1994 In Film

Check out the other year’s in film I have covered.

Best of the Best

If these are on, life stops

1. The Shawshank Redemption – An all-time top 10, probably top 5. I could watch this movie a couple times a month. The only thing that would keep me from watching it every week is it’s length.
2. Forrest Gump – Another classic that might make my all-time top 20. The tie-ins to all kinds of real historical events is awesome. Some people think this movie is overrated. I disagree.
3. Clerks – Kevin Smith’s first movie, and the one that launched the View Askew Universe. This movie looks as low budget as it was, but that doesn’t stop it from being awesome. The Star Wars discussion is worth the price of admission.
4. Pulp Fiction – Tarantino’s best work, including the iconic apartment scene that is one of my favorite movie scenes ever. So many big names in this movie.
5. Dumb and Dumber – 1994 was the year of Jim Carrey. This remains my favorite of his ’94 films and possibly my favorite of all-time.

Favorites

These are movies that I like and still watch if the opportunity arises.

• Ace Venture: Pet Detective – Probably the movie that put Carrey on the map. Still funny to those that remember it, but probably more nostalgic than anything.
• Beverly Hills Cop III – Most people don’t think this is on the same planet as the first two movies, but it was the first of them I saw and so it holds a special place in my heart.
• Blue Chips – Nolte. Shaq. Penny. A movie that resonates now as much, if not more, than it did in 1994. Anyone who follows college recruiting should check this out.
• Greedy – Michael J. Fox right at the end of his peak. Lots of recognizable ’90s faces in this one about a family battling over their uncle’s inheritance.
• Hoop Dreams – One of the all-time great documentaries; it follows two intercity Chicago teens as they try to make it to the NBA. It’s length (over 3 hours) makes it hard to re-watch, but it’s must see for anyone who follows sports.
• It Could Happen to You – Romantic comedy with Nic Cage and Bridget Fonda about some lottery winners. Rosie Perez is in this one too during the time when she was everywhere.
• Little Big League – The plot was basically pulled from my childhood fantasies. Cheesy as it is, I would still watch this one wishing it had been me.
• Major League II – Not as good as the first, but still solid. Bob Uecker never gets old in these movies.
• The Mask – Jim Carrey’s other big ’94 movie. This one was unique and is also partially responsible for putting Cameron Diaz on the map.
• The Santa Clause – A Christmas classic of anyone between the age of 25-35. A very creative premise with Tim Allen taking over as Santa.

Guilty Pleasures

• Airheads – A cast of early ’90s comedy mainstays, including a pre-superstar Adam Sandler. This movie isn’t on very often but I can’t resist watching a few minutes of it whenever it is.
• Blank Check – Another movie that I wish was about me when I was a kid. This one is great to watch because the stuff the kid spends the money on doesn’t even exist anymore.
• Camp Nowhere – Another one my sister and I loved but is downright terrible upon re-watch.
• D2: The Mighty Ducks – A worthy sequel that was just as cheesy as the first. No matter. Infinitely rewatchable for nostalgia sake.
• Drop Zone – I had a thing for early ’90s Wesley Snipes movies. This one about skydiving robbers is pretty standard Snipes fare.
• Little Giants – Another classic for anyone around the same age as me. Easily the most unbelievable sports movie of the year.
• Milk Money – I haven’t seen this in 10 years, but for some reason I remember watching it a lot as a kid. Hard to believe that Melanie Griffith was already 37 at the time.
• Richie Rich – Macualay Culkin when he was cranking out movies. This movie looks surprisingly undated for some reason. But it’s definitely not good.
• Timecop – Cheesy Jean Claude Van Damme movie about a time traveling government agency.

List of Shame

Movies that I have not seen

• City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly’s Gold – Never saw the first one, but I assume this one was ok.
• The Client – Based on a John Grisham novel. Tommy Lee Jones around his peak. Directed by Joel Schumacher.
• The Crow – Brandon Lee. in his final movie.
• Disclosure – Michael Douglas, Demi Moore, Michael Crichton and Barry Levinson. Seems crazy that I haven’t seen it.
• Ed Wood – Burton, Depp, Murray, Landau in a biopic about Ed Wood. This always intrigued me but I never saw.
• Natural Born Killers – Oliver Stone directed this one about serial killing lovers Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis. Seems like one I remember hearing about at one point.
• Wyatt Earp – Kevin Costner plays the title character. Dennis Quaid and Gene Hackman join him. Sure sounds worth seeing.

Other Films of Note

Films that jumped out at me or have significance that I haven’t seen or don’t have particularly strong feelings for

• Angels in the Outfield – One of Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s earliest roles. Not a great movie, but I loved all baseball movies at the time.
• Blown Away – In what seems like the year of Tommy Lee Jones¹, he stars with Jeff Bridges in this one I have never heard of.
• Bullets Over Broadway – Woody Allen, John Cusack and more. Nominated for a bunch of Oscars. Never seen it.
• Clear and Present Danger – 3rd Jack Ryan film, second with Ford. I have see Patriot Games but I don’t think I have ever seen this one.
• Cobb – More Tommy Lee Jones. Don’t know if this belongs on my list of shame or not. I don’t think it was considered very good.
• The Flintstones – The live action remake of the classic cartoon. Lots of big names dotting this one. Not a terrible movie.
• Four Weddings and a Funeral – Never seen it. Not a Hugh Grant fan.
• The Getaway – Alec Baldwin, Kim Basinger and James Woods. Man I should see this.
• Guarding Tess – Nic Cage and Shirley McClaine.
• I Love Trouble – Nolte and Julia Roberts. That has to be enough for it to be mentioning, right?
• Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles – Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt at very different points in their career. I remember hearing about this one so it must have some relevance.
• Junior – Arnold plays a pregnant man. This guy became Governor!
• The Lion King – One of the most iconic animated movies ever.
• Little Women – Based on the novel of the same name, pretty big name cast: Ryder, Sarandon, Claire Danes, Kirsten Dunst, Christian Bale, Gabriel Byrne.
• Love Affair – Warren Beatty, Annette Bening and Katharine Hepburn’s last movie.
• Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein – Francis Ford Coppola produced. De Niro is in it. And yet I have never heard someone mention it.
• Maverick – A western starring Mel Gibson. That’s all I know.
• Miracle on 34th Street – Remake of a Christmas classic. Not as good as the original.
• My Girl 2 – Another one that wasn’t as good as the original.
• Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult – I still can’t believe they made 3 of these. Anna Nicole Smith is in this one.
• The Paper – Ron Howard directed this family comedy starring Michael Keaton, Robert Duvall, Glenn Close and Marisa Tomei. Seems like one that might have been worth seeing.
• Quiz Show – Robert Redford directed this one with John Turturro, Rob Morrow and Ralph Fiennes. I feel like I have heard of this one which is apparently about quiz show scandals, but I never saw it.
• Reality Bites – I have seen Ben Stiller’s directorial debut starring himself, Ethan Hawke and Winona Ryder, and I was not impressed.
• The Scout – Albert Brooks and Brendan Fraser in a movie about a baseball pitcher and scout. It’s OK.
• The Specialist – Sly Stallone and Sharon Stone. Remember when these two mattered?
• Speed – I have seem this movie more times than I care to admit. It definitely put Sandra Bullock on the map.
• Stargate – Not sure if it was as popular as the TV series that followed, but I remember people liking this who liked Sci-Fi.
• Street Fighter – One of the main reasons video game movies don’t get made much. Jean Claude Van Damme and Kylie Minogue are in this!
• True Lies – Well-liked film, especially for Jamie Lee Curtis’ dance scene, but I don’t like Arnold.
• Wagons East! – John Candy’s last movie.
• Wolf – Jack Nicholson and Michelle Pfeiffer at her peak. Don’t know anything about it.

1. I counted 5 movies for him in 1994 [↩]

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