1994 Overlookers
This is a list of movies from 1994 that I believe are overlooked. It's incomplete, as I'm still exploring movies. Check out what I have so far over at Eyes of Christ: http://eyesofchrist.com/category/overlookers/
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16 titles
- DirectorWoody AllenStarsJohn CusackDianne WiestJennifer TillyIn New York in 1928, a struggling playwright is forced to cast a mobster's talentless girlfriend in his latest drama in order to get it produced.Listen to the critics. This is Woody Allen at his best. There are so many rich underlying themes, many of them involving the differences between the art, the artist, and the person. In an era where people are divided over what to think about Woody Allen as a person, Bullets over Broadway is a great discussion-starter.
- DirectorSteve JamesStarsWilliam GatesArthur AgeeEmma GatesA film following the lives of two inner-city Chicago boys who struggle to become college basketball players on the road to going professional.Roger Ebert called it THE American documentary, that is, the best documentary of all time. And yes, it's great, a true reminder that cinema is all about empathy.
- DirectorBéla TarrStarsMihály VigPutyi HorváthLászló feLugossyOn the eve of a large payment, residents of a collapsing collective farm see their plans turn into desolation when they discover that Irimiás, a former co-worker who they thought was dead, is returning to the community.Satantango is a brilliant work of art. The frequent long shots that Tarr favors make the actors' jobs more difficult (sometimes visibly), but are ultimately a brilliant reminder of what cinema is all about: innovation and imagination. Admittedly, the 7-hour runtime takes patience and appreciation for it to be endurable, but for those who do sit through, the end result is extremely satisfying.
- DirectorNicholas HytnerStarsNigel HawthorneHelen MirrenRupert GravesWhen King George III goes mad, his Lieutenants try to adjust the rules to run the country without his participation.Nigel Hawthorne's lead performance is insanely good. If you need help deciding whether or not Tom Hanks really deserved the Academy Award for Best Actor as Forrest Gump, The Madness of King George is the first place to look. http://eyesofchrist.com/1994-overlookers-the-madness-of-king-george/
- DirectorWhit StillmanStarsTaylor NicholsChris EigemanTushka BergenAn American working in Barcelona, having sworn off beautiful women, is forced to be host to his playboy cousin in this witty comedy of good intentions and mixed signals.Simply beautiful. If you're a Woody Allen fan, Barcelona is made for you. But it's not fair to just compare Whit Stillman's clever and captivating film to a Woody Allen feature, as it's distinct on its own. In all fairness, it's like a perfect mixture of Allen and Wes Anderson, with witty scholarly dialogue imbued with dry humor--seriously, I'm sure I wouldn't be speaking like this if I hadn't seen Barcelona.
- DirectorMichael RadfordMassimo TroisiStarsMassimo TroisiPhilippe NoiretMaria Grazia CucinottaA simple Italian postman learns to love poetry while delivering mail to a famous poet, and then uses this to woo local beauty Beatrice.Pure poetry. For all of you out there who love language (be it English or Spanish), Il Postino is a captivating film you don't want to miss. http://eyesofchrist.com/overlookers-il-postino-the-postman/
- DirectorGeorge HuangStarsKevin SpaceyFrank WhaleyMichelle ForbesA young, naive Hollywood studio assistant finally turns the tables on his incredibly abusive producer boss.Spacey is captivating as Buddy Ackerman, and after 25 years, Swimming with Sharks seems more relevant than ever. Take it as a parable about power, especially how power pertains to corporate Hollywood, and Swimming with Sharks is indeed biting. Overflowing with modern cultural significance, this movie deserves to be reassessed in light of recent developments. http://eyesofchrist.com/corporate-depravity-swimming-sharks/
- DirectorIsao TakahataStarsShinchô KokonteiMakoto NonomuraYuriko IshidaA community of magical shape-shifting raccoon dogs struggle to prevent their forest home from being destroyed by urban development.It's not Studio Ghibli's best, but definitely one of its most unique. Some will lose patience because of how bloated the film is, others will simply sit back and revel in the animation. I'm one of the latter. http://eyesofchrist.com/1994-overlookers-pom-poko/
- DirectorKar-Wai WongStarsBrigitte LinMaggie CheungLeslie CheungA broken-hearted hit man moves to the desert where he finds skilled swordsmen to carry out his contract killings.Ashes of Time (Redux) is frenetically impossible to follow--and such a delight. Seriously, watch the movie, and then just look up the plot on the Wikipedia page or something. But make sure you see it. Because it's just so durn fun.
- DirectorRay MüllerStarsLeni RiefenstahlMarlene DietrichArnold FanckA documentary about the life and work of Leni Riefenstahl, a German film director most notorious for making the most effective propaganda films for the Nazis.On top of being an interesting look at a notorious historical figure, this documentary provides excellent material for film students. Riefenstahl was a pioneer, after all, regardless of her moral stature.
- DirectorBud FriedgenMichael J. SheridanStarsDebbie ReynoldsGene KellyAnn MillerThird installment in the "That's Entertainment" series, featuring scenes from "The Hollywood Revue of 1929," "Brigadoon," "Singin' In The Rain," and many more MGM films.The That's Entertainment trilogy is great nostalgia, and also an excellent, condensed resource for film students. Whether you want to reminisce about the Musical Age of Hollywood, or simply want to know more about it, That's Entertainment is the place to start.
- DirectorRon HowardStarsMichael KeatonGlenn CloseRobert DuvallNew York City tabloid editor Henry's faced with tough decisions while he faces several serious life challenges, and a tempting job offer.Michael Keaton as a reporter in a hectic newsroom even before Spotlight? Why not. The Paper is fairly generic as far as screenwriting goes, but the amount of effort by an early Ron Howard and the wonderful ensemble cast make it kind of awesome.
- DirectorJohn SaylesStarsJeni CourtneyEileen ColganMick LallyYoung Fiona lives with her grandparents in a small fishing village where she takes an active role to unravel the mysterious secrets.While many kiddies may find it interminable (I recall feeling that way when I was younger), Sayles' passion project is a wonderful example of thoughtful filmmaking.
- DirectorTony RichardsonStarsJessica LangeTommy Lee JonesPowers BootheCarly moves with her military husband and their two daughters to an isolated army base, only to quickly become part of a cover-up involving nuclear bomb tests.Jessica Lange's Oscar-winning performance is indeed an enjoyable roller-coaster. While it might be a little sappy and overlong, Blue Sky is gripping in its own rights.
- DirectorRussell MulcahyStarsAlec BaldwinJohn LonePenelope Ann MillerIn 1930s New York City, The Shadow (Alec Baldwin) battles his nemesis, Shiwan Khan (John Lone), who is building an atomic bomb.This is THE corny superhero movie of the '90s. It's basically a knock-off of the Batman aesthetic with a helping of the sheer corniness of Tim Story's Fantastic Four. Except at times, the cinematography is shockingly attractive and uniquely stylish, so even if you don't just love corny superhero movies--maybe give The Shadow a shot anyway.
- DirectorRon SheltonStarsTommy Lee JonesRobert WuhlLolita DavidovichA reporter hired to write the 'official' biography of Ty Cobb discovers just how dark the baseball legend's real story is.Let me just say this right off the bat: the Cobb portrayed in this film is pure fiction. When the movie was released, Ty Cobb was still seen as a horrible person, but in fact, the accounts of him were grossly dramatized. While the record's been set straight since then, the movie is still offensive and disheartening in its unfair portrayal of a legend who was also a decent person. Regardless, Tommy Lee Jones's performance is quite a spectacle, and makes the otherwise agonizing view definitely worthwhile.