Comments on: The Best Picture Expansion Project: 1994

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:00:35 +0000

Looking down the (apparently imperfect) Wikipedia film list, I’m struck by how many big-talent high-minded adaptations of classics or biographies (or just costume drama) came out this year: Tom and Viv, Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle, Branaugh’s Frankenstein, Little Women, Heavenly Creatures, Farinelli (Clueless?) . . . many of them films I try to love and only get to liking–Little Women being a bizarre spectacle in which, in the midst of so much intelligence and competence, Jo is being played by the ideal Amy . . .

Looking down the conversation so far, I’m struck that:
a) nobody seems anxious to talk about Four Weddings and A Funeral, which almost spawned a sub-genre. Hmmmm.
b) I know people who sacrifice livestock to the Adventures of Priscilla. Huh? Nobody? Nobody?

Me, I have an odd weakness for The Ref–back before it became a moral failing to like Dennis Leary. And I will always love Bullets over Broadway (“DON’T speak! Don’t SPEAK.” “Olive, you deserve to know this. You’re a terrible actress.” (Blam! Blam! Blam!))–including its meditation on the disjunction of talent and morality–waaaay over Forest Gump, over Speed, over Ed Wood (where Jonny Depp is playing Jon Lovitz and the humanity of the story seems to be almost a miscalculation on Tim Burton’s part).

By: ferretrick

ferretrick — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:48:23 +0000

Second the nom for Clerks. There are lines from that movie I still quote-i.e. “I’m a firm believer in the philosophy of a ruling class. Especially since I rule.”

By: Collin H

Collin H — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:05:00 +0000

I’d love to swap out Quiz Show with Clerks. Clerks may be rough and amateurish, but it’s a hell of a lot more memorable and culturally relevant than Quiz Show.

By: Pristine

Pristine — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 13:19:48 +0000

Gonzalo, that’s a good point! One movie that I watched and liked when I was a wee girl was Spiderman. Then, a while ago, I watched it again and boy did I hate it. When Natasha Richardson passed away recently, I was filled with the urge to rewatch the Parent Trap, which my sisters and I loved. I haven’t yet though…I too would love to see this idea more fleshed out in a different post.

By: Gonzalo

Gonzalo — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:25:36 +0000

In fairness, you did say you had a “soft spot” for that movie. I think I’m just bitter because watching it again ruined all my memories of that “awesome movie”.

There’s other movies I’ve re-watched, and while I know they’re not as great today as I thought they were, I still understand why I loved them in the first place. Now I’m kinda wondering how many others of my “favorite” movies would embarrass me today? Hmmm… maybe this idea could be developed into a new post?

By: Doug

Doug — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:18:17 +0000

I liked Reality Bites a lot in 1994 — to me, it’s the kind of movie the Golden Globe comedy category was made for. Then I watched it after college, when I was unemployed and living at home, and LOVED it. But if I were to watch it again now, objectively, it probably belongs more with Empire Records than, say, Clueless.

Soundtrack’s still great, though.

By: Mark Blankenship

Mark Blankenship — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:07:47 +0000

Hey Gonzalo… I can’t disagree with you about “Reality Bites.” I know it sucks. But in 1994? Oh my god, it was the best thing ever. So yeah… I have to give it just the tiniest sprinkling of love, if only for the sake of nostalgia.

By: Gonzalo

Gonzalo — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:42:37 +0000

I watched Reality Bites when I was probably 12 (1996), and I thought it was the best movie ever. I watched it at least 10 times over the next few years. I thought it was awesome, and totally “spoke” to me.

Until I caught it again at 23, about 2 years ago… and hated it. The characters were whiny bitches, who felt they deserved more from society, even though they had no clue what they wanted more of. I honestly couldn’t stand it. I appreciate that the movie may be characteristic of that Gen X angst in all its excesses, but to be frank, I just couldn’t stand any of them.

Just about the only thing that I can admire is its *killer* soundtrack, which was perfectly integrated into the movie. Well, ok, Janeane Garofalo’s character was sorta cool.

My other favorite movie at the time was Clueless, which I feel holds up waaaay better (I watched it last year). It’s a bit dated in its references and style, I guess, but it’s still hilarious. In my mind, it made a star out of Paul Rudd (even if it took a while for that to catch on). And I still adore Alicia Silverstone because of this, even through all the crappy movies she’s made in the last 10 years.

Anyway, forgive me for going a bit off-topic, since RB was only a snub… but this one stuck out like a sore thumb.

By: Mark Blankenship

Mark Blankenship — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:33:25 +0000

Hey Katy — I did see “Shawshank” recently, and for me, it transcends shmaltz. It has sentiment without being sentimental. It’s apt to compare it to “The Green Mile,” and I think it especially comes out on top there. Just look at the differences between the central black male characters, for instance: “Shawshank’s” Red is complex, flawed, and yet still capable of kindness. “Green Mile’s” John Coffey is a blunt allegory for Christ that fulfills the Magical Black Man archetype.

And while I hear your points about “Forrest Gump,” I still believe the larger story the movie tells—even though it may not be what the filmmakers intended—is a story about the supremacy of ignorance.

By: Doug

Doug — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:15:47 +0000

I’m a huge fan of Quiz Show, and it’s my personal favorite of 1994, but it’s nowhere near as dynamic as Pulp Fiction and Shawshank were in their own ways. I would have given the award to Quiz Show or Pulp Fiction. Shawshank, as I remember, only garnered momentum at the tail end of the Oscar race, and I think the fact that it was viewed as an underdog has helped its legacy.

Mark, I like all of your choices, and add these to the mix: Bullets Over Broadway, Little Women, Nobody’s Fool (one of Paul Newman’s best), and The Last Seduction.