10) Toy Story (95)
This film, one of the first from the new Pixar animation studio, broke new
ground with computer animation. Billy is a little boy who has an
extensive toy collection. When humans are not around, the toys live their
own life. The adventures depicted by the computer animation are funny for
all ages, and the dimensions rendered almost make you forget you are
actually watching animation. Also spawned an excellent sequel, 1999's
Toy Story 2.
9) Se7en (95)
Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman star as detectives who are trying to catch a
serial killer. His twist is each of his victims have committed one of the
Seven
Deadly Sins. Then he kills them in a way that makes them suffer for
it. One of the more suspenseful movies of the decade, with several
surprises and heaping portions of anticipation.
8) Terminator 2: Judgment Day (91)
A sequel to 1984's Terminator, this film also broke new ground in
the area of special effects. As directed by James Cameron
(Titanic), Arnold Schwarzenegger is the good guy this time around.
His robot's mission is to rescue Sarah Connor and her son from a villain
who seems unbeatable.
7) Being John Malkovich (99)
Another original idea. John Cusack is an office worker (who works on the
7 1/2 floor, another stroke of originality) that inexplicably finds a hole
in the wall that, when followed, drops him off in the head of John
Malkovich! The plot goes all sorts of places with this, and Malkovich
gives a brave performance playing a not-so-kosher version of himself.
6) Clerks (94)
The official debut from indie hero Kevin Smith, Clerks was made for less
than $30,000, in b/w, with no major stars. Consisting of a day in
the lives of convenience store clerk Dante and video rental clerk Randall, Smith
showcased his writing talents as the characters engaged in conversation that was
observant, critical, and very funny.
5) Silence of the Lambs (91)
A dark horse multiple major Academy Award winner. Jodie Foster is the FBI
agent who interviews Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins in a career and
franchise-making performance), who himself is a vicious killer, to assist
in finding another killer, who has kidnapped a politician's daughter.
With humor, suspense, drama, and even gore, this film exceeded most
expectations and remain watchable today.
4) Forrest Gump (94)
Tom Hanks continues his remarkable career by playing the title
character, a person that is, essentially, simple and slow. His mannerisms,
catch-phrases, expressions, accent, and all-around acting combined to earn him
an Academy Award (his second consecutive, btw). Following his life as a
boy in the 1950s, a young adult in the tumultuous 1960s and beyond, the film
also showcased new technology where characters could be inserted into historical
scenes. And don't forget Gary Sinise's performance as Lt. Dan, Forrest's
superior in Vietnam, who lost both legs in the war. Audiences thought
Sinise had made the ultimate sacrifice, the technology was that good.
3) Schindler's List (93)
Oskar Schindler ran a factory in 1940s Germany. Then the Holocaust
happened, and many of his Jewish workers were being taken away. In what
turned out to be heroic, he convinced the Nazis to let his workers stay.
He saved the life of over 1,100 German Jews. This project was close to the
heart of director Spielberg. He went on to found the
Shoah Foundation, which is attempting to
record memories of every Holocaust survivor. This was also the greatest
year of his career. Not only did he produce and direct this film, which
won Best Picture, but he also directed the highest grossing movie of the year,
which also was a technological breakthrough, Jurassic Park.
2) Shawshank
Redemption (94)
Loosely based on a Stephen King short story, this film follows Andy Dufrain
(Tim Robbins), who is convicted of murdering his wife, and sentenced to life in
Shawshank prison. Original insights into prison life are portrayed, and
Andy, who is quite a non-orthodox inmate, attempts to change the system, for the
betterment of both his fellow prisoners and himself.
1)
Pulp Fiction (94)
This was both the breakthrough and defining film for Quentin Tarantino.
With an all-star cast (including John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis,
Uma Thurman, and more), an innovative (for the time) circular timeline sequence
for the story, and his best showcase for his talent at writing dialogue, this
movie not only shot Tarantino to the stars, it also helped the careers of the
stars, and gave cred to distributor Miramax.
Year with most representation: 1994
