Recently we took a trip down memory lane with our very own Hanzosword navigating the boat and looked at some of our favorite movies of the 2000’s . This immediately got me thinking about how the decade stacked up against some of the other decades, in particular how did it compare to the best movies of the 90’s?

Being an avid music fan and having grown up as a child of the 90’s the music of that decade has a special place in my heart, but I could not help but think it wasn’t just the music that was phenomenal it was the movie art form as well. I shared my opinion with Hanzo and Admin a couple weeks back at a hockey game that did not have any fights. I mean seriously what else do you do at a hockey game with no fights but shoot the shit about movies right? We laid out movie after movie that we thought was essential to remember the decade by. None of us shared what we thought would be the “best” of the decade though.

 Here are my top 20 movies of the 90’s starting at 20 and working our way down to what I feel to be the greatest movie made in the decade:

20. American History X- 1998- Tony Kaye

A side of American culture most of us would like to forget exist. One of Ed Norton’s “he gets a pass roles” this one pulls you in with a gripping and tragic story.

19. Forrest Gump- 1994- Robert Zemeckis

A classic movie that takes us on a journey through history through the glue that we all relate to: love. So many classic moments this move captured every one’s imagination.

18. Saving Private Ryan- 1998- Steven Spielberg

Spielberg is a master at connecting to his audience and here he uses war as his backdrop to spin a wonderful tale. The opening battle sequence is a cinematic masterpiece.

17. Heat-  1995- Michael Mann

This film was masterfully done and finally gives viewers two actors who since the 70’s had worked on similar movies but really never stared together: Al Pacino & Robert De Niro. Let’s not forget we also have Val Kilmer and you have some wonderful on screen moments. The piece with Pacino and De Niro in the diner talking is worth this movie making this list alone.

16. Casino- 1995- Martin Scorsese

1995 was a good year for gangster type movies with Casino and Heat both coming out. De Niro teams with Scorsese for what to this point has been their last team up with De Niro in a lead role and some might argue De Niro’s last great performance. The movie is pure Scorsese and drips art, passion, and violence.

15. Last of the Mohicans- 1992- Michael Mann

The story pulls you in and the characters demand you become involved with them. This one does not look like much on paper, but it is a gut wrenching film. The end sequence is probably in my top 5 favorite movie moments of all time and is probably closer to 1 then 5. Simply breathtaking filming, acting, and connection to it’s audience.

14. Natural Born Killers- 1994- Oliver Stone

A twisting psychedelic tale of lovers exploring good and evil of humanity. A great script executed in an artful manner. Oliver Stone really makes this an interesting plot to follow.

13. Se7en- 1995- David Fincher

Again a film with great acting (Freeman, Paltrow, Pitt) and artful direction. It takes a peak at humanity and reminds us why sometimes we don’t like to look.

12. Silence of the Lambs-  1991-Jonathan Demme

Artful suspense is a wonderful thing and perhaps this was one of the best movies at building that feeling that I have seen. You can’t understate the acting performances turned in by Anthony Hopkins and Jodi Foster, but Demme is just as good at his filming as they are in the deliverance of their performance.

11. Fight Club- 1999-David Fincher

I had never seen a movie like it and I have never seen a movie like it since. In my mind it was an entertaining orginal story (albeit based on a book) that kept me not only captivated but guessing throughout the film. A movie that is more enjoyable with each visit to it. Can’t say enough good stuff about this film.

10. Trainspotting- 1996- Danny Boyle

A scary look at pop culture that I remember blew my mind when i first saw it. Wonderful direction by Boyle pulls you into a seedier side of life, but like a car wreck no matter how horrid it gets you can’t look away.

9. Usual Suspects- 1995- Bryan Singer

A masterful use of flashbacks to tell this tale that keeps you guessing until the very end! Who is Keysor Soze!?!?! Bryan Singer gets a “pass” for this movie. He really pulls this one off and it stands out as one of the best of the decade.

8. Boogie Nights- 1997- Paul Thomas Anderson

I loved this movie from start to finish. I remember being gripped by the characters and their stories.  When you start with drugs and porn you are off to a good start throw in an interesting story and actors giving some of their best performances of their careers and you have the perfect movie storm!

7. Unforgiven- 1992- Clint Eastwood

Still to this day my favorite western of all time and my favorite Clint Eastwood movie. The end is just sensational. Morgan Freeman and Clint Eastwood make a great acting pair here and Eastwood’s directing is top notch.

6. Braveheart- 1995- Mel Gibson

Epic tale of love and war masterfully filmed. This is a classic film I can watch over and over again. One word FREEEDOOOMMMMM!

5. Goodfellas- 1990- Martin Scorsese

One of the greatest gangster movies of all time. Scorsese shows us again why he is the master combining his ability to create artful sequences, drain his actors best from them, and  still spin a tale that is compelling. Top notch all around.

4, The Thin Red Line- 1998- Terrance Malick

In my opinion one of the most underestimated movies of the 90’s. I have always said this is a “thinking man’s war movie” It resonated with me immediately and compelled me to contemplate life and war and how they relate and intertwine.  This movie only being number 4 speaks volumes to my respect of the movies to follow.

3. American Beauty- 1999- Sam Mendes

A stunning combination of artful direction that still connects with a wide audience of many age groups. I could watch this one over and over again and never get sick of it and always enjoy the way it allows me to contemplate life.

2. Pulp Ficton- 1994- Quentin Tarantino

The master of dialogue at his best. So many quotes, So many scenes. The acting is supurb and the juxpostion of the story works wonderfully. It doesn’t get much better then this one….

1. Schindler’s List- 1993- Steven Spielberg

A much as I love what American Beauty makes me think about and as much as Pulp Fiction makes me laugh none of those emotions compare to the raw human power Schindler’s List brings forward. One of the best pieces of film ever made in my opinion.

So that’s it. I thought about it and considered a lot of different things but that is how they play out for me. I think the 90’s blow away the 2000’s There were plenty of movies I wanted to make the list but I just could not consider them more of my favorites then the ones i have listed.

Here is an honorable mentions list of those I wish could have made it but fell just a little short:

Shawshank Redemption, Matrix, Leaving Las Vegas, Kids, Magnolia, Rushmore, Being John Malkovich, Terminator 2, Any Given Sunday,Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels & Basketball Diaries.

I can’t believe my list does not include Shawshank and Matrix, but i really do like the other movies on the list more.

So which would make your top 20?

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