The 100 Greatest movies of the 1990s 7. Hoop Dreams (46 Viewers)

[Ilov80s]

I just didn't expect a top 10 flick I had never heard of

I am at 11 movies so far that I have never heard of.


95. Army of Darkness
93. Guilty By Suspicion
92. The Commitments
88. Defending Your Life
87. Reversal of Fortune
85. Leon: The Professional
77. Crumb
68. The Witches
55. Life Is Beautiful
54. To Die For
10. Europa Europa

I am genuinely surprised about 95

 

[Don Quixote]

I just didn't expect a top 10 flick I had never heard of

I am at 11 movies so far that I have never heard of.


95. Army of Darkness
93. Guilty By Suspicion
92. The Commitments
88. Defending Your Life
87. Reversal of Fortune
85. Leon: The Professional
77. Crumb
68. The Witches
55. Life Is Beautiful
54. To Die For
10. Europa Europa

Many of these I can see missing, but I’m surprised on Life is Beautiful. I thought the movie would at least be memorable for Begnigni jumping over the chairs at the Oscars when he won for it.

 

[Zow]

I just didn't expect a top 10 flick I had never heard of

I am at 11 movies so far that I have never heard of.


95. Army of Darkness
93. Guilty By Suspicion
92. The Commitments
88. Defending Your Life
87. Reversal of Fortune
85. Leon: The Professional
77. Crumb
68. The Witches
55. Life Is Beautiful
54. To Die For
10. Europa Europa

Many of these I can see missing, but I’m surprised on Life is Beautiful. I thought the movie would at least be memorable for Begnigni jumping over the chairs at the Oscars when he won for it.

As far as Holocaust movies go, I'd have Life Is Beautiful over Europa Europa.

 

[KarmaPolice]

No Starship Troopers, no Gattaca, no The Rock, no Galaxy Quest, No Before Sunrise, no 12 Monkeys. I thought for sure Back to the Future part tres would be on here. Hell, I'd even argue that Home Alone deserves a place on this list. Not to mention some of the low level 90's movies that no one but me would put on a list. I'm pretty convinced that Tim is AI that didn't live through the 90's.

All of those would make my list except Before Sunrise.

12 Monkeys and Starship Troopers probably the biggest misses for me from your list.

Its ok to show some emotion, trip.

 

[Zow]

I just didn't expect a top 10 flick I had never heard of

I am at 11 movies so far that I have never heard of.


95. Army of Darkness
93. Guilty By Suspicion
92. The Commitments
88. Defending Your Life
87. Reversal of Fortune
85. Leon: The Professional
77. Crumb
68. The Witches
55. Life Is Beautiful
54. To Die For
10. Europa Europa

I am genuinely surprised about 95

I could easily see it falling out but Army of Darkness is a cult classic. I approve of it at 95.

 

[Gally]

I thought the movie would at least be memorable for Begnigni jumping over the chairs at the Oscars when he won for it.

I cannot think of the last time I have watched the Oscars. The last time was probably in high school because my mom had them on and I wasn't doing anything else so I stopped in to watch some of it. I can say I have never watched the entirety of a single Oscars Night.

Those type of events don't interest me at all. Typically the Oscars has movies I wouldn't watch or have interest in so why bother?

I still like seeing these type countdowns here because it does bring stuff up that I had no idea ever existed. They are always entertaining seeing everyone's take on things.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Life Is Beautiful

It won an Oscar for best picture.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Life Is Beautiful

It won an Oscar for best picture.

:GMvoice:

That means it's a 10/10 movie.

 

[Gally]

Life Is Beautiful

It won an Oscar for best picture.

Still never heard of it.

 

[Ilov80s]

I just didn't expect a top 10 flick I had never heard of

I am at 11 movies so far that I have never heard of.


95. Army of Darkness
93. Guilty By Suspicion
92. The Commitments
88. Defending Your Life
87. Reversal of Fortune
85. Leon: The Professional
77. Crumb
68. The Witches
55. Life Is Beautiful
54. To Die For
10. Europa Europa

I am genuinely surprised about 95

I could easily see it falling out but Army of Darkness is a cult classic. I approve of it at 95.

I meant surprised he hasn’t heard of it. I thought Evil Dead movies were pretty mainstream and well known. Especially among men of our age. I don’t care for them but am not surprised or bothered by it’s making the list.

 

[beer 30]

Life Is Beautiful

It won an Oscar for best picture.

Was it animated?

 

[General Malaise]

I just didn't expect a top 10 flick I had never heard of

I am at 11 movies so far that I have never heard of.


95. Army of Darkness
93. Guilty By Suspicion
92. The Commitments
88. Defending Your Life
87. Reversal of Fortune
85. Leon: The Professional
77. Crumb
68. The Witches
55. Life Is Beautiful
54. To Die For
10. Europa Europa

I am genuinely surprised about 95

I could easily see it falling out but Army of Darkness is a cult classic. I approve of it at 95.

I meant surprised he hasn’t heard of it. I thought Evil Dead movies were pretty mainstream and well known. Especially among men of our age. I don’t care for them but am not surprised or bothered by it’s making the list.

I know the name of the movies but either I never watched them or I tried and it didn't work for me for I remember nothing about 'em.

 

[Don Quixote]

I thought the movie would at least be memorable for Begnigni jumping over the chairs at the Oscars when he won for it.

I cannot think of the last time I have watched the Oscars. The last time was probably in high school because my mom had them on and I wasn't doing anything else so I stopped in to watch some of it. I can say I have never watched the entirety of a single Oscars Night.

Those type of events don't interest me at all. Typically the Oscars has movies I wouldn't watch or have interest in so why bother?

I still like seeing these type countdowns here because it does bring stuff up that I had no idea ever existed. They are always entertaining seeing everyone's take on things.

Yeah, I can understand not watching it live (I probably did not either), but more just I remember Begnigni having a cultural zeitgeist moment after that where the clip was all over and he was all over doing talk shows, etc. I’m not judging or trying to convince you otherwise. More just surprised/impressed someone was able to make it through that without hearing about it.

 

[Gally]

I thought the movie would at least be memorable for Begnigni jumping over the chairs at the Oscars when he won for it.

I cannot think of the last time I have watched the Oscars. The last time was probably in high school because my mom had them on and I wasn't doing anything else so I stopped in to watch some of it. I can say I have never watched the entirety of a single Oscars Night.

Those type of events don't interest me at all. Typically the Oscars has movies I wouldn't watch or have interest in so why bother?

I still like seeing these type countdowns here because it does bring stuff up that I had no idea ever existed. They are always entertaining seeing everyone's take on things.

Yeah, I can understand not watching it live (I probably did not either), but more just I remember Begnigni having a cultural zeitgeist moment after that where the clip was all over and he was all over doing talk shows, etc. I’m not judging or trying to convince you otherwise. More just surprised/impressed someone was able to make it through that without hearing about it.

I am old. I may have seen it way back then but I don't recollect it. hahahahah

 

[Pip's Invitation]

I just didn't expect a top 10 flick I had never heard of

I am at 11 movies so far that I have never heard of.


95. Army of Darkness
93. Guilty By Suspicion
92. The Commitments
88. Defending Your Life
87. Reversal of Fortune
85. Leon: The Professional
77. Crumb
68. The Witches
55. Life Is Beautiful
54. To Die For
10. Europa Europa

I am genuinely surprised about 95

I am genuinely surprised about 55. It won Oscars and was inescapable in the news at the time. I don't watch the Oscars and was acutely aware of what happened. (And I did see the movie in the theater.)

 

[Zow]

I just didn't expect a top 10 flick I had never heard of

I am at 11 movies so far that I have never heard of.


95. Army of Darkness
93. Guilty By Suspicion
92. The Commitments
88. Defending Your Life
87. Reversal of Fortune
85. Leon: The Professional
77. Crumb
68. The Witches
55. Life Is Beautiful
54. To Die For
10. Europa Europa

I am genuinely surprised about 95

I could easily see it falling out but Army of Darkness is a cult classic. I approve of it at 95.

I meant surprised he hasn’t heard of it. I thought Evil Dead movies were pretty mainstream and well known. Especially among men of our age. I don’t care for them but am not surprised or bothered by it’s making the list.

Ah, gotcha. I misinterpreted.

Of those, I'm mostly surprised he hasn't of Leon.

 

[Gally]

I just didn't expect a top 10 flick I had never heard of

I am at 11 movies so far that I have never heard of.


95. Army of Darkness
93. Guilty By Suspicion
92. The Commitments
88. Defending Your Life
87. Reversal of Fortune
85. Leon: The Professional
77. Crumb
68. The Witches
55. Life Is Beautiful
54. To Die For
10. Europa Europa

I am genuinely surprised about 95

I could easily see it falling out but Army of Darkness is a cult classic. I approve of it at 95.

I meant surprised he hasn’t heard of it. I thought Evil Dead movies were pretty mainstream and well known. Especially among men of our age. I don’t care for them but am not surprised or bothered by it’s making the list.

Ah, gotcha. I misinterpreted.

Of those, I'm mostly surprised he hasn't of Leon.

Obviously I am not a big movie guy....especially artsy, critical acclaim type movies. I am all about the entertainment if I am going to watch a movie and generally those type don't entertain me. I have probably been to maybe 10 movies in a theater over the last 15-20 years.

It's why these threads are so interesting to me.

 

[dgreen]

I don’t remember what movie my wife and I were going to see. As we were walking towards our theater, she noticed a lot of people coming out of one theater crying. So she said, “I want to see that movie.“ It was Life is Beautiful. Soon after, we went to see it, and I was surprised how much I enjoyed a foreign film that I had to read subtitles. I don’t know if I’ve seen it again since then, but it was very memorable for me.

 

[Mr. Mojo]

I was looking at some of Roger's lowest rated movies, and it's a list of some of my favorites: Dead Poets, The Master, Usual Suspects, Elephant Man, Clockwork Orange, Fight Club, Fast Times. Beetlejuice is on there so I did agree with something on the list. It's just hard for me to imagine a movie critic thinking none of these movies deserved even an average rating.

I remember when he gave a Thumbs Down to the Natural.
There's no way that it is below average.

Sure there is. It's just awful. Dorky, maudlin plot that makes no sense at all. The only thing good about it is Newman's score.

Strong agreement. It’s all wrong even down to Redford being totally miscast. Sure he had a great look for the part, if he had played it in the late 60s but but 84 he was almost 50 years old. Insane to cast him as a young naive baseball prospect.

This is amazing. I have never met anybody that didn't like The Natural. I am not saying everyone I have ever talked to about thinks it is the best movie of all time but everyone thinks it is an entertaining movie and that it is a good movie.

There are definitely things to nitpick (like Redfords age) but it's a movie. Every movie you have to suspend some disbelief but it's a great sports movie and hits all the checkpoints.

I agree and would add that it has a great cast, even for many of the smaller roles.
I had no idea it was hated by some.

 

[Ilov80s]

I just didn't expect a top 10 flick I had never heard of

I am at 11 movies so far that I have never heard of.


95. Army of Darkness
93. Guilty By Suspicion
92. The Commitments
88. Defending Your Life
87. Reversal of Fortune
85. Leon: The Professional
77. Crumb
68. The Witches
55. Life Is Beautiful
54. To Die For
10. Europa Europa

I am genuinely surprised about 95

I could easily see it falling out but Army of Darkness is a cult classic. I approve of it at 95.

I meant surprised he hasn’t heard of it. I thought Evil Dead movies were pretty mainstream and well known. Especially among men of our age. I don’t care for them but am not surprised or bothered by it’s making the list.

Ah, gotcha. I misinterpreted.

Of those, I'm mostly surprised he hasn't of Leon.

Obviously I am not a big movie guy....especially artsy, critical acclaim type movies. I am all about the entertainment if I am going to watch a movie and generally those type don't entertain me. I have probably been to maybe 10 movies in a theater over the last 15-20 years.

It's why these threads are so interesting to me.

Army of Darkness definitely isn’t artsy. It’s a a medieval zombie movie about a guy sent back in time who has a chainsaw for an arm.

 

[Gally]

I just didn't expect a top 10 flick I had never heard of

I am at 11 movies so far that I have never heard of.


95. Army of Darkness
93. Guilty By Suspicion
92. The Commitments
88. Defending Your Life
87. Reversal of Fortune
85. Leon: The Professional
77. Crumb
68. The Witches
55. Life Is Beautiful
54. To Die For
10. Europa Europa

I am genuinely surprised about 95

I could easily see it falling out but Army of Darkness is a cult classic. I approve of it at 95.

I meant surprised he hasn’t heard of it. I thought Evil Dead movies were pretty mainstream and well known. Especially among men of our age. I don’t care for them but am not surprised or bothered by it’s making the list.

Ah, gotcha. I misinterpreted.

Of those, I'm mostly surprised he hasn't of Leon.

Obviously I am not a big movie guy....especially artsy, critical acclaim type movies. I am all about the entertainment if I am going to watch a movie and generally those type don't entertain me. I have probably been to maybe 10 movies in a theater over the last 15-20 years.

It's why these threads are so interesting to me.

Army of Darkness definitely isn’t artsy. It’s a a medieval zombie movie about a guy sent back in time who has a chainsaw for an arm.

Interesting. Maybe I need to investigate a bit more

 

[dgreen]

I just didn't expect a top 10 flick I had never heard of

I am at 11 movies so far that I have never heard of.


95. Army of Darkness
93. Guilty By Suspicion
92. The Commitments
88. Defending Your Life
87. Reversal of Fortune
85. Leon: The Professional
77. Crumb
68. The Witches
55. Life Is Beautiful
54. To Die For
10. Europa Europa

I am genuinely surprised about 95

I could easily see it falling out but Army of Darkness is a cult classic. I approve of it at 95.

I meant surprised he hasn’t heard of it. I thought Evil Dead movies were pretty mainstream and well known. Especially among men of our age. I don’t care for them but am not surprised or bothered by it’s making the list.

Ah, gotcha. I misinterpreted.

Of those, I'm mostly surprised he hasn't of Leon.

I think the only reason I've heard of Leon is because it was often in my Suggested for You section on Netflix. I haven't watched it.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I just didn't expect a top 10 flick I had never heard of

I am at 11 movies so far that I have never heard of.


95. Army of Darkness
93. Guilty By Suspicion
92. The Commitments
88. Defending Your Life
87. Reversal of Fortune
85. Leon: The Professional
77. Crumb
68. The Witches
55. Life Is Beautiful
54. To Die For
10. Europa Europa

I am genuinely surprised about 95

I could easily see it falling out but Army of Darkness is a cult classic. I approve of it at 95.

I meant surprised he hasn’t heard of it. I thought Evil Dead movies were pretty mainstream and well known. Especially among men of our age. I don’t care for them but am not surprised or bothered by it’s making the list.

Ah, gotcha. I misinterpreted.

Of those, I'm mostly surprised he hasn't of Leon.

Obviously I am not a big movie guy....especially artsy, critical acclaim type movies. I am all about the entertainment if I am going to watch a movie and generally those type don't entertain me. I have probably been to maybe 10 movies in a theater over the last 15-20 years.

It's why these threads are so interesting to me.

Army of Darkness definitely isn’t artsy. It’s a a medieval zombie movie about a guy sent back in time who has a chainsaw for an arm.

It's groovy.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

I mean, Europa Europa was good but over La Vita e Bella? and excluding run lola run?

 

[timschochet]

Life Is Beautiful

It won an Oscar for best picture.

Beat foreign film, not best picture overall.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

95. Army of Darkness
93. Guilty By Suspicion
92. The Commitments
88. Defending Your Life
87. Reversal of Fortune
85. Leon: The Professional
77. Crumb
68. The Witches
55. Life Is Beautiful
54. To Die For
10. Europa Europa

I'm in a similar boat where I haven't seen some of these, of these I think you'll like Army of Darkness since it is entertaining. Leon might be a fun watch for you. Both Life Is Beautiful and Europa Europa are a little more artsy though.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I just didn't expect a top 10 flick I had never heard of

I am at 11 movies so far that I have never heard of.


95. Army of Darkness
93. Guilty By Suspicion
92. The Commitments
88. Defending Your Life
87. Reversal of Fortune
85. Leon: The Professional
77. Crumb
68. The Witches
55. Life Is Beautiful
54. To Die For
10. Europa Europa

I am genuinely surprised about 95

I could easily see it falling out but Army of Darkness is a cult classic. I approve of it at 95.

I meant surprised he hasn’t heard of it. I thought Evil Dead movies were pretty mainstream and well known. Especially among men of our age. I don’t care for them but am not surprised or bothered by it’s making the list.

Ah, gotcha. I misinterpreted.

Of those, I'm mostly surprised he hasn't of Leon.

Obviously I am not a big movie guy....especially artsy, critical acclaim type movies. I am all about the entertainment if I am going to watch a movie and generally those type don't entertain me. I have probably been to maybe 10 movies in a theater over the last 15-20 years.

It's why these threads are so interesting to me.

Army of Darkness definitely isn’t artsy. It’s a a medieval zombie movie about a guy sent back in time who has a chainsaw for an arm.

Interesting. Maybe I need to investigate a bit more

It's a sequel to Evil Dead and Evil Dead 2.

 

[Ilov80s]

95. Army of Darkness
93. Guilty By Suspicion
92. The Commitments
88. Defending Your Life
87. Reversal of Fortune
85. Leon: The Professional
77. Crumb
68. The Witches
55. Life Is Beautiful
54. To Die For
10. Europa Europa

I'm in a similar boat where I haven't seen some of these, of these I think you'll like Army of Darkness since it is entertaining. Leon might be a fun watch for you. Both Life Is Beautiful and Europa Europa are a little more artsy though.

Good point. I wouldn't actually call most of those movies artsy at all. Most are pretty much set for a general audience.

 

[Gally]

95. Army of Darkness
93. Guilty By Suspicion
92. The Commitments
88. Defending Your Life
87. Reversal of Fortune
85. Leon: The Professional
77. Crumb
68. The Witches
55. Life Is Beautiful
54. To Die For
10. Europa Europa

I'm in a similar boat where I haven't seen some of these, of these I think you'll like Army of Darkness since it is entertaining. Leon might be a fun watch for you. Both Life Is Beautiful and Europa Europa are a little more artsy though.

Good point. I wouldn't actually call most of those movies artsy at all. Most are pretty much set for a general audience.

My comment about artsy wasn't necessarily referring to this movie list. It was more of a general statement that I am not well versed in what would be movies for movie people.

 

[Jayrod]

Life Is Beautiful

It won an Oscar for best picture.

Beat foreign film, not best picture overall.

Benigni won Best Actor, though.

 

[timschochet]

9. Titanic (1997)

Directed by: James Cameron

Starring: Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Billy Zane

Synopsis: A very old lady recalls her survival of the sinking of the Titanic.

I’ll never let go, Jack. I promise. - Kate Winslet as Rose.

Of course she did let go. Liar. And I’ll always argue there was room on that door anyway, if she had just moved over a little…

Anyhow I’ve never understood why (some) folks rag on this movie. Because they can’t stand romantic love stories? This is an epic Hollywood film, thrilling and dramatic, with a tremendous villain in Billy Zane. The early scenes are fine and get us to know the characters and then once the iceberg is hit the movie has that great James Cameron rush to it that he also achieved in Aliens- there is, for my money, no finer director of action. Definitely belongs in the top 10 of the decade.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I get why Titanic is great but I’m not a big fan. I actually saw it for the first time as the movie that the entire plane watched. Thought it was an odd choice.

I like the movie but don’t love it.

 

[KarmaPolice]

100% trip is going to say this is underrated!

 

[Keith R]

I get why Titanic is great but I’m not a big fan. I actually saw it for the first time as the movie that the entire plane watched. Thought it was an odd choice.

I like the movie but don’t love it.

Better a flight than a cruise

 

[KarmaPolice]

I get why Titanic is great but I’m not a big fan. I actually saw it for the first time as the movie that the entire plane watched. Thought it was an odd choice.

I like the movie but don’t love it.

I watch anything with Bill Paxton in it, so I've seen this one several times. I really dig it. Not enough to rank it, but I will also watch a bit if I come across it to. At least there's boobs, right guys? Also the sound design on the person hitting the propeller is

I think much of the hate is because "I'm the king of the world" has been run into the ground and it won Best Picture.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

it won Best Picture.

I don't mean to be argumentative but you've said this before and I don't quite get it. Why would people be upset that it won an oscar? Now I do think there could be legit criticism over movie A winning over movie B. Is that what you mean?

If anything, I think Titanic is labeled as a "chick flic" and that will generate some "hate".

I think it deff deserves to be on a list of the 90's though.

 

[General Malaise]

I get why Titanic is great but I’m not a big fan. I actually saw it for the first time as the movie that the entire plane watched. Thought it was an odd choice.

I like the movie but don’t love it.

Going to list 100 movies from the 90s I'd rather watch than Titanic.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

but wait...the 5th element is not top 100? What the hell Tim? Unless my top 10 is wrong...

I have never heard of this movie and have no idea what it is.

I feel this way about The Election. No clue about it at all.

 

[Zow]

I get why Titanic is great but I’m not a big fan. I actually saw it for the first time as the movie that the entire plane watched. Thought it was an odd choice.

I like the movie but don’t love it.

Going to list 100 movies from the 90s I'd rather watch than Titanic.

Yeah I hear you... but it still deserves to be ranked. It was massively popular when it came out.

ETA: Also, Rose sucks.

 

[El Floppo]

Europa Europa is an amazing movie.

Top 10 of the 90s? For me... Probably. Incredible and true story told and visualized breathtakingly well. For me, on par with Shawshank.

 

[Fruitbat]

I was looking at some of Roger's lowest rated movies, and it's a list of some of my favorites: Dead Poets, The Master, Usual Suspects, Elephant Man, Clockwork Orange, Fight Club, Fast Times. Beetlejuice is on there so I did agree with something on the list. It's just hard for me to imagine a movie critic thinking none of these movies deserved even an average rating.

I remember when he gave a Thumbs Down to the Natural.
There's no way that it is below average.

Sure there is. It's just awful. Dorky, maudlin plot that makes no sense at all. The only thing good about it is Newman's score.

Strong agreement. It’s all wrong even down to Redford being totally miscast. Sure he had a great look for the part, if he had played it in the late 60s but but 84 he was almost 50 years old. Insane to cast him as a young naive baseball prospect.

This is amazing. I have never met anybody that didn't like The Natural. I am not saying everyone I have ever talked to about thinks it is the best movie of all time but everyone thinks it is an entertaining movie and that it is a good movie.

There are definitely things to nitpick (like Redfords age) but it's a movie. Every movie you have to suspend some disbelief but it's a great sports movie and hits all the checkpoints.

Love the Natural, the music, the scenery, the old time baseball atmosphere, the admittedly cliche plot....
...I think you have to recognize that there is a bit of fairy tale/fantasy to the story and not dismiss it because it's "unrealistic". I don't think any storyteller thinks someone believes a season with covers coming off balls, dudes dying running through walls, and fireworks displays from a baseball hitting a bank of lights is some sort of true-to-life story.

 

[El Floppo]

I just didn't expect a top 10 flick I had never heard of

I am at 11 movies so far that I have never heard of.


95. Army of Darkness
93. Guilty By Suspicion
92. The Commitments
88. Defending Your Life
87. Reversal of Fortune
85. Leon: The Professional
77. Crumb
68. The Witches
55. Life Is Beautiful
54. To Die For
10. Europa Europa

Many of these I can see missing, but I’m surprised on Life is Beautiful. I thought the movie would at least be memorable for Begnigni jumping over the chairs at the Oscars when he won for it.

As far as Holocaust movies go, I'd have Life Is Beautiful over Europa Europa.

Ive already laid out my completely subjective issues with Beautiful. Would not be a top 100 movie for me.

 

[Tau837]

I think I can predict 15 of Tim's 16 final choices. I'm leaving room for one wild card. I don't want to spoil it, so I will post my predicted list later.

At this point, he has only identified 30 of my favorite 100 1990s movies, so he's going to end up in the 40s on that. There are clearly a lot of other great movies that will not be named in this countdown. Not surprising and not knocking Tim's list.

This was a foolish prediction. We are only halfway, and I missed 3 of 8. Some great movies are going to be left out.

 

[El Floppo]

The sinking ship makes it pretty spectacular, despite Billy Zanes best attempts at submarining things with his acting. Top 100 definitely, but personally much much lower.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

I was looking at some of Roger's lowest rated movies, and it's a list of some of my favorites: Dead Poets, The Master, Usual Suspects, Elephant Man, Clockwork Orange, Fight Club, Fast Times. Beetlejuice is on there so I did agree with something on the list. It's just hard for me to imagine a movie critic thinking none of these movies deserved even an average rating.

I remember when he gave a Thumbs Down to the Natural.
There's no way that it is below average.

Sure there is. It's just awful. Dorky, maudlin plot that makes no sense at all. The only thing good about it is Newman's score.

Strong agreement. It’s all wrong even down to Redford being totally miscast. Sure he had a great look for the part, if he had played it in the late 60s but but 84 he was almost 50 years old. Insane to cast him as a young naive baseball prospect.

This is amazing. I have never met anybody that didn't like The Natural. I am not saying everyone I have ever talked to about thinks it is the best movie of all time but everyone thinks it is an entertaining movie and that it is a good movie.

There are definitely things to nitpick (like Redfords age) but it's a movie. Every movie you have to suspend some disbelief but it's a great sports movie and hits all the checkpoints.

Love the Natural, the music, the scenery, the old time baseball atmosphere, the admittedly cliche plot....
...I think you have to recognize that there is a bit of fairy tale/fantasy to the story and not dismiss it because it's "unrealistic". I don't think any storyteller thinks someone believes a season with covers coming off balls, dudes dying running through walls, and fireworks displays from a baseball hitting a bank of lights is some sort of true-to-life story.

Never thought it was true to life. Just stupid. Boring. Uninspired.

 

[KarmaPolice]

it won Best Picture.

I don't mean to be argumentative but you've said this before and I don't quite get it. Why would people be upset that it won an oscar? Now I do think there could be legit criticism over movie A winning over movie B. Is that what you mean?

If anything, I think Titanic is labeled as a "chick flic" and that will generate some "hate".

I think it deff deserves to be on a list of the 90's though.

I think the bolded is a reason it gets the double hate that I posted above. I agree it's labeled at that, but more specifically it's coded as a TEEN chick flick. Even less cool to get caught watching as a dude.

Again, I like the movie but as far as winning Best Picture that is often tied into what didn't win because of it. IMO 1997 was one of the best years for movies, and a couple other movies that were nominated were pretty mainstream so I think people had stronger opinions than other years. As Good As It Gets and Good Will Hunting were nominated as was LA Confidential.

For me it's also Exhibit A for a great example of why the Academy Awards are mostly a joke. Also released that year: Boogie Nights, Jackie Brown, The Ice Storm, Face/Off, The Sweet Hereafter, The Apostle, and a few others. A top notch year for the dramatic fare people usually associate with the awards. The only recent year I can think of better is 2007, but that year the Academy had way more correct than '97. (imo). I

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

I watched Titantic and I give zero ****s if folks look down on me for it.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I watched Titantic and I give zero ****s if folks look down on me for it.

I saw it in the theater my myself

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

I watched Titantic and I give zero ****s if folks look down on me for it.

I saw it in the theater my myself

It's not a competition, Karma.

but you've won

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Titanic is better than Shawshank

It was great at the theater

“Draw me like one if your French girls “