The 1990s are usually characterized by the revolt against the social and societal standards set and used in the ‘80s.
The ‘90s wanted to take everything of the past, chew it up and spit it back at you in a new and controversial way.
The films presented below capture the raw, rugged and nuanced feelings that the ‘90s usually elicit: the sense of bucking complacency for edgy adventure and getting rid of the vibrant over-indulgence of the previous decade in exchange for darker, more minimalist themes.
Fight Club (1999)
Brad Pitt’s crooked smile and spiked hair as the red leather jacket wearing Tyler Durden in David Fincher’s late ‘90s classic perfectly encapsulate the decade’s defining moods and themes.
“Fight Club” follows The Narrator (Edward Norton) and Tyler Durden, a hand soap salesman, as they create an underground club where complacent men gather to fight each other brutally. The film explores and hyperbolizes male aggression as a result of the effects of demasculinization in the modern consumerist American society.
In any case, “Fight Club” has found a large audience and continues to challenge the thoughts and feelings of both men and women on the effect of consumerism and defined gender roles.
“Fight Club” is available to stream on Hulu.
La Haine (1995)
Translating to “hate” in English, “La Haine” follows three young adults from different ethnic and racial backgrounds living in Paris: Vinz (Vincent Cassel), who is Ashkenazi Jewish, Hubert (Hubert Koundé), who is Black and Saïd (Saïd Taghmaoui), who is Arab.
The plot revolves around the trio as they wait to hear news about a mutual friend who, after a late night of rioting, was seriously injured by the police. Throughout the film, all three characters wrestle with the injustices they face due to their ethnic and racial backgrounds and how they are unfairly treated by law enforcement.
“La Haine” confronts social issues previously brushed under the rug. The film embodies the mindset to revolt against power and the status quo.
“La Haine” is available to stream on Amazon Prime.
Romeo + Juliet (1996)
While Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 retelling of the famed Shakespeare play “Romeo and Juliet” is divisive, to say the least, it is incredibly of its time and embodies the ‘90s very well.
It is a great example of adapting old art to fit the changing sentiments of the time. In this film, we are introduced to the fictitious setting of Verona Beach (a reference to Verona, Italy, where the original play takes place), which acts as a postmodern Los Angeles-inspired location.
The movie stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Romeo and Claire Danes as Juliet and features performances from John Leguizamo as Tybalt and Paul Rudd as Paris. The film forgoes swords and castles to replace them with guns and penthouse apartments. “Romeo + Juliet” remains a unique reimagination of a classic play with an iconic and mesmerizing ‘90s spin.
“Romeo + Juliet” is available to stream on Amazon Prime.
Toy Story (1995)
Pixar’s first film may not immediately scream “the ‘90s,” but upon further analysis, it stands out as an essential watch from the decade.
“Toy Story,” like many other films, is a visual protest against the years of hand-drawn animation that preceded it. Pixar wanted to revolutionize animation and did so with this film, the first completely computer-animated full-length film.
With Tom Hanks and Tim Allen both lending their voices to the project, the star power and buzz surrounding the film was immense. The film follows the enemies turned friends, cowboy Woody (Hanks) and superhero Buzz Lightyear (Allen).
Aside from the inherent popularity and critical success of the film, it also set the precedent for what 3D computer animation could do, which we would see develop over the succeeding years.
“Toy Story” is available to stream on Disney+.
The Matrix (1999)
When I think of the ‘90s, there are a few films that immediately jump out to me, but “The Matrix” is one of the first. Essentially closing out the decade, the film explores the influence of ignorance and the power of individualism.
The film follows Neo (Keanu Reeves) and his journey leaving the manufactured reality that he and most of the world are plugged into. Neo is given the choice to take a blue or red pill, the red allowing for him to forget about his knowledge of the Matrix to which he is connected, or the blue, which will allow him to see past the illusion and live life as it is.
The film acts as an allegory of the transgender experience, as confirmed by the directors of the film. The directors, siblings Lilly and Lana Wachowski, both struggled with their gender identity for decades and came out in 2016 and 2012, respectively. While not explicitly known at the time of the release, this personal allegory of being a part of a marginalized group , shows the want for reform that was so present in the ‘90s, in this case, the transgender experience.
The commentary on social issues and societal reform paired with the moody, gritty and nuanced view of humanity makes “The Matrix” one of the most iconic ‘90s movies of all time.
The ‘90s were filled with cultural and societal revolts, all of which are showcased thoroughly in the films released. Years down the road, we are still praising the original and nuanced movies that defined the decade.
“The Matrix” is available to stream on Roku.
In the end, the ‘90s were a decade full of hyper-stylized and revolutionary films that changed the trajectory of cinema forever.
This article was edited by Alfie Pritchard, Marina Zaczkiewicz and Abigail Turner. Copy editing done by Luna Jinks, Olivia Citarella, Emma Brown and Ariana Kavoossi.
