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Janet Maslin, New York Times

1. Being John Malkovich 1999 Mr. Jonze's film, with a terrific original screenplay by Charlie Kaufman, is not the first to explore the prospect of being able to sneak into the mind of another person. But Mr. Jonze's version is definitely the most fun. full review
2. Bringing Out the Dead 1999 An intense, volatile film full of sorrow and wild, mordant humor. full review
3. Double Jeopardy 1999 Ms. Judd looks too dainty to throw herself into anything more reckless than a manicure. full review
4. eXistenZ 1999 [It's] meant to have a whiff of the philosophical, even if its intellectual ambition seems mostly limited to spelling affectations. full review
5. The General's Daughter 1999 For all the stars' intensity as investigators, nobody in this whodunit really seems interested in the upshot. full review
6. In Too Deep 1999 The characters are blur and not vivid. full review
7. Man on the Moon 1999 A formidable piece of work. full review
8. A Midsummer Night's Dream 1999 This Midsummer Night's Dream shows how high the bar has been raised by Shakespeare in Love. The allure and cleverness of that film, not to mention its far more Shakespearean spirit, make it a hard act for a hodgepodge to follow. full review
9. The Muse 1999 One of Brooks' most broadly entertaining films. full review
10. October Sky 1999 As adapted by Lewis Colick, the screenplay shifts busily among the boys' rocket exploits, Homer's family, conditions at the mine and the influence of a dedicated science teacher, but each of these subplots plays out in familiar ways. full review
11. Runaway Bride 1999 It works without exactly showing signs of life. full review
12. Superstar 1999 A comedy with several good laughs but no convincing cohesion. full review
13. Teaching Mrs. Tingle 1999 Newly benign, and noticeably clumsy. full review
14. Topsy-Turvy 1999 One of those films that create a mix of erudition, pageantry and delectable acting opportunities, much as Shakespeare in Love did last year. full review
15. A Walk on the Moon 1999 full review
16. The War Zone 1999 full review
17. Another Day In Paradise 1998 [Clark's] second, more benign film delivers what his first promised: bad times with a wicked way of looking good. full review
18. Eternity and a Day 1998 Angelopoulos' meditation on the meaning of one man's life is genuinely hypnotic in its way of transcending ordinary narrative. full review
19. Following 1998 full review
20. High Art 1998 full review
21. Kurt & Courtney 1998 full review
22. Little Voice 1998 full review
23. The Mask of Zorro 1998 With a wealth of charismatic Zorros (two), a smashing heroine and a dauntless love of adventure, this is hot-weather escapism so earnestly retrograde that it seems new. full review
24. Primary Colors 1998 The film seldom displays much in the way of directorial hallmarks. full review
25. Psycho 1998 It remains the most structurally elegant and sneakily playful of thrillers! full review
26. Return to Paradise 1998 Though the clock ticks relentlessly enough to sustain the story's tension, the film finally seems to be a character study in search of a gripping plot. full review
27. Shakespeare in Love 1998 Clever, exhilarating, ingenious. full review
28. Slums of Beverly Hills 1998 All of [the cast members], especially Ms. Lyonne and Mr. Arkin, project a crazy sincerity that turns this personal and nostalgic comedy into a very true story indeed. full review
29. Velvet Goldmine 1998 full review
30. Very Bad Things 1998 ...Berg's listless direction brings the film so little point of view that it doesn't much matter who lives or dies. full review
31. 8 Heads in a Duffel Bag 1997 full review
32. The Apostle 1997
33. As Good As It Gets 1997 Wicked, but it works. full review
34. Breakdown 1997 Mostow knows his Hitchcock as well as his Spielberg. full review
35. Chasing Amy 1997 As Chasing Amy redefines the boy-meets-girl formula for a culture where anything goes, including perhaps another boy or girl, it thrives on Smith's dry, deadpan direction. full review
36. Cop Land 1997 Whatever its limitations, Cop Land has talent to burn. full review
37. The Devil's Own 1997 full review
38. Face/Off 1997 Here comes a mega-movie that actually delivers what mega-movies promise... full review
39. The Frighteners 1997 The actors can't keep the film's mood from verging on hysteria as the story roams all over the map. "The Frighteners" has flitted everywhere, even to heaven and hell, before it's over. full review
40. Good Will Hunting 1997 As Francis Ford Coppola does with The Rainmaker, Van Sant demonstrates how entertainingly a real pro can direct a strong if not especially groundbreaking story. full review
41. Gridlock'd 1997 A smart, well-made buddy film about two junkies desperate to kick the habit. full review
42. Jackie Brown 1997 For all its enthusiasm, this film isn't sharp enough to afford all the time it wastes on small talk, long drives, trips to the mall and favorite songs played on car radios. full review
43. Liar Liar 1997 Well into his tumultuous career, Mr. Carrey finally turns up in a straightforward comic vehicle, and the results are much wilder and funnier than this mundane material should have allowed. full review
44. Mimic 1997 full review
45. Mrs. Brown 1997 full review
46. The Peacemaker 1997 full review
47. Private Parts 1997 [A] sure-fire hit comedy. full review
48. Red Corner 1997 full review
49. She's So Lovely 1997 full review
50. A Smile Like Yours 1997 full review
51. Welcome to Sarajevo 1997 However closely they mirror the real experience of Mr. Nicholson and others, some of the shocks here are too sadly predictable. full review
52. Year of the Horse: Neil Young & Crazy Horse Live 1997 full review
53. Michael Collins 1996 Played with great magnetism and triumphant bluster by Liam Neeson, the film's Michael Collins easily lives up to his nickname. full review
54. 101 Dalmatians 1996 full review
55. Albino Alligator 1996 full review
56. Basquiat 1996 full review
57. Beautiful Girls 1996 Portman, a budding knockout, is scene-stealingly good even in an overly showy role. full review
58. Big Night 1996 full review
59. Bottle Rocket 1996 A mildly facetious tone limits Anderson's film to the lightweight, but the collective enthusiasm behind this debut effort still comes through. full review
60. Citizen Ruth 1996
61. The First Wives Club 1996 full review
62. Flirting With Disaster 1996 full review
63. James and the Giant Peach 1996 James and the Giant Peach, the latest animated film from Disney, is a technological marvel, arch and innovative with a daringly offbeat visual conception. But it's also a strenuously artful film with a macabre edge that may scare small children. full review
64. Jingle All the Way 1996 full review
65. Love Serenade 1996 full review
66. The Nutty Professor 1996 Murphy proves himself a surprisingly strong actor here, playing Sherman with sweetness and poignancy, not to mention loads of funny weight-related humor. full review
67. The Pallbearer 1996 full review
68. A Perfect Candidate 1996 A fine, trenchant political documentary on a par with The War Room full review
69. Pocahontas 1996 Any damage such revisionist history may impose on young minds is offset by the honestly inspiring thoughts Pocahontas offers. full review
70. Restoration 1996 Since the robust 17th-century picaresque tale is not enjoying any current vogue, the success of "Restoration" can be considered a very pleasant surprise. full review
71. Ridicule 1996 full review
72. Scream 1996 Not even horror fans who can answer all this film's knowing trivia questions may be fully comfortable with such an exploitative mix. full review
73. Sgt. Bilko 1996 The film is full of gratifying gags like these, but it also has to strain for newly enlarged scope. full review
74. Sling Blade 1996 An abundance of long, flat medium shots that rob the film of intimacy and give it a sleepy pace. full review
75. Trainspotting 1996 For better or worse, sometimes strictly for the sake of shock value, the stylish irreverence of "Trainspotting" mimics that drug high and delivers its own potent kick. full review
76. Walking and Talking 1996 full review
77. Clueless 1995 While Miss Silverstone guides Cher through the witty costume changes that serve as character development, she's backed up by a solid supporting cast. full review
78. The Crossing Guard 1995 full review
79. The Doom Generation 1995 Sledgehammer direction, heavy irony and the easiest imaginable targets hardly show talent off to good advantage. full review
80. Eye For An Eye 1995 Never in his varied career has Mr. Schlesinger made a film as mean-spirited and empty as this. full review
81. Fire on the Mountain 1995 full review
82. Four Rooms 1995 The less said about this career-denting fiasco, the better. full review
83. Heidi Fleiss: Hollywood Madam 1995 full review
84. Picture Bride 1995 full review
85. Smoke 1995 full review
86. Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead 1995 full review
87. Unzipped 1995 full review
88. Airheads 1994 There should have been enough material here for six sitcoms. Instead, there's not even enough for one movie. full review
89. Blue Chips 1994 If Mr. Friedkin didn't have to work so strenuously framing two-shots of Mr. Nolte with this seven-foot athlete, it might be hard to remember that Mr. O'Neal has a day job. full review
90. Clear and Present Danger 1994 In a film that opens with the sight of a waving American flag, subtlety may not be foremost on anyone's mind. But Mr. Ford's wary intelligence does wonders for a potentially one-dimensional character. full review
91. Clerks 1994 A buoyant, bleakly funny comedy chronicling a day's worth of activity at two adjoining stores. full review
92. Fresh 1994 full review
93. Greedy 1994 full review
94. Heavenly Creatures 1994 Stylish and eerily compelling before it overplays its campy excesses, Heavenly Creatures does have a feverish intensity to recommend it. full review
95. I.Q. 1994 full review
96. Love and a .45 1994 full review
97. Monkey Trouble 1994 full review
98. Nell 1994 full review
99. Pulp Fiction 1994 A triumphant, cleverly disorienting journey through a demimonde that springs entirely from Mr. Tarantino's ripe imagination, a landscape of danger, shock, hilarity and vibrant local color. full review
100. Sirens 1994 full review
101. Swimming with Sharks 1994 full review
102. The War 1994 full review
103. Addams Family Values 1993 Mr. Sonnenfeld repeats some of the first film's favorite visual stunts without wearing out their welcome, and he sustains much more exuberance than a sequel might be expected to have. full review
104. The Beverly Hillbillies 1993 You'll hate yourself for enjoying this, but enjoy it you will. full review
105. The Good Son 1993 The Good Son has a handsome, scenic look that sustains interest, and a suspenseful ending that is quite literally gripping. full review
106. Hard Target 1993 Presenting Mr. Van Damme as reverentially as Sergio Leone did the young Clint Eastwood, Mr. Woo displays a real aptitude for malignant mischief, which is this story's stock in trade. full review
107. Heart and Souls 1993 full review
108. The House of the Spirits 1993 full review
109. Indecent Proposal 1993 full review
110. Map of the Human Heart 1993 Even by Mr. Ward's own high standards in the area of idiosyncrasy, this is a daringly peculiar tale. full review
111. The Nightmare Before Christmas 1993 The Nightmare Before Christmas is a major step forward for both stop-motion animation, which is stunningly well used, and for Mr. Burton himself. He now moves from the level of extremely talented eccentric to that of Disney-style household word. full review
112. What's Eating Gilbert Grape 1993 Particularly impressive are the sweet, weirdly idyllic tone of Mr. Hallstrom's direction and Johnny Depp's tender, disarming performance as the long-suffering Gilbert Grape. full review
113. 35 Up 1992 [35 Up] finds this series growing increasingly rueful with age. full review
114. American Me 1992 full review
115. Enchanted April 1992 The ladies are well bred, the scenery is lovely and the dialogue is polished and polite. It helps that the same villa in Portofino where Miss von Armin wrote the novel has been used to fine effect as the film's principal setting. full review
116. Hellraiser 3: Hell on Earth 1992 full review
117. Incident at Oglala 1992 full review
118. The Last of the Mohicans 1992 full review
119. Passion Fish 1992 full review
120. Shining Through 1992 full review
121. Strictly Ballroom 1992 full review
122. Career Opportunities 1991 Scenes like the one in which Jimmy's father eats fried chicken dipped in peanut butter should appeal to kids of all ages. full review
123. Dutch 1991 If a film like this is to be funny at all, it had better work when the warring principals still hate each other, before the rich boy is shown to be a sweet kid and the whole story turns to mush. full review
124. Frankie & Johnny 1991 full review
125. The Man in the Moon 1991 Gets an outstandingly natural performance out of Miss Witherspoon, who has no trouble carrying a lot of the film single-handedly. It falls to her to remind the audience that this story is at heart about a family, and she does. full review
126. Soapdish 1991 Uneven but often sidesplitting. full review
127. Terminator 2: Judgment Day 1991 Mr. Cameron has made a swift, exciting special-effects epic that thoroughly justifies its vast expense and greatly improves upon the first film's potent but rudimentary visual style. full review
128. The Adventures of Ford Fairlane 1990 full review
129. Internal Affairs 1990 Internal Affairs is, for the dim movie season that is traditionally January, an unusually bright light. full review
130. The Krays 1990 full review
131. Quigley Down Under 1990 full review
132. The Rescuers Down Under 1990 The film's direction, by Hendel Butoy and Mike Gabriel, is spectacularly inventive even when not fully appropriate to either the film's subject or the very young viewers it can be expected to attract. full review
133. All Dogs Go To Heaven 1989 full review
134. Leviathan 1989 The latter half of the film is one long feeding frenzy, guided by a familiar horror-film principle: survival of the best-looking. full review
135. Powwow Highway 1989 full review
136. Valmont 1989 full review
137. Casual Sex? 1988 full review
138. Colors 1988 Though its story has the makings of standard stuff, and is sometimes sketchily told, nothing about 'Colors is ordinary. full review
139. Eight Men Out 1988 For Mr. Sayles, whose idealism has never been more affecting or apparent than it is in this story of boyish enthusiam gone bad in an all too grown-up world, Eight Men Out represents a home run. full review
140. The Last Temptation of Christ 1988 What emerges most memorably is its sense of absolute conviction, never more palpable than in the final fantasy sequence that removes Jesus from the cross and creates for him the life of an ordinary man. full review
141. Madame Sousatzka 1988 It's as affectionate, big-hearted and creaky as any film that ever graced Radio City Music Hall, with leisureliness and dime-store philosophizing to match. full review
142. The Naked Gun - From the Files of Police Squad! 1988 High spirits may be all that a film like this really needs. full review
143. Poltergeist III 1988 full review
144. The Thin Blue Line 1988 full review
145. Tucker: The Man and His Dream 1988 Mr. Coppola has done things this fancily before, but never with so clear and moving a sense of purpose. full review
146. Beverly Hills Cop II 1987 full review
147. Cross My Heart 1987 This material, however promising, would be better suited to an extended skit. full review
148. Date with an Angel 1987 full review
149. Fatal Attraction 1987 Years hence, it will be possible to pinpoint the exact moment that produced Fatal Attraction, Adrian Lyne's new romantic thriller, and the precise circumstances that made it a hit. full review
150. Overboard 1987 While the prospect of watching Miss Hawn play a rude, nasty socialite is appealing, and even the transformation to homebody is a funny idea, Overboard winds up taking things too far. full review
151. Personal Services 1987 full review
152. Planes, Trains and Automobiles 1987 The film does have its scattered moments. But too often, the audience has as much reason as Del and Neal do to wonder where, if anywhere, they are going. full review
153. Summer School 1987 Mr. Harmon has an easygoing attractiveness, but neither he nor anyone else seems comfortable with the film's antic pace. And for all its busyness, this comedy has no real focus, ricocheting from character to character with wearying abandon. full review
154. Surf Nazis Must Die 1987 full review
155. Clockwise 1986 full review
156. Down and Out in Beverly Hills 1986 As a comedy of manners it has a dependably keen aim, with its most wicked barbs leavened by Mr. Mazursky's obvious fondness for his characters. full review
157. The Golden Child 1986 full review
158. Hoosiers 1986 This film's very lack of surprise and sophistication accounts for a lot of its considerable charm.
159. Over the Top 1986 full review
160. Pretty in Pink 1986 Miss Ringwald's pouty naturalness remains her biggest asset, and her performance is once again appealing. full review
161. Clue 1985 full review
162. Explorers 1985 full review
163. Girls Just Want to Have Fun 1985 full review
164. Kiss of the Spider Woman 1985 full review
165. The Man with One Red Shoe 1985 full review
166. One Magic Christmas 1985 full review
167. Re-Animator 1985 All of this, ingenious as it may be and much as it will redound to Mr. Gordon's credit in hard-core horror circles, is absolutely to be avoided by anyone not in the mood for a major bloodbath. full review
168. Stick 1985 full review
169. Beverly Hills Cop 1984 Mr. Murphy knows exactly what he's doing, and he wins at every turn. full review
170. Broadway Danny Rose 1984 Even the swamps of New Jersey look beautiful. full review
171. Dreamscape 1984 Mostly maladroit, without the kind of high gloss or confidence that might help carry its audience along. full review
172. Footloose 1984 Like the rest of today's video-happy teen-age entertainments, Footloose doesn't expect to be watched closely or taken seriously. It wants to fill the screen with catchy music and pretty kids, and this it certainly accomplishes. full review
173. The Karate Kid 1984 The Karate Kid exhibits warmth and friendly, predictable humor, its greatest assets. full review
174. Streets of Fire 1984 full review
175. The Woman in Red 1984 full review
176. The Dead Zone 1983 Mr. Cronenberg's direction is vivid and effective; his pacing is a little unemphatic at times, but the film's individual scenes are very well staged. full review
177. Easy Money 1983 full review
178. Fire and Ice 1983 full review
179. The Pirates of Penzance 1983 full review
180. Terms of Endearment 1983 A funny, touching, beautifully acted film that covers more territory than it can easily manage. full review
181. Trading Places 1983 [A] shrewd but very likable movie. full review
182. 48 HRS 1982 [It] is more memorable for its characters than for its high style, more a series of energetic scenes than a collection of handsome imagery. It has life, ferocity and humor in place of icy, stylized elegance, and that seems more than a fair trade. full review
183. An Officer and a Gentleman 1982 full review
184. Quest for Fire 1982 ''Quest for Fire'' is more than just a hugely enterprising science lesson, although it certainly is that. It's also a touching, funny and suspenseful drama about prehumans. full review
185. White Dog 1982 full review
186. Deadly Blessing 1981 full review
187. Omen III: The Final Conflict 1981 The bad news is that Damien has a whole movie to get through before he gives up the ghost, and that the movie is a grisly one. full review
188. Bad Timing 1980 full review
189. The Long Good Friday 1980 Though its plot contains much that's new, The Long Good Friday is a swift, sharp-edged gangster story in a classic mold. full review
190. The Jerk 1979 The laughs aren't steady, but they're persistent, and the film moves fast enough to compensate for its unevenness. full review
191. More American Graffiti 1979 full review
192. The Onion Field 1979 The film is generally crisp and at times exciting, but it's also full of incidents that are only sketchily explained, and minus the all-important narrative thread that might have provided a clear point of view. full review
193. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band 1978 This isn't a movie, it's a business deal set to music. full review