emphasized the first pairing of De Niro and
Pacino, the film has gained stature as one of the
greatest crime films and as Mann’s masterpiece.
Nixon(Buena Vista; dir. Oliver Stone) Stone’s inter-
pretation of the Watergate scandal, with Anthony
Hopkins as Richard Nixon, Joan Allen as his wife,
Paul Sorvino as Henry Kissinger, and Bob Hoskins
as J. Edgar Hoover.
Seven (New Line Cinema; dir. David Fincher)
Fincher established himself as a major talent with
this dark, violent tale of the search for a grue-
some serial killer (Kevin Spacey) by policemen
Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman, with Gwyneth
Paltrow as Pitt’s wife. One of the decade’s most
influential films has a shockingly memorable
ending.
Showgirls (MGM/United Artists; dir. Paul Ver-
hoeven) Account of a sexy Las Vegas dancer (Eliz-
abeth Berkley) was lambasted by critics but has
gained cult status as a camp classic.See alsomain
entry.
Toy Story(Buena Vista; dir. John Lasseter) A toy
cowboy (voice of Tom Hanks) and a space ranger
(Tim Allen) compete to be their owner’s favorite
toy. This first feature animated by computer set
the standard for such films. Lasseter received a
Special Achievement Award from the Academy of
Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
The Usual Suspects(Gramercy Pictures; dir. Bryan
Singer) After meeting in jail, five criminals (Ga-
briel Byrne, Benicio Del Toro, Kevin Pollak, Ste-
phen Baldwin, and Kevin Spacey) begin planning
robberies together only to draw the attention of
the mythical master criminal Keyser Soze. Won
Oscars for Best Original Screenplay, by Christo-
pher McQuarrie and Singer, and Best Supporting
Actor (Spacey).
1996
Big Night(Rysher Entertainment/Timpano/Elec-
tric Pictures; dir. Campbell Scott and Stanley
Tucci) Brothers Primo (Tony Shalhoub) and
Secondo (Tucci) operate an authentic Italian res-
taurant in 1950’s New Jersey but cannot compete
with a neighboring enterprise run by the boorish
Pascal (Ian Holm). Though ostensibly about
food, the film is one of the best about what it
means to be an artist.
Bottle Rocket(Sony; dir. Wes Anderson) Young Tex-
ans desperate to be criminals become involved
with a con man (James Caan). Charming low-
budget comedy launched the careers of Ander-
son, cowriter and costar Owen Wilson, and costar
Luke Wilson.
Bound(Gramercy Pictures; dir. Andy and Larry
Wachowski) Before hitting the big time withThe
Matrix, the Wachowskis paid homage to film
noir with this tale of ex-convict Corky (Gina Ger-
shon) and gangster moll Violet (Jennifer Tilly).
After beginning an affair, they plot to rob Caesar
(Joe Pantoliano), Violet’s psychotic boyfriend.
Fargo(Gramercy Pictures; dir. Joel Coen) A Minne-
sota car salesman (William H. Macy) hires two
bumblers (Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare) to
kidnap his wife (Kristin Rudrüd), only to run into
the unexpected interference of a pregnant police
chief (Frances McDormand). Joel and Ethan
Coen’s affectionate satire of the mores of their
native state won Oscars for Best Original Screen-
play and Best Actress (McDormand).
Flirting with Disaster(Miramax; dir. David O. Rus-
sell) Mel (Ben Stiller), his wife, Nancy (Patricia
Arquette), and a psychology student (Tea Leoni)
track down Mel’s biological parents (Alan Alda
and Lily Tomlin), with unexpected results. Spar-
kling satire includes Mary Tyler Moore and
George Segal as Mel’s adoptive parents and Josh
Brolin as a bisexual lawman.
Jerry Maguire(Gracie Films; dir. Cameron Crowe) A
sports agent (Tom Cruise), down to one client
(Cuba Gooding, Jr.), is adored by a single mother
(Renee Zellwegger). A notable examination of
self-absorption, the film earned Gooding a Best
Supporting Actor Oscar and introduced the
phrase “Show me the money.”
The Nutty Professor(Imagine Entertainment/Uni-
versal; dir. Tom Shadyac) Remake of the 1963
Jerry Lewis comedy stars Eddie Murphy as six
characters, in the tradition of Lewis, as well as
Alec Guinness and Peter Sellers. Murphy’s re-
markable makeup won Oscars for Rick Baker and
David Leroy Anderson.
Scream(Dimension Films/Miramax; dir. Wes Cra-
ven) This popular parody of teen slasher films led
to two sequels.See alsomain entry.
Sling Blade(Shooting Gallery/Miramax; dir. Billy
Bob Thornton) Years after murdering his mother
and her boyfriend, a mentally handicapped man
(Thornton) tries to reenter society. Thornton’s
adapted screenplay won an Oscar.The Nineties in America Entertainment: Major Films of the 1990’s 963