tor James Whale (Ian McKellen), best known for
Frankenstein(1931), and his relationship with a
young gardener (Brendan Fraser) who does not
realize his employer is gay. Condon won a Best
Adapted Screenplay Oscar.
Out of Sight(Jersey Films; dir. Steven Soderbergh)
A Florida federal marshal (Jennifer Lopez) strug-
gles not to let her attraction to an escaped convict
(George Clooney) interfere with her duties. This
outstanding adaptation of Elmore Leonard’s
novel features Don Cheadle as a violent convict
and Albert Brooks as a billionaire criminal.
Pleasantville(New Line Cinema; dir. Gary Ross)
Charming satire of American values finds two
teenagers (Tobey Maguire and Reese Wither-
spoon) transported into a 1950’s situation com-
edy, where they transform the lives of the inno-
cent black-and-white characters.
Primary Colors(Mutual Film Company/Universal;
dir. Mike Nichols) A philandering presidential
candidate (John Travolta), his supportive wife
(Emma Thompson), and his wily adviser (Billy
Bob Thornton) are the focus of Elaine May’s ad-
aptation of Joe Klein’s fictionalized view of Bill
and Hillary Clinton and James Carville.
Rush Hour(New Line Cinema; dir. Brett Ratner) A
Hong Kong policeman (Jackie Chan) goes to Los
Angeles after a diplomat’s daughter is kidnapped
and teams with an unorthodox police detective
(Chris Tucker). Highly successful kickoff to pop-
ular comedy series.
Rushmore(American Empirical/Touchstone; dir.
Wes Anderson) A precocious student (Jason
Schwartzman) at a Houston private school falls
for a teacher (Olivia Williams), who also attracts
the attention of a tycoon (Bill Murray). The sec-
ond film written by Owen Wilson and Anderson is
one of the best treatments ever of the pains of ad-
olescence.
Saving Private Ryan(Amblin Entertainment/Mu-
tual Film Company/DreamWorks/Paramount;
dir. Steven Spielberg) Spielberg won his second
Oscar for this World War II drama depicting the
D-Day invasion, with Tom Hanks, Matt Damon,
and unusually realistic violence in the opening
scene. Also won Oscars for Best Cinematography,
Editing, Sound, and Sound Effects Editing.See
alsomain entry.
There’s Something About Mary(Twentieth Century-
Fox; dir. Bobby and Peter Farrelly) Ted (Ben
Stiller) hires private detective Pat (Matt Dillon) to
find Mary (Cameron Diaz), the girl he loved in
high school, only for Pat to fall for her, too. Fea-
turing such distinctive Farrelly moments as Ted’s
getting his penis caught in a zipper.
The Truman Show(Paramount; dir. Peter Weir)
Truman (Jim Carrey) is unaware that his life is a
real-time television program and that his friends
and family are merely actors. When Truman de-
cides to leave his hometown, actually a set, the
program’s director (Ed Harris) must prevent
him. Many have seen the film as a profound reli-
gious allegory.1999
American Beauty (Cohen Productions/Dream-
Works; dir. Sam Mendes) A middle-aged man
(Kevin Spacey) is having a midlife crisis, his wife
(Annette Bening) is restless, his daughter (Thora
Birch) is depressed, and a neighbor (Chris Coo-
per) is intolerant. This dark look at the American
family won Oscars for Best Picture, Director, Ac-
tor (Spacey), Original Screenplay (Alan Ball),
and Cinematography (Conrad L. Hall).
American Pie(Universal; dir. Chris and Paul Weitz)
This bawdy look at the efforts of four Michigan
high school seniors to lose their virginity was the
decade’s most popular teen comedy.
Being John Malkovich(Single Cell Pictures/Propa-
ganda Films/Gramercy Pictures; dir. Spike Jonze)
A down-on-his-luck puppeteer (John Cusack)
takes a job as a file clerk and enters a door taking
him into the brain of actor John Malkovich. The
decade’s most offbeat film.
The Blair Witch Project(Haxan Films; dir. Daniel
Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez) This low-budget
horror film presented as documentary was a sur-
prise box-office hit.See alsomain entry.
Fight Club(Linson Films/Regency Enterprises/Fox
2000 Pictures/Twentieth Century-Fox; dir. David
Fincher) A depressed young man (Edward Nor-
ton) becomes friends with his exact opposite
(Brad Pitt), and the two form a club whose mem-
bers beat up one another. A violent satire of con-
formity and materialism.
The Insider(Forward Pass/Touchstone; dir. Mi-
chael Mann) True story of Jeffrey Wigand (Rus-
sell Crowe), a research scientist for a powerful
tobacco company. After Wigand is fired, he con-
tacts60 Minutesproducer Lowell Bergman (AlThe Nineties in America Entertainment: Major Films of the 1990’s 965