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PORT PERRY "WEEKEND STAR" FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2000 -9 SCREENING ROOM By John Foote As | looked over the seven sheets listing the more than 300 movies | have seen this year, | was amazed at how many of the year's best films came out after September. While it is no secret that the fall-win- ter months are used by the studios to roll out their major Oscar contenders, never before | have seen such an imbal- ance in quality over the year. From January through August, there were just three good films, (Tarzan, The Sixth Sense, Eyes Wide Shut), while since September, there has been a bounty of great ones. 1999 will be remembered as the year of strong biographical films, excel- lent adaptations of fine novels, and in two cases, blazingly original works from exciting new directors. With failures from world class directors Martin Scorsese, Sydney Pollack, Oliver Stone, and Peter Kassovitz, it is refreshing to see the next generation of film makers are ready to step in. For the first time in many years, sev- eral of the best films could truly be described as "new". Be it the stunning writing in American Beauty, the superb » visuals in. The Matrix, or the surrealistic mayhem in Fight Club, cinema of '99 was often groundbreaking. Following are the ten best films of the year, in order of preference : AMERICAN BEAUTY. First time director Sam Mendes, best known for his work on Broadway with Cabaret, dis- plays a remarkable touch with actors in this superb exploration of a dysfunc- tional family, incapable of displaying love. Both deeply moving and very funny, American Beauty is ultimately a tragedy that unfolds with such frank boldness before the audience, | felt as though cin- ema were a brand new art form | had just discovered. Kevin Spacey gives a brilliant perfor- mance as an average American man coming apart at the seams, one who knows it, and one who fights back with all he's worth not to allow the system or - life to get him. Annette Bening is mar- velous as his brittle wife, Wes Bentley superb as the watchful neighbour, and Chris Cooper terrifying as the neighbour harbouring a secret. Original, searing film making that never goes where one expects. FIGHT CLUB...David Fincher's sav- age lashing back at the power of con- sumerism made for a controversial film that many audience members and crit- ics simply did not understand. Rarely has a film so challenged the audience, or made the demands on the viewer that Fight Club does. But if one is prépared to take the ride, you are in for quite a journey. Edward Norton is superb as the cor- porate drone pulled into the mysteri- ous life of Tyler, portrayed with brash energy by Brad Pitt. It is a decadent world of destruction that Norton real- izes only too late is very much his own creation. Raw power that will shock, disturb, and overwhelm you. BOYS DON'T CRY...An independent project from first time director Picking the best of the movie crop from 1999 Edward Norton (left) and Brad Pittin Fight Club, one of critic John Foote' S picks for top films of 1999. Most of the best films saw release in the latter half of the year, says our man at the cinema. Kimberley Pierce, this film chronicles the life of Tina Brandon, a teenage girl who became Brandon Teena, a girlish boy who blended in with rednecks in the mid-west. She/he blended all right until they realized he was a she, at which point they raped and murdered her. Hilary Swank gives an astounding perfor-_ mance as Brandon, bending gender as it never has been done before on screen, and in the process making her- self the front runner for the Best Actress Oscar. Truly a miraculous performance from this multi-talented young woman. MAN IN THE MOON...Director Milos Forman, an Oscar winner for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) and again for Amadeus (1984), will take a run at a third with this heartbreaking, "revealing biography of bizarre comic Andy Kaufman. Portraying the man who pushed per- formance art further than anyone ever has or will, Jim Carrey is nothing short of a revelation, seeming to channel the spirit of Kaufman through himself. Please turn to page 10 DONT BE DISAPPOINTED? It's the book everyone IF YOU DIDN'T is talking about! PORT pep RY A Cenruny Or p ROGRESS GET A COPY OF "OUT OF You can still enjoy browsing through 100 years of local history by picking up your personal copy at one of the following Port Perry and area outlets. * Book's Galore & More » Settlement House Shops Shoppers Drug Mart The Port Perry Star as) | = Come in or Call i (70%) 357-2575 1-800-275- 9589 12 & 2nd Line WII 1873 ATTENTION! Town Hall 1873 Concert Series, Subscribers Town Hall 1873 has just learned that Molly Johnson will be unable to perform on Saturday, February 12/00 as advertised in our brochure, due to the impending birth-of her second child. We are indeed Fortunate that in her place, Town Hall 1873 has been able to arrange a concert of equal appeal, Featuring the powerful and sensuous voice of Lisa Lindo, with her trio. Classically trained, Lisa is now a Featured singer of popular ballads and romantic standards on Stuart McLean's 'Vinyl Cafe' on CBC radio. Subscribers holding series tickets for the Feb. 12th Molly Johnson concert are asked to kindly use them for admission to this special concert.... Thank you. » Seagrave General Store ad plus GST Sunderland, Ont., 4 miles North of Greenbank Town Hall 1873. |