The Top 10 Films of 1994

1. The Shawshank Redemption

What more can be said about “TSR”?  It has been my standard answer to “Best Film of All Time” questions for 25 years.  I have seen the film (or big chunks of it) at least 40 times and it never gets old.  My favorite scene is the rooftop tar sequence, which features narration from Morgan Freeman, as Red, which is as poetic as anything I have ever come across.  “The Shawshank Redemption” is cinematic perfection.  Period.  End of discussion.

2. Pulp Fiction

In virtually any other year, “Pulp Fiction” would have been #1.  It is, without question, the most important post 1970’s film — redefining the medium in ways only ever matched by the class of “Metropolis”, “Battleship Potemkin”, “The General”,  “Casablanca”,  “Citizen Kane”, “Breathless”, “2001”, “Star Wars”, etc.  It is blissfully funny, gloriously violent, incredibly witty, and original beyond measure.  Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction” is a legend of cinema.

3. Léon: The Professional

Luc Besson is a master of oddball, mismatched cinematic pairings.  Jean Reno as the simple-minded assassin and Natalie Portman (in her first major role) as the plucky, hardened young teen… it is one of the most classic on-screen duos of all time.  The European cut is a must see if you have only ever been exposed to the US theatrical version.  It is pure magnificence.  And as a bonus, the film ends with my favorite song of all time — “Shape of My Heart” by Sting.

4. Chungking Express

Director, Wong Kar-wai is a goddamned genius.  He is the master of longing, unspoken moments and unrequited love.  He captures details that others wouldn’t even conceive of existing.  A special note has to go to Christopher Doyle, Wong’s long time cinematographer — whose visuals define Hong Kong for a generation of cinephiles.  Also, Wong’s use of music is legendary — in this film’s case, the use of “California Dreaming” by The Mamas and the Papas, and “Baroque” by Michael Galasso.  

5. Forrest Gump

Tom Hanks plays the iconic titular character with such sincerity that it is hard to fathom.  The long imitated Gump voice may have graduated into a verbal meme, but it was done so well that we might as well all think of him as a historical figure.  The film is earnest, sometimes overly so… but you have to allow yourself to go on this fantastical adventure.  It is easy to be overly cynical about this type of movie.  Don’t be.  It is lovely and kindhearted and gentle.

6. Threesome

I watched this raunchy college comedy when I was living my life in a raunchy college comedy.  It struck every moment that I recognized.  It made my immature half laugh incessantly.  It oddly managed to poignantly describe my thoughts on the college experience.  “Threesome” is a rather forgotten film these days.  Perhaps it wouldn’t make many Top 10 Lists.  However, I love it.  It caught me at the perfect time in my life.

7. Dumb and Dumber

I cannot tell a lie.  I have seen “Dumb and Dumber” somewhere in the region of 10 million times.  It is my go-to movie when I need to vegetate on the sofa and just giggle my troubles away.  Every joke… every line is imminently quotable.  It is one of the quintessential comedies of the 1990’s.  I love it and I am not even the least bit ashamed to say so.

8. Four Weddings and a Funeral

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9. Quiz Show

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10. Maverick

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