The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Into the Past: 1997

Welcome to The Wasteland into the Past! Join this journey backwards in time as I take a cinematic look at years past. Each article will focus on a singular year and my Top 5 films from that year. Turn back the clock with me…and let’s get started! 

L.A. Confidential 

What is the benchmark for modern made noir films? When you look at all of the noir films created in the past 30 years, L.A. Confidential is the true benchmark. When you look at noir films, there is a lot of darkness both thematically and visually. There are some great night shoots in L.A. Confidential, but it also leans into the sunny beauty of period Los Angeles. But the themes and story are dark and gritty as they come. This is an intriguing mixture of threads narratively with a grand conspiracy involving police corruption, organized crime, drug trafficking, sex workers, racial profiling and dirt sheets. The film is based on a James Ellroy novel that captures all the tropes and motifs of noir that readers love, and the combination of Brian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson translate them perfectly into this screenplay. Hanson then brings them to life in a gorgeous and brutal film that balances the period trappings of 50s L.A. with the seedy underbelly of crime. From a visual standpoint, you get some striking visuals with some perfectly leveraged neon signs of the era as well as the gorgeous costumes, cars, and architecture of 50s L.A. Cinematographer Dante Spinotti leverages the great colors of the production with some well-placed lighting and shadows to bring this vivid world to life. The music by Jerry Goldsmith captures the trademark motifs of his previous work which is defined by its bold and powerful presence. The score leans into its horns to capture that classic noirish feel, but Goldsmith brings the power that he is known for which makes the score propulsive and intense. The atmosphere that Hanson can cultivate has become iconic with its engrossing and dynamic feel. The story is a Labyrinthian experience that keeps the audience on the edge of their seat with plenty of complex character dynamics, fiery conflicts, and plenty of twists and blood along the way. The film has plenty of layers, but the interwoven structure centered on three different cops gives the experience weight and heft. You have a celebrity cop, Jack Vincennes, who is knocked down a peg and learns to become a cop again where he is willing to put his safety on the line to do something “right” for a change. You have a brutish brawler of an enforcer, Bud White, who is nothing more than a fist with legs but finally becomes a true investigator and cop along the way. You also have the young upstart, Ed Exley, whose father was a cop, and he has his whole career planned out but needs to put his ambitions and rigid demeanor aside to team up with Vincennes and White (who are a little more morally gray than Exley is used to). The impressive filmmaking and screenplay are elevated by a stacked cast of impressive actors. You have a couple of young Australian actors who broke out with this film in Guy Pearce and Russell Crowe (who would blow up soon after and become one of the biggest actors in the world). They are paired well with the ever talented and controversial Kevin Spacey who delivers a perfect third prong to this impressive leading trio. But the supporting cast are impressive too with a career-best turn from Kim Basinger as well as fantastic character actors like James Cromwell, Danny DeVito, and David Strathairn. L.A. Confidential might not have been the biggest grosser or the biggest awards winner of 1997 but it certainly was the peak picture of the year with its rich dimensions.

Princess Mononoke

You might ask, is the renowned anime house of Studio Ghibli a source of great children’s entertainment? No…because there are films like Princess Mononoke that expand that scope to just great films in general. This sprawling fantasy, war film is a towering achievement of animation with its scale, world-building, conflict, themes, and characters. The legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki shows his ability to go fully mature with a film that is full of blood, violence, and challenging themes that deepen the experience. His more child-focused work is legendary with My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away being fixtures of anime history as well as Japanese culture, but Princess Mononoke shows that boundaries you can overcome regarding fantasy on screen. The world building is so vast and striking with such a range of impressive creatures that come to life on screen. The opening cursed boar sequence is downright terrifying and thrilling as the audience immediately knows just how dark and twisted this world can get. The world of Princess Mononoke is a dark one that is still filled with wonder. The Tatari Gami are certainly the darkest of entities as their corrupting worms look unnerving and curse others. You have the pack of giant, majestic wolves led by the goddess Moro which has become quite iconic. The Forest Spirit is such a bizarre and unique entity that will burn into your brain while its Night-Walker form is a towering presence that makes the climax of the film so unnerving and has such a grand sense of danger. The themes of the film are closely connected to Miyazaki’s world view that he has been portraying in his work from the beginning. There is a strong environmental message at the core of the film that seeks to preserve the beauty of our natural world. But Miyazaki is not afraid to capture the destructive nature of this natural world and the raw power that it can exert on humanity if we do not change our treatment of the Earth. There is also a strong anti-war message as we witness the bloodshed and destruction throughout the film. Modernization versus traditionalism (a strong element of Japanese culture) is on display as well with Irontown which has deforested the area, focuses on industrialization, and channels key traditional gender roles. The rest of the presentation of the film is exquisite with the gorgeous animation as well as Joe Hisashi’s powerful and poignant score. The character of Ashitaka might not be the most dynamic but he embodies “The Hero’s Journey” in its purest sense while struggling through the horrific curse that plagues him. His presence is meant to bring nature and humanity together as he builds a bridge through his connection to San, the titular princess raised by wolves and a leader in the realm of nature. San is animalistic, strong, and intense, making her quite the stark contrast to our more reserved, supportive, and human protagonist. There are other compelling characters including Eboshi, the ruler of Irontown, who wants to destroy the Forst Spirit but is also a freeing leader to her people (her complexity and contradictions make her so interesting). This is a fantasy adventure of grand scale with all the impressive trappings you expect from a cinematic legend like Miyazaki.

Jackie Brown 

What film in Quentin Tarantino’s filmography has grown in estimation the most in recent years? Jackie Brown has gone from the film that “cooled” Tarantino’s hot streak after Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction to becoming the mature effort that just might be one of his best. Jackie Brown, like all of Tarantino’s films, is a distillation of pop culture and cinema but there is the cool lens that he brings to his work. But for this story…it doesn’t get much cooler than drawing upon Blaxploitation films. The vibe of this film is off the charts. You have the sharp and energetic editing style of a Tarantino film mixed in with plenty of Blaxploitation trappings and motifs. The most prominent and powerful element of the film’s expression is the impressive soundtrack filled with the best R&B and soul music you will find from the 70s. With artists like Bobby Womack, The Temptations, The Supremes, and (of course) The Delfonics (who are certainly a point of conversation in the actual narrative of the film). The music is the DNA of this cinematic experience that sets the whole tone and atmosphere of the film. The needle drops hit differently in a Tarantino film as they bring the scenes to life in such a special way. The camera navigates the space in a crisp and engaging way, and the costuming is so pitch perfect with rich colors and a specific style. Narratively, Jackie Brown is quite the web of crime and twists with the titular heroine being used by a dangerous man to carry drugs and money on her trips as a flight attendant. The smuggling garners the attention of ATF and Jackie becomes an informant into this world of criminals while also falling in love with a bail bondsman. Jackie is challenged with getting out of this crazy situation on top and watching her get out of this mess is endlessly entertaining. The dialogue is sharp, cool, and memorable in a way only a Tarantino flick can deliver. AK-47s have never been made to sound so cool. There ain’t nothing wrong with a big ass either and half a million dollars will always be missed. The dialogue just pops, especially coming out of the mouths of this talented cast. Blaxploitation icon Pam Grier gets to star in this complex and layered film as the complex and layered woman at the core of it. Having been referenced in other Tarantino films, Grier gets to revive her career with this excellent performance that shows vulnerability, confidence, and sex appeal. Grier is joined by an interesting crew of performers who bring an interesting crew of characters to life. The most memorable certainly is the ever entertaining and engaging Samuel L. Jackson with his cool and dangerous Ordell Robbie. He has plenty of memorable lines of dialogue, but he also brings that unique brand of cool that Jackson can muster while also being legitimately unnerving and intimidating. But the true standout of the film whose career is truly revived (and an Academy Award nomination earned) was Robert Forster as Max Cherry. His natural presence and charisma are quite specific, and his dry wit stands out in contrast to Jackson. Michael Keaton is an engaging presence in the film as ATF agent Ray Nicolette who brings a magnetic and charismatic presence. Throw in the likes of Robert De Niro, Tom Lister Jr., and Chris Tucker, and you have quite a cool crew of characters. Jackie Brown is a redemption story for our heroine with all the most engaging elements possible. 

The Fifth Element 

What is one of the strangest and most unique science fiction films to come out in the last 30 years? When you have a filmmaker like Luc Besson, you never know what type of strange shenanigans you are going to get into. The Fifth Element is a wondrous and weird cinematic experience that delivers an expansive science fiction world with operatic fantasy trappings to boot. The film opens with such a specific scene that it completely sets the stage for what type of film you are going to watch. The performances are campy and a tad melodramatic (which matches the vibes that Besson is going for with this wildly weird film). The look of the film is a mix of tactile practical sets (which are bold and vibrant) and some 90s CGI that doesn’t look 100% realistic but it also has a bit of charm in the context of this campy film. There is a strange mixture of mysticism and science in this scene that sets the stage for the film’s mythology. The music from Eric Serra is bold, colorful, and full of personality which gets mixed with some 90s inspired songs as well as some creative musical choices including an operatic performance. This film sets the tone from its opening minutes that it is going to do things exactly how it wants with the inspired vision of Besson. When Besson is bold and focused, he can create a film that is loved by so many. This is a strange animal that speaks to a wide variety of audiences. There are so many unique flavors of The Fifth Element. The film is fun and hilarious with its over-the-top characters and brashness to go in on so many characters and gags. There is a sex appeal that just radiates from the masculine presence of Bruce Willis’ Korben Dallas and especially from the scantily clad and alluring Milla Jovovich as Leeloo. The story of the film is so stuffed with characters and threads that it should not work but the playful yet heavy tone of the film makes it click in a way that you focus on it and never shake. An alien entity is needed to stop a destructive evil mass and that alien is brought back to life in the sexy and alluring body of Jovovich. There is a wild bunch of characters on the hunt for this being led by a down-on-his-luck cab driver (Dallas) who meets Leeloo by chance. There are priests (Ian Holm and Luke Perry), the military, a peculiar arms dealer (Gary Oldman), and a whole bunch of other alien beings as well. The film is full of all types of shenanigans from flying car chases in futuristic series and shoot outs on giant space cruises. There are plenty of fun set-ups for the film as well with a series of mistaken identities at the airport, the introduction of the high energy and wildly intense Ruby Rhod, and the mysterious activation of the titular element in the powerful climax of the film. The cast is a strange eclectic band of actors who each bring their own vibe. Bruce Willis brings a movie-star presence mixed with vulnerability to the role of Dallas. Jovovich has a distinct vibe and presence that is playful, curious, and (at times) dangerous. Oldman is a strange presence with a bold character actor performance that is one of the most memorable villain-turns of his career. Holm delivers a veteran presence with an intriguing level of conniving energy. Chris Tucker just might be the most memorable performance with his love or hate bombastic performance with all that iconic Tucker energy. This wild bag of ingredients all come together in such a compelling, entertaining, and creative way as only Besson can do.

Perfect Blue 

What is the most haunting and unnerving film of 1997? That is a bold claim to make but it would be hard to argue with giving that title to Satoshi Kon’s Perfect Blue. Kon died tragically as a younger age that left his filmography at only four feature films. Each one of these films is a masterful work of anime that has become part of the higher echelon of this Japanese tradition. His track record of storytelling is challenging, compelling, and unique. His most prolific film and most iconic is the haunting thriller, Perfect Blue. This is a perennial in terms of relevance as society has had an unhealthy relationship with fame and celebrity as long as those things have existed. Perfect Blue exists at an intriguing time when parasocial relationships would evolve immensely due to technology. But they were already a problem in terms of stalking and violence (including the deaths of John Lennon, Selena, and others). Kon’s approach to filmmaking generally pushes boundaries of reality and dream (some of his films navigate this theme more literally than others) but with Perfect Blue, it manifests in mental illness and obsession. The visuals in Kon’s film are rich and haunting with the late 90s aesthetics regarding technology as well as the bluish tint that gives certain moments a more haunting experience. The way the animation brings hallucinations and mental breaks to life is striking and unnerving to say the least. There is one scene (depicting an acted-out rape scene) that is a visually and emotionally arresting experience that is tough to grapple with. The animation of the film is texture and rich in its execution. There is a beauty to the animation that is an interesting contrast to the much darker material of the story.  Kon does not hide the seedy underbelly of the entertainment industry as our protagonist takes the leap from a Japanese pop group to becoming an actor. The way fans engage with her is eerily realistic to what people deal with in real life. The stalking. The obsession. The threats. All these twisted behaviors stick out in such unsettling ways. They make the life of our protagonist an unsettling and unnerving experience that is easy to empathize with but certainly not one to envy. The emotional rollercoaster that this young pop star turned actor must experience is thrilling and compelling. This film doesn’t even reach the 90-minute mark, and it is completely engrossing every second of that runtime. There are plenty of shocking revelations throughout the film including the true nature of stalking and threats that she experiences. There are always a looming tension and mystery around the story that makes this such a powerful and impactful cinematic experience. Few films have engaged in celebrity and parasocial relationships on the same level of craft as Perfect Blue. Kon is sorely missed as a filmmaker, but we are lucky to have a masterpiece like this to remember him by.