
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, December 30, 1993                   TAG: 9312290060
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

BEST AND WORST MOVIES OF THE YEAR

1993 will be remembered as one of Hollywood's most successful at the box office, but it was also an interesting year in critical terms. The conventional fare - big-budget escapism and heavier costume dramas - provided few surprises, but several smaller films delighted audiences.

So here are two lists, my own choices for the best and worst of 1993.

THE 10 BEST (from good to best)

10. "In the Line of Fire." Clint Eastwood may not have equaled the success of "Unforgiven," but this thriller about a Secret Service agent and an assassin showed that he can still make involving action films with believable characters.

9. "The Fugitive" surprised a lot of people by demonstrating that cinematic retreads of old TV series could generate some excitement. The teaming of Harrison Ford and underrated director Andrew Davis didn't hurt either.

8. "Sleepless in Seattle" proved that an old-fashioned story and "chemistry" between stars Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan could make a successful romantic comedy.

7. "Matinee." This affectionate tribute to Hollywood showmen and horror movies of the 1960s may not have been the year's biggest hit, but it's a fine, well-made film that will continue to delight audiences. Star John Goodman deserves an Oscar nomination.

6. "Jurassic Park" was short on plot and long on dazzling special effects, but so what? For sheer visceral thrills, Steven Spielberg's cinematic roller coaster delivered the goods.

5. "The Joy Luck Club." Amy Tan's "unfilmable" best-selling novel became a remarkably effective, multigenerational saga of Chinese-American women and their mothers.

4. "Dave." This sweet-natured update of "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" was one of the year's most intelligent and enjoyable comedies. It's one of director Ivan Reitman's best efforts, and Kevin Kline's dual role as the president and his lookalike stand-in will probably be remembered by the Oscar folk.

3. "Into the West" is an Irish import that never managed to find an audience, possibly because the studio couldn't decide whether it was meant for children or adults. A lot of moviegoers missed a wonderful but at times disturbing story of two boys and a magical horse. The year's best sleeper.

2. "Strictly Ballroom." This flashy, high-spirited musical came from Australia and showed that a well-worn plot can be revived with a bright attitude and terrific dancing. Young Paul Mercurio could well be the next Mel Gibson.

1. "Like Water For Chocolate." Due to technicalities in the Academy Award rules, this wonderful Mexican film won't be up for any Oscars this year. That hasn't damaged its box-office popularity. In some cities, Laura Esquivel's tale of love, lust, magic and dinner has been running for almost a year, and it's still charming audiences.

THE 10 WORST (from bad to worst)

10. "Weekend At Bernie's II." More laughs and hi-jinks (and hints of racism) in this sequel about a corpse.

9. "Dennis the Menace." Hank Ketchum's engaging comic strip kid became a prepubescent terrorist in this lame screen version.

8. "Ernest Rides Again." Jim Varney spends half of this low-budget movie riding around on the back of a huge cannon. Are we having fun yet?

7. "Mr. Jones." Richard Gere as the world's most irritating and hyperactive manic-depressive. Ouch!

6. "The Nutcracker." Macaulay Culkin's father reportedly demanded that his son's association with this drab ballet be downplayed in the advertising. Everyone else involved should have followed his lead.

5. "Rich in Love." One of those "serious" films about a dysfunctional family that's so boring, miscast and mishandled it's painful to sit through.

4. "Sister Act 2." A pointless sequel thrown together to cash in on the surprise success of the original. Whoopi Goldberg's musical numbers aren't nearly enough to save it.

3. "Sliver." This tepid "erotic" thriller certainly did nothing to help Sharon Stone's career. Its ridiculous ending was a result of the worst kind of filmmaking by committee.

2. "Striking Distance" didn't fare any better in the conclusion department. The "surprise" at the end of this Bruce Willis action vehicle was so predictable that some audiences laughed in derision and left before it was over.

1. "Body of Evidence." Madonna continued her string of box-office flops with an unintentional comedy about a sexually voracious killer. Studio executives were surprised to learn that moviegoers are not turned on by broken glass and hot wax.

Keywords:
YEAR 1993

by CNB