The Best of the 1990s: 51 - 60

51) IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER
Director: Jim Sheridan
Daniel Day Lewis and others give powerful performances in this enraging story of fathers, sons, and the conflict in Northern Ireland.

52) ALADDIN
Director: Clements + Musker
Another of Disney's massive animated successes in the nineties. This film was fun fun fun all the way through. This string of movies was superior in many, if not most ways to the "classic" disney films. Robin Williams at his best.

53) MALCOM X
Director: Spike Lee
A marvelous epic. It's a real shame the Spike Lee portrayed the jackass in a positive light. Ethically, logically and historically Spike got it wrong, but cinematically he got it oh so right.

54) FIGHT CLUB
Director: David Fincher
I include this film mostly because so many people swear to me it's a great movie. Whenever I hear people laud this film, I can't help but think of all of those who consistently vote for Shawshank Redemption as the best film of all time. I will admit that it's a well done movie, and quite entertaining. I also like any use of Pixies songs while cities crumble in the background. Thematically, I think the story is just plain adolescent tho.

55) THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS
Director: Henry Selick
This is one of the most creative films of the nineties. A claymation kids film that mostly appealed to 20-somethings. I don't really know to what degree Tim Burton was creatively involved in the film, but you can't help but see his stamp on every facet.

56) CRUMB
Director: Terry Zwigoff
The nineties seem to be the launching point for documentary film making. Prior there was an occasional great non fiction film, but now it seems like there's one or more a year. This was a great one.

57) MIGHTY APHRODITE
Director: Woody Allen
I think this is perhaps the most underated Woody Allen film. Classic Greek comedy tumbled with classic Greek tragedy. Wonderful.

58) MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO
Director: Gus Van Sant
Overwrought and silly in places, you still won't see anything else like it on the screen. It's gay prostitution and Shakespeare, and that's notable, even if it's only mostly successful.

59) THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER
Director: John McTiernan
Frankly, this was a great political adventure flick. It's by far the best of the Tom Clancy films, filled with Cold war political intrigue and rousing submarine adventure. It's a great mixture of Clancy's almost creepy infatuation with all things military, excellent movie production, and thoroughly compelling movie stars.

60) RICHARD III
Director: Richard Loncraine
To mix a metaphor, Ian McKellen's Richard hit almost all of the right notes for this black sheep of the British royal line. One of the best Shakespeare productions of the nineties.

11/28/2005