Best of the 1990s.....#1

1993 is the year to end all years. Aguably the best year of all time for movies, 1993 beats out '95 and '94 in a close but clear victory. So good and so deep was 1993, I was forced to go beyond a Top Ten, beyond even a Top Twenty and do a Top Thirty list.

Even then I had to leave off many fine movies, such as HOMEWARD BOUND, THE CRUSH, FALLING DOWN, DRAGON (THE BRUCE LEE STORY), WHO'S THE MAN, MALICE, THE GOOD SON, THE LAST SUPPER, SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER, THE THREE MUSKETEERS, MRS. DOUBTFIRE, THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, RISING SUN, SO I MARRIED AN AXE MURDERER, THE PELICAN BRIEF, GRUMPY OLD MEN, COOL RUNNINGS, WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT, and RISING SUN.

Well let's get started with #30 - #21

THE BEST MOVIES OF 1993

#30 RUDY - One of the best Sports movies of all time, a true underdog story. RUDY is totally manipulative, but he'll still have you cheering.

#29 FALLING DOWN - Parable of an Everyman who has just had enough of the BS in modern America, Michael Douglas somehow manages to make a deranged killer sympathetic. Robert Duvall is the cop on his last day trying to catch him. Very chilling and well acted.

#28 THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS - From the demented brain of Tim Burton, NIGHTMARE makes the list if only for the incredible inventiveness and imagination. (For more see my review.)

#27 THE FIRM - I remember being furious at the time how totally (and unnecessarily, in my mind) changed the ending. With my new mantra of "Judge the Movie by the Movie, not what came Before), I have to reevaluate THE FIRM and give it higher marks. Tom Cruise is reliably awesome, and Jeanne Triplehorne is sexy as well as strong, not something they usually let girls do in movies. Gene Hackman is at his sleazy best.

#26 TRUE ROMANCE - An audacious film, written by Tarantino, with out much point other than for glorious excessive violence. It somehow works. for more see my review)

#25 DAVE - A warmhearted political comedy that's mild enough to be loved by all. Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver have great chemistry, and Frank Langella is a fun blustery bad guy. A nice sweet film all around.

#24 THE POINT OF NO RETURN - Basedo a superior French film, RETURN still offers a good flick, with Bridgit Fonda offering great pathos and Gabriel reliably solid. If this film had been made post-Tarantino we might have gotten more of the French nihilistic version, but I'm reasonably happy with the final product; can a person change who she is?

#23 ARMY OF DARKNESS - If you were doing a Camp Movie Top Ten list, how high would ARMY rank? Technically the third film Sam Rami's EVIL DEAD series, ARMY OF DARKNESS is full of wonderfully campy quotes ("Yo, She-bitch! Let's go!" and "Gimme some sugar, baby!"), and the immortal Bruce Campbell. Not necessary to watch the first two films to totally enjoy this one.

#22 SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE - One of the best movies ever (Ever!) to watch when you're in love. It's sweet and somewhat hokey, but drat it if doesn't work anyway.

#21 GROUNDHOG DAY - Bill Murray is some kind of amazing in this brilliant set up for a movie, one of the best "ideas" of the decade. He carries the movie (and gives us shades of his brilliant acting in years to come) as a wear weather man who just doesn't care any more. Andie MacDowell is sweet and Chris Elliott adds a goofy charm, but the town is what will win you over. If you had to be stuck forever, it's not a bad place to be.

Next up: #20 - #11