Magnolia (1999) from Johnny Web (Uncle Scoopy; Greg Wroblewski)

I had no idea that director/writer Philip Thomas Anderson had this kind of talent. He's gone way beyond anything he's shown with his previous efforts (Boogie Nights, Hard Eight) to create a neo-biblical masterpiece, complete with prayer, frogs raining from the sky, and a sort of Hallelujah chorus sung by everyone together - things that sound stupid on paper, but that generate powerful screen moments in the context.

Together these people take part in several intersecting stories that deliver a tremendous emotional punch underlined by black humor, and a very high degree of cultural literacy. It's a bleak, draining, intellectual, emotional, arty movie, and it's umpteen hours long (3:11). Don't rent it for a pizza and beer experience, but if you are in the mood to see a film where the director has put his heart and soul and talent into creating a lasting work of art, you will want to see this unique film. It took me a while to get into all the stories, but when he got me involved, I couldn't draw away.

Let's take a look at the 1999 Oscar race (February, 2000) in light of the current ratings at IMDb.

In passing, I don't think you can conclude that so many of the best movies of all time were made that year. It was a good year, but recent movies do better than older ones at IMDb. Having said that, let me add that there aren't many of this year's films on the all-time list, so 1999 was exceptional, and I think 1999 would have been the perfect year to break tradition and nominate more than five films. I believe that nearly every movie on the list above is better than The English Patient, which won one recent year, or The Full Monty, which was nominated one recent year.

But then again, several Jeff Fahey films are better than The English Patient.

(Hey, I'm kidding.)

Note: I haven't seen October Sky, Sleepy Hollow, or Tumbleweeds. Many people have told me that October Sky is marvelous and I need to see it, Tuna's caps show that Sleepy Hollow is obviously a stunner visually, and I don't know jack about Tumbleweeds.

This is one of the few years where the academy seems to have made a choice which can be defended. American Beauty still stands above the others. I don't have any quarrel with the winner, not do IMDb members.

The nominees, on the other hand - that's another question.

The table above speaks for itself. Among the other nominees, IMDb voters would have nominated only The Sixth Sense. I generally agree with throwing out Green Mile, Cider House Rules, and The Insider, but I don't necessarily agree that the replacements should be Toy Story 2, The Matrix, and The Fight Club. Cider House rules was clearly not as good a film as the top ten on this list, and was barely in the top 20 that year. The Green Mile is nominated because it met the criteria - serious movie about death row and the ultimate triumph of the human spirit, but it didn't deserve to be holding down a spot that could have been given to some very special and brilliant movies. The Insider is excellent, but out of its league in this competition.

If I can't nominate more than five, I guess I pick American Beauty, Magnolia, South Park, Lola Rennt, and ?????????. I just can't decide on a fifth one. Probably one of the fantasy movies: Toy Story 2, The Sixth Sense, The Matrix .... but which one? I liked them all, and I don't know how to pick a favorite. Maybe The Matrix, but I'm not sure. So nominate ten or more. Change the friggin' rules.

PTA hired a tremendous cast for this film. I don't know if you can single out one or two performers, but if they gave an Oscar for best ensemble acting in an entire movie, this film would get my vote. Tremendous cast, backed with perfect mood-setting from the folk-operatic musical score, as well as the sweeping, slow grandeur of the camera movements. Tremendous film. About the best one I've seen since "The Sweet Hereafter", but please be advised it's not a mass-market entertainment movie, and will not be everyone's cup of tea.

Features a surprising self-parodying performance from Tom Cruise that is both scathingly funny and touching. He was nominated for an Oscar.

PTA is only 30 years old. Here is what's scary: he has now accomplished as much by his 30th birthday as famed boy genius Orson Welles. What does the kid still have in 'im?