The 25 Greatest Films of the 1990s--Part 2
© Jason O'Brien
#22. Boogie Nights
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
Starring Mark Wahlberg, Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, John C. Reilly
Not since the 1970's, when so many young directors showed such promise early on with their first films, had a young director in his 20's showed a promise so early on. Paul Thomas Anderson began this promise with this 1997 film, and it's skill reminded one of a young Martin Scorsese about to embark on a brilliant career, and Anderson looks to be on this path. Anderson started out bold with this expansive epic on the inside workings of the adult film industry, through its heyday in the 70's through the downfall in the 80's. It's a brilliant film, with the style of someone with a vision and passion for film, and filled with unique, strange, and always memorable characters in a film which manages to cycle through success, tragedy, and ultimately redemption. It's the study of a large family, and how that family falls apart and finds its way back again.
#21. Fargo
Directed by Joel Coen
Starring Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi
Joel and Ethan Coen brought one of the most unique, funny, and tragic stories to the screen in 1996 with this offbeat film which reminded everyone of what can truly be accomplished when film artists work hard to make something unique and original. The film is the darkest of comedies, following a story of what happens when a kidnapping unravels, unraveling one unbelievable plot twist after another until the audience is left not even being able to guess what will happen next. From the simple beginnings in a bar in the middle of nowhere when a man hires two men to kidnap his wife so he can pocket the ransom, to the murders of a cop and two passersby, to the pregnant police chief who investigates the crimes, and to the conclusion with a wood chipper, this film was one of the most original films to hit cinema screens the entire decade. Definitely one of the Coen brothers' greatest films.
#20. Contact
Directed by Robert Zemeckis
Starring Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughey, James Woods, Tom Skerritt
This 1997 film, adapted from Carl Sagan's novel, was one of the most intelligent, thought-provoking, and wondrous science fiction films of recent times. Zemeckis did the brilliant thing of making this film about us as a people, as he presents what might happen to us if we were to finally be contacted by an entity from outer space, and discovering for the first time that there was other intelligent life in the universe. The film is not really about the journey into space to discover who's out there, as I believe some expected, but is instead a serious drama that presents an interesting discussion between religion and science, and the different forces that fight against one another to prove that they are right in determining what this signal from outer space means. Jodie Foster gives an impassioned performance as Ellie Arroway, and her final journey into space becomes enshrouded in mystery, making the conclusion of the film so powerful as we realize the film is really about our faith and our beliefs, and how we are all struggling, searching for the singular meaning of our existence.
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