Top 20 - Bottom 10 '98

A movie article by Jeffery Sanders
Copyright © 1999 Jeffery Sanders

Top 20:

1. Saving Private Ryan

I agree that this isn’t the most original pick for best movie of the year, but Saving Pvt. Ryan was simply captivating. Speilberg’s profound, beautiful, involving and rewarding epic war film reminds us just how powerful films can be, especially when they are trying to say something. War is Hell. This movie is Heaven.

2. Pleasantville

Not as heavy as the aforementioned Ryan, Pleasentville is still a layered and provocative masterpiece. Infinitely interesting, even when looked at as a sitcom spoof. But when viewed as a commentary on flimsy nostalgia, racism, and Orwellian perfection ideas this film proves that movies can be funny, bright, charming, sad, and though provoking all at the same time.

3. Life Is Beautiful

An Italian Holocaust Comedy may not seem like something you would want to see, but actor/director Robert Begnini creates a crowd-pleasing film. Life is Beautiful is a wonderful film that is in equal doses charming, sad and surprisingly heart-felt. It may not be one of the most realistic portraits of the Holocaust but it is one of the most captivating.

4. The Truman Show

Director Peter Weir’s sharp media satire is more than just a barb-filled script tossed out by witty actors. It is a mesmerizing film that proved Jim Carrey’s career as a serious thespian. It has its comedic moments, but the overall impact of this film is undeniably powerful, as well as exhilarating.

5. The Prince Of Egypt

One of most hyped films of the year was worth the wait. POE is an amazing achievement. Perhaps the most gorgeous film ever committed to celluloid, The Prince Of Egypt is an epic retelling of the Exodus Bible story. Not a religious film, not a family musical, The Prince Of Egypt is a great film for any one, any age, any religion. Breath taking animation combined with a strong script and solid songs make POE powerful.

6. Shakespeare In Love

Here’s one that the masses should not let slip away. It’s incredible that a movie was made about Shakespeare, never the less, a comedy! A cheerful, witty, romantic comedy starring the amazing Gwenyth Paltrow (in her best performance ever) as well as Joseph Fiennes, Geoffrey Rush, Judi Dench and many more. Hilarious and smart, maybe a little too smart.

7. The Opposite Of Sex

Christina Ricci shows us, as conniving temptress BeBe, that she will someday be a big star. This is a great screwball dramedy that bring together a group of character that could not be more different. One of the best scripts of the year is presented by Director Roos as a quirky, off-beat fable. A lot of fun and a lot of memorable characters. This years "As Good As It Gets".

8. Dark City

Already a cult classic, Dark City brings us to a world we’ve never been before and shows us a story we’ve never seen before. Art design and special effects do not prevail over a moody, effective script. Rufus Sewell is great as a confused man trapped in a world he does not belong in. It’s best to know nothing about Dark City before you see it, other than that your in for a creepy, mind-blowing ride.

9. Wild Things

For Wild Things, you have to be in the mood. You have to be in the mood for sleaze, sex and good old fashioned soap. Surprisingly, Wild Things is able to combine comedy with a tale filled with twist and turns. Nudity abounds in this surreal story about a Florida Everglades high school teacher, his students, their parents, and the police. Great performances by Bill Murray, Denise Richards and Neve Campell in a film that shows us sex, murder and betrayal can be lots of fun.

10. Out of Sight

Out of Sight gets high marks in Chemistry. That’s referring to the sizzling pair of George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez. Together, they make the sexiest couple of the year. In a funny, exciting and provocative movie that just burns up the screen. I’ve always loved Elmore Leonard films (Get Shorty, Jackie Brown) and Out of Sight is another Florida crime-story masterpiece.

11. Antz + A Bugs Life

I honestly couldn’t decide. I loved both of the CGI insect films released this year. Dreamworks’ offering, Antz, was a more adult piece. It has tons of smart dialogue, all of which wonderfully spoken by the likes of Woody Allen, Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman, Sylvester Stallone, Danny Glover, Christopher Walken and many more. Disney’s offering was much more colorful and kid-friendly. It’s story was less complex but still just as funny.

12. The Big Lebowski

The Coen brothers follow up to Fargo doesn’t match the snowy peaks of that classic but still delivers a great time. Much lighter than Fargo, it is also more surreal. You never really know what the film is about and even after seeing it I couldn’t tell you. I don’t really know. But that’s half the fun of the picture. Jeff Bridges is great as the chunky "Dude" and John Goodman is hilarious as his Vietnam War-ped buddy. I think it’s about bowling. Maybe porno. No? Maybe kidnapping? Hmm…..

13. The Mask Of Zorro

The most satisfying Blockbuster of the summer was a rousing update of the legend. This Zorro featured an amazing cast (Antonio Banderas playing the title, Anthony Hopkins as his mentor, and the AMAZING Catherine Zeta Jones as the love interest) and a great script. Although slightly overlong, Mask of Zorro is a rich, fun adventure story that brings back memories of other classic adventures like Robin Hood, Raiders of the Lost Ark and A Princess Bride.

14. Ever After

Here’s a surprise. The ads made it seem like August fluff, but this more serious retelling of Cinderella was a real delight. Similar in playful tone to Shakespeare In Love, Ever After tells us the story of Danielle (Drew Barrymore). After a while we realize that she is Cinderella, but that doesn’t mean we can easily predict the rest of the story. This film has moments of many genres all sewn together into a great film that can be embraced by Boys and Girls of any age.

15. The Spanish Prisoner

The Spanish Prisoner sounds like a foreign period piece, but it’s not. It’s a mystery film that is played out with wonderful paranoia in David Mamet’s effective script. The Spanish Prisoner keeps you guessing throughout the whole film and never lets you stop until the satisfying ending. This is the movie Snake Eyes should have been.

16. The Faculty

I really had a lot of fun with this teen flick. It’s a great mix of action, comedy, sci-fi, and horror. Aliens invade and take over the body of the Faculty in a small town high school. Only a small band of misfits can stop them. So, it’s not the most original movie ever, but it is done very well. Robert Rodriguez directs a script from Kevin Williamson and produces a throwback to classic teenage monster movies like the Body Snatcher and The Blob. Watching this film is like riding a roller coaster- you’ve done it before but it’s still a lotta fun.

17. Metal Gear Solid

Unless you own a Playstation, your probably saying "What the Hell is Metal Gear Solid?" Well I’ll tell you what it is, it is an video game that is done so well it feels like an interactive movie. Not just any movie, but a great movie. In fact, had Metal Gear Solid been an actual film it would have placed very very high on this list. MGS has great action, graphics, special effects, interesting characters and a taught constantly twisting script; just like any really good action movie. In case you haven’t got the point yet- It’s not a movie, it’s a game. But if you own a playstation you MUST own MGS.

18. Mouse Hunt

This one was technically a 1997 release, but it didn’t find it’s audience until early 98. Early previews made Mouse Hunt look like Home Alone with a mouse. But the final film was so much more than that. This tale of two brothers, a house, and a mouse has a wonderfully dark comedic tone. It is one of the funniest films of the 90’s in my books, kiddie film or not.

19. Blade

Breath taking action and amazing special effects are the costars to a great script in Blade, a surprisingly effective Comic Book adaptation. After Spawn and Batman, I had all but given up on Superhero movies. But Blade, with it’s story of Vampires and Immortals pumped fresh blood into the genre. Wesley Sniped is truly cool as the title character, a half human/half vampire man on a mission. Includes some of the most awe-inspiring action scenes of the year.

20. There’s Something About Mary

Though I was a little disappointed with the inconsistency of the script I still mostly enjoyed this amazingly popular comedy. For the amount of laughter certain scenes stole from me I had to mention it on the list. You’ve probably already seen it as it is one of the biggest hits of the year, but if you haven’t I won’t stand in your way. The frank and beans scene alone is worth a rental.

Honorable Mention - Babe 2: Pig In The City, The Butcher Boy, Deep Rising, Bride of Chucky, The Wedding Singer, Rush Hour, BASEketball, The Big One, The Thin Red Line.

Bottom 10:

1. Godzilla

Perhaps it truly isn’t quite as bad as some other films released this year, but when compared to the hype, expectations, and awesome ads this film had then it is, hands down, the most frustrating, annoying, painful movie going experience. Boring, lame, unexciting. Godzilla just wasn’t… good.

2. The Big Hit

The Big Hit was insulting to the male race, as well as to the resume of some talented actors. The Big Hit should be re-titled The Big Shit, The Big Flop, The Big Sleep, The Big Time and Money Waster or anything else that reveals it as the shoddy action/comedy-wannabe it is. It’s not funny, not exciting, and it’s painfully stupid. Shame on you John Woo (he was the executive producer)!

3. Meet Joe Black + The Horse Whisperer

Here we have two boring, painfully overlong and unbelievably overdone melodramas about really really boring people doing really really really boring stuff in pretty places. Perhaps I could excuse them by just calling them chick or adult-orientated flicks, but that doesn’t make sense- I liked The Piano.

4. Halloween: H20, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, and Urban Legend

When I saw H20 on video I felt scared. Scared for Jamie Lee Curtis’ career. She is a great actress and now she is appearing in a shoddy sequel to her first and best movie. H20 had more unintentionally laughable parts that any film this year. Except for perhaps Urban Legend, another crappy teen slasher. And don’t forget I Still Know which is the definition of Predictable. We need you Scream 3, we need you now!

5. My Giant

My Giant is unfunny, sappy and annoyingly uplifting. It died a quick death at the Box Office and is always in stock at the video store. Very few people have seen it. Good! Because it’s nothing you haven’t seen before. Billy Crystal was all right as a casting director who befriends a very tall man, but the script is strictly sitcom fluff.

6. Species 2

I was a big fan of the original but this made me realize that Species 1 wasn’t even that great. It has awful sets, laughable dialogue, wooden acting and embarrassing special effects. Why? It’s almost worth seeing for
it’s awfulness. Almost!

7. Snake Eyes

Snake Eyes had the potential to be on this pages other list. But, unfortunately director Brian DePalma chose a script that virtually disintegrates after a great first 15 minutes. This movie doesn’t know where to go and resorts to painfully obvious gimmicks to recapture the audiences wandering attention. It fails. Two thirds of the people I went to see Snake Eyes with fell asleep. Don’t get me started on the ending!!!

8. City Of Angels

City of Angels featured a promising idea and a first rate cast. What happened? It made tons of moolah and is quite popular with many people, but to me this was just another boring, overly sentimental love story. I love a good love story but this one was just uninspired and uninvolving. The film never made you care about the Angel (Nick Cage) that fell in love with the surgeon (Meg Ryan). City of Angels also came up with the second worst ending of the year. Nicholas Cage has had a bad year.

9. The Replacement Killers

This non-event of an action film didn’t have enough plot to hang a neck-tie on. The non-stop action got incredibly repetitive. I barely even remember the movie. I remember it starred Chow Yun Fat and Mira Sorvino in two go-for-the-money performances. But that’s about all I remember.

10. Mercury Rising

Another unmemorable action film was this Bruce Willis/Alec Baldwin starrer. The script was strictly made-for-TV drivel and the action scenes were unimaginable and way too sparse. Willis played a man protecting a small autistic boy who cracked a secret government code. Baldwin was very very bad as the bad guy.

Comments? Kudos? Flames? Contact me at
Jeffery Sanders @ Movie-Page.Com