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In the Company of Men
Once again, the best film of the year has been scarcely seen by the masses. Those who
have can prove its power and striking validity in today's dog-eat-dog business world. And
it's funny! More than I could ever hope for. One of the few absolutely must-see films of the
year. If you haven't seen it, you haven't seen anything in 1997.
As Good As It Gets
Character drama is always overlooked, but Jack Nicholson's hilarious work as an
ultra-neurotic is worth all your attention. A stellar supporting cast also adds to the movie's
delights. And the best part: As Good As It Gets makes me look normal.
L. A. Confidential
Needlessly circular and convoluted, this acclaimed noir is still highly entertaining,
thanks to its pulpy roots and homage to Chinatown. Also a great cast of screw-ups,
plus you get to see Danny DeVito killed. What more can you want?
Boogie Nights
Get down with the boogie. Yes, the story of the 70's porn industry rambles for hours and
has too many subplots, but it's totally hilarious. Any film that can engineer a Burt Reynolds
comeback is something indeed.
Wag the Dog
The last film to make it on the list, and placing well. Another comedy for the books, and
another great leading role (Dustin Hoffman in a pompadour, I love it!). Making fun of your
audience (and their taste in having their wars spoon-fed to them on TV) is hard. When it
works, it's great.
The Ice Storm
Cold, brooding, disturbing. What an appropriate title for this art-house gem. Sigourney
Weaver redeems herself for the ridiculous Alien follow-up, and if you're looking for a
real tearjerker (as opposed to #8 on this list), look to The Ice Storm.
Titanic
It's funny... last year, The English Patient was #8 on my list, too. With a
transparent story line and wooden performances from its leads, if this had been set on a
dinghy, it would have merited one star. But with $200 million to pump into special effects,
Titanic is a spectacle that you need to see for its one saving grace: The ship. But
don't believe the hype or you'll get sucked into the emotional undertow like so many others. .
Men in Black
Until Titanic beats it, Men in Black is the highest grossing film of
1997, and it's great. Even though it's highly entertaining, there's still a semblance of theme
inside this movie. And, best of all, it proves my paranoid conspiracies are all true.
Air Force One
Damn straight! Harrison Ford kicked a lot of butt. I loved it, you loved it, we all loved
it. To hell with art.
