Top 50 Films of the 1990's (Revised List)

P.S. I think I really need to get round to watching more 1990's foreign language cinema.

Also, I bold and elaborate on what I think the strongest aspect of each film is.

1. L.A. Confidential

Direction: A++

Acting (individual): A++

Acting (ensemble): A++ (a spellbindingly brilliant trio of three of the greatest modern-day actors Kevin Spacey, Guy Pearce, and Russell Crowe, plus a uniformly excellent cast)

Screenplay: A++ 

Cinematography: A++

Editing: A++

Costume/Production Design: A++ (pitch-perfect recreation of the 1950's)

Soundtrack: A++

2. Edward Scissorhands 

(A marvelous tribute I found on the Joblo Youtube channel)

Direction: A++ (Burton's spellbinding direction of his suburban fairytale is a treat for both the eyes and the heart)

Acting (individual): A++  

Acting (ensemble): A

Screenplay: A++

Cinematography: A++

Editing: A+

Costume/Production Design: A++

Soundtrack: A++ (Danny Elfman + snow)

3. Leon the Professional 

And this gleefully OTT tribute to Mr Stansfield from Youtube Channel MisterGuggs (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuy1Mli7vFEd6B4kdDXwShA)

Direction: A++ 

Acting (individual): A++ (Gary Oldman and Natalie Portman both give career-best performances)

Acting (ensemble): A+

Screenplay: A+

Cinematography: A++

Editing: A++ 

Costume/Production Design: A+

Soundtrack: A++

4. The Green Mile 

Direction: A++ 

Acting (individual): A++

Acting (ensemble): A++ (Every performance hits the mark. And by that, I mean EVERY performance)

Screenplay: A++

Cinematography: A++

Editing: A+

Costume/Production Design: A++

Soundtrack: A+

5. Magnolia 

Direction: A++ (Paul Thomas Anderson's handling of so many different elements and strands of plots together through the theme of chance and fate is just marvelous)

Acting (individual): A++

Acting (ensemble): A++

Screenplay: A++

Cinematography: A++

Editing: A++

Costume/Production Design: A

Soundtrack: A++

7. The Thin Red Line

8. Fargo

Direction: A++

Acting (individual): A++

Acting (ensemble): A++

Screenplay: A++ (arguably the Coen Brothers' most well-written, intricately plotted film. And that's saying something)

Cinematography: A++

Editing: A++

Costume/Production Design: A+

Soundtrack: A++

9. Barton Fink

Direction: A++

Acting (individual): A++ (John Turturro and John Goodman are absolutely amazing in their respective roles as writer with pretension and lovable best friend with a secret)

Acting (ensemble): A+

Screenplay: A++

Cinematography: A++

Editing: A++

Costume/Production Design: A++

Soundtrack: A+

10. Schindler's List

Direction: A++

Acting (individual): A+

Acting (ensemble): A++
Screenplay: A++

Cinematography: A++

Editing: A+

Costume/Production Design: A++

Soundtrack: A++ (the whole film is amazing but I'll admit my favourite element has always been the spellbinding soundtrack which is so beautifully moving)

11. The Truman Show

Direction: A++

Acting (individual): A+

Acting (ensemble): A+

Screenplay: A++ (manages to be funny, dark, contemplative and witty all at the same time, such an intricate exploration of so many of the dilemmas surrounding freedom/free will in media)

Cinematography: A+

Editing: A+

Costume/Production Design: A++

Soundtrack: A++


12. The Crying Game

Direction: A++

Acting (individual): A+

Acting (ensemble): A

Screenplay: A++ (excellently handles an array of scattershot themes from all around the place, from sex to politics to love to loyalty and above all, human nature, into a taut, thrilling narrative)

Cinematography: A+

Editing: A+

Costume/Production Design: A+

Soundtrack: A++

13. Se7en

Direction: A++ (David Fincher's direction is a character all in itself here as each terrifying murder is brought to life through death so vividly, and the procedural plot has never been as atmospherically defined as it has been here)

Acting (individual): A+

Acting (ensemble): A++

Screenplay: A++

Cinematography: A++

Editing: A+

Costume/Production Design: A+

Soundtrack: A+

14. Gettysburg

Direction: A++

Acting (individual): A++

Acting (ensemble): A++ (Richard Jordan leads the way with his heartbreaking turn as a man torn by war and friendship, but everyone else is excellent too, especially Jeff Daniels)

Screenplay: A+

Cinematography: A++

Editing: A+

Costume/Production Design: A++

Soundtrack: A++

13. Goodfellas

Direction: A++ 

Acting (individual): A+

Acting (ensemble): A++

Screenplay: A++

Cinematography: A++ (every single shot in this film is pitch-perfect)

Editing: A++

Costume/Production Design: A++

Soundtrack: A++

15. The Shawshank Redemption

Direction: A++ (Darabont is truly the king of King)

Acting (individual): A+

Acting (ensemble): A+

Screenplay: A++

Cinematography: A++

Editing: A+

Costume/Production Design: A+

Soundtrack: A++

16. The Insider

Direction: A++

Acting (individual): A+

Acting (ensemble): A+

Screenplay: A++ (tells a potentially bogged down/boring story so brilliantly, never moralising but instead intelligently presenting the whole vast picture of the media shennanigans)

Cinematography: A++

Editing: A+

Costume/Production Design: A+

Soundtrack: A++

17. Ed Wood

Direction: A++ (Burton flawlessly recreates Wood's era and the director's specific personal style perfectly without ever feeling like a parody. It's splendidly heartwarming homage.)

Acting (individual): A++

Acting (ensemble): A+

Screenplay: A++ 

Cinematography: A++

Editing: A+

Costume/Production Design: A++

Soundtrack: A+

18. Misery

Direction: A+

Acting (individual): A++ (Kathy Bates gives a tremendous, all-time great harrowing performance and James Caan is brilliant in giving a reactive performance to it all)

Acting (ensemble): A+

Screenplay: A++ 

Cinematography: A+

Editing: A+

Costume/Production Design: A+

Soundtrack: A

19. Shakespeare in Love

Direction: A+

Acting (individual): A-

Acting (ensemble): A

Screenplay: A++ (Tom Stoppard's screenplay is every Shakespeare aficionado's wet dream, with references all over the place and is just so charming, funny and has so much heart)

Cinematography: A+

Editing: A+

Costume/Production Design: A++

Soundtrack: A++

20. Silence of the Lambs

Direction: A+

Acting (individual): A++ (Anthony Hopkins' devilishly fun and chilling turn matched with Jodie Foster's brilliant reactionary performance is true movie magic)

Acting (ensemble): A+

Screenplay: A++ 

Cinematography: A+

Editing: A++

Costume/Production Design: A+

Soundtrack: A++

21. Reservoir Dogs

Direction: A+

Acting (individual): A

Acting (ensemble): A+

Screenplay: A++ (brilliantly creates such a claustraphobic atmosphere of tension while adding so much humour, and singlehandedly lifting the film from low-production value thriller to a crime masterpiece)

Cinematography: A+

Editing: A+

Costume/Production Design: B

Soundtrack: A++

22. Jurassic Park

Direction: A+

Acting (individual): A-

Acting (ensemble): A

Screenplay: A+

Cinematography: A++

Editing: A++

Costume/Production Design/Special Effects: A++ 

Soundtrack: A++ (that theme tune gets me going every time)

23. Jackie Brown

Direction: A+

Acting (individual): A++

Acting (ensemble): A+

Screenplay: A++

Cinematography: A+

Editing: A+

Costume/Production Design/Special Effects: A+

Soundtrack: A++ (Pam Grier's great in the lead role, the whole ensemble is very good, and I really like the characters/storyline, but my favourite thing is the eclectic choice of tunes from the Delfonics to of course the unforgettable tune, 'Across 110th Street')

24. Boogie Nights (a re-watch could bump this up)

Direction: A++

Acting (individual): A++

Acting (ensemble): A++

Screenplay: A+

Cinematography: A++ (the tracking shots. Those tracking shots.)

Editing: A+

Costume/Production Design: A++

Soundtrack: A++

25. Beauty and the Beast

Direction: A+

Acting (vocal): A++ (pretty much every voice role is perfect, with the highlights being Jerry Orbach and Ronny Benson)

Screenplay: A

Animation: A++

Editing: A

Soundtrack: A++

26. Hamlet

Direction: A++ (it's incredibly how Branagh manages to convey all the essence of one of Shakespeare's heftiest, deepest plays with his superb direction)

Acting (individual): A+

Acting (ensemble): A+

Screenplay: A++

Cinematography: A+

Editing: A+

Costume/Production Design: A++

Soundtrack: A+

27. Princess Mononoke

Direction: A++ (Hayao Miyazaki's best work as a director, I'd say, though I need to re-watch/watch a few more Studio Ghibli films. He merges the dark and hopeful tones of the film's fantastical setting so perfectly)

Acting (vocal): A+

Screenplay: A+

Animation: A++

Editing: A+

Soundtrack: A+

28. The Remains of the Day

Direction: A+

Acting (individual): A++ (Anthony Hopkins' greatest performance. Yes, greater than Silence of the Lambs. And Emma Thompson is almost equally great. Their scenes together are acting perfection)

Acting (ensemble): A+

Screenplay: A++

Cinematography: A+

Editing: A+

Costume/Production Design: A+

Soundtrack: A++

29. Pulp Fiction

Direction: A+

Acting (individual): A+

Acting (ensemble): A++ (I can't quite call the brilliant screenplay perfect, since there is that extended bedroom scene after Butch's fight that's excruciatingly poorly written, but I do think the whole cast is fantastic and works together well, with Jackson and Thurman in particular close to being among my all-time favourites in their respective categories)

Screenplay: A++

Cinematography: A+

Editing: A+

Costume/Production Design: A+

Soundtrack: A++

30. The Big Lebowski

Direction: A++

Acting (individual): A+

Acting (ensemble): A+

Screenplay: A++ (easily the funniest Coen Brothers' film in terms of just going all out for laughs.)

Cinematography: A+

Editing: A+

Costume/Production Design: A++

Soundtrack: A+

31. Dead Man Walking

32. Unforgiven

Direction: A+

Acting (individual): A+

Acting (ensemble): A+

Screenplay: A++ (my favourite part of this deconstructive Western really, as it so beautifully takes down so many of the tropes and conventions of the genre)

Cinematography: A++

Editing: A+

Costume/Production Design: A+

Soundtrack: A+

33. Babe

Direction: A+

Acting (individual): A+

Acting (ensemble): A++ (I love the whole cast of animal voices and of course, James Cromwell as Farmer Hoggett. They all bring so much flavour to potentially thin characters)

Screenplay: A+

Cinematography: A+

Editing: A

Costume/Production Design: A+

Soundtrack: A+

34. Braveheart

Direction: A++

Acting (individual): B+

Acting (ensemble): A

Screenplay: A

Cinematography: A++ 

Editing: A+

Costume/Production Design: A++ (The film is not without flaws but one thing about it I have absolutely no qualms about it whatsoever are the technical aspects. In particular, every set and costume has such a distncitve quality to it all by itself.)

Soundtrack: A++

35. Trainspotting

Direction: A+

Acting (individual): A+

Acting (ensemble): A++ (Ewan McGregor is such a great straight man lead and all his co-stars play so well off of him, in particular Robert Carlyle. I can't wait for the sequel to see them regroup)

Screenplay: A+

Cinematography: A
Editing: A-

Costume/Production Design: A-

Soundtrack: A++

36. Before Sunrise

Direction: A

Acting (individual): A+

Screenplay: A++ (A film that's truly all about the conversations. Well, that's no worry since I love the film and the naturalistic discourse between the two characters is so great)

Cinematography: A
Editing: A

Costume/Production Design: A

Soundtrack: A+

37. Miller's Crossing (this could go up)

Direction: A++ (I need to re-watch the film again sometime soon but from what I do remember, the direction of the film was by far the MVP as the Coens are at their A-game)

Acting (individual): A
Acting (ensemble): A+

Screenplay: A

Cinematography: A++ 
Editing: B+

Costume/Production Design: A++

Soundtrack: A++

38. Toy Story 2

Direction: A+

Acting (vocal): A+

Screenplay: A+

Animation: A+

Editing: A+

Soundtrack: A+

39. The Full Monty

40. The Piano

Direction: A++ (Jane Campion is a genius.)

Acting (individual): A++ (Holly Hunter is brilliant.)
Acting (ensemble): A+ (shout-out to Sam Neill and Harvey Keitel for making a lot out of very standard sort of roles)

Screenplay: A+

Cinematography: A++ 
Editing: A

Costume/Production Design: A+

Soundtrack: A+

41. In the Name of the Father

Direction: A-

Acting (individual): A+
Acting (ensemble): A++ (Daniel Day-Lewis, Pete Postlethwaite, and Emma Thompson, three British greats all on their A-game. Plus the supporting characters are all solidly handled too)
Screenplay: A-

Cinematography: A
Editing: B+

Costume/Production Design: A+

Soundtrack: A+

42. JFK

Direction: A+

Acting (individual): A+
Acting (ensemble): A++ (Donald Sutherland, Gary Oldman, Kevin Costner and Joe Pesci stand out in particular, but really overall this is a stunningly good cast that I probably like even more than the film itself)
Screenplay: A-

Cinematography: A-
Editing: A

Costume/Production Design: A

Soundtrack: B+

43. Tarzan

Direction: A

Acting (vocal): A+

Screenplay: B

Animation: A++

Editing: A

Soundtrack: A++ (Phil Collins/Genesis seems to be a bit of a joke in this country but I'll confess I love Collins' music and I love the soundtrack to Tarzan. Even as Jack Reynor's character in Sing Street muses, 'no woman can truly love a man who listens to Phil Collins')

44. Apollo 13

Direction: B

Acting (individual): A
Acting (ensemble): A+
Screenplay: A+

Cinematography: A+
Editing: A++ (just moves along so seamlessly and it is a very, very watchable film)

Costume/Production Design: A

Soundtrack: A-

45. What's Eating Gilbert Grape

Direction: B+

Acting (individual): A+
Acting (ensemble): A++ (Leonardo DiCaprio and Darlene Cates are truly great, the whole cast is an enjoyably combined ball of quirk and loveliness, and boy do I miss the old Johnny Depp.)
Screenplay: A-

Cinematography: A-
Editing: B+

Costume/Production Design: B+

Soundtrack: A-

46. The Mission

Direction: A+

Acting (individual): A+
Acting (ensemble): A++ (everyone in the cast is on point. Roy Cheung is the obvious standout, but each of the cast members are so impressive in turning caricatures into characters)
Screenplay: B+

Cinematography: A
Editing: B-

Costume/Production Design: B

Soundtrack: A-

47. The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Direction: A-

Acting (vocal): A++ (Quasimodo and Frollo aren't as iconic as in the 1939 film but that doesn't mean they're not great in themselves as creations by Tom Hulce and Tony Jay.)

Screenplay: B

Animation: A+

Editing: B+

Soundtrack: A++

48. True Romance

Direction: A+

Acting (individual): A
Acting (ensemble): A++
Screenplay: A

Cinematography: A
Editing: B

Costume/Production Design: A-

Soundtrack: A++ (some very unconventional Hans Zimmer work here and I loved it)

49. Wild at Heart

Direction: A+

Acting (individual): A
Acting (ensemble): A++ (Nic Cage doing Elvis impressions, Laura Dern so endearingly sweet and beautiful, Willem Dafoe and an entourage of weirdos hamming it up, and best of all Harry Dean Stanton delivering a wonderully deadpan and heartbreaking performance)
Screenplay: A

Cinematography: A
Editing: A-

Costume/Production Design: A-

Soundtrack: A 

50. The Lion King

Direction: B+

Acting (vocal): A+

Screenplay: B+

Animation: A+

Editing: B-

Soundtrack: A++ (It's all about the banging tune really, which this film definitely delivers in spades, with 'Hakuna Matata' and 'Can You Feel the Love Tonight' standing out)