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Our Picks For Some of the Best Films of the 1990s...
  • (#1) The Full Monty (DVD / VHS)

    $22.49 (DVD) / $13.99 US (VHS) / Rated-R /(c) 1997 - Should have trounced Titanic for the Best Picture Oscar of 1997, but the Oscars are rarely a good indicator of quality. A comedy about stripping, and a drama about taking back one's dignity by taking one's clothes off, The Full Monty is one of the best films of this decade, an overlooked British gem. And, yes, there is some nudity, and it's rated 'R', but it's a lot more watchable than most things rated 'AA' these days...
  • (#2) The Truman Show (DVD / VHS)

    $22.49 (DVD) / $13.99 US (VHS) / Rated-PG /(c) 1998 - When I saw it, I thought that it should have won the Oscar for Best Picture of 1998. Certainly Jim Carrey deserved Best Actor, I thought. But it was a good year for movies in 1998, with four of the five nominees of Best Picture deserving their position. The Truman Show should have kicked The Thin Red Line off the list, however. It is a thoughtful, clever, and more than a little unnerving film. Sort of Frank Capra directing The Prisoner. Jim Carrey puts on the performance of his career.
  • (#3) Life is Beautiful (DVD / VHS)

    $27.99 US (DVD) / $14.99 US (VHS) / Rated PG-13 /(c) 1998 - Italian with English Subtitles. The top three movies in our list are practically in a dead heat. Life is Beautiful is the most intense movie of the top. Calling this 'a comedy about the Holocaust' belies how touching, sad and funny this movie truly is. Roberto Beningi puts on a stellar performance, earning him an Oscar, for his portrayal of a father whose gifts help his wife and son survive the Holocaust without ever losing hope. Since The Truman Show wasn't nominated, we believe that Life is Beautiful should have won the Best Picture Oscar. (Note: This movie will soon be released on DVD, to start with. When the VHS version comes out, we will be updating the listing accordingly.)
  • (#4) Elizabeth (DVD / VHS)

    $26.21 US (DVD) / $13.99 US (VHS) / Rated-R /(c) 1998 - An absolutely gripping depiction of the turmoil during the early days of the Church of England and Queen Elizabeth the First's attempts to assert control. Kate Blanchett delivers a performance that should have gotten her an Oscar over Shakespeare in Love's Gwyneth Paltrow. In fact, it is interesting comparing the two movies since so many actors cross over between them. The whole thing is a fanastically acted and gripping political thriller that shows you why Elizabeth's era was known as 'the Golden Age'.
  • (#5) Shakespeare in Love (DVD / VHS)

    $29.99 US (DVD) / $18.99 US (VHS) / Rated-R /(c) 1998 - One of the more literate mainstream movies we've seen in a long time, Shakespeare in Love is classic Tom Stoppard (see also Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead for a good companion piece). It's extremely witty, and it builds upon the strengths of Shakespeare himself to draw you into the story. There is some nudity and sex, but it is not gratuitous, in our opinion. (Note: the VHS version will be available on December 2, 1999.)
  • (#6) The Iron Giant (DVD / VHS)

    $19.98 US (DVD) / $20.99 US (VHS Widescreen) / Rated-PG /(c) 1999 - This movie had the kiss of death: an animation feature film not made by Disney. It deserved far more attention than it got. Part a magical children's story, part glimpse of 1950s anti-communist hysteria, this movie is wonderfully rendered, especially in terms of animation, characterization and dialogue. This movie is funny and far more meaningful than the usual tripe Disney dishes out these days.
  • (#7) The Fifth Element (DVD / VHS)

    $19.95 US (DVD) / $13.99 US (VHS Widescreen) / Rated-PG-13 /(c) 1997 - James has seen this movie four times, and it remains as fresh to him on the fourth viewing as it did on the first. That says a lot. A visually lush, action oriented, intelligent science fiction story that surprises you in that it is also a comedy. All of the actors put on great performances here, especially Bruce Willis and Ian Holm. One of the best science fiction movies of all time.
  • (#8) Saving Private Ryan (DVD / VHS)

    $24.49 US (DVD) / $17.49 US (VHS) / Rated-R /(c) 1998 - Any way you cut it, it is one hell of a powerful war movie. Not the greatest war movie of all time, but still one of the best films of the decade. Intense direction and acting and the strength of its central message easily cover over its combat clichés. Go see this movie, and it will make you wonder how you could manage in a war...
  • (#9) The Red Violin (DVD / VHS)

    $17.49 US (DVD) / $16.98 US (VHS) / Rated-R /(c) 1999 - Don McKeller (see also Last Night and CBC's Twitch City) is quickly reaching the class of 'I will go see anything with his name on it, because it's probably good'. The Red Violin is case in point. If this movie is considered to be a 1999 film, then amongst the other 1999 movies I've seen so far, it deserves to win Best Picture. It is a wonderful tale of a red violin told through a series of five vignettes. Wonderfully acted and flawlessly scripted, Don McKeller has proven himself yet again to be an excellent filmmaker. I want to see more.
  • (#10) Shadowlands (DVD / VHS)

    $14.99 US (DVD) / $9.94 US (VHS) / Rated PG /(c) 1993 - Starring Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger, this movie is extremely strong, contrasting the fantastical otherworld of Narnia to the realities of C.S. Lewis' life. One of the few movies to have actually made James cry, and not with shameless emotional manipulation either, like Titanic.
  • (#11) Waking Ned Divine (DVD / VHS)

    $26.24 US (DVD) / $13.99 US (VHS) / Rated-PG /(c) 1998 - A side-splittingly funny and ultimately touching take about what the people of an Irish village do when Ned Divine wins the Irish Sweepstakes and dies from the shock of it. Great acting, great directing, great score and just an all-round great story will turn this into a timeless classic.
  • (#12) Last Night (DVD / VHS)

    $18.98 US (DVD) / Unavailable (VHS) / Rated-R /(c) 1998 - Picture this: the world ends at midnight. You've known this for the past three months. It is now 6 p.m. and you're in the City of Toronto, on the last night of the world. What do you do? Who do you share your last hours with? This is the only movie I've seen which says that civilization doesn't completely break down into anarchy and chaos as the end approaches, and the whole movie is made all the more eerie because of it. Great performances by all included make this a great Canadian movie.
  • (#13) Smoke Signals (DVD / VHS)

    $22.49 US (DVD) / $17.99 US (VHS) / Rated-PG-13 /(c) 1998 - I'm told that this is the only movie to have been written by, directed by, produced by and starring all native Americans. Not surprisingly, it cuts to the heart of First Nations' psyche, and touches upon its culture and its difficulties with grace and humour. It is a touching and quirky movie about forgiveness and a father's legacy. Highly recommended.
  • (#14) Il Postino (The Postman) (DVD / VHS)

    $27.99 US (DVD) / $17.99 US (VHS) / Rated-PG /(c) 1995 - In Italian with English subtitles, this movie is a subtle and engaging look at the friendship between a simple postman and a great poet.
  • (#15) Kolya (DVD / VHS)

    Currently not available / Rated-PG13 /(c) 1996 Winner of the 1997 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, it's easy to see why. Kolya is a sweet Franco-Czech co-production about Louka, a hard-on-his-luck womanizing cellist in Russian-occupied Prague in the late 1980s, and the young Russian boy who changes his life forever. It's funny, sad, and uplifting; a nice companion to Life is Beautiful.
Honourable Mentions (Or Here Because We Haven't Both Seen Them)...
  • Like Water For Chocolate (DVD / VHS)

    $20.99 US (DVD) / $17.99 US (VHS) / Rated-R /(c) 1992 In Spanish with English subtitles, Erin liked this movie even better than the book. Given how good the book is, that's saying a lot...
  • Babe (DVD / VHS)

    $26.24 US (DVD) / $13.99 US (VHS) / Rated-G /(c) 1995 - A fantastic fairy tale for children of all ages, about facing prejudice and overcoming it.
  • The Truth About Cats and Dogs (DVD / VHS)

    $13.99 US (VHS) / Rated-PG13 /(c) 1996 As romantic comedies that redo Cyrano de Bergerac go, this one is rather intelligent, subtle and extremely fun. It's carried by exceptional performances by its four stars (one of whom is canine), and is perfect for a lightweight evening in front of the television. One can not help but be won over by this engaging film.
  • Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (DVD / VHS)

    $17.49 US (DVD) / $13.99 US (VHS) / Rated-R /(c) 1994 The Australian ancestor of To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, this surprise-hit comedy is the stronger movie of the two, anchored by a grittier script, sweeping visuals of the Australian outback, and stellar performances by the principles. Like The Full Monty, this movie has a lot more to say than you'd expect.
  • Strictly Ballroom (DVD / VHS)

    Not yet available (DVD) / Unavailable (VHS) / Rated-PG /(c) 1993 Another in the line of intentionally overwrought Australian comedies, this movie offers a funny script with a strong message, good performances and great dancing. The movie is made by the climax, when the contestants electrify the crowd but shock the judges with their fantastically unorthodox Latin steps.

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