90s

Office Space

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Office Space. 20th Century Fox 1999.

Before watching the movie:

From time to time I pass up a film, and it goes on to get big. Then I start thinking about seeing it, but the moment has passed, and I just run into references here and there. Happily, nobody’s quoted Office Space to me in pieces. Yet.

There comes a point when I decide I might as well see what I’ve been missing. I’m told it’s supposed to be popular among people who work in the kind of offices it’s satirizing, but I haven’t met anybody who likes it who does. Or that many people in general who work in cube farms, really. They seem to be a mistake of the 90s that is mostly filtered out of the system. Even on The Office it’s not that bad. On the other hand, I wish I could work in a cube farm at least for a while.

Anyway, people like this movie. I want to too.

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The Hudsucker Proxy

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The Hudsucker Proxy. Poly Gram Film Entertainment 1994.

Before watching the movie:

The plot reminds me vaguely of Trading Places, without the “trading places” part. A guy lands in the CEO position of a major company because somebody above him is plotting nefariously. It’s a comedy! Tim Robbins and Paul Newman are in it! It’s made by the Coen Brothers! It’s a comedy!

I’m hoping for Wall Street meets The Secret of My Success.

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Trial and Error

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Trial and Error. New Line Cinema 1997.

Before watching the movie:

Michael Richards possibly trying to break (back) into film. Jeff Daniels, being Jeff Daniels. Courtroom comedy. I’m going in on the assumption that the main reason I never heard of this is the lack of starpower. The writing probably won’t be superb, but it ought to be fun for what it is.

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Leprechaun

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Leprechaun. Trimark Pictures 1993.

Before watching the movie:

Remember when I often gave “bad” movies a chance on this blog? I found this movie and had to give it a try. I’ll probably regret it, but hopefully my readership (all four of you) will enjoy it.

If I recall correctly, the thing this movie is most infamous for is making Leprechaun 2 possible, so at least I know I haven’t signed up for the worst horror movie of all time.

Three reasons I’m reviewing this now: It’s not quite Halloween, so this isn’t a holiday tie-in; it’s nowhere near St. Patrick’s Day, so I don’t ruin my St. Patrick’s day (also St. Pat’s won’t be on a blogging day next year); and I found it while looking for a movie to do this week.

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Pulp Fiction

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Pulp Fiction. Miramax et al, 1994.

Before watching the movie:

This is one of the films that college students flip out over, and any “true film buff” needs to have in their top ten. We’ll see about that.

Tarantino is perhaps held in too high of regard, but this is early days, and a good example of his talent. I’m prepared for the non-Euclidean timeline, which is usually considered good, unorthodox storytelling.

Because of the way it’s formatted, the large cast shouldn’t be as indicative of an over-reaching, complicated plot. Or it may be more indicative than most. Or both at the same time.

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Mars Attacks!

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Mars Attacks!. Warner Bros. Pictures 1996.

Before watching the movie:

I’ve always expected this film to be modern camp. A film with modern sensibilities and humor that’s unashamed to be cut from the same cloth as old-fashioned B-movies. That’s the story sold by the advertising anyway, which isn’t always the most trustworthy.

This is definitely offbeat, but it doesn’t seem like Tim Burton’s style of offbeat. For one thing, it appears to have a distinct lack of Johnny Depp. This must have been one of his last films before he started making the same movie every time.

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The Man Who Knew Too Little

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The Man Who Knew Too Little. Warner Bros. Pictures 1997.

Before watching the movie:

I can sum up everything that makes me look forward to this movie in one sentence: Bill Murray in a mistaken identity crime ring farce. Unfortunately, that probably makes the rest of this leader redundant.

Thinking deeper about what I expect though, I realize there’s little more than minor details separating this from other mistaken identity farces. That makes me less interested, but it should still be a good time with good jokes. Not every movie has to be a special snowflake to be enjoyable.

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Canadian Bacon

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Canadian Bacon. Dog Eat Dog Films 1995.

Before watching the movie:

From the synopsis, I was expecting stereotypes and satire even before I read further and found that this is a rare (I think) non-documentary from Michael Moore.  So maybe it will be like An American Carol, only on the other side of the political spectrum. Regardless, I expect satirical stereotypes of both Americans and Canadians.

This is a satire of the first Gulf War, so I wonder if  I’ll see anything relevant to the second. I also wonder if this film can top South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut for silliest war with Canada.

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Father of the Bride

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Father of the Bride. Touchstone Pictures 1991.

Before watching the movie:

Here’s another for the “never wanted it enough to go get it” list. I’ve been somewhat interested in this film on the grounds that it’s a Steve Martin movie and it was fairly popular for a long time.

It looks enjoyable enough, just not necessarily a big enough movie to care as much as I seem to recall people did. Maybe I’ll get another L.A. Story experience out of it.

Also, I’m surprised to learn that Martin Short is in it. From what I know of his role, he’s probably only headlining because of his big name, but he’ll be fun to watch.

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Radioland Murders

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Radioland Murders. Lucasfilm 1994.

Before watching the movie:

I have high expectations for this movie, but I’m surprised considering its source. It was recommended to me by a friend on Facebook (I’m not sure who. He made a general recommendation through a status update) and it sounds like it has the potential to be hilarious.

On the other hand, it’s from George Lucas in the years between his old glory and much-maligned revival. The story is his, but fortunately he didn’t write the screenplay. Also, the last time I saw a movie about the radio with musical numbers, it was A Prarie Home Companion, and that was dull mixed with depressing. Continue reading →