If ever a year deserved to be celebrated it was 1994. What an amazing year in a lackluster decade. No doubt it was a major improvement over the 80s, but, given the quality of films which came out then, that is not saying much. But 1994 was an important year. I can't tell you what caused it but it was the 1939 of my generation. A year which changed contemporary cinema. So many fresh and exciting films came out than that have influenced so many movies since. Lets take a look at the five nominees that year for the "Best Picture" Oscar. They were; "Forrest Gump", "Pulp Fiction", "Quiz Show", "Shawshank Redemption" and "Four Weddings & A Funeral". With the exception of "Four Weddings" any of those films would have been deserving and a respectable choice.
While of course 1994 had its share of bad movies, surprisingly the top grossing film of the year was "Forrest Gump". The mass public proved that aren't always against good movies. The remaining top grossing films included "True Lies", "The Flintstones", "The Santa Clause" and "Dumb & Dumber". Thus proving the public has very odd taste.
But why harp on the bad? It was so difficult to limit my list to only ten movies. I have sadly left out some truly wonderful films. I'll have to give them honorable mention. Here are my top ten favorite movies of 1994!
1. TO LIVE (Dir. Zhang Yimou; China) - Zhang Yimou is perhaps my favorite contemporary filmmaker working today. "To Live" is one of his many crowning achievements. His lover, at the the time, Gong Li, and perhaps his greatest muse, stars in this epic film expanding the history of Communist China. So powerful and critical of the government was this film that to this day it has been banned in China. In fact, a ban was placed on Yimou from making films for two years.
Most movie goers may associate Yimou's name with the high flying martial arts movies such as "House of Flying Daggers" and "Hero" but "To Live" is nothing like that. This movie was made at the time he was making much more personal, heartfelt stories concerning the history of his country. His beginning films with Gong Li, "Raise the Red Lantern", "Jou Dou" and his debut film "Red Sorghum" set a new standard for Chinese filmmaking. "To Live" is epic in its scope. It is a sad yet uplifting story. This may be considered an odd choice by some of you to top my list. But watch it and tell me you weren't swept away. It was nominated for a palme d'or at Cannes.
2. FORREST GUMP (Dir. Robert Zemeckis; U.S.) - Nominated for 13 Oscars, winning a total of six, including "Best Picture", Tom Hanks breaks our hearts in this semi comical bittersweet movie about a mentally challenged man who goes on to achieve great things. Robin Wright Penn co-stars as the love of his wife, Jenny. And is the complete opposite of him. She represents the changing times, a symbol of the counter culture during the 60s and 70s. History passes Gump by without him even knowing it, but his impact is felt by the world. Some have felt the film is too sentimental. Too much of a gimmick movie. These are the type of people I like to refer to as snobs, don't listen to them.
3. QUIZ SHOW (Dir. Robert Redford; U.S.) - Robert Redford's "Quiz Show" takes us behind the scenes for what may have been the first ever quiz show scandal concerning how a show was fixed to boost ratings. Seems fresh and topically nowadays with reality television and stations competing for viewership. The film won four Oscar nominations including "Best Picture" and a "Best Director" nomination for Redford.
4. SUNDAY'S CHILDREN (Dir. Daniel Bergman; Sweden) - Written by the master, Ingmar Bergman and directed by his son. The film was made during the period in which Ingmar was becoming more reflective, perhaps afraid death was around the corner. He wrote a trilogy of films concerning his childhood and his parent's relationship. The other films were "The Best Intentions" (1992) and "Private Confessions" (1999). While the idea may sound similar to Bergman's "Fanny & Alexander" it has none of the cheerful moments during the film's beginning Christmas celebration. This is the kind of somber, so-called "depressing" work Bergman has be known for. You can almost feel Bergman's pain watching this.
5. INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE (Dir. Neil Jordan; U.S.) - This movie had a lot of hype surrounding it, but for very sad reasons. Young actor River Phoenix was suppose to star in the film but passed away before production started. Still this is an exciting movie filled with lots of gore. But it has lavish productions and two entertaining performances given by Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. Neil Jordan, rarely lets me down.
6. PULP FICTION (Dir. Quentin Tarantino; U.S.) - The movie that changed everything! How many films made since have been imitations of this? With their twisted view of violence mixed with dark comedy and social commentaries. Arguably the most influential film of the 90s. Put Tarantino on the map as a directing force to be dealt with. As with Jordan, these are two filmmakers who rarely disappoint. The film won an Oscar for its screenplay and earned six other nominations.
7. SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (Dir. Frank Darabont; U.S.) - Maybe the best collaboration between Darabont and Stephen King ("The Green Mile", "The Mist"). Voted number one on imdb, actually beating "The Godfather" the film has become an audience favorite. When it was first released it did poorly at the box-office but steadily the film gained an audience. A lot of people would have preferred if this won the "Best Picture" Oscar. It is a heartbreaker of a movie. Nominated for seven Oscars, it walked away with none.
8. THREE COLOR TRILOGY (Dir. Krzysztof Kieslowski; Poland/France) - "Blue", "White" & "Red" are the individual titles representing the colors of the French flag symbolizing "liberty", "equality" and "fraternity". Most people prefer "Red" as the best in the series. My favorite is "White" a charming comedy starring Julie Delpy. Juliette Binoche stars in "Blue" but makes cameos in the other two while Irene Jacob stars in "Red". After this series Kieslowski retired from filmmaking. Two years later he died. A major lost for cinema.
9. A TALE OF WINTER (Dir. Eric Rohmer; France) - The first movie I ever saw by renowed French filmmaker Eric Rohmer and I've been a fan ever since. This may be my favorite of all his films, though "My Night At Maud's" gives it some stiff competition. This was part of Rohmer's "Tale of Four Seasons" series and to me the best. An enduring romance told with Rohmer's usual joyous eye. You fall in love with these characters.
10. BULLETS OVER BROADWAY (Dir. Woody Allen; U.S.) - Allen's valentine to 1920s America and gangster films remains one of his best films. Chazz Palminteri, John Cusack, Jennifer Tilly and Diane Wiest are just some of the standout performances in the film. Really the whole ensemble is amazing. Maybe representing Allen's best cast. Wiest won a well deserved Oscar as a falling theatre star who hasn't quiet realized it yet and Cusack as the playwright who admires her, but hasn't any talent. Don't speak, just watch!
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Because it was such a great year I had to mention these titles; Mike Leigh's "Naked", Louis Malle's "Vanya on 42nd Street", Tim Burton's "Ed Wood", Tian Zhuangzhuang's "The Blue Kite" and "The Madness of King George".
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