The Devil’s Advocate
Al Pacino liked seducing young, upcoming, ambitious men in the ’90s, or at least in his roles. This time he has his paws on Keanu Reeves, an upcoming lawyer who recently joined his world class company. Introduction to the high society and other things the highest level of rich living brings takes unexpected turns in this drama mystery thriller.
The Rainmaker
Some would say the last good Francis Ford Coppola movie, and the director did his magic on another type of movie that was popular in the decade – lawyer drama. Matt Damon stars as the young, idealistic lawyer, who takes on a big insurance company in a lawsuit that is, unfortunately, still relevant. And Danny DeVito also appears, reminding us how big he was in the ’90s.
The Saint
The least well-received and worst rated movie of the bunch, but damn if it isn’t a lot of fun. In the trope of ’90s action movies with weird premises and political notes, The Saint is a beautifully shot story about a thief (Val Kilmer) on a mission to steal the formula for cold fusion. But he is not the only one as the Russian government wants the same power to, and it’s portrayed greatly by Rade Serbedzija as Ivan Tretiak.
Photo: TriStar Pictures
One of the movies that really gave Jack Nicholson the opportunity to showcase his acting prowess and cement his place as one of the best actors around. A story which is hard to place inside several genres, although you’ll be laughing a lot throughout it. Helen Hunt and Cuba Gooding Jr. bring their share of talent to this seemingly bland, but after all exciting film.
Lost Highway
Coming from the unique directing mind of David Lynch, Lost Highway is a very weird, highly abstract mystery thriller that will grip you strongly with its different style. Bill Pullman and Patricia Arquette star in a movie that is definitely not for everyone, and could be a tough viewing for some. While it’s not regarded as such, it could be seen as one of the great horror movies of the year.
Jackie Brown
Riding on the successes of the insanely popular Reservoir Dogs (1992) and Pulp Fiction (1994) director Quentin Tarantino proved that he is a genre or a style director with his third movie Jackie Brown. Another high-paced crime thriller with a big cast, only this time a stewardess is in the middle of the story.
Donnie Brasco
Back in the time when Johnny Depp was still good and didn’t do only one type of weird, eccentric roles, he teamed up with Al Pacino in one of the rich decade’s crime classics. Depp was the perfect choice for the role of a young FBI undercover agent, taken under the wing of a high profile wiseguy played by Pacino.
Photo: Miramax Films
The number 25 on the IMDB’s top list and that’s not saying nearly enough of this brilliant bit of cinematographic artistry. Directed, co-written by the acting star of the film Roberto Benigni, playing a Jewish librarian in Italy during the Holocaust. Along with his very young and oblivious son, he is captured in a concentration camp, and the lengths this father goes through to save his offspring from the horrors of their predicament would be inspiring and touching even to a zombie.
Chasing Amy
A cult classic as it sort of serves as the centerpiece for the Kevin Smith‘s movies, who was the most mainstream cult filmmaker of the ’90s. A mature romantic comedy drama, Chasing Amy touches on some relatable themes of life. Joey Lauren Adams, Ben Affleck, and Jason Lee truly become the characters they play, and the bonus of Jay and Silent Bob is always nice.
Hercules
The ’90s were the decade of the Disney renaissance, and while Hercules isn’t on the level of The Lion King or Alladin, it’s still a great animated movie. A hero story deriving from a famous Greek myth is filled with great comedic and musical moments, and Danny DeVito shines as the sidekick.
Which one of these great movies from 1997 would you consider the best or do you think we missed some amazing film?
