‘Pulp Fiction’ Leads The List Of 10 (Make That 6) Top Movies Of ‘94
My assignment, which I begged my editor for, was to write about the 10 greatest films of 1994.
When I think of a 10-best list, I think of 10 movies made last year that are excellent and unquestionably worth seeing. But as I go through a list of 1994’s movies, I can only find six. I don’t want to pollute the list with four more movies that are not 100 percent good, just to make it an even 10, so this is a six-best list.
Keep in mind I have not seen “Hoop Dreams,” “Quiz Show,” “Heavenly Creatures,” “The Lion King,” “Bullets Over Broadway,” “Forrest Gump” or “Backbeat.”
With that said, here are, in my opinion, the six best films of 1994.
1. “Pulp Fiction” - Not only the best of ‘94, this is also one of the greatest cinematic achievements of all time. Writer/director/actor/genius Quentin Tarantino has put together a movie that is shocking, surprising, funny and thought-provoking. Tying three stories about the lifestyles of L.A. hoodlums together with a fourth subplot, the film takes the viewer in a dizzying circle.
In addition to a brilliant script, Tarantino has developed his own style. While many of today’s fine films merely tell an original story with no new film techniques, “Pulp Fiction” sets itself apart in the way it’s put together.
Tarantino focuses heavily on seemingly meaningless shots, such as heroin being shot up and the way a ‘50s-style diner looks, but this is definitely not a case of style over substance. He never lets the art overpower the high-octane plot.
You’ll find no traditional shootouts in this movie, and the dialogue exchanges are more exciting than the gunplay. Completely gripping all the way through, with great performances and music, this is a good, good movie.
2. “Fresh” - This is the story of an inner-city 12-year-old African American named Fresh.
Fresh is a drug dealer used to fending only for himself. But when a friend is murdered he decides to get revenge. Fresh develops a plan that will wipe out all of his enemies at once and save those dear to him who are still alive.
“Fresh” begins like a drama and quickly turns suspenseful, but then suddenly the ending hits and in one closeup, the devastation, loneliness and tragedy of Fresh’s life is evoked perfectly. The filmmakers masterfully introduce us to Fresh’s everyday life, pull us in, then pull us out and end broadly.
The actor who plays Fresh, Sean Nelson, is magnificent. He makes his character utterly believable and does a wonderful job of fleshing him out on-screen. This movie is a real mustsee.
3. “Natural Born Killers” - Yes, this is an extremely graphic and violent movie and there is more than a little hypocrisy involved in the message.
But this is actually something unheard of in Hollywood movies: an artistic statement. It would seem that a movie such as this would be made only independently, but not so.
The reason it’s so shocking that a big studio backed it is because “Natural Born Killers” cares more about the way it looks and feels than it does about plot and conventional mainstream movie values. The unconventionality comes through in parts like when the characters are literally labeled and when sexual abuse is presented in the form of a cheesy family sitcom.
When director Oliver Stone wants to make his point, whether it be what kind of person a character truly is or how sexual abuse occurs in middleclass homes, he shoves it in our faces. But instead of being pretentious, his vision comes as a breath of fresh air in a film market dominated by allthe-same mainstream films.
4. “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” - “Priscilla” doesn’t try to do much, only tell its story and teach a few things. And it does it just beautifully.
The protagonists, three homosexual drag queens, trek across the Australian Outback in search of a hotel where they are booked to perform. On their journey, they encounter many adventures, some dangerous, and bond in the process.
The acting is great, and “Priscilla” is always interesting and funny. Little lessons of acceptance are occasionally and slyly tossed in throughout, but the film never lectures, it only entertains.
5. “Speed” - Merely an action movie, but one of the best entries to the genre since “Die Hard.” Many criticized “Speed” as a copy of “Die Hard,” but I don’t see many parallels. “Speed” attempts to accelerate the heartbeat, achieves its goal in the first minutes and never lets up.
Sure, it has its unnecessary scenes of gory death, but there are only two. When compared with the number in most R-rated movies, that is as scarce as they get. Director Jan de Bont has created an excellent, but not flawless, action film.
6. “The Professional” - Luc Besson proved he is a great stylist in 1991 with the French thriller “La Femme Nikita.” He does a great job here, too, in his first American movie. But the Americanization of his work has softened it some (though not the bloody shootouts) and added in a good amount of corniness.
The story has a sheltered hitman take in a recently orphaned 12-yearold. They become the best of friends and soon he is doing the dirty work in her plan to get revenge on the killers of her family. The gunfights, though very graphic, are on the same hightech level of Hong Kong’s John Woo.
Fine acting by Natalie Portman as the girl and a superb performance from Gary Oldman as the villain make this an interesting film to watch.
ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo