Al's Top Rated Films: 1991
Excellent year for film! There are definitely some personal classics in the bunch. I'll continue to add to the list as I see more movies.
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- DirectorOliver StoneStarsKevin CostnerGary OldmanJack LemmonNew Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison discovers there's more to the Kennedy assassination than the official story.Outstanding historical crime drama from Oliver Stone that dissects the mysterious circumstances surrounding the assassination of John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas. The story is also a partial biography of New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison, who famously came to believe there was a conspiracy to assassinate Kennedy and that Lee Harvey Oswald was not the sole shooter and murderer, and dives into an in-depth, dangerous, and obsessive investigation that ends up consuming his life. Much of the story centers around the real identity of Lee Harvey Oswald, and the rest of the organizations and characters involved. Why was Kennedy Killed? Who benefited? Who has the power to cover it up? It's a thrilling and fascinating story throughout. It's also one of the few movies I wish was even longer than its 3 hours and 9 minutes of running time, because the dialogue is that gripping and the performances are commandingly brilliant from every actor involved. It certainly earned the Oscars for best cinematography and best film editing, and should have won some of the several others it was also nominated for. Not only is it my favorite film from Oliver Stone, but it's my all-time favorite lead performance from Kevin Costner. You can tell he put in some serious time and energy by memorizing long and powerful speeches and stretches of dialogue. It's one of my favorite characters in any film. Joe Pesci, Tommy Lee Jones, Kevin Bacon, Donald Sutherland, John Candy, Jay O. Sanders, Edward Asner, Jack Lemmon, Gary Oldman, Sissy Spacek, Brian Doyle-Murray, Wayne Knight, Michael Rooker, Laurie Metcalf, and many others had notably excellent supporting roles among the star-studded cast.
- DirectorJonathan DemmeStarsJodie FosterAnthony HopkinsScott GlennA young F.B.I. cadet must receive the help of an incarcerated and manipulative cannibal killer to help catch another serial killer, a madman who skins his victims.Fantastic and riveting crime drama/thriller from Jonathan Demme set in 1983 Baltimore, and follows a young and determined F.B.I. trainee named Clarice Starling who works in the Behavioral Science Unit of the bureau. She takes on a special assignment which requires taking information from cannibalistic serial killer named Dr. Hannibal Lecter, whose been in maximum security isolation for the past 8 years. The man they are trying to catch is a killer nicknamed "Buffalo Bill" by the media, and has already brutally murdered 5 victims, by disgustingly cutting the skin off their bodies in order to create a "woman suit" of real skin. Lecter takes an immediate liking to Clarice as he plays psychological games with her every step of the way, while the investigation horrifyingly escalates with more victims. Fantastic story, gripping dialogue, and superb casting all around. It's no wonder the film won 5 Oscars including best picture, best direction, and best writing. Jodie Foster delivered the most outstanding lead performance I've seen from her yet. She was fantastic and really owned the character of Clarice. Anthony Hopkins also delivered one of the most iconic roles in film history. They both definitely earned their Oscars for best lead actress/actor. Ted Levine, Scott Glenn, Brooke Smith, Anthony Heald, Kasi Lemmons, Frankie Faison, Dan Butler, Charles Napier, Diane Baker, Stuart Rudin, Ron Vawter, and others also had very nice roles among the supporting cast.
- DirectorPeter HewittStarsKeanu ReevesAlex WinterWilliam SadlerA tyrant from the future creates evil android doubles of Bill and Ted and sends them back to eliminate the originals.Fantastic sequel to the bodacious music-inspired comedy adventure classic, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989). Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon are back writing the story, which has a totally unique vibe and plot compared to the first film, making it a most triumphant follow-up. The story follows a most heinous and oppressive leader from the the year 2691 named Chuck De Nomolos who creates evil robot replicas of Bill and Ted to travel back in time to 1991 and kill the real Bill and Ted and take their places, and intend to carry out evil plans laid out by De Nomolos. When the evil robots complete their initial mission, Bill and Ted are sent to Hell where they must duel the Grim Reaper to a contest of board games to get to heaven, then eventually back to earth where they work to destroy the evil Bill and Ted robots, save the babes, and perform a most spectacular set at the Battle of the Bands contest to secure their future legacy. Fantastic film all around, and a great change of pace from the first film. Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter both deliver excellent lead performances and have the same great chemistry from the first film. William Sadler (Death/Grim Reaper) also delivered a great starring role. Joss Ackland, George Carlin, Annette Azcuy, Sarah Trigger, Chelcie Ross, Pam Grier, Hal Landon Jr., Amy Stoch, Brendan Ryan, William Thorne, Frank Welker, and others also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorJames CameronStarsArnold SchwarzeneggerLinda HamiltonEdward FurlongA cyborg, identical to the one who failed to kill Sarah Connor, must now protect her ten year old son John from an even more advanced and powerful cyborg.Outstanding action-packed sci-fi thriller from James Cameron, and one of the greatest sequels of all-time. The story is set in 1995 (10 years after the events of the first film) and follows the same Terminator cyborg that failed to kill Sarah Connor in the first film. This time around he's sent back in time from the year 2029 to protect Sarah's teenage son John who is supposed to become the future leader of the human resistance. It proves to be an horrifying challenge when John is being hunted down by an evil and more advanced Terminator cyborg named T-1000, which was sent back in time through the supercomputer Skynet. This film has superior writing, dialogue, acting, action, and thrills over the first film; as evidenced by its 4 Oscar wins. It was nice to see Arnold Schwarzenegger being a good guy for a change, as well as bringing some good humor to the action. It's arguably his greatest lead performance of all time. Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong, and Robert Patrick also deliver excellent starring roles, and likely the most memorable of all their careers. Joe Morton, Earl Boen, Danny Cooksey, Jenette Goldstein, Xander Berkeley, S. Epatha Merkerson, Robert Winley, and many others also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorOliver StoneStarsVal KilmerMeg RyanKyle MacLachlanThe story of the famous and influential 1960s rock band The Doors and its lead singer and composer, Jim Morrison, from his days as a UCLA film student in Los Angeles, to his untimely death in Paris, France at age 27 in 1971.Excellent music biopic from Oliver Stone and my favorite film starring Val Kilmer. The story follows the massively influential 1960s psychedelic/blues rock band, The Doors, and is mainly centered on the life of extremely talented and eccentric lead vocalist Jim Morrison. It follows his early years as a UCLA film student in Los Angeles where he met the rest of the band, and dives deep into his experimentation with drugs and alcoholism as he controversially takes the band to new heights and super stardom. It all leads to his eventual path to destruction that led to his premature death at age 27, in 1971. Oliver Stone gave this film a great tripped out feel overall, and Val Kilmer just seemed to be born to play the role of Jim Morrison. I couldn't imagine anyone playing him better. Kyle MacLachlan, Kevin Dillon, and Frank Whaley also had great starring roles as the other band members. Meg Ryan as also excellent as his wife, Pamela Courson. Kathleen Quinlan, Michael Madsen, Floyd 'Red Crow' Westerman, Crispin Glover, and many others also had very nice supporting roles.
- DirectorJohn SingletonStarsCuba Gooding Jr.Laurence FishburneHudhail Al-AmirFollows the lives of three young males living in the Crenshaw ghetto of Los Angeles, dissecting questions of race, relationships, violence, and future prospects.Powerful crime drama from John Singleton set in 1984–1991 in the Crenshaw ghetto of Los Angeles which follows the lives of three young males, and dives deep into a wide array of social issues that affect their community, along with a widespread crime, violence, drugs and alcohol that fill the streets. The film mainly follows a young man named Tre Styles who is one of the few that has a father and strong mother to teach him crucial values and life lessons. His friend Doughboy quickly submits to alcohol, drugs, and gang violence as his outlet, while his other best friend Ricky Baker is looking to escape the hood by way of a football scholarship to USC. The story is excellent and commanding all around thanks to John Singleton's expertise in the genre. Cuba Gooding Jr. delivers arguably his greatest lead performance. Laurence Fishburne, Morris Chestnut, and Ice Cube also had great starring roles. Angela Bassett, Tyra Ferrell, Jessie Lawrence Ferguson, Dedrick D. Gobert, Regi Green, Regina King, Nia Long, Desi Arnez Hines II, Baha Jackson, Lloyd Avery II, and many others also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsSusan SarandonGeena DavisHarvey KeitelTwo best friends set out on an adventure, but it soon turns around to a terrifying escape from being hunted by the police, as these two women escape for the crimes they committed.Excellent crime drama/adventure from Ridley Scott that follows best friends Thelma Dickinson and Louise Sawyer who hit the road in search for freedom and new lives after being fed up with their dead-end jobs and failed relationships. They set out to take a vacation in a remote cabin in the mountains, but trouble hits before they get halfway there. After stopping at a roadside bar for some food and libations, Thelma dances with a flirtatious man named Harlan. He then leads her out to the parking lot where he attempts to rape her when she refuses to have sex with him. Louise ends up intervening and spitefully shooting the man dead. With blood on their hands, they frantically set out on a dangerous jaunt to Mexico as police work to hunt them down. Fantastic story, and one of the most underrated in Ridley Scott's excellent filmography. Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis both deliver arguably their greatest and most iconic lead performances. They were both superb. Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen, Christopher McDonald, and Brad Pitt also had nice roles among the supporting cast.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsRobert De NiroNick NolteJessica LangeA convicted rapist, released from prison after serving a fourteen-year sentence, stalks the family of the lawyer who originally defended him.Fantastic remake of the 1962 thrilling crime drama the same name from Martin Scorsese, based on John D. MacDonald's original novel. The story follows recently released convicted rapist named Max Cady who just spent 14 years in the slammer for assaulting a young woman. He's been planning violent revenge against his lawyer who held back critical information in his court case that could have set him free. That lawyer's name is Sam Bowden. He soon starts to see Max around town before Max makes his proper and frightening introduction, which immediately stirs up drama with his distressed wife Leigh and their 15 year old daughter Danielle. Max's plans for Sam and his family become terrifying when he maliciously stalks Sam and makes Danielle the target of his destruction and retribution. I loved this remake all around. I personally enjoy it more than the 1962 version because Robert De Niro's lead performance as Max Cady was one of his most extraordinary lead performances to date. He owned every part of his character. Nick Nolte, Jessica Lange, and Juliette Lewis also have excellent starring roles. Joe Don Baker, Martin Balsam, Illeana Douglas, and Fred Thompson have great supporting roles, and it was also great to see Robert Mitchum and Gregory Peck show up in the cast as well.
- DirectorSpike LeeStarsWesley SnipesAnnabella SciorraSpike LeeFriends and family of a married Black architect react in different ways to his affair with an Italian secretary.Excellent, powerful, and underrated Spike Lee joint that follows a financially successful and married black architect named Flipper who lives with his successful wife Drew and daughter Ming in a middle-upper class neighborhood in Harlem, New York. However, he finds his Italian/white secretary Angie to be very attractive, and ends up having an affair with her. When their secret is revealed, they face intense racial turmoil from their relationships, friends, and family, and face considerable doubts and cause irreparable damage to their futures. The dialogue is powerful and provoking, and includes many striking side stories throughout. Wesley Snipes and Annabella Sciorra both deliver arguably their best lead performances. John Turturro and Samuel L. Jackson also delivered very memorable supporting roles. Lonette McKee, Spike Lee, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Frank Vincent, Anthony Quinn, Halle Berry, Tyra Ferrell, Veronica Timbers, Debi Mazar, and others were also excellent.
- DirectorDavid ZuckerStarsLeslie NielsenPriscilla PresleyGeorge KennedyLieutenant Frank Drebin discovers that his ex-girlfriend's new beau is involved in a plot to kidnap a scientist who advocates solar energy.Hysterical sequel from Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker's first crime comedy classic from 1988. The story follows a gifted scientist named Dr. Mainheimer who's about to publish his report on the world's future energy supply, which would cause major problems for top energy suppliers in the oil, coal, and nuclear business. So these corrupt suppliers decide to kidnap Mainheimer and replace him with a decoy that supports their platforms. It's up to Lieutenant Frank Drebin to take them down while he also works on getting back with his ex-girlfriend Jane Spencer. This sequel lives up to all the hype of the first film. Filled with nonstop jokes and clever dialogue just like the first. Leslie Nielsen delivered a fantastic lead performance once again. Priscilla Presley, George Kennedy, and Richard Griffiths also had excellent starring roles. O.J. Simpson, Robert Goulet, Jacqueline Brookes, Anthony James, Lloyd Bochner, Tim O'Connor, Ed Williams, John Roarke, Margery Jane Ross, and many others also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorRandal KleiserStarsEthan HawkeKlaus Maria BrandauerJedJack London's classic adventure story about the friendship developed between a Yukon gold hunter and the mixed dog-wolf he rescues from the hands of a man who mistreats him.Excellent family adventure for dog lovers from Randal Kleiser, and my favorite rendition of Jack London's classic 1906 novel. The story follows a young man named Jack Conroy who travels to frosty snow-covered Alaskan frontier to hunt for gold at his deceased father's mining claim. After immediately being robbed when he gets into town, he hooks up with an experienced gold miner named Alex Larson who knew his father. He and his partner reluctantly agree to let him join their voyage, and they eventually become friends and trusted partners. When he forms a special bond with a traumatized wolf-dog named White Fang, it changes his outlook on life and helps him move forward with his future. Great adventure with excellent cinematography and casting all around. It's one of my favorite Disney films. Ethan Hawke delivered one of greatest early day lead performances. Klaus Maria Brandauer also delivered a great starring role. Seymour Cassel, Susan Hogan, James Remar, and Bill Moseley also had very nice supporting roles.
- DirectorLili Fini ZanuckStarsJason PatricJennifer Jason LeighSam ElliottTwo small-town Texas cops go undercover to catch a major drug dealer and are sucked into the drug culture, compromising their assignment.Excellent and powerful crime drama from Lili Fini Zanuck set in the 1970s, and follows a determined small-town Texas cop named Jim Raynor who chooses to go undercover with the only female applicant, Kristen Cates. They are tasked to catch a major drug dealer, and are forced to take hard drugs when dealing with dangerous drug dealers so they don't blow their cover. They both subsequently become addicted to cocaine, heroin, and meth in the process. Meanwhile, they start a steamy romance that clouds their judgment, and leaves them in a position they may not be able to recover from. Powerful story with great dialogue and casting throughout. It also includes a superb original soundtrack from Eric Clapton as well. Jason Patric and Jennifer Jason Leigh both deliver a couple of their finest lead performances, and had great chemistry together. Sam Elliott, Max Perlich, Gregg Allman, Tony Frank, William Sadler, Special K. McCray, and many others also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorMario Van PeeblesStarsWesley SnipesIce-TAllen PayneA crime lord ascends to power and becomes megalomaniacal while a maverick police detective vows to stop him.Excellent crime drama from Mario Van Peebles set in 1989 during New York City's crack cocaine epidemic. The story follows a nonconformist police detective named Scotty Appleton who's working to track down notorious gangster Nino Brown, who has become one of the biggest drug lords in New York since he went into the crack business. Scotty goes undercover to infiltrate Nino's organization with the help of an ex-crack addict named Pookie. Excellent story all around with great action and a solid soundtrack. Wesley Snipes and Ice-T both deliver a couple of their very best and most memorable lead performances. Mario Van Peebles, Allen Payne, Chris Rock, Judd Nelson, Vanessa Williams, Michael Michele, Bill Nunn, Russell Wong, Bill Cobbs, Christopher Williams, and many others also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorJim AbrahamsStarsCharlie SheenCary ElwesValeria GolinoA parody of Top Gun (1986) in which a talented but unstable fighter pilot must overcome the ghosts of his father and save a mission sabotaged by greedy weapons manufacturers.Hilarious comedy from Jim Abrahams and Pat Proft that's essentially a spoof of Top Gun (1986), but also includes references to several other popular films. The story follows Top Gun Navy fighter pilot Lieutenant Sean "Topper" Harley, who returns to active duty for a special assignment and ends up in a spiteful rivalry with an egotistical Top Gun pilot named Lieutenant Kent Gregor, especially when a mysteriously gorgeous woman named Ramada Thompson becomes the focus of the two men. Great story all around, with a mass amount of jokes, satire, and hysterical pop culture references. It's exactly what you'd expect from the comedic minds of Jim Abrahams and Pat Proft. Charlie Sheen delivered one of his very best lead performances. Cary Elwes and Valeria Golino also had great starring roles. Lloyd Bridges, Kevin Dunn, Jon Cryer, William O'Leary, Kristy Swanson, Heidi Swedberg, Bruce A. Young, Rino Thunder, and many others had great supporting roles.
- DirectorPeter FaimanStarsEd O'NeillEthan EmbryJoBeth WilliamsTo get to know his girlfriend's son, a working-class good guy volunteers to pick him up from his prep school, only to learn that he isn't the nicest young man.Underrated comedy drama from John Hughes that follows an honest working-class man named Dutch Dooley who offers to pick up his girlfriend's crude and snobbish son Doyle Standish from the extravagant Georgia boarding school he attends, and drive him to his Mom's home in Chicago for Thanksgiving. From the moment they meet, they are at total war with each other. Dutch could easily throw in the towel and quit, but he loves Doyle's mom so much, that he's determined to get him back for the holiday. Hilarious antics take place early on with Dutch's methods of "tough love", but they do start to make a connection as the grueling road trip moves along. This is one of John Hughes' finest films, and I never understood why it wasn't a huge hit. Ed O'Neill and Ethan Embry do a great job of antagonizing each other throughout the film, and delivered excellent lead performances. JoBeth Williams, Christopher McDonald, Ari Meyers, and Elizabeth Daily all had nice roles among the supporting cast.
- DirectorFrank OzStarsBill MurrayRichard DreyfussJulie HagertyA successful psychotherapist loses his mind after one of his most dependent patients, an obsessive-compulsive neurotic, tracks him down during his family vacation.Hilarious comedy from Frank Oz that follows a critically acclaimed psychotherapist named Dr. Leo Marvin who takes on a wildly eccentric new patient named Bob Wiley who has an extreme obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, Leo doesn't know that Bob has a history of clinging onto doctors and psychiatrists, and he subsequently follows Leo and his family to their New Hampshire lakeside cottage while they are on vacation. Leo is shocked to see he followed him there, and immediately insists on him leaving. But his entire family and seemingly everyone in town that meets Bob, absolutely loves him; which brings Leo to the edge of insanity. Richard Dreyfuss and Bill Murray both deliver fantastic lead performances—a couple of their finest. Julie Hagerty, Charlie Korsmo, Kathryn Erbe, Fran Brill, Tom Aldredge, Susan Willis, and many others also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorHoward ZieffStarsAnna ChlumskyMacaulay CulkinDan AykroydVada is obsessed with death. Her mother is dead, and her father runs a funeral parlor. When Vada's father hires Shelly, a makeup expert, and begins to fall in love, Vada is outraged and does everything in her power to split them up.Excellent family comedy drama from Howard Zieff that follows a sweet hypochondriacal 11-year-old girl named Vada who's going through an emotional a pivotal time in her young life when her widowed father starts dating for the first time since her mother died. She deeply loves her father Harry, which turns to uncontrollable jealousy when she doesn't get him all to herself. Meanwhile, her best friend is Thomas J. Sennett (who secretly has a crush on her), and they spend many of their days together. However, disturbing trauma occurs when a tragic accident takes place, and finds it even more difficult for Vada to move forward with life. Anna Chlumsky and Macaulay Culkin were such a great duo, and both delivered excellent lead performances. Dan Aykroyd and Jamie Lee Curtis also had great starring roles. Richard Masur, Griffin Dunne, Ann Nelson, and others also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorRobert MulliganStarsSam WaterstonTess HarperGail StricklandA coming of age story set in the south of the U.S. when Elvis was King.Excellent coming-of-age drama from Robert Mulligan set in rural Louisiana 1957, and follows a 14-year-old girl named Dani of the simple working class Trant family. Dani is in a rush to grow up to be just like her big sister Maureen. One day, some old family friends of theirs moves in next store, which finds 17-year-old Court Foster maintaining the farm since his dad had passed away. Soon, Dani and Court meet each other at a nearby pond where they go swimming, and Dani soon falls deeply in love, while Court knows he can't enter into a relationship with a young "kid" like herself, even though he cares for her very much. Maureen eventually ends up meeting Court and sparks fly, which causes a rift between her and Dani before a profoundly traumatic end to the story. Reese Witherspoon, Gail Strickland, and Jason London all delivered excellent lead performances. Sam Waterston, Tess Harper, Gail Strickland, and Bentley Mitchum also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorDiane KeatonStarsBeau BridgesSusan BlakelyWilliam McNamaraAn abused, partially-deaf girl is helped back into society by two resourceful children.Excellent drama from Diane Keaton set in rural area in 1938 and follows a curious young girl named Ellie who hears screaming from her family's next door neighbors' house and goes out to investigate. She finds a young girl named Alice living like an animal in an outdoor shed, who's being horribly abused (both physically and mentally) by her stepfather, is partially deaf, possibly has epilepsy, and knows absolutely nothing about the outside world. With help from Ellie and her 18-year-old brother Sammy, they do everything they can to help her escape from her horrifying home life. Meanwhile, a complex romance blossoms between Sammy and Alice as Alice learns what love and a family actually is. Reese Witherspoon, Beau Bridges, and all deliver excellent lead performances, but Patricia Arquette had the major standout role with her performance as Alice. She was fantastic. Susan Blakely, Norman Max Maxwell, Collin Wilcox Paxton, Richard K. Olsen, and Heather Lynch also had very nice supporting roles.
- DirectorTerry GilliamStarsJeff BridgesRobin WilliamsAdam BryantA former radio DJ, suicidally despondent because of a terrible mistake he made, finds redemption in helping a deranged homeless man who was an unwitting victim of that mistake.Powerful drama-filled dark comedy from Terry Gilliam that follows a famously arrogant former radio DJ named Jack Lucas who falls on dark times after giving dreadful advice to a live caller who claimed to go on a murder spree. Three years later he meets a crazed homeless man named Parry, that he feels compelled to help him after learning that the events of his dreadful radio phone call coincides with the traumatic events that lead Parry to a broken life on the streets. Along Parry's path of self-rediscovery, he meets and makes a connection with an eccentric woman named Lydia that inspires his journey. It's a great film all in all, and I would rank it higher if I liked the touches of fantasy it included more. Both Jeff Bridges and Robin Williams bring some of their finest performances with these complex characters. Amanda Plummer and Mercedes Ruehl also had great starring roles. Michael Jeter, Christian Clemenson, Lara Harris, Kathy Najimy, and others also had great supporting roels.
- DirectorStan DragotiStarsScott BakulaHector ElizondoRobert LoggiaDue to NCAA sanctions, the Texas State University Fightin' Armadillos must form a football team from their actual student body, with no scholarships to help, to play their football schedule.Excellent sports comedy drama from Stan Dragoti that follows a 34-year-old farmer named Paul Blake who was once one of the best high-school quarterbacks in Texas. He was never able to fulfill his dreams since his father died and he had to drop out of school to run their family farm. 16 years later, the Texas State University Fightin' Armadillos are scraping the bottom of the barrel for more players after the team was put on probation for corruption. Paul's former high-school football coach Wally "Rig" Riggendorf ends up tracking him down and recruiting him to be quarterback in hopes of turning the team around. This story isn't that much different from your typical underdog sports comedy, but it never tries to be anything more than that. Great dialogue, clever comedy, poignant drama, and great action sets it apart from so many films of the same genre. Scott Bakula arguably delivered his best lead performance (in film, anyway). Hector Elizondo and Robert Loggia also delivered excellent starring roles. Sinbad, Peter Navy Tuiasosopo, Harley Jane Kozak, Larry Miller, Rob Schneider, Jason Bateman, Kathy Ireland, and several others had nice supporting roles.
- DirectorBarry SonnenfeldStarsAnjelica HustonRaul JuliaChristopher LloydCon artists plan to fleece an eccentric family using an accomplice who claims to be their long-lost uncle.Excellent dark comedy/fantasy from Barry Sonnenfeld and a great reimagining of the 1964 TV series. The story follows the hilariously dark, eccentric, and wealthy Addams Family headed up by the father Gomez and mother Morticia. Gomez is saddened by the falling out he and his brother Fester had 25 years earlier, which is the last time they've seen each other. When Gomez's crooked accountant runs into money troubles, he attempts to swindle the Addams' family fortune by reintroducing his long lost brother back to the family. But is he the real Uncle Fester? Excellent story, comedy, and dialogue all around. The cast is also exceptional throughout. Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd, Christina Ricci, Jimmy Workman, Judith Malina, and Carel Struycken all had excellent starring roles. Dan Hedaya, Elizabeth Wilson, Dana Ivey, and many others also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsDustin HoffmanRobin WilliamsJulia RobertsWhen Captain James Hook kidnaps his children, an adult Peter Pan must return to Neverland and reclaim his youthful spirit in order to challenge his old enemy.Epic family adventure from Steven Spielberg based on J.M. Barrie's classic 1911 novel. This is easily my favorite rendition of "Peter Pan". The story follows Peter Pan as an adult (named Peter Banning), who has become completely consumed with his business life, has lost touch with his wife and children, and has zero memories of his time in the mythical island of Neverland. However, all that changes when he and his family take a trip to London to see key people that know of his past life. One night his children Jack and Maggie are kidnapped by Captain Hook, and Peter is forced to remember his past, and travel to the magical world of Neverland to recapture the memories and powers of his child-self so he can defeat the revenge-hungry Captain Hook. Beautifully shot film all around. Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, and Julia Roberts all have excellent lead performances. Bob Hoskins, Maggie Smith, Caroline Goodall, Charlie Korsmo, Amber Scott, Arthur Malet, Dante Basco, Raushan Hammond, and many others had great supporting roles.
- DirectorRon HowardStarsKurt RussellWilliam BaldwinRobert De NiroTwo feuding siblings carrying on a heroic family tradition as Chicago firefighters. But when a puzzling series of arson attacks is reported, they are forced to set aside their differences to solve the mystery surrounding these crimes.Great action-packed drama from Ron Howard set in 1971 Chicago, and follows a man named Brian McCaffrey who's firefighter father died on duty when he and his brother were young. While he had also planned to pursue a career as a firefighter, he's troubled by his father's death and eventually leaves town to look for other work. 20 years later, we find Brian graduating from firefighter's academy, and is assigned to work on Engine 17, which is the toughest fire house in Chicago. He's paired up with his estranged older and experienced firefighter brother Lt. Stephen "Bull" McCaffrey. They have a tension-filled relationship and begrudgingly work together to help solve a string of arson/murder cases as they experience the horrifying dangers of fighting fires. Kurt Russell and William Baldwin both delivered excellent lead performances. Robert De Niro, Donald Sutherland, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Scott Glenn, Rebecca De Mornay, Jason Gedrick, J.T. Walsh, Cedric Young, Juan Ramírez, Ryan Todd, John Duda and several others also have nice supporting roles.
- DirectorRon UnderwoodStarsBilly CrystalJack PalanceDaniel SternOn the verge of turning 40, an unhappy Manhattan yuppie is roped into joining his two friends on a cattle drive in the southwest.Great comedy western from Ron Underwood that follows an unhappy middle-aged Manhattan salesman named Mitch who's stuck in a rut and needs to shake up his life. His friends Ed and Phil are also going through similar mid-life crises, so they decide to take a 2-week getaway in the wild west, driving cattle from New Mexico to Colorado. They meet several challenges on their journey, and much of it comes from a morose and dark humored veteran cowboy named Curly. Billy Crystal, Daniel Stern, and Bruno Kirby all have great lead performances, but I'd have to say Jack Palance playing Curly was the standout performance. Helen Slater, Noble Willingham, Tracey Walter, Josh Mostel, Patricia Wettig, David Paymer, Bill Henderson, Jeffrey Tambor, Phill Lewis, Kyle Secor, and many others had very nice supporting roles.
- DirectorMike NicholsStarsHarrison FordAnnette BeningMichael HaleyAfter being shot, a lawyer loses his memory and must relearn speech and mobility, but he has a loving family to support him.Very nice drama romance from Mike Nichols that follows a ruthlessly self-centered, determined, and extremely successful Manhattan lawyer named Henry Turner who gets shot in the head during a robbery, and must relearn to speak, talk, and function normally again. To his family's surprise, a new compassionate personality evolves throughout Henry's rehabilitation, which is nothing like his previous cold-hearted persona. As they navigate the process together, he and his wife Sarah rekindle their troubled relationship that has once soured. Harrison Ford and Annette Bening share great chemistry and both deliver great lead performances. Bill Nunn, Kamian Allen, Donald Moffat, Aida Linares, Bruce Altman, Elizabeth Wilson, John Leguizamo, James Rebhorn, and plenty others had nice supporting roles.
- DirectorKevin ReynoldsStarsKevin CostnerMorgan FreemanMary Elizabeth MastrantonioRobin Hood decides to fight back as an outlaw when faced with the tyranny of the Sheriff of Nottingham.Great action-packed adventure/drama from Kevin Reynolds set in 1194 England, and follows English nobleman Robin of Locksley after escaping from a Jerusalem prison where he's been held for several years. After returning home, we find Robin leading a group of exiled villagers to fight the reign of terror brought on by the corrupt, greedy, and cruel Sheriff of Nottingham. Very nice story with great action and a a star-studded cast. The film is rated PG-13, but I definitely thought this was built for older audiences as a kid, with how violently graphic and dark the story is. Kevin Costner delivers a great lead performance. Morgan Freeman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Christian Slater, and Alan Rickman also have great starring roles. Nick Brimble, Michael Wincott, Michael McShane, Geraldine McEwan, Brian Blessed, Soo Drouet, Walter Sparrow, Harold Innocent, and others also had very nice supporting roles.
- DirectorDavid S. WardStarsJohn GoodmanPeter O'TooleJohn HurtA regular guy from America becomes king of England after a royal wipe-out puts him next in line.Hilarious and underrated comedy from David S. Ward that follows a tacky Las Vegas lounge singer named Ralph Jones who becomes King of the United Kingdom after an electrical accident wipes out the entire British Royal Family, and it's found Ralph is the only surviving heir to the throne. Many comical situations present themselves as Ralph adjusts to a life of responsibility and sophistication, and things really heat up when he meets an exotic dancer named Miranda, which greatly embarrasses the royal family and the country. This film is poorly rated, but I've always liked it, and always felt it was one of John Goodman's best lead performances. Peter O'Toole, John Hurt, and Camille Coduri also had great starring roles. Richard Griffiths, Leslie Phillips, James Villiers, Joely Richardson, Julian Glover, Rudolph Walker, and others also had very nice supporting roles.
- DirectorMichael PressmanStarsPaige TurcoDavid WarnerMichelan SistiThe Turtles discover their origins while they endeavour to save New York City from the evil Shredder and his Foot Clan.This is the second live action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film in the franchise, and while it pales in comparison the the first film, there are still many enjoyable qualities to it. Shredder is back, and he plans revenge against the Turtles for what they did to him in the first film. He ends up tracking down one of the original canisters of ooze that transformed Splinter and the Turtles several years back, which was supposed to be destroyed. Now Shredder has plans to mutate a wolf and a snapping turtle to defeat the Turtles in epic fashion. They really made the characters much more cartoony and kid-friendly this time around, which is my main gripe about the film. It's still a lot of fun and carries nice nostalgia, but it's definitely aimed at a younger audience than the fans that revered the first as a classic. Ernie Reyes Jr., Michelan Sisti, Leif Tilden, Kenn Scott, and Mark Caso all delivered great lead performances. François Chau, Paige Turco, David Warner, Kevin Clash, Toshishiro Obata, Mark Ginther, Kurt Bryant, and Vanilla Ice all had nice roles among the supporting cast.
- DirectorBrian LevantStarsJohn RitterMichael OliverJack WardenThe worst child in the world makes an unthinkable discovery: there is another child even worse than he is--and it's a girl.Solid sequel that measures up to the first Problem Child film nicely. Brian Levant handles the direction this time around, which follows Junior and his dad Ben Healy move to a new town for a fresh start. Junior is thrilled to finally have Ben all to himself after destroying his marriage and much of his family and personal life. However, when the lonely single ladies in the neighborhood start hitting his dad up for dates and his sleazy and cruel father Big Ben comes to live with them, it launches Junior back into his old ways of mischief...until he finds a girl who is even more mischievous than him. John Ritter, Michael Oliver, and Jack Warden had great lead performances once again. Laraine Newman, Amy Yasbeck, Ivyann Schwan, Gilbert Gottfried, and many others have nice supporting roles.
- DirectorMatthew RobbinsStarsCindy WilliamsDavid RascheRobert J. Steinmiller Jr.A runaway circus dog befriends a young boy who has trouble fitting in with his friends.Solid fast-paced comedy adventure from Matthew Robbins that follows a mischievous and extremely intelligent dog named Bingo that runs away from the circus and heads towards the Colorado suburbs. He ends up finding a family with a troubled young boy named Chuckie Devlin who seriously needs a friend. Chuckie attempts to hide him and keep him a secret, but when the family sets off to move to Green Bay and leaves the dog behind, the dog makes the 1,000-mile trek to reunite with Chuckie, and encounters many comical situations along the way. Fun nostalgic flick that I watched plenty growing up. Cindy Williams, David Rasche, and Robert J. Steinmiller Jr. had nice lead performances. David French, Kurt Fuller, Glenn Shadix, and others also had solid supporting roles.
- DirectorJoe JohnstonStarsBilly CampbellJennifer ConnellyAlan ArkinA young pilot stumbles onto a prototype jetpack that allows him to become a high-flying masked hero.Solid action-packed family adventure from Joe Johnston set in 1938 Los Angeles, and follows a young pilot named Cliff Secord who stumbles upon a top secret rocket-pack that allows him the ability to fly. Things get dangerous when the FBI, German Nazi spies, and gangsters get involved. While this film was loved by many kids my age back in the day, I simply never got too much into it, but did enjoy plenty of the action involved. Billy Campbell, Jennifer Connelly, and Timothy Dalton all deliver vert nice lead performances. Alan Arkin, Paul Sorvino, Terry O'Quinn, Ed Lauter, James Handy, Robert Miranda, John Lavachielli, Eddie Jones, Jon Polito, and several others had nice supporting roles.
- DirectorJohn R. Cherry IIIStarsJim VarneyEartha KittAustin NaglerErnest accidentally unleashes an ugly troll that plots to transform children into wooden dolls in the town of Briarville, Missouri.Solid family comedy horror from John R. Cherry III, and a very nice sequel in the Ernest franchise. This time around the accident-prone Ernest P. Worrell inadvertently sets an evil troll named Trantor free from its 100-year grave. Now it's up to Ernest and his middle school friends to save the world from its power. This was one of my nostalgic favorite childhood Halloween comedies growing up, but it doesn't really hold up as well for me today. The troll was actually quite scary to me as a kid, which made this one a lot of fun. Maybe not my favorite Ernest film, but it was just as solid as most. Jim Varney delivers a great lead performance. Eartha Kitt, Austin Nagler, Shay Astar, Jonas Moscartolo, Daniel Butler, Jackie Welch, and others also had nice performances.
- DirectorBurt KennedyStarsHulk HoganChristopher LloydShelley DuvallAn interstellar hero from a distant world visits Earth, and tries to fit in with a mundane, yet kind, suburban family.Solid action-packed sci-fi comedy from Burt Kennedy that follows an interstellar hero named Shep Ramsey who crash lands on earth and hides out with an average suburban family while his ship recharges itself to take off again. He gets into many comical debacles as expected. This isn't a great film, but it is entertaining. This is one of Hulk Hogan's best known roles, and for good reason. He was pretty much perfect for the role. Christopher Lloyd, Shelley Duvall, Larry Miller, William Ball, and others also also have nice performances among a solid supporting cast.