Beauty and the Beast edges it out just slightly.

The other thing that is wonderful about the film and of course going back to the source material are the archetypes. Naturally there's something to be said for the theme of showing kindness to strangers, generosity, and not shunning those away in need, but there's a lot going on with gender roles too and the balance, especially when it comes to females, of the two extremes - one of feeling stuck in a predetermined life with zero ability to explore interests, work, or entrepreneurial endeavors vs the foolhardiness of tossing away institutions and the ignoring the wisdom of a thousand generations of gender roles and that yes indeed there are differences between genders and marriage and a woman "giving herself" to a man isn't horrible. Obviously there needs to be a balance and what's interesting to me about Beauty and the Beast is that once Belle is able to dismiss and cast away the advances of the blowhard and exhibitionist chauvinist Gaston, she's also able to see that maybe men, the prospect of marriage and love aren't so bad and just may have more to offer than a life full of "her nose stuck in a book."

And while the film does say a lot about outcasts or at least people who don't really fit in or belong - either temperamentally or interest-wise into the locale and culture in which they were born, it also avoids invalidating time honored institutions too. In this regard the fact that Belle learns to love the Beast might be less about the Beast being "tamed," but more about her providing temperance to her own prudish ways and her own conceited arrogance, that maybe men, love, and being a wife aren't exactly a form of patriarchal shackles. In this regard Belle changes everybit as much as the Beast if not more so.

There's a lot to unpack in the film's tight sub-90 minute run-length and it's an amazing looking and well animated film. I've hardly touched on so many of the great things about the film, but I should also add how deep the supporting cast of characters are too, each one memorable with distinctive personalities that add to the story and tone.

https://static1.thegamerimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/3.-Disney-Versus-Non-Disney-Villains-Wiki-Fandom.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=1.5

I saw in in the theater back in 1991 and I was floored by it and didn't realize animated films could be that amazing. I had loved The Little Mermaid and I had also loved the underrated Rescuers Down Under, but something about Beauty and the Beast just really clicked for me and it's one of those important film going experiences as a child that I still appreciate and remember vividly even 30 years later.

Oh and something else that has ruminated in my mind is how similar, only as an inverse, Beauty and the Beast really is to one of my absolute all time favorite among favorite films, My Fair Lady.

So far from my list:

10. Dead Man
25. Beauty and the Beast

dadgumblah

04-20-25, 03:07 AM

I can't remember if I saw The Blair Witch Project on video or at a theater (I'm leaning toward video) but I remember enjoying it. Yeah, I remember all the hype on TV and the internet and I thought that was a fun build-up. And I'll repeat that no movie has ever scared me. I grew up watching scary movies and I almost dared them to scare me, but no dice. I've said why I think this is before so I won't repeat it but there are some films that have creeped me out and TBWP did in portions. The part where two of the friends can hear their missing buddy at night somewhere way out in the woods wailing is extremely effective to me. That kind of stuff creeps me out. So, over all, I like it. But the ending can never creep me out again due to a crass joke my nephew once made about it. Every time I see that, that joke pops up in my head and I start (for good or ill) cracking up.

Beauty and the Beast is prime Disney and I definitely saw this at the theater. Just extremely well-done. An awesome joining of music and animation that I don't think Disney has, or will surpass. I haven't seen the live-action remake and don't want to. When a movie is this good, why just repeat it? Of course, that's all Disney does now instead of creating new stories. The only live-action remake of any of their animated films I've seen is The Jungle Book (2016) and I thought that was great. But I just can't bring myself to watch any of the others.

Two no-shows for me, although they are both fine films. Still striking out on this countdown!

gbgoodies

04-20-25, 03:17 AM

I'm not a horror movie fan, but I saw The Blair Witch Project in the theater when it first came out because I was pretty much dragged to it by a couple of friends. They read about how scary it was, and that it was supposed to be one of the scariest horror movies ever made, and they believed all the hype. So I went to see it and I kept waiting for all the scariness that I was told about, but it didn't seem to be happening. I was bored with the movie. Eventually something good happened. The movie ended, and I was just glad that it was over. I don't know if somehow I missed it, but there didn't seem to be anything scary about the movie. It was just overrated and over-hyped.

On the other hand, I've seen Beauty and the Beast numerous times, and it seems to just get better every time I watch it. Great story, great songs, and great animation, make it one of my favorite Disney movies. It was #16 on my list.

My list so far:
4. Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
15. My Cousin Vinny (1992)
16. Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Robert the List

04-20-25, 04:55 AM

The following films from the 1990s have made the revised greatest greatest 100 films list, just announced today:
The Heart of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse (doc) 1991 USA -
Rebels of the Neon God 1992 Taiwan Tsai Ming-liang
The Player 1992 USA Robert Altman
Vive L'Amour 1994 Taiwan Tsai Ming-liang
Voices Through Time 1996 Italy Franco Piavoli
Trainspotting 1996 UK Danny Boyle
Flowers of Shanghai 1998 Taiwan Hou Hsiao-hsien
Saving Private Ryan 1998 USA Steven Spielberg

Another film in the list was filmed in the 1990s, but not released until 2024.
A film from 1990 just missed out apparently.

Thursday Next

04-20-25, 05:03 AM

Beauty and the Beast was one I strongly considered for my list. I think it's Disney's best. The music is great and there is some really good animation, especially the roof top sequences at the Beast's castle.

Captain Quint

04-20-25, 06:30 AM

4lists86pointsA Moment of Innocence (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/43976-a-moment-of-innocence.html)Director
Mohsen Makhmalbaf, 1996

Starring
Mirhadi Tayebi, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Ali Bakhsi, Ammar Tafti

Captain Quint

04-20-25, 06:31 AM

5lists87pointsThe Remains of the Day (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/1245-the-remains-of-the-day.html)Director
James Ivory, 1993

Starring
Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson, James Fox, Christopher Reeve

Captain Quint

04-20-25, 06:33 AM

Best paring to date? It is for me

A Moment of Innocence is the movie I'm happiest seeing make the grade, as I really didn't think it had a shot. Oh, I was aware that it had its admirers here, but that didn't translate into points for other smaller, foreign fare, so... Fortunately, the folks who loved this, really loved it - three 2nd place votes got my hopes up, another ballot had it at #12, and that was enough to earn it a spot on the countdown. Hooray for the "Fantastic Four" of the forums, of which I'm a proud member.

Moment is our first Iranian film, and our first release of 1996.

I was also happy to see the other newbie to the poll, The Remains of the Day - an adaptation of the critically hailed novel by Kazuo Ishiguro. The movie earned 8 Oscar nominations but failed take home a single prize. Same thing happened at the Globes (6 noms, 0 wins), the reason? 1993 belonged to Schindler's List. Ah, okay. In my personal awards I named Anthony Hopkins my Best Actor (for this and Shadowlands)

Remains is our first from Merchant/Ivory

Both movies were previously unranked

Captain Quint

04-20-25, 06:52 AM

The First 25: Breakdowns
107279
The first 25 movies come to a total of 44.8 hrs. and feature 26 directors, 11 countries (as primary or co-producers), with 11 languages spoken, including English, Danish, German, French, Japanese, Cantonese, Persian (Farsi), Cree, Blackfoot, Makah (Dead Man), and Esperanto (a constructed auxiliary language, heard in Gattaca)

Among the most seen or heard?
107280
Score: Joe Hisaishi - 2 films (Porco & Sonatine)
Acting: With 3 - Michael Wincott (The Crow, Dead Man, and Strange Days) & Tom Sizemore (True Romance, Point Break, Strange Days)
Directing: Kathryn Bigelow - 2 films (Point Break & Strange Days)

MoFo's Movies, Old and New
107281
There was a 60% to 40% split between the fresh and the familiar (does not include Remains of the Day, that'll be among the next group of 25). As has been pointed out, this will be the largest group of newbies on the list. Each group of 25 will see these numbers drop.

The Ranks of the Previously Unranked.
100. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
98. The Celebration (1998)
97. Gummo (1997)
95. Office Space (1999)
93. Porco Rosso (1992)
92. Interview with the Vampire (1994)
91. Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
89. The Crow (1994)
88. My Cousin Vinny (1992)
86. Gattaca (1997)
84. A Few Good Men (1992)
82. Strange Days (1995)
80. Lost Highway (1997)
78. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
76. A Moment of Innocence (1996)
Note: And I raise a glass to mrblond who started this list Helped make it easy on me here.

The First 25 by Year
107282

Robert the List

04-20-25, 07:37 AM

2 cracking films today. Remains of the Day was on my ballot, and A Moment of Innocence was close.
Both I think in my top 200 films all time.

Heard of: 21/26
Started: 18/26
Finished: 8/26
In my ballot: 1/26
Maximum films from my ballot that can still make the list: 25/25

By the way, Lost Highway is on at the Prince Charles in London tomorrow if anyone's interested.
Other 90s films on in the next week include:
Wild at Heart
Fallen Angels (work hours)
Chungking Express
Three Colours White

No, I'm not on commission.

Allaby

04-20-25, 07:42 AM

Seen and liked both, but voted for neither.

Seen: 26/26

MovieMeditation

04-20-25, 08:20 AM

78. The Blair Witch Project (1999)

I think I saw this once a long time ago and was wholly unimpressed. Didn’t find it scary all that jazz… but then I rewatched it with little to non expectations and actually really enjoyed it. And I did find it quite scary and creepy that time.

Mostly because I didn’t look for or expected the scares. I just let the atmosphere come to me. It’s not about the individual scenes, it’s about the whole vibe and the whole idea of a found footage style film. It’s more of an experience than a movie I would say.

77. Beauty and the Beast (1991)

This was #22 on my list. One of the best animated movies ever made for sure. Groundbreaking visual standards with beautiful laying of backgrounds and swift movements. A lovely and quite impactful romantic story and good songs. Well balanced between comedy and drama too. One of Disney’s very best for sure.

76. A Moment of Innocence (1996)

Not seen or even heard of this I think.

75. The Remains of the Day (1993)

On my watchlist for a long time but I have yet to see it.

LeBoyWondeur

04-20-25, 08:46 AM

The Remains...oops, I think I've voted for the other one (Howards End).
People are what they are but sometimes they are what they choose to be and won't allow anyone or anything to betray that role play.
It's an exercise in constraint for both Mr. Hopkins and Mr. Stevens and James Fox makes the very best of his supporting role like he always does.
The film's greatest sin is that it ended, I wanted a new chapter with Christopher Reeve's character and his mysterious wife who had yet to make an appearance. I bet she'd be a wicked soap diva who would cause a lot of trouble for several new characters. It could be a Rebecca origins story.

As for the relationship/connection that wasn't meant to be I prefer 84 Charing Cross Road, but The Remains remains a great and rewatchable film.

Haven't seen the other one but back in the 1990s that wasn't my cup of tea anyway. The premise as described in the link seems interesting and I wonder how it's padded out into a feature-length film.

PHOENIX74

04-20-25, 08:56 AM

76. A Moment of Innocence (1996) - I remember watching and reviewing this for a Hall of Fame a few years ago - it's a nice surprise to see it pop up here because it's not mainstream. The only Makhmalbaf film I've seen to date. On letterboxd I wrote this : "A very meta style of filmmaking seems to have taken root in Iran - Iranian Neo-realism - it does their cinematic community much credit to strive forward with such originality and thoughtfulness. From one terrible moment in Makhmalbaf's life could have come a straightforward 'based on true life' film, but he wanted to dig deeper, not only into the event but into the very need to revisit it, and replay it, restage it and reshape it. That's what he saw as meaningful in all of this - the act of recollection, and the wish all of us have from time to time - to go back and change events that we wish we'd acted differently in. He's probably influenced quite a few filmmakers while doing just that. Anyway, when it comes to how highly I rate this film, it's for the original way it's put together, which I find really interesting, and for that final revelatory reaction from our young performers, which I found particularly beautiful. It might not have produced stunning sights and sounds to marvel the senses, but it did produce deep thinking and an appreciation for peace, love and all the kids out there who have so much endless idealism that they think they can save the world and all the people in it singlehandedly - or with their girlfriend, because, you know, two heads are better than one." Sums it up - I gave it a 4/5 rating, and I hope I can add it to my DVD/Blu-Ray collection one day soon.

75. The Remains of the Day (1993) - Caught up with this one a little while ago after it being on my "to watch" list for ages. On letterboxd : "I've been meaning to watch this movie for well over a decade methinks, so it's good to finally sit down (or recline so far back it's more accurate to say "lay down") and take it in. Wistfully sad, it mainly focuses on butler James Stevens (Anthony Hopkins), who is so dedicated to his profession that he loses all sense of the world around him, including a possible love affair with housekeeper Sarah Kenton (Emma Thompson). Talking about the world around him, his boss, the Earl of Darlington (James Fox) ends up something of a Nazi sympathiser before the start of the Second World War, not due to any preconceived notions of right-wing politics, but simply because he's so easily taken in by German diplomats. In the film it's he who advises appeasement with the Germans over their territorial demands, and ends up a villain to his fellow countrymen. Congressman Jack Lewis (Christopher Reeve) stands in for the more pragmatic Americans, who have their finger on the pulse concerning the sea change in 20th Century political reality - realpolitik. Today it would be a three-hour plus movie, but The Remains of the Day runs a stately 134 minutes, making it a long, but not overlong, movie. I thought it's emphasis on Stevens' lost possibilities, and aimless life, gives it an emotional core that I wasn't expecting. I really liked it." I really like Merchant Ivory films overall. Rated this 4/5 also - not on my ballot, but a very stately inclusion on this 1990s list.

Seen : 26/26

seanc

04-20-25, 09:03 AM

0-fer today. Wasn’t expecting that. Swore I watched Remains Of The Day just a couple years ago. I must of been thinking of Howard’s End though. Need to rectify that.

Moment Of Innocence sounds very familiar, maybe from a HoF? I am going to try and track it down.

Back end of these lists always have some unexpected days, this is one for sure.

MovieGal

04-20-25, 09:30 AM

Haven't seen either and of course, not on my list.

KeyserCorleone

04-20-25, 09:47 AM

First time in a while it's been 0 for me. So maybe I'll check out A Moment of Innocence today. I need more Iranian films in my log anyway. But this is honestly the first time I can remember hearing about either. I guess they slipped my radar as only Remains managed to make it onto one list here

Torgo

04-20-25, 10:04 AM

I admire A Moment of Innocence more than I enjoy it. It's certainly clever, if anything. You can read something I wrote about it here (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2313223#post2313223) if you like.

I'm ashamed I haven't seen a single Merchant-Ivory production. I thus know nothing about The Remains of the Day, except...

https://i.postimg.cc/yNvTZ7rN/tumblr-nnhtfwog3-G1qzgwh4o3-500.gif

Miss Vicky

04-20-25, 10:29 AM

I haven't seen either of today's movies.

As I said previously, I wasn't watching foreign movies in the 1990s and even so many years later I think this might be the first I've heard of A Moment of Innocence. I'm a little surprised that the first genre listed for it on IMDb is comedy. Interesting.

The Remains of the Day came out when I was 12. I thought it looked incredibly stuffy and boring - and then I kind of just forgot about its existence. I just watched the trailer for it and it seems like something I might possibly like now so I might give it a shot at some point. Incidentally, I now have the Corpse Bride song of the same name stuck in my head. F***ing earworms.

Seen: 20/26
My Balllot:
9. Point Break (#79)
12. True Romance (#94)
24. Interview With the Vampire (#92)
25. Untamed Heart (One Pointer)

SpelingError

04-20-25, 10:51 AM

A Moment of Innocence was #2 on my ballot. It's my favorite Iranian film.

The Remains of the Day is very good, but it didn't make my ballot.

SpelingError

04-20-25, 10:52 AM

1. Gummo (#97)
2. A Moment of Innocece (#76)
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9. Sonatine (#99)
10. The Celebration (#98)
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.

Harry Lime

04-20-25, 11:10 AM

But the ending can never creep me out again due to a crass joke my nephew once made about it. Every time I see that, that joke pops up in my head and I start (for good or ill) cracking up.
You gotta tell us the joke now.

TheManBehindTheCurtain

04-20-25, 11:25 AM

I check to see what's new every morning, write up my post, copy it to the clipboard, then hit the First Unread link to start catching up, aiming to post when I get to the end. So I'm reading and see that Torgo has written for A Moment of Innocence what I wrote for Remains of the Day!
I admire A Moment of Innocence more than I enjoy it.

A Moment of Innocence: I didn't recognize the title at first, but having read the synopsis I have heard of this story before. On the watchlist now.

Remains of the Day: One of those movies that admire far more than I actually like. Such remarkably fine acting by Hopkins and Thompson, and sumptuous staging. I do in fact like it, but intellectually, not emotionally, and thus it's not on my list.

Seen: 15/26
Ballot: 2/25
Sleepless in Seattle: #91 / My #3
Office Space: #95 / My #23

CosmicRunaway

04-20-25, 11:35 AM

Of the last 6 reveals, I've seen 3 of them.

I always respected David Lynch as an artist and film maker, but I've never exactly been a fan of his work, if that makes sense. He was a very creative person, but there was something about the execution of those ideas that just rarely worked for me. I'm sad that he's gone, even if none of his films were favourites of mine. I did actually revisit Lost Highway recently (just after his death), but it was nowhere near making my list.

Kind of similarly, Point Break is a film I want to like more than I actually do. Friends of mine absolutely love it, but I just think it's okay. I'd seen parts of it on tv when I was younger, but never actually saw the entire thing from start to finish until I was in University. I think all the references and overplaying the homoeroticism of the film I'd seen over the years set my expectations a bit too high.

The third film I've seen is Beauty and the Beast, though I don't really have much to say about it since I don't think I've seen it since I was a teenager. There are 2 animated films on my list, but neither of them are Disney productions.

Out of the other three, I'm not entirely sure I've heard of today's films before now, and I've actively been avoiding The Blair Witch Project because I don't think I'll like it. I've heard such wildly different opinions on it, and the people I know IRL who have a similar taste in horror to me actually despise it. I was not a fan of the marketing campaign it had at the time either, which also put me off from seeing it.

That said, however, I am really curious to check it out for myself. I was planning on finding a horror movie to watch later, so perhaps Blair Witch will be it. We'll see.

Seen: 15/26

My List: 3

07. Strange Days (1995) - #82
11. Gattaca (1997) - #86
18. Total Recall (1990) - #87

John-Connor

04-20-25, 11:37 AM

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/6fQMuCjxdaezTAWVP3MOp3YOhaa.jpg
A romantic period drama that involves an honorable, refined and principled British butler. One who strives daily for perfection in etiquette, discipline and routine. Doesn't sound like it should appeal to a teen in 1993 at the height of grunge rock and gangster rap. But I somehow watched it in the theater on release and loved it. Exquisite film with excellent performances.

Seen 22/26
Ballot 3/25

5. A Few Good Men (1992)
6. The Remains of the Day (1993)
12. Point Break (1991)

Harry Lime

04-20-25, 11:42 AM

Very happy to see A Moment of Innocence make the list. Wow three people had it at #2! I'm the guy that had it at #12. A very personal film for the director, with inspiration surely coming from an earlier 90s Iranian film that Makhmalbaf plays a key role in, but still firmly standing on its own. The older I get, the more films I watch, the more I truly appreciate the simplicity yet profound and humanist films Iranian filmmakers have given us.

12. A Moment of Innocence (1996)
20. Sonatine (1993)

I've seen The Remains of the Day. I liked it. But it's been a very long time. Another couple of new additions to the 90s Top 100 that weren't on the previous list. That's great! I'm glad we did the redux. Unlike most movie remakes we should be encouraged for the future of potential countdown remakes. And thanks for the stats and graphs, Captain!

Raven73

04-20-25, 11:43 AM

Blair Witch Project did not make my list, but it's a movie I enjoyed. It scared the crap out of me. It's a multi-layered movie, one (like The Shining) that you will find several very different theories about on YouTube, and I like that about it- that it's open to interpretation.

ueno_station54

04-20-25, 12:07 PM

i probably should have considered a moment of innocence for my ballot because i know i really, really enjoyed it but i found i couldn't actually remember that much from it. never even heard of the other one.

Citizen Rules

04-20-25, 12:19 PM

Citizen Rules

04-20-25, 12:24 PM

Remains of the Day seen it back in the day, liked it...I think. I had planned on a rewatch but didn't get to it before I sent in my ballot. Still planning on a rewatch one of these days.

Citizen Rules

04-20-25, 12:29 PM

LAMb EELYAK

04-20-25, 12:34 PM

Haven't really checked in yet, so...

Seen six of the one-pointers:

Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey
Fear
DragonHeart
The Legend of Drunken Master
The World Is Not Enough
Life

One of a few limits I had to place on myself to get my list down to 25 was "only one Eastern and one Western Jackie Chan movie," although Legend of Drunken Master probably wouldn't have made it anyway.

Seen 15/25:

95. Office Space (1999) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2550531#post2550531)
94. True Romance (1993) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2550968#post2550968)
91. Sleepless in Seattle (1993) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2551293#post2551293)
90. Three Colors: Red (1994) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2551536#post2551536)
89. The Crow (1994) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2551537#post2551537)
88. My Cousin Vinny (1992) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2551835#post2551835)
87. Total Recall (1990) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2551836#post2551836)
86. Gattaca (1997) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2552164#post2552164)
84. A Few Good Men (1992) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2552446#post2552446)
83. Dumb and Dumber (1994) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2552447#post2552447)
82. Strange Days (1995) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2552779#post2552779)
81. Before Sunrise (1995) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2552780#post2552780)
79. Point Break (1991) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2553133#post2553133)
77. Beauty and the Beast (1991) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2553484#post2553484)
75. The Remains of the Day (1993) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2553718#post2553718)

Only A Few Good Men received any consideration for my list, except...

My list:

6. The Remains of the Day

Watched shortly after deciding to watch all of the Best Picture Oscar nominees, and this was the film that convinced me it would be worthwhile. Had never heard of it, had no interest in it, was even a little bored during the three or four days it took me to watch it, but it wouldn't leave my head. I've seen it several times since (and read the book) and it never bores me now.

John-Connor

04-20-25, 12:42 PM

.

Okay, so you ARE doing actor stats, could've just said so then I wouldn't have bothered.

Wooley

04-20-25, 12:47 PM

The Remains Of The Day is my No.1 Anthony Hopkins performance of his career.
So that's worth something.
Plus Christopher Reeve.

cricket

04-20-25, 01:07 PM

I might have see Remains of the Day but I'll call it a no. It's not the type of film that interests me but that doesn't mean I wouldn't like it.

I did enjoy A Moment of Innocence but didn't consider it for my ballot.

Captain Quint

04-20-25, 01:47 PM

Okay, so you ARE doing actor stats, could've just said so then I wouldn't have bothered.

Oh, I thought we worked that out, that I'd do my thing with the 25 overviews and pointing out certain folks at the top, and you'd do the deep dives with the actors?

Please don't stop, I loved what you did there.

Edit - and I'm just highlight the top people within each 25 chunk of film - the next breakdown for example, is for entries 75 to 51, not the entire list, so we'd be peeling off from one another at that point.

Thursday Next

04-20-25, 01:48 PM

I watched A Moment of Innocence in preparation for this list and I liked it. There was an interesting interplay between past and present, film and reality which I enjoyed. It was not on my list (although I did have a different Iranian film, hopefully still to appear...)

The Remains of the Day is good, although the book is better, if only for getting the tone of his thoughts and the level of his self-deception. It's all very well acted by everybody and looks great, of course. My favourite Merchant-Ivory film is 1987's Maurice but this is probably second.

Wyldesyde19

04-20-25, 01:56 PM

Seen both. Not a big fan of either. A Moment of Innocence is a film I should revisit someday, but I prefer Panahi’s The Mirror.
As for The Remains of the Day, I’m not a fan of James Ivory’s films.

kgaard

04-20-25, 02:11 PM

I haven't seen either of A Moment of Innocence (this one is entirely new to me) or The Remains of the Day, but I do like a nice, long title so I'll try to check them out.

Captain Quint

04-20-25, 02:32 PM

A Moment of Innocence was my choice for Best Picture of 1996, and this is what I said of it.

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I've always enjoyed movies about making movies. Whether it's a love letter, an expose, or a means to work out a block (see Fellini) or, as in the case with Mohsen Makhmalbaf's A Moment of Innocence, an opportunity to come to terms with the past. The story is based on a true event, where, as a teenager, Makhmalbaf stabbed a policeman at a protest rally. Years later he seeks redemption and (along with the policeman), closure, by capturing the act on film. What neither expected was this Rashomon-like journey, where reality is in the eyes and minds of the beholder. We see two sides of the coin, two perspectives on what happened and why. Along with two others - the actors portraying the filmmaker and the former cop, who inject their own personalities into the tale and resist seeing history repeat itself - which culminates in one of cinema's most memorable final freeze-frames.

While the story is simple, there's a wellspring of poignancy and idea, drawing from human connections and introspection, kindness and forgiveness. And though wise and based on a serious, terrible deed, it's not morose. There are several laugh-out-loud situations. Such as the cop wanting the handsome boy to play him in the movie. Scene after scene, Moment proves itself a significant and special film experience.

I had 4 of mine make the first 25...

A Moment of Innocence
#2 on my 90s Ballot
#1 on my Makhmalbaf list
#1 on my Top 10 of 1996
My selection for Iran in my list of "Favorite Films from Around the World"

Three Colors: Red
#1 Film of 1994
#3 on my Ballot

Dead Man
#2 on my Top 10 of 1995
#7 on my 90s Ballot
I strangely have never made a firm top westerns list, but I do have a "Best of the West", where I select my favorite western or neo-western of the year - Dead Man was my pick in 1995.... not that it had much competition, there was The Quick and the Dead and the Sidney Poitier made for TV miniseries, Children of the Dust, and that was about it.

Before Sunrise
#4 on my Top 10 of 1995
#15 on my 90s Ballot
Hmm, never made a Best Romances list either, I should get on that

Thief

04-20-25, 02:59 PM

I don't know if I've ever heard of A Moment of Innocence but I'm intrigued.

I also haven't seen The Remains of the Day, so that's two donuts for me.

SEEN: 13/26
MY BALLOT: 3/25

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9. The Blair Witch Project (1999, #78)
10.
11. Interview with the Vampire (1994, #92)
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19. A Few Good Men (1992, #84)
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.

stillmellow

04-20-25, 03:23 PM

I don't know if I've ever heard of A Moment of Innocence but I'm intrigued.

I also haven't seen The Remains of the Day, so that's two donuts for me.

SEEN: 13/26
MY BALLOT: 3/25

I'm surprisingly close to identical.

Never heard of Moment of Innocence. I've heard of Remains of the Day, but haven't seen it. And my totals:

Seen: 16/26
List: 3/25

stillmellow

04-20-25, 03:24 PM

Acting: With 3 - Michael Wincott (The Crow, Dead Man, and Strange Days) & Tom Sizemore (True Romance, Point Break, Strange Days)

Directing: Kathryn Bigelow - 2 films (Point Break & Strange Days)

Those were not the actors or director I was expecting to have the highest numbers first.

Miss Vicky

04-20-25, 04:48 PM

I saw that A Moment Of Innocence was on YouTube and it's only 75 minutes long so I decided to give it a try.

Well, I definitely don't love it. I wouldn't even say that I like it. I like the idea of it - it had a really interesting concept - but the execution just wasn't there for me. It had a lot of issues with pacing and dragged quite a bit in places. It's also not a particularly good looking movie, even taking into account that YouTube's not exactly the best way to view it. I also struggled a lot in the beginning to understand what was happening (I had to pause and read up on it a bit) and I never truly connected with the film.

I respect what it was trying to do, but it's just not for me.

2.5

Seen: 21/26

ScarletLion

04-20-25, 05:55 PM

So glad 'A moment of innocence' made it. It was high up on my list. Exceptional film.

stillmellow

04-20-25, 05:58 PM

With nothing else going on today, I watched a Moment of Innocence. I must say I was delightfully surprised. It doesn't quite come together as a fully fleshed out film, but it's well performed, with very human characters.

As the adults attempt to recreate the violent traumas of their past, the young actors rebel by choosing peace instead. As a bleeding heart liberal, how can I not love that?

Not top 25, but I definitely enjoyed it.

Seen: 17/26
List: 3/25

mrblond

04-20-25, 06:00 PM

Well, Well, Well...
#75. The Remains of the Day (1993) is my #1 of the 90's.

That's a great cinema art. Cinematography, film sets, screenplay... and what an acting: Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson and the outstanding Peter Vaughan. I've seen this film a dozen of times. A remarkable work.
I've hoped it gonna be considerably higher on the list but now I see that most of the users even not seen it.

107297

-----

My Ballot
▽
1. The Remains of the Day (1993) [#75]
...
8. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) [#100]
...
20.
...
25. The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill... (1995) [one pointer]

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/qtwipjmSypSQuSvz5BNirSxZqbg.jpg https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/8FxWgsfDNosewo7H65oE4QkOb7g.jpg https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/zeDiKW9sGnWj0wIzzO4u8uMXeMw.jpg

-----

On My Extended List
▽

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/khKJwHxgXSpDl3iKGJ5S15I8ABI.jpg https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/AqlPzcILRi0IW0JodKp7pMMNEFt.jpg https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/irlGcVOG7CJ29yXIB7nVcEQTKbC.jpg

dadgumblah

04-20-25, 06:50 PM

A Moment of Innocence is not one I've heard of till today. I read the description on IMDB and it really intrigued me so I will be watching that one.

I saw Remains of the Day when it first was released and I truly loved it. Anthony Hopkins playing his part as a man whose total devoton to his job robs him of even thinking of being selfish for himself, was exceptional. It takes as much precision, probably more, to play restrained than it does flamboyant. You have to let moments of humanity show even when you're playing it on the down-low and that's the real feat of what Hopkins achieved.

Voted for neither. Glad to see RotD make it.

Miss Vicky

04-20-25, 08:38 PM

I just watched the trailer for [The Remains of the Day] and it seems like something I might possibly like now

I decided to test this and just got finished watching The Remains of the Day. Well, there were a lot of things that I liked about it. The sets and the costuming are gorgeous, the pacing is good - especially considering how little actually happens in the film, and the acting is superb. But my big issue with the movie is that I really, really disliked Stevens. I understand that the idea is to examine the tragedy of being so dedicated to your duties and being so loyal to an employer that you deny yourself any actual emotion and are left blind to the nefarious nature of certain things and people around you, but damn it his rigidity and how outwardly callous it made him was just infuriating.

I have nothing but respect for this movie and I'll allow my rating to reflect that, but this is not something I'm likely to revisit.

3.5
Seen: 22/26

LeBoyWondeur

04-20-25, 08:56 PM

I've actively been avoiding The Blair Witch Project because I don't think I'll like it. I've heard such wildly different opinions on it, and the people I know IRL who have a similar taste in horror to me actually despise it. I was not a fan of the marketing campaign it had at the time either, which also put me off from seeing it.

That said, however, I am really curious to check it out for myself.
I won't try to persuade you to watch it, but I will say this: it's not difficult to make an amateurish film, but it takes talent to make it look convincingly amateurish, and therefore I think Blair Witch has more to offer than just the horror theme.

BigBendHiker68

04-20-25, 09:03 PM

I watched A Moment of Innocence in the 29th HoF, I didn't get the appeal of the movie or more to the point the pay off at the end did nothing for me. I've seen some Iranian films and haven't liked most of them but I did see one recently that I highly recommend Leila's Brothers (2022).

Two Iranian films I highly recommend (if you haven't seen them already and are interested Citizen Rules )are A Separation (2011) and The Salesman (2016).

Both are excellent, but being a live theater nerd, I particularly loved The Salesman.

I put Leila's Brothers on the watchlist!

Wooley

04-20-25, 09:07 PM

I saw Remains of the Day when it first was released and I truly loved it. Anthony Hopkins playing his part as a man whose total devoton to his job robs him of even thinking of being selfish for himself, was exceptional. It takes as much precision, probably more, to play restrained than it does flamboyant. You have to let moments of humanity show even when you're playing it on the down-low and that's the real feat of what Hopkins achieved.

Exactly.
This is really the film that taught me that concept. In fact, it was kinda because of this film that for years I would just roll my eyes at any actor chewing scenery even if I knew they were good actors (looking at you, Gary Oldman).

Citizen Rules

04-20-25, 10:32 PM

Two Iranian films I highly recommend (if you haven't seen them already and are interested @Citizen Rules (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=84637) )are A Separation (2011) and The Salesman (2016).

Both are excellent, but being a live theater nerd, I particularly loved The Salesman.

I put Leila's Brothers on the watchlist!I forgot about A Separation (2011) I did see that and really liked it. I rated it a 4.5 Link to my review (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2339736#post2339736).

iluv2viddyfilms

04-20-25, 10:55 PM

Today's reveal are two films I haven't seen, but need to watch.

crumbsroom

04-20-25, 11:12 PM

Remains of the Day, great adaptation of a great book.

Room With a View is still probably the best Merchant Ivory film, but it's close.

gbgoodies

04-21-25, 02:18 AM

I've never heard of A Moment of Innocence.

I watched the trailer for The Remains of the Day, and it looks kind of familiar, so I might have seen it a long time ago, but if I did, I don't remember anything about it. (I didn't even remember that Anthony Hopkins starred in it.)

Robert the List

04-21-25, 04:01 AM

I had 3 Iranian films just miss out on my 90s ballot, including A Moment of Innocence.
My favourite Iranian film though is from the 1980s. That one just missed out on my all time 100.
Iran is always nearly but not quite for me!

CosmicRunaway

04-21-25, 05:27 AM

I won't try to persuade you to watch it, but I will say this: it's not difficult to make an amateurish film, but it takes talent to make it look convincingly amateurish, and therefore I think Blair Witch has more to offer than just the horror theme.
I actually did watch it yesterday.

I'm not a fan of found footage films, and wasn't invested in the story at all, but I did watch the entire thing. I kept expecting some story twist, or something interesting to happen to explain why so many people like the film, but that moment never came. I was ultimately left saying "Oh, that's it?" when the credits rolled.

That's still a better reaction than I expected, and I don't regret finally giving the film a chance, but I can't say it really left much of an impression on me. The filmmakers definitely did a good job accomplishing the style they were going for; it's just not something that appeals to me personally.

Captain Quint

04-21-25, 07:36 AM

5lists87pointsElection (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/9451-election.html)Director
Alexander Payne, 1999

Starring
Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon, Chris Klein, Jessica Campbell

Captain Quint

04-21-25, 07:37 AM

6lists87pointsClose-Up (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/30017-close-up.html)Director
Abbas Kiarostami, 1990

Starring
Hossain Sabzian, Monoochehr Ahankhah, Mahrokh Ahankhah, Abolfazl Ahankhah

ueno_station54

04-21-25, 07:40 AM

i don't know nothing about either of these besides the titles.

Captain Quint

04-21-25, 07:43 AM

Okay, this was a tangled web, a 4-way tie - Election found its way ahead of Remains of the Day based on highest position on ballots (they were still tied on a first pass with #1 rankings - on the second highest - Election took it, 3rd to 6th)

* Close-Up was on more ballots than Election, 6 to 5, but behind tomorrows entry (8 to 6)

So, we had a Mohsen Makhmalbaf film yesterday (A Moment of Innocence) and now fellow Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami joins the list, with a true tale about a man who was arrested and sent to trial for pretending to be Makhmalbaf - the real director even shows up in the movie at the end and gives the Faux Mohsen a ride on his bike, to make amends to the people he fooled. Close-Up is considered by many one of the, if not 'the' greatest Iranian film, which always ranks high on the Sight and Sound polls (#17 on the last critics poll).

* We had a brief but lively conversation about Election on the "Countdown Group Watch" thread - funny, a couple of its defenders admitted that they wouldn't be voting for it, but it did find its way on 5 ballots, with 1 first place vote and a 3rd, to help propel it into the hot 100.

Trivia - Part of the story was inspired by a real-life incident (there's your theme of the day), in which a pregnant student at a High School in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, was elected homecoming queen, but staff announced a different winner and burned the ballots to cover it up.

Both movies are part of the Criterion Collection, Close-Up is Spine #519, while Election is #904

107306

On the original 90s countdown, Close-Up came in at #80, while Election was unranked

cricket

04-21-25, 08:28 AM

Seen both, like 1 (Election)

rauldc14

04-21-25, 08:36 AM

Seen both. Election is good. Close Up I didn't care for although I like Kiarostami decently.

Holden Pike

04-21-25, 08:54 AM

107308

This is the fourth appearance of Close-Up. It was #80 on that initial MoFo '90s list as well as #48 on the MoFo Top 100 Foreign Films and #59 on the MoFo Top 100 Documentaries. Somehow this is the first MoFo list for Election. Probably Mr. McAllistser up to his usual vote counting shenanigans.

mattiasflgrtll6

04-21-25, 09:06 AM

Not only haven't the last four been on my list, I haven't even seen them. Getting kinda sad now :(

seanc

04-21-25, 09:09 AM

Interesting Close-Up shows up today. I started Moment of Innocence last night (don’t judge me, old fat men get tired at night and fall asleep), and with about 20 minutes left to watch am definitely feeling like it’s a slighter version of Close-Up. I consider myself a pretty big Kiarastomi fan, but Close-Up is in that second tier for me. I didn’t end up having a Kiarastomi on my list. Desperately tried to cram Taste Of Cherry on there, but it didn’t happen. Thinking this will be his only entry, feels like his most well regarded. Not my choice, but I’m glad he has something here. Excellent, unique director.

I could gush on Payne a bit too. I really love him, but didn’t make room for Election either. Really due for a rewatch of this one, but I’m certainly glad it’s here.

PHOENIX74

04-21-25, 09:12 AM

74. Election (1999) - Been enjoying this film for a long time, it has such an interesting take on so much to do with personality, morals, fairness, class, education, intelligence and popularity. I love the way it winds many complex issues right back to high school, and how it puts us in the mind of Matthew Broderick's teacher - we agree with his point of view, but he's the ultimate flawed protagonist who ends up doing all the cheating, despite his subjective moral superiority to his arch nemesis. Such a great performance from Matthew Broderick, and also Reese Witherspoon. Amazing screenplay and direction from Alexander Payne. This came out of nowhere one day - it just looked like your everyday comedy, but it's smart and very observant and really launched Payne's career. I had to have it on my ballot - it's one of my favourite films, and it's probably been too long since I last watched it. I had it at #18.

73. Close-Up (1990) - I think I watched this because it came up during the Foreign Language Countdown - that was around three years ago. It was my first taste of how filmmakers like Kiarostami and Makhmalbaf mix real life documentary filmmaking with conventional narrative to produce something completely new, weird and complex. I scored it 4/5 and used words like "compelling" to describe my experience with it, but I feel I should really go back and see it again now that I'm fully used to this unusual style - I think I was still a little resistant despite being in no doubt as to how inventive and brilliant it was. I have another Iranian film on my ballot that hovers around the Moment of Innocence/Close-Up zone, but it might not make the countdown. I still have a little hope - but not much!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seen : 28/28
I'd never even heard of : 0/28
Movies that had been on my radar, but I haven't seen yet : 0/28
Films from my list : 4 + 1 pointer

#74 - My #18 - Election (1999)
#78 - My #2 - The Blair Witch Project (1999)
#81 - My #22 - Before Sunrise (1995)
#96 - My #15 - Fallen Angels (1995)
1-pointer - Deep Crimson (1996)

TheManBehindTheCurtain

04-21-25, 10:15 AM

Election: Love this. Not on my list, and wondering why. Sheesh ... looks like I left it off my spreadsheet. Could have been a contender for sure. Reese Witherspoon's expressions are just scary good. And Matthew Broderick was perfect as the teacher who can't get anything right.

Close-Up: Gosh, another I've not seen and, in this case, not heard of. Feeling somewhat inadequate in my knowledge of non-English-language films.

Seen: 16/28
Ballot: 2/25
Sleepless in Seattle: #91 / My #3
Office Space: #95 / My #23

Harry Lime

04-21-25, 10:16 AM

Close-Up is a masterpiece and my #1 of the decade. I've rewatched it quite a few times recently, as well as other films by Kiarostami, and his work is undeniable. The more I revisit the more I'm bumping up my ratings. I get why some might not think so and that's fine...but you're wrong and that's fine too. I could have had three of his films on my list.

One of if not the greatest moment in cinema. Spoilers (I guess haha?)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_tGkf_jnCk

As for Election, there's one more thing about Tracy I think you should know. Her movie gets so good. Just outside of my top 25. Top 50 for sure.

1. Close-Up (1990)
12. A Moment of Innocence (1996)
20. Sonatine (1993)

The three of mine to show up so far are all non-English language. Cool!

ApexPredator

04-21-25, 10:20 AM

A Moment of Innocence? Hadn't Seen It.

The Remains of the Day? Hadn't Seen It, but younger me would have avoided those stiff upper lip would be romancers if someone dared to utter an emotion, a feeling about how they felt for each other.

Election? Good film, but not on the list

Close-Up? Hadn't Seen It.

Seen: 15/28

Thief

04-21-25, 10:25 AM

I'm very happy to see Election come up, after it missing the Comedy Countdown a few years back. Like I said back then, this is a film that I saw a long time ago, and even though I didn't revisit it for a long time, it kinda always stuck with me. I revisited it a couple of years ago, before that countdown, and that's when its brilliance hit me. Here is my full review (https://www.movieforums.com/reviews/2231851-election.html), but here's also a snippet of it:

One of the things that Election does so well is to balance a tone that walks a really tight-rope between dark comedy, serious drama, and socio-political subtext. And depending on your state of mind when you see it, there might be different things that resonate with you.

If there's any fan here, I recommend you seek the alternate ending on YouTube. Even though I like the actual ending a lot, I think this alternate ending has so many interesting layers to both lead characters, and ends the film in a more pensive note that I quite liked. An interesting curiosity. Anyway, I love it. I had it at #13.

I haven't seen Close-Up. Kiarostami is a big blind spot for me. I haven't seen anything.

SEEN: 14/28
MY BALLOT: 4/25

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9. The Blair Witch Project (1999, #78)
10.
11. Interview with the Vampire (1994, #92)
12.
13. Election (1999, #74)
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19. A Few Good Men (1992, #84)
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.

Thief

04-21-25, 10:27 AM

Here is the alternate ending...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhezOPupmj4

Miss Vicky

04-21-25, 10:36 AM

I watched Election for Group Watch and it wasn't my kind of movie.

I haven't seen Close Up. I just read the synopsis on IMDb: "The true story of Hossain Sabzian, a cinephile who impersonated the director Mohsen Makhmalbaf to convince a family they would star in his so-called new film." Interesting that it shows up so soon after A Moment of Innocence. It's under two hours so maybe I'll give it a shot.

Seen: 23/28
My Balllot:
9. Point Break (#79)
12. True Romance (#94)
24. Interview With the Vampire (#92)
25. Untamed Heart (One Pointer)

kgaard

04-21-25, 10:36 AM

I probably should watch Election again--I liked it fine when I watched it back in the day, but I didn't love it, and I've never entirely warmed up to Payne. But it's so well-regarded that I think I should give it another watch. Not on my list.

Love Kiarostami, love Close-Up. In some ways reminiscent of another great documentary-esque film, F for Fake, I think it's just a wonderful way of playing with the nature of reality and identity. This was my #15.

Thief

04-21-25, 11:11 AM

Also, meant to post these facts yesterday when we hit our first 25, but here they are anyway...

At this point, our highest ranked entries on Rotten Tomatoes are:

Before Sunrise - 100%
Three Colors: Red - 97%
The Remains of the Day - 96%
Porco Rosso - 96%
Beauty and the Beast - 95%
Fallen Angels - 95%

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/kf1Jb1c2JAOqjuzA3H4oDM263uB.jpg https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/JHmsBiX1tjCKqAul1lzC20WcAW.jpg https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/uDGDtqSvuch324WnM7Ukdp1bCAQ.jpg https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/8mIvSvnVBApfORL9N6S38Q7wD6A.jpg https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/hUJ0UvQ5tgE2Z9WpfuduVSdiCiU.jpg https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/yyM9BPdwttK5LKZSLvHae7QPKo1.jpg

The only "rotten" entry so far, has been Gummo, which has a 39% approval on RT.

https://resizing.flixster.com/VqP1bEEuvGNngAWK0x6P9nEwqpI=/fit-in/705x460/v2/https://resizing.flixster.com/-XZAfHZM39UwaGJIFWKAE8fS0ak=/v3/t/assets/p19874_i_h9_aa.jpg

As usual, a friendly reminder that the RT Score is not a measure of quality, but an aggregate that tells you the percentage of critics that were positive on a film. So by that measure, pretty much every critic had a positive reaction to Before Sunrise, but that positive reaction could go from "This is amazing!" to "meh, twas Ok". On the other hand, this also means that there are a "few" critics that were positive towards Gummo.

-

As far as IMDb goes, the highest ranked entries have been:

Close-Up - 8.2
Before Sunrise - 8.1
Beauty and the Beast - 8.0
The Celebration - 8.0
True Romance - 7.9

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVG6s5XhdRCpB3wYD2IpmdPMn5X3v358ixOGctSB4UczqJG0UNf6fokljrD4Z3y3GtarBGStyPkDhEbuItRXyy1orGgvYz G-pK21UzQtfV1OIOBbDWJRmQny1dl42twPxG9_g2/s1600/close-up2.jpg

On the other hand, the lowest ranked entries on IMDb are:

Election - 7.2
Strange Days - 7.2
Sleepless in Seattle - 6.8
The Blair Witch Project - 6.5
Gummo - 6.6

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/5gPOFU6IPvDrx50XaPCK4twNw79.jpg https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/rY5BrDRcYAKE0BYmmT66YG6Uy5Q.jpg https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/jAXfku1u1uaLGh4cUmK0ESf1pPu.jpg https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/9050VGrYjYrEjpOvDZVAngLbg1f.jpg https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/tMdoCRx0XIPR5uYBwxbxR7WCNBb.jpg

So some overlaps between both groups. Take from that what you may.

Also remember, the IMDb rating is supposed to be a measure of "perceived quality" based on user's ratings. So also, take from that what you may.

-

More list facts:

There have been nine (9) ties so far.
The point gaps between films have been minimal, with the biggest one so far being three (3) points each between The Blair Witch Project, Beauty and the Beast, and A Moment of Innocence.

stillmellow

04-21-25, 11:41 AM

i don't know nothing about either of these besides the titles.

Ditto.

honeykid

04-21-25, 11:56 AM

One thing I love about Point Break... is when it was remade in like, 2015, everyone screamed and it bombed.

But when it was remade in 2001, it spawned 11 movies in total, and all of them are worse than that 2015 remake.
That's how a friend got me to see that film. Needless to say but, while I agreed it was Point Break with Cars, in no way was it Point Break with cars. Never seen any of the others.

When that happens, I'm in! The 80s was when I finally re-emerged from college and started watching movies again. I know I've seen 1984 (forgotten about Richard Burton!) but would have to rewatch. I know it seemed outlandish back then ... I fear not so much today!

I love seeing mentions like this because it reminds me how it's always relevant. Orwell was writing about his time. His day. 1984 is just a reversal of the year he wrote it because he was writing as he saw the world there and then and just expanded on it. Which is what a lot of sci fi is anyway, isn't it?

It also reminds me that 'golden ages/time' are someone elses crap time and 'things had already gone wrong by then' in their opinion. A Christmas Carol is another example held up of a bygone age when it was 'the real Christmas' but, again, Dickens was writing about the Christmas' he remembered as a child and not the 'commercialised' version he saw about him in 1840's Victorian England.

They've done studies into this and the thing to remember is that it seems that about 50 years ago things were 'perfect' and that's replicated in writing going back to the 1700's at least. Be it in 'literature' or personal diaries. In Western countries, anyway. My hypothesis? It's because you were young then and being young is better than being old. You know less, you've experienced less and you don't ache as much. :D

The 80s will be difficult for me. I was preteen to young adult in the 80s so my film watching was Teen films. Even as an older adult, i cant watch was popular adult films from the 80s. I really didnt like Against All Odds when i watched it a few months back for the first time. The music in the film was great, the movie meh.

Is Against All Odds supposed to be good? I remember it being thought of that way when it came out. :D

I had The Remains Of The Day at #16. It's just a gloriously sumptuous looking film and, as a buttoned up Englishman, I feel like I've known a few Stevens (although maybe not quite to that extreme) and can relate to and understand all the class system politics and nuance. Although never in service, as a young boy my eldest family members were of that generation and had that reverence and deference for people due to their station, not for who they were. On a human level, it's a heartbreaking yet frustrating film and, if you're going to have narrative art films, this is top tier stuff. This is the performance Hopkins should've won the Oscar for.

I've not seen A Moment Of Silence or Close Up (though I think I might have it?) and Election is something I saw when it came out and liked, but it didn't really click with me (which surprised my friends at the time) and I've never returned to.

LeBoyWondeur

04-21-25, 12:33 PM

Thief

04-21-25, 12:41 PM

Re: Point Break with Cars, I'm not a car person and I really didn't like the original The Fast and the Furious, but I will admit that Fast Five was a really strong, action film, and I also had fun with the next couple of films in the series.

seanc

04-21-25, 12:43 PM

They've done studies into this and the thing to remember is that it seems that about 50 years ago things were 'perfect' and that's replicated in writing going back to the 1700's at least. Be it in 'literature' or personal diaries. In Western countries, anyway. My hypothesis? It's because you were young then and being young is better than being old. You know less, you've experienced less and you don't ache as much. :D

HK has never spoken truer words. I don’t really do social media anymore, but at the dawn of it I wanted to call everyone from my generation out for being liars or having selective memory at the very least. I lived in the same neighborhood as these people. Their experience couldn’t have been that different than mine. The good old days is a myth and a lie.

Sedai

04-21-25, 01:03 PM

Some catch-up for me...

The Blair Witch Project - Like many here at MoFo, I went to this in 1999 with a group of friends. It was a bunch of ravers, and a couple of the girls were not horror fans at all. My GF and I both ended up liking it quite a bit, but the two other bouncy/cutsie chicks were both sort of traumatized afterwards. One of them came out of the theater in a fair amount of distress and had to sit down for a while and collect herself. She swore off seeing any more horror films in the future at that point. I think the film still holds up pretty well these days, but is a far cry from a classic, IMO. That said, i tend to be someone who actually enjoyed the sequel from 2016, especially the third act, which I find to be genuinely unsettling even on additional viewings. Was not on my ballot.

Beauty and the Beast - Have seen this many, many times over the past few years, and my daughter just adores this. Excellent story and animation and really strong music. Didn't make my ballot, though.

I have neither seen or heard of either A Moment of Innocence or The Remains of the Day.

I have seen Election once, and I recall really liking it. With all the accolades here, I want to watch it again. Didn't even consider it for my ballot.

Never heard of Close-up.

Still just Three Colors: Red from my ballot so far...

WrinkledMind

04-21-25, 01:11 PM

Election was my Number One.
Thank you to everyone else who voted for it. More so when I read that it's never made it into any lists on this forum. Kinda shocking that.

As I said it in the Group watch thread, it's my favourite Payne movie & one of my favourite satires. Kind of a typical Payne flick if you think about it.
Holden Pike put it better than everyone else when he said, '... the characters are unlikeable. Deliciously by design'.

I am really glad they didn't go with the alternate ending, which was actually the original ending.

Of the other movies, I am glad to see Total Recall, Lost Highway & Before Sunrise making the list. All of them were my late cuts.

Wyldesyde19

04-21-25, 01:32 PM

Seen both can’t recall how I felt about Election, since it’s been since it’s first release on dvd. That was about 25 years ago or so.

Saw Close Up and didn’t think too much of it.

Holden Pike

04-21-25, 01:41 PM

I like Election, I've seen it a few times, but as far as caricature dark comedy goes I think Reese Witherspoon did a more ballsy job in Freeway (1996).
Still, I'd put it above the similar Drop Dead Gorgeous which was also fun but maybe not quite as smart.
105284

Freeway is certainly a more intentionally outrageous flick amped at a much higher level of satire, and a good movie, but nowhere near the same class of Election. Not in my book, anyway.

Election's characters are all unlikable, for sure. Very deliciously by design. But if you watch a movie like Election to see who wins the Carver High School student body presidency, I dare say you have completely missed the point. This isn't The Mighty Ducks or Legally Blonde. In the wise words of third-party candidate Tammy Metzler, "Who cares about this stupid election?" Election is a satire that uses human weaknesses and hypocrisies for its fodder, and it doesn't let anybody off the hook. I think it does so very effectively and with some terrific dark humor, which is director Alexander Payne's specialty: deeply flawed protagonists in uncomfortable situations, either due to or made worse by their own decisions or lies, rarely with any real triumphs. But what wonderful characters, and how delightful watching their struggles and failures.

Election did not place on my MoFo ballot, but it is easily one of my Top Hundred of the decade and a worthy, overdue inclusion. By its plot description alone it may seem in line with Clueless (1995), but it is much more like To Die For (1995) or Welcome to the Dollhouse (1996).

Payne has a very strong filmography, and even though Election was only his second feature it remains right up there among his best work (Sideways, Nebraska, The Holdovers). This is only Payne's third title to appear on an official MoFo list. Sideways was #60 on the MoFo Top 100 of the Millennium then moved up to #39 on the MoFo Top 100 of the 2000s while The Descendants snuck onto the bottom on the MoFo Top 100 of the 2010s at #98.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50K_XjdZyII

Thief

04-21-25, 02:02 PM

I am really glad they didn't go with the alternate ending, which was actually the original ending.

I liked the ending we got, but like I said, I really liked what that alternate ending brought to the table. Curious why you didn't like it?

Holden Pike

04-21-25, 02:09 PM

Robert the List

04-21-25, 02:37 PM

Election's another one I never knew existed!

MovieGal

04-21-25, 02:44 PM

Havent seen either, neither made my list.

mrblond

04-21-25, 04:23 PM

Due to its poster and popularity among the masses, I've ignored any info about Election for many years, thinking it is some usual crappy teen movie. At the same time, Alexander Payne became one of the most loved cinema figures for me of the last generation filmmakers. That's meaning that I've seen hundreds of times About Schmidt, Sideways and Nebraska, finding all these titles as absolute masterpieces of the new century. So, during the high excitement about the recent Payne's success with The Holdovers, I opened his catalog to see is there something I've missed. And yes, I couldn't believe seeing Election there. Then, I proceeded it with caution to find out that it is quite a good serious film. There wasn't place in my ballot for it but will be in my top 70-90 of the 90's for sure.

Long Live Alexander Payne!

107332

Allaby

04-21-25, 06:10 PM

I've seen and liked both Election and Close Up, but neither made my ballot.

Seen: 28/28

LeBoyWondeur

04-21-25, 06:32 PM

But if you watch a movie like Election to see who wins the Carver High School student body presidency, I dare say you have completely missed the point.
Oh, I don't know. Everyone can decide for themselves what they're getting out of it.
To quote David Bowie:
All art is unstable. Its meaning is not necessarily that implied by the author. There is no authoritative voice. There are only multiple readings.

Citizen Rules

04-21-25, 06:38 PM

Havent seen either, neither made my list.Ditto.

TheManBehindTheCurtain

04-21-25, 06:47 PM

I had The Remains Of The Day at #16. It's just a gloriously sumptuous looking film and, as a buttoned up Englishman, I feel like I've known a few Stevens (although maybe not quite to that extreme) and can relate to and understand all the class system politics and nuance. Although never in service, as a young boy my eldest family members were of that generation and had that reverence and deference for people due to their station, not for who they were. On a human level, it's a heartbreaking yet frustrating film and, if you're going to have narrative art films, this is top tier stuff. This is the performance Hopkins should've won the Oscar for.

... Election is something I saw when it came out and liked, but it didn't really click with me (which surprised my friends at the time) and I've never returned to.

Thanks for this insight. Given what you say about your background, I can understand why Election wouldn't click for you. As a buttoned-down American, I wonder if it didn't seem less of a dark comedy or satire than a mockumentary of American school "culture."

1993 was a bit of a mess. I agree ... Hanks was good in Philadelphia, but just good. Hopkins was sublime. The other snub I've never gotten over was Tommy Lee Jones over Ralph Fiennes (didn't he go by Rafe back then?) for supporting actor. Jones? Yeah, good, in a mannered sort of way that the script made possible. Fiennes was chilling in Schindler in a way that went well beyond the mere scripting of his lines.

Wondering where we'll see these turn up later ....

TheManBehindTheCurtain

04-21-25, 06:50 PM

To quote David Bowie:
All art is unstable. Its meaning is not necessarily that implied by the author. There is no authoritative voice. There are only multiple readings.

Every time I hear that for every piece of art there is a unique interpretation (which I agree with), I recall this poem from Stephen Crane:

Once there was a man -
Oh, so wise!
In all drink
He detected the bitter,
And in all touch
He found the sting.
At last he cried thus:
'There is nothing -
No life,
No joy,
No pain -
There is nothing save opinion,
And opinion be damned.'

LeBoyWondeur

04-21-25, 07:00 PM

As a buttoned-down American, I wonder if it didn't seem less of a dark comedy or satire than a mockumentary of American school "culture."
Good point.
These high school politics and cheerleader culture are alien to me, and even if Election had been a straightforward drama it would still look like "much ado about nothing".
I guess that's why I find it so fascinating to watch.

MovieMeditation

04-21-25, 08:19 PM

Another two movies from my watchlist!

”…but MM, it seems like you have every movie ever made on your damn watchlist!?”… ah yes, it is indeed way too long and way too overwhelming at this point haha

Anyway! Election is a Payne I haven’t seen and a popular one at that. I’ve seen quite a few of his films and i enjoy them very much. I like his style.

Close-up is by Abbas of which I’ve only seen Certified Copy - a movie I very much enjoyed. So yeah, I’ve been meaning to check out more from him ever since.

beelzebubble

04-21-25, 08:54 PM

I don't like Election's unused ending, either. The ending Payne gives us is perfect. The one from the novel lets the characters off the hook a bit, and that ain't the direction they would go. In the unused ending McAllister sees Tracy's modest upbringing and fears, humanizing her and likely further regretting his actions towards her. For her part, she trusts him as a responsible adult at face value, showing a level of naiveté and innocence we had not seen before. That's all hogwash and undercuts the petty decisions they let rule them. People don't change that dramatically that quickly. Especially not when they think they are in the right and free of blame, as both felt completely justified in their actions around the election. In the "real" ending, McAllister continues to be a bitter, delusional schmuck, and Flick is still on her upward trajectory likely making the exact same sorts of mistakes, failing upward until one of these days way down the line when she's not pretty enough to get away with such behavior. Apt and poetic fates for both. And still darkly funny.

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=107330
What this guy said! :up:

This is the first of my choices to appear on this list.

1.
2.
3. Election (1999)
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.

A wonderful dark comedy (but not too dark) with a strong female lead. Love it!

Of the other four, I have seen Remains of the Day, which I like very much. I am a big Merchant-Ivory fan. I am afraid I have never seen the two Iranian films.

LAMb EELYAK

04-21-25, 09:08 PM

dadgumblah

04-21-25, 11:15 PM

Election is a movie I like very much. Reese Witherspoon and Matthew Broderick bounce perfectly against each other. I don't want to say they bounce off of each other because that would make it sound too sickly-sweet. And they aren't that...at all. And we're all the richer for it. I like almost any film Witherspoon's been in that I've seen and this one is no different. It's been a while since I've seen it but now I want to see it again. Alas, I didn't pick it for my list.

Close-Up I have heard of, even about the real-life story but I've yet to see the film.

Two no-shows from me. Argh.

iluv2viddyfilms

04-22-25, 12:47 AM

Close-Up is my 19th pick on my list. I had seen Taste of Cherry years and years ago and I really liked it and was surprised on reading reviews post-viewing the film, how divisive it was. Yes, it's slow, but it's never not-interesting and it's always thought provoking. Close-Up is a bit faster paced and as far as Abbas Kiarostami goes, I prefer it to Taste of Cherry. Oh and as a writer, I really did enjoy The White Balloon, despite my tendency to find that young girl a bit insufferable, and yes I know that's partly the point.

https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F623cc904-54cd-4282-90c7-9d033b948679_680x510.jpeg

What's interesting to me about the film is how a single moment, just a random act on a complete whim can slowly build and build and build upon itself. Sabzian had no real interest to impersonate or mislead anyone until a chance opportunity came his way, which of course sent him down a rabbit hole that led to his ultimate arrest and trial for impersonating the director Mohsen Makhmalbaf. I enjoy how the film takes a real event, and uses the same personnel for actors and tries to re-create it. Also it does seem like such an odd crime too. When I think about crimes that would make headlines or get media and public attention, impersonating film directors seems low on the list. But still.

The trial scene is great and the lines Sabzian speaks on what film meant to him and the subconscious motivation to be important or a person of value speaks volumes. I would imagine this is especially true in a nation like Iran where a person doesn't have quite the opportunity for upward social mobility as they do in America, let alone the ability or canvas in which to follow their passion. I think many of the lines do echo the sentiments that many of us have as lovers of film - not only as a narrative form, but also as a form that speaks to the human condition, chronicles history and culture, and film as a medium that brings together several different arts - music, acting, writing, photography, editing, and on and on. So yeah, some of the moments in this film really touched me. Also the sequence of his arrest is beautifully done in a very non-Hollywood and anti-climatic and non sensationalized way.

Much has been written and spoken about it's documentary and fictionalized style too and it does work really well for me. Obviously this is nothing new, even in 1990 - just see Errol Morris' Thin Blue Line and a handful of other films too... maybe even films and works that have origins in works like Truman Capote's non-fiction novel and true crime genre In Cold Blood, but of course Close-Up takes this all a step further.

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/92/89/ad/9289ad8bf47ef466c9cccff37e093a08.jpg

Great, great stuff here and I'm glad I was able to find this film on The Criterion Channel. I only have just taken a sip of Iranian cinema, however another great film - a more recent one, A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night is one of all time top favorite films. It's amazing really that a nation whose government I find to be corrupt and abhorrent is able to produce and create such wonderful films.

So yeah, I wasn't about to leave it off my list. It's one of my newer discoveries, but I loved it just the same.

My list so far...

10. Dead Man
19. Close-Up
25. Beauty and the Beast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QprLCUTSw8

Holden Pike

04-22-25, 01:03 AM

I'll make a completely blind guess of Galaxy Quest and Three Colours: Blue as the pair revealed tomorrow.

iluv2viddyfilms

04-22-25, 01:21 AM

Nope... tomorrow is going to be The Fifth Element and Joe Versus the Volcano.

gbgoodies

04-22-25, 01:46 AM

I saw Election many years ago, but I didn't remember much about it except something about a bee sting. I rewatched it for the Group Watch thread, but it was only okay for me. I usually like Matthew Broderick, but I didn't like much about this movie.

I've never heard of Close-Up.

stillmellow

04-22-25, 02:24 AM

Tomorrow's: Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, and Perfect Blue.

Holden Pike

04-22-25, 03:04 AM

Tomorrow's: Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, and Perfect Blue.
Except that Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure is a 1989 release, so unlikely.

107343

John-Connor

04-22-25, 04:09 AM

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/3DZJIzmRMkghjKmX3Zo3bUeNMix.jpg
Beneath the surface, Election is actually pretty powerful stuff and shares similarities with To Die For from 1995. Evil cutthroat overachieving psychopaths can and will influence society through politics or entertainment.
Still haven't seen Close-Up, yet.

Seen 23/28
Ballot 3/25

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/4HnxnjxuKFLoqSx4g29oO7AytZg.jpg https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/AvEdysc5yx0DOn3oqadmxXjV7Sb.jpg https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/kmMV3IYojVjIAdl7Dm323Bg7wgP.jpg

Captain Quint

04-22-25, 05:49 AM

8lists87pointsThe Fugitive (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/5503-the-fugitive.html)Director
Andrew Davis, 1993

Starring
Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones, Joe Pantoliano, Jeroen Krabbé

Captain Quint

04-22-25, 05:50 AM

6lists89pointsThe Double Life of Veronique (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/1600-the-double-life-of-veronique.html)Director
Krzysztof Kieslowski, 1991

Starring
Irène Jacob, Halina Gryglaszewska, Philippe Volter, Guillaume de Tonquédec

Captain Quint

04-22-25, 05:52 AM

The tie between Close-Up & Fugitive was broken up by most ballots (8 to 6)

* The Fugitive Trivia - Ford was a huge star by 1993, but he was not immediately thought of for the role of Dr. Richard Kimble. Alec Baldwin, Kevin Costner, Michael Douglas, and Nick Nolte were all considered. Nolte thought he was too old for the role, but Ford, who got the part, is only a year younger than him.

* Véronique was a bit of a bridge film, drawing from past works, while also inspiring future pieces. The musical score plays a significant role in the plot (similar to Blue). The cinematography is highly stylized, utilizing color and camera filters to create an ethereal atmosphere, which was experimented with in an episode of Dekalog, while Kieślowski expanded on the use of color for a wider range of effects in his Three Colors trilogy.

Kieślowski had previously explored the concept of different life paths for the same individual in his Polish film, Przypadek (Blind Chance). The central choice faced by Weronika/Véronique is based on a brief subplot in the ninth episode of Dekalog.

On a personal note, I adore the metaphysical qualities, the dreamy unknowable, the beauty and magic in it, the emotional resonance, and how I was completely immersed into this poetic world - I ranked this 14th on my list, but as with everything after the top 2, I could have easily placed this 3rd, or 8th, etc - the line between one to another was paper thin.

The Fugitive was previously unranked, Véronique was #58

John-Connor

04-22-25, 06:08 AM

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/7WVRxZ7KZmzoHnUkAjnEFT4o6Dw.jpg
The Fugitive is one of the best and most re-watchable films of the 90's. Like A Few Good Men it's a 'remote control dropper'; you stop flicking through channels and just watch it. Almost made my ballot but I was confident it would make it without my points. Great job MoFos! 👍

Seen 24/30
Ballot 3/25

ueno_station54

04-22-25, 06:51 AM

i can't stand harrison ford so i've never seen the fugitive, likely never will. i assume the double life of veronique is good but will i ever get around to seeing it? who knows

Omnizoa

04-22-25, 06:56 AM

I rewatched The Fugitive for this Countdown, but did not vote for it. Ford and Jones did not elevate it far above it's generic cat-n-mouse criminal investigation story for me.

I have not seen the rest up to now.

Holden Pike

04-22-25, 07:05 AM

107347

This is the first ever MoFo List for The Fugitive and the only other appearance for The Double Life of Véronique came on the original recipe MoFo Top 100 of the 1990s, where it placed thirteen places higher at #58.

Captain Quint

04-22-25, 07:47 AM

Ha, original recipe... in my mind I've been referring to the two 1990s lists as "Original" and "Extra Crispy"

I was not all that enamored with the Fugitive, but am surprised it's a first timer, but maybe you've never had an action - thriller list? (I'll take a look)

Edit - nope, didn't see one... but I did spot a foreign film countdown, and no Veronique there?

Allaby

04-22-25, 08:12 AM

The Fugitive is an entertaining, well made action film with good performances. I like it, but it did not make my list. The Double Life of Veronique is also a very good film that I liked, but did not vote for.

Seen:30/30

Holden Pike

04-22-25, 08:27 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKOhem2DiFg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jzt0crHh7KI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-HRR_EPVew
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkaupkFJYYQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpHJYpgMfdA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0ZbAF03HUw

Omnizoa

04-22-25, 08:32 AM

I was not all that enamored with the Fugitive, but am surprised it's a first timer, but maybe you've never had an action - thriller list? (I'll take a look)We did, and it was #62. (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?t=46011)

But we don't speak of the Action Countdown.

MovieFan1988

04-22-25, 08:35 AM

Have seen so far: 10-- Point Break - I thought it was a decent bank robber movie, nothing special though.

Beauty and the Beast - One of the first Disney movies that I saw and it was a good one.

Election - Both Broderick and Witherspoon did well in this movie and I think it was a decent high school movie.

The Fugitive - Not a bad cat & mouse thriller type movie, I wouldn't consider it as a favorite movie of mines.

Have not seen so far: 21

My Ballot List So Far:
#4 - Dumber and Dumber
#25 - Fear - One Pointer

PHOENIX74

04-22-25, 09:02 AM

72. The Fugitive (1993) - It has been ages since I last saw The Fugitive - I still haven't got it on DVD or Blu-Ray, so the day that finally changes will be the day (maybe not the exact day) that I finally get around to watching it again and judging it from the standpoint of who I am today. Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones were huge at the time, and I saw it a couple of times (it featured prominently at the Oscars - it was a must see movie in it's day), but I was never really excited about it. It's a fine thriller - and that's about it. Perhaps I'd be more appreciative of it's finer points today. I'm surprised I don't have it already (It's not like it's an obscure hard-to-find movie that one) - I'll be on the lookout.

71. The Double Life of Véronique (1991) - When I got around to watching this I gave it a score of 4.5/5 and raved on letterboxd : "It's hard to remain on the surface level of The Double Life of Veronique - if I speak about doubles, love, music and madness I feel I'm missing the more mystical, almost religious aura this film is completely enmeshed in. Have you ever felt part of yourself die? Have you ever been drawn to something, even though there's no logical reason for it? Have you ever felt alone, even with family and caring friends about? Have you ever felt like you're not alone, when there is nobody around? The way we feel and the direction our lives take is often ascribed to powers beyond our comprehension - and one wonders if we'd be drawn to the same places and people if the timer were reset, and we started again from scratch. Véronique (Irène Jacob) has a double in Poland, Weronika (Irène Jacob) and through their connection we explore what it means to be in tune with the spiritual, and your intuition. Krzysztof Kieślowski does this with his typical flair (he uses colour to great effect), and doesn't feel the need to explain anything to his audience - you have to feel it. This is the very definition of transcendent, and the film itself is something of an enigma with plenty of room for interpretation." Great movie - it's been a few years so I need to see this again too. If I had seen it more recently, it would have had a good chance of making my ballot.

Seen : 30/30

seanc

04-22-25, 09:37 AM

I really loved The Fugitive the first time I watched it way back in the 90’s. Somehow, I have still never returned to it though so it doesn’t get on any of my lists. Really should get back to it.

Veronique was very mid for me, but I like Kieslowski really well, so maybe I wasn’t in the mood. Will also get a rewatch eventually, but this one I watched within the past few years.

cricket

04-22-25, 09:47 AM

I've only seen Veronique one time and was a little disappointed. I like several of the directors films so I need to see it again.

Saw The Fugitive once way back, maybe at the cinema, and it didn't do much for me.

rauldc14

04-22-25, 09:48 AM

I haven't seen The Fugitive and I just watched Veronique last week. I thought it was solid enough.

honeykid

04-22-25, 09:57 AM

Veronique is the first film to appear that I'm wondering if I made a mistake not having it on my list? Probably no as I've only seen it twice and the first time was in class, so I was studying it more than watching it. I guess I'd like 26? I really liked it both times and I think I'd love it as a mood piece double bill with TC:Blue because, from memory, they have a similar feel and atmosphere. I'm really pleased to see it here.

The Fugative was good. A fun ride, but I've not thought of that film in years. Which feels about right. There's nothing 'wrong' with it, it's perfectly functionable but, like SotL, it's never felt like more than that to me.

Torgo

04-22-25, 10:16 AM

Nice pair! The Fugitive is #19 on my ballot. One of the great thrillers and dad movies of this or any decade. It respects the audience's intelligence, has a classic James Newton Howard score, it makes Chicago a character in and of itself and it's endlessly rewatchable. It's also pretty darn funny too, mostly thanks to Jones. It's one of those movies from the '90s like Sneakers you can put on any day and at any time.

Veronique is one of the most beautiful and mystical movies of the '90s and it came close to making my ballot, but I had to do some Kieslowski triage if you know what I mean. Glad it made the ballot and that it hasn't been forgotten.

Miss Vicky

04-22-25, 10:33 AM

Ah yes, The Fugitive, the movie that inspired a million "one-armed man" jokes. I watched it a few times when it was still pretty new and I remember liking it well enough, but I've never had any desire to revisit it as an adult.

I haven't seen Veronique.

Seen: 24/30
My Balllot:
9. Point Break (#79)
12. True Romance (#94)
24. Interview With the Vampire (#92)
25. Untamed Heart (One Pointer)

Sedai

04-22-25, 10:45 AM

The Fugitive is a really solid flick with some good performances and a really expensive dummy that was supposed to fall in a really lifelike way, or at least that was the intent. The results were mixed. ;)

I just gained access to Veronique over the past week, so I will get it in soon.

Still just 1/25 on my ballot so far...

Deschain

04-22-25, 11:20 AM

I always found The Fugitive to be pretty average all around. I never saw the original show though.

I haven’t seen Veronique.

mrblond

04-22-25, 12:03 PM

Of course, I visited the theatre for The Fugitive (1993) when it came out and my company was fully entertained. Watched it several more times through the years, last time about three weeks ago when I showed it to my mother (I organized a Harrison Ford panorama for her).

Classic Thrill-Action which belongs to the 90's top 100 for sure. Would be in my extended list too (range #60-80).

107363

Harry Lime

04-22-25, 12:23 PM

The Double Life of Veronique is a very good film by an excellent director but not the one of his that I voted for. Assuming Blue makes it that would be three for Kieslowski.

I saw The Fugitive in theaters and watched many times on TV. Great action movie and happy to see it here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPOO48akIso

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuRg4p5-E1Y

Wooley

04-22-25, 12:23 PM

The Fugitive is an entertaining Movie.
When I think about how we use the words "movie" and "film"... well, it's a funny thing, sometimes we use them totally interchangeably and others there's just a subtle hint that a movie is just a movie but a film is a Film. You catch in conversation here and elsewhere all the time.
So, in that context, I would say that The Fugitive is a entertaining Movie.
But The Double Life Of Veronique... man, what a Film.

MovieGal

04-22-25, 12:35 PM

I saw The Fugitive but not the other.

MovieMeditation

04-22-25, 12:39 PM

I was about to say that I never heard of The Double Life of Veronique but I realized I actually have it on my watchlist (yes… that one is also on my watchlist). And it’s by the same man behind the three colors trilogy. So I guess that’s how I came about it. I know nothing about it though.

As for The Fugitive, I have seen it but I didn’t vote for it. Still slightly mad at it because Tommy Lee Jones stole the Oscar from DiCaprio… and also, while really good I don’t find it amazing or anything.

LeBoyWondeur

04-22-25, 12:54 PM

Have I seen The Fugitive, or was it Frantic, or was it the one with "get off my plane!" I'm not sure....

As for ♪ Veroniiiiique-nique-nique ♫ that film makes Jean Dielman look like an action-packed blockbuster.
It looks good and it's so incredibly boring and pointless, like a very long Elton John video clip without the Elton John song (The Double Life Of Nikita).

ApexPredator

04-22-25, 01:02 PM

The Fugitive: Liked It, but not enough to put it on the list.

Double Life of Veronique: Hadn't Seen It.

Seen: 16/30

Citizen Rules

04-22-25, 01:11 PM

Torgo

04-22-25, 01:14 PM

As for The Fugitive, I have seen it but I didn’t vote for it. Still slightly mad at it because Tommy Lee Jones stole the Oscar from DiCaprio… and also, while really good I don’t find it amazing or anything.Was that the strongest set of supporting actor nominees or what? Besides Jones and DiCaprio, you have Fiennes in Schindler's List, Malkovich in In the Line of Fire and Postlethwaite in In the Name of the Father.

I'm fine with Jones winning - his suggestion of the line "I don't care" and his delivery raised the entire profile of the movie - but I was rooting for Malkovich. Mitch Leary gave me nightmares. But anyway, any one of those guys deserved it.

MovieMeditation

04-22-25, 01:20 PM

Was that the strongest set of supporting actor nominees or what? Besides Jones and DiCaprio, you have Fiennes in Schindler's List, Malkovich in In the Line of Fire and Postlethwaite in In the Name of the Father.

I'm fine with Jones winning - his suggestion of the line "I don't care" and his delivery raised the entire profile of the movie - but I was rooting for Malkovich. Mitch Leary gave me nightmares. But anyway, any one of those guys deserved it.
Definitely a strong collection of actors right there.

I just feel like Tommy Lee Jones did a lot of what you have seen from him before. He was great as always but compared to DiCaprio who people thought was actually mentally challenged says a lot.

seanc

04-22-25, 01:21 PM

The Fugitive (1993)
The Double Life of Véronique (1991)

Ack, That's two days in a row that I haven't seen either of the movies.
What in the hell have I been watching all of these years???

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reactiongifs.com%2Fr%2F2013%2F11%2Fmaybe.gif&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=05695030edeaa9dc36379943ed81d5fad142571200802502404ea7e2a953a401

Surprised you haven’t seen Fugitive. You should add that to your 90’s viewing. I know I don’t have a good track record with recs for you but this feels like a Citizen flick.

Citizen Rules

04-22-25, 01:30 PM

Surprised you haven’t seen Fugitive. You should add that to your 90’s viewing. I know I don’t have a good track record with recs for you but this feels like a Citizen flick.I could probably at least like it, seeing how it has Tommy Lee Jones & Julianne Moore.

TheManBehindTheCurtain

04-22-25, 01:56 PM

Fugitive: Marvelously entertaining. But ... certainly not enough to put it higher than 50 on my 90s list. Tommy Lee Jones was very good, but he was helped tremendously by a script that enabled him to give a memorably mannered performance with no genuine emotional depth. Ralph Fiennes really deserved that Oscar for Schindler (which one assumes is coming up); he added depth and dimension that went far beyond the scripted dialog.

Veronique: One of those movies I watched because all the other cinephiles were watching it. No argument here, but not on my list. Another for the watchlist (or should I say, rewatchlist).

Seen: 18/30
Ballot: 2/25
Sleepless in Seattle: #91 / My #3
Office Space: #95 / My #23

mattiasflgrtll6

04-22-25, 02:07 PM

KeyserCorleone

04-22-25, 02:22 PM

Too many twofers I haven't seen these last few days, so yesterday I watched Close Up and forgot to post about it. Now having seen A Separation and loved it to death, I was hoping this movie, as much more beloved as it is, would be "cinema pique," :P. Now I liked the general idea: unique, fresh, good first effort. But technique and impact need a little more work to me. Shame, I was really hoping to love it. 82.

Apparently this movie didn't do so well in Iran when it first came out, but considering the overseas love, I was expecting it to get a higher position.

I guess I'm watching A Moment of Innocence tonight. Now I wanna check out more Iranian cinema again. And once I'm done with 40's stuff, I really need to check out our beloved Polish director.

Holden Pike

04-22-25, 02:43 PM

The Oscars have been ruined for me permanently ever since I found out it wasn't even a requirement until just recently to watch all nominees before voting. So now I feel like Bill Murray in Meatballs :|
That is beyond ridiculous. How on Earth would one enforce that, even if it were true?

dadgumblah

04-22-25, 03:02 PM

I really enjoyed The Fugitive and have no problems with that movie whatsoever. Good, solid, action/thriller. But what does it say about me that I don't have it in my DVD collection but do have Wrongfully Accused, its parody, which I think is hilarious? Ah, well.

The Double Life of Veronique is one I've heard of a lot but sadly have never seen.

I'm beginning to wonder if I'll have any of my picks show this side of 50? Or the other side? :eek:

Wooley

04-22-25, 03:04 PM

Was that the strongest set of supporting actor nominees or what? Besides Jones and DiCaprio, you have Fiennes in Schindler's List, Malkovich in In the Line of Fire and Postlethwaite in In the Name of the Father.

I'm fine with Jones winning - his suggestion of the line "I don't care" and his delivery raised the entire profile of the movie - but I was rooting for Malkovich. Mitch Leary gave me nightmares. But anyway, any one of those guys deserved it.

I would handed in the ballot for Fiennes before the ink was dry.
When I think of the All-time Oscar Misses, Jones over Fiennes is one of the very first ones that I think of if not No.1.

Sedai

04-22-25, 03:08 PM

As of today, we have instated a new rule for the countdown: You have to watch the films you vote for. ;)

MovieGal

04-22-25, 03:40 PM

Was that the strongest set of supporting actor nominees or what? Besides Jones and DiCaprio, you have Fiennes in Schindler's List, Malkovich in In the Line of Fire and Postlethwaite in In the Name of the Father.

I'm fine with Jones winning - his suggestion of the line "I don't care" and his delivery raised the entire profile of the movie - but I was rooting for Malkovich. Mitch Leary gave me nightmares. But anyway, any one of those guys deserved it.

If I had my way, Pete Postlewaite should have won. Two amazing actors, a brilliant story and just love In The Name of The Father

This is a film I highly recommend if you haven't seen it.

John-Connor

04-22-25, 03:48 PM

https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExdXB0Nmt4NHdmYmIyYTV2MGhnZmltc3NjOHJ0d2Ria3I3NXN1cnJ1ciZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfY nlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/l0ExvVPnuZaO14xs4/giphy.gif

Little Ash

04-22-25, 03:58 PM

That is beyond ridiculous. How on Earth would one enforce that, even if it were true?

In the past? IDK.

Going forward, I believe I read it's a mixture of they're going to monitor if people have watched the movies via their streaming service for voters, or they can fill out a form saying when/where they saw the movie (e.g. a festival).

It does seem easily gamed in that sense, but I guess it is requiring people to mentally process the requirement before voting and actively lie, rather than passively lie. Which, I guess, could conceivably be enough of a barrier for what they're trying to achieve.
Whatever that is.

Captain Quint

04-22-25, 04:15 PM

As of today, we have instated a new rule for the countdown: You have to watch the films you vote for. ;)

Well, this is an outrage. I'm confident Kazaam would have been my #1 had I seen it.

Yes, I just let slip my #1 movie. I suppose you're going to tell me that's against the rules too?

Harry Lime

04-22-25, 04:43 PM

Well, this is an outrage. I'm confident Kazaam would have been my #1 had I seen it.
Is that the one where Sinbad plays a genie?

MovieGal

04-22-25, 04:43 PM

My #1 is the best film of the 90's, hands down!

If you haven't seen it, shame on you!

rauldc14

04-22-25, 04:54 PM

So what's better?

100-71 on the old 90s list
OR
100-71 on this list?

SpelingError

04-22-25, 05:28 PM

I'm a bit late to this thread.

I haven't seen Election.

Close-Up is really good, but I prefer A Moment of Innocence. I'm glad they made it around the same spot though.

I haven't seen The Fugitive.

I remember really enjoying The Double Life of Véronique, but it's been a while since I've seen it. I wouldn't mind rewatching it one of these days.

kgaard

04-22-25, 05:30 PM

I enjoyed The Fugitive, but I don't think I've seen it again since its original release. My recollection is it was a pretty entertaining film, but no vote from me. Trivia note: Tommy Lee Jones was the worst guest speaker we had come to my high school. They gave him two periods and he had nothing prepared, just wanted to answer questions. Like we would know what to ask.The only answer I remember was that he regretted turning down the lead in RoboCop (https://www.reddit.com/r/Robocop/comments/1ibhqiv/whats_your_thoughts_on_the_actors_who_was/). Anyway, this was a few years before The Fugitive so we didn't know to be impressed.

I haven't seen The Double Life of Veronique, but I certainly should.

seanc

04-22-25, 05:44 PM

So what's better?

100-71 on the old 90s list
OR
100-71 on this list?

Broadly this one. The last one had some bangers though, Sling Blade, Rushmore, and Short Cuts. Some stinkers too tough. Con Air and Speed, not sure hot.

Robert the List

04-22-25, 05:46 PM

Veronique's a lovely film. I had it somewhere between 10 and 15.

Heard of: 24/30
Started: 21/30
Finished: 11/30
In my ballot: 2/30
Maximum films from my ballot that can still make the list: 25/25

Today for the first time I have finished more of the films that I've started, than not finished.

Thief

04-22-25, 05:51 PM

The Fugitive is a very good action thriller. One of those that every time it's on TV, I will probably end up watching most, if not all of it. Solid performances, great characters, superb direction; it's all one nice package. I had it on my mind when I started to make my list, but end up not voting for it. I'm glad it showed up, though.

The Double Life of Veronique was a recent watch for me and one of my very last cuts. It's a film that really, really hit me hard when I watched it. You can read my full review here (https://letterboxd.com/thief12/film/the-double-life-of-veronique/), but here's a snippet of it:

The thing is that the slightest hint of this connection gives both characters feelings of joy when it's felt, and loneliness when it's broken. For Weronika, seeing that "other person" in the distance instills her with a sense of belonging. For Véronique, who hasn't seen Weronika, although the connection is not clear and her feelings are more confused, it is still a source of anxiety and question.

So yeah, a very powerful and emotional film and, again, one of the very last ones I cut from my list, so I'm glad it showed up.

SEEN: 16/30
MY BALLOT: 4/25

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9. The Blair Witch Project (1999, #78)
10.
11. Interview with the Vampire (1994, #92)
12.
13. Election (1999, #74)
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19. A Few Good Men (1992, #84)
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.

Miss Vicky

04-22-25, 05:55 PM

So what's better?

100-71 on the old 90s list
OR
100-71 on this list?

I much prefer the old one. There are a lot of my favorite movies of the decade in the bottom 30 of the old list, including a bunch that I voted for this time as well. I'm hoping that means they'll rank higher this time, but I doubt that's the case.

stillmellow

04-22-25, 05:57 PM

Except that Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure is a 1989 release, so unlikely.

107343

Doh! I forgot that! (Wasn't in my list anyway)

The Fugitive is a fun popcorn movie. I always thought of it more of a Tommy Lee Jones movie than a Harrison Ford one. It works well, even if the villains are meh and you can see the twist coming from a long ways away. Didn't make my list.

I've never heard of the Double Life of Veronique.

Seen: 18/28
List: 3/25

Robert the List

04-22-25, 06:08 PM

Top 10 combined (old list)

10. (96. Edward Scissorhands)
9. (72. Donnie Brasco)
8. 79. Point Break (1991) (83. Point Break)
7. 73. Close-Up (1990) (80. Close-Up)
6. 94. True Romance (1993)
5. 76. A Moment of Innocence (1996)
4. 75. The Remains of the Day (1993)
3. 71. The Double Life of Véronique (1991)
2. (93. Short Cuts)
1. (84. The Player)

Wyldesyde19

04-22-25, 06:56 PM

I have seen The Fugitive, which is a well made thriller. No vote, however.

Kieslowski is a huge blind spot for me that I plan on remedying eventually.
I am ashamed.

Siddon

04-22-25, 07:13 PM

Alright time to touch on this update...so of these 14 films ones that ranked me were...

7. True Romance (1993)
9. My Cousin Vinny (1992)
20. Sonatine (1993)
23. Porco Rosso (1992)
25. Stay Tuned (1992) (1 pointer)

None...

Close Up - This one just put me to sleep, Middle-eastern cinema either really works for me or just bores me and this is my defacto thought for just dullness.

A Moment of Innocence - I reviewed this one for the Hall of Fame. I found it to be unusually student film esque. Some might think that's a bad thing but I think it's an admirable one.

Strange Days is a solid neo-noir a good little forbearer to The Matrix which the concept doesn't really pay off with the film but it's still a good watch.

Lost Highway is one of Lynch's best films a nice little hidden gem of a film. I think it's somewhat hurt by having a cast of C-listers but Robert Blake is terrifying in this.

Dumb and Dumber is a comedy I hate, Election is a comedy I love neither made my list not surprised to see them as they were very popular films. I wonder where Lebowski is going to show up or if Half Baked will also pop up.

Beauty and the Beast...wow that was low I would have thought it would be a top ten film.

Before Sunrise, yeah I figured that would make it and be at around that spot. I like films like this, I picked Vanya on 42nd Street which has no chance at making the cut.

Blair Witch Project, phenomenal film as the years go by I appreciate it so much more for capturing the vibe of a horror film that other films just haven't been able to get.

The Fugitive has been 40 years since I saw this, I think this might be the only showing for Harrison Ford on this countdown, I think you can make the arguement that this was the last of the 80's neo-noir films and that the genre switched it up after this.

Point Break is one of those films that's a lot of fun, I think the trailer is better than the film. Bigelow's oeuvre has a number of gems in it and this is one of them.

The Remains of the Day, I'm actually rewatching that one along with Howards End and a Room with a View becayse TCM is running the Merchant Ivory films this month. And I was too young when I watched them the first time.

A Few Good Men is classic Hollywood and this is our second Trial movie. Liar Liar might show up but I think JFK might be the winner of this subgenre.

The Double Life of Véronique (1991) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2554168#post2554168) - is one I need to rewatch because I forgot everything about it.

28/30 seen and remembered

Siddon

04-22-25, 07:29 PM

And just for fun and for people to steal if they wish...my ratings

rating_5 Sonatine (1993) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2549956#post2549956), True Romance (1993) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2550968#post2550968), Porco Rosso (1992) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2550969#post2550969), My Cousin Vinny (1992) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2551835#post2551835)
rating_4_5 Total Recall (1990) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2551836#post2551836), Beauty and the Beast (1991) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2553484#post2553484),
rating_4 Interview with the Vampire (1994) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2551292#post2551292), Before Sunrise (1995) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2552780#post2552780), The Blair Witch Project (1999) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2553482#post2553482)
rating_3_5 The Celebration (1998) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2550242#post2550242), Office Space(1999) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2550531#post2550531), Lost Highway (1997), (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2553132#post2553132)The Crow (1994) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2551537#post2551537), Gattaca (1997) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2552164#post2552164), Strange Days (1995) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2552779#post2552779), The Remains of the Day (1993) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2553718#post2553718), Election (1999) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2553938#post2553938),
rating_3 Sleepless in Seattle (1993) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2551293#post2551293), A Few Good Men (1992) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2552446#post2552446), Point Break (1991) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2553133#post2553133). A Moment of Innocence (1996) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2553717#post2553717), The Fugitive (1993) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2554167#post2554167)
rating_2_5 What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2549955#post2549955), Three Colors: Red (1994) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2551536#post2551536), Dead Man (1995) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2552165#post2552165),
rating_2 Dumb and Dumber (1994) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2552447#post2552447), Close-Up (1990) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2553939#post2553939)
rating_1_5 none
rating_1Gummo (1997) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2550243#post2550243)
I doubt anything will show up as bad as Gummo

KeyserCorleone

04-22-25, 07:59 PM

A Moment of Innocence

If you ask me, this movie expanded on the postmodernist traits that made Close-Up such a unique concept with a stronger sense of technique and heavier explorations of the characters involved. It was a lot of fun just listening to the talk to each other. But it's missing a couple things: more interaction between the cop and the director, more of that fantastic music, and the climax that it was building up.

89/100

Seen 19/30

LAMb EELYAK

04-22-25, 09:27 PM

Is that the one where Sinbad plays a genie?

No, that was Shazam.

LAMb EELYAK

04-22-25, 09:39 PM

https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExdXB0Nmt4NHdmYmIyYTV2MGhnZmltc3NjOHJ0d2Ria3I3NXN1cnJ1ciZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfY nlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/l0ExvVPnuZaO14xs4/giphy.gif

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.etsystatic.com%2F7669825%2Fr%2Fil%2F1634d9%2F1314999114%2Fil_fullxfull.1314999114 _k2xq.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=d8a013ef6f89b4b6b3c77219a7d94e3b52dda158c0679dfc1cdb426ddd3b83ba

One of the all-time great trailers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoyqZJWjOjU

6. The Remains of the Day
11. The Fugitive

beelzebubble

04-22-25, 10:37 PM

[quote=LAMb EELYAK;2554451]https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.etsystatic.com%2F7669825%2Fr%2Fil%2F1634d9%2F1314999114%2Fil_fullxfull.1314999114 _k2xq.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=d8a013ef6f89b4b6b3c77219a7d94e3b52dda158c0679dfc1cdb426ddd3b83ba

I cannot like this post enough.

I liked the Fugitive, great suspense movie. Great pairing, Tommy Lee Jones and Harrison Ford. Gravitas for days. It was not on my list.
I love The Double Life of Veronique, I do not know why it wasn't on my list.

beelzebubble

04-22-25, 10:41 PM

The Oscars have been ruined for me permanently ever since I found out it wasn't even a requirement until just recently to watch all nominees before voting. So now I feel like Bill Murray in Meatballs :|
I just like your post because it mentioned Meatballs.
It wasn't summer till Meatballs was on TV.

iluv2viddyfilms

04-23-25, 12:30 AM

The Fugitive is a solid action/thriller/drama film with a solid script and two standout performances and you can tell Tommy Lee Jones and Harrison Ford are having the time of their life on this film. It's so well paced and clips along perfectly and while it did not make my list I think it's deserving of a spot in the top 100 of any 90's list.

Oh and also, yeah I'm a Glock guy, soooo.... yeppers lots and lots of Glocks in this film and also in the lesser, but still fun and entertaining and very watchable sequel US Marshals.

https://www.imfdb.org/wiki/The_Fugitive_(1993)

Thief

04-23-25, 12:36 AM

Stats: Pit Stop #3

https://i.imgur.com/C3M6sBF.png

-

Now that we've hit the third pit stop (70), we can bite our thumbs at the films that didn't make it, and quarrel with them while we check out these stats:

Decade Breakdown

1990 = 2
1991 = 3
1992 = 3
1993 = 6
1994 = 4
1995 = 4
1996 = 1
1997 = 3
1998 = 1
1999 = 3

A trio of entries from 1991, but 1994 took the lead again with a pair. Also, first showing for 1996 and a couple for 1999.

Repeating Directors

Krzystof Kieslowski = 2
Kathryn Bigelow = 2

We also got our first pair of directors with multiple entries in Kieslowski and Bigelow. Who will come next? Will these two directors have any more entries?

Finally, we add three (3) more foreign films for a total of eight (8), plus an additional animated film for a grand total of two (2). How many animated films will we end up with?

I_Wear_Pants

04-23-25, 01:01 AM

Fugitive is awesome. I'm a bit saturated on watching it though. It's on my ballot somewhere.

iluv2viddyfilms

04-23-25, 02:00 AM

Natural Born Killers and The Fifth Element will show next.

gbgoodies

04-23-25, 02:05 AM

The Fugitive was in the last round of cuts from my list. I'm hit or miss with action movies, but this is one of my favorites. I wanted to include it on my list, but I just couldn't find room for it. I'm glad that it made the countdown without my help.

I've never heard of The Double Life of Véronique.

StuSmallz

04-23-25, 04:30 AM

I always found The Fugitive to be pretty average all around.Even the train derailment sequence? It's one of the great "cause-and-effect" action sequences in a movie, if you ask me:

https://youtu.be/MPzWRNV9PMo?si=KdTta8lGVdYuMRUo

Thursday Next

04-23-25, 04:41 AM

The Double Life of Veronique was my #12. A beautiful, melancholy movie with a dream-like quality.

Seen: 28/30
My list: 6/25

Captain Quint

04-23-25, 05:47 AM

7lists89pointsHome Alone (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/771-home-alone.html)Director
Chris Columbus, 1990

Starring
Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard

ScarletLion

04-23-25, 05:48 AM

Veronique was #4 on my list. Incredible film.

I rewatched the Fugitive about a year ago after initially seeing it on release, and I was disappointed. It was full of tropes and bad dialogue. Overrated film.

Captain Quint

04-23-25, 05:48 AM

7lists91pointsGood Will Hunting (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/489-good-will-hunting.html)Director
Gus Van Sant, 1997

Starring
Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Ben Affleck, Stellan Skarsgård

Captain Quint

04-23-25, 05:51 AM

Home Alone ranked ahead of Veronique based on total ballots (7 to 6)

Home Alone was huge, I remember that. (And I remember my wife and I seeing it after hearing all the hype, and afterwards saying, "well, that was decidedly average" - lol, Sorry, I've tried to not to be overly critical with these - but it was more a m'eh, so not too mean)

A lot of interesting notes on the casting at wiki, where they mention that John Mulaney was asked to audition for the role of Kevin after being scouted in a children's sketch comedy group, but his parents refused the opportunity. Culkin would get the role and would rocket to stardom.

Hunting earned Damon and Affleck a Screenplay Oscar, though their original concept had it as a "thriller about a young man in the rough-and-tumble streets of South Boston who possesses a superior intelligence and is targeted by the government with heavy-handed recruitment". It was Rob Reiner who convinced them to ditch the thriller angle and focus on the relationship between Will and his therapist.

Good Will was #27 on the previous 90s countdown, while Home failed to make the grade in the last one.