The 100 Greatest movies of the 1990s #36. Being John Malkovich (47 Viewers)

[Todem]

ID4 such fun to watch. Shame the sequel is the textbook example of the Law of Movie Sequels

The sequel was horiffic.

ID4 is the definition of great popcorn fun.

 

[El Floppo]

True Lies was a lot of fun. Perfect 90s movie prototype. Even Tom Arnold was good.

 

[timschochet]

57. Barton Fink (1991)

Directed by: The Coen Brothers

Starring: John Turturro, John Goodman, Judy Davis

Synopsis: A screenwriter in early 40s Hollywood suffers from a mental block.

I gotta tell you…the life of the mind…there’s no roadmap for that territory. And it can be painful. - John Turturro as Barton Fink

Probably the quietest of the Coen Brothers movies, and the most surrealistic: what exactly is happening here? It almost reminds me a bit of Eraserhead. Damn good acting, however, by the two leads. John Turturro may be one of our greatest underrated actors, Goodman as well. This film has a great look to it.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Barton Fink is a strange movie. But I really like it.

He's a MAN! We WRESTLED!

John Turturro is a great actor.

 

[El Floppo]

I only saw Fink in the theater... Didn't work for me at the time. But I feel like I need to rewatch it.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

If you want to keep it simple, Barton Fink is about what a lot of Cohen Brothers movies are about - a man who's out of his lane.

Fink styles himself as an "every man", and then he gets around real ones - and it goes pretty badly for him. Throw in a dash of nihilism and you've got a Cohen blueprint for making movies.

 

[rockaction]

I always thought the last scene was an instruction manual that he was too self-involved and wrapped up in his own head to see until that moment; most people see it as a comment on the superficiality of Hollywood and the need to sell out to make entertainment.

The Coens would be an odd couple to give us something as superficially trite as lamenting Hollywood and the nature of the beast. They're usually a lot deeper and strangely bourgeois than that. There's a deep sense of traditional morality running through a lot of their movies. They're not epater le bourgeoisie guys.

 

[Dennis Castro]

True Lies was a lot of fun. Perfect 90s movie prototype. Even Tom Arnold was good.

“Get lost, dip****.”

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

I don't understand why you guys keep labeling threads as the greastest when they are favs or most watched. Such clickbait titling.

And, yet....... here you are.

yes. It's a discussion board and I have opinions. (and good taste) I think it's generally fun to discuss/argue and I think that's mostly the point of social media although now days it's probably used more as a means to get attention and scroll through cat memes. I can be critical but I don't think I'm overly mean about it. Even though I don't agree with some of the tv/movie opinions I still think they are fun and interesting to view and see where mine and X poster agree/disagree and hey, maybe I'll learn about some obscure new movie/show.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

also, Independence Day and True Lies are both great movies. I think I'd put both before Fink even though I liked it.

 

[massraider]

True Lies was fun, and it felt like the producers were kinda in on the joke, which is fun.

I would really love to see what this movie would have looked like with a better 2nd banana than Tom Arnold.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

True Lies was fun, and it felt like the producers were kinda in on the joke, which is fun.

I would really love to see what this movie would have looked like with a better 2nd banana than Tom Arnold.

Phil Hartman comes to mind.

 

[Dennis Castro]

True Lies was a lot of fun. Perfect 90s movie prototype. Even Tom Arnold was good.

“Get lost, dip****.”

Sorry Flop, I guess I should’ve put that in quotes. Tom Arnold really is pretty good in that movie.

 

[Todem]

True Lies was a lot of fun. Perfect 90s movie prototype. Even Tom Arnold was good.

Great movie…..Bill Paxton steals every scene he is in.

 

[Ghost Rider]

True Lies was fun, and it felt like the producers were kinda in on the joke, which is fun.

I would really love to see what this movie would have looked like with a better 2nd banana than Tom Arnold.

I think Arnold is great in it, which speak to how awesome True Lies is, when even Tom freaking Arnold is great. haha

 

[Dan Lambskin]

I'm kind of ashamed that as a person who grew up in the 90's, I've never actually watched True Lies from start to finish. I've seen clips, caught parts of it on TV, but never actually sat down and watched the entire movie.

Same

Also never seen Forrest Gump

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Also never seen Forrest Gump

I tried. It was unwatchable for me.

 

[El Floppo]

Also never seen Forrest Gump

I tried. It was unwatchable for me.

When I first watched it in the theaters, I came out disappointed... Solely because there had been a series of movies that came out around that time that were about "humanity" but with humans that were kinda superhuman (so not really about human humanity)- gump's super speed.

But I've watched it since and enjoyed it.

 

[Ilov80s]

True Lies was fun, and it felt like the producers were kinda in on the joke, which is fun.

I would really love to see what this movie would have looked like with a better 2nd banana than Tom Arnold.

I think Arnold is great in it, which speak to how awesome True Lies is, when even Tom freaking Arnold is great. haha

Great point, he’s pretty much awful in every thing else. How did he ever have a career?

 

[Ilov80s]

True Lies was fun, and it felt like the producers were kinda in on the joke, which is fun.

I would really love to see what this movie would have looked like with a better 2nd banana than Tom Arnold.

Phil Hartman comes to mind.

Danny Devito to reunite him with Arnold?

 

[Ilov80s]

I always thought the last scene was an instruction manual that he was too self-involved and wrapped up in his own head to see until that moment; most people see it as a comment on the superficiality of Hollywood and the need to sell out to make entertainment.

The Coens would be an odd couple to give us something as superficially trite as lamenting Hollywood and the nature of the beast. They're usually a lot deeper and strangely bourgeois than that. There's a deep sense of traditional morality running through a lot of their movies. They're not epater le bourgeoisie guys.

Their movies are often a little tough to figure out exactly because they refuse to talk about them. Their general take on all their movies is that it means whatever you think it does.I love their balance of highly literate and simplicity bordering on stupidity. As for Fink, I don’t know what the heck it means.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

I always thought the last scene was an instruction manual that he was too self-involved and wrapped up in his own head to see until that moment; most people see it as a comment on the superficiality of Hollywood and the need to sell out to make entertainment.

The Coens would be an odd couple to give us something as superficially trite as lamenting Hollywood and the nature of the beast. They're usually a lot deeper and strangely bourgeois than that. There's a deep sense of traditional morality running through a lot of their movies. They're not epater le bourgeoisie guys.

Their movies are often a little tough to figure out exactly because they refuse to talk about them. Their general take on all their movies is that it means whatever you think it does.I love their balance of highly literate and simplicity bordering on stupidity. As for Fink, I don’t know what the heck it means.

I thought Fink was supposed to be about writers block, or at least that’s what I read some time ago. Been awhile since I’ve seen it but it’s definitely one of my least favorite of theirs

 

[Pip's Invitation]

I always thought the last scene was an instruction manual that he was too self-involved and wrapped up in his own head to see until that moment; most people see it as a comment on the superficiality of Hollywood and the need to sell out to make entertainment.

The Coens would be an odd couple to give us something as superficially trite as lamenting Hollywood and the nature of the beast. They're usually a lot deeper and strangely bourgeois than that. There's a deep sense of traditional morality running through a lot of their movies. They're not epater le bourgeoisie guys.

Their movies are often a little tough to figure out exactly because they refuse to talk about them. Their general take on all their movies is that it means whatever you think it does.I love their balance of highly literate and simplicity bordering on stupidity. As for Fink, I don’t know what the heck it means.

I thought Fink was supposed to be about writers block, or at least that’s what I read some time ago. Been awhile since I’ve seen it but it’s definitely one of my least favorite of theirs

It is mainly about writers’ block and was inspired by their own writers’ block.

 

[Ilov80s]

I always thought the last scene was an instruction manual that he was too self-involved and wrapped up in his own head to see until that moment; most people see it as a comment on the superficiality of Hollywood and the need to sell out to make entertainment.

The Coens would be an odd couple to give us something as superficially trite as lamenting Hollywood and the nature of the beast. They're usually a lot deeper and strangely bourgeois than that. There's a deep sense of traditional morality running through a lot of their movies. They're not epater le bourgeoisie guys.

Their movies are often a little tough to figure out exactly because they refuse to talk about them. Their general take on all their movies is that it means whatever you think it does.I love their balance of highly literate and simplicity bordering on stupidity. As for Fink, I don’t know what the heck it means.

I thought Fink was supposed to be about writers block, or at least that’s what I read some time ago. Been awhile since I’ve seen it but it’s definitely one of my least favorite of theirs

It is mainly about writers’ block and was inspired by their own writers’ block.

Is Fink the one they write while they were in the middle of trying to make Miller’s Crossing?

 

[Pip's Invitation]

I always thought the last scene was an instruction manual that he was too self-involved and wrapped up in his own head to see until that moment; most people see it as a comment on the superficiality of Hollywood and the need to sell out to make entertainment.

The Coens would be an odd couple to give us something as superficially trite as lamenting Hollywood and the nature of the beast. They're usually a lot deeper and strangely bourgeois than that. There's a deep sense of traditional morality running through a lot of their movies. They're not epater le bourgeoisie guys.

Their movies are often a little tough to figure out exactly because they refuse to talk about them. Their general take on all their movies is that it means whatever you think it does.I love their balance of highly literate and simplicity bordering on stupidity. As for Fink, I don’t know what the heck it means.

I thought Fink was supposed to be about writers block, or at least that’s what I read some time ago. Been awhile since I’ve seen it but it’s definitely one of my least favorite of theirs

It is mainly about writers’ block and was inspired by their own writers’ block.

Is Fink the one they write while they were in the middle of trying to make Miller’s Crossing?

Yes. Which is why Fink came out just 1 year after Miller’s Crossing. Previously their films had all been released 3 years apart.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I always thought the last scene was an instruction manual that he was too self-involved and wrapped up in his own head to see until that moment; most people see it as a comment on the superficiality of Hollywood and the need to sell out to make entertainment.

The Coens would be an odd couple to give us something as superficially trite as lamenting Hollywood and the nature of the beast. They're usually a lot deeper and strangely bourgeois than that. There's a deep sense of traditional morality running through a lot of their movies. They're not epater le bourgeoisie guys.

Their movies are often a little tough to figure out exactly because they refuse to talk about them. Their general take on all their movies is that it means whatever you think it does.I love their balance of highly literate and simplicity bordering on stupidity. As for Fink, I don’t know what the heck it means.

I thought Fink was supposed to be about writers block, or at least that’s what I read some time ago. Been awhile since I’ve seen it but it’s definitely one of my least favorite of theirs

It is mainly about writers’ block and was inspired by their own writers’ block.

Is Fink the one they write while they were in the middle of trying to make Miller’s Crossing?

Yes. Which is why Fink came out just 1 year after Miller’s Crossing. Previously their films had all been released 3 years apart.

Do they do this a bit? I thought I read/heard it was similar with Lebowski - they wrote it while filming Fargo maybe?

 

[Tau837]

Just ran across this thread.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

I always thought the last scene was an instruction manual that he was too self-involved and wrapped up in his own head to see until that moment; most people see it as a comment on the superficiality of Hollywood and the need to sell out to make entertainment.

The Coens would be an odd couple to give us something as superficially trite as lamenting Hollywood and the nature of the beast. They're usually a lot deeper and strangely bourgeois than that. There's a deep sense of traditional morality running through a lot of their movies. They're not epater le bourgeoisie guys.

Their movies are often a little tough to figure out exactly because they refuse to talk about them. Their general take on all their movies is that it means whatever you think it does.I love their balance of highly literate and simplicity bordering on stupidity. As for Fink, I don’t know what the heck it means.

I thought Fink was supposed to be about writers block, or at least that’s what I read some time ago. Been awhile since I’ve seen it but it’s definitely one of my least favorite of theirs

It is mainly about writers’ block and was inspired by their own writers’ block.

Is Fink the one they write while they were in the middle of trying to make Miller’s Crossing?

Yes. Which is why Fink came out just 1 year after Miller’s Crossing. Previously their films had all been released 3 years apart.

Do they do this a bit? I thought I read/heard it was similar with Lebowski - they wrote it while filming Fargo maybe?

They wrote Lebowski around the same time that they wrote Fink. It was based on people they knew in real life, with the idea of putting them all into a Raymond Chandler-type story. It took so long to get made because they knew they wanted Jeff Bridges and John Goodman, but getting everyone’s schedules aligned proved difficult.

 

[Zippy McGriff]

I always thought the last scene was an instruction manual that he was too self-involved and wrapped up in his own head to see until that moment; most people see it as a comment on the superficiality of Hollywood and the need to sell out to make entertainment.

The Coens would be an odd couple to give us something as superficially trite as lamenting Hollywood and the nature of the beast. They're usually a lot deeper and strangely bourgeois than that. There's a deep sense of traditional morality running through a lot of their movies. They're not epater le bourgeoisie guys.

Their movies are often a little tough to figure out exactly because they refuse to talk about them. Their general take on all their movies is that it means whatever you think it does.I love their balance of highly literate and simplicity bordering on stupidity. As for Fink, I don’t know what the heck it means.

I thought Fink was supposed to be about writers block, or at least that’s what I read some time ago. Been awhile since I’ve seen it but it’s definitely one of my least favorite of theirs

It is mainly about writers’ block and was inspired by their own writers’ block.

Is Fink the one they write while they were in the middle of trying to make Miller’s Crossing?

Yes. Which is why Fink came out just 1 year after Miller’s Crossing. Previously their films had all been released 3 years apart.

Do they do this a bit? I thought I read/heard it was similar with Lebowski - they wrote it while filming Fargo maybe?

They wrote Lebowski around the same time that they wrote Fink. It was based on people they knew in real life, with the idea of putting them all into a Raymond Chandler-type story. It took so long to get made because they knew they wanted Jeff Bridges and John Goodman, but getting everyone’s schedules aligned proved difficult.

Walter is John Milius, who wrote Red Dawn and Apocalypse Now.

 

[Zippy McGriff]

I always thought the last scene was an instruction manual that he was too self-involved and wrapped up in his own head to see until that moment; most people see it as a comment on the superficiality of Hollywood and the need to sell out to make entertainment.

The Coens would be an odd couple to give us something as superficially trite as lamenting Hollywood and the nature of the beast. They're usually a lot deeper and strangely bourgeois than that. There's a deep sense of traditional morality running through a lot of their movies. They're not epater le bourgeoisie guys.

Their movies are often a little tough to figure out exactly because they refuse to talk about them. Their general take on all their movies is that it means whatever you think it does.I love their balance of highly literate and simplicity bordering on stupidity. As for Fink, I don’t know what the heck it means.

Yeah, sometimes I’m right with them. Like Big Lebowski is straight up right out of the one brother’s political philosophy degree.

 

[timschochet]

56. The Lion King (1994)

Directed by: Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff

Starring the voices of: Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane

Synopsis: Lion King Simba must reclaim his throne from the evil Scar who stole it.

What do you want me to do, dress in drag and dance the Hula? - Nathan Lane as Timon

I rank it higher than Aladdin, even though the songs (by Elton John and Tim Rice) aren’t quite as good as Aladdin, mainly because it’s so visually stunning. The stampede scene alone is an incredible bit of movie making. The characters are quite good, particularly Timon and Scar (though Jeremy Iron’s Scar is a little bit too similar to George Sanders’ tiger, Shere Khan, from The Jungle Book.)

Side trivia note: much to my surprise, I read recently that the Broadway version of The Lion King has become the highest grossing musical theatre show of all time, surpassing even Les Miserables and other famous blockbusters. Go figure.

 

[FarFromHome]

Like Toy Story, the Lion King was just a great cartoon. Great voices, cute little story. I still hold my dogs up in the air like when Simba was born.

 

[El Floppo]

Like Toy Story, the Lion King was just a great cartoon. Great voices, cute little story. I still hold my dogs up in the air like when Simba was born.

Do you sing the "ay ah boombah, wanna mana..bana bing bong" song when you do?

 

[FarFromHome]

Like Toy Story, the Lion King was just a great cartoon. Great voices, cute little story. I still hold my dogs up in the air like when Simba was born.

Do you sing the "ay ah boombah, wanna mana..bana bing bong" song when you do?

You damn well know the answer. I'm also not the only adult that does that. Ha ha

 

[Todem]

The Lion King was my second favorite Disney animated film ever.

Beauty and The Beast clearly the best for my taste.

But The Lion King also hits home and is a tremendous story of redemption for the littles.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Lion King is great but there was probably a better choice than Broderick out there for the voice of Simba.

Jeremy Irons was perfect though.

 

[Don Quixote]

Lion King is great but there was probably a better choice than Broderick out there for the voice of Simba.

Jeremy Irons was perfect though.

I never saw any issues with Broderick there. It seemed to fit the character of someone a bit immature/irresponsible, but want to root for.

 

[El Floppo]

I saw the movie after I had kids... Really good kids movie, even if not one I'd ever be interested in seeing outside of that. I understand it's inclusion here

The Musical, with early Julie Taymor puppetry, costumes and sets... Was fantastic.

 

[FarFromHome]

I saw the movie after I had kids... Really good kids movie, even if not one I'd ever be interested in seeing outside of that. I understand it's inclusion here

The Musical, with early Julie Taymor puppetry, costumes and sets... Was fantastic.

Only to show how many different audiences it reached. I saw the movie at the theatre with two friends, absolutely freaking out on acid. Great experience. FYI. I've been completely sober for decades.

 

[B Maverick]

Like Toy Story, the Lion King was just a great cartoon. Great voices, cute little story. I still hold my dogs up in the air like when Simba was born.

Do you sing the "ay ah boombah, wanna mana..bana bing bong" song when you do?

He sings this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OYI84sCxao

 

[zamboni]

Lion King is great but there was probably a better choice than Broderick out there for the voice of Simba.

Jeremy Irons was perfect though.

I never saw any issues with Broderick there. It seemed to fit the character of someone a bit immature/irresponsible, but want to root for.

Agreed - it’s not like Broderick was trying to be Ferris Simba.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Lion King is great but there was probably a better choice than Broderick out there for the voice of Simba.

Jeremy Irons was perfect though.

I never saw any issues with Broderick there. It seemed to fit the character of someone a bit immature/irresponsible, but want to root for.

Agreed - it’s not like Broderick was trying to be Ferris Simba.

I guess I just don't like his style. Didn't care for him in Glory either.

 

[Zippy McGriff]

Lion King is great but there was probably a better choice than Broderick out there for the voice of Simba.

Jeremy Irons was perfect though.

I never saw any issues with Broderick there. It seemed to fit the character of someone a bit immature/irresponsible, but want to root for.

Agreed - it’s not like Broderick was trying to be Ferris Simba.

I guess I just don't like his style. Didn't care for him in Glory either.

I think those are both pretty good calls, but he wasn't too terrible in The Lion King. That said, I don't remember it that well and didn't dig the movie as much as most.

 

[TripItUp]

Lion King is a classic...I mean, I don't rank any animated movie this high personally, but I at least understand this ranking.

 

[Ghost Rider]

True Lies was fun, and it felt like the producers were kinda in on the joke, which is fun.

I would really love to see what this movie would have looked like with a better 2nd banana than Tom Arnold.

I think Arnold is great in it, which speak to how awesome True Lies is, when even Tom freaking Arnold is great. haha

Great point, he’s pretty much awful in every thing else. How did he ever have a career?

I believe we can thank Roseanne (whom I never thought was funny; never liked her show at all because I didn't care for her), who put him into the sphere by making him a writer for and actor on her show.

 

[B Maverick]

True Lies was fun, and it felt like the producers were kinda in on the joke, which is fun.

I would really love to see what this movie would have looked like with a better 2nd banana than Tom Arnold.

I think Arnold is great in it, which speak to how awesome True Lies is, when even Tom freaking Arnold is great. haha

Great point, he’s pretty much awful in every thing else. How did he ever have a career?

I believe we can thank Roseanne (whom I never thought was funny; never liked her show at all because I didn't care for her), who put him into the sphere by making him a writer for and actor on her show.

It was also a time when the loud/obnoxious side kick who wasn't smart, athletic or particularly good at his job was a big thing in movies/tv.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

it’s not like Broderick was trying to be Ferris Simba.

Maybe he was going back to the source and was really trying to be more like Ferris Kimba.

 

[zamboni]

it’s not like Broderick was trying to be Ferris Simba.

Maybe he was going back to the source and was really trying to be more like Ferris Kimba.

Reminds me of this guy. Great college player but didn't do much at all in the NBA.

 

[timschochet]

55. Life Is Beautiful (1998)

Directed by: Roberto Benigni

Starring: Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi

Synopsis: An Italian Jew attempts to save his son from the Holocaust.

You’ve never ridden on a train, have you? They’re fantastic! Everyone stands up, close together, and there are no seats! - Roberto Benigni as Guido

This is one of two foreign language films that made the list. Normally I don’t include foreign language films on these lists, not because of their lack of value but because of my inexcusable ignorance on the subject. But these two films saw wide release to American audiences; both dealt with the same basic subject matter (though the films are extremely different.) This one was easily the more famous of the two, though I rank the other one significantly higher.

Life Is Beautful is essentially two films in itself; the first half is similar to an old Buster Keaton/Harold Lloyd slapstick comedy, and it’s delightful. The second half is a depiction of a concentration camp and the love between a father and son. It’s certainly NOT delightful but it IS extremely moving. Benigni won Best Actor for this role, and his very energetic acceptance speech remains fixed in my mind as one of the great Oscar moments of all time.

 

[Todem]

55. Life Is Beautiful (1998)

Directed by: Roberto Benigni

Starring: Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi

Synopsis: An Italian Jew attempts to save his son from the Holocaust.

You’ve never ridden on a train, have you? They’re fantastic! Everyone stands up, close together, and there are no seats! - Roberto Benigni as Guido

This is one of two foreign language films that made the list. Normally I don’t include foreign language films on these lists, not because of their lack of value but because of my inexcusable ignorance on the subject. But these two films saw wide release to American audiences; both dealt with the same basic subject matter (though the films are extremely different.) This one was easily the more famous of the two, though I rank the other one significantly higher.

Life Is Beautful is essentially two films in itself; the first half is similar to an old Buster Keaton/Harold Lloyd slapstick comedy, and it’s delightful. The second half is a depiction of a concentration camp and the love between a father and son. It’s certainly NOT delightful but it IS extremely moving. Benigni won Best Actor for this role, and his very energetic acceptance speech remains fixed in my mind as one of the great Oscar moments of all time.

Outstanding movie....gut wrenching.