QUINTESSENTIAL 90’S FILMS (PART I)

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nSome films define the time they were made in. A film thatndefines a decade is that film that encapsulates the mentality of the era, thenmusic, the clothes, or just the way society was at the time. A good example ofna film that marks an era is Mike Nichol’s The Graduate (1967); that film isnpure 60’s all the way, from the soundtrack by Simon and Garfunkel to the redn1967 Alfa Romeo that Dustin Hoffman drives throughout the movie . So,nconsidering its 90’s month here on The Film Connoisseur, I decided to do a listnof films that best captures what the 90’s were all about. I tried putting filmsnon here that were about that grungy, angry, angst ridden youth. That angrynmentality towards the proverbial system, and films that featured lots of alternativenmusic! That’s one thing I loved the most about the 90’s, they were so very Rocknand Roll, I mean, it was a lifestyle! Hell, the band CAKE even did a song describingnit called “Rock and Roll Lifestyle”. Most films that capture an era have anstrong soundtrack that’s representative of the time, so I took that innconsideration as well. So, without further ado, I leave you guys with my QuintessentialnFilms of the 90’s list, hope you like it. And if you enjoy this article, don’tnforget to come back for Part II, which should be up at some point during thennext couple of days, there are more Quintessentially 90’s movies where thesencame from.

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nTitle: CONEHEADS (1993)

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nComments: Coneheads is such a fun movie for me because notnonly is it a comedy, it’s a science fiction comedy, and a damn good one atnthat. On this film we meet Beldar and Prymatt two cone headed aliens who havencrash landed on earth. Their original plan was to conquer earth, but their shipnmalfunctioned and the invasion was cancelled, so they were abandoned here onnearth. Now they must learn to live amongst the “blunt skulls” until the time tonovertake earth returns. In the mean time, Beldar gets a job as a taxi drivernwhile Prymatt becomes a mother and a house wife. Little by little they begin tongrow roots here on earth, but what happens when Connie their daughter becomesnfriends with the humans and doesn’t want her parents to conquer earth? Beldarnand Prymatt must decide between obeying the ‘Remulak’ authorities or pleasing theirndaughter! This movie has many great things going for it, first, it was directednby Steve Barron, a director whose done a couple of films I like, for example hendirected Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) and Merlin (1998), a televisionnmini-series that rocked the house, highly recommend checking it out. Also Coneheadsnis an interesting film because it unites Saturday Night Live cast members fromnthe 70’s and  90’s which makes for annexplosion of comedic talent. So you’ll get Dan Aykroyd, who by the way isnpositively hilarious as Beldar but you’ll also get Phil Hartman, Adam Sandler,nDavid Spade and Chris Farley, like I said, a comedic explosion! There’s tons ofncameos on this one, keep your eyes peeled! Most fun of all are all the visualngags, you haven’t lived until you seen a Conehead eating a foot long fromnSubway! Also, the way that the Coneheads talk will have you cracking up.

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nRockin’ 90’s Soundtrack Includes: Red Hot Chili Peppers,  R.E.M., Barenaked Ladies, Slash

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nQuote: “It’s as if you have grabbed me by the base of mynsnarglies!”

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nTitle: WAYNES WORLD (1992) AND WAYNES WORLD 2 (1993)

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nComments: This is like the apex of 90’s movies. If I had tonchoose a movie out of all of the ones on this list, these two would be the bestnquintessentially 90’s movies. I mean, they really do capture everything fromnthe era, the clothes, that grungy love for all things rock and roll, thatnawesome soundtrack! Back then it was all about having long hair, wearing ant-shirt with the logo of your favorite band on it and wearing torn jeans. Then90’s were very, very rock and roll and this film captures what it means to liventhe proverbial rock and roll lifestyle, going to concerts, listening to cd’s onnyour car, having a favorite rock and roll dj, rocking out to a tune with yournbest buds and wanting that expensive guitar! Aside from being oh so very 90’s,nthe films have these two very endearing characters in the form of Wayne andnGarth. They aren’t exactly losers (they have their own cable television shownafter all) but they haven’t quite “made it”. They want to really make it, bigntime. But are they willing to sell out in order to do it? Wayne’s World was onenof the most popular SNL sketches from the 90’s and the best thing about both ofnthese movies is how they fleshed out and brought these characters to life,nunlike other unsuccessful SNL film adaptations which never could achieve this.nOf course, a large part of success behind these films can be attributed to thengenius of Dana Carvey and Mike Myers. You gotta admit when Mike Myers is on allncylinders, he really hits it out of the ballpark, as he did with both of thesenfilms. Both films are filled with cameos galore! Aerosmith! Alice Cooper! EvennChristopher Walken is in one of these!   

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nRockin’ 90’s Soundtrack Includes: Ugly Kid Joe, Soundgarden,nRed Hot Chili Peppers, Temple of the Dog, 4 None Blondes, Aerosmith, DinosaurnJr.  

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nQuote: “I say hurl. If you blow chunks and she comes back,nshe’s yours. But if you spew and she bolts, it was never meant to be.”

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nTitle: PUMP UP THE VOLUME (1990)

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nComments:   As a result of inheriting the world they livenin, the youth of the 90’s were angry and depressed and it’s an attitude thatnreflected itself in the music and films of that decade, for example, in Pump Upnthe Volume we meet ‘Hard Harry’ (Christian Slater) a hard hitting, no filtersntype of dj who runs an underground radio station where he tells things likenthey are! On Hard Harry’s show there’s no holding back, no censors, no lies, henis the angry voice of an angry generation. But nobody in school knows who henis! Where does he run the show from? Where is he located? Who knows, but some peoplenwould like to shut him up because he is criticizing everything and everyone! Mynfavorite part of the film is when teenagers call in with their problems, andnHarry’s trying to analyze them. What I love about this aspect of the film isnthe sincerity in the voice of these teens, the realism of the situations theyncomplain about. Teenagers are often times completely ignored, so it’s cool to seena film where they are given a voice. This movie says teenagers have a lot tonsay, and they should be heard! Pump Up the Volume is a film where youth tellsnthe old what is wrong with the world! What I enjoyed about this movie the mostnwas Slater’s performance, the character of Hard Harry. He’s what you wish thenmedia was really like. Hard Harry is truthful, honest and not interested in misdirectingnthe attention of the public, but actually giving importance and time to thingsnthat matter. In many ways he is the polar opposite of what we get in the mediantoday, which is a bunch of bull. And this is yet another film of the 90’s withna rocking soundtrack that captures the times it was made in.

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nRockin’ 90’s Sountrack Includes: Sonic Youth, The Pixies,nBeasty Boys, Ice-T, Soundgarden, Concrete Blonde, Bad Brains

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nQuote: “Feeling screwed up at a screwed time in a screwed upnplace does not necessarily make you screwed up”

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nTitle: ENCINO MAN (1992)

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nComments: In Encino Man, Sean Astin plays a high schoolnsenior whose all anxious about pulling of a  graduation party that everyone will remember,nbut mostly, he wants to pull off this party to impress the girl of his dreams.nHe’s plan is to have a pool in his backyard by the time graduation comes, so hencan have a kickin’ pool party. So he starts digging. He’s so desperate he doesnit himself! One day, while digging in the mud, he uncovers a frozen caveman!nUpon thawing him he realizes he has made an incredibly important discovery, butndoesn’t want to tell anyone about it, so he keeps the caveman to himself. Henand Stoney (his best friend played by Pauly Shore) decide to call him ‘Link’.nThey dress him up in 90’s fashion (which means all grungy) and they teach himn90’s lingo like calling girls “babes” and breasts “gozongas” and so forth. Bynthe way, speaking about this films 90’s lingo, Pauly Shore practically created anlanguage for his character, it’s quite entertaining. Encino Man was PaulynShore’s short lived film career starting to take off, after this one he had anstring of films each one made less money then the last. Well, at least he hadnhis 15 minutes of fame. Ultimately, Encino Man’s a fish out of water story,nthey try and show the caveman how the modern world works, which includes takingnhim to a amusement parks, playing video games and hanging out at the mall. Innmany ways, the film has that same mentality seen in films like Bill and Ted’snExcellent Adventure (1989) or television shows like Beavis and Butthead. Younknow, youngsters who grow up hanging out at the 7-eleven all day on a diet of ho-ho’snand slurpees. So if you’re interested in reliving that MTV 90’s generationnthing (in my opinion when MTV was worth a damn and was at its peak) this filmsna good place to start.
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nRocking 90’s Soundtrack Includes: Def Leppard, Right SaidnFred, Crystal Waters, The Smithereens

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nQuote: “If you’re edged because I’m weazing on yourngrindage, just chill!”

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nTitle: AIR HEADS (1994)

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nComments: So is it just me, or was the 90’s generation anvery musical one, a very rock and roll generation? Right now almost no onendresses up like a rocker trying to live that quintessential “rock and rollnlifestyle”, but back in the 90’s? Rock and Roll was a way of life! You dressednlike Rock and Roll, you had that Rock and Roll attitude! Nowadays kids have sonmany musical options with their I-pods that they don’t really adhere so much tonone type of music. Not so in the 90’s! On Airheads we meet Chazz (BrendannFraser) a dude who is dying to make it as a rock and roll legend! He wants’ tongive his demo to some big time producers to see if they’ll bite. Unfortunately,nhe keeps getting rejected, so what’s Chazz and the rest of his band to do innorder to garner some attention? Well hijack a radio station and force them tonplay their demo on the air of course! This is easier said than done; especiallynwhen the media gets a whiff of what’s going down, suddenly Chazz and the restnof his band become a media sensation! One of the best things this one has goingnfor it is the amazing comedic cast, the best comedy films are those in whichneverybody involved is a good comedian, or at the very least understands comedy.nHere we get the likes of Steve Buscemi, Brendan Fraser, Chris Farley, AdamnSandler, Michael McKean, Judd Nelson, Ernie Hudson, Michael Richards, DavidnArquette, Harold Ramis and Joe Mantegna to liven things up; I just love it whennall these funny people come together in one film, the results are often timesnhilarious. So anyhow, this one has that ‘underdog wins’ type of scenario goingnfor it. It all ends up on a big stage, with fireworks and amplifiers blastingnaway. You gotta respect this motley crew of musicians for risking it all innorder to make it!

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nRockin’ 90’s Soundtrack Includes:  4 Non Blondes, House of Pain, White Zombie,nAnthrax, Candlebox, The Replacements, Primal Scream, Aerosmith, Primus

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nQuote: “Do you know what it’s like to be on the bill and tonplay for 15 minutes and the only people there to see you are their bands andntheir friends? Don’t talk to me about Rock and Roll! I’m out there on the clubsnand on the streets and I’m living it!”

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nTitle: EMPIRE RECORDS (1995)

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nComments: Funny how two of the most 90’s films on this listnwhere directed by the same guy! Director Allan Moyle directed both Pump Up thenVolume and Empire Records. Empire Records works kind of like a John Hughesnmovie, but for the 90’s. John Hughes movies were always populated by a group ofnteens, each having to deal with their own dilemma, their own drama, I’m talkingnabout films like Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club, the latter is the onenthat Empire Records resembles the most. True, the characters in Empire Recordsnare not on detention like the kids from The Breakfast Club, but they do have tonshow up for work at a record store called Empire Records. And it kind of feelsnas if they were in detention because they can’t go anywhere, they gotta sellnsome records! This movie feels even more dated now that records stores are allnbut gone, I feel sad just typing that. Bummer. Thank you internet! So yeah,nthis movie takes place almost entirely inside of a Record Store, it reminds menof High Fidelity (2000) in that sense, a film that’s centered around a recordnstore and the lives of its employees. On Empire Records, one employee hasnattempted and is contemplating committing suicide, one feels the pressures ofnhaving parents who want her to be successful, another is a thief paying for hisncrimes (which include stealing Whitney Houston nalbums!) another lives his life terribly aloof, another wants to be annartist and so on. By the end of the movie, they all join forces and prove thatntogether they can achieve anything, even the impossible. Damn the man! Save thenEmpire!

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nRockin’ 90’s Soundtrack Includes: The Cranberries, The GinnBlossoms, Cracker, Billy Idol, Dishwalla, Better Than Ezra, Toad the WetnSprocket, Throwing Muses, GWAR, Sponge, The The, Suicidal Tendencies amongstnothers.

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nQuote: “Let me explain it to you, Mitchell’s the man, I’m thenidiot, you’re the screw up and we’re all losers, welcome to music town.”

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nTitle: OFFICE SPACE (1999)

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nComments:  This film,nmuch like Fight Club also depicts the angry 90’s generation. It’s the kind ofnfilm where the blue collar worker gets angry for what his become. The guys innOffice Space work in an office job they hate. Everyday is the same and thesenguys have just about had it. They hate their boss, they hate the photocopynmachine and they hate their co-workers. There’s nothing left to do but go home,nget drunk and high. The main character’s a guy named Peter Gibbons and hisnblack hole of a life is sucking his will to go on. One of his co-workersnsuggests visiting a mystic who can supposedly suck these negative energies outnof you. Turns out that Peter has so much pent up negative energy inside of himnthat the mystic ends up dying! After that event Peter feels like a new person,nso he goes back to his job without a care, treating everyone, including hisnbosses, like crap. Then he plans a scheme to steal money from the company. Whatnthis movie does so well is capture that cubicle life style that so many peoplenlive; the boring, numbing sameness and then just makes complete fun of it. Inmean, you’ll probably find an equivalent of all your co-workers on this movie,nespecially that hateful boss who asks you to come in and work extra hours onnthe weekend. Where it starts to gets funny is when the worker starts to losenit. For example when Peter’s boss tells him that they need to have a “littlentalk”, Peter tells him that he’s got no time to have “a little talk” that itnwill have to be some other time. Ha! Hilarious.  

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nHip-Hopin’  90’snSoundtrack Includes: Ice T, Scarface, Geto Boys

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nQuote: “The thing is Bob, it’s not that I’m lazy, it’s thatnI don’t care.”

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nTitle: TANK GIRL (1995)

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nComments:  On this onenwe have Tank Girl (Lori Petty) trying to survive in a world dominated by anruthless dictator who wants to control all the water supply in the world. TanknGirl forms a part of a gang of rebels that are trying to balance things outnagain for the world. Oh yeah, some of the rebels are half kangaroo, halfnhumans! Now here’s a film that was in development hell for a long time, at onenpoint even Steven Spielberg and James Cameron were interested in directing!nUltimately, it was Rachel Talalay (Freddys Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991)) whonended up directing; in a way, it is fitting that a woman ended up directing anfilm called Tank Girl. The film is extremely similar to George Orwell’s 1984nbecause it’s a film in which the government takes the rebel and tries tonphysically and psychologically make them pay for their rebellion.nUnfortunately, Tank Girl and her sidekick Jet Girl have more than one trick upntheir sleeves, namely Tank Girl has her tank and Jet Girl has her Jet! Mostnamusing for me was seeing Naomi Watt’s playing Jet Girl. Watt’s has gone on tonsay that she’s ashamed of this movie, but if you ask me, she shouldn’t be. Thenfilm is a cult favorite, and it’s a well directed and produced film, it hasncool make up effects, miniature work and lot’s of old school effects. Sure thenfilm is not perfect (those animated scenes stink of an incomplete film) butnit’s nothing to be ashamed of in my book. Lori Petty is pitch perfect as TanknGirl! She’s a cool character, her wardrobe is so grungy, a reflection of thenstyles of 90’s. To round things off, Ice-T plays one of the kangaroos, andnMalcolm McDowell plays the dictator! This is a post-apocalyptic comedy, with anchick with an attitude as the lead character. 

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nRockin’ 90’s Soundtrack Includes: Bjork, Veruca Salt, Ice-T,nBush, Hole, Portis Head, Belly  

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nQuote: “To the Bat-Tank!”

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nTitle: THE CROW (1994)

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nComments:  WatchingnThe Crow in theaters back in ’94 was a special experience for me. Here was anmovie that I found perfect in every way and form, in my opinion, this film isnperfect! Leading the good qualities of this movie was a knock out performancenby Brandon Lee. One look at his performance and there’s no doubt that thisnwould’ve been the film to send his career through the roof, sadly, he diednwhile making the film. His legacy, his most memorable role, will forever benthis amazing film. The film had that dark, dreadful atmosphere to it, there’snrarely a scene that doesn’t take place during the night. The film is shroudednin darkness for most of its running time. There’s just something really gothicnthat I love about the movie. Plus, there’s that soundtrack which by the way isncomposed of music that James O’Barr, the creator of The Crow would listen to asnhe was drawing the graphic novel. It’s so damn industrial, so serious, so sad,na fitting soundtrack for such a somber film. But of course, at the root of thisnrevenge tale lies Eric Draven’s desire to reunite with the love of his life, sonat least all the violence is for a good cause, it’s all for love. Once again,nthis is a film from the 90’s that truly exudes that Rock and Roll vibe. Thenmain character in the film, Eric Draven, was a member of a rock band when henwas alive, so when he returns, he dresses in black trench coats and carries hisnguitar around with him, like I said, very Rock and Roll. 

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nRockin’ 90’s Soundtrack Includes: Nine Inch Nails, Machinesnof Loving Grace, Stone Temple Pilots, The Cure, Violent Femmes, Rage Againstnthe Machine, The Jesus and Mary Chain, My Life with the Thrill Kill Cult,nRollins Band, Helmet, Pantera

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nQuote: “I knew I knew you, I knew I knew you! But you aintnyou, you can’t be you! We put you through the window! There aint no comingnback! We killed you dead, there aint no coming back!”

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nTitle: FIGHT CLUB (1999)

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nComments: A fitting film to end the 90’s. David Fincher’snFight Club gathers all that angst, hatred, depression and dissatisfaction thatnthe 90’s generation was so known for and wallows in it’s in pain. ChucknPalahniuk’s novel truly did gather all the frustrations of a generation and putnthem in one place, in one story for all to analyze. Here is a story about a guynwho hates his redundant, empty life. He lives a lonely life in an apartment fillednwith things. But where’s the love, where’s what’s real? Where are the thingsnthat really make life worth living? I love how the film showcases all thesenfrustrations to make us, the generation it’s reflecting, face them. You don’tnwant to work in a convenience store? Then go to freaking college! You wan’t tonfeel alive? Then change the status quo! Do something that will make you feelnalive and breathing! In the film the main character finds passion for life byngathering in basements to kick the living daylights out of other dudes! Jack isnso numb that it’s only through pain that he can feel truly alive! David Fincherndirected a film that defined a generation, much like Mike Nichol’s The Graduatendid back in the 60’s. Funny how both films represent youths that are dissatisfiednwith society the way it is. Both films take a look on society and spit on it.nTrue, there’s no denying that Fight Club is one somber, psychotic affair butnthere’s no denying its truthfulness.     n

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nRockin’ 90’s Soundtrack Includes: The Pixies’ ‘Where is mynMind?’

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nQuote: “I say never be complete, I say stop being perfect. Insay let’s evolve, let the chips fall where they may. ” 

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nDON’T FORGET TO COME BACK FOR PART II OF MY ARTICLE ON 
nQUINTESSENTIAL 90’S FILMS! IT’S GONNA BE AWESOME! 

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