Best Film of 1999 (ongoing survey)

[JonTurner]

I know we've got polls like this all the time around here, but I figure this one will be a little more comprehensive and perhaps even informative.

This thread will be for your pick for best film released during 1999 (think Oscar considerations for what's eligible). I'm not making it a poll because whether you like it or not, that would influence some people's choice.

Results will be posted in this thread, and all subsequent threads for each year, and they will be ongoing... so you can still vote here even weeks after other year's polls have begun.

Please start your post with your #1 film from 1999 (try to limit it to one - after all, that's the point - two at the most (I'll split the vote)), and yes, discussions are more than welcome!

Current Leader -- Fight Club

All Years:
2000 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=169768) -- Requiem For a Dream*
1999 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=170274) -- Fight Club*
1998 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=171440) -- (currently) Saving Private Ryan
1997 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=172054) -- (currently) Boogie Nights
1996 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=173057) -- Fargo*
1995 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=174141) -- (currently) Braveheart
1994 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=175192) -- Pulp Fiction*
1993 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=176491) -- Schindler's List*
1992 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=177944) -- Unforgiven*
1991 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=179517) -- Silence of the Lambs*
1990 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=182060) -- Goodfellas*
1989 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=183974) -- (currently) Do the Right Thing
1988 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=186578) -- Die Hard*
1987 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=189840) -- Full Metal Jacket*
1986 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=193610) -- (currently) Ferris Bueller's Day Off
1985 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=195894) -- Back to the Future*
1984 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=197576) -- (currently) Ghostbusters
1983 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=199215) -- Return of the Jedi*
1982 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=201052)

If you haven't voted on the previous years, feel free to go back and do so.

*Poll closed, winner declared.

[JonTurner]

American Beauty

[das Monkey]

The part of me that wants to buck the trend of what I think will be an overwhelming favorite says <B>The Insider</B>.

Another part of me thinks it's crazy not to say <B>American Beauty</B>.

Split my vote, I guess.

das

[RobCA]

Please split my vote between The Sixth Sense and American Beauty. :)

[Chuckopolis]

One word:

mag-no'li-a

Nothing else even comes close.

[Sunday Morning]

ELECTION!

[Keyser_Soze2]

Magnolia, with Fight Club a close second.

[Grimfarrow]

The Straight Story

[Frank TJ Mackey]

Macknolia

[Goat3001]

Fight Club

[dknight04]

Have to go with American Beauty.

[conscience]

<b><i><u>American Beauty</u></i></b>

[Iron Chef]

The Insider

[Michael_M]

FIGHT CLUB all the way for me.

[monkey]

The Straight Story

[Pudthai]

The Sixth Sense

[William Fuld]

The Straight Story

[BigDaddy]

1980 Empire
1981 Raiders
1998 Out of Sight
1999 American Beauty

[JustinS]

The War Zone tops my list for '99.

Other honorable mentions include The Insider, Election, American Beauty, and the doco The Last Days.

[Beaver]

Fight Club

[Tyler_Durden]

Out of the ones I've seen:

Magnolia.

[evenflow]

Fight Club

[CitizenKaneRBud]

Magnolia

[NiCK Crush]

Fight Club

-NiCK

[ChrisKnudsen]

I am starting to notice a pattern. This is my all time favorite year for cinema and according to my first list back in 1999, I had Fight Club as the #1 movie of the year and Magnolia as #2. It still is probably the same but Election might take over Magnolia in 5 years or Magnolia might take the top spot. Who knows? South Park might come from behind with its no rules on the soap box approach towards free speech and become the american classic of 1999. Crazy.

[Tommy_Harn]

Can't let Fight Club win this one, American Beauty with the Insider second.

[NitroJMS]

I'm going with something totally different than everyone else: <B>Eyes Wide Shut</B>.

Then I'd say, Fight Club, The Sixth Sense, Being John Malkovich, and Three Kings. Then maybe American Beauty. I'm just not in love with it like alot of people are even though I do think it's great.

[Coral]

Without a doubt, and by a wide margin:

Magnolia

[funstan]

1999 was the best year in cinematic history, period. I will say the best American movie was Three Kings and the best foreign film was All About My Mother with All About My Mother being the best film of the year.

[bjhess]

Well, I'll have to go with Fight Club...at least today that's what I'll say. My 9+'s:

9 1/2:

Fight Club
The Insider

9:

Arlington Road
Being John Malkovich
Blair Witch Project (That's what I gave it at the time, so I'm not changing my mind)
The Iron Giant
Office Space
South Park:Bigger, Longer, Uncut
Toy Story 2

Lots of comedies in there, huh? I'll still haven't seen All About My Mother or Straight Story, though.

I'd say that 2000 was the best year for movies in a long time, not 1999. Interestingly, of my top 12 for 2000, 10 of them were released in November and December. :)

Barry

[JMLEWIS1]

There's a 3-way tie for me...

Magnolia
American Beauty
Being John Malkovich

[Marquee Marq]

My #1 of 1999:

Magnolia

[JonTurner]

I wish this hadn't fallen out of everyone's view...

My guess was that Fight Club and American Beauty would be right together at the top... but at current count:

1) Magnolia (7.33 votes)
2) Fight Club (7 votes)
3) American Beauty (6.33 votes)

Straight Story is next with 3 votes, but it's obviously coming down to a completition between those 3 films (which is cool, since they're my top 3 from '99)

Hopefully we can get some more votes in, and I'm going to go ahead and start the '98 poll, here (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=171440).

[ToddSm66]

Fight Club

With The Green Mile a close runner up.

[Geofferson]

Magnolia

[Matt Millheiser]

Fight Club, without a doubt.

Magnolia?? Oy...

[Johnny Zhivago]

<b>American Beauty</b>

Runners up - Magnolia and Eyes Wide Shut.

[The Bus]

1999 was the best year for movies... A lot of people thank George Lucas for that. Apparently, so many studios were so afraid of setting any summer blockbuster against The Phantom Menace that they didn't produce action-y movies. (I believe it was also the last time yearly grosses were so high)

It seems, however, that 1999 was a fluke.

Was there another year were we had: American Beauty, The Matrix, Fight Club, Toy Story 2, The Straight Story, The Sixth Sense, The Green Mile, Being John Malkovich, All About My Mother, Iron Giant, Magnolia, The Insider, The Road Home, Ghost Dog, Three Kings, South Park: BLU, Topsy-Turvy, Boondock Saints, Go, Man on the Moon, The War Zone, Office Space, Virgin Suicides, Buena Vista Social Club, Eyes Wide Shut, The Talented Mr. Ripley...

And that's just movies I can vaguely remember, although not all are "classics" or 10s and some are IMO not that great (Green Mile).

I own most of those movies up there, or at least plan to. My vote, out of all those?

It's a tough decision between American Beauty, The Matrix, Fight Club, Toy Story 2, Straight Story... etc. You get the idea.

I'll go with Magnolia because I saw it two nights in a row after it came out and it was fantastic. Ask me again in 10 minutes and I'd change my mind.

[Grimfarrow]

Ugh...I frankly think that 1999 is one of the most overhyped years. Of the latter five years of the 90's, I found '98 and '96 to be much more varied and interesting. Case in point - people have pretty much picked 3-4 films as best of 1999, but if you look at 1998's poll, it's all over the place, with no real concensus. That, IMO, is a sign of a good year.

[cwwallace]

American Beauty followed closely by The Insider.

[Tscott]

Looks like everyone forgot about my favorite movie of 1999:
Run Lola Run
Oh well.

I certainly don't agree that 1999 was overhyped, in fact 1999 is the only year that I have ever felt compelled to jot down a list of my favorite movies... *runs to get list*...
1. Run Lola Run
2. Being John Malkovich
3. American Beauty
4. Election
5. Magnolia
6. The Sixth Sense
7. Toy Story 2
8. The Matrix
9. South Park: BLU
10. Fight Club

[Eddyhazkel]

It's a close call but I would have to say
American Beauty with Office Space and Election fighting it out for second place.

[bjhess]

I've changed my mind, after looking through my movie spreadsheet (Nerd alert!), I've determined that 1999 was truly a great year for movies. Wow!

Sorry for the second post. Thanks,

Barry

[Scarecrow]

The Insider

[JonTurner]

Ah... with some more votes in, the current result has become a TIE:

1) American Beauty (9.33 votes)
1) Magnolia (9.33 votes)
3) Fight Club (9 votes)

Keep 'em coming!

[Three Day Delay]

1. American Beauty
2. Magnolia
3. Being John Malcovich
4. The Insider
5. The Hurricane
6. South Park BLU

[Chili Palmer]

Since everybody is listing more than, say 6, here is my top 10 for 1999:

1. The Matrix
2.Magnolia
3.American Beauty
4.Fight Club
5.Three Kings
6.The Talented Mr. Ripley
7.The Sixth Sense
8.The Green Mile
9.Being John Malkovich
10. Election

[SightandSound]

American Beauty

[Mazinger]

The Insider

[Big Quasimodo]

Originally posted by Grimfarrow
Ugh...I frankly think that 1999 is one of the most overhyped years. Of the latter five years of the 90's, I found '98 and '96 to be much more varied and interesting. Case in point - people have pretty much picked 3-4 films as best of 1999, but if you look at 1998's poll, it's all over the place, with no real concensus. That, IMO, is a sign of a good year.

I think it was a weak year as well.

My vote: The Talented Mr. Ripley

[CrashMan]

Fight Club

[garmonbozia]

Magnolia

[FreshOne]

I am surprised no one has said Eyes Wide Shut (or i am surprised that you did and i missed it ;) )

I have gone back and forth between Eyes Wide Shut and Fight Club for 1999, and in the end I have to give it to Eyes Wide Shut. Many people hate it, or think it is weird, or Kubrick was out of his mind, but it is my favorite Kubrick film, and my pick for 1999.

[bjhess]

Originally posted by Grimfarrow
Ugh...I frankly think that 1999 is one of the most overhyped years. Of the latter five years of the 90's, I found '98 and '96 to be much more varied and interesting. Case in point - people have pretty much picked 3-4 films as best of 1999, but if you look at 1998's poll, it's all over the place, with no real concensus. That, IMO, is a sign of a good year.

I agree that '98 was one of the best, too, but '96 is easily the worst year in the last five from my standpoint. I don't know how that it could be argued that it was better than '99.

Barry

[Grimfarrow]

Originally posted by bjhess


I agree that '98 was one of the best, too, but '96 is easily the worst year in the last five from my standpoint. I don't know how that it could be argued that it was better than '99.

Barry

Let me see....

Breaking the Waves
Chungking Express
Dead Man
Secrets & Lies
Welcome to the Dollhouse
Fargo
Shine
Trainspotting
Lone Star
Big Night
Hamlet
The White Balloon

Plus a whole bunch of others I didn't list.

I mean, just look at the quality of the first six films alone. It's already better than 1999.

[LX98Civic]

American Beauty

[Variable697]

Without question, Three Kings.

[garmonbozia]

Originally posted by FreshOne
I am surprised no one has said Eyes Wide Shut
......... but it is my favorite Kubrick film, and my pick for 1999.

Eyes Wide Shut is also my favorite Kubrick film, but it is my #2 film of 1999....Magnolia just beats it.

[randy1320]

1) American Beauty
2) The Matrix
3) The Sixth Sense
4) The Green Mile
5) American Pie (sorry, I had to include it. I laughed so hard my stomach hurt after the movie.)

Gosh I wish Star Wars: TPM had been good enough to be somewhere on my list. I only liked bits and pieces of it. What a disappointment.

[filmguy]

FIGHT CLUB

and

MAGNOLIA

No doubt about it. Both great movies. Own them both, and seen them both over 10 times.

[BizRodian]

American Beauty and Magnolia are tied for me. I love them and can not choose.

I also enjoyed Sleepy Hollow (I didn't like it at first, but after a second viewing I realised it was pretty clever and very enjoyable), The Phantom Menace (say what you want, this was a fun movie that made me feel like a kid again.) Then there's Run Lola Run, Being John Malkovich... lots of great films...

[Ashirg]

Another vote for FIGHT CLUB

[Sierra Disc]

Oh man... these are hard! My final four would include
Fight Club
Being John Malkovich
Magnolia
American Beauty

And I'd have to say while I love Fight Club, it doesn't get the nod because it's a little too clever for its own good sometimes - and the whole twisted identity situation was a bit too hard to swallow for me.

Magnolia is another flawed gem to me, I was blown away on first viewing but on second look it didn't quite hold together as well to me.

And strangely enough American Beauty, which I'd have called my #1 movie of '99 at the time, is now looking a little ragged around the edges -- amazing performances, great script but a plot that is a little too clichéd on repeat viewings. Still a fantastic movie and worthy of the Oscar I think.

So my pick goes to Being John Malkovich -- which on repeat viewings has never ceased to blow me away with its inventiveness, unique mood and tone and great performances all around.

Isn't it interesting how your views of a movie can change with time and repeat viewings? Strange to see how that happens.

[MarcusAurelius]

FIGHT CLUB

[Doctor Gonzo]

The Sixth Sense

[mst3k man]

Put down one more vote for Fight Club.

[JonTurner]

With many more votes added, American Beauty now has a slight lead:

1) American Beauty (13.83)
2) Fight Club (13.5)
3) Magnolia (11.33)

Keep 'em coming!

[lorenzoh]

1) American Beauty
2) Sleepy Hollow
3) Being John Malkovich
4) Fight Club
5) The Straight Story

[JesseCuster]

Fight Club

[Romer20]

No question for #1...

MAGNOLIA

Then it gets hard, but...

2. The Insider

3. The Straight Story

4. Being John Malkovitch

5. American Beauty

6. The Virgin Suicides

7. All About My Mother

8. Three Kings

[vasb]

No question - Magnolia. Not only the best of the year, but one of the best of the decade.

[GizmoDVD]

American Beauty

[drc]

Magnolia

[Sparrow]

The Matrix
Election
American Beauty
Fight Club

[jimmywong]

The Matrix

[cortan]

wow amazing year of films
my top 2 are matrix and sixth sense

also loved

three kings
iron giant
toy story 2

[gdog3000]

fight club!

[Sulaco]

Mmm-hmm. Fight Club.

[Copenhagen]

For me a split between Fight Club and Eyes Wide Shut

[Gabro Jay]

Fight Club

[AndyCapps]

The Matrix

[bluesman]

Fight Club

[DVD007]

FIGHT CLUB



Bruce

[paratize]

EYES WIDE SHUT

Runner-up: <i>Three Kings</i>, followed closely by <i>Magnolia</i>

Honorable mentions: <i>The Matrix, Princess Mononoke, Toy Story 2</i>

Also-rans: <i>American Beauty, Being John Malkovich, Fight Club, The Straight Story, The Talented Mr. Ripley</i>

[dhmac]

My pick: The Talented Mr. Ripley

But I also think Election, The Iron Giant, Toy Story 2, Princess Mononoke (it does count as a 1999 release, right?), The Matrix, and Fight Club were all great as well.

[Mr. M]

The Insider

with Three Kings a close second.

[filmgoer]

Being John Malkovich

Another very tough choice...Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl was the other choice, also American Beauty. That top spot is a tough...but Malkovich will do.

[Tesiae]

Let me cast my vote for Magnolia.

Very, very, very, very close runner-up: Fight Club.

[Cornfed]

1. Straight Story
2. Iron Giant
3. Toy Story 2

[KitchenSink]

Fight Club

[The Zizz]

Bringing Out the Dead

[costanza187]

Fight Club!

[JonTurner]

Wow... been a month since I tallied this one up. With a large majority of votes since the last update, Fight Club's jumped out to a commanding lead:

1) Fight Club (23 votes)
2) American Beauty (15.83)
3) Magnolia (14.33)

[explosivej]

Fight Club

[twikoff]

Sixth Sense
The Matrix
American Beauty
Fight Club
Election

[kian69]

Matrix

[Suprmallet]

Eyes Wide Shut, Eyes Wide Shut, Eyes Wide Shut.

[J-Dubya]

The Sixth Sense/The Matrix

[Al Infinitum]

Magnolia

[skar]

1. American Beauty
2. Election
3. Fight Club

[Arkonne]

American Beauty

[Dan Average]

I'm splitting my vote between Eyes Wide Shut and Fight Club.

[swamptours]

Three Kings with Being John Malkovich close behind.

[Roswell]

Here goes nothing:Fight Club.

[wm lopez]

THREE KINGS

[groovyk1]

I'd have to say: American Beauty,
Fight Club
American Pie
Cruel Intentions
The Matrix

[Jeremy517]

Bad year for movies in my mind. Toy Story 2 gets my vote.

[mukow]

Magnolia

[travis_bickle]

American Beauty

[KJROD20]

the insider

[evanmd]

The Talented Mr. Ripley

[ivelostr2]

american beauty

[JonTurner]

Fight Club continues to lead...

1) Fight Club (25.5 votes)
2) American Beauty (20.83)
3) Magnolia (16.33)

[bears35]

FIGHT CLUB

[Anthony Soprano]

Eyes Wide Shut

[sebastianv50]

Fight Club was great, but I have to go with American Beauty.

[grunter]

Magnolia

[TCG]

1. The Matrix

2. TPM

3. Office Space

4. Fight Club

5. Blair Witch Project

6. 6th Sense

[Lothaerius]

Fight Club. For the shock value.

[Sem]

The War Zone
Eyes Wide Shut

[IIG]

<b>American Beauty</b>

I can see the trouble deciding here. I think 1999 was the best year for movies ever.

[wildcatkid]

One more for Fight Club!

[BearFan]

Fight Club

[Endy]

One more vote for Fight Club!

[Bcolon]

Fight Club

[Tackleberry]

American Beauty

[JonTurner]

New tally, with Fight Club pulling farther away:

1) Fight Club (31.5)
2) American Beauty (23.83)
3) Magnolia (17.33)

[Morf]

The Matrix.

[Meatpants]

Full vote to <b>Fight Club</b>

Other faves

American Beauty
South Park
Talented Mr. Ripley (which is getting better w/ age I think)

[cineman]

Magnolia

[greeny]

American Beauty.

runner up : Election.

[AnonomusBob15]

Fight Club.... duh.

[Disneykid]

Toy Story 2 followed VERY VERY VERY closely by Sixth Sense! :D

[wakwak007]

I got to go with American Beauty and Magnolia. However honorable mention would be: South Park
Run Lola Run
Sixth Sense
Ghost in the Dog
and certainly Fight Club ( it was like a Twilight Episode, Man, the first time was wild)

[Masoo]

Three Kings

[DVD-ho78(DTS)]

Fight Club

[DVD Smurf]

Magnolia

[victant]

Fight Club for me....

[gcribbs]

Matrix.

Fight club is a great movie but The Matrix really surprised me with the whole experience.

[Borst]

Fight Club

[PunkYou]

Fight Club

Runner up: American Beauty

[Kubrickite]

Howabout a curveball, Sweet and Lowdown

[JonTurner]

New tally:

1) Fight Club (37.5)
2) American Beauty (25.33)
3) Magnolia (19.33)

American Beauty had the lead for a while and held close a long way, but this one belongs to Fight Club... closing.