1994

When I think about this year the first thing that comes to mind is the great trio of films that have gained in stature as time has passed. They occupy the #1, #4 and #19 spots on the IMDB Top 250 films as voted on by the site's users.

The Top Three
Pulp Fiction, The Shawshank Redemption, Forest Gump

Shawshank and Gump are more traditional Hollywood fare done up to the nines, while Pulp kicked the door in for independent film and solidified a new voice in American Cinema.



Best of the Rest
The Lion King, The Professional, Before Sunrise, Clerks, Quiz Show

A handful of other films cemented this year as one for originality and that indie feeling. Before Sunrise, Clerks and The Professional all found audiences through word of mouth and continued to impress each time someone discovered them. Disney hit a high water mark in the 90's with The Lion King and Quiz Show earned that coveted moniker of a "damn good movie".

Other Films of Note
True Lies, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, The Ref, Clear and Present Danger, The Crow, Swimming with Sharks, Bullets Over Broadway, Fresh, Airheads, Natural Born Killers, Speed, Trapped in Paradise, Ed Wood, Four Weddings and a Funeral

Overall, 1994 had more originality in it than most years previous and many years since. There are no sequels and no remakes to be found in the large list of films above. Quite an achievement considering the climate at the time. What I'll take away from this year most of all is the feeling that change was in the air. To borrow from the title of one of the films above, this year seemed fresh.