Best Films of the 90s - 45-41

45. The Limey - (1999)

A Cockney ex-con (Terence Stamp) travels to Los Angeles to uncover the details about his only daughter's death. Leslie Ann Warren and Luis Guzman are terrific as her friends who help him as is Peter Fonda, an ex-hippie turned music executive. But it's director Steven Soderbergh who's the main attraction. From his use of The Who's "The Seeker" in the opening credits to his flash-forward, flashback editing, Soderbergh makes a work of art out of a simple revenge flick.

44. Hamlet - (1996)
Starting with some above average source material, director Kenneth Branagh added striking visuals with the costumes and sets. The eclectic supporting cast including Billy Crystal, Gerard Depardieu, Charlton Heston, Jack Lemmon, Robin Williams, and Kate Winslet did the rest. Not everything works like gangbusters, but Shakespeare's play, universally accepted as the best piece of English literature, has never felt as alive, even in its unabbreviated state (the 4 hour running time will be a deterrent for some). The film is not as rousing as Henry V, which had a better score, but it is more consistently beautiful.

43. Dark City - (1998)

Like all great science fiction films, the plot is just the bedrock to examine fundamental human mysteries and truths. John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) tries to find his real identity while others try to discover what makes someone human. And how important are memories (real or imagined) in making who we are? In the meantime, there's an involving story about an insomniac (Sewell) witnessing strange sleeping patterns in others while trying to find his wife (Jennifer Connelly). The "tuning" showdown at the end will seem silly to non sci-fi fans used to guns and ammo. It's paced so fast, the viewer has trouble keeping up with the frequently amazing imagery and thoughtful themes.

42. Leaving Las Vegas - (1995)
Probably way too high for lawyer, but I find myself completely immersed in the world director Mike Figgis creates, which moves from blues to jazz to opera. As a suicidal alcoholic, Nicolas Cage gives his career best performance by being unpredictable (not surprisingly) and by showing uncommon depth and emotion (very surprisingly - especially if you saw his post-Oscar performances before this). Elisabeth Shue has never been as great as she is as Sera, giving the classic hooker with a heart of gold amazing depth. Tons of heart in this one.

41. Hard Eight - (1997)

A drifter (John C. Reilly) meets Sydney (Philip Baker Hall) at a diner and the 2 forge a mentor-pupil relationship in Reno. Paul Thomas Anderson (all of 26 at the time) shows great insight into old age regret and the lengths people will go for redemption. PTA's fluid camera captures his letter-perfect script perfectly. Philip Seymour Hoffman is brash and brilliant as a young gambler who challenges Sydney. Gwyneth Paltrow and Samuel L. Jackson are pretty good but overshadowed by the 3 who became PTA regulars.

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
70. Thelma and Louise
69. Hoop Dreams
68. Quiz Show
67. Reservoir Dogs
66. Total Recall
65. The Hunt for Red October
64. Babe
63. Braveheart
62. Searching for Bobby Fischer
61. Bottle Rocket
60. Jerry Maguire
59. Terminator 2
58. Toy Story
57. Toy Story 2
56. Elizabeth
55. Apollo 13
54. Casino
53. Rushmore
52. Get Shorty
51. Barton Fink
50. Swingers
49. The Matrix
48. 12 Monkeys
47. Out of Sight
46. The Sixth Sense