Best Films of the 90s - 70-66

70. Thelma and Louise - (1991)

Ridley Scott's tale of 2 Arkansas woman on the lam has a perfectly structured screenplay (by Oscar winner Callie Khouri) and terrific cinematography. But the film is owned by the characters. Rare for Hollywood, there are not 1 but 2 incredibly strong female characters that go through changes. As Thelma, Geena Davis is perfect in her innocence, but Susan Sarandon shows uncommon depth with Louise. Her entire life is right there with one look in her eyes. Brad Pitt became an instant star as Thelma's seducer. Michael Madsen and Harvey Keitel are equally impressive.

69. Hoop Dreams - (1994)
Director Steve James had unbelievable patience documenting the young lives of basketball prodigies Arthur Agee and William Gates over the transformative 5 year period of late junior high to high school. Their lives take unexpected turns and their fortunes (or misfortunes) change at a moment's notice. The games capture the excitement of high school sports. But the social commentary gives the film its resonance. The more important things in life (like a middle aged woman finally graduating from high school) are shamefully ignored while young sports stars are inexplicably over-celebrated. Transient physical ability over lasting education? Nice choice, America.

68. Quiz Show - (1994)

Not exactly the film to watch with a group since a bunch of elites talk and talk in every scene but I find writer Paul Attanasio's exquisitely worded screenplay supremely intelligent as he deconstructs celebrity, academia, and closet anti-Semitism. Rob Morrow carries the film pretty well but he's just the backbone for the talented supporting cast to bounce off. Director Robert Redford does the film justice by staying out of the way and pacing it well. My favorite moments include the cameos of fellow directors Barry Levinson and Martin Scorsese.

67. Reservoir Dogs - (1992)
Quentin Tarantino changed cinema immediately with his first film. Talkative characters over-referencing pop culture are now common place but it hasn't been done any better or funnier than here or in QT's subsequent film. The film is too bloody by half and is obviously too casual with its cop-killing. But the Mr. Orange sequence toward the end is as exciting as filmmaking gets, especially the heist set-up scene with the priceless Lawrence Tierney. It probably should be higher from a writing-directing standpoint but nihilism isn't quite as cool as it once was. 2 years later, QT was smart enough to give an inspiring message.

66. Total Recall - (1990)

In 2084, a construction worker on Earth dreams of traveling to Mars, but since he can't afford it, decides to have a fake memory of Martian trip implanted in his head. Then everything goes very, very wrong. The visuals and special effects are impressive, even by today's CGI standards. The violence does go over the top and the queasy have been warned. Director Paul Verhoeven can't seem to create a scene without giving us something we've never seen before. Arnold Schwarzenegger is at his very (non Jim-Cameron) best. The film almost gets profound by discussing the nature of dreams and reality.

100. Glengarry Glen Ross
99. Dead Again
98. Ed Wood
97. True Romance
96. The Commitments
95. Bound
94. Die Hard 2
93. In the Line of Fire
92. Affliction
91. Shakespeare in Love
90. In the Company of Men
89. Short Cuts
88. Copland
87. The Hudsucker Proxy
86. The Last Seduction
85. The Apostle
84. Burnt by the Sun
83. The Godfather Part III
82. Good Will Hunting
81. Speed
80. Reversal of Fortune
79. Forest Gump
78. American Beauty
77. Dazed and Confused
76. True Lies
75. Nixon
74. Malcolm X
73. Red Rock West
72. Hearts of Darkness
71. Wag the Dog