The 100 Greatest movies of the 1990s #81. Mulan (7 Viewers)

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

94. Les Miserables (1998)

Has this list gotten miserable yet?

intentional?

 

[Frostillicus]

I say this as an Adam Sandler fan - Waterboy sucked balls.

Which Sandler films do you like?

Billy Madison (although this one doesn't really hold up anymore), Happy Gilmore, Wedding Singer, Airheads, Bulletproof, 50 First Dates, Just Go With It, That's My Boy, the Hotel Transylvania movies, Blended, Uncut Gems, and Hustle.

 

[Todem]

95. Army of Darkness (1993)

Directed by: Sam Raimi

Starring: Bruce Campbell, Embeth Davitz

Synopsis: Ash must save the Middle Ages from a horde of undead.

All right you primitive screw heads listen up! You see this? This is my BOOMSTICK! The 12 gauge double barreled Remington. - Bruce Campbell as Ash.

This is the third and best film of the “Evil Dead” trilogy, mainly because it introduces a “Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court” element. The dialogue is silly (almost Monty Pythonish), the special effects pretty awful, but the overall effect is about as fun as any movie from the decade. This is great stuff.

Cult classic.

Looooooooove this flick.

Groovey.

So many quotable lines in this gem.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

The 90's has some crappy movies. At least #100 and #95 are good.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

The 90's has some crappy movies. At least #100 and #95 are good.

Well yes but I'm sure that the 60's,70's and 80's all had their stinkers.

 

[timschochet]

93. Guilty By Suspicion (1991)

Directed by: Irwin Winkler

Starring: Robert DeNiro, Annette Benning George Wendt

Synopsis: A film director must make difficult choices during the Hollywood Blacklist

I inform on these people, they lose their jobs, they lose their…everything. - Robert De Niro as David Merrill

This is a terrific drama about the McCarthy era and its effect on Hollywood. DeNiro plays a Hollywood director who is not a Communist but knows others who are (including one played, in a rare acting appearance, by Martin Scorsese. This is the first of two movies on this list in which Scorcese appears on screen but did not direct.) To save his own career all he must do is inform on them before the HUAC committee. Based on a true story. The acting is superb, particularly George Wendt who plays a very different role than Norm.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

93. Guilty By Suspicion (1991)

Directed by: Irwin Winkler

Starring: Robert DeNiro, Annette Benning George Wendt

Synopsis: A film director must make difficult choices during the Hollywood Blacklist

I inform on these people, they lose their jobs, they lose their…everything. - Robert De Niro as David Merrill

This is a terrific drama about the McCarthy era and its effect on Hollywood. DeNiro plays a Hollywood director who is not a Communist but knows others who are (including one played, in a rare acting appearance, by Martin Scorsese. This is the first of two movies on this list in which Scorcese appears on screen but did not direct.) To save his own career all he must do is inform on them before the HUAC committee. Based on a true story. The acting is superb, particularly George Wendt who plays a very different role than Norm.

I never even heard of this one.

 

[Hastur]

93. Guilty By Suspicion (1991)

Directed by: Irwin Winkler

Starring: Robert DeNiro, Annette Benning George Wendt

Synopsis: A film director must make difficult choices during the Hollywood Blacklist

I inform on these people, they lose their jobs, they lose their…everything. - Robert De Niro as David Merrill

This is a terrific drama about the McCarthy era and its effect on Hollywood. DeNiro plays a Hollywood director who is not a Communist but knows others who are (including one played, in a rare acting appearance, by Martin Scorsese. This is the first of two movies on this list in which Scorcese appears on screen but did not direct.) To save his own career all he must do is inform on them before the HUAC committee. Based on a true story. The acting is superb, particularly George Wendt who plays a very different role than Norm.

I never even heard of this one.

Same here.

I don't agree with Tim's list order or placement...ever...but appreciate having my eyes opened to movies I may have missed like this one.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Another way I'm a strange consumer of media - I've never been a fan of DeNiro. It's not even a political thing (well, maybe it is more so now but let's keep this straight and narrow).

Sue me.

 

[zamboni]

Another way I'm a strange consumer of media - I've never been a fan of DeNiro. It's not even a political thing (well, maybe it is more so now but let's keep this straight and narrow).

Sue me.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

 

[El Floppo]

93. Guilty By Suspicion (1991)

Directed by: Irwin Winkler

Starring: Robert DeNiro, Annette Benning George Wendt

Synopsis: A film director must make difficult choices during the Hollywood Blacklist

I inform on these people, they lose their jobs, they lose their…everything. - Robert De Niro as David Merrill

This is a terrific drama about the McCarthy era and its effect on Hollywood. DeNiro plays a Hollywood director who is not a Communist but knows others who are (including one played, in a rare acting appearance, by Martin Scorsese. This is the first of two movies on this list in which Scorcese appears on screen but did not direct.) To save his own career all he must do is inform on them before the HUAC committee. Based on a true story. The acting is superb, particularly George Wendt who plays a very different role than Norm.

I never even heard of this one.

Same here.

I don't agree with Tim's list order or placement...ever...but appreciate having my eyes opened to movies I may have missed like this one.

I saw this one. another one that made next to no mark on me. other than maybe learning a little more about the era and HUAC stuff. maybe that's what might have been noticeable? was it the first movie to cover this stuff?

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

was it the first movie to cover this stuff?

no. There's also at least one other 90's movie that broaches this subject (that might make the list) but I won't spoil it. I've also never heard of it but will check it out. A movie being well known and/or well liked doesn't necessarily mean that said movie is good but the opposite is true as well. This list is pretty unique so far.

 

[Todem]

Never ever heard of this one.

And someone posted a few posts back about the 90's having a lot of crappy movies......I say every decade has a lot of crappy movies lol.

 

[timschochet]

92. The Commitments (1991)

Directed by: Alan Parker

Starring: Robert Arkins, Michael Ahern, Angeline Ball, Maria Doyle

Synopsis: a group of Irish musicians attempt to put together a classic soul band.

Do you not get it lads? The Irish are the blacks of Europe!….so say it loud, I’m black and I’m proud! -Robert Arkins as Jimmy Rabbitte

Joyful musical movie with a lot of classic soul performances. I particularly like how the band does “Mustang Sally”. Based on the Roddy Doyle novel this isn’t too deep a film just a whole lot of fun and really good music, a few bar fights.

 

[El Floppo]

That was a fun one.

Wonder how it would hold up... Any of it, including the music.

 

[northern exposure]

92. The Commitments (1991)

Directed by: Alan Parker

Starring: Robert Arkins, Michael Ahern, Angeline Ball, Maria Doyle

Synopsis: a group of Irish musicians attempt to put together a classic soul band.

Do you not get it lads? The Irish are the blacks of Europe!….so say it loud, I’m black and I’m proud! -Robert Arkins as Jimmy Rabbitte

Joyful musical movie with a lot of classic soul performances. I particularly like how the band does “Mustang Sally”. Based on the Roddy Doyle novel this isn’t too deep a film just a whole lot of fun and really good music, a few bar fights.

I remember there was a group traveling around calling themselves The Commitments to capitalize on the movie's success. They were best described as ****e.

 

[AAABatteries]

Another way I'm a strange consumer of media - I've never been a fan of DeNiro. It's not even a political thing (well, maybe it is more so now but let's keep this straight and narrow).

Sue me.

I’m not a fan of anyone, in the sense that I’ll watch anything they are in. I have to be interested in the movie and think it looks entertaining no matter who is in it.

 

[timschochet]

91. Misery (1990)

Directed by: Rob Reiner

Starring: Kathy Bates. James Caan

Synopsis: Deranged fan keeps injured writer against his will and forces him to write a novel for her.


I thought you were good Paul. But you’re not good; you’re just another lying old dirty birdie- Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes

One of the better Stephen King adaptations, based on one of the best Stephen King novels. King was actually trying to make a rather whiny complaint about how obsessive some of his fans were but he turned it into a great horror story anyhow with one of the most memorable villains in all of popular fiction. Rob Reiner’s main challenge in bringing this to the big screen was finding Annie Wilkes, and he did in the then unknown Kathy Bates. Bates is simply magnificent in this role of a lifetime which won her an Oscar. This is a really scary, well done flick.

 

[TripItUp]

The Total Recall disrespect is unwarranted and unwelcomed.

 

[TripItUp]

98. Any Given Sunday (1999)

Directed by: Oliver Stone

Higher on my list because of entertainment value but the ranking is acceptable.

 

[Gally]

91. Misery (1990)

Directed by: Rob Reiner

Starring: Kathy Bates. James Caan

Synopsis: Deranged fan keeps injured writer against his will and forces him to write a novel for her.


I thought you were good Paul. But you’re not good; you’re just another lying old dirty birdie- Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes

One of the better Stephen King adaptations, based on one of the best Stephen King novels. King was actually trying to make a rather whiny complaint about how obsessive some of his fans were but he turned it into a great horror story anyhow with one of the most memorable villains in all of popular fiction. Rob Reiner’s main challenge in bringing this to the big screen was finding Annie Wilkes, and he did in the then unknown Kathy Bates. Bates is simply magnificent in this role of a lifetime which won her an Oscar. This is a really scary, well done flick.

This would be much, much higher on my list. This is just a tremendous horror movie......although probably not as good as the all time best of Young Frankenstein.

 

[Hastur]

91. Misery (1990)

Directed by: Rob Reiner

Starring: Kathy Bates. James Caan

Synopsis: Deranged fan keeps injured writer against his will and forces him to write a novel for her.


I thought you were good Paul. But you’re not good; you’re just another lying old dirty birdie- Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes

One of the better Stephen King adaptations, based on one of the best Stephen King novels. King was actually trying to make a rather whiny complaint about how obsessive some of his fans were but he turned it into a great horror story anyhow with one of the most memorable villains in all of popular fiction. Rob Reiner’s main challenge in bringing this to the big screen was finding Annie Wilkes, and he did in the then unknown Kathy Bates. Bates is simply magnificent in this role of a lifetime which won her an Oscar. This is a really scary, well done flick.

This would be much, much higher on my list. This is just a tremendous horror movie......although probably not as good as the all time best of Young Frankenstein.

Young Frankenstein is a comedy, not horror?

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

That was a fun one.

Wonder how it would hold up... Any of it, including the music.

Imho this movie is fine, but if it werent for the magnificent voice of Andrew Strong it just doesnt work.
Guy was only 16 when cast. I mean he looks much older.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

OOOH, I AM GOING TO PUT ON MY LIBERACE RECORDS!!!

 

[Gally]

91. Misery (1990)

Directed by: Rob Reiner

Starring: Kathy Bates. James Caan

Synopsis: Deranged fan keeps injured writer against his will and forces him to write a novel for her.


I thought you were good Paul. But you’re not good; you’re just another lying old dirty birdie- Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes

One of the better Stephen King adaptations, based on one of the best Stephen King novels. King was actually trying to make a rather whiny complaint about how obsessive some of his fans were but he turned it into a great horror story anyhow with one of the most memorable villains in all of popular fiction. Rob Reiner’s main challenge in bringing this to the big screen was finding Annie Wilkes, and he did in the then unknown Kathy Bates. Bates is simply magnificent in this role of a lifetime which won her an Oscar. This is a really scary, well done flick.

This would be much, much higher on my list. This is just a tremendous horror movie......although probably not as good as the all time best of Young Frankenstein.

Young Frankenstein is a comedy, not horror?

I agree but others may not...haha

 

[timschochet]

90. The Sandlot (1993)

Directed by: David M. Evans

Starring: Tom Guiry, Mike Vitar, Karen Allen, Denis Leary, Patrick Renna

Synopsis: In 1960s San Fernando Valley, a group of kids spend the summer playing baseball.

You’re killing me, Smalls! - Patrick Renna as “Ham” Porter

Technically a “sports” movie but actually this is much more similar to Stand by Me than say, The Bad News Bears for example. The baseball is actually secondary to showing how the kids spend the summer and their relationships with each other, The depiction of “The Beast” is both scary and hilarious, but I sort of regret the fact that ultimately the film reveals the truth of that situation- so many times in our childhoods the myths remain unsolved.

 

[zamboni]

90. The Sandlot (1993)

Directed by: David M. Evans

Starring: Tom Guiry, Mike Vitar, Karen Allen, Denis Leary, Patrick Renna

Synopsis: In 1960s San Fernando Valley, a group of kids spend the summer playing baseball.

You’re killing me, Smalls! - Patrick Renna as “Ham” Porter

Technically a “sports” movie but actually this is much more similar to Stand by Me than say, The Bad News Bears for example. The baseball is actually secondary to showing how the kids spend the summer and their relationships with each other, The depiction of “The Beast” is both scary and hilarious, but I sort of regret the fact that ultimately the film reveals the truth of that situation- so many times in our childhoods the myths remain unsolved.

Love this movie - a harmless, always enjoyable watch.

 

[Todem]

The Sandlot is an all time classic.

People think we had simpler times in our childhoods (70’s and 80’s) but this movie showed even more simplistic times than we even had.

A gem of a flick.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Never got the love for The Sandlot. Probably slightly too old at the time, but the youngins i worked with loved it.

 

[General Malaise]

98. Any Given Sunday (1999)

Directed by: Oliver Stone

Starring: Al Pacino, Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Dennis Quaid

Synopsis: A pro football team has surprising success upon changing quarterbacks

It’s TV, it’s changed everything I mean, the first time they stopped the game to cut away to some ****ing commercial, that was the end of it. - Al Pacino as Tony D’Amato

I’m guessing this may be yet another controversial selection because the critics really didn’t like this movie and much of the public thought it was mediocre too. I disagree. It’s not quite on the level of North Dallas Forty but it’s still one of the better sports films I’ve ever seen. Though I haven’t been personally around the NFL (despite having watched it all of my life) it mostly felt pretty accurate to me. (The exception being the Cameron Diaz character which was awful and unbelievable IMO) The ensemble cast is outstanding, particularly Pacino and Foxx. I remember being surprised that Lawrence Taylor could act: Stone gives him a memorable locker room speech.

I went into this one with very lofty expectations and walked out wanting a refund. I didn't think it was mediocre; I thought it was horrendous. Insulting to real football with some of the ridiculous action shots. Maybe I'll watch this one again, but I hated it.

 

[General Malaise]

I've seen 1 of 4 movies so far. Always heard that while Kilmer's performance in The Doors was good, the movie itself was...meh. Roger Ebert's review includes this great line, "Watching the movie is like being stuck in a bar with an obnoxious drunk, when you’re not drinking."

And I'm glad to see that JFK won't be here - that movie is just awful.

Brilliant. Just brilliant. God I miss this guy (and Siskel too).

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

the sandlot was good

 

[General Malaise]

93. Guilty By Suspicion (1991)

Directed by: Irwin Winkler

Starring: Robert DeNiro, Annette Benning George Wendt

Synopsis: A film director must make difficult choices during the Hollywood Blacklist

I inform on these people, they lose their jobs, they lose their…everything. - Robert De Niro as David Merrill

This is a terrific drama about the McCarthy era and its effect on Hollywood. DeNiro plays a Hollywood director who is not a Communist but knows others who are (including one played, in a rare acting appearance, by Martin Scorsese. This is the first of two movies on this list in which Scorcese appears on screen but did not direct.) To save his own career all he must do is inform on them before the HUAC committee. Based on a true story. The acting is superb, particularly George Wendt who plays a very different role than Norm.

Never even heard of this one. Sounds great!

 

[General Malaise]

To me, Sandler movies had diminishing returns after that.

hard agree

I like Adam Sandler the person and find him hilarious in interviews and some of his standup is comic gold....but his movies are torturous to me. Oh look, he's screaming again. Ha ha ha ha ha.

 

[zamboni]

Never got the love for The Sandlot. Probably slightly too old at the time, but the youngins i worked with loved it.

Perhaps because you play ball like a girl.

 

[timschochet]

89. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)

Directed by: Jay Roach

Starring: Mike Myers, Elizabeth Hurley, Seth Green, Robert Wagner, Michael York

Synopsis: Groovy British spy Austin Powers travels 30 years into the future to confront his nemesis, Dr. Evil.

You know, I have one simple request…and that is to have SHARKS WITH FRIGGING LASER BEAMS ATTACHED TO THEIR HEADS!! - Mike Myers as Dr. Evil

This a quite silly comedy spoof. Like almost all silly comedies it’s uneven and there are a few jokes that fail, but for the most part I laughed. My favorite scenes involve Scott Evil and his dad in therapy sessions.

 

[El Floppo]

huge Austin Powers fan. it had me from that opening parody/love-fest of Blowup and kept me going throughout. love it.

and I'm sure I'll like it more than 70 or so of the next movies listed here.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

I'm not the biggest AP fan but I'm willing to acknowledge that it was a pretty big thing in the 90's. Kinda odd that we are seeing some classic movies so low.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

The details of my life are quite inconsequential.... Very well, where do I begin? My father was a relentlessly self-improving boulangerie owner from Belgium with low-grade narcolepsy and a penchant for buggery. My mother was a 15-year-old French prostitute named Chloe with webbed feet. My father would womanize; he would drink. He would make outrageous claims like he invented the question mark.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Allow myself to introduce... myself.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

The 90's has some crappy movies. At least #100 and #95 are good.

Well yes but I'm sure that the 60's,70's and 80's all had their stinkers.

Loads of them. But I wouldn't list them in the top one hundred of the decade. There ought to be better ones.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

self-improving boulangerie owner from Belgium with low-grade narcolepsy and a penchant for buggery.

You can tell Mike Myers was influenced by Monty Python lol

 

[timschochet]

88. Defending Your Life (1991)

Directed by: Albert Brooks

Starring: Albert Brooks, Meryl Streep, Rip Torn, Lee Grant

Synopsis: In Purgatory, Daniel Miller must defend his life in a courtroom in order to move on to Heaven vs having to be reborn and live all over again.

No, this isn’t He’ll either. Actually there is no Hell. Though I hear Los Angeles is getting pretty close. - Rip Torn as Bob Diamond

This film has a terrific conceit- Albert Brooks is forced to confront embarrassing moments in his life in a courtroom setting in order to defend his existence- like the time he playacted with his wife asking for a raise and refusing to settle, and then the next day giving into the first salary his boss offered, etc. Despite the philosophical elements at play here it’s not really that deep a movie, more a vehicle for Brooks’ self deprecating humor which is somewhat similar to the best of Woody Allen. But it’s funny and highly entertaining.

 

[AAABatteries]

Defending Your Life is a great movie.

 

[El Floppo]

Defending Your Life is a great movie.

All my friends loved this.. it didn't grab me as much. But I haven't seen it since the theater...

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Woody Allen.

I knew it!

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

never heard of it. It does sport a 7.2/83% on IMDB/RT but critics loved it with a 98%. I'll check it out at some point.

 

[FarFromHome]

Misery. Worth a ranking just for the sledgehammer scene. Epic

Austin Powers. This first one was just a cultural icon. Hilarious. I do wonder if I watched it today if is enjoy it. Not gonna, don't want to possibly ruin my opinion of it. Ha bammha

 

[AAABatteries]

never heard of it. It does sport a 7.2/83% on IMDB/RT but critics loved it with a 98%. I'll check it out at some point.

It could come across as a little pretentious which explains why critics love it and the masses not as much. It’s brilliantly done IMO.

 

[timschochet]

87. Reversal of Fortune (1990)

Directed by: Barbet Schroeder

Starring: Jeremy Irons, Glenn Close, Ron Silver

Synopsis: Alan Dershowitz is hired to appeal the conviction of socialite Claus Von Bulow for the attempted murder of his wife, Sunny.

Ron Silver as Alan Dershowitz: You are a very strange man.

Jeremy Irons as Claus Von Bulow: You have no idea.

This is a very good legal drama but it’s mostly here for the extraordinary performance of Jeremy Irons. Silver and Close are also excellent as always but Irons simply dominates the screen.