The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Into the Past: 1995

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! 

1995

12 Monkeys

What is one of the most unique time travel films of all time? When you have a filmmaker like Terry Gilliam behind the camera, you know you are in for something…different. 12 Monkeys is a powerful cinematic experience that is a twisted tale that leaves its protagonist, Bruce Willis’ James Cole, and the audience questioning what is real and what exists on the frayed ends of our sanity. This film focuses on Cole, a criminal in the future, who is sent back in time to identify the identity of the person who unleashes a deadly virus that would lead to the fall of humanity. But in classic Gilliam fashion, 12 Monkeys is not all that it seems, and it turns out to be so much more. From the opening credits, you know you are in for a strange and tilted experience with the iconic Paul Buckmaster score made up of classic carnival bandoneon. The future world feels abstract, grimy, and distorted with Roger Pratt’s photography coming to life with an uncomfortable and intimate fisheye lens. Willis delivers a vulnerable and volatile performance as Cole whose grasp of reality is quickly spiraling as he spends more time in the past and goes back and forth. Gilliam is such a unique visionary of a filmmaker, and his approach gives the film a harrowing atmosphere, a distorted visual experience, and a strange mixture of humor and terror. There are few filmmakers’ work that feels so truly idiosyncratic. Willis’ central performance is matched by a few key performances. Madeleine Stowe had such a great run in the 90s and her presence in 12 Monkeys is one of the key anchoring points as we process this insanity with her. Brad Pitt delivers one of his most unique performances that is nothing short of completely unhinged mania as the mentally disturbed Jeffrey Goines (a suspect trapped in an asylum with Cole). But David Morse is one of the most interesting and unexpected turns with his deeply unnerving presence in the film. The story is twisted and distorted to a point of something quite harrowing. Is Cole from the future or mentally ill? This is a question for Cole himself (we, the audience, already understand that truth). This mystery is engaging, harrowing, and haunting as Gilliam leans into motifs, themes, and visual iconography of Hitchcock’s Vertigo (which is watched by Cole and Stowe’s Kathryn). This is a truly unique cinematic experience that turns the time travel genre on its head in a way that Gilliam is only capable of.

Braveheart

Are you ready for a grand historical epic that tells the legendary true story of Scottish hero, William Wallace? Well…some of those things are true. Braveheart is the most historically inaccurate film ever made. But you know…don’t let that get in the way of telling a great story. Mel Gibson’s historical epic is certainly a great story. The film is also truly epic with its grand scale and impressive action. Wallace was a figure in Scottish history who stood up to the English. In Braveheart, Wallace is a super intelligent leader who is also as brutal as any barbarian may come. But at its core, Braveheart is a romance that turns into a tragedy and becomes a story of vengeance. Looking at this grand epic, you will see some of the most gorgeous visuals highlighting Scotland ever put into film. Cinematographer John Toll delivers a powerful and dynamic visual experience throughout the film. The way the camera engages with characters throughout the film says so much about them. There are some truly beautiful visuals throughout as well with the shot of Wallace’s hand dropping a piece of his dead wife’s garments and the hauntingly beautiful secret wedding to his wife early in the film. The action that Gibson injects into the film is uncomfortably thrilling and brutal. Violent, bloody, and impactful, the war scenes in the film will make your jaw drop when those limbs begin to start flying. For a film with a runtime of around three hours, Gibson keeps up an engaging pace that will engross you into this epic for the length of the runtime. One of the key pieces to this epic puzzle is the truly gorgeous and affecting score that acclaimed composer James Horner contributed to the film. This score captures the culture and pride of Scotland in such a powerful way.  This is a grand tale of rebellion for a group of people long under the thumb of the British crown. Wallace’s journey is filled with love, hate, honor, betrayal, and catharsis. Wallace faces adversity from all sides with King Edward I from the south, the wealthy class of Scottish lords who fear his influence, and horrible odds. This epic is filled with thrilling battles, epic speeches (some of Wallace’s speeches are some of the best films has ever seen), and impactful character dynamics. Gibson delivers a powerful, charismatic, and towering performance that fills out the grand scale of the film. Sophie Marcaey and Catherine McCormack bring beauty and strength to the few female characters in the film and the women in Wallace’s life. The supporting cast is stacked with talented performers like James Cosmo, Brian Cox, Patrick McGoohan (a devious villain performance for sure), Angus Macfadyen, Alum Armstrong, David O’Hara, and, of course, Brendan Gleeson (who stands tall as Wallace right hand). This is a cinematic epic from a bygone era that captured a cultural moment and still hits so powerfully today.

Casino

What is the best gangster film that Martin Scorsese has created? That is certainly a tough call (with many probably going with Goodfellas) but there is one that certainly doesn’t receive enough praise. That film is Casino. The longest film in Scorsese’s filmography for a long time, Casino, is a towering portrait of the casino life and organized crime in Las Vegas. Scorsese has always been known for his attachment to New York, but he certainly finds a way to capture the spirit and flair of Sin City. Casino certainly has plenty of the major pieces you would expect to see in a gangster film from Scorsese like casting frequent collaborators like Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci. Scorsese and music consultant Robbie Robertson know how to piece together a killer soundtrack as well. Each needle drop highlights the era and vibes that Scorsese is going for. The key vibe? Cool. There are few filmmakers who understand how to make a film as cool and engrossing as Scorsese. He captures the alluring nature of the casino life and gangster life as he holds the audience in his hand. This net allows for Scorsese to fully pull the rug out from under his protagonist and the audience to great effect. This sprawling gangster epic focuses on the story of Sam “Ace” Rothstein, one of the best casino heads in Sin City. He falls for an alluring young woman, Sharon Stone’s Ginger McKenna, and struggles with the presence of Pesci’s Nicky Santoro, his friend and biggest threat. There are plenty of volatile moments throughout the film which should not be a surprise when Scorsese, De Niro, and Pesci are involved. You have someone like Rothstein who knows his business but soon gets a little too big and showy for a clandestine lifestyle of a mafioso. De Niro balances the hyper-focused Ace when he is on the casino floor while also injecting some fire and mania in Ace’s toxic marriage with Ginger and his fragile friendship with Nicky. Casino feels like a precursor to Wolf of Wall Street. This feels like a rollercoaster of bad choices, betrayal, and risks. Ace is a much more calculated individual but the world around him is a flashy, hedonistic experience. You can feel all the tension and frustration that boil up underneath the surface thanks to De Niro’s dynamic performance. Stone is a fiery and unpredictable presence on screen which gives the film a deeper sense of danger and thrills. Pesci is a live wire as always and gets a lot more screen time compared to Goodfellas. You have a pair of interesting supporting turns from unlikely performers. One of the kings of comedy, Don Rickles, is the tough right-hand man of Ace on that casino floor. James Woods is a revolting parasite who has quite the toxic dynamic with Ginger. Scorsese delivers some crazy moments throughout this enormous runtime from punishing cheaters at the casino to exploding cars to a brutal hit with baseball bats. Casino is a thrilling, challenging, and engrossing film that deserves more praise in Scorsese’s legendary filmography.

Goldeneye

What is the Bond film that brought this decade-old franchise into a new era? The Bond franchise was so connected to the Cold War and with the fall of the Berlin Wall, that changed. As it turns out Martin Campbell is the perfect director to breathe new life into Bond. This post-Cold War entry captures the geopolitical issues of the time while still having all the wonderful tropes and motifs of the Bond franchise. Almost a new century upon the world a new Bond was necessary with a whole new approach to the franchise. It is a shame Timothy Dalton was ahead of his time and never got a consistent spotlight to shine. But Pierce Brosnan became a perfectly well-rounded Bond who can do it all. Goldeneye was the perfect vehicle to introduce this new Bond, close the book on classic Bond, and deliver plenty of fresh new twists on the franchise. Brosnan is the perfect combination of rough and intense energy that Connery brought to the role and the campy and charming personality that Roger Moore did. Goldeneye is filled with double entendre as far as the eyes can see. Campbell brings a stark and sharp visual styling to the film with the post-Soviet aesthetic making a prominent impact during sequences in Arkhangelsk, Siberia, and Saint Petersburg. There is even a graveyard of old Soviet iconography which makes for an awesome set piece but also a clever representation of where the franchise is now. But remember this is Bond…so you do get a gorgeous trip to Cuba in the climax of the film. There are plenty of iconic set pieces from the wild tank chase throughout Saint Petersburg to the exploding train to the Soviet junkyard to the climactic cradle satellite that hangs over the Cuban jungle. Eric Serra delivers an iconic score that is haunting and atmospheric in unexpected ways. The action is absolutely thrilling, and the film moves at a perfect pace that engages without rushing. The cast is the cherry on top with plenty of colorful characters along the way. Brosnan is, of course, an endlessly entertaining and engaging protagonist. Sean Bean is a fantastic antagonist for Bond as former 006 and turncoat Alec Trevelyan. Intense and resourceful, two 00 agents going toe-to-toe is an exciting idea. Izabella Scorupco is gorgeous portraying Natalya who is the Bond Girl this time around, but she is also quite the resourceful hacker in her own right. Famke Janssen between being a model and Jean Grey in X-Men is one of the most dangerous (and sexy) hench(wo)men in all the Bond franchise as Xenia Onatopp…she crushes men with her thighs (literally!). Judi Dench gets her first turn as M (leader of MI-6), and she gets to show off her impressive presence (and quick wit). Alan Cumming is hilarious as the overly confident and quirky hacker henchman, Boris. You even have Robbie Coltrane as one of the best recurring minor characters in the franchise, Valentin Zukovsky. From the killer cold open and impressive opening credits (and Tina Turner’s crooning theme), Goldeneye will have you hooked. Tons of great characters, thrilling action, a fantastic new Bond, strong villains, and great music make this top tier Bond.

Ghost in the Shell

What is one of the most influential and significant anime films ever created? Mamoru Oshii is one of the greatest animation filmmakers of all time and he changed the game with the release of the cyberpunk classic and legendary anime, Ghost in the Shell. The atmosphere and style are one of the most influential for late 90s and 00s cinema. There would be no The Matrix without Ghost in the Shell. Avatar, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, and Ex Machina as well. The cybernetic characters have some of the most iconic and unique designs that give the film such a distinct personality. The Major is one of the most recognizable technologically enhanced characters in the history of films. Enhancements throughout the film look so unique and intriguing from cybernetic eyes to full limbs. The scenes that focus on technology coming together or computer data being represented are stylistically so dynamic that they will have you in awe. The music elevates these sequences with bold, dynamic, and unique musical elements that composer Kenji Kawai crafts with some impressive alchemy. The visual and auditory elements of Ghost of the Shell are enough to keep you engaged through its modest 83-minute runtime. But Oshii’s iconic masterpiece has so much more going for it. The action in the film is so good that it could rival some of the best live action films out there. The use of The Major’s invisibility makes for some harrowing, powerful, and thrilling sequences including a great chase sequence throughout the city. The final confrontation between The Major and the Puppet Master is an ammo-filled thrill ride that is both brutal and exciting. But the film digs so much deeper than just a surface level action thriller. The genre mixing is top-notch with this cyberpunk dystopia acting as the anchoring element that keeps you engaged. The themes are rich as well as Oshii explores human nature and the boundary between machine and humanity. Ghost in the Shell picks up the torch that Ridley Scott lit with his science fiction classic, Blade Runner. The protagonist, Motoko, is in a strange hybrid existence that floats between humans and machines. This aspect of her nature makes her journey even more compelling as she gets in the crosshairs of the technological antagonist, The Puppet Master. The voice acting all around is committed and engaging. Atsuko Tanaka is truly iconic in the role of Motoko as she adds layers to this mysterious and complex protagonist. The world-building is just too fascinating to ignore. Oshii is a visionary filmmaker and Ghost in the Shell is his magnum opus.