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Winner Dec '99

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Best Movies of 1999

Posted by: REALLY3

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Although, I agree Gods & Monsters was a very good movie this year (especially Lynn Redgrave's performance) -- another movie that didn't hit general release until 1999 -- although it debut in 1998 & although I can see why American Beauty is going to be on a lot of people's top list for 1999. I have another favorite and I'm surprised no one has mentioned this movie as the best of 1999 or did anyone else go see this (and it was the only movie this year that I saw twice) anyway the movie I'm talking about is The Red Violin.

In my opinion The Red Violin was the most exceptional and outstanding movie of this year. The whole concept of the red in the violin coming from the blood of the violin maker's wife, who died in childbirth and then how that affected through the centuries how future violin players would treat and play the violin (and with the soothsayer to the violin maker's wife continuing to read the Tarot cards). I love the different time frames of history the red Violin travels, starting in northern Italy in the 16th Century, then going to late 18th Century Vienna with Caspar Weiss (that kid that played Weiss was great!), then to late 19th Century England with the humorous interaction into Pope's love and sex life (the shooting of the violin was just totally unsuspected -- when I saw the movie the second time with my mom and brother -- the shooting scene made my brother go "Uh!") and then to 1960's cultural revolution China and then to modern day Montreal to the auction house was just fascinating to watch. I feel The Red Violin had the best cinematography since Sound Of Music -- especially the scenes filmed in northern Italy, Vienna and Oxford! The Red Violin had the best soundtrack, IMO, since Amadeus especially the solo violin playing! I also loved how the kid who played Caspar Weiss and the Chinese lady were able to get the fingerings of the violin down so well! And, this was the best performance by Samuel L. Jackson, the person who figures out the mystery of the Red Violin, ever! (and he didn't need to be a shootem' up, blast them up, car banging movie to have this!) (I know that part of the problem for some in naming The Red Violin the best movie of 1999 is that it originally came out in 1998 -- but, the majority of us did not see this movie until 1999! -- so I definitely feel this movie deserves best of movies for 1999! -- if you haven't seen it already definitely rent The Red Violin!) I also think it is so wonderful to see that figure skater Michelle Kwan is using the music from The Red Violin in her long-free program this year -- if Michelle or anybody she knows reads this -- I hope they tell her -- thank you Michelle and what a wonderful choice of music to skate to the music of The Red Violin! Also, The Red Violin was the only movie of this year that I can say made me laugh, cry, gasp (during the shooting), and applaud and go that was a damn good mystery movie! (there are so few movies that can do that IMO!)

Okay, writing that about The Red Violin, I do have to admit that I haven't yet seen the following: Man On The Moon, Toy Story 2, Bicentennial Man or The Straight Story and a couple of others that have come out in the month of December.

Also in writing that about The Red Violin, I want to give my critical analysis of several movies this year: The best message movie of this year, Election especially after the shootings in several schools -- it also was a truly funny movie! The most surprisingly well working movie, Inspector Gadget -- I thought when I went to see this that it wouldn't be any good -- but it really worked! The best comedy performance, John Malkovich in a red evening gown in Being John Malkovich! The most surprisingly best understated movie Twin Falls, Idaho and on a low budget I really did believe that they were siamese twins!

The best actress, IMO, of this year: Cher in Tea With Mussolini .The best actor, IMO, of this year: Samuel L. Jackson in The Red Violin. The best supporting actress, IMO, of this year: Lily Tomlin in Tea With Mussolini. The best supporting actor, IMO, of this year: will hold out to see Man In The Moon! although I'm leaning at this point to the young kid in The Sixth Sense. The most improved player: Bruce Willis in The Sixth Sense -- I was about to give up on him until I saw his portrayal in this movie.

The movies with the biggest buildups but were not that good, yea MO again: The Matrix, Blair Witch Project (I wasn't the only one who walked out of the theater saying out loud, "Why did we waste our money?"), Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace (or was it just a menace) and Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (although the soundtrack was really good).

The movies that should have been given more advertisement, but weren't: The Red Violin, Twin Falls, Idaho, The 13th Floor (wish that this had been released before The Matrix -- in a similar vein but much more interesting!), & Tea With Mussolini.

Another movie that made you think this year, but it took a lot out of you -- because you held your breath a lot was Arlington Road!

- REALLY3

Best Movies of 1999? Other Nominees: The Evil Dead: New Special Edition DVD • • • Suggest the Best Directors of All Time • • • Suggest the Best Actors of All Time (Shirley Temple) • • • Worst Movies of 1999? • • • Under-Appreciated Films You Like or Love • • • Ten Things I Hate About You • • • Viewing Short Films Online