The 100 Project: The Top 10 Movies of 1998

During 1998, my son turned one, and my second child was conceived. What that means is I wasn't seeking out a ton of movies that made me contemplate the world around me. When I got to sit down and watch something popcorn munchability was at a premium. I know you can eat popcorn while watching any movie, but the ones that best lend themselves to mindlessly shoveling fistfuls of them into your mouth while keeping one eye on the screen and using the other to spot the kernels that took a dive onto your shirt have high popcorn munchability. As a result, this year's list is dominated by action and comedy. That's not to say this list is complete without substance, it's just in short supply. Take a look.

My Top 10 Movies of 1998

• According to my Letterboxd account I've watched 83 movies released during 1998.
• Somehow I watched 14 movies in theaters. 4 made my top 10, 5 were honorable mentions.
• There is one foreign language film on the list. It is also the only film with a female protagonist.
• 8 of my top 10 are rated R

10. The Big Hit

Right off the bat, we get a silly, self-aware spoof. This one takes on early and mid-90s action flicks, along with having some great action scenes of its own. Its hilarious, at least to me, because it keeps me laughing. At that time, Mark Wahlberg was able to bring a certain amount of innocence to characters who weren't doing innocent things. It's what made Boogie Nights work and it's also makes The Big Hit work.

9. Blade

I'd never read the comic book about him, but knowing that Blade was a Marvel character, Wesley Snipes was playing him, and it was rated R was enough to get me into the theater. Watching him slay vampires left and right was some of the coolest stuff I'd ever seen. Sure, I left better movies off in favor of this, but I don't return to watch those nearly as often as I do this techno-scored bloodbath.

8. Rush Hour

"Never touch a Black man's radio."
"Do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth?"
Those quotes immediately jump to mind when the title Rush Hour comes up. However, what sticks with me is the awesomeness of Jackie Chan finally getting  to shine in an American movie with a decent budget. He is easily one of the top physical performers of all-time and this is the vehicle of his that's given my family and I the most hours of entertainment. 

7. Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels

This is the movie that made me realize how big a deal Pulp Fiction was. Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels is an unabashed Tarantino rip-off. You know what? I give it a complete pass. Director Guy Ritchie is just so good at it. He took Tarantino's style and put his own spin on it, and it works.

6. The Big Lebowski

Has there ever been a more perfect union between an actor and a character than Jeff Bridges and the Dude? When people talk about an actor disappearing into a role, this is what they're talking about. On top of the Dude just being the Dude, the script and story just work to keep us laughing. I will forever appreciate this movie for that.

5. Run Lola Run

There aren't many more kinetic movies than this one. It's a swift watch and pulls you in from the word go, and go it does! I love it. Much like The Big Lebowski, nothing here is going to give your brain a workout. It's just a pure adrenaline rush of a film. And you know I love my adrenaline rushes.

4. The Truman Show

In 1998, reality television was still in its infancy. This film, along with 1987's The Running Man, predicted where this phenomenon is going. Watching it back then I was like, "Yeah, this is coming." When I put it on over two decades later I'm like, "Yeah, this is still coming." The only difference is that much of it has already arrived.

3. American History X

Earlier on this list I talked about actors disappearing into their roles. Edward Norton does exactly that in this film. Early in the movie I hated him, but couldn't take my eyes off him. The story dug its claws into me. By the time I finished my first viewing, I was repulsed, frightened, intrigued, encouraged, and finally, exhausted. That's the sign of a great movie.

2. He Got Game

I love Spike Lee. I love Denzel Washington. I love basketball. Here is a movie with all three of those things. Truth told, there really isn't that much basketball in it. No matter, Denzel turns in a performance that deserves lots more attention than it gets. On top of that, this is arguably Lee's best job as a director. This isn't his best movie, don't get it twisted. However, he does some amazing work here. Yes, he has Denzel. He also has Rosario Dawson and Milla Jovovich. But he also has to work around having a non-actor play the lead role and coaxes a performance out of him that gets better as it goes. He switches looks and gives some amazing looking shots. Musically, people who know the film quickly point out that Public Enemy did a soundtrack album for the film. What they usually fail to mention is that their work is juxtaposed with classical music written by Aaron Copland and performed by several different orchestras. It's just a joy to watch as it bounces along and tells a story that's still playing out all over this country every year.

1. Saving Private Ryan

Let's get this out of the way, quickly. The story is sooooo corny. It's ham-fistedly patriotic in a way clearly designed to make America seem like the place that cares about its citizens more than any other country in the world. Yeah, full-on 'Murica! I am American, and normally, that type of thing would be a turn off for me. even before the questionable actions of the current administration. Miss me with your American Sniper and Hacksaw Ridge love. The difference here is that director Steven Spielberg makes a tough decision that pays off. In most movies, action punctuates the story. In Saving Private Ryan the story is told by action. Sure, there's dialogue, and some of it is quite good, but action moves and steers the plot. And that action...man...that action. That action is made up of some of the best war sequences ever committed to film.

Honorable Mention (alphabetically): Caught Up, Dark City, Enemy of the State, Lethal Weapon 4, Mulan, The Players Club, Pleasantville, Rounders, The Siege, Slam, Slums of Beverly Hills, There's Something About Mary, Urban Legend, Why Do Fools Fall in Love