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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
funny
informative
relaxing
fast-paced
I don't think it entirely convinces me that 1999 was *the* best movie year ever, but it certainly brings back some great memories. I loved the behind-the-scenes gossip, and the nostalgic look at what the end of the century felt like.
Full review, as ever, is up on my blog.
Full review, as ever, is up on my blog.
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
This book was a fun and nostalgic look at Hollywood in the 90s. Even if you are unfamiliar with most of the movies, the writer writes about it in a really interesting way. Would highly recommend!
Fantastically written! The author’s style bobs and weaves, able to be as serious or as irreverent as any of the many movies he discusses here. As a film and pop culture junkie, this majorly scratched the itch while also throughly enjoying the prose.
Few discerning film lovers would argue against the claim that 1999 is the best movie year ever, unleashing films that range from cultural touchstones to debate-fodder curiosities. The ubiquitousness of a lot of the titles explored here means that much of their behind-the-scenes stories will be familiar to movie buffs, arguably one of the book’s target audiences. Raftery’s case is certainly strengthened, though, by reading about this stellar line-up back-to-back. I’m admittedly biased; 1999 is the year my film fanaticism exploded, with some of my favorite* or most formative** movies coming from these 12 months alone. Most persuasive were the chapters on movies I was lukewarm about; I’m looking forward to reassessing Office Space, The Virgin Suicides, and The Matrix. Raftery is more optimistic than I am about original, challenging, singular films making a resurgence, but we’ll always have ‘99. #pickflick
*Magnolia, Being John Malkovich, Election (all represented here); The Talented Mr. Ripley, Toy Story 2, All About My Mother (to name a few others).
**American Pie, 10 Things I Hate About You, American Beauty, Fight Club, Go, The Sixth Sense, The Blair Witch Project (all represented here); Girl, Interrupted, Drop Dead Gorgeous, Jawbreaker (to name a few others).
*Magnolia, Being John Malkovich, Election (all represented here); The Talented Mr. Ripley, Toy Story 2, All About My Mother (to name a few others).
**American Pie, 10 Things I Hate About You, American Beauty, Fight Club, Go, The Sixth Sense, The Blair Witch Project (all represented here); Girl, Interrupted, Drop Dead Gorgeous, Jawbreaker (to name a few others).
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
This is an excellent book that focuses just one extraordinary year in cinema history. It's kind of astounding how many landmark movies came out in 1999. This book is well researched and written in a way that doesn't make it sound overly academic. I took off a star because I feel the author missed one big trend that pulls together so many of these titles. A lot of these movies (Fight Club, American Beauty, Office Space) are all about white male naval gazing. It's about the white man's existential crisis.
It makes me want to go re-watch all of the movies of my teenage years.