The Year in Review- 1989

   It was the year Bat-Mania ran wild and Indiana Jones rode off into the sunset. Marty and Doc and Riggs and Murtaugh got sequels, much to movie lovers' delight. Meg Ryan had an orgasm in a deli, Michelle Pfeiffer made whoopee, Kevin Costner was in a cornfield, and Tom Cruise was in a wheelchair. Here are the ten best films in order for 1989.

1(tie). "Batman"(1989)
The Dark Knight was originally slated to take flight alongside his DC counterpart Superman in the late 70's, before getting dragged down into developmental hell. Well, Tim Burton's game-changer was worth the wait. When you pause to consider how cluttered the superhero genre has become, it has to be considered one of the most influential films of the last quarter-century. Michael Keaton overcame some pre-internet casting controversy to bring the titular title character back to his comic book roots, as a stoic vigilante stalking criminals on the city streets. His photographer-girlfriend Vicki Vale may be a damsel in distress, yet Kim Basinger was undoubtedly one of this era's most luscious leading ladies, while Jack Nicholson forever raised the bar for big screen villainy as the maniacal, eternally grinning Joker unleashes a massive reign of terror on all of Gotham City. The action comes in small doses, but it's all meaningful and impactful, while Burton's striking originality and gothic sensibilities made him the perfect fit for the material. It's hard to accurately describe the hysteria that this film created to somebody that wasn't there. It was quite simply the biggest motion picture event since "Star Wars", and a sequel was every bit as inevitable as death and taxes.

1(tie). "When Harry Met Sally..."(1989)
Can men and women ever really be just friends? That never-ending question inspired this defining collaboration between director Rob Reiner and screenwriter Nora Ephron. Their seminal masterpiece has arguably surpassed Woody Allen's "Annie Hall"(a clear inspiration) as the benchmark of the modern romantic comedy. There haven't been many contenders to that throne in the thirty-plus years since, but that doesn't make this movie any less great. Billy Crystal has never had a better showcase for his sardonic wit, and Meg Ryan is perfection from that 1977 car ride to Katz's Delicatessen to New Year's Eve 1988. The Marc Shaiman/Harry Connick Jr. score helps set the classy tone, that keeps fans coming back to NYC in the fall. This film's brand of relationship humor also acted as a precursor to "Seinfeld", which began a similar and not-so-coincidental rise to immortality the following year.

2. "Back to the Future Part II"(1989)
The original is quite possibly the most beloved movie of the decade, making this eagerly-awaited encore a daunting task for the entire BTTF team. Fortunately, Marty and Doc's highly entertaining second go-around is a lot closer to "Empire Strikes Back" than "Ghostbusters II". With it's Oscar-nominated visual effects, breakneck pace and brilliant labyrinth plotting, "Part II" was the grand finale of the '80s blockbuster era. I love how director Robert Zemeckis and screenwriter Bob Gale threw every crazy time travel concept they could think of at the audience, and trusted that they'd be smart enough to stay with every potential paradox and manic Doc Brown explanation. It's one of the most ingenious sequels ever created, and also one of the best.

3. "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade"(1989)
Steven Spielberg crafted the perfect finale to his classic adventure series that propels his intrepid archaeologist on a search for the ultimate artifact- the Holy Grail(Oh, if only this WAS the finale but that's a discussion for another blog). Harrison Ford was born to play this role and the casting of Sean Connery's as Indy's dad was an inspired stroke of genius. Watching these two bickering icons trapped in a Nazi castle hideout and a nose-diving plane is about as much fun as you can have at the movies. We get to see a teenage Indy, nicely played by River Phoenix, in a flashback opening, and there's one memorable action set-piece after another. With the most humor and heart in the franchise, if "Last Crusade" is you're favorite outing with Dr. Jones, you've chosen wisely.

4. "Born On The Fourth Of July"(1989)
Three years after his Oscar-winning triumph "Platoon", Oliver Stone still wasn't ready to say goodbye to Vietnam. The fearless filmmaker coaxed a career-best performance out of Tom Cruise, in the real-life story of veteran Ron Kovic. His raw and powerful transformation from idealistic youth to bitter paraplegic would have garnered a Best Actor Oscar if Daniel Day-Lewis hadn't made an equally showy turn in "My Left Foot" that same year. Nevertheless, Cruise's follow-up to "Rain Man" left no doubt that he was here to stay, in another passionate effort from a director working at the peak of his considerable powers.

5. "Glory"(1989)
The Civil War gets stellar treatment in this grand tribute to the all-black 54th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Although Mathew Broderick received top billing for his role as the white bread colonel,  this film is best known for heralding the true arrival of Denzel Washington. His defiant slave shed a single tear to clinch the Best Supporting Actor Oscar as the entire movie industry eyed it's next leading man. The rousing final battle is impressively staged by director Edward Zwick, and it's stirring score represents one of the first high profile gigs for composer-extraordinaire James Horner("Braveheart", "Titanic").

6. "Driving Miss Daisy"(1989)
Broadway legend Jessica Tandy became the oldest recipient of the Best Actress Oscar as an elderly widow bonding with her black chauffeur(Morgan Freeman entering his dignified prime), an intimate story that spans twenty-plus years, starting in 1948 and ultimately whisking us through of the civil rights changes of the 1960s. This warm and sensitive look at old age and race relations is a thoroughly pleasant experience, thanks to the moving interplay between it's two graceful leads, and Dan Aykroyd is very good in a rare serious role as Tandy's doting son. "Daisy" has often been knocked for being one of those 'safe' Best Picture winners, but if this decades-long friendship doesn't get you a little choked up by the end, you're made of stone.

7. "Lethal Weapon 2"(1989)
Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, the greatest buddy cop duo of all time, dutifully returned to the screen to match all the slick, violent and explosive joy of their genre-defining inauguration. The old rule was that you shouldn't bother making a sequel unless you're prepared to top what we saw last time. Director Richard Donner and his loyal crew were up to the task, and included a booby-trapped toilet for anyone that still wasn't convinced. Those slimy South African villains were more evil than Gary Busey, and Joe Pesci's hyperactive federal witness isn't just funny, he figures into the plot. The second half of "2" is heaven for Reagan-era action enthusiasists. Diplomatic immunity?! Joss Acklund must have been joking.

8. "The Fabulous Baker Boys"(1989)
Michelle Pfeiffer officially staked her claim as Hollywood's new queen in this terrific low-key drama. She sizzles(and not just in the famous piano scene) in one of her signature roles as tough-talking torch singer Susie Diamond, and would likely have an Oscar to show for it if 80 year old Jessica Tandy hadn't taken a ride with Morgan Freeman that same year. Much of the hoopla around this film focused on Pfeiffer's lithe body and impressive vocals, but Jeff and Beau Bridges also shine as lounge-lizard brothers in this refreshingly unsentimental tale of quiet complacency and familial resentments.

9. "Field of Dreams"(1989)
Kevin Costner and baseball went together like peanut butter and jelly( or at least it did until "For Love of the Game", but I'm here to talk about the man's heyday). He just had that all-American aura which made him an ideally suited to play our favorite pastime. This is not a movie for skeptics. Cynics need not apply. Phil Alden Robinson's wish-fulfillment fantasy is as unabashedly optimistic as Costner's Iowa farmer and therein lies it's enduring appeal. That ghost-friendly baseball field may have been totally illogical, but since when has logic and movie magic ever gone together? So just sit down with your pop and enjoy this one, I sure did.

10. "Dead Poets Society"(1989)
Carpe diem. A post "Vietnam" Robin Williams was clearly following that famous credo when he seized the role of unorthodox English teacher John Keating. He livens up an ultra-conservative 1959 prep school and awakens the passions of a handful of restless students, including an 18 year old Ethan Hawke in his screen breakthrough. As far as inspirational teacher dramas go, Peter Weir's life-affirming film sits at the head of the class as major Academy Award nominations allowed Robin to class up his big screen credentials. I'm standing on top of my desk and saluting the Captain as I type this. You should be, too.

Honorable Mentions- "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure"(1989) This goofy time travel comedy got sequels. "Heathers"(1989) Winona Ryder and Christian Slater kill their classmates. "Say Anything"(1989) John Cusack holds up a boom-box. "Three Fugitives"(1989) Martin Short holds Nick Nolte hostage. "Chances Are"(1989) Robert Downey Jr. gets reincarnated. "Lean on Me"(1989) Movie lovers can lean on Morgan Freeman. "Dead Calm"(1989) Billy Zane bangs Nicole Kidman on a boat. "True Believer"(1989) James Woods as a hippie lawyer. "Miss Firecracker"(1989) Holly Hunter and Mary Steenburgen bring energy to this little-seen indie. "Black Rain"(1989) Michael Douglas is an American cop in Japan. "Major League"(1989) Charlie Sheen and Tom Berenger reunite for this baseball comedy. "K-9"(1989) James Belushi and a German Shepherd. "See No Evil, Hear No Evil"(1989) Richard Pryor is blind, Gene Wilder is deaf.

"Ghostbusters II"(1989) The boys are back to bust up an evil painting and a river of slime. "The Karate Kid Part III"(1989) Cobra Kai never dies. "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier"(1989) This Shatner-directed episode is as good/bad as every other "Trek" movie. "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids"(1989) Rick Moranis in a high-concept summer smash. "The Abyss"(1989) James Cameron's underrated underwater epic. "Turner & Hooch"(1989) Tom Hanks and a huge drooling canine. "Great Balls of Fire!"(1989) Dennis Quaid as 'The Killer' Jerry Lee Lewis. "Do the Right Thing"(1989) Spike Lee's best film? "Casualties of War"(1989) Brian De Palma does Vietnam with Michael J. Fox and Sean Penn.

"Parenthood"(1989) Steve Martin leads a huge ensemble in Ron Howard's hit comedy. "Uncle Buck"(1989) John Hughes brought out the best in John Candy. "The Package"(1989) Gene Hackman vs. Tommy Lee Jones. "Sea of Love"(1989) Al Pacino ends his self-imposed exile with Ellen Barkin. "A Dry White Season"(1989) Marlon Brando ends an even longer exile and gets one last Oscar nomination. "Sex, Lies, and Videotape"(1989) James Spader hits record in Steve Soderbergh's breakthrough. "Look Who's Talking"(1989) Bruce Willis voices Kristie Alley's baby and starts an unlikely franchise. "Crimes and Misdemeanors"(1989) More expert existentialism from Woody Allen. "Dad"(1989) Jack Lemmon is an old man. "Old Gringo"(1989) Jane Fonda and Gregory Peck and the Mexican Revolution. "Immediate Family"(1989) Glenn Close and James Woods decide to adopt. "My Left Foot"(1989) Daniel Day-Lewis lands his first Best Actor Oscar.

"Prancer"(1989) This should be a Christmas staple. "Steel Magnolias"(1989) Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine, Julia Roberts, and Dolly Parton in the preeminent late '80s chick flick. "Family Business"(1989) Sean Connery, Dustin Hoffman, and Matthew Broderick in a Sidney Lumet caper. "The Little Mermaid"(1989) Disney animation makes a comeback. "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation"(1989) The Griswolds are a holiday fixture. "Always"(1989) Richard Dreyfus and Holly Hunter star in Steven Spielberg's romantic fantasy. "Blaze"(1989) Paul Newman's politician marries a stripper. "Music Box"(1989) Is Jessica Lange's father a Nazi war criminal? "The War of the Roses"(1989) Danny DeVito directs this testy reunion of Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. "Tango & Cash"(1989) Super-cops Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell close out the 1980s.

The Year in Review- 1986

   It was the year Oliver Stone returned to the jungle and James Cameron unleashed the most frightening aliens in film history. Tom Cruise took flight, Mathew Broderick took a day off, and Dennis Hopper lorded over David Lynch's sordid slice of suburbia. Gene Hackman was a hard-ass, four kids found a dead body, and a Woody Allen movie actually made money. Here are the ten best films in order for 1986.

1. "Platoon"(1986)
Countless films have depicted the horrors of the Vietnam War, but none contained as much raw power and chaotic fury as Oliver Stone's visceral masterpiece. The fearless auteur was uniquely qualified to bring this infamous conflict to the big screen because he was actually there, and there's nothing glamorous or  'Hollywood' about his unsparing presentation. A previously-unknown Charlie Sheen is the college-age grunt standing in for the legions of voiceless young men who left their innocence in that hellish jungle. Willem Dafoe and Tom Berenger leave lasting images as sergeants with wildly opposite temperaments, to earn Supporting Actor nods, while the Academy Awards for Best Picture and Director couldn't have gone to anyone but Stone without a massive protest. Simply put, this is one of the greatest war movies of all time.

2. "Aliens"(1986)
When James Cameron, hot off the heels of his instantly iconic breakthrough "The Terminator", took the reigns from Ridley Scott for this sequel to his 1979 classic "Alien", he didn't take things to the next level. He took it a couple levels above THAT. Sigourney Weaver cemented Ripley as a pop culture heroine of the highest order on her return trip to planet LV-426 with the rough-and-ready Colonial Marines, played by Cameron regulars Michael Biehn, Bill Paxton, and Jennette Goldstein. Stan Winston's Oscar-winning FX are still amazing over a quarter century later, and the last hour is an exhilarating blast of balls-to-the-wall action. All subsequent "Alien" films never had a chance of measuring up to this.

3. "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"(1986)
Has anyone in the history of film ever captured the world of teenagers better than '80s maestro John Hughes? "Sixteen Candles" and "The Breakfast Club" displayed a keen awareness of the under-18 crowd, but those films were a mere warm-up for this joyride around Chicago, in perhaps the most epic teen movie ever made. Matthew Broderick never came close to matching his seminal role as high school legend Ferris Bueller who makes leisure an art form. He's seventeen and practically untouchable and every adult is lame and/or stupid and that's why a sequel wouldn't have worked. Ferris only had one day to con his way into our hearts, so savor it because life moves pretty fast.

4. "Top Gun"(1986) Tony Scott built his legacy off the back of one of the most popular films of the 1980s. We'll take it a step further- this movie IS the 1980s, for better or worse. Scott deserves a lot of the credit for constructing the Cruise persona that led to global superstardom, because his camera lingered on his grinning, cocksure 24 year old leading man as much as it did on the kinetic aerial sequences. Super-producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer(hot off "Beverly Hills Cop") secured the full cooperation of the U.S. Navy to achieve a surprising level of technical integrity. Military recruitment skyrocketed as "Top Gun" became the year's highest grosser, and I'm sure there's still plenty of guys that dream of being the impossibly cool Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell.

5. "Hoosiers"(1986)
Any list you find compiling the best sports movies will surely have this uplifting drama on or near the top. Loosely based on an underdog Indiana high school basketball team's victory in the 1952 state championship, a story that may have been overly familiar or predictable is made thoroughly entertaining thanks to it's effectively simple and straightforward style and tone. Gene Hackman is typically great as tough but tender coach Norman Dale, and the big climactic game is genuinely exciting. This was a small movie that turned into a big winner.

6. "Salvador"(1986)
A jumpy James Woods is at his best as a strung-out journalist entangled in the Salvadoran Civil War in another grim Oliver Stone historical document. Yeah, Stone was really in the zone in '86. This film isn't nearly as popular as "Platoon" and only did a fraction of it's box office, but I suspect that's why you're reading this blog. Cinema's premier provocateur doesn't care if you'd rather NOT know about guerilla warfare, death squads or the failures of our own government. He's telling you about it anyway, so buckle up and forget what you've been told because we're entering the Oliver Stone era.

7. "Blue Velvet"(1986)
The late, great Dennis Hopper probably should have had an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor on his resume for his career-saving turn as the deranged Frank Booth, but there probably weren't any clips appropriate for the Oscar telecast(curiously, he got a conciliatory nod for his less deserving role in "Hoosiers"). Hopper is unquestionably the main attraction of director David Lynch's surreal exploration of a sleepy town's sordid underbelly. Educated film buffs know that words like 'weird' and 'bizarre' are redundant when used to describe the works of Lynch. He sure isn't everyone's cup of tea and you may not love this most celebrated entry in his fucked-up filmography, but you're not likely to forget it, either.

8. "Stand by Me"(1986)
Childhood memories are rife with nostalgia, and so is the career of director Rob Reiner. Before his sharp and sudden decline, Meathead was annually cranking out well-reviewed hits in every genre, which included this definitive coming-of-age tale based on a Stephen King novel. Reiner's young ensemble perfectly captured the rambunctiousness of adolescence, and he enlisted Keifer Sutherland, Richard Dreyfuss, and John Cusack for the small but pivotal 'adult' roles. Let's get back to the kids, though. Corey Feldman was a pretty hot property(again, ONLY in the '80s), and the film gained further albeit eerie resonance from the fate of River Phoenix whose death was as untimely as his reflective ringleader Chris Chambers.

9. "Sid and Nancy"(1986)
A wiry English chameleon named Gary Oldman exploded onto U.S. movie screens in this turbulent tale of Sex Pistols controversial front-man Sid Viscous and his destructive, drug-fueled union with ill-fated girlfriend Nancy Spungen(Chloe Webb). Oldman is so good, that it took at least a decade for mainstream moviegoers to connect the dots and credit his eclectic filmography(where was this man's Oscar??!!). For some reason, music is an acceptable backdrop for degenerate behavior, and Alex Cox's bawdy biopic doesn't shy away from illustrating Sid's lack of talent and productivity. If this is rock 'n' roll, I'm not sure I like it.

10(tie). "Manhunter"(1986)
Nine years before "Heat" placed him at the forefront of Hollywood directors, Michael Mann was the first to tackle the unsettling literary works of Thomas Harris in this visually-arresting thriller. A pre-"CSI" William Petersen is an intense FBI profiler on the trail of a brutal serial killer known as the 'Tooth Fairy'(Tom Noonan). Remade in 2002's "Red Dragon", this forgotten gem only came into the general public's awareness in the wake of it's unofficial sequel, the Oscar-winning phenomenon known as "The Silence of the Lambs". Anthony Hopkins made Hannibal Lecter a legend, but a subdued Brian Cox is arguably as effective in his brief appearance as the imprisoned portrait of evil.

10(tie). "Hannah and Her Sisters"(1986)
Few filmmakers in history can match the productivity of neurotic extraordinaire Woody Allen. He's produced a film almost every year for the last forty-plus years, and while I'm not suggesting that all of his output is worth your time, that's still a phenomenal feat. This insightful ensemble tale of three sisters and the men who weave in and out of their lives was by far his most successful offering of the decade, with the Oscars for Best Supporting Actor/Actress being awarded to Michael Caine and Dianne Wiest, and a(then) career-high box office tally for it's bespectacled star-director.

Honorable Mentions- "Youngblood"(1986) Rob Lowe is the Rocky of hockey. "Nomads"(1986) John McTiernan turned heads in his directorial debut. "Down and Out in Beverly Hills"(1986) Nick Nolte is a dirty bum. "F/X"(1986) I'll bet you forgot about this Bryan Brown-Brian Dennehy thriller. "Wildcats"(1986) Goldie Hawn coaches high school football. "The Delta Force"(1986) Chuck Norris and Lee Marvin vs. Middle Eastern terrorists. "Pretty in Pink"(1986) Molly Ringwald stars in this Brat Pack classic. "At Close Range"(1986) Sean Penn vs. Christopher Walken. "Gung Ho"(1986) Michael Keaton and Ron Howard reunite for this culture clash comedy. "Lucas"(1986) R.I.P. Corey Haim. "Just Between Friends"(1986) Just between Mary Tyler Moore and Christine Lahti. "Sweet Liberty"(1986) Alan Alda, Michael Caine, and Michelle Pfeiffer in a small-town showbiz send-up. "Highlander"(1986) There should have been only one.

"Short Circuit"(1986) Johnny Five is alive. "Mona Lisa"(1986) Bob Hoskins protects high-priced hookers. "The Karate Kid Part II"(1986) Daniel-san and Mr. Miyagi journey to Okinawa. "Ruthless People"(1986) Danny DeVito doesn't want Bette Midler back. "Running Scared"(1986) Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines clean up Chicago. "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home"(1986) The most financially-successful "Trek" yet. "The Great Mouse Detective"(1986) is on Disney+. "About Last Night"(1986) Relationship drama with Demi Moore and Rob Lowe. "Heartburn"(1986) Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson marry for Mike Nichols. "The Fly"(1986) Jeff Goldblum + David Cronenberg = a sci-fi horror hit. "Nothing in Common"(1986) Tom Hanks and Jackie Gleason(in his final role) are father and son. "The Name of the Rose"(1986) Sean Connery and Christian Slater in 14th Century Italy. "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer"(1986) Michael Rooker's mass murderer has an underground following. "Extremities"(1986) Farrah Fawcett vs. James Russo.

"Crocodile Dundee"(1986) Paul Hogan in the decade's unlikeliest blockbuster. "Children of a Lesser God"(1986) Marlee Matlin is the first deaf Best Actress winner. "Peggy Sue Got Married"(1986) Frances Ford Coppola directs Kathleen Turner in this comic fantasy. "The Color of Money"(1986) Martin Scorsese directs Paul Newman and Tom Cruise. "Jumpin' Jack Flash"(1986) Whoopi Goldberg stars in Penny Marshall's directorial debut. "Deadly Friend"(1986) Kristy Swanson kills for Wes Craven. "Something Wild"(1986) Ray Liotta is Melanie Griffith's psycho ex. "52 Pick-Up"(1986) Murder and blackmail with Roy Scheider and John Frankenheimer. "The Mission"(1986) Robert De Niro and Jeremy Irons in Roland Joffe's 18th Century epic. "Mosquito Coast"(1986) "Witness" reunion for Harrison Ford and Peter Weir. "Heartbreak Ridge"(1986) Clint Eastwood leads the Marines into Grenada. "Three Amigos"(1986) are played by Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, and Martin Short. "No Mercy"(1986) Richard Gere and Kim Basinger sizzle in New Orleans. "The Morning After"(1986) Jane Fonda is a boozy murder suspect in Sidney Lumet's murder mystery. "Crimes of the Heart"(1986) Diane Keaton, Jessica Lange, and Sissy Spacek are Southern sisters in this Bruce Beresford Oscar bait.

The Year in Review- 1995

   It was the year Mel got medieval on our asses and Pixar made magic with our childhood playthings. De Niro and Pacino shared the same frame, Hanks was at the height of his fame, and Kevin Spacey decapitated Gwyneth Paltrow. Scorsese was in Vegas, McClane was in New York, and Kidman was out of Tom Cruise's shadow. Here are the ten best films in order for 1995.

1. "Braveheart"(1995)
It would be a real shame if the personal trials and tribulations of Mel Gibson tarnished his sizable legacy and contributions to the medium of film. His talent and passion has never been better displayed than in his 1995 crowning achievement, which single-handedly brought back the historical epic(a largely dormant genre since the heady days of "Ben-Hur" and "Spartacus"). You can bitch about historical accuracy if you want, but it hardly matters when the results are this stunning and powerful. Medieval warfare is perfectly captured in the Battle of Sterling, one of the most rousing sequences ever committed to celluloid. James Horner's score may be the best I've ever heard. The finale is gut-wrenching. This movie is the reason everyone in the world knows the name William Wallace. Watch it again and give Mad Mel a break.

2. "Toy Story"(1995)
This undisputed animated classic is guaranteed to delight children and adults alike for decades to come. The first EVER computer animated film was a game changer that would eventually render hand-drawn animation obsolete, but groundbreaking technology means little without a good story and great characters. The voice work of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen more than met the new standards set by Robin Williams' Genie, and I found myself caring more about Woody and Buzz Lightyear than the vast majority of characters I've seen in live action. Director John Lasseter and the folks at Pixar truly started a revolution that included two equally successful sequels, making "TS" easily one of the most significant films of the last twenty years.

3. "Heat"(1995)
Los Angeles was Michael Mann's canvas in the greatest cops 'n' robbers movie of all time. Al Pacino and Robert De Niro are the twin titans of late 20th Century screen acting, and seeing them meet face-to-face for the first time was worth the price of admission alone(they shared no scenes in "The Godfather Part II"), while a plethora of quality actors such as Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore, John Voight, Dennis Haysbert and Ashley Judd all naturally wanted in on this once-in-a-lifetime event("Righteous Kill" NEVER happened, okay?). I can't decide what's more exciting- that coffee shop conversation or the crackling shoot-out pictured above. Let's call it a dead heat.

4. "Seven"(1995)
Michael Mann wasn't the only director that made a big name for himself in 1995. Bouncing back nicely from the "Alien 3" debacle, David Fincher took a familiar mismatched cop partners set-up and made the best serial killer thriller of the '90s not called "Silence of the Lambs". Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman have this film's unrelenting darkness and intensity to thank for their permanent residence on the A-list, and the third act reveal of a previously unknown Kevin Spacey as the gruesome John Doe remains unsettling. I won't spoil THAT ending for the seven people(pun intended) who still haven't seen it, but it's as bleak as mainstream movies get and Gwyneth Paltrow has never been used more effectively.

5. "Apollo 13"(1995) Ron Howard's attention to detail and commitment to authenticity is apparent in every frame of perhaps his biggest directorial triumph, the gripping true story of three American astronauts struggling to return to Earth following a damaging explosion aboard the ill-fated 1970 Apollo spacecraft. Tom Hanks always had the right stuff, but this is truly an ensemble piece and credit must also be distributed to Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, Ed Harris, Gary Sinise and Kathleen Quinlan. This drama managed to outperform nearly all the hyped-up action fantasies released that summer, while serving as a glorious tribute to some heroes we almost forgot.

6. "Casino"(1995)
What happens in Vegas doesn't stay in Vegas, as Scorsese was back in familiar territory for another riveting mob morality tale based on actual events. Comparisons to "Goodfellas" were inevitable and while it may not soar to those dizzying heights(how many films do?), this is an equally immersive story of greed and excess. De Niro is right at home in his last go-around with Marty to date, as smooth criminal Sam 'Ace' Rothstein, and Joe Pesci does what he does best as his violent right-hand man Nicky Santoro. But they're both nearly upstaged by wild card Sharon Stone as Ace's ex-call girl wife Ginger in a dazzling turn that the blonde beauty never even came close to bettering.

7. "Dead Man Walking"(1995)
Susan Sarandon capped off a great run that included "Thelma and Louise", "Lorenzo's Oil" and "The Client", with a Best Actress Oscar win for this story of a compassionate nun and her special relationship with a redneck Death Row prison inmate(Sean Penn). The death penalty remains a divisive issue, and director Tim Robbins brings balance and sensitivity to the subject by daring to humanize a 'monster', while never turning a blind eye to his horrific crimes. Penn deserved his share of the praise(as well as the Oscar that went to Nick Cage for "Leaving Las Vegas") for a film that stays with viewers long after it's tense, unbearable conclusion.

8. "To Die For"(1995)
Nicole Kidman was clearly robbed of a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her career-best performance as vapid small town weather girl Suzanne Stone in Gus Van Sant's biting satire. After failing to break into the world of big-time television news, she seduces a stoned teenager(Joaquin Phoenix in his breakout role) into killing her nice-guy husband(Matt Dillon) for standing in the way of her lofty ambitions. With a story ripped straight out of real-life headlines, this caustic commentary on society's obsession with celebrity and the pursuit of fame at any cost is even more relevant now than it was in '95.

9. "Nixon"(1995)
Oliver Stone was easily one of the most vital filmmakers during his Hollywood heyday. To put it in layman's terms, he had balls, and the mini-outrage sparked by "Natural Born Killers" didn't stop him from boldly tackling our disgraced 37th President. Anthony Hopkins used his amazing skill to paint a portrait of a complex and deeply flawed man that may have been more deserving of Oscar gold than Cage AND Penn. Stone pokes around a few more dark corners of American history as he takes us from Nixon's tortured upbringing to Watergate, and the results are no less nourishing than his masterpiece "JFK".

10(tie). "Twelve Monkeys"(1995)
Bruce Willis displays zero vanity as a grungy time traveler desperately tracking the origin of a disease that will wipe out 99% of the planet's population in Terry Gilliam's dark and gritty sci-fi tale. A bonkers Brad Pitt proved that he had even less interest in being pristine, while Madeline Stowe would surely make any list of underrated actresses. Gilliam isn't everyone's cup of tea(I can't say I cared much for 1985's "Brazil"), but this is some quality gloom and doom that found the offbeat, reclusive director uncharacteristically comfortable working within the confines of the studio system.



"Welcome to the A-list, pal. Remember, there's no such thing as a bad script".

10(tie). "Die Hard with a Vengeance"(1995)
This was a great year for Bruce Willis. So great in fact, that I had a tough time choosing between his two 1995 offerings, until I just decided that I didn't have to. Bruce slid very comfortably back into his trademark wife-beater in the explosive third entry of his seminal action franchise, that returning director John McTiernan starts off with a bang, wisely letting John McClane play on his home turf- New York City. Our hung-over hero is joined by a scene-stealing Samuel L. Jackson and a villainous Jeremy Irons for two breathless hours, and we even get a nice twist to the proceedings to keep things interesting. Forget any and all subsequent installments. This is the last REAL "Die Hard" movie.

Honorable Mentions- "Before Sunrise"(1995) Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy begin their decades-long love story. "Murder in the First"(1995) Kevin Bacon is locked in Alcatraz. "The Brady Bunch Movie"(1995) An amiable spoof of the immortal '70s sitcom. "Losing Isaiah"(1995) Jessica Lange vs. Halle Berry. "Outbreak"(1995) Dustin Hoffman vs. a deadly virus. "Tommy Boy"(1995) Chris Farley is at his best. "Just Cause"(1995) Sean Connery is a crusading lawyer. "Kiss of Death"(1995) David Caruso, Nick Cage, and Sam Jackson in a decent crime flick. "Don Juan DeMarco"(1995) Johnny Depp as the world's greatest lover. "The Cure"(1995) R.I.P. Brad Renfro. "Friday"(1995) Ice Cube and Chris Tucker chill in this cult comedy. "The Basketball Diaries"(1995) Leonardo DiCaprio was a legend-in-the-making.

"Rob Roy"(1995) Liam Neeson as the 18th Century Scottish outlaw. "Dolores Claiborne"(1995) Kathy Bates stars in another Stephen King chiller. "Forget Paris"(1995) Billy Crystal directs and stars with Debra Winger. "While You Were Sleeping"(1995) Sandra Bullock was America's newest sweetheart. "Casper"(1995) Christina Ricci befriends the friendly ghost. "Crimson Tide"(1995) Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman clash aboard a nuclear submarine. "The Bridges of Madison County"(1995) Clint Eastwood romances Meryl Streep. "Safe"(1995) Julianne Moore is sick.

"Batman Forever"(1995) Val Kilmer suits up in the summer's #1 blockbuster. "Pocahontas"(1995) Disney animation was a license to print money. "Species"(1995) A hot alien wreaks havoc. "First Knight"(1995) Richard Gere and Sean Connery in Camelot. "Nine Months"(1995) Hugh Grant headlines this Chris Columbus comedy. "Kids"(1995) An unflinching look at the lives of unruly NYC youths. "Clueless"(1995) Amy Heckerling's sharp writing/directing made Alicia Silverstone a movie star(temporarily). "Babe"(1995) George Miller's talking pig movie was popular. "Clockers"(1995) Spike Lee knows the streets. "Dangerous Minds"(1995) Michelle Pfeiffer in gangsta paradise. "Desperado"(1995) Antonio Bandares breaks out as a smoldering outlaw drifter. "Something to Talk About"(1995) Dennis Quaid cheats on Julia Roberts. "The Usual Suspects"(1995) Kevin Spacey is Keyzer Soze.

"Mighty Aphrodite"(1995) Mira Sorvino has an Oscar because of Woody Allen. "Kicking and Screaming"(1995) Noah Baumbach's directorial debut. "Dead Presidents"(1995) The Hughes brothers pull a robbery. "Leaving Las Vegas"(1995) Nic Cage collects Best Actor as a suicidal alcoholic. "How to Make an American Quilt"(1995) Winona Ryder will show you how. "Now and Then"(1995) Demi Moore, Melanie Griffith, Rosie O'Donnell, and Christina Ricci in the female "Stand by Me". "Goldeneye"(1995) Pierce Brosnan brings back Bond. "Get Shorty"(1995) John Travolta is cool again. "Jumanji"(1995) Robin Williams and a wacky board game. "Grumpier Old Men"(1995) More geriatric hijinks with Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthua. "Mr. Holland's Opus"(1995) Richard Dreyfuss is a good music teacher. "The American President"(1995) Rob Reiner romanticizes politics with Michael Douglas and Annette Bening. "Sense and Sensibility"(1995) Ang Lee's prestige piece picked up nominations for Emma Thompson(who also wrote the screenplay) and a 20 year old Kate Winslet. "Waiting to Exhale"(1995) Whitney Huston and Angela Bassett lead this estrogen-laden ensemble. "Restoration"(1995) Robert Downey Jr. in 1660 England.