Here's a fun list of 90s film favorites from Karen G.!
Strictly Ballroom (1992)
Directed and co-written by Baz Luhrmann, the story centers around an
Australian ballroom dancer Scott Hastings (Paul Mercurio) and his desire to
dance in his own style to win a big Dancing Contest that is riddled with
archaic rules and traditions. After
losing a competition, Scott, who is dumped by his regular dance partner,
ventures out and finds a disheveled girl, Fran (Tara Morice) who he teaches to
dance, in secret, at his parents studio.
Heavenly Creatures (1994)
One of the most visually intriguing and disturbing movies I’ve seen,
Peter Jackson’s “Heavenly Creatures” tells the gritty true story of an
obsessive relationship between two friends Juliet Hulme (a then unknown Kate
Winslet) and Pauline Parker (Melanie Lynskey), who in the 1950’s, murdered
Parker’s mother while on a picnic. The
strong and passionate performances by the young actresses carry this
thought-provoking and difficult story to new heights. The unraveling of these young girls is
beautifully and tragically portrayed in the film.
Muriel's Wedding (1995)
Looking over my movie list, I realize I
have quite a thing for movies about women who have lost touch with
reality. Muriel’s Wedding is a romantic comedy
about an awkward and overweight young woman who has a mild obsession with ABBA,
pathological lies and getting married (in no particular order). Muriel’s belief is that by having a glamorous
wedding, her life will miraculously change.
This movie has delightful performances by Toni Collette and Rachel
Griffiths before their big breaks in Hollywood.
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
This movie made
me realize that I HAD to get out of my home town. Depp stars as Gilbert, the “man of the
house," caring for a mentally challenged brother, a morbidly obese mother and a
needy mistress in a small town in Iowa.
When a young woman named Becky (Juliette Lewis) gets stuck in town with
her aunt in their motor home, Depp starts to realize the urgency of his desire
to leave the responsibilities that have befallen him and the want to live a
“normal” life. A touching story about
how guilt and fear can stop us all from following our dreams.
Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995)
A coming-of-age indie about an unattractive, extremely unpopular high
school girl, Dawn Wiener (Heather Matarazzo).
Dawn’s brother is a nerdy musician who tries to start a band while her
little sister is the family’s little “princess”. Scenes of baby sister, Missy, doing ballet in
the background as their mother dotes and Dawn skulks is particularly funny, and
at times, unsettling. Dawn is ignored by
her parents, bullied at school and her brother has little patience with her even
though he is an outcast as well. When
handsome teenager, Steve Rodgers, (Eric Mabius) joins Dawn’s brother’s band,
Dawn falls deeply and pathetically in love.
This is a dark, but extremely enjoyable and relatable comedy about that
“awkward phase” in our lives. Sadly a
phase that some of us never grow out of.
Léon (The Professional)
(1994)
Directed by Luc Besson, Léon tells the story of a quiet hit man
living in Little Italy, who takes in a young girl Mathilda (played by 12
year-old Natalie Portman) after her family is murdered by the mob. Portman plays the young “Lolita-type”
Mathilda, who smokes cigarettes and is hardened and wise beyond her years. Mathilda’s abusive father does wrong by some
corrupted DEA agents and he and the rest of his family is murdered, leaving
Mathilda at the mercy of a reluctant and solitary Léon. Mathilda is drawn to Léon in an attempt to
learn his skills as “a cleaner” to take revenge on the people who killed her
family. The unlikely friendship that
forms between the hitman and the young girl is the basis of this stunning and
original story.
The Fifth Element (1997)
This visually fascinating film by Luc
Besson, can only be described by me as a science fiction fashion feast. The survival of humanity takes the form of a
young girl (Milla Jovovich) that is known as the “Fifth Element” and is
protected by Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis) a cab driver who is a former special
forces Major. Earth’s impending attack
is surrounded by electrifying music, a beautiful opera performance by a blue
alien diva and over 950 costumes designed by Jean Paul-Gaultier. A hilarious performance by an unstable Gary
Oldman with a terribly bad hair day gives the movie part of it’s comedic
“element”.
Dazed and Confused (1993)
I don’t know if I love this movie because it’s so easy to watch or
because of the incredible soundtrack, but Dazed and Confused is probably one of
my favorite movies, centering around a day in the life of some Texas teens
during the last day of school in 1976. The
movie has a particularly enjoyable performance by a stoned and idealistic Matthew McConaughey as a high school grad
that refuses to grow up.
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
The movie that redefined marketing!
The legend of the Blair Witch crept through the world before the film
was released and the anticipation of seeing the “recovered footage of the
students that went missing in the Black Hills” was what drew millions to the
box office when it was released in 1999.
One of the first of what has now become an annoyingly familiar genre, "recovered
real life footage of things gone terribly wrong." I have to say at the time, the movie had the
world of horror buffs like myself buzzing with excitement and peering into the
dark corners of our homes at night. While
so many people hate this film I have to say I have always found it intriguing,
original for the time, extremely fun and enjoyable. Watch it one day and then go camping. I dare
you.
Clerks (1994)
Kevin Smith in 1994, when I was a young, hope-filled teenager, put the
idea in my head that I could shoot a movie in my local convenience store with
just enough money to cover a few Alice in Chains songs. Then I grew up and realized that Hollywood
does not work that way and luck has EVERYTHING to do with it. Still, one of the movies I quote and laugh
out loud at to this day. A quirky black
and white picture about two disgruntled Clerks who rant about the future, the
state of their lives, ex-girlfriends who are getting engaged and a riveting
conversation about The Death Star. The
perfect movie for comic book nerds who lived and breathed during the grunge-era
of the 90s.
The Craft (1996)
If you were a teenager in the 90s, dabbling in all sorts of
curiosities, you’d be a liar to say you’ve never seen this movie (and liked
it). It’s silly, on every level, but oh
so fun! I find it on cable even now and
find myself unable to look away. The
story centers around three teenage girls who use witchcraft to get what they
want. When new girl Sarah (Robin Tunney)
moves to town, the three teenage girls quickly befriend her and invite her into
their “circle." When head witch Nancy
(Fairuza Balk) decides during one of their rituals to “invoke the spirit” all
hell breaks loose in L.A. and the power-hungry witch quickly starts turning on
the people around her. Being the only
one with real powers, Sarah starts to fight back. Witches gone Wild!
Boogie Nights (1997)
Fear And Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
The Big Lebowski (1998)
The Devil's Advocate (1997)
Fear of a Black Hat (1994)
Kids (1995)
A League of their Own (1992)
Tank Girl (1995)
Clueless (1995) - Make over!!!
Blast from the Past (1999)
Benny & Joon (1993)
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