Strat's 20 of 1999

So this is the list by which all other lists are measured. This was the year that studio movies by and large stopped looking like the rehashed studio messes of the past decade or so. Where indie and studio blended. 20 great movies.

20. The Virgin Suicides (comedy)

If it weren't for the last name Sofia Coppola would have come completely outta nowhere. Kirstin Dunst certainly did.

19. The Cider House Rules (drama)

One of the better adaptations of a novel I've seen. The movie has an amazingly optimistic story in a very bleak, pale world. Not to mention Michael Caine and his excellence.


18. Anywhere But Here (drama)

This is the movie that I started to pay close attention to Natalie Portman as a serious actress. It's a not so-serious movie with Susan Sarandon also starring in it and it really feels like an 80s teen movie, but it's a deeper level of performance that what we saw a decade earlier.


17. Girl Interrupted (drama)

It's full of turmoil and grief and great acting performances. There's a reason Angelina Jolie got recognized besides her looks at one point. The reality is Britney Murphy is who makes this movie work along with Winona Ryder.


16. All About My Mother (foreign, drama)

One of the more accessible Pedro Almodovar movies and a bit more dramatic than usual. It's the best foreign soap opera movie you'll see.


15. Run Lola Run (foreign, action)

The best German movie I've seen in a long time. With a techno/ rock soundtrack and a flaming red hair protagonist in a quirky fantasy/action story, I can't resist.


14. Titus (drama)

There's been plenty of reinterpretations of Shakespeare, but none with the sheer adrenalin and production design beauty that Julie Taymor shows off in this one. Great soundtrack too.


13. Man on the Moon (drama)

It's the role Jim Carrey was born to play and he should have gotten more credit for it than he did. Just like Andy Kaufman, it's a movie that leaves you still wondering who is this guy?


12. Galaxy Quest (comedy)

Most likely the greatest spoof of all things Trek. And the only Tim Allen movie that I can watch repeatedly.


11. Office Space (comedy)

You know we're still talking about this office comedy. It's amazing that it got little notice outside of Austin until it hit video. Damn it feels good to be a gangster.


10. South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut (animated comedy)

Who can forget the songs? Who can forget that this movie was pretty damn timely. It's South Park on a big screen and it doesn't disappoint.


9. Bowfinger (comedy)

Usually I frown on movies about movies, but the humor that Steve Martin manages to inject into this with a great cast all around him, makes this one hard to pass up.


8. The Green Mile (drama)

It's probably forgettable in that non-groundbreaking way, although the acting and story are superb and it knows how to tug on those tear ducts.


7. The Matrix (sci-fi)

Some surely will rate this bleak sci-fi movie higher. Imitation is the highest form of flattery, which there would be plenty of with this movie around. One of the best stylized movies not based on a comic/graphic novel to hit the big screen.


6. Being John Malkovich (comedy)

Has there been any movie that flips the idea of what is story and where gimmick begins and ends? Nothing beats seeing seeing Cameron Diaz being frumpy and John Cusack playing with puppets.


5. The Talented Mr Ripley (suspense/drama)

Anthony Minghella (RIP) turned out a Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow movie like no other. This movie is for anyone who is into Hitchcock/suspense films. Or loves anything shot along the Amalfi coast.


4. Toy Story 2 (comedy)

This is where we realized that Pixar wasn't just another 3D animation company but actually a company that cared about story - even if it was a sequel.


3. The Insider (drama)

Best Michael Mann movie hands down. This is the best boiler room/true events inspired/conspiracy movie made in the last half of the 20th century, save JFK.


2. American Beauty (drama)

Did this really come from a studio? Best acting of the year by an ensemble and where we were introduced to the storytelling of Alan Ball and Sam Mendes.


1. Fight Club (n/a)

It's a dark comedy. It's satire. It's an action movie. It's a mystery. What more do you want? It's great. Love it or hate it. No movie has spoken to an entire generation.