5. Magnolia (1999) Magnolia, the second wide-release film of director P.T. Anderson, focuses on the sordid lives of eight individuals who’ve ignored their past for too long and end up facing reality in the end. While pretentious biblical and scholarly references abound, the film?s heart is a surprisingly in-depth analysis of the human psyche, with all of the defense mechanisms intact. The all-star cast features Tom Cruise, Julianne Moore, William H. Macy and Philip Seymour Hoffman, among others. The cast helps keep the audience?s attention, but the film?s length (around three hours) is excessive.
4. Planet of the Apes (2001) Tim Burton?s remake of the 1968 Charlton Heston film is a far superior film for today?s audience. It maintains the original film?s impact, but with a more exciting and slightly different storyline. Mark Wahlberg is a more charismatic lead than Heston, and the filmmakers worked very hard to rid the film of the original?s cheesiness. What’s left is a somewhat hidden comment about race and minority/majority equality in a very entertaining ? if not strange ? film. There could not be a better monkey than Tim Roth (Rob Roy, The Musketeer). With the exception of his voice, everything about him changed for the role of General Thade, the chimpanzee villain with delusions of grandeur. The other surprise is Helena Bonham Carter (Novacane, Fight Club) as a surprisingly “human” female monkey freedom fighter. The DVD has a myriad of special features, from documentaries to a Paul Oakenfold music video. Overall, this is one worth checking out if you missed it (even on purpose) the first time around.
3. A.I. (2001) Steven Spielberg?s A.I. is probably the most beautiful (asthetically speaking) film on the list. A.I. tells the story of a little robotic boy who was designed to replace children for families who otherwise couldn’t have any. The film makes a poignant statement about the line between what’s “real” and what?s not, as well as what?s “human.” It?s for the philosophy majors out there, as well as anyone who has an interest in science fiction with a point. Haley Joel Osment (Sixth Sense, Pay it Forward) plays the little robot who journeys with his friend Gigolo Joe, played by Jude Law (Enemy at the Gates, Talented Mr. Ripley) to find the secret of his own existence. For many reasons this film is something worth seeing, but for many others, only worth seeing once. It is emotionally charged and at times painful, but remains an excellent film. It?s a little over two hours, with several hours of additional material on the second disc.
2. Requiem for a Dream: Director?s cut (2000) Requiem is a fantastic film directed by Darren Aronofsky of indie Pi fame. It’s a fast paced film, with modern but refined MTV-style camerawork and editing. It tells the story of a widowed mother (Ellen Burstyn), her son Harry (Jared Leto), and his girlfriend (Jennifer Connelly). The film makes statements about addiction that hit close to home. It details the endless spiral of misfortune that accompanies the characters in their quest for happiness. It?s just over 100 minutes, and its important to note that there are two separate versions of this DVD, an unrated director?s cut and a less graphic version.
1. American History X (1998) The most disturbing film of the five; this movie earned its place in line with gritty flashbacks and a cycle of hate and justification that’s frighteningly believable. Edward Norton (Fight Club) and Edward Furlong (Pecker) play brothers tied to a legacy of hate and violence that they must undo before it?s too late. This is probably the most poignant and controversial statement about American race relations ever to hit the screen. It?s also one of the more offensive films ever made, so it?s not for the feint hearted. The sheer intensity of this film makes it worth viewing.
