The 100 Greatest movies of the 1990s #53. Mr. Holland’s Opus (25 Viewers)

[Mrs. Rannous]

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.

Or just awful.

 

[TripItUp]

55. Life Is Beautiful (1998)

Directed by: Roberto Benigni

Starring: Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi

Synopsis: [/B]An Italian Jew attempts to save his son from the Holocaust.

Not in my top 100....you would have to pay me to watch it again.

 

[General Malaise]

Maybe if they animated you haters would appreciate it more.

 

[El Floppo]

Ok... I guess I'm not on an island here, but there are very specific reasons why Life is Beautiful didn't resonate with me.

I've mentioned this before, but I lived in Italy for a bit back then and there was a particular style of Italian film and tv specific to that late 80s, 90s era where it was all cutesy but heavy handed schmaltz, mixed with heavier stuff. That mix of cutesy schmaltz and the Holocaust was just terribly unsuccessful for me- I walked out of the theater thinking, bleh.

I get why people enjoyed the movie- well made and interesting heart wrenching story with a wonderful actor at the lead (I loved Benigni in Down by Law, my favorite Jarmusch) and don't begrudge anybody for liking it.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

Life Is Beautiful is great I don't know what you guys are talking about.

 

[timschochet]

54. To Die For (1995)

Directed by: Gus Van Sant

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Joaquin Phoenix, Matt Dillon

Synopsis: A housewife, aspiring to be a star newscaster, convinces two teenagers to kill her husband.

You’re not anybody in America unless you’re on TV….Besides, what’s the point of doing anything worthwhile if nobody’s watching? - Nicole Kidman as Suzanne Stone.

Loosely based on a true story this is a terrific black comedy that has a lot to say about our obsession with celebrity, The acting is absolutely superb, particularly Kidman (she may never have been better) and Phoenix, who demonstrates in an early role the skills that would make him a star. The documentary style of direction is pitch perfect.

 

[El Floppo]

Forgot about this one... Great choice!

 

[zamboni]

54. To Die For (1995)

Loosely based on a true story this is a terrific black comedy that has a lot to say about our obsession with celebrity, The acting is absolutely superb, particularly Kidman (she may never have been better) and Phoenix, who demonstrates in an early role the skills that would make him a star. The documentary style of direction is pitch perfect.

The basis was the Pamela Smart event in New Hampshire. What a wild story that was.

 

[General Malaise]

54. To Die For (1995)

Directed by: Gus Van Sant

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Joaquin Phoenix, Matt Dillon

Synopsis: A housewife, aspiring to be a star newscaster, convinces two teenagers to kill her husband.

You’re not anybody in America unless you’re on TV….Besides, what’s the point of doing anything worthwhile if nobody’s watching? - Nicole Kidman as Suzanne Stone.

Loosely based on a true story this is a terrific black comedy that has a lot to say about our obsession with celebrity, The acting is absolutely superb, particularly Kidman (she may never have been better) and Phoenix, who demonstrates in an early role the skills that would make him a star. The documentary style of direction is pitch perfect.

One of the better ending scenes to a movie as well - Illeana Douglass figure skating on the frozen lake to Donovan's "Season of the Witch". So good.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

So far the 90s seems the weakest movie decade tim has done.

 

[Don Quixote]

So far the 90s seems the weakest movie decade tim has done.

I think the 90s were a much better movie decade than the 80s (but would sit behind the 70s). Whether that bears out in Tim’s list, I guess we’ll see.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

So far the 90s seems the weakest movie decade tim has done.

I think the 90s were a much better movie decade than the 80s (but would sit behind the 70s). Whether that bears out in Tim’s list, I guess we’ll see.

I'd agree, but I'm just not impressed with most of this list so far.

 

[KarmaPolice]

So far the 90s seems the weakest movie decade tim has done.

I think the 90s were a much better movie decade than the 80s (but would sit behind the 70s). Whether that bears out in Tim’s list, I guess we’ll see.

I'd agree, but I'm just not impressed with most of this list so far.

Did you feel the same about mine and 80s' list?

 

[Dr. Octopus]

So far the 90s seems the weakest movie decade tim has done.

I think the 90s were a much better movie decade than the 80s (but would sit behind the 70s). Whether that bears out in Tim’s list, I guess we’ll see.

I'd agree, but I'm just not impressed with most of this list so far.

Did you feel the same about mine and 80s' list?

No (I don't think so).

I actually liked most of tim's other lists as well - but this one seems way off to me.

 

[timschochet]

53. Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995)

Directed by: Stephen Herek

Starring: Richard Dreyfus, Glenne Headly

Synopsis: High school music teacher inspires students through the years

Playing music is supposed to be fun. It’s about heart, it’s about feeling…it’s not about notes on a page. I can teach you notes on a page, I can’t teach you that other stuff. - Richard Dreyfus as Glenn Holland

It’s a plot as old as Hollywood itself: teacher inspires students to be passionate about a subject and it changes their lives. We all must have seen dozens of these over the years. But this is an especially good one I think. Dreyfus is great in one of his best performances.

 

[General Malaise]

So far the 90s seems the weakest movie decade tim has done.

I think the 90s were a much better movie decade than the 80s (but would sit behind the 70s). Whether that bears out in Tim’s list, I guess we’ll see.

I'd agree, but I'm just not impressed with most of this list so far.

Did you feel the same about mine and 80s' list?

No (I don't think so).

I actually liked most of tim's other lists as well - but this one seems way off to me.

There's some real clunkers thus far but he's also listed some absolute gems, IMO.

The standouts for me so far:
Swingers
Se7en
The Fugitive
League of Their Own
Glengarry Glen Ross
Office Space
Misery
Scream
Jurassic Park
The Sandlot
White Men Can't Jump

Biggest miss:
Any Given Sunday

Movies I've not seen or can't remember seeing that I'd like to watch based off his list:
Defending Your Life
Reversal of Fortune
Guilty By Suspicion
Crumb
The Hurricane
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert
That Thing You Do

 

[Gally]

The standouts for me so far:
Swingers
Se7en
The Fugitive
League of Their Own
Glengarry Glen Ross
Office Space
Misery
Scream
Jurassic Park
The Sandlot
White Men Can't Jump

Standouts in what way? Shouldn't have been listed? Shoulda been higher/lower?

 

[General Malaise]

The standouts for me so far:
Swingers
Se7en
The Fugitive
League of Their Own
Glengarry Glen Ross
Office Space
Misery
Scream
Jurassic Park
The Sandlot
White Men Can't Jump

Standouts in what way? Shouldn't have been listed? Shoulda been higher/lower?

I'm singling those out as my favorites that he's listed thus far. IMO, these were great movies in the 90s and would be great to rewatch today.

 

[Gally]

The standouts for me so far:
Swingers
Se7en
The Fugitive
League of Their Own
Glengarry Glen Ross
Office Space
Misery
Scream
Jurassic Park
The Sandlot
White Men Can't Jump

Standouts in what way? Shouldn't have been listed? Shoulda been higher/lower?

I'm singling those out as my favorites that he's listed thus far. IMO, these were great movies in the 90s and would be great to rewatch today.

I agree with most of your selections. I haven't seen GGR so no comment there. I saw both Swingers and Office Space way after they came out and neither lived up to the expectations based on the big hype surrounding both. They weren't bad or anything.............just not up to the hype.

 

[El Floppo]

I see Mr Holland's Opus has everybody buzzing.

IIRC, this was the film where I decided I'd had enough of Dreyfuss. Not terrible- but kinda trite story, imo told better elsewhere. or maybe I owe it a revisit.

 

[culdeus]

53. Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995)

Directed by: Stephen Herek

Starring: Richard Dreyfus, Glenne Headly

Synopsis: High school music teacher inspires students through the years

Playing music is supposed to be fun. It’s about heart, it’s about feeling…it’s not about notes on a page. I can teach you notes on a page, I can’t teach you that other stuff. - Richard Dreyfus as Glenn Holland

It’s a plot as old as Hollywood itself: teacher inspires students to be passionate about a subject and it changes their lives. We all must have seen dozens of these over the years. But this is an especially good one I think. Dreyfus is great in one of his best performances.

Meh. Very predictable writing and story. Good teacher helps kids to an orchestra. Covered no new ground and was in the era of Shawshank and others which showed how to spin a character arc.

 

[General Malaise]

The standouts for me so far:
Swingers
Se7en
The Fugitive
League of Their Own
Glengarry Glen Ross
Office Space
Misery
Scream
Jurassic Park
The Sandlot
White Men Can't Jump

Standouts in what way? Shouldn't have been listed? Shoulda been higher/lower?

I'm singling those out as my favorites that he's listed thus far. IMO, these were great movies in the 90s and would be great to rewatch today.

I agree with most of your selections. I haven't seen GGR so no comment there. I saw both Swingers and Office Space way after they came out and neither lived up to the expectations based on the big hype surrounding both. They weren't bad or anything.............just not up to the hype.

It probably helped that the 90s for me was time where I watched *A LOT* of movies. I spent the first half in college and the 2nd half becoming an adult with plenty of free time. Traveled for work for 3 years, hundreds of nights alone in hotels/motels buying a 6 pack, ordering takeout and watching movies. So a movie like "Swingers" just resonated with me because I was their age, trying desperately to chase skirts, battling depression and loneliness but finding humor in life all the same. "Office Space"? That encapsulated what my brief career in a corporate environment felt like - I haven't worked a corporate job since 1998 and won't ever again.

So these are "sticky" movies. And they have held up for me. Too many movies I see now I forget about them by the time my head hits the pillow. Hell, I'm probably down to 5 or so movies a year tops, now. I didn't go to a movie theater for over 10 years.

Glenngary Glen Ross is essentially a play in movie form and it's sensational. Some of the best writing in the biz from David Mamet. Brilliant.

 

[General Malaise]

53. Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995)

Directed by: Stephen Herek

Starring: Richard Dreyfus, Glenne Headly

Synopsis: High school music teacher inspires students through the years

Playing music is supposed to be fun. It’s about heart, it’s about feeling…it’s not about notes on a page. I can teach you notes on a page, I can’t teach you that other stuff. - Richard Dreyfus as Glenn Holland

It’s a plot as old as Hollywood itself: teacher inspires students to be passionate about a subject and it changes their lives. We all must have seen dozens of these over the years. But this is an especially good one I think. Dreyfus is great in one of his best performances.

Meh. Very predictable writing and story. Good teacher helps kids to an orchestra. Covered no new ground and was in the era of Shawshank and others which showed how to spin a character arc.

Stand and Deliver was a far better movie using this plot device. IMO.

 

[TripItUp]

53. Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995)

Directed by: Stephen Herek

Starring: Richard Dreyfus, Glenne Headly

Synopsis: [/B]High school music teacher inspires students through the years

Great feel good movie. A lot of cliche/formulaic design but it worked for me.

Trip's Official Ruling: Appropriately ranked

 

[TripItUp]

54. To Die For (1995)

Directed by: Gus Van Sant

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Joaquin Phoenix, Matt Dillon

Never had a desire to watch again, but didn't regret watching it.

Trip's Official Ruling: Overranked

 

[Hastur]

53. Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995)

Directed by: Stephen Herek

Starring: Richard Dreyfus, Glenne Headly

Synopsis: High school music teacher inspires students through the years

Playing music is supposed to be fun. It’s about heart, it’s about feeling…it’s not about notes on a page. I can teach you notes on a page, I can’t teach you that other stuff. - Richard Dreyfus as Glenn Holland

It’s a plot as old as Hollywood itself: teacher inspires students to be passionate about a subject and it changes their lives. We all must have seen dozens of these over the years. But this is an especially good one I think. Dreyfus is great in one of his best performances.

Meh. Very predictable writing and story. Good teacher helps kids to an orchestra. Covered no new ground and was in the era of Shawshank and others which showed how to spin a character arc.

Stand and Deliver was a far better movie using this plot device. IMO.

Orale! What is 2 plus 2? You can do eet!

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

I did like Mr. Holland’s Opus. Haven't seen/heard some of these movies but I generally like most of the movies from this list but I mostly grew up in the 90's

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

I see Mr Holland's Opus has everybody buzzing.

IIRC, this was the film where I decided I'd had enough of Dreyfuss. Not terrible- but kinda trite story, imo told better elsewhere. or maybe I owe it a revisit.

I doubt it. I skimmed it. It was way too long. (143 minutes) Needed at least thirty of those to disappear.

 

[Ghost Rider]

I guess I am in the minority, but I just love Mr. Holland's Opus to pieces. It is one of those films I have seen more times than I can count and its greatness never falters.