Friday, Jan. 8, 1999 | 11:04 a.m.
1998 was such a great year for movies. It had something for everyone. Creating our lists of the best films of the year was not an easy task: It changed at least 10 times before we finally decided upon which films stood apart from the crowd.
Some were Hollywood blockbusters; many were independent films that the average moviegoer may have missed or wouldn't see. But all of them demonstrate the incredible variety of motion pictures that Hollywood has to offer. So, without further delay, we present The Movie Guys' top 10 films of 1998.
Dave's Picks1) "Saving Private Ryan": The staggering story, which follows a troop behind enemy lines to find Pvt. Ryan during World War II, was not only astonishing, but another cinematic achievement by Steven Spielberg, whose household name legitimizes every project he tackles -- but his work is always capable of standing on its own. The graphic depiction of war and violence has never been captured with this much realism. An engrossing human drama with fabulous performances by an ensemble cast.
2) "The Big Lebowski": Either forgotten due to its March release, or unappreciated, much like their 1987 film "Raising Arizona," this effort by the brilliant team of Joel and Ethan Coen deserves the same recognition as an outrageous comedy that was bestowed on "Fargo," their film of two years ago. Jeff Bridges and John Goodman give exceptional performances that will unfortunately go unnoticed by prestigious film critics, except for two Movie Guys. The film's aggressive humor may not appeal to every movie fan, but it certainly proves that the Coen brothers show no sign of slumping.
3) "Shakespeare in Love": The year's most enchanting romance, this well-crafted period piece fictionalizes the muse behind one of literature's greatest writers. A collection of talent rounds out the cast, including our star-crossed/torn lovers -- a poignant Joseph Fiennes (Ralph's little bro) as Shakespeare, and a complementary role for Gwyneth Paltrow. An all-around superb film that will delight every Shakespearean fan.
4) "Your Friends and Neighbors": If you are ready to witness how morality can be absent in the lives of your friends and neighbors, then sit back and enjoy the social commentary of Neil LaBute, the same writer/director who made his debut with last year's "In the Company of Men." Of the impressive cast, the standout is Jason Patric, whose arrogance is so repulsive, you just want to hear more of his ludicrous philosophy on how "life is on my time." This stimulating composition is driven by terrific dialogue that breathes life into its characters.
5) "The Truman Show": Director Peter Weir's latest, elegant feature merits a description that is often used too casually to emphasize its actual meaning. But, quite frankly, this is one of the most original films to surface this decade. "The Truman Show" exemplifies America's television viewership. A sincere bit of acting on the part of screwball comedy star Jim Carrey proves his ability to handle dramatic material. This is a meticulous treatment by the underrated Weir.
6) "He Got Game": Activist-filmmaker Spike Lee produces his best picture to date, a raw look inside the college recruitment of young, athletic high school students searching to make a break from the slums of their upbringing. The innovative transitions and zealous camera work by Lee enhances this heavy story, which reveals the social structure within the inner city, and the strengths and weaknesses within a family. A fine performance from Lee veteran Denzel Washington.
7) "Out of Sight": In this bit of pulp fiction adapted from Elmore Leonard's novel, George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez spark enough chemistry on screen to make this action-comedy an excellent tribute to the genre. With a distinct '70's feel, director Steven Soderbergh ("Sex, Lies and Videotape") is allowed to showcase his keen eye for filmmaking, while scribe Scott Frank (who also scripted Leonard's "Get Shorty") continues to develop his knack for sly, witty capers.
8) "Pi": If nothing else, this low-budget, mathematical, sci-fi-induced flick will find life as a cult classic. Sean Gullette plays the neurotic, migraine-suffering genius determined to discover the mysteries of the universe through a numerical system. Rookie filmmaker Darren Aronofsky creates an incredible visual style that is reminiscent of early David Lynch ("Eraserhead," "The Elephant Man"). A stunning flick with a clever script that proved its worth at last year's Sundance festivities.
9) "The Prince of Egypt": With a majestic vocal cast, and the clout and talent of Jeffrey Katzenberg (the genius behind Disney's "The Lion King" and "Beauty and the Beast"), DreamWorks unveiled an absolute marvel in animation that should pique the Mouse's interest. The retelling of the Book of Exodus may seem like a rather peculiar choice as the studio's first venture into the highly competitive world of animation, but the results were truly breathtaking.
10) "There's Something About Mary": For those on the same level as "Dumb and Dumber" creators Peter and Bobby Farrelly, "Mary" is the breath of comedy fresh air that made last year a hysterical delight. Great sight gags, continuous surprises and quick delivery on the part of a superior cast, including funny man Ben Stiller, whose character survived a brutal genitalia attack, and easy-on-the-eyes Cameron Diaz, whose Mary chose an unusual substance for hair gel.
Honorable Mentions: "Antz," "Buffalo '66," "The Horse Whisperer," "The Imposters," "Rushmore" and "The Wedding Singer."
Jeff's Picks1) "A Simple Plan": Greed, murder and personal destruction are the foundation for director Sam Raimi's graduation from horror films to mainstream movie making. Three men find more than $4 million in a snow-covered airplane. What do the men do? Turn the money in? Keep it? Would they be criminals? One has a new baby on the way; the other has a mountain of debt; and the last wants to buy back his family heritage. Questions of morality and greed unfold in the year's best film. Bill Paxton leads the cast with an unforgettable performance as a husband who must make life-changing choices between right and wrong and what is best for his family.
2) "Saving Private Ryan": Who could ever forget the first 30 minutes of "Saving Private Ryan"? Spielberg's war epic changed my life. I'm now a true pacifist. War is hell, and for the first time, Spielberg shows us what hell looks, sounds and feels like. This is as real as it gets and it evokes a real response -- nausea over the horrors of war. Tom Hanks leads an impressive cast into battle and into movie history. As close to perfection as you can get.
3) "The Big Lebowski": In true Hitchcock form, the cause of Jeffrey Lebowski's troubles are all a case of mistaken identity. What follows is a chain of events that find Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski and his bowling pals solving the kidnaping of a millionaire's wife. One of the funniest films of 1998, and from the brilliant minds of Joel and Ethan Coen, "The Big Lebowski's" dialogue and direction are pure gold, as are the career performances of Jeff Bridges and John Goodman. The humor is dark and rough-edged. Let's hope they remember "The Dude" come Oscar time.
4) "The Truman Show": This was Jim Carrey's year. No one ever thought Carrey could portray anything but a Jerry Lewis clone in movies such as "Dumb and Dumber" and "Ace Ventura." "The Truman Show" is a cinematic masterpiece, due to its insightful commentary on our society and the media, and Carrey's touching and dramatic portrayal of the first baby adopted by a corporation. Moviegoers were crying for something original, and they got it. The ending of "The Truman Show" will go down in cinema history as one of the greatest conclusions ever filmed.
5) "Shakespeare in Love": Charm and wit ooze from every frame of "Shakespeare in Love," a fast-moving romantic comedy that took everyone by surprise in 1998. Joseph Fiennes is Will Shakespeare, who's having trouble with his new play, "Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter." What an awful title. It made me chuckle every time I heard it. It takes true love to shake Shakespeare into creating the classic love story of "Romeo and Juliet," and director John Madden commands an exquisite cast consisting of the beautiful Gwyneth Paltrow, the eccentric Geoffrey Rush and Judi Dench, who steals the show as Queen of England.
6) "Your Friends and Neighbors": Neil LaBute's wicked dialogue and superb direction complement the year's most unique ensemble cast in a tale about a group of friends that practice infidelity and analyze their own happiness in today's modern world. Jason Patric's monologue is one of the greatest ever written, and at its conclusion leaves you squirming in your seat and with your jaw scraping the ground. Plus, LaBute's wisdom is using Metallica's "Enter Sandman" set to a trio of cellos and violins. Sheer genius.
7) "Happiness": Director Todd Solondz didn't mean to offend you with "Happiness." Or did he? Soldendz flashes a beam of light into the dark corners of humanity, revealing the misery of the human condition, and serves up taboo subjects such as incest and pedophilia. His characters are the definition of dysfunctional, but are portrayed as sympathetic. Phillip Seymour Hoffman gives the standout performance as a sexually dysfunctional prank phone caller. Soldenz' shocking expose pushed the boundaries of modern filmmaking, and the result was the most controversial film of the year.
8) "The Farm": A hard-hitting, eye-opening documentary about life and death in prison makes my Top 10 list this year. It is set among the 18,000 acres of Louisiana's State Angola Penitentiary, (nicknamed "the farm") which borders the Mississippi River, where more than 5,000 men enter the prison gates, never to see freedom again. Directors Jonathan Stack and Liz Garbus worked closely Warden Burl Cain of Angola Prison, whose philosophy is to work the inmates all day so they're tired all night. Eighty percent of the inmates are African-American; they head out daily to work the fields with white overseers on horseback brandishing rifles. "The Farm" is a notable look at the rite-of-passage of six men over the course of a year in the most unbearable prison in the United States.
9) "Buffalo '66": Vincent Gallo provides a triple play in "Buffalo '66," serving as actor, writer and director in the year's most cutting-edge film. Gallo plays Billy Brown, who kidnaps Layla (Christina Ricci), who pretends to be his wife when he goes home to visit his parents. The story isn't as important as the pain and anguish that Billy has endured growing up with his vacant parents (Ben Gazzara and Anjelica Huston). You can feel Billy's pain right along with him. Ricci is simply superb, and Gallo is remarkable, as is the true meaning of "Buffalo '66."
10) "The Imposters": The most pleasant surprise of the year is writer/director Stanley Tucci's homage to classic slapstick comedy. "The Imposters" are out-of-work actors, Maurice and Arthur (Tucci and Oliver Platt), who stow away on a cruise ship. What follows is pure zany, screwball comedy in the grand tradition of The Marx Brothers' "Monkey Business." The opening credits play out as a silent film, and show the incredible chemistry between Platt and Tucci as a modern-day Laurel and Hardy. "The Imposters" had so many laughs and classic moments that it would take multiple viewings to appreciate all the gags.
Honorable Mentions: "The Prince of Egypt," "Life is Beautiful," "Permanent Midnight," "American History X," "Out of Sight," "Rushmore," and "Elizabeth."
See you next week.
THE MOVIE GUYS, starring Jeff Howard and Dave Neil, appears Fridays in the Sun (additional material provided by Thomas Feeney). You can also read their capsule reviews of movies in Las Vegas Weekly magazine. Plus, check them out online at lasvegassun.com/sun/sunlife/movies.
archive
