tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post5353535490386255269..comments2024-03-28T06:14:54.076-04:00Comments on And So It Begins...: Top 20 Films of 1999Alex Withrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-77945550798906693592020-01-13T17:22:43.709-05:002020-01-13T17:22:43.709-05:00I had to look up 1999 to see what was driving me t...I had to look up 1999 to see what was driving me that year.<br />Varsity Blues with JVDB<br />She’s All That (I’m a huge Freddie Prinze Jr. fan)<br />Office Space, a classic!<br />The Other Sister, not sure what prompted me to watch this but I am glad I did as it made me think about other people and just being nicer to others who looked differently than me. It is silly but it was a story I got caught up in.<br />Cruel Intentions, this graduating class! <br />The Deep End of the Ocean, a story about a lost child, coming back, and a mother’s convictions. Especially if that mother is Michelle Pfeifer! <br />10 Things I Hate About You, another film with an amazing cast. <br />Existenz, another one of my wife’s favorite films<br />Star Wars Episode 1, I just watched with my six year old son and it was not as bad. Sure, not every scene ends to end with Jar Jar making a funny, but I thought it was pretty good for the most part.<br />Notting Hill! I went through a bit of a Hugh Grant phase two or three years ago and this film is very charming. I see where he had a career for as long as he did.<br />Disney’s Tarzan. One of my favorite Disney films. <br />Wild Wild West was the summer movie that year. Complete cheese now but I remember really enjoying it in my teens.<br />Summer of Sam, probably did not appreciate it like I would now. I watched it as it had Mira Sorvino in it. <br />American Pie! I was definitely watching a bunch of high school/college centric films. <br />Deep Blue Sea, I do love me a shark film.<br />Mystery Men, with The Mace in a rare lead role.<br />Bowfinger, I was just thinking about as I could not recall of the plot but I remember really liking the pace and how zany it was.<br />Detroit Rock City! I love a road trip film.<br />Stir of Echoes, I was watching everything with Kevin Bacon.<br />Mumford, here we go. One of my all time favorites! Shame Loren Dean does not work more and it introduced me to Hope Davis, who I simply adore. I watched it as it has Jason Lee in it but I was hooked.<br />The Story of Us, I cherish, I was a huge Rob Reiner guy (until like Rumor Has It) but Bruce Willis and Michelle Pfeifer? Yes please!<br />Pokemon The First Movie, and my last with the franchise. It felt like it closed a door on that part of my life.<br />Dogma, this would have been the movie I looked forward to the most, as I was a huge Kevin Smith fan, still am, but I definitely don’t listen to his podcasts and watch his films like I used too.<br />Toy Story 2 was decent.<br />Cider House Rules was probably the most movie movie that I saw that year.<br />The Green Mile is a story I still think about. <br />Ride with the Devil, I liked, but only watched it as it had Jewel in it but the movie won me over.<br />Galaxy Quest, so much fun!<br />This was way too long of a list but I do love me the 90s! <br />JackalsIIIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14354017921443889442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-61696597771322350602020-01-13T17:22:27.270-05:002020-01-13T17:22:27.270-05:00I love the idea of these retrospectives, especiall...I love the idea of these retrospectives, especially when it involves the 90s! <br />Man on the Moon, amazing how much this film has left an impact with Jim Carrey. <br />Virgin Suicides, so many careers were launched (or assisted) with this film, with Sofia Coppola, Kristen Dunst, and Josh Harnett.<br />South Park! My wife loves this movie and cannot stand the show but something about the film really speaks with her. I still think about the songs to this day, and that one rebellion student.<br />I cannot believe all of these films came out in one year, how bonkers is that?! They feel like their own years. <br />I saw Blair Witch Project after the buzz, which there was a time when it was either you saw it prior to the success or post success, and that really put the movie in a different light, but I can only imagine what it must be like to watch it now and treating it like it is any other found footage film. There was this 30 minute in-universe documentary that I still think about to this day. <br />American Beauty, shame Scott Bakula does not do more films. A little hard to watch these days with Kevin Spacey. <br />Election! I love this movie and it gave us an adult Matthew Broderick, a young Reese Witherspoon, and heck, even Chris Klein!<br />I have still not seen Talented Mr. Ripley, but it is referenced around me a bunch, especially as a character type in other movies. <br />The Matrix, another favorite film of my wife’s, and I just was never a Matrix guy. I was late to the party and it looks amazing but the story never grabs me.<br />Fight Club! Another movie I was late too, post reveal being spoiled everywhere. I also run cold on Brad Pitt but I do enjoy me some Ed Norton.<br />The Sixth Sense, I am a bigger Unbreakable guy and gosh, I guess I was watching different movies in the theaters as this was another movie that I had the concept spoiled for me ahead of time.<br />I should revisit Three Kings as I remember watching it with the intent of wanting it to impress me and that is no way to watch the film. I am not sure why I had that attitude after I rented it but it felt like an assignment to watch. <br />Being John Malkovich is one of my favorites! Great cast, great story, just execution, it just works! <br />Magnolia is another film I should revisit as I think I was just too young for it. Which, I was 17/18, junior/senior year (class of 2000 represent!), and just not ready for it. I watched it as I am a huge fan of The Mace, but he is definitely minor in the film. <br />Eyes Wide Shut, I was just talking about this yesterday! I run cold on Nicole Kidman, but this film is definitely one of her best. Leelee Sobieski, and the big bad of Val Kilmer’s The Saint is in it (and that same scene!) but I remember not really paying attention to this film. JackalsIIIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14354017921443889442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-40979853945948798732020-01-07T15:47:31.004-05:002020-01-07T15:47:31.004-05:00I totally agree, on both fronts. We don't get ...I totally agree, on both fronts. We don't get years like 1999 anymore (2007 and 2011 were great), but 2019 is definitely one of the best movie years since 1999. There was a ton of great shit.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-6116635297033089932020-01-07T15:46:26.817-05:002020-01-07T15:46:26.817-05:00Ha no kidding! And yep, I love to tell younger peo...Ha no kidding! And yep, I love to tell younger people how huge Blair Witch was. I grew up 10 miles from Burkittsville, MD, and that added a whole new layer of creepy to the entire thing. What a pop culture moment that movie was. Thanks so much for the comment!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-19291855189455938262020-01-07T15:43:08.165-05:002020-01-07T15:43:08.165-05:00All of those movies you listed were very close to...All of those movies you listed were very close to be included on my list as well. The Iron Giant is one of the great animated films of recent memory, Office Space is <i>hilarious</i>, and Boy's Don't Cry is so unflinching. And I'm glad you liked 1999 film as much as I did!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-8376563730741539292020-01-07T15:41:26.806-05:002020-01-07T15:41:26.806-05:00Thanks so much, Mark! It'd be fun to do more s...Thanks so much, Mark! It'd be fun to do more stuff like this too. I'm glad people dig the stories; it was a hell of a year. Love that Magnolia and The Insider are so high. I never know what the hell to do with movies like Audition. I know its technical release was 1999, but no one in the States could see it until 2001 (not that that matters, heh). Still, that should be on my list. Freaky ass movie.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-4314119596532594422020-01-07T15:39:11.193-05:002020-01-07T15:39:11.193-05:00Thanks so much! I would LOVE to hear your thoughts...Thanks so much! I would LOVE to hear your thoughts on Eyes Wide Shut. It's so unique in its style, and it has really grown on me over the last 20 years. I love that film.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-49758046570974116112020-01-07T15:37:46.128-05:002020-01-07T15:37:46.128-05:00That is a great list! And I'm so happy you rec...That is a great list! And I'm so happy you recall 1999 as such a memorable movie year as well. Love that The Insider ranks so high for you; I feel like that movie was almost too mature for its time. People talked about it, but it has held up better than most movies do.<br /><br />And American Movie is hilarious. Mark is <i>such</i> a character.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-67323078733388590702020-01-07T15:30:26.564-05:002020-01-07T15:30:26.564-05:00That's a great list. I would love to hear your...That's a great list. I would love to hear your thoughts on Ripley and The Insider!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-54623249079242041822020-01-07T15:23:50.636-05:002020-01-07T15:23:50.636-05:00Hahha I love that! I had a similar South Park movi...Hahha I love that! I had a similar South Park movie experience too. It's so great that Parker and Stone were able to pull one over on people that way. And I agree about American Beauty!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-26748275833533976162020-01-04T17:38:22.605-05:002020-01-04T17:38:22.605-05:00Woah...like, we don't have movie years like th...Woah...like, we don't have movie years like this anymore. Actually, maybe we do. I felt like 2019 was pretty darn great.. I even fell in love in an Estonian movie. Getterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07216666216639032348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-38421699751790560502020-01-04T13:46:10.872-05:002020-01-04T13:46:10.872-05:00great picks! I remember Blair Witch and saw it in ...great picks! I remember Blair Witch and saw it in the theater... I can't remember a film prior where they really nailed the marketing leading up to the film. Just brilliant. So many of these I saw in the theater... makes me yearn for the days when I had that kind of money and time! Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04350671197602014321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-46151056132116420992020-01-03T06:36:55.727-05:002020-01-03T06:36:55.727-05:00The Iron Giant is a wonderful film.The Iron Giant is a wonderful film.Mark Woollonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05072777957640381767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-37503999985690338982020-01-02T13:09:22.609-05:002020-01-02T13:09:22.609-05:00What a year. Movies like those made me love cinema...What a year. Movies like those made me love cinema more than before. They produce me nostalgia. I always loved films, but I remember it was in my 14's when I began to feel some curiosity about more mature movies. <br />This is a great list, another movies of 1999 that moved me:<br />Boys don't cry<br />Iron giant<br />The green mile<br />And I also want to include Office Space, I know it may be kind of silly, but 'Hi Peter, what's happening?' it's a phrase that I used a lot. Anahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01050404394022184409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-21421974078465364722020-01-01T19:36:50.767-05:002020-01-01T19:36:50.767-05:00I'd love for you to do more lists like this. A...I'd love for you to do more lists like this. As people have said above your passionate, annecdotal touch charges the writing with a personality so often absent on dry, clinical 'BEST OF YEAR' lists.<br /><br />Love so many of your choices. I'd go with:<br /><br />10. The Wind Will Carry Us (Abbas Kiarostami)<br />9. The Limey (Steve Soderbergh)<br />8. Ratcatcher (Lynne Ramsay)<br />7. Beau Travail (Claire Denis)<br />6. Toy Story 2 (John Lasseter)<br />5. Peppermint Candy (Lee Chang-Dong)<br />4. Outer Space (Peter Tscherkassky)<br />3. Audition (Takashi Miike)<br />2. The Insider (Micheal fuckin' Mann)<br />1. Magnolia (Paul Thomas Anderson)Mark Woollonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05072777957640381767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-17345025925319093672020-01-01T09:54:27.745-05:002020-01-01T09:54:27.745-05:00Love the personal anecdotes you included here! Fun...Love the personal anecdotes you included here! Funny I actually have Eyes Wide Shut to watch very soon I planned to on Christmas but somehow I run out of time. So many of those movies here are easy 9 or 10s, I cannot remember any recent years when that was the cases.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13987831438787776712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-64403487926644691012020-01-01T09:47:16.368-05:002020-01-01T09:47:16.368-05:00Man, what a great year 1999 was for movies. I was ...Man, what a great year 1999 was for movies. I was only 10 that year, but i still remember when movies like The Matrix, The Sixth Sense and even The Phantom Menace were released and how big of a deal that was. It was probably the year i really started to fall in love with movies and get extra interested in them beyond just watching whatever kids movie my parents took me to. There are still a lot of movies on your list i need to check out like The Limey, Any Given Sunday and especially Eyes Wide Shut. For some reason that is one of the few Kubrick movies i still haven't gotten around to watching. I own it on blu-ray so i probably should do it soon. But i thought it was fun to figure out what my own top 20 of 1999 was as well.<br /><br />20. Man on the Moon<br />19. Following<br />18. Go<br />17. South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut<br />16. Election<br />15. Office Space<br />14. The Green Mile<br />13. American Movie<br />12. The Matrix<br />11. The Talented Mr. Ripley<br /><br />10. Bowfinger<br />9. Magnoia<br />8. Three Kings<br />7. Being John Malkvich<br />6. American Beauty<br />5. Toy Story 2<br />4. The Sixth Sense<br />3. Fight Club<br />2. The Iron Giant<br />1. The Insider<br /><br />I haven't watched a lot of these movies in years tough so take the list with a grain of salt. Some of them might be shifted around or even completely axed if watched them again.<br /><br />Toy Story 2 and The Iron Giant really are two movies i still love as much today as i did as a kid. I really miss big budget 2D animated movies. I think they hold up so much better than the 3D animated ones. As much as i love Toy Story 1 and 2, i gotta admit that they look pretty rough by today's standards, while even Snow White still looks good.<br /><br />Also, have you watched American Movie? If not i can really recommend it. It's a really funny documentary about a guy just trying to get his no-budget movie made. It's surprisingly inspiring as well.Henrik Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00328417397416651007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-53539266741085697552019-12-31T18:53:46.635-05:002019-12-31T18:53:46.635-05:00The only film in that list I haven't seen in t...The only film in that list I haven't seen in their entirety are <i>The Talented Mr. Ripley</i> and <i>The Insider</i> as my <a href="https://letterboxd.com/thevoid99/list/the-best-of-1999/" rel="nofollow">list</a> is all over the place.thevoid99https://www.blogger.com/profile/03055459287396592446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-56245096432584393082019-12-31T15:02:26.435-05:002019-12-31T15:02:26.435-05:00This was a really wonderful year. I still love Ame...This was a really wonderful year. I still love American Beauty, I refuse to let Spacey ruin that for me. <br /><br />My dad took me to the South Park movie thinking it would be like the TV show and he frequently tells me one of his most embarrassing parenting moments was when "Uncle Fucker" started playing and he was there with his young kid. lol He at least admits it was funny.Brittani Burnhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07975067259283007280noreply@blogger.com