90 Favorites of the ‘90s: 90-46
The ‘90s basically continued what started in the ‘80s and tried topping or refining it. There was more action, more sex, and more violence. VHS and Laserdisc eventually gave way to DVD. Regardless, movies were a booming business. Corporate video stores expanded. Blockbuster wasn’t the only corporate video store around: Hollywood Video, Movie Gallery, and others popped up in different regions.
I’d say two things helped define the decade the most: the independent film boom and the use of CGI.
While the ‘80s saw a wave of independent filmmakers like Jim Jarmusch, the Coen Brothers, and Spike Lee debut, the ‘90s had a bigger boom due to festivals like Sundance and studios like Miramax buying small films at those festivals. Richard Linklater, Kevin Smith, Robert Rodriguez, and Quentin Tarantino are just a few who made big splashes in the ‘90s and helped shape the decade.
As for CGI, while it was applied in doses in films like Young Sherlock Holmes and The Great Mouse Detective it wasn’t until James Cameron made The Abyss and Terminator 2: Judgment Day that CGI rocked the filmmaking landscape. Because of those movies Jurassic Park was possible. After those three CGI - for better or worse - was everywhere in big budget movies. It would take well into the 2000s before its use would be refined and hold up to age and scrutiny more regularly.
I’ve seen more movies from the ‘90s than any other decade: over 880 at least once - and that’s just the ones I remember seeing. Surprisingly, despite that there weren’t a lot of films that fought for a spot on this list. There’s only 15 other movies that didn’t make the list, including Cop Land, Leon, My Girl, Mr. Holland’s Opus, and Playing By Heart. But here are movies 90-46. Keep in mind that this is just my favorite movies; it is not intended to be a statement of quality as I’m sure you’ll find some of these films are indeed better than others. I hope it serves as a guide for those who have some catching up to do and need some direction. For others it’ll be an enjoyable read to look out for their favorites.
If you’re using a phone the rest of the article is best-viewed in landscape.
90. Braveheart (1995)
Braveheart was a big deal in the mid-’90s. It was sort of everywhere. I wrote a report in school about William Wallace. A couple of my friends in high school were fans of it long after the heat of awards season. It was certainly a more visceral period piece then what I was accustomed to at that point; limbs were chopped off, skulls were crushed, throats were slit. But the story about Wallace, Mel Gibson’s performance and direction, and the score by Michael Kamen added up to something that is still really powerful and special. It barely earns a spot on this list instead of others because of those elements.
89. The Sixth Sense (1999)
This is a solid drama. It’s also a solid ghost story. It’s one of several films from 1999 that has held up and endured. My dad at the time claimed this was the best movie of the year, at least of those nominated for Best Picture by the Academy. I didn’t see it at the time, but it turned out he was right. This might feature Bruce Willis’s best dramatic performance.
88. As Good As It Gets (1997)
Nobody talks about this movie anymore. I think the assumption is it’s a bit stale and its attitudes are dated. I can see why someone might get that impression, but when I watch this movie I don’t think that’s true. Its central character, Melvin (Jack Nicholson), suffers from a behavior disorder that makes him impulsive and thoughtless in his interactions with people. And what he says is sometimes horrible and hurtful. But what this film advocates is finding the humanity underneath the surface of each other. And discovering that we are all capable and worthy of love even those of us who seem hateful on the outside. There’s something beautiful about that and I think everyone involved are delicate enough that that comes through.
87. Private Parts (1997)
I was not a fan of Howard Stern in the ‘90s. I didn’t know how to find his radio show even if I wanted to listen to him. But I knew his reputation and it was low brow and infamous. Then I saw this movie. Yes, in hindsight, it can be viewed a certain way that glosses over the troubles in his marriage, which unfortunately ended a few years later. But it allowed me to understand and respect Stern for all of his flaws. It’s also really damn funny. And Stern is really damn funny in it. There are certain moments I’ll never forget. But I also occasionally quote the “W-ENNNN-BC!” to this day.
86. Philadelphia (1993)
This film is sometimes dismissed as Oscar bait. But that is very dismissive of a film that is genuinely moving periodically. It wasn’t until I was older that I was able to fully appreciate the emotional power of the opera scene. But the video montage at the end of the film set to Neil Young’s ‘Philadelphia’ always gutted me. This was Tom Hanks’s full step into dramatic acting and he really hasn’t stopped since, which I think is unfortunate. But he is tremendous here. So is Denzel Washington whose character goes through a gradual and affecting growth. Also, Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Streets of Philadelphia’ was his best song in a long time.
84. Quigley Down Under (1990)
Tom Selleck did not have a great film career. He was really trying for it in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. Despite being incredibly likable, he could never find nearly as much success on the big screen as on the small screen. But I would say this was his best film, a western about a man who travels to Australia for a job and gets entangled in more than he’s looking for. Alan Rickman continued his villain streak here. The score by Basil Poledouris (The Hunt for Red October) is excellent. The cinematography by David Eggby (Mad Max) is beautiful. And Simon Wincer’s (Free Willy) film also brought to light atrocities aborigines faced back then. If you look carefully, you’ll spot a young Ben Mendelsohn (Rogue One, Captain Marvel) in a small role. Not everything about it works, as I think Laura San Giacomo’s character trips up the film a bit. But this film has always stuck with me.
85. Fearless (1993)
This Jeff Bridges drama remains one of my favorites of his entire career. It’s practically unknown at this point despite being directed by Peter Weir and earning Rosie Perez several awards for her performance as a mother crippled with grief and guilt. It’s a film about survivors of a plane crash and the effects the event has on them, their families, and their lives. It was a profound film for me in my early teens. And I think it’s an underrated film of everyone involved.
83. Necessary Roughness (1991)
This is a football comedy with a pretty fun cast that I’ve always enjoyed and nobody remembers. Scott Bakula (Quantum Leap) stars as a middle aged man who gets recruited by a losing college football team. It’s a silly movie that also stars Sinbad, Hector Elizondo, Robert Loggia, Larry Miller, Harley Jane Kozack, Patrick Bateman, Fred Thompson, and Kathy Ireland with a hilarious appearance by Rob Schneider. Of all of the light entertainment comedies in the decade this is one of the ones I enjoy the most.
82. Arachnophobia (1990)
This horror comedy scared the shit out of me! I sometimes wake up in horror at night after watching this film. Very few movies have that strong effect on me. I love the ones that do. But it really gives me the creeps. It’s also pretty darn funny! John Goodman’s exterminator was a character I could latch onto as a kid for some relief from the horror. I basically am Jeff Daniels’s character. RIP Julian Sands.
81. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
This is a beautiful movie about a low income mid-West family in a low income mid-West town none of which you’d be drawn to spending time with in reality. But the characters in this film stay in my heart. It’s a film that I’ve returned to at different points in my life as I’ve grown older and it hits me every time, but sometimes for different reasons. Leonardo DiCaprio grabbed the attention of everyone who gave this film the time. Johnny Depp used to act, people! He used to act and not rely on being kooky or silly. And his Gilbert Grape is a career highlight. There’s just some really great, delicate performances here. And it’s worth digging up and sharing with the world. It is definitely Lasse Hallstrom’s best film prior to Hachi.
80. The Iron Giant (1999)
At a time when Disney Animation Studios was slowly being eclipsed by Pixar and pretty much all other American animation studios were producing inferior work or not taken seriously, Warner Bros. came out of nowhere with this hand-drawn gem. It’s simply constructed, simply drawn, yet effective and moving.
79. Maverick (1994)
So, this is based on a TV show that nobody knows anymore and was a hit comedy western that nobody knows anymore. I think Jodie Foster has never been more attractive than she is in this film, but she’s almost never playing roles that focus on romantic chemistry or comedy and I think that’s a big part of her appeal here. James Garner was the original Maverick and he used to star in comedy western movies, so this is him circling back around and it’s quite enjoyable. Mel Gibson is the lead and this is when he was a fricken star who could open most movies (not every movie; look up Bird on a Wire) and was charismatic as all hell! There’s a lot of appearances to enjoy, there’s a lot of comedy, the script is well-written, it’s just a gem of a movie.
78. Back to the Future Part III (1990)
I’m going to say I enjoy Part III more than I enjoy Part II in this trilogy. Part II is dark. Part III is fun! The 1885 time period adds something fresh and new to the trilogy. I like that Doc Brown found a place, a purpose, and love in the Old West. I don’t love Clara. But she’s pretty much the only thing I don’t enjoy in this film. It’s a great closing chapter to the trilogy. May it never be touched in perpetuity.
77. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)
As much as I love Austin Powers himself, I’m going to go right ahead an say it: he’s not the best part about his movies. He’s a great part of it. But come on… Dr. Evil (Mike Myers). Scott (Seth Green). Vanessa (Elizabeth Hurley). Number 2 (Robert Wagner). Frau Farbissina (Mindy Sterling). Mustafa (Will Ferrell). The double entendre sequence. The Fembots. There’s so many other things that make this send-up of James Bond movies so brilliant. And yet… it’s not my favorite of the trilogy.
76. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
This is the film that kick-started an entire trend of found footage movies. I think there’s upwards of 100 found footage movies now. I’m just going to save you some time and tell you less than a dozen are good. Fewer are nearly as great as this film. Some hardcore horror hounds turn their noses up at it, because there isn’t much in the way of gore or violence. What makes the film so brilliant is the power it possesses by how little it shows you. Yes, it largely features people arguing and yelling at each other. I count that as a strength, because we’re witnessing a team fall apart because of fear. Fear grips the three filmmakers and, in turn, it grips us. Because if it were us in that situation we’d want to get out of those woods ASAP! And the thought of that never happening, possibly going in circles, and some outside presence toying with us along the way is terrifying.
75. Goodfellas (1990)
It’s been argued there’s no better film in the ‘90s than Goodfellas. The decade would try to best it - and it would come close a handful of times. But Goodfellas is widely considered the best. It’s an excellent film! I get it. It’s certainly one of my favorite Martin Scorsese movies and one of those movies you simply must see. But it isn’t my favorite ‘90s movie.
74. Sister Act (1992)
This movie was a fun time and a family favorite. I listened to the soundtrack on cassette and CD numerous times the following year or two. It was a mix of Motown and gospel and that appealed to me. This was Whoopi Goldberg’s last great comedy. There, I said it.
73. Desperado (1995)
This movie was pretty bad-ass in 1995. Antonio Banderas became one of the coolest stars of the decade because of this movie. It introduced me to director Robert Rodriguez, who was a favorite of mine for several years afterwards, and Danny Trejo. The instrument cases as weapons. Quentin Tarantino’s brief appearance. Cheech Marin. This was a favorite of my friend group in high school for good reason.
72. There’s Something About Mary (1998)
This Farrelly Brothers comedy was one of the most audacious comedies of the decade. The Farrellys made a name for themselves through low-brow, gross-out comedy. At this point they had only made two films (Dumb & Dumber, Kingpin), but after this their future would include Me, Myself & Irene, Shallow Hal, Stuck on You, Hall Pass, and even an attempt to recreate the Three Stooges - all are very low-brow and considered by many to be pretty rough sits. But this film is their career crown jewel. It’s basically about how men obsess over women and will do anything to possess them. Mary is going about her life doing her thing. Throughout the movie men orbit around her often unbeknownst to her. Underneath the surface of a jaw-dropping comedy with zipper malfunctions and bodily hair gel there’s a script that’s actually ahead of its time.
71. Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Yes, this film is infamous for having a path to Oscar glory that was paid for behind the scenes. But on its own terms it’s actually a really funny, clever, solid movie with a great script that will even amuse and satisfy Shakespeare fans. Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes) is hammering out his latest play, but is a bit stuck. His experience with a woman pretending to be a man in order to act on stage helps unlock his writer’s block. It’s a very charming movie with a cast that includes Ben Affleck, Geoffrey Rush, Tom Wilkinson, Colin Firth, Imelda Staunton, and Dame Judi Dench.
70. Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)
A hitman goes to his high school reunion. That’s the brilliant premise of this comedy starring John Cusack and Minnie Driver. It does very well with that premise. Cusack’s sister Joan also stars as his office administrator. Even though their scenes are all by telephone their banter adds so much spice to an already simmering pot. Driver plays the high school girlfriend he abandoned and reconnects with and their chemistry is fantastic. Throw in appearances by Alan Arkin, Dan Aykroyd, Jeremy Piven, Mitchell Ryan, Michael Cudlitz, Hank Azaria, Jenna Elfman, and the very odd martial arts champion-turned-stuntman-turned-actor Benny Urquidez. The film also has an excellent ‘80s soundtrack!
69. L.A. Confidential (1997)
There were a handful of movies peppered through the decade with a big reveal, often regarding the identity of a major character. The Usual Suspects comes to mind. This was better. A classy neo-noir detective film set in 1950s Hollywood that starts with one act of violence and reveals a greater conspiracy, L.A. Confidential was Curtis Hanson’s masterpiece. It made stars out of Aussie actors Russell Crowe and Guy Pierce. It gave Kim Basinger’s career a brief shot in the arm. It also included excellent performances by Danny DeVito, Kevin Spacey, James Cromwell, David Strathairn, Ron Rifkin, and Simon Baker.
68. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
This is easily one of the most popular films of the last 50 years and the most beloved of Stephen King movies. I think that degree of popularity is a reason why I haven’t seen it in upwards of 20 years. I’ve read the 90-page novella ‘Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption’ from Different Seasons, one of my favorite Stephen King books. I think this is the rare example of the film being better than the book. It just fleshes things out more and has a greater emotional resonance. The final monologue by Morgan Freeman almost always moves me to tears. It was one of the first movie moments that wasn’t sad, yet moved me just the same.
67. Twelfth Night: Or What You Will (1996)
There was a pretty significant Shakespeare trend throughout the ‘90s. I loved several of the movies that came from it. This lesser-known comedy is one of my absolute favorites. It stars notable English actors who are well-known now, but were mostly new to me then: Helena Bonham Carter, Sir Ben Kingsley, Imelda Staunton, Nigel Hawthorne, Richard E. Grant, and Mel Smith. It’s lead was played by Imogen Stubbs, who I’ve not seen since, but was magnificent here. And the score by Shaun Davey is one of my favorite scores in an incredible decade of film scores. Worth hunting down for any Shakespeare fan.
66. From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
There was Desperado and then there was From Dusk Till Dawn. This one-two punch by director Robert Rodriguez made him a favorite of my teenage friend group. I can’t tell you how many times we watched this film back then! When I show this movie to someone I prefer to have them mostly go in blind, informing them only that it’s about a couple of criminals in Texas that cross paths with a family in an RV. Then I look at them and watch their reaction at around the 50-minute mark. There are few cinematic delights that compare to that experience.
65. Interview with the Vampire (1994)
This is the Tom Cruise performance that first really impressed me. This film showed me the guy had range. He was more than just a cocky Air Force pilot or NASCAR driver. And he might be interested in broadening his scope. Unfortunately, he mostly stuck with action films afterwards - there’s a couple of exceptions that may appear later in the list. But he was awesome in this film. Overall, I found this to be a captivating take on the vampire mythology and it seemed to star everyone: Brad Pitt, Antonio Banderas, Stephen Rea, Christian Slater, and newcomers Kirsten Dunst and Thandiwe Newton. It was gory, yet classy, I guess. It’s remained one of my absolute favorite vampire movies since.
64. Mission: Impossible (1996)
I guess the ‘90s is a big part of my love of Tom Cruise. I love more of his ‘90s films than any other decade in his career! I don’t think anyone expected Mission: Impossible to be an action franchise that would still be going nearly 30 years later - and certainly not still starring Tom Cruise! But this one was so smart, it refused to talk down to the audience and expected the audience to keep up - so much so that it actually overestimated much of the audience at the time, who found the film occasionally confusing! I think this film still holds up as just as great as some of the future entries and it really set the tone for a higher quality action series than what we often got.
63. The Wedding Singer (1998)
By the time this movie came out I figured Adam Sandler movies were hit-or-miss. He only really had three movies out prior to this one. I think starting with this movie Sandler wanted to create movies for a while that had a sweetness to them and weren’t just about being adolescent. I think The Wedding Singer remains one of the best comedies of his career. He hasn’t made very many that are nearly as good. And he’s generally best when starring alongside Drew Barrymore. Let’s be honest you can probably count on one hand all of his best movies. But you’d be crazy to leave The Wedding Singer out.
62. Notting Hill (1999)
It’s a bit surprising, but this is one of my all-time favorite romantic comedies. I think the chemistry between Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant is everything we want to see in a rom-com. I also think it’s genuinely funny. And it’s “I’m just a girl…” line should be in a Rom-Com Quote Hall of Fame. I just find this movie completely charming from beginning to end to this day.
61. My Life (1993)
So, this is a quiet little drama that practically nobody saw, but starred Michael Keaton, Nicole Kidman, Bradley Whitford, Queen Latifah, Michael Constantine, with appearances by Richard Schiff and Rebecca Shull. It’s a film about a guy who is about to be a father, but also has terminal cancer. Knowing this he decides to secretly create a video library of himself for his future child. It’s a film that has hit me hard since I first saw it at the age of 13 and it still carries great emotional resonance for me. It’s a film about feeling accepted by your parents for who you are, accepting your parents for who they are, forgiving them for ways in which they disappointed you, and leaving something behind for your children to remember you not as a concept but as the person you were. I am guaranteed to fall apart while watching this film - even thinking about it chokes me up. Keaton is tremendous in it.
60. The Mask of Zorro (1998)
Antonio Banderas was one of the new faces of action throughout the ‘90s. This was his most family-friendly vehicle. At this point, Zorro was not popular or well-known anymore - a lot like the present. This film temporarily revived the character. Banderas and Anthony Hopkins had excellent rapport. Catherine Zeta-Jones became an It Girl at the time after playing the love interest here, a woman who was no damsel. It’s a fun movie.
59. The Truman Show (1997)
Director Peter Weir created several great films - Picnic at Hanging Rock, Witness, Dead Poets Society, Fearless - but none were quite as prescient and layered as The Truman Show. While largely underrated these days, The Truman Show was one of the most important films of the ‘90s in terms of what would follow for the next 20 years. It magnifies what is now commonplace media: YouTube, TikTok, reality TV… basically anything that makes the average person seem more important than they are by documenting their everyday life is presaged by The Truman Show. This is no mere Idiocracy for the ‘90s: it’s a poignant and moving film with an excellent dramatic performance by Jim Carrey, one of the decade’s defining comedic actors. The supporting cast of dramatic actors (Laura Linney, Ed Harris, Natascha McElhone, Peter Krause) all help provide gravitas to an insane concept that became a big part of our insane society.
58. Sneakers (1992)
This is one of the coolest espionage / heist movies that nobody talks about (are you noticing a common ingredient in my list, yet?). Here’s a film with an ensemble that includes Robert Redford, Sidney Poitier, David Strathairn, Dan Aykroyd, Mary McDonnell, River Phoenix, Sir Ben Kingsley, and Stephen Tobolowsky. That’s one of the best ensembles you could assemble in the ‘90s and yet it’s practically forgotten. It absolutely crackles still to this day. And, for a film where the McGuffin is a piece of technology, it surprisingly dodges feeling dated! It’s also got a wonderful score by the great James Horner.
57. Before Sunrise (1995)
This is one of the greatest romance movies. It’s a film that feels different when you see it as a teen compared to when you watch it in your twenties compared to when you watch it in your middle age. The emotional experience of the film evolves. But it’s a script that’s little more than two people talking a la My Dinner with Andre. The trick that Louise Malle film taught was how to make a mundane concept feel engaging. And director Richard Linklater and stars Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy manage that through a combination of intriguing dialogue and excellent chemistry. This wasn’t a movie I expected to become a trilogy. But it evolved into one of the finest trilogies ever filmed.
56. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
There were few theatrical experiences in the ‘90s as stunning, enthralling, or life changing as Saving Private Ryan. If you were a young man watching this film it made war tangible and horrifying. If you were an old man watching this film it was a profound journey to the past. I was intensely affected by seeing this film opening weekend in the theater as were veterans of WWII in my screening. It’s a potent example of how a film can affect two very different people very differently, but still be moving for both of them. It’s possibly my favorite war film of all time.
55. Toy Story 2 (1999)
For a long time this was Pixar’s only sequel. At the time Pixar was focused on growing creatively and technically; each film was a technical challenge in some way and was just as innovative creatively. So, this sequel had a significance to it for a long while. It did one-up the original on a technical level, but it was also more emotionally resonant and clever. It touched on the perspective of the lost toy and also touched on the concept of the collectible toy. Both were strokes of genius. The studio would peak with the third entry in the series. And now we’re in a period where the studio is content to run its successes into the ground rather than challenging itself. But all good things must comes to an end. This film was part of a heydey for the studio that has done just that.
54. Apollo 13 (1995)
I don’t know if I realized just how many great ensemble films there were in the ‘90s prior to this project. Tom Hanks continued his dramatic streak that segued from A League of Their Own to Philadelphia then Forrest Gump to here. This film also kick-started his professional fascination with the Space Race that spun off into other projects. I dare say this is Ron Howard’s greatest film. Howard had moments of genius peppered throughout his career. He otherwise was a competent filmmaker who could make films that weren’t great, but weren’t bad either… somewhere just above mediocre. Apollo 13 is his greatest achievement, because there are moments in this film that are absolutely perfect. And the cast… Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, Gary Sinise, Ed Harris, Kathleen Quinlan (what happened to her?), and a slew of great character actors bring the events of early 1970 to life. It’s a great one.
53. Hook (1991)
This is one of Steven Spielberg’s most crictically-reviled films. I grew up with this film and absolutely adored it. I thought it was a wonderous and moving execution of the concept “What if Peter Pan grew up?”. The world-building and translation of the characters into live action captivated and thrilled me. John Williams’s score was unforgettable and matched the adventurous spirit of Never Never Land. I was oblivious of the critical reception to the film until roughly 12 years ago when it kept being mentioned in passing in podcasts and movie sites I read. I was dumbfounded by this for a few years. I think the criticism mostly comes from the production primarily being all designed on sets and that giving an artificial feeling to some of the design rather than an open, organic feeling to Never Never Land. Objectively speaking, I can sort of understand that criticism. But there’s just too much else in the film to enjoy for me to justify dismissing the whole based on that one criticism. So, it remains a favorite of mine.
52. Groundhog Day (1993)
I don’t think I comprehended how innovative a concept this film’s time loop was at the time I first saw this film. It was new, sure, but it felt like something that surely had been done before. It took many years and a few films to be described “it’s Groundhog Day, but with…” for me to fully understand. On its own terms, it’s a really funny movie with a high replay value. I think you get something different out of watching this film as a teen than you do in your middle age. It becomes more thought-provoking and worth teasing out. I think that’s remarkable for a comedy about a sardonic weatherman being stuck in a small town.
51. Aladdin (1992)
I remember when Aladdin was coming out I was at that weird age when you start to reject things that seem childish. I was not sold on Aladdin. I also didn’t like how different the animation style was to Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid. I was very skeptical. This movie made me think, “Okay, Disney can do no wrong. I was a fool to doubt them.” Little did I know what was to follow a few years later… But, yes, Aladdin is one of Disney’s best movies from one of Disney’s best decades with one of Disney’s best songbooks. It’s an all-around fun and great film.
50. True Lies (1994)
This is one of James Cameron’s forgotten movies. Thankfully, it was just released on 4K, so people can rediscover it. It was Cameron’s attempt at an action comedy. Those were popular in the ‘80s and ‘90s. It’s an absolute blast! It’s surprising how much it touches on a certain kind of terrorism that would become increasingly significant to our country the following decade. But Arnold Schwarzenegger is fantastic at action comedy and this is his best one. Bill Paxton, Jamie Lee Curtis - even fricken Tom Arnold (!) - Tia Carrere, and a young Eliza Dushku are all excellent and add so much fun to the film. I’m so glad it finally got a decent physical media release!
49. Misery (1990)
People just don’t give director Rob Reiner enough credit for how great a streak he was on from 1984 through 1995 with the possible exceptions of The Sure Thing and North! This is one of the greatest Stephen King movies and one of the greatest horror movies of the decade. James Caan plays a writer who is saved by Kathy Bates, a recluse who happens to be an obsessed fan with a dark past. There is so much incredible tension in this film. It taught me that horror can be story-driven, it can be character-driven and not violence-driven in order to be effective. That was huge for me. I became a Stephen King movie fan from there.
48. The American President (1995)
I think this film is an underrated romantic comedy. The President, a widow and father, decides to date a lobbyist. Michael Douglas and Annette Bening are absolutely charming and classy and amusing. This was if TV’s The West Wing (which would follow a few years later) were a comedy, as the script was written by the extraordinary Aaron Sorkin, so it has an inherent intelligence about it. I just really love it. Martin Sheen, David Paymer, Samantha Mathis (what happened to her?), John Mahoney, Michael J. Fox, Anna Deavere Smith, Wendie Malick, Josh Malina, and Richard Dreyfuss all star. It was really tough for me to see Dreyfuss as a jerk at the time, because I loved him so much.
47. Awakenings (1990)
This is my second favorite Penny Marshall film. Before this she directed Tom Hanks in Big. Rather than rest on comedy she decided to direct a medical drama starring Robin Williams and Robert De Niro. This was probably my introduction to De Niro, actually. I’ve always found this film to be incredibly moving. I’m able to empathize differently than when I was 10 or so. So, the film hits differently for me now. But, like most of Marshall’s work, this film is nearly forgotten these days and it’s a shame, because it retains a power. Williams gets praise for his dramatic performances in Dead Poets Society and Good Will Hunting. This one is up there alongside those.
46. Dark City (1998)
This is one of the most imaginative pieces of sci-fi of the entire decade. And practically nobody went to see it. It’s got elements of noir, horror, science fiction, mystery all wrapped up in a story that is difficult to explain without giving anything away. All you need to know is a man (Rufus Sewell) wakes up in a bath tub with no memory of his identity or how he got there. The entire film is about him asking, “Who am I?”. It’s a film with great philosophical layers and touches on ideas The Matrix would popularize the next year. A score by Trevor Jones generates a propulsive feel to the film as if the action never stops. Keifer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly, and William Hurt are all magnificent. Director Alex Proyas has yet to make a better film.
That concludes the first half of this list. Soon I’ll share the last 45 movies of my 90 Favorites of the ‘90s. Until then feel free to share your thoughts about any of these movies below. I hope there’s already some new discoveries for you to dig into.