Taking a look at the year 1996, picking my 10 favorite movies from that
year in random order.
Fargo
Tragicomic masterpiece y Joel and Ethan Coen in which Jerry has his own wife kidnapped because he needs money for a business deal. The evil scheme faisl miserably due to, on the one hand, the botched work of the criminals and, on the other hand, the exceptional detective skills of the heavily pregnant police chief Marge. Probably my favorite Coen brother movie.
That Thing You Do
It’s a lighthearted film that tells the story of the rise and fall of a pop group in the mid-1960s. under the name Oneders (later changed Wonders, because they always pronounce it as Oh-needers) they record their first song independently. Their song, That Thing You Do, becomes a hit and we see what it does with each band member. It’s a fast-paced story, with a fun setting and it’s a perfect feel-good film. Directorial debut by Tom Hanks, who also has a small role in it.
Matilda
Great adaptation of one of Roald Dahl’s children’s books. The six-year-old Matilda si not very loved by her parents and brother. And school director, Mrs. Trunchbull, isn’t a peach either. Fortunately there is her friend Lavender and teacher Miss Honey, who she gets help from. As well as from the paranormal force within herself. Directed by Danny DeVito, who also stars as Matilda’s father. The black comedy fits in seamlessly with writer Roald Dahl’s aversion to false sentiment and his humorous take on cartoonish powerful and mean adults.
Jerry Maguire
Tom Cruise plays a sports agent. He speaks his conscience and is subsequently fired. The only two who support him are accountant’s assistant Dorothy and football player Rod Tidwell, one of his clients. We follow Jerry’s trial and error in his new world of love and depth. Tom Cruise performance is formidable and a breakthrough role for both Renee Zellweger and Cuba Gooding Jr.
Trainspotting
Strong, original and fresh portrait of the life of a group of drug addicts in Edinburgh. The central character is Renton, who tries to kick the habit. That this is not easy is shown in a hilarious scene with the “filthiest toilet in Scotland”, without a doubt one of the most disgusting scenes in film history. Such funny moments are interspersed with shocking and sometimes deeply sad scenes. Ecellent acting, especially by Ewan McGregor and Robert Carlyle.
Primal Fear
When an archbishop in Chicago is murdered by and altar boy, lawyer Martin Vail is eager to take on the defense, because he likes cases that will generate a lot of media attention. But it’s a tough job: the stuttering defendant is a wimp, but was caught covered in blood. Thrilling courtroom thriller, with one of Richard Gere’s better roles and a chance for Edward Norton to showcase his talent. A movie with a great twist.
The Craft
“The Craft” beings as an average American teen movie: Sarah moves to Los Angeels and at her new school she experience all the problems of a newcomer. But then she meets three other girls who are outcasts. They bombard her as the fourth member of their coven of witches. “The Craft” might not be one of the best films of 1996, but it’s surely nostalgia for me and a movie I have revisited a lot. It’s a fun, pleasantly harsh horror film.
Twelve Monkeys
After “Monty Python’s Flying Circus”, Terry Gilliam, the only American of the company, turned entirely to feature film. His films weren’t always successful, but always interesting. “Twelve Monkeys” is a bizarre future fantasy film in which humanity is forced to live underground after 99 percent of the population has been killed by a deadly virus. A ‘volunteer’ is sent back in time to investigate the origin of the virus.
The Cable Guy
Steven is heartbroken and in need of distraction. He asks Chip, the cable guy, to secretly add some extra channels to his connection for fifty dollars. Chip will fix it, but then he wants to be Steven’s friend. And Steven has little need of that, especially after he notices how tenaciously Chip tries to worm his way into his life. It’s one of Jim Carrey’s darker comedies, directed by Ben Stiller. Besides being funny, it’s also a bit scary at times, in a satirical way. Robert Ebert actually included the film on his list of the worst films of 1996. Well, it’s on my favorites list.
From Dusk Till Dawn
After his worldwide success with “Pulp Fiction” screenwriter/ director Quentin Tarantino was given the opportunity to film previously rejected scripts after all. “From Dusk Till Dawn” was one of them. Brothers Seth and Richie (George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino) think they can find peace in Mexico’s nightclub the Titty Twister after a bank robbery and a hostage situation. But it’s going to be another long night Critics saw “From Dusk Till Dawn” as an offer of weakness and slammed it for its lack of coherence, bad taste, misogyny and excessive violence (it surely isn’t for the faint of heart). I, for that matter, love it. And with me many others, making “From Dusk Till Dawn” a cult classic in the pulp, B-movie type of genre.
Tragicomic masterpiece y Joel and Ethan Coen in which Jerry has his own wife kidnapped because he needs money for a business deal. The evil scheme faisl miserably due to, on the one hand, the botched work of the criminals and, on the other hand, the exceptional detective skills of the heavily pregnant police chief Marge. Probably my favorite Coen brother movie.
It’s a lighthearted film that tells the story of the rise and fall of a pop group in the mid-1960s. under the name Oneders (later changed Wonders, because they always pronounce it as Oh-needers) they record their first song independently. Their song, That Thing You Do, becomes a hit and we see what it does with each band member. It’s a fast-paced story, with a fun setting and it’s a perfect feel-good film. Directorial debut by Tom Hanks, who also has a small role in it.
Great adaptation of one of Roald Dahl’s children’s books. The six-year-old Matilda si not very loved by her parents and brother. And school director, Mrs. Trunchbull, isn’t a peach either. Fortunately there is her friend Lavender and teacher Miss Honey, who she gets help from. As well as from the paranormal force within herself. Directed by Danny DeVito, who also stars as Matilda’s father. The black comedy fits in seamlessly with writer Roald Dahl’s aversion to false sentiment and his humorous take on cartoonish powerful and mean adults.
Tom Cruise plays a sports agent. He speaks his conscience and is subsequently fired. The only two who support him are accountant’s assistant Dorothy and football player Rod Tidwell, one of his clients. We follow Jerry’s trial and error in his new world of love and depth. Tom Cruise performance is formidable and a breakthrough role for both Renee Zellweger and Cuba Gooding Jr.
Strong, original and fresh portrait of the life of a group of drug addicts in Edinburgh. The central character is Renton, who tries to kick the habit. That this is not easy is shown in a hilarious scene with the “filthiest toilet in Scotland”, without a doubt one of the most disgusting scenes in film history. Such funny moments are interspersed with shocking and sometimes deeply sad scenes. Ecellent acting, especially by Ewan McGregor and Robert Carlyle.
When an archbishop in Chicago is murdered by and altar boy, lawyer Martin Vail is eager to take on the defense, because he likes cases that will generate a lot of media attention. But it’s a tough job: the stuttering defendant is a wimp, but was caught covered in blood. Thrilling courtroom thriller, with one of Richard Gere’s better roles and a chance for Edward Norton to showcase his talent. A movie with a great twist.
“The Craft” beings as an average American teen movie: Sarah moves to Los Angeels and at her new school she experience all the problems of a newcomer. But then she meets three other girls who are outcasts. They bombard her as the fourth member of their coven of witches. “The Craft” might not be one of the best films of 1996, but it’s surely nostalgia for me and a movie I have revisited a lot. It’s a fun, pleasantly harsh horror film.
After “Monty Python’s Flying Circus”, Terry Gilliam, the only American of the company, turned entirely to feature film. His films weren’t always successful, but always interesting. “Twelve Monkeys” is a bizarre future fantasy film in which humanity is forced to live underground after 99 percent of the population has been killed by a deadly virus. A ‘volunteer’ is sent back in time to investigate the origin of the virus.
Steven is heartbroken and in need of distraction. He asks Chip, the cable guy, to secretly add some extra channels to his connection for fifty dollars. Chip will fix it, but then he wants to be Steven’s friend. And Steven has little need of that, especially after he notices how tenaciously Chip tries to worm his way into his life. It’s one of Jim Carrey’s darker comedies, directed by Ben Stiller. Besides being funny, it’s also a bit scary at times, in a satirical way. Robert Ebert actually included the film on his list of the worst films of 1996. Well, it’s on my favorites list.
After his worldwide success with “Pulp Fiction” screenwriter/ director Quentin Tarantino was given the opportunity to film previously rejected scripts after all. “From Dusk Till Dawn” was one of them. Brothers Seth and Richie (George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino) think they can find peace in Mexico’s nightclub the Titty Twister after a bank robbery and a hostage situation. But it’s going to be another long night Critics saw “From Dusk Till Dawn” as an offer of weakness and slammed it for its lack of coherence, bad taste, misogyny and excessive violence (it surely isn’t for the faint of heart). I, for that matter, love it. And with me many others, making “From Dusk Till Dawn” a cult classic in the pulp, B-movie type of genre.
