1994 Year-End Movie Wrap-Up

What's the phrase? Feast or famine? After a year that gave us both the new all-time box office champ ("Jurassic Park") and a film so critically acclaimed that only those suffering from severe brain damage predicted something else would walk away with the Best Picture Oscar, comes the bleakness that was 1994. So few films set the screen on fire during this past year that I was tempted to cut back my "best of" list to five. Of course, the same wouldn't have been necessary for the "worst of" list. So without further ado, here are what I consider to be the best films of 1994.

In alphabetical order:

  1. Clear and Present Danger - Harrison Ford returns in the third of Tom Clancy's techno-thrillers to hit the screen. Who needs James Bond when Jack Ryan can be called on in a pinch?

  2. Forrest Gump - Although somewhat over-praised, the film is solid entertainment and the year's biggest box office draw. Tom Hanks supplies a wonderful, heart-felt performance as the simple-but-earnest Gump and look for co-star Gary Sinise come Oscar time.

  3. Four Weddings and a Funeral - The year's biggest laughs belongs to the Brits. Hugh Grant cranks up the charm in this romantic comedy about a tight-knit group of friends.

  4. Little Women - A flawless adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's perennial classic. Suitable and recommended for the entire family.

  5. The Lion King - Disney's first animated feature based on original material is also one of its best. For my money, the most consistently entertaining film of the year. After a one- year break, look for Disney to once again dominate the Academy's Best Song category.

  6. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein - Okay, okay, so my enthusiasm for Kenneth Branagh's monster flick was out of the norm. Its cast gave superlative performances with De Niro as the Creature a standout. At the very least, it's a good antidote to the now grossly-overworked vampire genre.

  7. Nell - Jodie Foster, already boasting two Best Actress Academy Awards on her mantle, is a shoe-in for a nomination for this touching film about a woman raised apart from civilization.

  8. Speed - Non-stop action a la "Die Hard" with Keanu Reeves filling in for the overworked Bruce Willis. Put your brain in neutral and prepare for an adrenaline rush.

  9. Stargate - The Kurt Russell/James Spader sci-fi opus scores in exactly the same way that "Star Trek: Generations" doesn't. It creates a sense of wonder that is rare to find in a film these days.

  10. When a Man Loves a Woman - A powerful and moving drama about the destructive influence of alcohol to family relationships.

Honorable mention goes to a pair of comedies: "Guarding Tess" and "Airheads".

On the other end of the spectrum, also in alphabetical order:

  1. Even Cowgirls Get the Blues - Gus Van Sant's highly-stylized opus about a ranch for lesbians is so far off the mark that it is difficult to tell what it was aiming for in the first place.

  2. The Favor - A ridiculous set-up leads to predictably ridiculous results, all in the name of comedy. Do yourself a favor and pass this one by at the video store.

  3. Greedy - Rich old uncle is nearing death and relatives kiss-up to him to increase their share of the inheritance. I expected a lot more from the director of one of my favorite comedies, "My Cousin Vinny".

  4. Intersection - Yikes! The year's dullest drama is the one in desperate search of a plot. Guaranteed to cure insomnia on contact.

  5. Milk Money - A young boy recruits a hooker to replace his dearly-departed mother. A sick joke masquerading as a comedy.

  6. Natural Born Killers - Oliver Stone's bullet-fest is a soulless mish-mash of music video editing and ultra-violence.

  7. North - The director of "A Few Good Men" and "The Princess Bride" (Rob Reiner) takes a huge step in the wrong direction with this cutesy-pooh film about a kid who auditions replacement parents.

  8. Renaissance Man - Another big-name director (Penny Marshall of "Awakenings" and "Big") bungles badly with this "Stand and Deliver" knock-off.

  9. The Road to Wellville - Anthony Hopkins, who proved he wasn't infallible with "Freejack", hams it up in this self-satisfied film about a peculiar fitness resort.

  10. Speechless - A romantic comedy that's neither funny nor romantic. Hey Michael Keaton, don't tell me you passed on "Batman Forever" for this hogwash.

Well, that about wraps it up for another year. Here's hoping 1995 sees the release of good movies for all tastes.
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