With this year’s Academy Awards behind us, it’s a good time to look further back, at the movies celebrating the 25th anniversary of their release. Some of the 1993 films below represent truly excellent cinema; some are so-so. But all are worthy of conversation and reflection today.
Here, then, is my second annual list of 25-year-old films whose lessons I recommend — together with the person or persons I recommend each one for:
For those who consider their political adversaries vicious monsters they dare not approach, "The Sandlot." Too many today have forgotten the childhood cycle of cooperation, risk and discovery. If kids can do it, the rest of us can too. True, sometimes the dog in the next yard really is a beast you should stay away from. But sometimes, when you finally knock on the door, this happens.
For those who need a reminder of what real struggle is, "The Piano." A wonderful story of perseverance and triumph over the odds. Well-deserved Oscars for both Holly Hunter and Anna Paquin, then 11.
For those who worry about the consequences of out-of-control technology, "Jurassic Park." I mean, seriously. What else? Because Steven Spielberg's interpretation of Michael Crichton's best-seller is so tense and thrilling, it's easy to forget that the film preserves the novel's cautionary message about technocratic hubris. The special effects have aged well.
For those across the political spectrum who have grown alarmingly casual about how they toss around the words "Nazi" and "fascist," "Schindler's List." Spielberg's Holocaust masterpiece is difficult to watch but impossible to turn away from, in part because of the power of the narrative, in part because of the rich interplay between Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes.
For those who think all the world's problems would be solved if we were just nicer to one another, "Demolition Man": A zany reminder of how oppressive the society of the sweet can be. A delightfully over-the-top Wesley Snipes; don't overlook the "all restaurants are Taco Bell" scene.
For those who still doubt that a truly deep and profound love can come in many different forms, "Philadelphia." A well-deserved Oscar for Tom Hanks as a gay lawyer dying of AIDS, and don't forget Denzel Washington's remarkable turn as the lawyer's lawyer.
Next, just like last year, let’s add a small political collection, with the hope of helping those on either side of the ideological divide gain some further understanding of the other:
"Falling Down": A film conservatives should watch to understand how liberals think conservatives think. Middle-class white male gets angry, goes on rampage, but the triggering grievance is trivial. Worth seeing for the we've-all-been-there "That's not our policy" scene.
"Dave": A film conservatives should watch to understand how liberals think liberals think. The government could do so much good (guaranteed jobs for all!) if only kind progressive people who care about other people were running things. A bravura performance from Kevin Kline, and a deliciously evil Frank Langella.
"In the Line of Fire": A film liberals should watch to understand how conservatives think conservatives think. Clint Eastwood, as an aging Secret Service agent, is a stand-in for a generation determined to stick to the values it grew up with. ("The whole damn country was different.") Intricate cat-and-mouse between Eastwood and John Malkovich, who plans to assassinate the president.
"Needful Things": A film liberals should watch to understand how conservatives think liberals think. If somebody promises to give you what you want free, chances are you're not getting what you think. (Money quote: "Everybody is insane everywhere!")
Honorable mentions: “A Bronx Tale,” “Carlito’s Way,” “Farewell My Concubine,” “Free Willy,” “Life With Mikey,” “Mrs. Doubtfire,” “Sleepless in Seattle,” “The Age of Innocence,” “The Dark Half,” “The Firm,” “What’s Love Got to Do With It?”
