1994 in Film
Some of my favourite films were released in 1994 like 'Léon', 'Speed' and 'Natural Born Killers' to mention a few. It is for this reason that I have recently wanted to examine the year 1994 in the history of film. 1994 is also a very special year for me as it was the year I was born (on 04/01/1994) so it's rather a happy coincidence that some of my favourite films are from this period.
Conditions:
1) The films will be listed according to my preference. If it is Number 1 it means it is my favourite and if it's in the last place then it means it is my least favourite. So if you are viewing this on IMDB's app please make sure that you sort my list according to my list order before viewing or otherwise the placement would not make sense.
2) A short description and review will be given to complement the inclusion of all of my choices. It's a personal list so please accept that this is based on my own personal opinion.
3) I must have watched the films. I will not include films I haven't watched in their entirety.
4) I will include films with an accepted release date of 1994. If there is any doubt as to a particular film's release date, the US release date will be used. For example, 'Gunmen' is shown to have a release date of 1993 here on IMDB as it was supposedly released in Hungary in that year but really it is generally considered to have been released in 1994 as this was its US release.
Conditions:
1) The films will be listed according to my preference. If it is Number 1 it means it is my favourite and if it's in the last place then it means it is my least favourite. So if you are viewing this on IMDB's app please make sure that you sort my list according to my list order before viewing or otherwise the placement would not make sense.
2) A short description and review will be given to complement the inclusion of all of my choices. It's a personal list so please accept that this is based on my own personal opinion.
3) I must have watched the films. I will not include films I haven't watched in their entirety.
4) I will include films with an accepted release date of 1994. If there is any doubt as to a particular film's release date, the US release date will be used. For example, 'Gunmen' is shown to have a release date of 1993 here on IMDB as it was supposedly released in Hungary in that year but really it is generally considered to have been released in 1994 as this was its US release.
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- DirectorFrank DarabontStarsTim RobbinsMorgan FreemanBob GuntonA banker convicted of uxoricide forms a friendship over a quarter century with a hardened convict, while maintaining his innocence and trying to remain hopeful through simple compassion.Class. Everything about this film exudes pure class from Morgan Freeman's outstanding performance as Red to the superb writing of the screenplay by Frank Darabont based on the novella by Stephen King. It is not an exaggeration to state that this film is one of the best, if not the best, films ever made.
- DirectorLuc BessonStarsJean RenoGary OldmanNatalie Portman12-year-old Mathilda is reluctantly taken in by Léon, a professional assassin, after her family is murdered. An unusual relationship forms as she becomes his protégée and learns the assassin's trade.I love this film so much I have watched it more than six times. I love the relationship between Reno and Portman, Oldman is pure gold and the entire film is just so entertaining with one of the most memorable endings in film history. This is one of the films which inspired me to make this list. A trailblazing achievement in film that set the standard for all of the other action and crime films which followed.
- DirectorRoger AllersRob MinkoffStarsMatthew BroderickJeremy IronsJames Earl JonesLion prince Simba and his father are targeted by his bitter uncle, who wants to ascend the throne himself.One of the best animated Disney films of all time, and that is really saying something. The plot of this film is basically Shakespeare's masterpiece 'Hamlet' if it was written as a fable. An enduring classic that has a lot of strong themes about family, power and corruption that are more relevant today than ever. Incredible accomplishment in animation.
- DirectorRobert ZemeckisStarsTom HanksRobin WrightGary SiniseThe history of the United States from the 1950s to the '70s unfolds from the perspective of an Alabama man with an IQ of 75, who yearns to be reunited with his childhood sweetheart.Roger Ebert, one of the most celebrated film critics of all time, described 'Forrest Gump' as "a magical movie", something like a "dream". After watching this film for myself, I could not agree more. This is one of the most beautiful and heartwarming stories of modern American cultural and social history ever told, and the fact that it's told from the perspective of a mentally retarded man makes it all the more special. This is not one of the best films of 1994 or of the 1990s. It's one of the best films of all time.
Source:
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/forrest-gump-1994 - DirectorJan de BontStarsKeanu ReevesDennis HopperSandra BullockA young police officer must prevent a bomb exploding aboard a city bus by keeping its speed above 50 mph.'Speed' is masterclass in film. There is rarely a dull moment in the entire film and it offers constant thrill and enjoyment. Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock are simply outstanding together and this is certainly one of my favourite films of this period. The only thing which surprises me is why it's not rated higher by film fans as it's definitely a classic in the thriller genre. Shame...
- DirectorOliver StoneStarsWoody HarrelsonJuliette LewisO-Lan JonesTwo victims of traumatized childhoods become lovers and psychopathic serial murderers irresponsibly glorified by the mass media.What a film! There is so much violence, so much madness in this film that today's blockbusters, including 2019's 'Joker' about a maniacal killer clown, look very tame by comparison. While this may not be a film that is suited for everyone, nobody can argue that there is a certain style and cinematic flair to this film that remains as original and entertaining as ever.
- DirectorPeter JacksonStarsMelanie LynskeyKate WinsletSarah PeirseTwo teenage girls share a unique bond: their parents, concerned that the friendship is too intense, separate them, and the girls take revenge.Featuring fantastic debut performances by Melanie Lynskey and Kate Winslet, 'Heavenly Creatures' is a very important part of film history. Receiving a well-deserved nomination for an Oscar for Best Writing, it is easy to see why as it is all like one pathologically-disturbing fairy tale. The fact that is is mainly told from the girls' perspectives helps to dull the tragedy later on in the film. A superb film in which such a chilling event is told with a lot of subtlety and good use of irony, cementing Peter Jackson's position as one of the most important directors of our generation.
- DirectorNeil JordanStarsBrad PittTom CruiseAntonio BanderasA vampire tells his epic life story: love, betrayal, loneliness, and hunger.Placing this above Polanski's masterful 'Death and the Maiden' was not an easy decision to make. However, I would rather watch this film again, which is one of my favourites, than some of the others even if they are better made etc, and for me that is very important factor to consider when it comes to making your own personal list. 'Interview with the Vampire' is not a perfect film, by all means it isn't. But it is one of those films I never get tired of watching. A great film with a stellar cast, this is cinema magic at it's finest.
- DirectorLee TamahoriStarsRena OwenTemuera MorrisonMamaengaroa Kerr-BellA family descended from Maori warriors is bedeviled by a violent father and the societal problems of being treated as outcasts.This is a film not many people know about, which is a shame because it has a lot of good social commentary. It is a unique film made by a unique man (its director, Lee Tamahori, is an old acquaintance of mine). I believe that based on its merits, like its depiction of raw emotion, that 'Once Were Warriors' is an underrated cult classic.
- DirectorTim BurtonStarsJohnny DeppMartin LandauSarah Jessica ParkerAmbitious but troubled movie director Edward D. Wood Jr. tries his best to fulfill his dreams despite his lack of talent.Ed Wood is certainly one of the most interesting and enigmatic personas in film history and there couldn't have been a better director to direct a biography feature on Ed Wood than Tim Burton himself, who perfectly captures the most authentic feeling possible in my opinion. This is a truly great biographical film and one of the best studies of one of the most beloved but delusional directors of all time. In fact, it is very ironic that one of the worst directors (Ed Wood) inspired one of the best biographical films and one of the best directors (Burton) we have today.
- DirectorStephan ElliottStarsHugo WeavingGuy PearceTerence StampTwo drag performers and a transgender woman travel across the desert to perform their unique style of cabaret.A truly exceptional and entertaining, at times also profound and moving, about the 'adventures' of two drag performers and a transgender woman in Australia by director and writer Stephan Elliott.
- DirectorBoaz YakinStarsSean NelsonGiancarlo EspositoSamuel L. JacksonDeath and violence anger a twelve-year-old drug courier, who sets his employers against each other.The fact that this masterpiece has less than 13,000 user ratings here on IMDB is shocking. More people need to see this underrated gem. Boaz Yakin, the director and writer, does a truly remarkable job in this film as there is a subtle correlation between a game of chess and the rest of the events taking place. Sean Nelson also does a fantastic job as Fresh.
- DirectorEdward ZwickStarsBrad PittAnthony HopkinsAidan QuinnIn the early 1900s, three brothers and their father living in the remote wilderness of Montana are affected by betrayal, history, love, nature, and war.A very emotional film with a great story that is bound to leave even the toughest member of its audience in tears. With such a stellar cast featuring Anthony Hopkins and Julia Ormond it is tough for an individual performance to stand out, but this has to be one of Brad Pitt's finest and most memorable performances to date.
- DirectorRoman PolanskiStarsSigourney WeaverBen KingsleyStuart WilsonA political activist is convinced that her guest is a man who once tortured her for the government.Directed by the legendary film-maker Roman Polanski, this film is admittedly not for everyone as it has a lot of allegorical meaning heavily imbued in the plot. But if you understand what it is about, what the characters (and there are only three in the entire film!) really stand for, then this film can be truly appreciated. This is one of my best underrated classics of all time in my opinion and the only reason it's not any higher in this list is because the beginning of the film is slightly tedious and difficult to understand, at least for a general audience.
- DirectorBernard RoseStarsGary OldmanJeroen KrabbéIsabella RosselliniThe life and death of the legendary Ludwig van Beethoven. Besides all the work he is known for, the composer once wrote a famous love letter to a nameless beloved, and the movie tries to find out who this beloved was--not easy, as Beethoven has had many women in his life.'Immortal Beloved' is another biographical movie directed in the same vein as 'Amadeus' (1984) by Bernard Rose about arguably the greatest composer in human history, Ludwig van Beethoven. Both of these films are masterpieces but similar in quality and inspiration so I don't understand why 'Amadeus' had won eight oscars while this had received nothing only a decade later. Gary Oldman deserved an oscar for his awe-inspiring and breathtaking portrayal of Beethoven at the very least. 1994 was certainly a memorable year for him.
- DirectorRobert RedfordStarsRalph FiennesJohn TurturroRob MorrowA young lawyer, Richard Goodwin, investigates a potentially fixed game show. Charles Van Doren, a big time show winner, is under Goodwin's investigation.Charles Van Doren's true story, brilliantly portrayed by Ralph Fiennes in this film, is a tragic and memorable one. While not as outstanding as 'Ed Wood' (but it is truly difficult to top that), 'Quiz Show' is one of the best biographical films ever made and it is noteworthy that even small details such as the type of glasses that the characters wear are given a lot of attention to properly represent their real life counterparts.
- 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.A masterpiece. A theatrical stunner. A work of art of the highest calibre. 'Bullets Over Broadway' is the find of the decade. For me this film has a special meaning as it is for me a profound analysis of art, life and love and its comic relief only helps it to make it more digestible to everyone.
- DirectorDanny BoyleStarsKerry FoxChristopher EcclestonEwan McGregorThree friends discover their new flatmate dead but loaded with cash.There is something special about this underrated thriller which is why I consider it to be one of director Danny Boyle's best. Featuring a great performance by Ewan McGregor and containing one of the best endings in cinematic history, one which will make it hard for you to trust anyone ever again, this is a truly enjoyable film that should be appreciated by everyone.
- 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.One of the best foreign films of 1994 and a masterpiece in its own right, 'Il Postino' is a celebration of life against seemingly impossible odds in a close-minded island society. What Massimo Troisi as Mario Ruoppolo has done in this film should be immortalised in film history as he gave his life for this film in more ways than one.
- DirectorAlex ProyasStarsBrandon LeeMichael WincottRochelle DavisThe night before his wedding, musician Eric Draven and his fiancée are brutally murdered by members of a violent gang. On the anniversary of their death, Eric rises from the grave and assumes the mantle of the Crow, a supernatural avenger.More popularly known for the unfortunate death of Brandon Lee during its filming, 'The Crow' is surprisingly a great and entertaining film in its own right that should not be remembered solely for Lee's tragic passing.
- DirectorKenneth BranaghStarsRobert De NiroKenneth BranaghHelena Bonham CarterWhen the brilliant but unorthodox scientist Dr. Victor Frankenstein rejects the artificial man that he has created, the Creature escapes and later swears revenge.One of the underrated gems of 1994 and one of the best film adaptations of a literary classic of all time. Being a great admirer of the book myself, I don't think there could be a better or more faithful adaptation of Shelley's beloved masterpiece than this film. One of Kenneth Branagh's best.
- DirectorRichard DonnerStarsMel GibsonJodie FosterJames GarnerBret Maverick, needing money for a poker tournament, faces various comic mishaps and challenges, including a charming woman thief.The great mix of comedy and action in a Western setting is one of the reasons why I absolutely love this film and I do consider it one of my personal favourites. A box-office and a critical success, 'Maverick' is a film nobody should miss.
- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsJohn TravoltaUma ThurmanSamuel L. JacksonThe lives of two mob hitmen, a boxer, a gangster and his wife, and a pair of diner bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption.This film is one of the most celebrated and top-rated oscar-winning films of all time (rated #8 on IMDB at the time of writing, 12/10/2020). However, this list is a personal one and for me 'Pulp Fiction', although certainly one of the most refreshing films I have ever seen, is not my cup of tea. For example, I find the dialogue to be slightly tedious at times despite its originality and some scenes drag on for far too long. That is not to say that I consider this film to be mediocre as I do believe it is a great achievement in film-making, especially considering what it has done to elevate independent film-makers and inspire a whole new era of post-modernist films. It's just that it's not exactly to my liking.
- DirectorJoel SchumacherStarsSusan SarandonTommy Lee JonesBrad RenfroA young boy who witnessed the suicide of a mafia lawyer hires an attorney to protect him when the District Attorney tries to use him to take down a mob family.John Grisham has always been one of my favourite authors. He makes all of the legal and court stuff so very interesting to even the most unacquainted of readers, and that is no easy feat to achieve. Needless to say, as a Grisham fan, I love this film (directed by the late Joel Schumacher). However, I also believe it's a great film for a general audience too, a film which certainly doesn't deserve its current rating here on IMDB. There isn't a dull moment in the entire film and I think the acting is brilliant, especially by the late Brad Renfro (this was his debut film - his talent will be missed).
- DirectorOle BornedalStarsNikolaj Coster-WaldauSofie GråbølKim BodniaA law student starts working as a night watchman at The Department of Forensic Medicine in Copenhagen. His mad friend gets him on a game of dare that escalates. As a serial-killer's victims start piling up at work, he becomes a suspect.'Nattevagten' (or 'Night Watch' in English) is a very good crime thriller with some horrific and sacrilegious scenes involving necrophilia. Starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau of 'Game of Thrones' fame, this film keeps you guessing and is widely considered to be superior to the 1997 American remake starring Ewan McGregor it inspired.