Sometimes you just freeze up like a deer in the headlights of an oncoming car when you go to Blockbuster to rent a flick. Your mind goes blank. It's okay, I understand. Well, fear no more because I've done your thinking for you. Try one of these selections next time. Each is a winner in its own way.
Being John Malkovich (1999) This movie is way out there. The premise is that you can crawl into a hole in the wall in a Manhattan office, enter the body of John Malkovich, and end up on the Jersey Turnpike. It only gets stranger from there. And even though this a good flick with a good performance by John Cusack, someone else could have played that role just as well, and he should stick to the Lane Meyer archetype.
Better Off Dead... (1985) Made on an apparent budget of fifty bucks, this early effort from John Cusack still numbers among his best. This movie was the archetype for all the GOOD Cusack movies that followed: Say Anything, One Crazy Summer, even High Fidelity. Whenever Cusack deviates from the plan, there's trouble. Sure, The Grifters was good, but who the hell saw it? And Fat Man and Little Boy? Give me a break. John, stretch your dramatic muscles on your own time. The people want Lane Meyer, and plenty of him. Get to work.
Clerks (1994) Black and white, rough around the edges, and hysterically funny. Kevin Smith's first offering is still, in my opinion, his best. His talent for casting funny unknown (and largely untrained) actors, his superb dialogue, the bizarre situational humor - all unsurpassed as of this writing. Check it out.
Damage (1992) Now here's a foreign arthouse flick i can get behind. Jeremy Irons plays a member of parliament who begins an affair with his son's fiancee. Juliet Binoche has a mesmerizing sexuality as his love interest that you just don't see very often in an American film, with their big tit, bleached blonde hair, thong mentality. On the far side of love lies obsession, and that's where this one is headed. As the relationship grows more intense and more careless, there are consequences and repercussions, followed by the inevitable regrets. One of my all-time favorites.
Dark Crystal, The (1982) Almost certainly the only movie you'll see on this list starring muppets.
Deep Cover (1992) Larry Fishburne plays a cop with a psychological profile nearly identical to that of a criminal. When he is recruited to infiltrate the organization of drug dealer Jeff Goldblum, he finds that his loyalties are put to the test. Cop posing as drug dealer, or drug dealer posing as cop? The movie suffers from some pacing problems, but rewards the patient with great performances. Fishburne is always excellent, and Goldblum is surprisingly good as the villain. Who knew he was good for anything except pimping Apple computers?
Desperado (1995) A fun movie featuring a high body count, incredibly long shoot-outs, and the filthiest toilet on planet earth. Unencumbered by a meaningful plot of any kind.
Excalibur (1981) Still unsurpassed in telling the King Arthur legend despite the dated special effects and relatively low budget.
Highlander (1986) There can be only one! Only one good movie apparently because this gem spawned worse sequels than Jaws
Léon (1994) "The Professional" in American release. Moody dialogue movie punctuated by explosive violence. One of Gary Oldman's greatest performances. Also features Danny Aiello, who as far as I'm concerned is just a fat, loudmouth guinea who plays himself in every movie he's in. But that's just me.
Memento (2000) Leonard awakens
from a blow to the head to find his wife is dead, and he has suffered brain
damage that has affected his short term memory. He then sets out to find and
kill his wife's murderer, despite the fact that he is now unable to form new
memories, and can only retain new information for 15 minutes. He goes about
his investigation by taking Polaroid's (this is my car, this is my motel,etc.)
and by tattooing clues on his body so that he'll be reminded of his mission
and his evidence when he looks in the mirror.
As if it wasn't bizarre enough already, the movie is shown backwards. By seeing
the last scene first and the first scene last, the audience is denied the information
that Leonard is denied. While showing a film out of sequence is hardly a new
technique, it has rarely been used more effectively or with better reason than
in Memento.
As strange as it gets, Memento is an entertaining and thought -provoking film
that stays with you. Given it's unusual nature, it's not surprising that every
major studio passed on what turned out to be one of the best films of 2000.
Outlaw Josey Wales, The (1976) Whenever I'm flipping channels and come across this one, i watch it to the end. One of the greatest westerns ever. No matter when you tune in, you know you won't have to wait more than five minutes to see Clint hammer somebody out.
Parenthood (1989) Director Ron Howard and Steve Martin head up an ensemble cast in one of the funniest movies of the 80's. It should be noted that this film marked Martin's descent into the " I'll make you laugh, but I'll also tug your heartstrings in a bittersweet, Robin Williams kind of way" roles he currently plays.
Pitch Black (2000) It's a claustrophobic thriller set in space, but this movie is no poor man's Alien. A freighter crash lands on a desert planet where there is seemingly no night - and that's a good thing because there is a race of nocturnal predators living below ground. Among the survivors are a bounty hunter and his sociopath prisoner who is unique for having had surgery that allows him to see in darkness. Shortly after the crash, the castaways learn of an impending eclipse, so there will soon be no sunlight, which is all that keeps an entire race of monsters at bay.
Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987) Before Steve Martin abandoned slapstick comedy for more touching, heartwarming roles, and before John Candy got it in his head that he could be a star instead of the greatest second banana in films, they made this treasure. Among the funniest movies ever filmed, this one can go toe to toe with any comedy you'd care to name for laugh-out-loud moments. Fortunately, Candy died before they could ruin it with a sequel.
Re-Animator (1985) Without question, the greatest B-movie horror flick ever made. It's cheesy, gory, and funny all at the same time.
Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993) The biography of chess prodigy Josh Waitzkin is a largely overlooked film that deserves your attention. It's an interesting examination of the father and son dynamic set against the intense backdrop of children's chess tournaments. It also boasts a supporting role for Larry Fishburne, who in my opinion can do no wrong. This movie does for chess what Top Gun did for aviation. Okay, not really, but check it out.
Stir Of Echoes (1999) This is a great supernatural thriller that was virtually ignored in the wake of the hype surrounding The Sixth Sense. While the two movies share a few similar elements, Stir of Echoes is an original piece that covers entirely different ground. It features a good performance from the otherwise bland Kevin Bacon, who becomes sensitive to the paranormal after being hypnotized at a party. Stay with it…
True Romance (1993) Quentin Tarrantino wrote this one before his breakout success "Reservoir Dogs", and it slipped under the radar for some folks. Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette are an unconventional couple heading to California to close a drug deal, with typical Tarantino action along the way. What really makes this one stand out is the supporting cast: Dennis Hopper and Christopher Walken share a scene that is a virtual showstopper, Gary Oldman as drug dealing pimp, Val Kilmer as the ghost of Elvis, and an early performance for James Gandalfini in a role that surely led to his consideration for the part of Tony Soprano.
Unforgiven (1992) An older, meaner, darker Clint Eastwood made the best western ever. This is the one that finally knocked Outlaw Josey Wales out of the box. All the violence you've come to expect, plus regret and melancholy. A rare dynamic character from the man who brought us Dirty Harry and The Man With No Name. I don't expect to see a better western in my lifetime.
Very Bad Things (1998) The darkest comedy ever filmed. A group of friends accidentally kill a hooker at a bachelor party, and decide to cover it up. More and more people have to die in order to keep the secret as time goes on. Doesn't sound funny, but it is. Every time you think they've hit bottom and the movie's over - it gets worse and goes on for another ten minutes. It's not for everyone, but people who like that sort of thing will find the sort of thing they like.