The 25 Greatest Films of the 1990s, Part 5
© Jason O'Brien
#13. The Truman Show
Directed by Peter Wier
Starring Jim Carrey, Ed Harris, Natascha McElphone, Laura Linney
Jim Carrey finally redeemed himself in the late 1990's with this 1998 masterpiece, a film so full of ideas and so full of sheer filmmaking brilliance. This film was the perfect film for its time, as it presented a world not so far removed from our current culture where real life drama is presented on our TV screens more and more every day. Are we that far away from the time when a person will be put into an artificial world from birth, and have their every move broadcast to the entire world? Peter Wier took this brilliant idea and made a richly detailed and emotional film about what happens when that man, whose life has been the world's to watch, finally discovers the truth of his existence, and his struggle to discover the truth. Jim Carrey showed his true dramatic side for the first time in this film, and Wier's visual style is striking. One day, this film may no longer be considered a work of fiction.
#12. The Silence of the Lambs
Directed by Jonathan Demme
Starring Anthony Hopkins, Jodie Foster, Scott Glenn
One of the most stylish suspense horror films ever made, this 1991 film surprisingly won the Academy's Best Picture award, and it is indeed an accomplished film achievement. Anthony Hopkins' deservedly horrific performance of serial killer Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter has already become one of the icons of cinema history. The film rises far above the horror genre by portraying the interplay between Lecter and Clarice Starling, the officer trying to get information from him (played by Jodie Foster in her Oscar-winning performance). The stylish and dark cinematography and skillful direction by Demme end up making a solid suspense thriller, one that leaves its impression long after you see it.
#11. Philadelphia
Directed by Jonathan Demme
Starring Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Jason Robards
Two years after Silence of the Lambs, Jonathan Demme topped himself, in my opinion, by making the first major studio film to deal with the controversial topics of AIDS and homosexuality. But for than being a "cause" film, this film is a tragic human story, putting a human face on the tragedy that AIDS is. Tom Hanks gave his first real breakthrough performance as a serious actor and won his first Oscar for his performance in this film, a film full of honesty about the stigma behind the AIDS disease. Demme has a unique film style, sometimes having the actors look directly into the camera when talking to someone. All of the elements combined to make this an extremely powerful film, punctuated by two incredibly well-written and honest songs, "Streets of Philadelphia" by Bruce Springsteen (he won the Oscar) and Neil Young with "Philadelphia."
Go To Page: 1 2
