1995 Year-End Movie Wrap-Up

As another year dawns, the previous one is put to rest. 1995 was a stellar year for the movies; a year when it was okay to be a kid or an adult. The offerings for each were plentiful and a good time was had by all. The year did provide, though, at least one noticeable trend that largely sputtered and fizzled: the high-tech genre. "The Net", "Virtuosity", "Johnny Mnemonic", and "Hackers" were all released to catch the current wave of enthusiasm for computers. Ironically, a film which was created entirely on computers but wasn't about them ("Toy Story") hit much bigger than any of those techno-duds.

Without further ado, I now present what I consider to be the ten best movies of 1995 (in alphabetical order):

  • The American President - An intelligent comedy with issues ripped from today s headlines.

  • Apollo 13 - Based on a true story, this film scored big with critics and audiences alike and will be mentioned frequently when Oscar time rolls around.

  • Batman Forever - Joel Schumacher slipped effortlessly into the shoes worn by Director Tim Burton and made Val Kilmer into the new caped crusader. Stunning effects, and a fun performance by white-hot superstar Jim Carrey, made this one the biggest blockbuster of the summer.

  • Casino - This film marked Martin Scorsese s return to the mean streets he last visited in 1990's Goodfellas. With casting to die for and a fact-based script, Casino emerged as an endlessly watchable, although markedly violent, crime drama.

  • Copycat - The year's best psychological thriller with great performances by Sigourney Weaver and Holly Hunter.

  • Goldeneye - Bond returned in high form with a deliciously ridiculous plot and a worthy villain.

  • Nixon - Anthony Hopkins, with only minimal help from make-up, became the most infamous president in American history. Unflinching and thoughtful.

  • Sabrina - Harrison Ford continued his string of hits with the romantic dramedy Sabrina. Julia Ormond and talk show host Greg Kinnear also shine brightly in this inoffensive re-make.

  • Toy Story - A milestone in cinema history as the first-ever wholly computer-animated feature, Toy Story is as cleverly written as it is produced.

  • Unstrung Heroes - An unsentimental but affecting look at the world of a young boy who must cope with the imminent death of his mother. A quiet, marvelous film.

    Honorable mention goes to:

  • Babe - The story of a pig who longs to be a sheep herder. Charming from first frame 'til last.

  • While You Were Sleeping - The romantic comedy that marked Sandra Bullock s entrance onto the A-list of American actresses.

    At the other end of the spectrum, here are the ten worst movies of 1995 (in alphabetical order):

  • Congo - Killer apes are an anti-climatic (not to mention unconvincing) follow-up to Michael Crichton's monster hit Jurassic Park.

  • Home for the Holidays - Director Jodie Foster employs every cliche in the book and falls flat on her face with this misguided comedy.

  • Just Cause - Sean Connery stars in this improbable thriller which shifts gears so abruptly it may cause whiplash.

  • Lord of Illusions - Clive Barker spits up this mundane horror flick about a magician who returns from the grave.

  • The Pebble and the Penguin - I love penguins, but this animated feature is about as fun as a jury summons.

  • Prophecy - Marginally worse than "Lord of Illusions", "Prophecy" bombed despite a cast that included Christopher Walken and Eric Stoltz.

  • The Scarlet Letter - Demi Moore in a period piece? Look for more weeping from the queen of tears.

  • Showgirls - Las Vegas exposed as a corrupt and corrupting town. Did we really need this?

  • Tank Girl - A cult-favorite comic book exploded onto the screen in much the same way that "Howard the Duck" did several years ago.

  • Village of the Damned - Albino, half-alien kids with glowing eyes attempt to take over the planet starting with their home town. Enough to make even the easily entertained go "Ugh!".

    There you have it, the year in a nutshell. Here's hoping 1996 produces just as fruitful a crop of hits, but without the bitter pits on which the uninformed may waste their money.


    ADDENDUM: The local release of Terry Gilliam's "12 Monkeys" came too late for me to be able to consider the film as part of my year-end wrap-up. Now that I have seen it, I consider it to be the best film of 1995.

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