20 Movies I Like Better Than Anyone Else- Part 1

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) - Shane Black's directorial debut is a return to form in his perfect screenplay construction of Lethal Weapon 1 and 2 (#2 was uncredited - he wanted to make it darker, including Riggs's death). But somewhere in his 10 year screenwriting absence, he learned how to write unbeatable dialogue. And the commentary on the DVD is one of the best in recent years.

Mulholland Drive (2001) - David Lynch took a rejected TV pilot and turned it on its ear, adding 45 minutes by revisiting nearly every scene. All Hollywood genres are represented (cop, western, romance, gangster) as a naive Naomi Watts struggles for success and love. Is the first 2/3 of the movie a dream, masturbatory fantasy, or her life flashing before her eyes?

The Thin Red Line (1998) - Unlike Saving Private Ryan, this movie allows you to sympathize with America's on-screen enemy. Terrence Malick spends a lot of time contemplating man's relationship to nature. The classical four elements of earth, water, air, and fire are all explored. The movie has some excellent combat scenes as well. But it's heart and soul is Jim Caviezel's character Private Witt who wants to find immortality. Initially conceived as the story of 3 soldiers, Adrien Brody's scenes were mostly cut.

Boogie Nights (1997) - The center is a dysfunctional family with a father (Burt Reynolds), mother (Julianne Moore), and children (Mark Wahlberg, Heather Graham). My favorite directorial touch is William Macy's increasingly distanced relationship from his wife. In three scenes, she goes from close-up, to a long-shot, to not being seen at all. I also love Rollergirl turning her identity into a weapon.

Lone Star (1996) - In a Texas border town, sheriff Chris Cooper investigates a generation-old murder after a freemason ring is found on a skeleton. The transitions between the present-day story and the past are first-rate and the screenplay skillfully explores race relations. Most of all, director John Sayles gets the feel and tone right of a Texas border town.

Fearless (1993) - Jeff Bridges survives a plane crash and is considered a hero when he leads several people out of the burning wreckage. He withdraws from everything in life, including his family, and only feels alive when his life is threatened. He forms a friendship with Rosie Perez, whose infant son died in the crash. Faith, spirituality, love, and purpose have rarely been so intelligently handled simultaneously by the underrated Peter Weir. And the ending is a knockout.

Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993) - An exciting movie about chess? Yes, but it's also about child prodigies, friendship, and parenting. The scene when Josh plays chess with Vinnie in the park and rediscovers his love of chess is a highlight. In real life, Bobby Fischer himself has become a crazy, America-hating anti-Semite who has praised the 9/11 attacks. And the kid on which the film is based (Josh Waitzkin) is now a kung fu master - but the film stands.

A River Runs Through It (1992) - The story of a precher's two sons in 1920s rural Montana is frequently touching as they grow up, discover women, and try to become men. Brad Pitt's first big role completely suits him, and as the lead, Craig Sheffer shows honesty and gravitas well. The fishing shows on TV are unwatchable, but director Robert Redford turns fly-fishing into a work of art.

JFK (1991) - The film that turned me into a movie junkie. The movie is over 3 hours of fascinating conspiracy theories expertly directed, edited, and photographed. And it's all completely false. Oliver Stone created a new cinematic language all by himself, and unfortunately it's been copied by every single music video and most movies since.

Miller's Crossing (1990) - In most years, this movie would the best, but Mr. Scorsese was in top form that year. Joel and Ethan Coen still haven't topped their third film where Gabriel Byrne plays a gangster who is having an affair with his boss's girl. From the opening Godfather homage, to the intricate repetitions in the script, the movie always has a sense of humor about itself and a sense of film history. The great Carter Burwell score has often been imitated, never equalled. Unlike most Coen Brothers' movies, this one's message about the decisions we make in our lives and the reasons we make them almost matches their monumental technical skill - almost.