1. "Goodfellas"(1990)
The best film of 1990? Sounds like puny praise for one of the defining works of one of the most celebrated directors who ever lived. How about the best film of the decade? Sounds more like it. The many virtues in Martin Scorsese's masterful re-telling of mob foot soldier Henry Hill's thirty year criminal career is common knowledge to anyone with even a passing interest in the medium. There's Ray Liotta's enthralling voice-over narration, the Copacabana tracking shot, Robert De Niro's restrained menace, the music, Joe Pesci's iconic outbursts, the freeze frames, and Lorraine Bracco, just to name a few. How many movies are just as enjoyable on the tenth viewing as they are on the first? I lost count of the amount of times I've watched this film a long time ago. All I know is that I could watch Jimmy and Tommy beat Billy Batts to near-death and Henry's last cocaine-fueled day in the 'life' again right now.
2. "Back to the Future Part III"(1990)
Speaking of movies you can watch a hundred times, any BTTF movie easily falls into that category. I never understood why some people downgrade the third and final installment. Director Robert Zemeckis and screenwriter Bob Gale wisely toned down the complex time travel logic that dominated the second film in favor of an inspired Old West setting that allowed the filmmakers to poke fun at one of Hollywood's most venerable genres. Michael J. Fox impersonates Clint Eastwood, the lovely Mary Steenburgen is more than welcome as Doc's sweet and feisty love-interest, and the train-pushing-the-Delorean climax rivals the original's clock tower finale. This is a warm and wholly satisfying conclusion that immediately joined "Return of the Jedi" and "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" as one of the finest celluloid wrap-ups.
3. "Dances with Wolves"(1990)
Time hasn't been so kind to Kevin Costner's sweeping Civil War epic(or his once-mighty movie career, for that matter). Yes, it beat "Goodfellas" for Best Picture, but let's not allow that night or any of the star's later self-indulgent debacles revise history too much. This is a great movie, too. Costner's three-hour directorial debut, based on Michael Blake's 1988 novel, offers an authentic and sympathetic portrayal of Native Americans(some of the actors actually were). The film's surprising monetary success reaffirmed the Western as a viable genre at the box office, and unquestionably inspired other actor/directors to helm similar passion projects. "Wolves" won seven Oscars, all well deserved, and remains a highly-impressive achievement.
4. "Misery"(1990)
Is there anything scarier than being snowed in with Kathy Bates? No disrespect to the woman, but her Best Actress Oscar-nabbing turn as former nurse/romance novel enthusiast Annie Wilkes is one terrifying creation in director Rob Reiner's expertly crafted horror thriller(can somebody please explain what happened to him?). She takes a sledgehammer to the legs of James Caan's helpless, bedridden author Paul Sheldon in perhaps the most infamous movie moment of 1990. He never gets over it. You might not either. The literary works of Stephen King provided plenty of good cinema, and this tense two-person battle of wills is certainly no exception.
5. "Pretty Woman"(1990)
It's easy to see why everyone fell so hard for Julia Roberts in 1990. If you want to see the birth of a superstar, look no further than the first half hour of this enormously popular Cinderella story, as her happy hooker Vivian Ward gets acquainted with Richard Gere's slick corporate raider at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. It's a signature performance that's she hasn't bettered in the three decades since. Originally conceived as a dark drama about prostitution, Garry Marshall's mega-hit was refashioned into a romantic fairy tale that made Roberts(then 22 years old) the biggest actress in the world- a lofty position she would hold for much of the '90s.
7. "Ghost"(1990)
How on Earth did a supernatural romantic drama out-gross ALL of the summer's hyped-up heavy hitters- "Dick Tracy", "Days of Thunder", "Die Hard 2"? I guess love conquers all, or at least it did in 1990. The textbook definition of a word-of-mouth hit, director Jerry Zucker's universally-recognized story of a murdered banker(Patrick Swayze) watching over his grieving girlfriend(Demi Moore) from beyond the gave, struck a chord with audiences that made it the second-highest grossing film of the year. Swayze and Moore would never reach those heights again, while Whoopi Goldberg would boast the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her scene-stealing turn as the "phony" psychic surprised to learn that she has the power to relay messages between the tragic pottery-making pair. "OHH, MYYY LOVE..."
8. "Wild At Heart"(1990)
Director David Lynch followed up "Blue Velvet" with this warped, lurid tale of a hip ex-convict(Nicolas Cage) who hits the road with a snakeskin jacket and his hot Southern belle girlfriend(Laura Dern) to escape the clutches of her disapproving and insanely overprotective mother(an Oscar-nominated Diane Ladd). The title says it all as the damaged lovebirds encounter all sorts of violence and weirdness in between hotel room sex romps and a gallery of grotesque characters(a game Willem Dafoe leaves a lasting impression). Relive the days when Nic Cage was cool and and there was no such thing as an intimacy coordinator. This Palme d'Or winner isn't for everyone, but adventurous viewers won't be sorry they took this trip.
9. "Edward Scissorhands"(1990)
Who would have ever thought that when visionary director Tim Burton plucked Johnny Depp from TV land(and teen heartthrob purgatory) to star in the offbeat follow-up to his gargantuan success known as "Batman", that it would be the start of the longest movie marriage since De Niro and Scorsese got hitched in the '70s? Aided by another transcendent Danny Elfman score, this bizarre fantasy is often cited as the purest example of Burton's wacky brilliance. As for Depp, he brought the strangely endearing title character to life with total sincerity, becoming cinema's most unorthodox leading man in the process.
10(tie). "Awakenings"(1990)
How many actors could have played stone-cold mobster Jimmy Conway and cute catatonic Leonard Lowe in the same year? Robert De Niro is the GOAT, in "Big" director Penny Marshall's touching true story set in a Bronx, NY hospital in the summer of '69. Robin Williams may seem like a wildly dissimilar dance partner, but his sensitive, caring doctor had me preferring his serious side over his more celebrated comedic contributions. You'll need a tissue or two for this one because Marshall handles the mix of light comedy and sobering drama with remarkable ease.
10(tie). "The Godfather Part III"(1990)
The Corleone family's curtain call has received it's share of hate over the years. No, it's not on the same level as it's predecessors. Is there REALLY any shame in falling below two of the most esteemed movies in history? The casting of Sofia Coppola is a near-fatal flaw, but we get another great performance from Al Pacino as an aging, guilt-ridden Michael struggles to go legit in 1979(they keep pulling him back in!), while Andy Garcia is at his best as the reckless illegitimate heir to the throne. Francis Ford Coppola felt immense pressure(not to mention Scorsese's wise-guys breathing down his neck) when he embarked on a belated extension of his epic saga. "Part III" still manages to be a classy epilogue that's not NEARLY as 'bad' as it's online detractors would have you believe.
Honorable Mentions- "Tremors"(1990) Kevin Bacon vs. crazy desert critters. "Internal Affairs"(1990) Richard Gere is one bad cop. "Men Don't Leave"(1990) Chris O'Donnell debuts in this Jessica Lange dramady. "Revenge"(1990) Kevin Costner exacts it from Anthony Quinn in this violent Tony Scott flick. "Blue Steel"(1990) Kathryn Bigelow gives Jamie Lee Curtis a badge. "Stanley & Iris"(1990) Jane Fonda's tender romance with Robert De Niro was her last movie for 15 years. "Bad Influence"(1990) That's what Rob Lowe is. "House Party"(1990) Kid 'n' Play help kickstart the '90s. "Joe Versus the Volcano"(1990) Tom Hanks meets Meg Ryan in this quirky romcom. "The Hunt for Red October"(1990) This smart submarine thriller was Alec Baldwin's first and last stint as CIA hero Jack Ryan. "Cadillac Man"(1990) Tim Robbins takes Robin Williams hostage. "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"(1990) The original TMNT is a legitimately good movie. "I Love You to Death"(1990) You'll love Kevin Kline in this Lawrence Kasdan comedy.
"Bird On a Wire"(1990) Mel Gibson and Goldie Hawn go good together. "Total Recall"(1990) Arnold gets his ass to Mars. "Another 48 Hrs."(1990) Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte are back in town. "Dick Tracy"(1990) Warren Beatty's highly-stylized take on the famed comic strip detective. "Gremlins 2: The New Batch"(1990) Joe Dante's NYC-set sequel has it's supporters. "Die Hard 2"(1990) Bruce Willis battles American terrorists at Dulles airport. "Days of Thunder"(1990) "Top Gun" reunion for Tom Cruise and Tony Scott. "Quick Change"(1990) Bill Murray robs a bank. "Arachnophobia"(1990) Deadly spiders in Frank Marshall's directorial debut. "Young Guns II"(1990) Billy the Kid is back. "The Witches"(1990) Anjelica Huston is the Grand High Witch. "Presumed Innocent"(1990) When Harrison Ford could do no wrong. "Quigley Down Under"(1990) Saddle up with Tom Selleck. "Pump Up the Volume"(1990) Christian Slater's rebel radio struck a chord. "Flatliners"(1990) Kiefer Sutherland, Kevin Bacon, and Julia Roberts experiment with death.
"The Freshman"(1990) Marlon Brando lightens up for Mathew Broderick. "Mo' Better Blues"(1990) Spike Lee and Denzel Washington unite. "Taking Care of Business"(1990) James Belushi and Charles Grodin trade places. "The Two Jakes"(1990) Jack Nicholson directs and stars in the long-awaited sequel to "Chinatown". "White Hunter, Black Heart"(1988) Clint Eastwood directs and stars in a fictionalized version of John Huston. "Mr. and Mrs. Bridge"(1990) James Ivory Oscar bait with Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. "State of Grace"(1990) Sean Penn and Gary Oldman in Hell's Kitchen. "White Palace"(1990) James Spader and Susan Sarandon sizzle. "Pacific Heights"(1990) Michael Keaton as the tenant from hell. "Postcards from the Edge"(1988) Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine star in this Carrie Fisher-scripted, Mike Nichols comedy. "My Blue Heaven"(1990) Steve Martin joins the Witness Protection Program. "Narrow Margin"(1990) Gene Hackman guards Anne Archer on a train. "King of New York"(1990) Christopher Walken is a drug lord in this cult crime flick.
"Mr. Destiny"(1990) Michael Caine changes James Belushi's life. "Child's Play 2"(1990) The best Chucky movie? "Reversal of Fortune"(1990) Jeremy Irons picks up an Oscar as a murderous blueblood. "The Rescuers Down Under"(1990) The Disney Renaissance rolls on. "Jacob's Ladder"(1990) Tim Robbins is a hallucinating Vietnam vet in this eerie Adrian Lyne thriller. "Rocky V"(1990) Sylvester Stallone could make 'Rocky 5000' and I'd be there. "Kindergarten Cop"(1990) Schwarzenegger could make anything in 1990 and we'd all be there. "Hamlet"(1990) Mel Gibson does Shakespeare. "The Russia House"(1990) International intrigue with Sean Connery and Michelle Pfeiffer. "The Grifters"(1990) Annette Bening, Anjelica Huston, and John Cusack are a family of con artists. "Mermaids"(1990) Winona Ryder stole this chick flick right out from under Cher. "Alice"(1990) Mia Farrow makes her tenth Woody Allen movie.
How on Earth did a supernatural romantic drama out-gross ALL of the summer's hyped-up heavy hitters- "Dick Tracy", "Days of Thunder", "Die Hard 2"? I guess love conquers all, or at least it did in 1990. The textbook definition of a word-of-mouth hit, director Jerry Zucker's universally-recognized story of a murdered banker(Patrick Swayze) watching over his grieving girlfriend(Demi Moore) from beyond the gave, struck a chord with audiences that made it the second-highest grossing film of the year. Swayze and Moore would never reach those heights again, while Whoopi Goldberg would boast the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her scene-stealing turn as the "phony" psychic surprised to learn that she has the power to relay messages between the tragic pottery-making pair. "OHH, MYYY LOVE..."
8. "Wild At Heart"(1990)
Director David Lynch followed up "Blue Velvet" with this warped, lurid tale of a hip ex-convict(Nicolas Cage) who hits the road with a snakeskin jacket and his hot Southern belle girlfriend(Laura Dern) to escape the clutches of her disapproving and insanely overprotective mother(an Oscar-nominated Diane Ladd). The title says it all as the damaged lovebirds encounter all sorts of violence and weirdness in between hotel room sex romps and a gallery of grotesque characters(a game Willem Dafoe leaves a lasting impression). Relive the days when Nic Cage was cool and and there was no such thing as an intimacy coordinator. This Palme d'Or winner isn't for everyone, but adventurous viewers won't be sorry they took this trip.
9. "Edward Scissorhands"(1990)
Who would have ever thought that when visionary director Tim Burton plucked Johnny Depp from TV land(and teen heartthrob purgatory) to star in the offbeat follow-up to his gargantuan success known as "Batman", that it would be the start of the longest movie marriage since De Niro and Scorsese got hitched in the '70s? Aided by another transcendent Danny Elfman score, this bizarre fantasy is often cited as the purest example of Burton's wacky brilliance. As for Depp, he brought the strangely endearing title character to life with total sincerity, becoming cinema's most unorthodox leading man in the process.
10(tie). "Awakenings"(1990)
How many actors could have played stone-cold mobster Jimmy Conway and cute catatonic Leonard Lowe in the same year? Robert De Niro is the GOAT, in "Big" director Penny Marshall's touching true story set in a Bronx, NY hospital in the summer of '69. Robin Williams may seem like a wildly dissimilar dance partner, but his sensitive, caring doctor had me preferring his serious side over his more celebrated comedic contributions. You'll need a tissue or two for this one because Marshall handles the mix of light comedy and sobering drama with remarkable ease.
10(tie). "The Godfather Part III"(1990)
The Corleone family's curtain call has received it's share of hate over the years. No, it's not on the same level as it's predecessors. Is there REALLY any shame in falling below two of the most esteemed movies in history? The casting of Sofia Coppola is a near-fatal flaw, but we get another great performance from Al Pacino as an aging, guilt-ridden Michael struggles to go legit in 1979(they keep pulling him back in!), while Andy Garcia is at his best as the reckless illegitimate heir to the throne. Francis Ford Coppola felt immense pressure(not to mention Scorsese's wise-guys breathing down his neck) when he embarked on a belated extension of his epic saga. "Part III" still manages to be a classy epilogue that's not NEARLY as 'bad' as it's online detractors would have you believe.
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