The MoFos Top 100 of the 90s Countdown - Redux

De Palma has a few stinkers but he also has a lot of films I love, including Carlito's Way. I love everything about it and it'll be my highest ranked Pacino and Penn of the Decade. Not my highest ranked Leguizamo though, which sounds strange. I've seen a movie fairly recently that reminded me a lot of Carlito's Way and I can't for the life of me remember what it was, and it wasn't a mob movie. Yea I could look it up but that's no fun.

A Perfect World is quite good but wasn't in consideration for my ballot.

8. Carlito's Way (#62)
15. Strange Days (#82)
24. Three Colors: Red (#90)

Love this serendipitious image pairing.

Carlito's Way just barely managed not to make my ballot when I decided that the lack of Leguizamo's development warranted a two point drop. Otherwise, this is a perfect gangster movie with a lot of depth, superb acting and a style that tells you right of the bat that De Palma knew what he wanted from the start. 98.

Seen 26/40

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Been a very long time since watching Carlito’s Way, it has left my mind as I was pretty lukewarm on it. Needs a second look eventually.

I like A Perfect World a whole lot (No, not as much as Holden, no one does), and in any other decade it would surely be somewhere on the second half of my list. 90’s is too stacked though. This movie has always been severely underrated, I can seriously see why Holden champions it so much. If you still haven’t been convinced to see it, do it.

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Letterboxd

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Interesting pair of films; two that I'm somewhat surprised made the cut, especially A Perfect World. Not because it isn't worthy, but because it's a film that tends to slip under the radar. Personally, I haven't seen it in a very long time, but I do remember liking it. Someone recommended it to me a while ago but I just haven't gotten to it.



Carlito's Way is great. Probably my second favorite De Palma. Pacino is great in it, and it has one of my favorite one-shots. I considered it at some point, but there are too many great films in the 90s, some were bound to fall off.


SEEN: 24/40
MY BALLOT: 4/25

Carlito's Way: Heard of it. Never seen it. (Or it might be one of those I've seen and made absolutely no memorable impression.) Falls into that category of "movie with good reputation I'd watch when I have lots of time for something that's not really my thing."

A Perfect World: Seen it, liked it, liked it a lot, not on my list. I'm a bit of a Costner fan. He's had some hits, he's had some misses, and his stubbornness in pursuing passion projects does him no favors. Remember looking forward to this one because he was at the time largely known for playing good guys, or kinda good guys, and the marketing campaign obviously wanted to spin that in a different direction to pump sales. His interaction with the kid was what made it for me. It's one of those movies I moved up and down in my list, but I don't think even in intermediate spots it got higher than 25. Kinda of regret that now.

Seen: 26/40
Ballot: 2/25

My predictions of how my picks will place:

Good Chance: 0/12
Fair Chance: 2/10
-- Sleepless in Seattle: #91 / My #3
-- Office Space: #95 / My #23
No Chance: 0/3

If my hit rate doesn't pick up once we're past the half-way mark, I'm getting nervous.

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Great suggestions! I could see any of those guys in that role and doing at least as well as Clint. Always liked James Garner.

You sure about that?

Long before I ever knew the name Joaquin Phoenix, I was OBSESSED with Kevin Costner. I would spend weekends and school breaks marathoning his movies (child me had a longer attention span than adult me). I was 12 when A Perfect World hit theaters. I begged my mom to take me to see it. She agreed and I loved it instantly. As Holden said, this is probably Costner's finest acting performance. He does an incredible job of making his Butch Haynes believable as both a calculating criminal and noble friend and father figure for a young boy who really needs one. Eastwood of course does a great job as well as the man tasked with hunting Haynes down and also does well as the director, giving us a film that is a wonderful mix of atmosphere, tension, humor, and warmth. It was an immediate favorite and in the 32 years since it was released that hasn't changed. I had it on my ballot at #8 in our previous 1990s countdown, but this time I did it one better and placed it at #7.



I haven't seen Carlitos Way.

Seen: 33/40
My Balllot:
7. A Perfect World (#61)
9. Point Break (#79)
10. Edward Scissorhands (#64)
12. True Romance (#94)
24. Interview With the Vampire (#92)
25. Untamed Heart (One Pointer)

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I remember Carlito's Way as a good-looking film, but as is the case with many gangster-type stories I find the drama too self-explanatory and on the nose. People who choose to live dangerously, it just doesn't leave many interesting options, script wise.
And while Carlito wasn't going to play an active part in the drug deal, it was his choice to be there.
It's an entertaining movie and of course we watch it because of the gangster stuff, but to me it looks like the same old thing all over again.

I haven't seen A Perfect World, and films starring Kevin Costner or Clint Eastwood usually aren't on my to-watch list, but the description reminds me of a somewhat similar film from 1952 which I really liked.

Carlito’s Way is excellent. I think because it’s a smaller story it sometimes gets lost in the shuffle of the more epic sweeping crime movies of it’s time.

I’d never heard of A Perfect World so I looked it up and turns out I’ve actually seen it.

i have a vivid memory of watching carlito's way at a cottage up north when i was 10 and no memory of the movie itself. never heard of the other one.

I've not seen Carlito's Way, it doesn't sound like something I'd enjoy. No problem with it making the list I'm sure it's a good one.

A Perfect World (1993) watched this in prep for the countdown. Liked it but didn't love it.

I like both of these movies well enough but it's been a while. Decades I'm sure. But what I like even more (no not really more than the actual movies but still) is these two coming in this high in the countdown, neither being listed on the previous countdown, and further solidifying that these redux countdowns are a good idea. Not that we really have much choice, you run out of countdowns to do sooner or later, but it's been great so far. Again, well done Mofo! It's fresh. We have surprises! Excitement! And more!

Any guess on what movie will be the highest ranked that wasn't on the last list? Is this it? Galaxy Quest? Clueless? Falling Down? Trying to think of maybe ones that have a mainstream cult following. Or maybe something international that has more viewers thanks to Criterion such Days of Being Wild?

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I think you'd like it more than expected

I would hope for Clueless.

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I remember now. The Bikeriders with Tom Hardy had a lot in common with Carlito's Way.

I do see it's rated really highly at IMDB. 7.9 is impressive, not many movies get that high of a rating.

Damn. You really don’t have to stay away away for long until you miss out on a lot! Haha

Once again I’m behind on this… oh well. Another update then!

68. Apollo 13 (1995)

I like this one. It’s a solid piece of classic entertainment. For me, nothing more nothing less. But it’s the kind of blockbuster type big filmmaking where all elements are really strong and you just have a good time overall.

67. Three Colors: Blue (1993)

Great film. I didn’t vote for it but it deserves to be here. There are scenes and shots I still remember from this (the beach volley rolling… the sugar cube…) such a well made film. Still need to see the other two.


66. Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)

Is it on it? Is it? Yes… indeed… another one from my watchlist and it’s been there for ages. Really wanna see it.

65. Princess Mononoke (1997)

Probably one of Miyazaki’s best. Feels very mature and very personal. A broad and ambitious animated film. I want to rewatch it.

64. Edward Scissorhands (1990)

This was my #21. Love this film. So magical, whimsical and heartfelt even so. It’s one of the best examples of Burton’s crazy brain working in a way that brings both the crazy and the sincere. I’ve seen this multiple times and think it’s great every time.

63. Perfect Blue (1997)

Seen this twice and felt more or less the same both times. Visually amazing and overall an ambitious piece of work. A little frustrating too with the story but I really enjoy it even so.

62. Carlito's Way (1993)

Not seen this yet. And to no one’s surprise… of course on my watchlist (and have been for ages).

61. A Perfect World (1993)

One of Eastwood’s better directional efforts for sure. I really enjoyed this. Prime Kevin Costner too.

I watched Carlito's Way today. It's well made with good performances, but the story wasn't as gripping or entertaining as I would have hoped. I rated it a 7/10. I saw A perfect World once years ago and liked it, but didn't consider it for my ballot.

Seen: 40/40