4 - The Michigan Daily - Weekend etc. - Thursday, January 13, 1994 'Schindler's' tops the Daily 'List' of 1993's best films 0 0 On critic's lists everywhere, Steven Spielberg's "Schindler's List" reigned as the best film of the past year... MICHAEL BARNES 1. Schindler's List 2. Farewell My Concubine 3. Cabeza de Vaca 4. The Piano 5. Tokyo Decadence 6. Shortcuts 7. The Age of Innocence 8. The Fugitive 9. The Remains of the Day 10. A Bronx Tale DeNiro's first hand at directing, "A Bronx Tale," was critically over- looked-a well-told, interracial drama. "The Remains of the Day" and "The Age of Innocence" are both visually beautiful Victorian dramas, but in keeping true to their subjects, emerge somewhat stiff, void of any emotional punch. "The Fugitive" is the Hollywood, big bang action movie at its best. "Tokyo Decadence," the seedy story of a Tokyo call girl, is just as cynical as Altman's "Shortcuts," but not as trendy and obnoxious. Jane Campion's "The Piano" is beautiful, sexy and bizarre. "Cabeza de Vaca" is this year's sleeper, a phenomenal film about a Spanish conquistador turned mystic that you will only find on video. "Farewell my Concubine" teams opera with oppression. Com- bining stunning visuals with the fas- cinating story of two opera stars' struggle in revolutionary China, it is pure film magic. Spielberg finally gets critical success with "Schindler's List," a brutal, compelling story of the Holocaust. Quite simply, it is one of the best films of all time and knocks French rationalists on their ass-an Age of Enlightenment is yet to come. JOHANNA FLIES 1. Schindler's List 2. Much Ado About Nothing 3. Orlando 4. The Piano 5. Remains of the Day 6. Age of Innocence 7. Gettysburg 8. Strictly Ballroom 9. Carlito's Way 10. The Fugitive This was the year I rediscovered my tailbone. It was "Gettysburg" that initially heightened my awareness of the bony nub. Four hours of scrunch- ing into the seat and trying to prevent my foot from flying up and smashing into the head of the bimbo in front of me who spent the entire intermission trying to convince her parents that her long haired boyfriend was not a freak, and even liked watching nature shows. Jeff Daniels' A-One mustache was the only thing that pulled me through. "Remains of the Day" was the next lengthy attack on my bones. Anthony Hopkins spent the entire two and a half hours giving a performance even better than his last one opposite the woman most deserving of eternal worship, Emma Thompson. A break from these epics turned up some of the zaniest characters of the year: Kevin Costner's Butch of "A Perfect World," Leonardo DiCaprio of "This Boy's Life," Sandra Bernhardt of "Inside Monkey Zetterland," Tommy Lee Jones of "The Fugitive," and, of course, the entire cast of "Tombstone." And though "Schindler's List"is the great- est movie around and Liam Neeson the most underrated thespian of all times, it is the inspiring and power- fully moving "Rudy" that will sweep the Oscars this year. CAMILO FONTECILLA 1. The Piano 2. Shortcuts 3. The Remains of the Day 4. Un Coeur en Hiver (A Heart in Winter) 5. The Age of Innocence 6. Manhattan Murder Mystery 7. I Ladro di Bambini (Stolen Chil- dren) 8. Philadelphia 9. In the Line of Fire 10. What's Love Got to Do With It A few days ago I was frantic. The final hours of 1993 looming over me, I fumbled hopelessly through the New York Times, titles of unseen films fogging my tired vision. "Schindler's List," '"In the Name of The Father," "Naked," "Shadowlands," "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" and "Blue," all called to me from their dreary bitonal ads on pages B4 and B5 of the fabled Arts section. And then it struck me. Wham. Epiphany. I would never, fool, be able to see them all. Not in three days. I laughed, the final words of "Angels in America: Millennium Approaches" still resounding in my head: "Greet- ings, Prophet; The Great Work be- gins: The Messenger has arrived." The Messenger is none other than these films, angels in America, winged and in flight, not always perfect but always mature and honest, paving the way for a new year in film. Some of these angels eluded me. But to catch a glimpse of a few is enough. The rest will reveal them- selves in time. I closed the newspaper and folded it in half, hands trembling. Nobody ever said being a Prophet was an easy task. Amen. CHRIS LEPLEY 1. True Romance 2. Much Ado About Nothing 3. Army of Darkness 4. Cliffhanger 5. Tombstone 6. Demolition Man 7. Rising Sun 8. Dead Alive 9. Judgment Night 10. Three of Hearts Without a doubt, Quentin Tarantino's second outing as a screen- writer, "True Romance," kicks the ass of every film this year. With in- credible turns by Gary Oldman (get- ting shot in the crotch hasjust GOT to hurt), Christopher Walken and the incredible Brad Pitt as the quintes- sential stoner who smokes dope out of a Honey Bear bong, "True Ro- mance" is a must-see, and a must- own. "Much Ado About Nothing" combines Shakespeare with cute guys in tight leather pants, so it can do no wrong. "Army of Darkness" should be self-explanatory: Bruce Campbell makes the film. "Demolition Man," "Rising Sun" and "Cliffhanger" have Stallone in common, and Wesley Snipes and Denis Leary and they're See TOP TEN, Page 5 0 Emma and Ken show us what "true romance" is all about in "Much Ado." The Office of academic Multicultural 9nitiatives is now taking applications for Student Leader positions for the King/Chavezlparks College Day Spring Visitation program pi r i r-dn s y 2 994 Student leaders accompany visiting middle school students throughout the day serving as guides and role models while providing information about the college experience. Student leaders usually work in teams of three. They should be fairly out- going individuals and have a keen interest in and committment to helping students underrepresented SOPHOMORES... Did you get it? CP&P mailed to all sophomores this week. Check your mailbox for programs .- ' - ,0. In "True Romance," there were occasional breaks from the violence for SEX. 1 I