Let’s Celebrate The 20th Anniversary Of 1997 Films

Two decades ago… Even uttering that phrase is bound to make a person feel ancient. It’s hard to believe how quickly time passes, but luckily, movies allow us to relive moments of yester year. 1997 had a plethora of pop culture highlights and gave us some poignant films, from blockbusters to cult classics. Brace yourself, because you are about to feel really old when you see some of the films that will be celebrating their 20-year anniversary this year.

The Highlights

Good Will Hunting

The boys from Boston, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, released their Oscar-winning film and catapulted their careers back in 1997. Robin Williams, who plays Damon’s therapist, would also garner his first and only Oscar for his performance. While Affleck was a minor character in the film, his experience of writing and producing on this project would eventually help him to become a successful director and producer, with films like Gone Baby Gone and Argo, bringing him back to success later in his career.

Good Will Hunting continues to be an inspiration to writers, aspiring actors, and overall creatives to create your own way in this business.

Boogie Nights

Ah, yes, the prosthetic. While that was, and continues to be a large topic of this film (no pun intended), Boogie Nights has so much more to offer. First off, look at the cast: Mark Wahlberg, Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Don Cheadle, William H. Macy, John C. Reilly, and the list goes on.

The cast alone is like watching a master acting class. The film was critically acclaimed for showing the everyday life, and sometimes mundaneness, of the porn industry. Wahlberg’s star status rose due to his performance as Dirk Diggler, and the film further lamented Burt Reynolds as a suave icon. And, Roller Girl, Boogie Nights gave us Roller Girl.

L.A. Confidential

Another amazing ensemble cast was given to us in 1997 with the release of L.A. Confidential. Kim Basinger, Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce, to name a few, round out this film noir cast. This dark, crime-filled film was commercially and critically successful, and brought Kim Basinger her first Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

Part of the allure of this film was the break from conventional protagonist and antagonist characters. The three main police officers, played by Spacey, Crowe, and Pearce, all appear to be on the same side, fighting for the same cause. But much of what they are fighting is the corruption in their inner circle. L.A. Confidential gave a voice to the gossip culture before it turned into actual show business, in a pre-tabloid world.

Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion

There are just certain movies that are able to pull off epic endings, and Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion is one of them – leaving their high school reunion by helicopter while Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven On Earth” blares. What proceeds this awesome spectacle is the life of Romy and Michele, best friends living in Los Angeles, who are trying to navigate adult life. When they receive an invitation for their high school reunion, they go down a journey of attempting to present their lives as far more successful than they really are.

Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino headlined the film, but there were also memorable appearances from Alan Cumming, Janeane Garofalo and Camryn Manheim. It might have been released twenty years ago, but Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion has become a timeless cult classic.

Gattaca

In 1997 the plot of Gattaca may have seemed far out and futuristic, but in hindsight, the film is almost prophetic. DNA, genetics, and reproductive technologies are at the heart of the story as the main characters, played by Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, battle to find out who they are destined to be.

While Hawke and Thurman headline this film, it’s Jude Law’s performance of Jerome, a paralyzed swim star, that stole the show. Law would go on to play many powerful supporting roles before breaking out as a leading man in the early 2000s. While Gattaca was not a commercial success, it did start a dialogue on reproductive technology and how far scientific methods would push the envelope.

Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery

Think about it – we’ve been saying “Yeah, baby, yeah” for twenty years already! Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery follows British spy, Austin Powers, through plenty of Bond-like comedic scenarios. He thwarts assassination attempts, navigates through sexy fembots, and confronts his ultimate nemesis, Dr. Evil.

Writer and lead actor, Mike Myers, was well established from his days on SNL and films like Wayne’s World when he released this British-infused comedy in 1997. The film would leave a lasting impression on late 90’s pop culture with phrases like “Groovy, baby” and “Ooo, behave!”, while also producing a menacing pinky to the lip gesture, thanks to Dr. Evil.

The Fifth Element

A classic tale of good versus evil, well sort of. The Fifth Element is an over-the-top sci-fi adventure starring Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich and Gary Oldman. At times the film can feel a bit too grandiose and goofy, but it solidified Bruce Willis as an action star and Gary Oldman as a valued character actor. The film also brought up a debate in regards to gender identity and roles, thanks to Chris Tucker’s performance as Ruby Rhod.

While the central themes of it have been debated, there’s no argument that The Fifth Element has received a cult classic label. Look at any comic con and you are bound to find a bunch of Leeloo’s walking the premises.

Titanic

And we’ve reached the mother-load of films, Titanic. It’s been twenty years and people are still debating whether Jack could have fit on the floating door. Director James Cameron ventured out and succeeded in producing one of the largest film productions and commercial blockbusters of all time.

The film was crafted and constructed brilliantly with ornate sets, digital constructs, and overall storyline. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet have gone on to make many other films, but we’ll always see them as Jack and Rose. And we’ll never let go, Jack. Titanic was heralded as a movie-going experience, which is quite powerful for a story that we already knew the ending to.

Conclusion

The list doesn’t even cover half of the amazing films that were released twenty years ago. It might seem obvious, but how have the films from 1997 changed the landscape of cinema? As 2017 starts to unfold we will get a whole new slew of great films to choose from. But, let’s not forget the gems we received already, two decades ago.

What are some of your favorite films from 1997?