A Year's Worth Of Movies?
September 15, 2014 11:57 AM - Subscribe

The Spirit Of 99! 1999 was a supernaturally good year for movie releases and now the majority of them are easily available on streaming apps and sundry. Why not watch two smaller 1999 movies a week and see what, if any The Spirit Of 99 was? Suggestions to follow-

1) A Tuesday/Thursday watch schedule
2) Nothing that's been on FanFare before (or this will take forever)
3) Leaving out the gigantic releases like Fight Club or American Beauty, The Matrix, etc about which no more needs to be said. Less popular movies preferred.

4) IMDB List of most popular 1999 releases.

My preliminary list would include

Ravenous
Eyes Wide Shut
Drop Dead Gorgeous
Summer Of Sam
Stir Of Echos
The Iron Giant
All About My Mother
The Limey

What say you?
posted by The Whelk (66 comments total) 7 users marked this as a favorite
 
The Matrix
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 12:04 PM on September 15, 2014 [1 favorite]


("... about which no more needs to be said." I beg to differ.)
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 12:05 PM on September 15, 2014


10 Things I Hate About You! 10 Things I Hate About You! 10 Things I Hate About You!
posted by troika at 12:06 PM on September 15, 2014 [9 favorites]


The Ninth Gate is a fantastic movie that holds up really well. Maybe this is my bibliophile bias, though. (The real Horror of this film is Johnny Depp smoking all those loose cigs while perusing priceless tomes.)

Has Being John Malkovich been done already? I'd totally do a Spike Jonze cycle somewhere down the road if you want to skip it for this project.

Dogma had a lot of stigma attached to it but there are certainly Things to Say about it.
posted by carsonb at 12:06 PM on September 15, 2014 [2 favorites]


And yeah, 10 Things I Hate About You is IMHO the best modern Shakespeare adaptation bar none. That paintball scene!
posted by carsonb at 12:07 PM on September 15, 2014 [1 favorite]


My wish list:

Sleepy Hollow
Being John Malkovich
Bicentennial Man (would be a cross-over post with the Robin Willaims movie club)
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 12:07 PM on September 15, 2014


...Part II:

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Boys Don't Cry
Entrapment
The Cider House Rules
Man on the Moon
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 12:09 PM on September 15, 2014


This is a wonderful idea and I'm all for it.

Would they be random order? Grouped by some sort of theme (10 Things I Hate About You and She's All That, for example, are both classic literature stories adapted into teen romantic comedies)? Posted the same week the movie was released?
posted by troika at 12:10 PM on September 15, 2014 [1 favorite]


I am more than willing to bend if there is a mass drive to rewatch The Matrix.
posted by The Whelk at 12:10 PM on September 15, 2014 [1 favorite]


I'd think Random or geared toward not watching the same genre in a row.

Proposed additions: Ten Things I Hate About You, Sleepy Hollow, and Being John Malkovitch (which I meant to include but ..forgot.)
posted by The Whelk at 12:12 PM on September 15, 2014 [1 favorite]


Some of us never stopped watching The Matrix.
posted by carsonb at 12:12 PM on September 15, 2014 [3 favorites]


Star Wars: Episode 1 [ducks, runs]

More seriously this is an interesting idea and I like the thought of sticking to lesser known or less-remembered ones.

First ones that came to my mind outside the big obvious ones were Talented Mr. Ripley and The Green Mile. If we want to get goofy, there's always The Mummy, Deep Blue Sea. Or, you know... Fuckin' Wing Commander.

If anyone suggests Wild Wild West, you are awful, and I won't be a part of it.
posted by sparkletone at 12:14 PM on September 15, 2014 [1 favorite]


Part III: Angela's Ashes
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 12:14 PM on September 15, 2014


Nthing this is a really fun idea.

I was going to propose an "Academics in America" film club that included "The Human Stain", "Terms of Endearment", "Garp" and a few others, but my plate is already full and it would be foolhardy to take on more.

If someone likes the idea they can have it.
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 12:17 PM on September 15, 2014


C'mon! [childlike whining] Don't you want to see Johnny Depp conjure up The Devil?!
posted by carsonb at 12:17 PM on September 15, 2014 [1 favorite]


I've never stopped watching The Talented Mr. Ripley so all I could say about it is the amount it unconsciously shaped my psychological development
posted by The Whelk at 12:18 PM on September 15, 2014 [1 favorite]


I would really love an excuse to watch Dudley Do-Right (with Brendan Fraser and Alred Molina - not a big fan of SJP) but it gets only "3.8" stars at IMDB.
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 12:21 PM on September 15, 2014 [1 favorite]


Ripley is understandable for that, Whelk, I'm just thankful it wasn't Cruel Intentions muddling your subbrain.
posted by carsonb at 12:28 PM on September 15, 2014


Don't forget Mystery Men, which I feel was both a flawed-but-fun parody of the '90s breed of superhero films, as well as an under-appreciated precursor to the current Marvel-dominated age.
posted by Strange Interlude at 12:35 PM on September 15, 2014 [5 favorites]


I thought we covered Mystery Men on FanFare OR DID WE?

(I don't know, FanFare's power is being really really mysterious)
posted by The Whelk at 12:39 PM on September 15, 2014 [1 favorite]


Looking at the list, Takashi Miike's Dead or Alive also seems like a fun possibility, if only for the amazing opening and closing scenes. It might be a better fit for Cult Film Club, though.
posted by Strange Interlude at 12:41 PM on September 15, 2014


The list of all FanFare movies to date.
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 12:41 PM on September 15, 2014 [1 favorite]


Not sure I'll be able to join in on all of the Year 1999 discussions, but some proposed additions:

Any Given Sunday
Boondock Saints
The Thirteenth Floor (particularly if we are doing the Matrix)
The Minus Man
posted by nubs at 2:26 PM on September 15, 2014 [1 favorite]


I'd lobby for The Matrix as one of the most influential films of 1999 -- particularly as it came as a real blast of inventiveness against the stodginess of The Phantom Menace. But it doesn't fit if the guideline is "smaller".

Man on the Moon, yes; Carrey stretching himself.

I have not seen The Straight Story, would like to.

South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut for sheer ballsiness: doing the South Park movie as a full-on traditional musical.

And I too have a soft spot for Deep Blue Sea; it's gonzo silly, but it's fully committed to its gonzo silliness. (Also, THAT MOMENT was genuinely surprising.)
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 3:20 PM on September 15, 2014 [3 favorites]


Titus -- a bizarre adaptation of Titus Adronicus starring Anthony Hopkins, Jessica Lange, Harry Lennix, Alan Cumming, and probably even more people -- is one of my favorite movies (and could easily cross over with Horror Club, if anyone over there's reading).
posted by kittens for breakfast at 4:52 PM on September 15, 2014 [3 favorites]


Andronicus, even! I'm sorry I missed you, edit window.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 4:58 PM on September 15, 2014


I think there are a lot of movies we could have cross over events with the Horror and Cult movie club, it's largely a matter of timing, I'd love to talk to the Horror members about Ravenous, which almost predicts NBC Hannibal in tone.
posted by The Whelk at 5:00 PM on September 15, 2014


Box Office Mojo 1999 - this is what was big, look upon it in fear and terror.
posted by Artw at 5:18 PM on September 15, 2014


I think Blair Witch would be a good cross over with Horror on the "it invented a genre" argument.
posted by The Whelk at 5:22 PM on September 15, 2014 [1 favorite]


Oh and the title tag I'll be using for this is Spirit Of 99 and a spiritof99 tag, so we can keep track.
posted by The Whelk at 5:23 PM on September 15, 2014 [1 favorite]


1999 releases I could also dig:

Mystery Men
The Virgin Suicides
GALAXY QUEST!!!
The Insider
Election
Three Kings
Detroit Rock City
The Straight Story
The Astronaut's Wife
Sweet and Lowdown
Best Laid Plans
The Winslow Boy
Girl on the Bridge
posted by MoonOrb at 8:46 PM on September 15, 2014 [3 favorites]


After reading the thread on the Blue which was ostensibly about U2 but was really just a lot of mefites making jokes about U2 and Apple and laughing uproariously constantly, I kinda think y'all should do Phantom Menace, just so I can laugh at your suffering. Or at least laugh at the jokes caused by your suffering.
posted by NoraReed at 8:54 PM on September 15, 2014 [1 favorite]


Yeah stuff like Galaxy Quest was on my list but I held off cause I thought ..well we've talked about it online already? Stuff like the Virgin Suicides I held off on cause I had other art house-y choices as well. There are only so many months in year and watching all of them could turn this into a SLOG. Three King and Election I kept off cause I assumed they where well-known enough.

THAT BEING SAID, if we get a final set watchlist. I kinda what Phantom Menace to be the last one. Just cause.
posted by The Whelk at 8:56 PM on September 15, 2014 [1 favorite]


OKAY WAIT

I think we need to just get going and see where it takes us.
SO.

SEPTEMBER 23rd We KICK OFF with SLEEPY HOLLOW followed by SEPTEMBER 25th THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY followed by SEPTEMBER 30th THE MATRIX and OCTOBER 2nd THE IRON GIANT

and a hopeful crossover on the 8th for RAVENOUS.

sound good?
posted by The Whelk at 9:16 PM on September 15, 2014 [1 favorite]


so you're saying my list sucks basically

Actually I'm onboard with the less well-known movies ahead of the better known movies except (a) Galaxy Quest and Election have to be on the list just because and (b) 2 movies a week for a year is a LOT of not well-known movies.
posted by MoonOrb at 9:19 PM on September 15, 2014


I thought front loading it with more well known ones would help participation, I am aware it starts out broad.
posted by The Whelk at 9:20 PM on September 15, 2014


PLus I kinda wanna do the ghoulish ones in October cause they're more likely to be available.
posted by The Whelk at 9:21 PM on September 15, 2014


I was kidding, I was mainly looking for movies that would probably generate decent discussion but were mostly not in the MEGA 1999 MOVIE category.

1999 is a good year btw because it contains neither SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE nor GLADIATOR. So well done in choosing the year.
posted by MoonOrb at 9:23 PM on September 15, 2014


Bringing Out The Dead
Run Lola Run
Existenz.

actually a 13th floor / Matrix / eXistenz viewing sounds really good.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 9:59 PM on September 15, 2014 [1 favorite]


Thomas Crowne Affair
Ring 2
posted by Ik ben afgesneden at 5:41 AM on September 16, 2014 [1 favorite]


There's a FanFare wiki to add your planned movies to, once you have a pencil-and-paper schedule.

Not sure how many people consult the wiki but it would be good in terms of organizing.
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 7:24 AM on September 16, 2014


OH MY GOODNESS! HOW DID SO MANY AWESOME AND AWESOMELY BAD MOVIES ALL COME OUT THAT SAME YEAR?!?

Why Spirit of 99 and not Party Like it's 1999?
posted by jillithd at 8:25 AM on September 16, 2014


Magnolia.
posted by doctornecessiter at 8:25 AM on September 16, 2014 [1 favorite]


OKAY I THINK WE GOT THE FIRST SCHEDULE.

SEPTEMBER 23rdL SLEEPY HOLLOW
SEPTEMBER 25th: THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY
SEPTEMBER 30th THE MATRIX
OCTOBER 2nd THE IRON GIANT
OCTOBER 8th: A CROSSOVER with MEFI HORROR CLUB for RAVENOUS.

That's a first starting lineup, and into October I'll slide in more horror/lesser known stuff.

Do I make a new post with an updated schedule or just Post the movies with a running shecule in the description like Horror club does?
posted by The Whelk at 6:53 PM on September 18, 2014 [1 favorite]


The Ninth Gate is a fantastic movie that holds up really well. Maybe this is my bibliophile bias, though. (The real Horror of this film is Johnny Depp smoking all those loose cigs while perusing priceless tomes.)

I love TNG but every third scene has me screaming "HAVE YOU PEOPLE NEVER TAKEN A PRESERVATION COURSE".
posted by Pope Guilty at 4:16 AM on September 20, 2014 [2 favorites]


That's a great lineup!

Do I make a new post with an updated schedule or just Post the movies with a running schedule in the description like Horror club does?

What I've done: used my original FanFare Talk post (here) to work out scheduling and volunteer queries, updated the wiki with my dates and movies, put the movies in my profile (optional but I figure it may help some people), and keep a backup paper schedule at my home just in case something weird happens online (you never know! :).

Would you like me to update the wiki with your movies and schedule, as well as adding the club to the FanFare wiki? Tweet, Memail, or leave a post here.

filthy light thief has been extremely helpful to me via MeMail during the Robin Williams Movie Club creation, and related matters with FanFare.
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 4:03 PM on September 20, 2014


That would be very helpful yes! Thanks. I'll hit up FLT for general advice!
posted by The Whelk at 4:09 PM on September 20, 2014


Maybe I'm tired, but I'm honestly not sure what kind of additional advice I can propose. Looking over things I've written, I think my biggest suggestion with trying to set up a year of movies (or really, setting up any venture that lacks in solid leadership elsewhere) is be bold.

Claim the Iron Fist of Certainty and state the plan, and then let others propose alternative plans with reasoning. Otherwise, you'll end up dithering over best options, when really most options are pretty good (or if they're not, someone will provide solid reasoning why your Iron Fist suggestion is less than great, and then the plan can be modified accordingly).

The same goes for the wiki - post a ton of stuff there, and then it can be modified if the plan changes, because it's just a wiki, and anyone can edit a wiki (and there's a history to review if anyone screws things up).
posted by filthy light thief at 8:03 PM on September 20, 2014 [3 favorites]


OCTOBER 2nd THE IRON GIANT

Why do you want to make me cry???
posted by soundguy99 at 10:48 AM on September 23, 2014 [1 favorite]


FEELINGS ARE HOW WE GROW AS PEOPLE
posted by The Whelk at 10:51 AM on September 23, 2014 [4 favorites]


What other films are planned for October? (Or even November, if you've got ideas out that far. I tend to get my movies from the library, which can be slow.)
posted by Margalo Epps at 3:09 PM on October 2, 2014


I was thinking....

Being John Malkovitch, Summer Of Sam, then something light like 10 Things I Hate About You then something art house-y like All About My Mother

Maybe a few more horror or spooooky movies in before aoctober is out. Ideas! How do we feel about Balir Witch Project?
posted by The Whelk at 3:14 PM on October 2, 2014


Blair Witch is a great one to add!
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 4:17 PM on October 2, 2014


Reminder! We're grouping with the horror club tomorrow for RAVENOUS

Updated Schedule!

OCT 14: BEING JOHN MALKOVITCH
16: SUMMER OF SAM
21: TEN THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU
23: THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT
28: THE LIMEY
30: EYES WIDE SHUT
posted by The Whelk at 8:52 AM on October 7, 2014 [2 favorites]


I just started randomly rewatching The Limey and noticed it's from 1999. Came here to check if it's on the list, and it was one of the first nominees.

I support this film club!
posted by isthmus at 7:48 PM on October 21, 2014


I'm looking forward to re-watching The Limey!
posted by The Whelk at 9:54 PM on October 21, 2014


Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai is about a hitman that lives by the code of Bushido. The movie has elements of Le Samourai. And it has Forrest Whitaker with a katana, which is always cool.
posted by FJT at 9:58 PM on October 23, 2014 [1 favorite]


Can I just throw in another vote for Boondock Saints?
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 9:33 AM on October 26, 2014 [1 favorite]


Only if we declare that week bro week.
posted by Artw at 10:10 AM on October 26, 2014


(I may be in favor of ridiculous bro movie week)
posted by Artw at 10:14 AM on October 26, 2014


November is looking to be VERY BUSY for me so I may want someone to take over (cause I think by the end we may be out of 1999 movies to watch!) So I'll go to the end with Eyes Wides Shut but taking offers to ..take the reigns so to speak.
posted by The Whelk at 9:46 PM on October 27, 2014


I could be convinced.....

Let's see, do I really need to host Season 3 of The Wire? Do we really need to do ANOTHER MeFiSwap?

Nah, SPIRIT OF 1999 forever!
posted by carsonb at 9:16 PM on October 28, 2014


as I prep the EWS entry I think I can do ANOTHER week MAYBE but I have no idea which movie it should be. Let's go with something fun?
posted by The Whelk at 8:31 PM on October 29, 2014


Tomorrow's Spirit of 99 post will be by CarsonB and will cover THREE KINGSĀ 
posted by The Whelk at 2:36 PM on November 4, 2014


OMG butterflies!
posted by carsonb at 6:48 PM on November 4, 2014


How about Drop Dead Gorgeous? I'd be up for posting it if I can get a copy from the library in a few weeks. Or (if anyone has seen it and know if it's any good) The Best Man. I can get a copy of that in the next week or so. Anyone else interested in either of these?
posted by Margalo Epps at 9:14 AM on November 5, 2014


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