This year

has been a good one for films.

There was

not one overwhelming blockbuster overshadowing everything

else, though The Phantom Menace tried very hard. Instead,

1999 was also the year that the smaller, independent-like

film made the kind of noise that industry insiders had

been hoping for for years.

Films like

"Being John Malkovich," "Election,"

"Dogma" and, of course, "The Blair Witch

Project" made a big noise both at the box office and

critically.

The

following top 10 list is thorough and accurate, though it

was made without seeing every movie that came out in

1999.

1.

"American Beauty" (R) - The story of a

man's mid-life crisis/spiritual reawakening, set in

suburban America. Kevin Spacey plays the discontented

father beautifully, showing the youthful spirit that was

lost in his race for success and material wealth. The

rest of the cast is equally adept. "American

Beauty" has the ability to hit audiences very hard.

The same type of drama could be occurring in your own

neighborhood, if not in your own home.

2.

"South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut" (R)

- This will not be the only list you see this film

on. Though animated very cheaply, South Park is filled

with the type of daring, biting humor that too many films

shy away from. Featuring the cast of the hit television

series, as well as several new friends and some

celebrities, "South Park" tackles the top

topics of the day to make the most relevant film of the

year. Your jaw will be open for most of the film anyway,

so why not laugh and enjoy yourself.

3.

"The Matrix" (R) - Surprisingly, this was the

best science fiction film of the year. At the beginning

of 1999, it would have taken a photon disruptor to

convince sci-fi fans that anything would be better than

"Star Wars: The Phantom Menace." Visually,

stunning, "The Matrix" was the story of a young

man who has been chosen to free the human race from being

enslaved by artificial intelligence. The action was top

notch and Keanu Reeves' performance as Neo was most

likely the best of his career.

4.

"Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace" (PG)

- Some would say that this film did not live up to their

expectations... not this critic. Wonderfully cast and

painstakingly directed, "The Phantom Menace"

was like a good magician's performance. There are a few

problems with the movie but with all of the special

effects, imagination and action, you never really see

them. The biggest thing going against the film was its

own hype. Once in the theater, the audience was

transported to the day they saw their first "Star

Wars" film. If you let it, "Star Wars"

will leave you wide-eyed and cheering.

5.

"Man on the Moon" (R) - Though this film will

not win Best Picture at the Academy Awards, Jim Carrey

should be a shoo in for Best Actor. Telling the story of

Andy Kaufman's comedic career, "Man on the

Moon" is entertaining and eye-opening. The

performances around Carrey are strong, but they get

swallowed up by his amazing transformation into the

eccentric comic. With exactly one minute shaved off of

the ending of this film, it could have been a contender.

6.

"The Blair Witch Project" (R) - By now, we have

all heard of the amazing story of this film. Shot on a

shoestring budget in a very short period of time,

"Blair Witch" stormed the theaters and made a

huge profit. It was also one of the scarier films to come

out this decade. People actually started to believe the

tale of the lost film crew, and the tourist industry in

Burkittsville, Md. (where the film is set) boomed. The

story is not real, but it certainly looks that way in the

film.

7.

"Election" (R) - Another of the small films of

1999, that is garnering attention during awards season.

The film, a scathing look at politics in a student

council election, stars Reese Witherspoon and Matthew

Broderick. Never choosing sides, much less a hero or a

villain, director Alexander Payne allows the audience to

form their own opinions of the characters and the story.

Election is excellent on many levels and is worth all of

the recognition it gets.

8.

"Dogma" (R) - This film did not last very long

around here, but it had possibly the hottest cast

assembled in 1999 (Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Chris Rock,

Salma Hayek) and a brilliant, thought-provoking script.

The film centered on a woman's spiritual crisis and

pilgrimage to New Jersey to save the world.

"Dogma" dealt with some very sensitive

religious issues in a fairly reverent manner, while still

being funny.

9.

"The Sixth Sense" (PG-13)- This film was the

sleeper hit of the year, so much so that it is still in

theaters in its original run. "The Sixth Sense"

deals with a troubled child who has a special gift and

Bruce Willis as the child therapist who helps him. The

plot twist is what started to draw the crowds in, but the

impeccable performances, direction and story kept sending

people back.

10.

"The Iron Giant" - An animated film that was

overlooked in the theaters, but has found new life on

video. Animated in the old style of Warner Brothers

cartoons, "The Iron Giant" deals with a young

boy who befriends an enormous robot who has come to

Earth. The film has fun dealing with the cold war,

government agents and beatniks, while remaining an

entertaining film for children.

What movies

will make 2000's list? Let's hope for a scary movie based

on a Stephen King book, a movie that the Farrelly

Brothers direct and not produce, "Mission Impossible

2" (It's being directed by John Woo, and Tom Cruise

and Anthony Hopkins are in it) and "The Grinch"

movie starring Jim Carrey (if he gets nominated three

years in a row, can you really hate him?). Of course,

there will be many surprises between now and then and

ultimately, that is what we live for.

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