Category: The 90’s

Space Jam [1996] ★★½

May 20, 2020

Call this a nostalgia review, but after I went through a roller-coaster of emotions while watching the fantastic Chicago Bulls documentary “The Last Dance”, I decided to stream Michael Jordan’s “Space Jam”, which I also found on Netflix. For those of you who grew up in the 90’s, this movie was kind of a big deal and the reason why so many kids bonded and became friends (seriously, everyone was talking about this). I didn’t get the chance to see it again since its release, so it was an interesting experience to look at it from an adult’s perspective this time around. To be completely honest, the movie hasn’t aged all that well, mainly because animation and CGI have long evolved since the 90’s. With that aside, its charm is still there. Michael Jordan is recruited by Bugs Bunny and Co. to help them win a basketball game. The premise couldn’t be more silly, but watching these two worlds blend together is still as fun as it was when I was a kid. Of course, a lot of basketball players make an appearance as well, and it’s always fun to see Bill Murray and Seinfeld’s Wayne Knight in it. But this Michael Jordan’s show all the way, and he makes the best of it (this was also around the same time he was making his NBA comeback, which led to 3 back-to-back titles with the Bulls). I don’t think I have much to add. Newcomers might be tempted to nitpick the film’s many flaws. But from a nostalgia perspective, “Space Jam” is still as entertaining as ever.

Classic Movies I Don’t Love

September 5, 2018

I haven’t written anything controversial ever since fanboys messaged me for hating on 2014’s  “Godzilla”, so I thought it would be a good idea to tackle something that has been on my mind for a while now: what are some classic movies that I don’t personally love? Don’t get me wrong, most of the films I’m about to mention are in fact GOOD, but I can’t say I love them enough to praise them. Let’s check them out.

 

1- Titanic (1996)
Possibly the most obvious choice on the list, “Titanic” was quite revolutionary at the time of its release and pretty much won every award there is,  but looking back, I don’t think I’ve ever loved this film. It did put Leonardo DiCaprio on the map permanently, and his chemistry with Kate Winslet is still something to admire today, but the movie itself was too manipulative for my own taste, not to mention too damn long. Do I hate it? Not at all. But I guess it’s one of those movies that confuse the shit out of me: why did it win so many awards?

 

 

 

 

2- Requiem for a dream (2000)
This is by far my least favorite movie on the list, a disturbing (to say the least) film from controversial director Darren Aronofsky about four ambitious people who watch their lives go down the drain when their drug addictions go out of control. The actors are great, especially Jared Leto, and I understand Aronofsky’s intentions, but it all adds up to zero. The movie has many loyal fans, that’s for sure, but spending time with all these characters was no fun at all as far as I’m concerned.

 

 

 

3- The Shining (1980)
I’m a huge Stanley Kubrick fan, but I never managed to warm up to his 1980 horror classic. Having heard so many good things about it when I was still discovering old films, I felt that it was a bit of a letdown. I could never forget Jack Nickolson’s terrific performance as a family man who takes his family to an isolated hotel for the winter where evil lurks, but that’s about it as far as I’m concerned. The rest of the film never left an impact on me, and because of that, I rarely find myself recommending it.

 

 

 

 

4- Taxi Driver (1976)
Martin Scorsese is quite possibly my favorite director of all time, but weirdly enough, I never loved his 1976 film “Taxi Driver” starring Robert De Niro, and if that puts me in the minority, so be it. I still recommend it, notably for De Niro’s extremely powerful performance as a taxi driver who is going out of his mind, but I never find myself going back to it or watching bits from it, as opposed to let’s say “Goodfellas” or “Raging Bull”.

 

 

 

 

 5- Scarface (1983)
A friend once asked me if I loved this movie and he could easily tell that I didn’t. “The eyes, they never lie” he said. How many times have you seen this quote on an Instagram post? That’s the kind of impact that this movie and its characters has on people, so putting it on the list will certainly be regarded as a controversial decision, but I don’t mind. It’s a movie that I had a blast watching, to be clear, but I rarely find myself quoting it or putting it on my list of films that you MUST see before you die. It’s a matter of personal taste at the end of the day, and I love Al Pacino more than anything, but I can’t say I loved this film.

 

 

 

6- Fight Club (1999)
Perhaps the most controversial title on the list, and for good reasons. But before I proceed, let me clarify: I like this movie enough, and if it wasn’t so popular you probably wouldn’t see it on this list. I’m a huge David Fincher fan, and I think his movies are quite revolutionary in their own way, but I could never truly fall in love with “Fight Club”. Aside from its shocking twist and brilliant performances, I don’t really think it’s as brilliant as people say. I know that fans like to interpret it in their own way and I’ve read endless articles about it, but it’s been shoved down our throats for almost 20 years that maybe you can understand why I feel some resistance to it. It’s still a solid film overall, but top 10 on IMDB? I respectfully disagree.

6 Great Nicolas Cage Movies

April 24, 2017

People often ask me: why do you hate Nicolas Cage? Truth be told, I don’t.
Aside from the shitty movies he’s been doing for the past decade, Cage is an Oscar winner and one the most popular stars of the 90’s.
Let’s take a closer look at some of his finest moments.
Yes, they do exist!

 

LEAVING LAS VEGAS [1995]

MSDLELA EC005Cage deservedly won an Oscar for his portrayal of a Hollywood screenwriter who lost everything because of his alcohol addiction. Many regard this as Cage’s greatest performance and it’s easy to see why. This is a top-notch movie (and performance) from start to finish.

 

 

 

 

FACE/OFF [1997]

face off

The quintessential action movie of the 90’s, “Face/Off” brought together two of the most popular movie stars of that era: Nicolas Cage and John Travolta. The plot, as cheesy as it may seem, worked well, and the chemistry between the two stars couldn’t be better. Travolta plays an FBI agent who undergoes a face transplant surgery to assume the identity of a criminal (Cage). When Cage wakes up, he decides to take Travolta’s face and all hell breaks loose. The final showdown will blow you away. Ditto the movie. It’s one of best action films of the 90’s.

ADAPTATION [2002]

From the miadaptation1nds of Charlie Kaufman and Spike Jonze (“Being John Malkovich”), “Adaptation” is a masterpiece. Nic Cage delivers an Oscar worthy performance, playing Charlie Kaufman himself, who is desperately trying to adapt Susan Orlean’s novel “The Orchid Thief”, with disastrous consequences. With Jonze behind the camera and Meryl Streep in front of it, you can expect fireworks. Add to that Cage in his most unusual self, and you get this deliciously twisted film. I highly recommend it.

 

THE FAMILY MAN [2000]

the-family-manCall it “It’s a wonderful Life” meets “A Christmas Carol”, “The Family Man” gave us Nicolas Cage at the top of his game, playing a single investment broker who wakes up in a completely different life. He’s now married with kids and living in Jersey. The script is inspired by a lot of other classic films, but Cage gives it something extra special, turning the familiar into something completely fresh. “The Family Man” will get to you. It’s one of Cage’s best films.

 

 

MATCHSTICK MEN [2003]

Matchstick-Men-3With a jaw dropping finale, Nicolas Cage rose once again above the routine to play a scam artist who is trying to reconnect with his teenage daughter (played by Alison Lohman). No fair revealing more. But both actors forge a bond that never feels cornball, and director Ridley Scott keeps us glued to our seats until the very last minutes. I can’t recommend this movie enough.

 

 

LORD OF WAR [2005]

 lord of warProbably the last “great” Nicolas Cage movie before he slipped into B movie territory, “Lord Of War” is a reminder of what made him a great actor in the first place. Cage plays an arms dealer who finds himself confronting the morality of his work while dealing with an Interpol agent who wants to bring him down. The gripping script by Andrew Niccol doesn’t just stick to the memory, it leaves an eternal scar. This is a first rate thriller from start to finish. Bring back the old Nicolas Cage.

 

Honorable mentions: “Raising Arizona”, “Racing with the Moon”, “Snake Eyes”, “National Treasure” (a guilty pleasure), “The Rock”, “Red Rock West”.

 

Groundhog Day [1993]

May 8, 2011

One of my all time favorites. Bill Murray gives what may be the best performance of his career in this unique comedy, arguably the best of the 1990’s.  Murray plays Phil Connors, a cynical and grumpy weatherman who is dispatched with producer Rita (Andie MacDowell) and cameraman Larry (Chris Elliot) to a friendly town in Pennsylvania to witness the annual Groundhog Day Ceremony. It is clear to us that Phil doesn’t want to be there at all, and wishes he were just about anywhere else. When they get snowed in, Phil wakes up the next morning to discover he is reliving Groundhog Day all over again. He isn’t exactly thrilled, especially when he relives it again the next day, and the next, and the next. It’s a terrific concept that first causes Phil to deal with the situation in a funny and cruel way. He knows everything will be wiped clean, and he can start fresh the next day. He becomes an expert in medicine, ice sculpture, poetry, piano playing and a number of other things. He even asks a woman what she looks for in a man, and the following day embodies all those attributes to the lady. Later on he commits suicide in various ways, only to realise that he will  wake up the next morning alive and well. Eventually, he tries to improve his behavior, aswell as his people skills, in order to impress Rita, who sees him only as the grumpy man he’s always been. In between, there are hilarious gags, and the movie keeps coming up with twists and turns, even when you know there’s nowhere else it can go.

Watch it, then watch it again, and again, and again. Comedy is rarely this terrific.

Rating: 3.5/4

The Big Lebowski [1998]

December 23, 2010

One big funny joke, courtesy of the Coen brothers, about an unemployed slacker better known as “The Dude” (Jeff Bridges in a one of a kind hilarious role) who’s mistaken for a big shot millionaire of the same name, and then gets hired by the guy to deliver a ransom when his wife is kidnapped. The plan goes beserk when The Dude’s friend (John Goodman) schemes to keep the full ransom instead of delivering it. If you’re a fan of the Coen brothers, then you’re probably familiar with “The Big Lebowski”. Afterall, Jeff Bridges’s character has become an icon in today’s pop culture (I’m “The Dude” man!). But is it their best work? I don’t think so. It’s very funny, with plenty of amusing and memorable characters (John Turturo is hilarious as Jesus the bowler), but I wouldn’t rank it on the same level as “Fargo”. But still, there’s a lot to enjoy here, and it’s definitely hard to dismiss any movie directed by the Coens and starring the legendary Jeff Bridges (is he the man or what?).

Rating: 3/4

The Hurricane [1999]

December 12, 2010

Exceptional movie follows the story of Rubin “Hurricane” Carter (Denzel Washington in one of the best performances of his career), a proud, talented prizefighter unjustly convicted of a brutal crime he obviously didn’t commit. Locked away for almost 20 years, his once forgotten case surprisingly reemerges when a small group of supporters decide to help him by conducting their own private investigation. Carter’s last glimmer of hope now rests with the tireless efforts of those people, who refuse to end the fight for his freedom. Inspiring and perfectly acted, this truly amazing movie is long, but masterfully told and thought provoking. Washington has always been great, but his performance here is truly phenomenal and worthy of an oscar (though he didn’t win). His final speech might leave  some in tears, but the whole movie is just powerful and brilliant, which makes it a must see. Kudos to everyone involved in this film. One of the best of the 90’s.

Fun fact: The real Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter is only 5’8″ and 155 pounds, being about 4 inches shorter and nearly 40 pounds lighter than Denzel Washington (even when the actor slimmed down to play Hurricane). In actuality, Washington (and the actors who play his opponents in the ring) classify as heavyweights.

Rating: 3.5/4

JFK [1991]

November 11, 2010

Brilliant movie from director Oliver Stone about the assassination of John Kennedy, and the investigation that followed his death. Kevin Costner gives the performance of his career as the attorney who becomes obsessed with the case; he is convinced that there’s more to the assassination than the official story (a conspiracy maybe?). His final speech (which is 20 minutes long) hits all the right notes and is especially memorable. Long, demanding movie (just like any other Oliver Stone film), but completely absorbing and thought provoking (which makes it a must see). This can easily be ranked as one of the best movies of the 90’s. Watch it now, thank me later.

Fun fact: Oliver Stone regards this film as his “The Godfather”.

Rating: 3.5/4