The Resident Bitch Prepares for... the Most Recent MoFo Countdown

Dances With Wolves
(Kevin Costner, 1990)

This might just be the only movie I have ever referred to as a "masterpiece" and I stand by that assessment. Everything about it is simply breathtaking, the story, the score, the performances, the landscape, the cinematography, everything. If I hadn't already known that this was a lock for my ballot, this rewatch would certainly have convinced me of it.

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School Ties
(Robert Mandel, 1992)

I've long been a fan of Brendan Fraser and I think this movie does a fine job of showcasing his talents as a dramatic actor. Here he plays a working class Jewish teen who attends a prestigious prep school in the 1950s and chooses to conceal his faith after encountering anti-semitism from his classmates. It also features a number of then up and coming actors like Ben Affleck, Chris O'Donnell, and Matt Damon - the film's main antagonist who does well as the uppity bigoted prick who falsely accuses Fraser's character of cheating.

As expected, the film deals with themes of fitting in, deceit, jealousy, bigotry, and classism. And while the actors do a fine job in their roles, the movie itself often crosses the line of being overly heavy handed in its messaging and a bit predictable in its outcome. Still, I think its positive aspects outweigh the negative and it is a solid watch overall, but I'm not sure it's good enough to get my vote.

Face/Off
(John Woo, 1997)

Once again there is just nothing like a dumbass 90's action flick to bring the fun and John Woo's Face/Off is some S-tier shit. You've got Nicolas Cage cranking the Nicolas Cage to 11; you've got John Travolta channeling Nicolas Cage; you've got Nicolas Cage channelling John Travolta, and you've Nicolas Cage channelling John Travolta channelling Nicolas Cage. It's a Nicolas Cage-ception and I'm here for it.

U Turn
(Oliver Stone, 1997)

I usually find movies about shitty people doing shitty things to each other to be really off-putting. However, these particular shitty people are just so over the top, weird, and amusing that I can't help but love them and love this movie for it. Even Billy Bob Thornton is great in this as the dumbest dumb hick in a town full of dumb hicks and I usually can't stand him. Sean Penn does unsurprisingly well playing a total prick, Jennifer Lopez brings a lot of heat to her role, John Voight is great as the homeless blind man spouting wisdom and begging for change, and - of course - best of all is Joaquin Phoenix as the short-fused and stupider than shit Toby N. Tucker (folks 'round there call him "TNT") who steals every scene he's in.

I'm not entirely sure yet whether this will make the cut, but the more movies I rewatch from this decade the more heavy my ballot is weighted with dumb but amusing shit like this and frankly I'm not mad at it.

Interview With The Vampire
(Neil Jordan, 1994)

I'm not usually big on fantasy and I'm not usually big on horror, so horror fantasies are generally not my thing. But when the horror fantasy in question stars Brad Pitt, Antonio Banderas, and Christian Slater in their prime, is essentially a period piece, and features an impressive performance from Tom Cruise and heavy doses of melodrama and homoeroticism, I'm in.