The Rock (1996)

4/5

Michael Bay's The Rock is one of the finest action movies made in the 90's. Yes, I know we all love to poopoo Michael Bay, but here he has actually made a movie worth watching. The plot concerns Ed Harris as a former military commander who takes hostages on Alcatrez and threatens the US government with a civilian attack as an act of patriotism. He demands payment to each family who was lied to concerning their relative's death as a black ops agent in Desert Storm. Nicolas Cage plays a dorky chemical weapons expert and Sean Connery plays an ex-SAS agent who is brought in because he was the only man to have escaped Alcatrez alive. They infiltrate Alcatrez and take down Harris in a series of wonderfully exciting action sequences.

I was actually impressed by how technically proficient the movie is. There are some really great shots and camera movements in this movie that added to the action and sense of cool. The rapid-fire editing was effective without being an eyesore, but the music emphasized the mood and atmosphere a bit too much; it could be very overbearing. The acting on the whole was excellent (Harris and Connery were on point, but Cage was a bit overdramatic) and the dialogue was always funny (half the time from good writing and half the time from bad). All in all, a very thrilling action comedy.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117500/

Fargo (1996)

5/5

Fargo is an American classic. The darkest, funniest one I've seen--next to No Country for Old Men. Set in the folksy Midwest, it is the story of a pathetic man (William H. Macy) who hires second-rate criminals (Peter Stormare and Steve Buscemi) to kidnap his wife while the chief of police Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand) tracks them down. As events spiral wildly out of control, we catch a glimpse at just how far men will go to save themselves. And yet we laugh. At the most morbid moments. The Coens manage to integrate the holy and profane with aplomb, seemingly reckless abandon for "proper" emotional or comedic timing. Tension coexists with humor, the banal with the bizarre. The crime story is electrifying and gripping while the dialect brings an unrelenting charm to every scene. Fargo is unique and inimitable--in a word, unforgettable.

The cinematography and editing are spot-on. The snow is beautiful and evocative, the fades unobtrusive and descriptive. The writing and acting are indelible. Their accents and mannerisms are tattoos, inseparable from the characters. The technical achievements are amongst the best film has to offer. And yet we see the movie's genius in the smallest moments--the moments other writers wouldn't have envisioned and other producers wouldn't have kept. The ones that define the places, the characters, and life as a whole. We see lonely desperation as it turns to inexplicable, irreversible mistakes. We see how common sense and hard work can be all you need for success. We see the tallest reaches and deepest depths of humankind, and are shocked by them both. The ending is one of the most tender, uplifting ones I have witnessed. And not to be missed.

IMDb link: http://imdb.com/title/tt0116282/

Swingers (1996)

4/5

Swingers is the epitome of the guy equivalent to a chick flick, and it is hilarious. Like Pulp Fiction, it thrives on pop culture references. It captures both a generation and a perspective flawlessly. There are some extremely effective scenes (when Mike decides to call Niki, the awkwardness was palpable--I literally squirmed in my seat). Unlike most comedies, this movie actually has a solid foundation, plot-wise and message-wise. And it succeeds: it's funny.

Some scenes go on for too long or don't really have much of a point (for example, the swing dancing). Also, the movie doesn't age well; it digs itself deep in 90's culture and gets stuck there, in terms of language, clothing, and references. The filmmaking becomes a little self-indulgent sometimes. Overall, a very effective, character-driven comedy that very accurately looks at the dating world through guys' eyes.

IMDb link: http://imdb.com/title/tt0117802/

Breaking the Waves (1996)

4/5

Breaking the Waves has the potential to be an extremely powerful, extremely emotional piece, if you get into it. The mood is difficult to get into because of its faded colors, handheld camerawork, and overly depressing plot. Maybe for me it just appears to try too hard to mean something, when it easily doesn't have to. The biggest problem I had was with Emily Watson's Bess, who was actually just crazy. It is hard to believe in a drama without a protagonist you can sympathize with. Also, there is some unnecessary and gratuitous sex and nudity. It seems like much of the plot gets its power strictly from the disturbing sex acts that occur. Some scenes last much too long or are just completely worthless, contributing to the overly long running time. I also really disliked the editing style.

Its length (150 min) can seem to be a factor, but von Trier has parceled the movie into eight chapters, which makes watching it much more manageable. The chapter separators have colorful scenic vistas with pop music as backdrops, which makes a surprisingly significant positive difference in watching the rest of the movie. There is a striking allegory of Bess as Jesus in her unconditional love, her suffering, her sacrifice, and her healing. Some of the dialogue is undeniably well-written and the acting is captivating. This is a violently emotional movie regardless of any imperfections it has. But it strives to be more than that; it approaches art.

IMDb link: http://imdb.com/title/tt0115751/