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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
funny
informative
slow-paced
Learning about the broader culture and political moments wherein films were conceived is unendingly interesting and engaging (for some...). Whether or not you've seen every film discussed, the depth in which Raftery explores the obstacles that each film had to overcome just to make it to theaters is wholly satisfying, and enriches the film on a macro level. He examines internal and external influences on development process with such care and attention to detail, ultimately building a story around each film that can hold its own against the film itself. I wish this existed for every year.
I took a while to finish Best. Movie. Year. Ever. because I kept stopping to watch the movies. I regret nothing. An excellent work of criticism and behind-the-scenes stories of 1999 films, in B.M.Y.E Raftery finds something interesting to say about everything from Fight Club to Cruel Intentions. He holds out on putting the films of 1999 into 2019 context for much of the book. Instead, Raftery focuses on the making and release of the movies. How they were a product of a flash of indie filmmaking that hasn't happened since 1999 and the Y2K panic. There's so much to say about the films and history of 1999. The epilogue, which does contextualize the movies (red piller's love of a film made by two trans women, Kevin Spacey's allegations making American Beauty all the more creepy, etc) could be a whole other book.
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
The author did many interviews with producers, actors, and directors from the movies in 1999. I really like behind the scenes pop culture stuff so this was a fun book. It wasn’t deep enough/there weren’t enough details for me to really love it. If you were plugged into movies in 1999 you would probably enjoy it.
Best. Movie. Year. Ever. : How 1999 Blew up the Big Screen by Brian Raftery is a 2019 Simon & Schuster publication.
I love pop culture books, but they aren’t all created equal. At my age, what stirs up feelings of nostalgia are movies, television, and music which were popular a lot longer ago than twenty years.
Still, it is hard to believe the movies discussed in the book are already approaching the ‘classics’ stage.
While it is certainly debatable, and even dubious, especially for someone of my generation, to suggest 1999 was the best movie year EVER, there were some pretty good movies released in that year.
The author may be looking at all the movies released in the past eighteen or nineteen years and found them wanting, a lackluster reflection on the movie industry as whole, in my opinion, making a few of the movies listed here stand out more than they may have otherwise.
The nostalgic part, for me, about this book isn’t what these movies meant to me, but what they meant to my kids at the time. The Sixth Sense was a favorite for my daughter, while The Matrix was a favorite for my son. None of us liked ‘The Blair Witch’.
The surprise hits, the trends, the comedies, the social and political movies, all reflect the mindset of a generation. Yet, nearly anyone, who is so inclined, these days could compile a list of movies from any given year, add some Wikipedia knowledge to complement the list, such as who starred in the film, who directed it and produced it, and why it was included in the book, then organize it in some clever way, and then package it for a quick cash grab.
However, this book takes things a step beyond listing standout movies from 1999. It truly captures the mood of the country, explaining why a movie made an impact, even it wasn’t expected to, and reminds readers of popular television programs, political issues and world events that shaped the country and the attitudes of the American public.
To connect that mood and atmosphere via the art of the cinema is what really makes the book interesting and thought provoking. It also made me smile because to this day, an occasional quote from one of these movies comes to my mind, and I realize that while these movies may not have had an impact on me in the same way they did those younger than myself, I was affected by them more than I realized, and yes, I would, after some reflection, I have to agree that 1999 was a stellar year in films- still not saying it was the best year EVER- but it certainly is a contender!
I love pop culture books, but they aren’t all created equal. At my age, what stirs up feelings of nostalgia are movies, television, and music which were popular a lot longer ago than twenty years.
Still, it is hard to believe the movies discussed in the book are already approaching the ‘classics’ stage.
While it is certainly debatable, and even dubious, especially for someone of my generation, to suggest 1999 was the best movie year EVER, there were some pretty good movies released in that year.
The author may be looking at all the movies released in the past eighteen or nineteen years and found them wanting, a lackluster reflection on the movie industry as whole, in my opinion, making a few of the movies listed here stand out more than they may have otherwise.
The nostalgic part, for me, about this book isn’t what these movies meant to me, but what they meant to my kids at the time. The Sixth Sense was a favorite for my daughter, while The Matrix was a favorite for my son. None of us liked ‘The Blair Witch’.
The surprise hits, the trends, the comedies, the social and political movies, all reflect the mindset of a generation. Yet, nearly anyone, who is so inclined, these days could compile a list of movies from any given year, add some Wikipedia knowledge to complement the list, such as who starred in the film, who directed it and produced it, and why it was included in the book, then organize it in some clever way, and then package it for a quick cash grab.
However, this book takes things a step beyond listing standout movies from 1999. It truly captures the mood of the country, explaining why a movie made an impact, even it wasn’t expected to, and reminds readers of popular television programs, political issues and world events that shaped the country and the attitudes of the American public.
To connect that mood and atmosphere via the art of the cinema is what really makes the book interesting and thought provoking. It also made me smile because to this day, an occasional quote from one of these movies comes to my mind, and I realize that while these movies may not have had an impact on me in the same way they did those younger than myself, I was affected by them more than I realized, and yes, I would, after some reflection, I have to agree that 1999 was a stellar year in films- still not saying it was the best year EVER- but it certainly is a contender!
informative
medium-paced
This is such a fun book about how the films of ‘99 came about and also how they’ve aged over the past twenty year. I want more
Raftery does a great job providing the cultural context surrounding each movie. While the info might be available on Wikipedia or IMDB, he really colors in the rest with thoughtful interviews and smart retrospective insights. Really enjoyed this despite the miserable (and true) epilogue.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Will the movies ever be this good again? Not likely… but this is an awesome read for those who remember some of the modern classics that were released in 1999. Covering a wide range of genres (and even defining some) there are chapters for just about anyone. Diving into some interesting details that surrounded the making of each film, their reception, and their legacy, if you love movies, you've got to give this a read.