Miramax (USA): 59

Phantoms (1998) is a science fiction horror film based on Dean Koontz’s novel of the same name. The movie, directed by Joe Chappelle and written by Koontz, follows Dr. Jennifer Pailey as she brings her sister Lisa to Snowfield, Colorado – a small ski village nestled in the Rocky Mountains where Jenny works. However, upon their arrival, they discover that the town is eerily deserted save for a few lifeless bodies. As they initially suspect a serial killer on the loose, Sheriff Hammond and his deputies are already ...

Rounders (1998) is an American drama film, directed by John Dahl, that delves into the underground world of high-stakes poker. Mike McDermott, a gifted player and law student in New York City, has his sights set on winning the World Series of Poker. However, at an underground Texas hold ’em game run by Russian mobster Teddy ‘KGB’, Mike’s confidence leads to him losing his entire $30,000 bankroll in one hand. Determined to focus on school and keep his promise to his girlfriend Jo, Mike turns down mentor Joey Knish’s offer to stake him and instead takes on a part-time job. But when his friend ...

The Wings of the Dove (1997), directed by Iain Softley, is a romantic drama film set in 1910 London. Kate Croy finds herself under the watchful eye of her aunt, Maud, who has taken her in as a ward. Maud’s plan is to find Kate a wealthy husband and protect her from the same fate that befell her mother when she married Kate’s father, Lionel. Enter Lord Mark, an elegant aristocrat with a large estate who begins to court Kate with Maud’s approval. However, Kate’s heart belongs to a young journalist named Merton Densher, which her aunt strictly forbids due to his modest background.

Good Will Hunting (1997), an American drama directed by Gus Van Sant and written by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, tells the story of a self-taught math prodigy from South Boston. Will Hunting, just twenty years old, has recently been released from prison and works as a janitor at MIT. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with his friends Chuckie, Billy, and Morgan. One day, Professor Gerald Lambeau challenges his graduate students with a difficult combinatorial mathematics problem on the blackboard. To everyone’s ...

James Mangold wrote and directed Cop Land (1997), a neo-noir crime drama. Garrison, New Jersey is the home of several police officers from the 37th Precinct of the NYPD: Lt. Ray Donlan, Det. Leo Crasky, and officers Gary Figgis, Jack Rucker, Frank Lagonda, and Joey Randone. Taking advantage of a department regulation loophole by becoming ‘auxiliary transit cops’, Donlan and his group are shielded from the scrutiny of the NYPD’s Internal Affairs division. Sheriff Freddy Heflin also protects them, making them virtually untouchable. Heflin has always aspired to join the NYPD but was unable to do so due to ...

Scream 2 (1997) is an American slasher film directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson. It follows two Windsor College seniors, Maureen Evans and Phil Stevens, who attend a sneak preview of Stab, a film based on the Woodsboro massacre. While briefly leaving the theater to use the bathroom, Phil falls victim to Ghostface, the masked killer. Ghostface then takes Phil’s seat next to Maureen and repeatedly stabs her without anyone in the raucous crowd noticing. As Maureen climbs up on stage for help, mistaking her cries for publicity, she tragically succumbs ...

Jackie Brown (1997), an American crime film by Quentin Tarantino, is based on the 1992 novel Rum Punch by Elmore Leonard. A flight attendant, Jackie smuggles money from Mexico into the US for Ordell Robbie, a Los Angeles gun runner. When Ordell’s courier, Beaumont Livingston, is arrested, he enlists the help of bail bondsman Max Cherry to free him. However, after killing Beaumont to keep him quiet, Ordell finds himself in a tight spot when ATF agent Ray Nicolette and LAPD detective Mark Dargus discover the cash and drugs in Jackie’s possession. Facing ...

From Dusk till Dawn (1996), a thrilling American action horror film, was both directed and written by esteemed filmmakers Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino. In the opening scene, fugitive brothers Seth and Richie Gecko commit a violent robbery at a liquor store that results in the deaths of a clerk and Texas Ranger. As they flee, they accidentally cause the building to explode. Later on, while hiding out in an inn room, Seth is livid to discover that his brother has killed a hostage they had taken. In another part of town, Jacob Fuller, a pastor struggling with grief ...

Everyone Says I Love You (1996) is a musical film created by Woody Allen. Djuna Berlin, also known as D.J., acts as the narrator for the stories within the lavish and inclusive Park Avenue household she resides in. This home was formed through the union of her mother, the ever-dedicated activist Steffi, and Bob Dandridge, a lawyer. The only current issue in this household is Scott Dandridge, Bob’s son from his previous marriage, who has taken on conservative views. Steffi and Bob’s two children together, teenage Lane and Laura Dandridge, are inseparable but may run into conflict as they both have feelings ...

Directed by Michael Hoffman with a screenplay by Rupert Walters, Restoration (1995) is a historical drama adapted from Rose Tremain’s namesake novel published in 1989. Robert Merivel, a young doctor, enters into the service of King Charles II of England after rescuing his beloved spaniel. Initially consumed by indulgent behavior and popularity at court, Merivel’s lifestyle takes an unexpected turn when he is forced to marry Celia, a royal mistress who has fallen out of favor. The purpose of this orchestrated ...

The American comedy film, Mighty Aphrodite (1995), written and directed by Woody Allen, also features him in a leading role. The opening scene takes us to ancient Greek ruins which serve as the backdrop for the introduction and narration of Lenny Weinrib’s story. Lenny lives in Manhattan and works as a sportswriter, while his wife Amanda is an ambitious art curator. They decide to adopt a baby boy who they name Max. As Lenny spends more time with Max, he realizes that the child is highly gifted. This piques Lenny’s interest and he becomes determined to uncover Max’s biological mother’s identity. ...

The Crossing Guard (1995) is an American independent drama film written and directed by Sean Penn, who also co-produced it. The story revolves around Freddy Gale, a former devoted husband and father who has become an alcoholic in the five years since his daughter Emily passed away. He spends his nights at strip clubs and having flings with the dancers. When John Booth, the drunk driver who killed Emily, is released from jail, Freddy tells his ex-wife Mary that he intends to seek revenge. Despite her pleas to reconsider, they end up in a heated argument which results in her new husband kicking Freddy out of their house. ...

In A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies (1995), a British documentary of 225 minutes in length, Scorsese examines his top picks among American films. They are categorized by four types of directors: storytellers, illusionists like D.W. Griffith and F.W. Murnau who revolutionized the use of editing for sound and color, smugglers such as Douglas Sirk, Samuel Fuller, and Vincente Minnelli who subtly wove controversial messages into their works, and iconoclasts like Charles Chaplin, Erich von Stroheim, Orson Welles, Elia Kazan, Nicholas Ray, Stanley Kubrick, Arthur Penn and Sam Peckinpah who ...

Four Rooms (1995) is an American black comedy film that combines elements of farce and anthology. The movie features a star-studded team of writers and directors including Allison Anders, Alexandre Rockwell, Robert Rodriguez, and Quentin Tarantino. Taking place on New Year’s Eve at the fictional Hotel Mon Signor in Los Angeles, the plot is centered around Ted, a bellhop who experiences four unique encounters with different hotel guests during his first night on the job. Honeymoon Suite. The Missing Ingredient (Allison Anders). Ted helps a unique group of ladies ...

Robert Altman wrote, directed and produced Ready to Wear (1994), an American satirical comedy-drama film. During Paris Fashion Week, a group of models, designers, industry insiders and journalists gather to work, argue and attempt to seduce each other. The fashion world is thrown into chaos when the head of the Fashion Council, Olivier de la Fontaine, dies from choking on a sandwich. He leaves behind a wife, mistress and a mysterious Russian companion who has since disappeared. As authorities investigate the death, Fashion Week continues. American television personality Kitty inserts herself among the designers to get ...

Directed by Antonia Bird, the British drama film Priest (1994) tells the story of Father Greg Pilkington. Upon his arrival at St Mary’s parish in inner-city Liverpool, Father Pilkington is faced with two issues that challenge his faith. Firstly, he discovers that another priest, Father Matthew Thomas, is engaged in a sexual relationship with their housekeeper Maria Kerrigan. Furthermore, Father Thomas is known for his liberal views and support of Liberation Theology, causing frequent clashes with the Bishop who still values his abilities. While Father Pilkington is offended by ...

Bullets Over Broadway (1994) is a comedic, crime-themed film helmed by acclaimed director Woody Allen. It tells the story of David Shayne, an aspiring playwright who moves to New York City in 1928 with high hopes for his newest work, God of Our Fathers. In his search for financial backing, he is persuaded by producer Julian Marx to hire Olive Neal, the girlfriend of notorious gangster Nick Valenti, for a minor role. Despite Olive’s lack of talent and Shayne’s mounting frustration, he finds solace in casting faded star Helen Sinclair as the lead and dieting British actor Warner Purcell. However, complications ...

Quentin Tarantino wrote and directed the American independent film, Pulp Fiction (1994). The narrative of the film deviates from chronological order and centers around three separate protagonists: Vincent Vega, a hitman; Butch Coolidge, a prizefighter; and Jules Winnfield, Vincent’s business partner. It opens with a diner robbery by a couple and then transitions between the three story lines before concluding back at the diner. Throughout the film, there are seven distinct narrative sequences, marked by intertitles. Summary. As Pumpkin and Honey Bunny dine at ...

True Romance (1993) is an American romantic crime film directed by Tony Scott and written by Quentin Tarantino. In a Detroit theater showing kung fu films, Alabama Whitman meets Clarence Worley, an Elvis Presley fanatic. After spending the night at his downtown apartment, Alabama tearfully reveals that she is a call girl hired as a birthday present but has fallen in love with Clarence. The two tie the knot at City Hall the next day. Guided by an apparition of Elvis, Clarence decides to take revenge on Alabama’s abusive pimp Drexl Spivey. He finds Drexl at the ...