It was a stellar year for Daniel at the movies in 1999:

129 in all and 78 originally released in 1999

plus two more seen in 2000 that were released in 1999

 

I still need to see a couple more, but it's New Year's Eve and here's my list of my top 80 films of 1999:

 

1. The Target Shoots First- The Roger and Me for the disenfranchised indie rocker. Chris Wilcha's splendid documentary about working at Columbia House. Pure brilliance. It only played twice at Lincoln Center this summer, but I was lucky enough to catch it.

2. Being John Malkovich- Love the chimpanzees. Jamie's fave.

3. Run Lola Run- I love German women. I love watching people running. I love the song What A Difference A Day Makes.

4. Fight Club- Who cares if it makes any sense? Cinematic bliss. Marc's favorite.

5. Show Me Love- Just your average Swedish teenage Lesbian film. Heart wrenching and wonderful. Title in Sweden- Fucking Amal.

6. Election- I love that kid who's in American Pie.

7. Go- Sarah Polley and Katie Holmes, I'm sold.

8. Toy Story 2- I had a big smile on my face the whole movie.

9. Felicia's Journey- Bob Hoskins in his creepiest role since Roger Rabbit.

10. The Straight Story- Wisconsin = party state.

11. American Movie- Wisconsin=party state. So sweet and fun. Michael Stipe is the best producer in the world!

12. The End of the Affair- Probably the best looking film I've seen all year.

13. Last Night- Canadian film about the last six hours of Earth. It's oh so Canadian and witty. Done by the guy who did Highway 61. David Cronenberg plays a weirdo. Good stuff.

14. Boys Don't Cry- Would have been higher if the Cure version of Boys Don't Cry was in it.

15. Tumbleweeds- Touching mother and daughter flick. Funniest fart scene since Blazing Saddles.

16. Office Space- The best use of rap in an American film (Hate was French) since Electric Boogaloo 2.

17. American Beauty- Not perfect but still fun.

18. After-Life- Japanese film about purgatory. What memory would you take with you into the afterlife? You only get one and then it is recreated on film for you forever.

19. The War Zone- Great colors, great car crash, great Tim Roth directorial debut, great incest.

20. Blair Witch Project- Dude, I heard that shit was real.

21. The Matrix- Dazzled me but bored Rich.

22. Hands On a Hardbody- Rousing documentary about crazy Texans in a contest to win a truck.

23. The Hole- Dec. 31, 1999 in Taiwan. Lots of singing and dancing.

24. The School of Flesh- Is this really the best French film all year? Yes and yes.

25. Autumn Tale- Is this really the second best French film all year? Yes and yes.

26. Topsy-Turvy- Mike Leigh's latest opus about Gilbert and Sullivan. Life is sweet.

27. The Talented Mr. Ripley- Philip Seymour Hoffman is the most talented actor in the world!

28. Moment Of Innocence- Not a stellar year for films from Iran for me but this one was the best. Complicated plot. Ask me on your own time.

29. Three Kings- Ice Cube's best since Anaconda!

30. Romance- French film that has an unbelievable last five minutes. Has to be seen to be believed. Honestly.

31. All About My Mother- Almodovar's latest. Decent story, great looking.

32. The Iron Giant- Love that Harry Connick!

33. The Wrong Guy- Dave Foley's hilarious movie that has never come out, but I saw it at a comedy film fest in NYC. See it if it ever comes out.

34. Those Who Love Me Can Take the Train- French film that makes great use of the Bjork song "All is Full of Love". One of Shawn's favorite films of the year.

35. The Limey- Terrance Stamp is so damn cool. Steven Soderbergh follows up Out of Sight with this fun little movie. Interesting narrative form and the best use of a Who song since Rushmore.

36. Austin Powers 2- You had me at hello.

37. Cookie's Fortune- Otherwise known as the last Robert Altman film not to feature Andy Richter.

38. Lovers on the Bridge- Kind of dull French film that includes one of the most dazzling scenes ever captured on film. Fireworks, the Seine, scruffy French folks.

39. My Best Fiend- Werner Herzog's documentary about the psycho Klaus Kinski. The documentary isn't that amazing, but I love watching Kinski freak out.

40. Magnolia- There is an amazing 90 min. movie lurking in here somewhere. Tom Cruise's best performance since Losin' It.

41. The Dreamlife of Angels- Marc and Sarah hated this French film but I love Elodie Souchez more than life itself. What a hottie!

42. Sweet and Lowdown- Woody Allen stills has good ideas, just not great dialogue. Samantha Morton is breathtakingly incredible without uttering a word. Plus, any movie that mentions Django Reinhardt every other scene is A-Ok with me.

43. Leila- Iranian film about an arranged marriage. Better than the Sleater-Kinney show that followed it, but not as good as the Wendy's meal that preceded it.

44. Eyes Wide Shut- The digital people, the Chris Isaak song, and Nicole Kidman's ass made this film for me.

45. Twice Upon A Yesterday- Pretty lightweight little love movie, but do you realize how hard it is to make a good love film? Do you punk?

46. Bowfinger- Heather Graham is priceless.

47. Dick- So bizarre I can't even believe it exists. I have a newfound respect for Will Ferrell. Honestly I do.

48. Adopted Son- A film from some other country about a boy who is shunned by everybody or something like that. Notable for the day I saw it- my 26th birthday. Leah and Marissa made me a cool hat.

49. Sleepy Hollow- Looks good but empty on the inside. Kind of like me.

50. Black Cat, White Cat- Lightweight Fellini rip-off. Algerian, maybe? Still pretty crazy.

51. Powder Keg- Bosnia is very very violent.

52. Mr. Death- The Rise and Fall of Fred Leuchter Jr. Erroll Morris's latest about this guy who designs electric chairs, gallows, lethal injection machines, etc. who doesn't believe that there were any gas chambers at Auschwitz. Should have been better than it was. Definitely not as good as his last film Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control- the Amy Raphael Story.

53. West Beirut- Coming of age film set during the 70's. Sweet.

54. Girl Interrupted- Michael Musto on Winona's chances on winning an Oscar for this film- two words: Oscar Interrupted.

55. American Pie- Amy likes this one. Milf, milf, milf!

56. The Sixth Sense- Marc hated this one but I was keeping it real in the Motor City when I saw this flick so I dug it.

57. Xiu-Xiu the Sent Down Girl- Chinese film by Joan Chen. At least I didn't have to walk far to see this movie.

58. 42 UP- Not nearly as good as 35 Up because it's a proven fact that middle aged people are boring.

59. On the Ropes- Documentary about golden gloves boxers in Brooklyn. Notable for finding Jonathan Ames his manager for the ill-fated Box Opera.

60. American Hollow- Documentary about Appalachian folks. Rednecks!

61. Buena Vista Social Club- Ry Cooder sure likes himself.

62. Man on the Moon- It was nice to see Jeff Conaway again.

63. The Silence- Boring Iranian film that looks good at least.

64. Steam- Some film from some other country about some other sexuality. Pretty dull.

65. The Winslow Boy- Most of the people I saw this with hated it with a passion but I kind of liked it. So many rated G films on this here list.

66. The Sticky Fingers of Time- Just your average low-budget lesbian time travel movie.

67. The Last Days- I'm a sucker for World War II documentaries.

68. Edge of 17- It's the early 80's, you like Bow Wow Wow, gel in your hair, and big penises up your ass.

69. Close-Up- Many critics hailed this Iranian film as one of the best films of the decade. It was easily the best film I saw on Dec. 31. The story about a guy who gets put in trial for impersonating a filmmaker. Remade in America as a baseball movie called The Larry Sheets Story.

70. The Apple- Iranian film. Again, I didn't have to walk very far to get to the theater.

71. Anywhere But Here- While watching this film, I had that very thought.

72. Life- Leah, Jason, and Amy hated this movie but it was still better than the Phantom Menace.

73. Bringing Out the Dead- More like Bringing Out the Crap.

74. Underground Orchestra- Subway musicians in Paris. Later that day, I flew to Paris. Woo hoo!

75. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace- They should have put George Lucas on trial for impersonating a filmmaker. Horrible horrible movie.

76 Summer of Sam- The worst use of a Who song in a movie ever. Spike Lee is a friggin' moron.

77. Photographer- World War II documentary that I think I slept through.

78. La Ciudad- I should have slept through this piece of self-righteous crap.

79. I Stand Alone- A foreign middle aged version of Taxi Driver. The only thing that could have made it worse is if Oliver Stone directed it.

80. Any Given Sunday- The only things that saved this movie from Mallrats territory (the last time I walked out of a movie) was the comfortable seat at the new theater on 42nd St. and the stirring performance from Lawrence Taylor! I kid you not. LT! LT! LT for best supporting actor!

Updated February 8, 2000

 

Dan's Favorite Movies of 1998