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#10: “That Thing You Do!” (1996)
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Not many people realize that Tom Hanks is also a director. He has directed two films throughout his movie career, and while 2011’s “Larry Crowne” received a lukewarm critical reception, “That Thing You Do!” is an excellent musical comedy with beautiful period detail. Hanks plays Amos White, a record company representative who manages a one hit wonder pop band throughout the mid ‘60s. It’s a charming little film with funny jokes, great characters played by great actors, and some seriously catchy music - some of which was also written by Hanks. There is nothing this man can’t do, and “That Thing You Do!” shows him at the top of his game.
#9: “Sneakers” (1992)
Crime comedies are a dime a dozen, but none feature a cast quite like “Sneakers”. Starring the likes of Robert Redford, Ben Kingsley, Sidney Poitier, Dan Aykroyd, and River Phoenix, “Sneakers” concerns a cyber security team who are tasked by the NSA with recovering a mysterious “black box”. The movie goes down real easy, mixing glorious ‘90s tech with an entertaining cast of characters. It doesn’t do anything especially new with the crime movie, but it harkens back to the genre’s glory days in the ‘70s. This is mirrored in the older cast, with Redford, Aykroyd, and Poitier all being very popular throughout that decade. “Sneakers” is rooted in nostalgia, and it makes for comforting viewing.
#8: “Boys on the Side” (1995)
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A sort of comedic “Thelma and Louise”, “Boys on the Side” is a road trip dramedy starring ‘90s icons Whoopi Goldberg, Mary-Louise Parker, and Drew Barrymore. The story is deceptively simple, as it follows a struggling musician, a real estate agent, and a drug dealer who bond on a cross-country road trip to Los Angeles. The three vastly different women share life experiences on the road and help each other through their unique troubles. The film tenderly deals with some difficult subject matter, including abuse and the debilitating effects of HIV. It also contains a stellar supporting cast (including a young Matthew McConaughey) and a great soundtrack containing the likes of Stevie Nicks, The Cranberries, and Sheryl Crow.
#7: “Beautiful Girls” (1996)
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Few ‘90s movies capture the quarter life malaise quite as well or as sympathetically as “Beautiful Girls”. Timothy Hutton plays Willie Conway, a professional jazz pianist who returns to his small Massachusetts hometown for his ten year high school reunion. While there, he meets up with his old high school buddies, each of whom are stressed and floundering in their own unique ways. Shot in Minnesota, “Beautiful Girls” has a beautiful and inviting winter atmosphere, as director Ted Demme wished to make the setting its own character. Writer Scott Rosenberg also based the story around his own personal experiences living in the small town of Needham, Massachusetts and watching his aging friends deal with personal issues. It’s an intimate film, both feel good and morose.
#6: “Dark City” (1998)
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Sometimes heralded as a major inspiration on the “Matrix” franchise, “Dark City” is a gloomy science fiction drama with philosophical musings. The story concerns John Murdoch, an amnesiac who is wanted for the deaths of numerous people. Pursuing him are both the city’s Police Inspector and a group of creepy pale men known as The Strangers. Academics have noted the story’s roots in Greek mythology and Plato’s philosophy, and writer-director Alex Proyas took major stylistic influence from classic film noirs. It’s easily one of the most atmospheric pieces of sci-fi ever put to film, complete with imaginative production design, cinematography, and world building. While a commercial disappointment, “Dark City” showcases the brilliance of movie magic.
#5: “Bound” (1996)
Speaking of “The Matrix”, “Bound” served as the Wachowskis’ directorial debut. It signaled great things to come while also serving as a captivating film in its own right. “Bound” is obviously a product of the highly successful “Basic Instinct”, as it too is an erotic thriller rooted in the neo-noir genre. The story concerns two lesbians - Corky and Violet - who plan on robbing the mafia. The movie’s LGBT+ themes and tender love sequences overseen by famed feminist Susie Bright were repeatedly praised, and it won the GLAAD Award for Outstanding Film. It also showcased the obvious talent of the Wachowskis as filmmakers, as their direction was confident and their story both genuinely exciting and well told.
#4: “L.A. Story” (1991)
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This rom-com belongs to Steve Martin, as he both wrote and starred in the film. He is Harris Telemacher, an underachieving weatherman who struggles through his disillusionment with Los Angeles. He is finding the city and its inhabitants increasingly pretentious, and he is stuck in both a dead-end job and a failing relationship with his girlfriend. Martin is excellent in the role, and his writing underscores tragic truths about midlife crises and modern city living. Even though the film was released in 1991, its themes are universal, and many of its hilarious observations can still be applied to 21st century Los Angeles. It is one of the quintessential L.A. movies, striking the perfect balance between vicious satire and compassionate love letter.
#3: “Miller’s Crossing” (1990)
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When it comes to the Coen brothers’ filmography, most people will recognize the likes of “Fargo”, “The Big Lebowski”, and “No Country for Old Men”, just to name a few of their classics. But few ever give “Miller’s Crossing” the respect it deserves. Gabriel Byrne plays Tom Reagan, a Prohibition-era gangster who plays both sides in a war between Irish and Italian families. The movie takes major inspiration from past gangster classics while also stamping its own unique, noir-y identity on the genre. It contains memorable characters wonderfully played by seasoned veterans, a complex plot that gave the brothers writer’s block, and a gorgeous filming location in New Orleans.
#2: “Red Rock West” (1993)
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Nicolas Cage may be a meme actor today, but movies like “Red Rock West” prove his genuine capabilities as a performer. This movie sees him playing Michael Williams, an ex-military drifter who is mistaken for a hitman. Filmed throughout Montana and Arizona, the film serves as a modern Western with the personality of a film noir. Unfortunately, this bizarre mix of genres wasn’t marketable and Columbia sent the film straight to cable, ensuring that it never gathered the audience it so desperately deserved. Luckily, it played to success at the Toronto International Film Festival and found a small but devoted audience, landing itself on various year-end lists. It’s exciting, it’s funny, and it contains a career-high performance from Cage. What’s not to love? Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Mo’ Better Blues” (1990) Spike Lee Directs Denzel Washington, Wesley Snipes, and Himself to Great Musical Success “Chaplin” (1992) Robert Downey Jr. Gives a Career-Best Performance as Silent Film Legend Charlie Chaplin “To Sleep with Anger” (1990) A Modern Masterpiece That Touches on Numerous Themes Regarding Modern American Life “Devil in a Blue Dress” (1995) A Brilliant Period Film Noir With a Tantalizing Mystery Starring Denzel Washington
#1: “Pump Up the Volume” (1990)
Writer-director Allan Moyle was dissuaded by the Hollywood machine following his 1980 film “Times Square”, as it was butchered in the editing process without his creative input. He returned ten years later with “Pump Up the Volume”, and his aggression was plainly evident. The movie follows angsty teenager Mark Hunter who runs a popular pirate radio show through his parents’ basement, eventually drawing the attention of the FCC. Moyle identified Mark as a cross between “The Catcher in the Rye’s” Holden Caulfield and social critic comedian Lenny Bruce, and he is perfectly played by teen idol Christian Slater. “Pump Up the Volume” is scathing and cathartic in equal measures, but above all else, it is richly entertaining.
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