A Reel Opinion: The Best & Worst Films of 2024

2024 has rolled over into 2025, Awards Season is underway, and it is time for Reel Speak’s annual Best & Worst blog. 

 

2024 was a down year for the box office, coming in under 2023’s numbers. Disney was the big winner for the year with four films in the Top 10 worldwide: INSIDE OUT 2 (1^st place), DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE (2^ndplace), MOANA 2 (3^rd place), and MUFASA: THE LION KING (9^th place). The box office reflected audience’s desires; nine of the top 10 were sequels or a part of a franchise. If there is a demand for original films like social media likes to yell about, it’s not reflected in the numbers. 

 

On the screen, there was a lot of great film, but also a fair number of stinkers. The worst movies viewed by this Blogger in 2024 included the Sony Pictures abomination MADAME WEB, the video game nonsense of BORDERLANDS, and the continuing shit-show that is the MonsterVerse with GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE. 

 

The absolute worst of 2024 was saying farewell and adieu to beloved actors, actresses and filmmakers: Glynis Johns, Norman Jewison, Carl Weathers, Eleanor Coppola, Bernard Hill, Susan Backlinie, Dabney Coleman, Morgan Spurlock, Donald Sutherland, Martin Mull, Shannen Doherty, Bob Newhart, John Amos, James Earl Jones, Maggie Smith, Kris Kristofferson, and Quincy Jones. 

 

Back on the screen, the biggest story of the year was the resurgence of the horror genre. Several films surprised and overperformed, and finally stepped away from the lazy found-footage and CONJURING spinoffs. Horror had a great year, and that is represented in this year’s Top 10 Best: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10. ALIEN: ROMULUS

 

The ALIEN franchise started with two classics: ALIEN (1979), and ALIENS (1986). Since then, it’s been miles of crap…but that finally changed this year with Fede Alvarez’s thrilling side-quel, ROMULUS. Set firmly in-between the events of ALIEN and ALIENS, ROMULUS provided excellent thrills and tension, expanded the ALIEN mythos, and gave us a new scream-queen in the form of Cailee Spaeny. 

 

 

9. MONKEY MAN

 

Dev Patel stars and directs this wickedly cool and brutal revenge flick. Patel puts in the physical work big-time and helms a great-looking film that is full of surprises. After the punches fly and land, MONKEY MAN also takes a hard look at India and the large gap between the rich and poor. Impactful as a gut-punch. 

 

 

 

8. LONGLEGS

 

Nicolas Cage dances with the man downstairs as a serial killer in this cerebral and creepy thriller. Maika Monroe plays the FBI agent with a special gift who hunts down the mysterious and chilling Longlegs killer in a plot that turns in directions unseen and unexpected. Cage in the meantime gives us the creep of the millennium. 

 

 

7. THE BIKERIDERS

 

Acclaimed director Jeff Nichols took a 1960’s photo-book showcasing outlaw bikers and built a film out of it, resulting in a gorgeous and hard-nosed look at the men who rode and the women who followed them. Tom Hardy, Austin Butler, and Jodie Comer put in excellent performances, and the ending is one of the biggest shocks of the year. 

 

 

 

6. DUNE: PART 2

 

Denis Villeneuve and his impressive, ensemble cast delivers the second part of Frank Herbert’s famed sci-fi saga. Leaning heavily on its LAWRENCE OF ARABIA inspirations, DUNE PART 2 unspools as a magnificent epic while keeping close to its many characters. The film is packed with an intricate web of storylines that Villeneuve weaves together in excellent fashion. 

 

 

 

5. CONCLAVE

 

This adaptation of the Robert Harris novel of the same name follows a Cardinal (Ralph Fiennes), who finds himself investigating one fellow Cardinal after another in a vital Conclave to elect a new Pope. Fiennes is excellent and the plot never seems to go in the direction we think it’s going in a film that stuns one scene after another like the best of the whodunits. 

 

 

 

4. THE SUBSTANCE

 

The genre of body-horror usually doesn’t rank high on anyone’s year-end lists, but this time it finally finds a champion. Demi Moore stars as an aging TV star who uses a black-market drug to create a younger version of herself, played by Margaret Qualley. Shocking and repulsive, THE SUBSTANCE pulls no punches in looking at how Hollywood treats women. 

 

 

 

3. WICKED

 

The long-running Broadway show comes to the big screen in a major splash; earning accolades, big box office, and becoming an instant cultural hit. Jon M. Chu directs his excellent twin-leads of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo to dazzling performances, and the Land of Oz comes to life again beautifully. Emotionally packed and fun, and they’re just getting warmed up with the thrillifying part 2 later this year. 

 

 

 

2. THE BRUTALIST

 

Brady Corbet’s magnificent epic that will probably earn Adrien Brody his second Oscar in 20 years. Brody plays a brilliant Hungarian-Jewish architect in a post-WWII America that doesn’t know what to do with people like him. Beautifully shot and acted, THE BRUTALIST spans 30 years of history, and is an honest and revealing look at the American dream…and the blood needed to achieve it. 

 

 

 

1. NOSFERATU 

 

There is no other film this year that put audiences into a total trance like Robert Eggers’ remake of the 1922 famed vampire film of the same name. Filmed with remarkable visuals, NOSFERATU is primal, fearful, and hits the animalistic chords in all of us. Bill Skarsgard as Count Orlok turns our stomachs with his voice alone, and Lily-Rose Depp (daughter of Johnny), is outstanding. There is a not a wasted frame or word in NOSFERATU, and it will have all of us looking in all of the dark corners of our rooms (and souls), for years to come. That’s what good horror…and great film does. 

 

 

 REEL SPEAK'S TOP 10 BEST FILMS OF 2024

1. NOSFERATU
2. THE BRUTALIST
3. WICKED
4. THE SUBSTANCE
5. CONCLAVE
6. DUNE: PART 2
7. THE BIKERIDERS
8. LONGLEGS
9. MONKEY MAN
10. ALIEN: ROMULUS

 

 

 

A Reel Review: THE BRUTALIST

The style of Brutalist architecture is defined as minimalist constructions and designs that showcase the bare building materials, favoring structural elements over decorative design. On the surface, that doesn’t seem like an exciting plot for a movie…but don’t bother to tell that to director Brady Corbet and his towering masterpiece, THE BRUTALIST. 

 

Spanning over 30 years, THE BRUTALIST begins just after WWII, with Hungarian-Jewish architect Lazlo Toth (Adrien Brody), immigrating to America while his wife Erzebet (Felicity Jones), and orphaned niece are left behind. While Lazlo struggles with bigotry, work, drug addiction, and bringing his family to America, he is hired by wealthy industrialist Harrison (Guy Pearce), to design and construct an ambitious community center in Philadelphia.

 

Written and directed by Brady Corbet, THE BRUTALIST is nothing short of epic; spanning three decades of Toth’s life, with the bulk of it centered around Harrison’s massive community center, which is intended to tower over a rural area of Philly. For Lazlo it’s a constant uphill battle as he clashes with traditional American designers who are rooted in their old ways and tight budgets. Lazlo also deals with bigotry from all angles, including from Harrison’s own family. Things get complicated when Lazlo’s wife eventually makes it America, who arrives with her own health problems. 

 

Through Lazlo’s struggle, Corbet dives into the mythos of the American dream, exposing the toll it takes and the necessary blood to get there. Corbet explores themes of art vs. profit, the difficulty immigrants face being accepted into American culture, and the blurred line between ambition and greed. The scale here is massive, but keeps us intimate with Lazlo. There is a ton of film here, and gives more than enough material for discussions. 

 

Corbet shoots and edits an incredible looking film. Shot in the VistaVision process and cameras, THE BRUTALIST looks stunning in every frame. Some long tracking shots are breathtaking; the opening sequence of Lazlo arriving via ship to New York is awe-inspiring. The score by Daniel Blumberg is outstanding, and film uses popular music from each time period very well. 

 

Acting is tremendous. Adrien Brody puts in a career-best in the first 15 minutes, and that’s just a warmup for what is to come later. Guy Pearce is a little hammy in places, but overall comes out of this as an unexpected, dastardly villain. Felicity Jones also puts in a career best and nearly steals the show. The rest of the cast, including Jonathan Hyde, Joe Alwyn, Raffey Cassidy, and Stacy Martin are all excellent. 

 

At 215 minutes (plus an intermission), THE BRUTALIST is an experience; one of those cinematic events that hangs with us and demands reflection. Much like the style of architecture that Lazlo favors, THE BRUTALIST gets to the bare structure of America and humanity; favoring their bare materials over any sort of dressings. And like any great building, it stands tall. 

 

BOTTOM LINE: See it   

 

A Reel Opinion: The Top 10 Best Cinematic Vampires

Unless you’ve been lying in a tomb the last few weeks, you would know that one of the most talked about films in theaters right now is Robert Eggers’ masterful, soul-crushing NOSFERATU. The acclaimed film (read Reel Speak’s review HERE), is an adaptation of the 1922 silent-film of the same name, which was an un-authorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s quintessential vampire novel, Dracula. Eggers’ version has delivered one of the best cinematic blood-suckers of all time, but how does it stake-up against nearly 100 years of movie vampires? The vampires we have loved, feared, and idolized? Grab your garlic and enter if you dare…Reel Speak’s Top 10 Cinematic Vampires. This is not a ranking of films, to be clear; it’s a ranking of the most iconic and memorable vampires within those films. 

 

 

So, let’s rise…

 

 

 

 

10. Wesley Snipes as Blade 

From BLADE (1998)

 

Technically, Blade was a not vampire but a Dhampir; a human with vampire strengths but not their weaknesses.  But who cares when the blood starts flying. As one of the earliest films based on a Marvel character, BLADE delivered the thrills, and gave Snipes his most iconic role. How loved was the character? His recent cameo last year in the MCU drew the biggest cheers. 

 

 

 

 

 

9. Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen 

From TWILIGHT (2008)

 

Robert Pattinson established himself as a future leading man, showing the maturity of a centuries-old creature trapped in the body of a 17-year-old boy…played across five films. Laugh it up if you wish, but for a generation of fans who were ripe for the vampire resurgence that we had in the early 2000’s, Edward was their guy and still is. 

 

 

 

 

8. Brad Pitt as Louis 

From INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE (1994)

 

Tom Cruise may have had the flashier role in this first attempt at bringing Anne Rice’s literary vampires to the big screen, but it was his co-star Brad Pitt’s brooding and tortured Louis who gets the bigger bite. Pitt plays his vampire as one who feels the weight of the endless amounts of time behind him and in front of him, and adds a new dimension to the vampire that would be followed for the next 30 years. 

 

 

 

 

7. Kiefer Sutherland as David

From THE LOST BOYS (1987)

 

Joel Schumacher’s generation-defining film about a small town infested with all those damn vampires needed one hell of a villain, and he got one in Kiefer Sutherland’s David. David embraced his eternal youth and took others with him, while also loving his role as a gang leader and murderer. An iconic performance and look that would inspire the famed vampire Spike in the TV series BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER (1997-2003). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Christopher Lee as Dracula

From DRACULA (1958)

 

Before he was Saruman the Wizard or Count Dooku the dark Jedi, Christopher Lee was Dracula for more than one generation, appearing as the character ten times for Hammer Films. Although Lee in later years would express frustration with those films, his performance brought a balance of evil and loneliness to the character, setting a standard that would inspire future movie vampires. 

 

 

 

5. Willem Dafoe as Max Schreck

From SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE (2000)

 

Willem Dafoe plays famed actor Max Schreck as an actual vampire in this fictionalized story of the making of the 1922 landmark film, NOSFERATU. There isn’t much depth or romance involved with this vampire; he’s just out to eat…and that makes him all the more terrifying. 

 

 

 

4. Max Schreck as Count Orlok

From NOSFERATU (1922)

 

The pairing of German expressionist filmmaker F.W. Murnau and silent-film actor Max Schreck was a match made in a glorious hell. Murnau utilized lights and shadows and one of the most terrifying makeup jobs of all time to make Orlok one of the scariest characters ever seen, and Schreck responded with the face and movements that communicates dread in the silent format. It’s not an easy task for a 102-year old movie to bring the scares, but Schreck does the deed. 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Bill Skarsgard as Count Orlok

From NOSFERATU (2024)

 

To show more of director Robert Eggers’ version of Count Orlok would be a sin, because this vampire is one that demands to be seen on the big screen. His look, demeanor, and a voice provided by Bill Skarsgard that can be felt in your bowels…all add up to a towering figure in horror. Time will be ultimate judge of this Orlok, but for now he belongs in the upper tier. 

 

 

 

 

2. Gary Oldman as Dracula

From BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA (1992)

 

Francis Ford Coppola turned this version of Dracula into a love story in a beautiful, fascinating, and hypnotic film with Gary Oldman in the title role. Oldman appears in several forms, including a walking corpse, a handsome prince, and a grotesque man-bat that is one of the most impressive visuals of all time. Oldman took on the role simply because he wanted to deliver the line, “I have crossed oceans of time to find you.”, and deliver, he did. 

 

 

 

1. Bela Lugosi as Dracula

From DRACULA (1931)

 

A performance that was so iconic that not even the actor himself could escape its shadow. Bela Lugosi appears as the Count in this Universal classic that would give the horror genre the life that it still has today. As the first sound-film of the Stoker novel, casting for the lead was vital, and the Hungarian-born Lugosi, who had played the part on the stage, was perfect. He made Dracula scary and romantic, dreadful and fascinating…and set a standard that every cinematic vampire has been chasing for nearly 100 years. When we look back at all the vampires that have come after 1931...they all have a little bit of the Lugosi bloodline. 

 

 

 

Reel Speak's Top 10 Cinematic Vampires

1. Bela Lugosi as Dracula
2. Gary Oldman as Dracula
3. Bill Skarsgard as Count Orlok
4. Max Schreck as Count Orlok
5. Willem Dafoe as Max Schreck
6. Christopher Lee as Dracula
7. Kiefer Sutherland as David
8. Brad Pitt as Louis
9. Robert Pattinson as Edward
10. Wesley Snipes as Blade 

 

 

A Reel Preview: The Year in Film 2025 - Episode I

2025 is here. The good news is the start of a new year gives us a clean slate of films to look forward to. The bad news is the first two months of the year are the traditional Movie Siberia: where films deemed not good enough for Summer or an awards push are sent to die. This year is no different, with a few possible bright spots. Here is what is coming to the big screen for the first month of 2025: 

 

 

 

 

DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA – This direct sequel to the 2018 action film (which has nothing to do with the heavy metal band), has Gerard Butler tracking down a thief in Europe. O’Shea Jackson Jr. co-stars. 

 

 

 

 

SEPTEMBER 5 – This historical drama recounts the events of the Munich massacre at the 1972 Olympics from the perspective of the ABC broadcast crew. Peter Sarsgaard stars. 

 

 

 

WOLF MAN – Leigh Whannell (creator of the SAW franchise), directs this re-imagining of the classic Universal monster, with a father turning into a wolf and stalking his own family. 

 

 

 

FLIGHT RISK – Mel Gibson directs this thriller about a pilot (Mark Wahlberg), hired to fly a U.S. Marshall (Michelle Dockery, of DOWNTON ABBEY fame), and her prisoner (Topher Grace). 

 

 

 

SE7EN – David Fincher’s classic crime thriller gets a restored, IMAX re-release for its 30^th anniversary. 

 

 

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Next month, Reel Speak previews the month of February. 

A Reel Review: NOSFERATU

In 1922, German film director F.W. Murnau delivered an unauthorized and unofficial adaption of Bram Stoker’s horror novel, Dracula…called NOSFERATU. The film would go on to become an influential masterpiece of horror and in overall cinema, while setting the template for horror films for the next 100 years. This year, acclaimed horror director Robert Eggers rises again with his own masterful take on NOSFERATU. 

 

In Germany, 1834, Thomas Hutter (Nicholas Hoult), accepts an offer to travel to Transylvania to close a real estate deal with the mysterious and reclusive Count Orlock (Bill Skarsgard), who has a connection to Thomas’ wife Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp). Once the deal is set, Thomas is imprisoned and Orlock travels to find Ellen, bringing a deadly plague with him. 

 

Written and directed by Robert Eggers, who thus far has delivered three chilling films (THE WITCH, THE LIGHTHOUSE, THE NORTHMAN), NOSFERATU follows the familiar tale of the vampire from Transylvania causing chaos and death from the shadows. Ellen, staying with friends (Aaron-Taylor Johnson, Emma Corrin), suffers from sleepwalking and horrific visions. As her condition worsens, her doctor (Ralph Ineson), summons his old professor (Willem Dafoe)…who discovers the coming threat of Orlock. 

 

It's the story that we’ve read and seen on the big screen many times over the last 100 years; from Bela Lugosi’s classic take in 1931 to Francis Ford Coppola’s stunning version in 1992. But Robert Eggers, using his unique touch and vision, gives this NOSFERATU a personality of its own. Twists and turns come that make the story fresh and give the film serious depth; this works not just as horror but a psychological mind-messer-upper. The film looks bloody amazing with every shot and edit meticulously edited. The scares are well-executed, and the sense of atmosphere is thick and hangs over the film. Eggers takes influences from the 1992 film and from ancient history, and the film is finely woven with it all; it feels like the history of cinema and folklore right before our eyes. 

 

Performances are tremendous. Bill Skarsgard (son of Stellan), is chilling with his accent and provides a voice that will be heard our heads long after the credits roll, and his look is as grotesque as it is fascinating. Lily Rose-Depp (daughter of Johnny), is fantastic. The rest of the cast is equally excellent; Aaron-Taylor Johnson, Willem Dafoe, Ralph Ineson, and Emma Corrin. 

 

There is a lot of greatness packed into NOSFERATU in its directing, acting, and overall craftmanship. It will take oceans of time before we know if this film will be regarded as influential as its 1922 predecessor, but for now we can still call it a masterpiece.  

 

BOTTOM LINE: See it 

A Reel 20: THE LIFE AQUATIC WITH STEVE ZISSOU

“…I’m going to go on an overnight drunk, and in 10 days I’m going to set out and find the shark that ate my friend and destroy it.”

 

This week marks the 20^th anniversary of THE LIFE AQUATIC WITH STEVE ZISSOU. 

 

The fourth feature film from Wes Anderson, THE LIFE AQUATIC told the sea-story of washed-up oceanographer Steve Zissou (Bill Murray), who sets out on a revenge mission against a rare shark with cameras rolling. Along the way he flirts with a journalist (Cate Blanchett), loses his wife (Anjelica Huston), and looks for a new relationship with his probably-maybe son (Owen Wilson). 

 

Written by Anderson and Noah Baumbach, THE LIFE AQUATIC was heavily inspired by one of Anderson’s childhood heroes, famed French filmmaker and oceanographer Jacques Cousteau. This would be Anderson’s most ambitious adventure, with a script that called for exotic locations across the globe, including over and under the water, movie premieres, pirate raids, rescue missions, and a collection of fictional sea creatures. Filming locations would include Rome, Naples, Ponza, and the Italian Riviera. Zissou’s crew would need a ship, and a decommission minesweeper would be brought in. In one iconic scene, a nearly-full scale cutaway of the ship, the Belafonte, would be built. 

 

In addition to Murray, Huston, Blanchett, and Wilson, THE LIFE AQUATIC would crew up an impressive cast which included Jeff Goldblum, Willem Dafoe, Michael Gambon, Bud Cort, Robyn Cohen, and Waris Ahluwalia. Brazilian actor and musician Seu Jorge would also star, and would provide cover versions of David Bowie songs in Portuguese. 

 

THE LIFE AQUATIC would open on Christmas Day in 2004. It would be met with mixed reviews and be a box office flop, although it did receive nominations from several Guilds and Blanchett took home some minor awards. In the last two decades the film has developed a cult following, and has been reevaluated as one of Anderson’s best. 

 

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There is an old rule (or guideline), in screenwriting: spend your first two acts putting your character up a tree, and the last act getting him down. This is a rule that has worked for 100 years in cinema, but in true Anderson style, THE LIFE AQUATIC begins with his character already up the tree. Zissou at the start, like many of Anderson’s characters, find themselves in some sort of mid-life crisis, and the following adventure that is about to unspool is about them finding their way out. For Zissou, this was about getting his career back on track while reconnecting with those that love or idolize him. Age is a factor here. We understood it on the surface in 2004, and two decades later, we understand its deeper meaning.  

 

THE LIFE AQUATIC wears it’s love for Cousteau on its sleeves, but it also takes classic cues from Moby Dick and The Old Man and the Sea. These guiding stars, along with the locations, stop-motion creatures, and stunning use of color, gives the film a timeless feel. And although the Belafonte doesn’t quite reach the heights of cinematic vehicles like the Enterprise or Titanic, it is still designed in such a way that makes us love her. This is one of this Blogger’s favorite all-time films, and its closing quote sails with me every day: 

 

“This is an adventure.” 

A Reel Opinion: The Top 10 Best Films of 1999

2024 is about to become history. Which means it has now been nearly 25 years since the glorious year of 1999 came to a close. In this year when we were all fearing Y2K coming down to destroy us, we were treated to some fantastic films…which brings us to Reel Speak’s Top 10 Films of 1999. 

 

1999 was a year of transition. Only two years removed from the success that was TITANIC, Hollywood was now planning to roll out big-budget, effects-driven films…a new movement that would eventually bring us THE LORD OF THE RINGS, HARRY POTTER, and the mighty MCU. STAR WARS would aid in that movement, returning to the big screen after a 16-year absence. But despite the wizardry of CGI and inflated budgets, there was still room for small films to make waves, such as M. Night Shyamalan’s THE SIXTH SENSE, Paul Thomas Anderson’s MAGNOLIA, and the eventual Best Picture winner, AMERICAN BEAUTY. 1999 would also see the on-screen debuts of Amy Adams, Idris Elba, Zooey Deschanel, Kathryn Hahn, Regina Hall, Hugh Jackman, Michael B. Jordan, Brie Larson, Simon Pegg, and Ben Whishaw. 

 

The best films of 1999 are the ones that are still talked about today. The acclaimed movies that have proven longevity across our culture; quoted often, parodied, debated, and fondly remembered. Here is the best of 1999: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10. AMERICAN BEAUTY

 

Sam Mendes has made some great movies in the last 25 years, ranging from James Bond and WWI…and this Best Picture winner of 1999 is one of them. A black-comedy about an ad-executive infatuated with his teenage daughter’s best friend, AMERICAN BEAUTY sported an excellent cast, and was one of the last big box office earners that wasn’t attached to a franchise. Much of this film’s praise has waned over the years, for many reasons, but if we look past those reasons and just focus on what’s on the screen…this is an excellent package of acting, directing, and writing. 

 

 

 

9. THE IRON GIANT

 

1999 was a big year for animation, and some of its biggest steps were taken by this Brad Bird sci-fi flick that bombed at first, but has gained a huge following and re-appraisal over the years...and today is considered to be one of the best animated films of all time. 

 

 

 

 

8. TOY STORY 2

 

Disney was at the front of the great year for animation. TARZAN swung into theatres and closed out their Renaissance Era, and with TOY STORY 2 they set their course for the next 25 years. This direct sequel to the 1995 Pixar film became a classic on its own, once again injecting adult themes into a “kids” movie. TOY STORY 2 introduced new characters into the Pixar catalog and provided depth to the existing ones. How good is it? Have fun holding back the tears when Sarah McLachlan starts singing When She Loved Me. 

 

 

 

7. THE INSIDER

 

When the conversation moves to the best films of Michael Mann, most of it moves towards HEAT (1995), or THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS (1992). And sitting in third place would be this real-life drama about a whistleblower in the tobacco industry. Al Pacino and Russell Crowe are outstanding, and the themes and story (whistleblowing and journalism), are even more relevant today. 

 

 

 

 

6. FIGHT CLUB

 

We don’t talk about FIGHT CLUB. 

 

 

 

 

 

5. STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE

 

George Lucas brought STAR WARS back to the big screen with this special-effects assault on the senses that would finish as the highest grossing film of the year. Although met with mixed reviews and fan-hate at the time, it has gained new respect; rightfully finding praise for its action (best lightsaber fight ever), universe and lore building, and one of John Williams’ greatest scores.  It also prepared the franchise for the next 25 years of films and TV series. 

 

 

 

 

4. THE GREEN MILE

   

 

Frank Darabont helmed this adaptation of the Stephen King novel of the same name, which continued Tom Hanks’ remarkable run in the Nineties and made the late great Michael Clarke Duncan one of the most beloved actors of the era. Set in a prison in the deep south and centered around some remarkable events, THE GREEN MILE was a commercial success and sent everyone staggering home with its emotional punches.

 

 

 

 

3. THE SIXTH SENSE

 

The movie that sent chills down everyone’s spine with just one line about dead people. M. Night Shyamalan redefined the twist ending with this psychological thriller and ghost story that had everyone talking in 1999, and had many people running back to the theatre to see it again. Nominated for six Oscars, it was the second-highest grossing film of the year behind STAR WARS. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. THE MATRIX

 

When something odd happens, or if someone needs to make a comment on the state of the world today, they just might say “there’s a glitch in the matrix”. That ongoing reference to this sci-fi action film by the Wachowskis speaks volumes to its longevity. Although loaded with action, the Wachowskis showed that sci-fi could still belong to the thinking-man and gave the genre new life. Keanu Reeves, Lawrence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Hugo Weaving starred in roles that would make them pop culture icons, and the visual effects would revolutionize the industry. A generation-defining film. 

 

 

 

 

 

1. THE MUMMY 

 

It took more than one generation of waiting for this remake of the 1932 classic which is everything that a big-screen adventure should be. Treasure hunter and adventurer Rick O’Connell (Brendan Fraser), and librarian Evelyn (Rachel Weisz), accidently awaken Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo); a cursed ancient Egyptian priest who threatens to cover the world in darkness. A high-energy film with the old-school feelings of Errol Flynn, the Golden Age of Hollywood, Indiana Jones, and even the style of David Lean…THE MUMMY packed in several genres; action, adventure, romance, and horror…and presents them in a classic way that is timeless. Famed composer Jerry Goldsmith turns in one of his best scores, and the visual effects were a leap forward at the time. When Fraser had his Oscar run to Best Actor in 2022, most of social media referenced or resurrected THE MUMMY, and the film stands as one of the best remakes in history. When a film does all that and more, it’s an easy pick for the best of 1999. 

 

 

 REEL SPEAK'S TOP 10 BEST FILMS OF 1999

1. THE MUMMY
2. THE MATRIX
3. THE SIXTH SENSE
4. THE GREEN MILE
5. STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE
6. FIGHT CLUB
7. THE INSIDER
8. TOY STORY 2
9. THE IRON GIANT
10. AMERICAN BEAUTY