Taking a look at the year 1989, picking my 10 favorite movies from that
year in random order.
The Burbs
One of the best Tom Hanks movies nobody saw. At least, no one I know (besides my brother and parents of course, we watched it a lot). It’s funny, absurd and satirical. Dark humor, where Ray is spending his vacation days at home watching his new neighbors the Klopeks, who act weird and have strange noises coming from their house at night.
When Harry Met Sally
Harry and Sally are former college roommates but will never be friends because, according to Harry, friendship between men and women is impossible. Although the chemistry is obvious they maintain for years that nothing is wrong. Meg Ryan shines in her role as neurotic, somewhat naïve Sally. And Billy Crystal is the sarcastic and realistic Harry. One of the few romantic comedies I absolutely love.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
In part 3 of Steven Spielberg’s successful series about the archeologist-adventurer, Indiana Jones once again comes into conflict with the Nazis, who believe they have discovered the location of the Holy Grail. This time his father joins him on the journey. This causes extra stress and a lot of merriment in this action/ adventure film. One of the best third-in-a-trilogy films.
Back to the Future II
The story of this second part of the “Back to the Future” trilogy begins seconds after part one ended. Marty McFly has to go back to the future, conjures up Doc Brown, because things seem to be going completely wrong there. To solve it, he will have to jump back and forth in time considerably. Great follow-up to one of the best time-travel movies ever made.
Dead Poet’s Society
Keating teaches English in 1959 at a posh boarding school for boys where iron discipline reigns. That he wants to teach the students to think in an original and independent way, is not well-received by the staff and parents but makes him very popular with the students. A small group of boys take Keating’s lessons to heart, with tragic consequences. The message of the film is very skillfully conveyed by Robin Williams (who plays Keating), who thus showed that he could handle a serious role very well.
Born on the 4th of July
Director Oliver Stone based his movie on the autobiography of Ron Kovic, who returned from combat mentally and physically broken and became active in the anti-war movement. Brave venture by Tom Cruise, who convinces as a naïve idealist who becomes deeply embittered and ends up as an energetic activist. A Tom Cruise movie that is not talked about enough.
Glory
During the American Civil War, the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry regiment fights the Confederates. The regiment consists of black and white volunteers, but is led by white officers. One of them, Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, has his doubts about the expected discipline and employability of the black soldiers. Wonderful roles by Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington. Impressively detailed war film.
Field of Dreams
‘If you build it, he will come’. The level-headed farmer Ray Kinsella hears the words as a whisper. He doesn’t’ know where they come from, but he does know that he needs to build an entire baseball field on his cornfield. More mysterious developments follow. One of the many baseball films Kevin Costner has made, but also his best.
Do the Right Thing
Colorful, individualistic magnification of a multi-racial New York neighborhood, Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn full of explosive tension. In less than 24 hours, the residents, partly due to the summer heat, partly due to bigotry, are brought to a boiling point. The hatred is directed primarily at the Italian operators of a pizza joint. A film full of brutality, is definitely established Spike Lee’s reputation as a director without succumbing to commercial trends or easy thrills. Great piece of cinema, even if it won’t be to everyone’s taste.
Uncle Buck
This movie is on her simply for sentimental and nostalgic reasons, since this has always been a family favorite. Father and mother Russell have to go away for a while and are looking in vain for a babysitter. They have no choice but to call Uncle Buck, the black sheep of the family. This corpulent, anything but conventional bachelor takes his job seriously, however, and it’s not long before he has trouble with daughter Tia and her boyfriend. John Candy manages to steal al our hearts as Uncle Buck.
One of the best Tom Hanks movies nobody saw. At least, no one I know (besides my brother and parents of course, we watched it a lot). It’s funny, absurd and satirical. Dark humor, where Ray is spending his vacation days at home watching his new neighbors the Klopeks, who act weird and have strange noises coming from their house at night.
Harry and Sally are former college roommates but will never be friends because, according to Harry, friendship between men and women is impossible. Although the chemistry is obvious they maintain for years that nothing is wrong. Meg Ryan shines in her role as neurotic, somewhat naïve Sally. And Billy Crystal is the sarcastic and realistic Harry. One of the few romantic comedies I absolutely love.
In part 3 of Steven Spielberg’s successful series about the archeologist-adventurer, Indiana Jones once again comes into conflict with the Nazis, who believe they have discovered the location of the Holy Grail. This time his father joins him on the journey. This causes extra stress and a lot of merriment in this action/ adventure film. One of the best third-in-a-trilogy films.
The story of this second part of the “Back to the Future” trilogy begins seconds after part one ended. Marty McFly has to go back to the future, conjures up Doc Brown, because things seem to be going completely wrong there. To solve it, he will have to jump back and forth in time considerably. Great follow-up to one of the best time-travel movies ever made.
Keating teaches English in 1959 at a posh boarding school for boys where iron discipline reigns. That he wants to teach the students to think in an original and independent way, is not well-received by the staff and parents but makes him very popular with the students. A small group of boys take Keating’s lessons to heart, with tragic consequences. The message of the film is very skillfully conveyed by Robin Williams (who plays Keating), who thus showed that he could handle a serious role very well.
Director Oliver Stone based his movie on the autobiography of Ron Kovic, who returned from combat mentally and physically broken and became active in the anti-war movement. Brave venture by Tom Cruise, who convinces as a naïve idealist who becomes deeply embittered and ends up as an energetic activist. A Tom Cruise movie that is not talked about enough.
During the American Civil War, the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry regiment fights the Confederates. The regiment consists of black and white volunteers, but is led by white officers. One of them, Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, has his doubts about the expected discipline and employability of the black soldiers. Wonderful roles by Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington. Impressively detailed war film.
‘If you build it, he will come’. The level-headed farmer Ray Kinsella hears the words as a whisper. He doesn’t’ know where they come from, but he does know that he needs to build an entire baseball field on his cornfield. More mysterious developments follow. One of the many baseball films Kevin Costner has made, but also his best.
Colorful, individualistic magnification of a multi-racial New York neighborhood, Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn full of explosive tension. In less than 24 hours, the residents, partly due to the summer heat, partly due to bigotry, are brought to a boiling point. The hatred is directed primarily at the Italian operators of a pizza joint. A film full of brutality, is definitely established Spike Lee’s reputation as a director without succumbing to commercial trends or easy thrills. Great piece of cinema, even if it won’t be to everyone’s taste.
This movie is on her simply for sentimental and nostalgic reasons, since this has always been a family favorite. Father and mother Russell have to go away for a while and are looking in vain for a babysitter. They have no choice but to call Uncle Buck, the black sheep of the family. This corpulent, anything but conventional bachelor takes his job seriously, however, and it’s not long before he has trouble with daughter Tia and her boyfriend. John Candy manages to steal al our hearts as Uncle Buck.
