Episode 48 – Fight Club (1999)

Bill and Ted discuss David Fincher’s 1999 film “Fight Club” featuring Edward Norton as an insomniac accountant resentfully living a consumer- driven apathetic life devoid of happiness whose chance meeting with the devil-may-care, philosophizing traveling soap salesman Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) turns his whole world upside down. Adapted from Chuck Palahniuk’s raw nerve of a novel, this movie deftly creates an equally raw and uncompromising existential portrait of a lost and bitter soul struggling against a heartless world desperately seeking to feel something, even if it’s a fist in his face.

If you enjoyed this film, you may also like these Ted’s Picks: Harvey (1950), Se7en (1995), The Game (1997)

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1990's, Drama

Episode 39 – Cape Fear (1991)

Bill and Ted discuss Martin Scorsese’s 1991 film “Cape Fear,” featuring Robert De Niro as Max Cady, a hardened convict who, after 14 years of incarceration, obsessively seeks revenge on his former defense attorney Sam Bowden, played by Nick Nolte, who failed to keep Cady out of prison. Scorsese ramps up the tension in this remake of Lee Thompson’s 1962 black and white film noir inspired pulp fiction thriller Cape Fear. While he, his wife. and teenage daughter are stalked, threatened, and terrorized, Bowden increasingly faces having to take the law into his own hands.

If you enjoyed this film, you may also like these Ted’s Picks: Single White Female (1992), Unlawful Entry (1992), One Hour Photo (2002)

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1990's, Auteur director, Drama, Thriller

Episode 20 – Life Is Beautiful [La vita è bella] (1997)

Bill and Ted discuss Roberto Benigni’s film “La vita è bella,” “Life Is Beautiful,” a sometimes humorous sometimes poignant and touching film about love and family and the effect of the will and imagination in the face of great obstacles: one half romantic comedy, one half family WWII holocaust concentration camp drama. Looking for some non holocaust related films that share this film’s quirky sensibility?  Here are Ted’s Picks for more whimsical films with a dark edge dealing with extraordinary strength of will: Forrest Gump (1994), Amelie (2001), Life of Pi (2012)

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1990's, Comedy, Drama, War

Episode 18 – Misery (1990)

Bill and Ted discuss Rob Reiner’s adaptation of the Stephen King novel “Misery,” a suspense-filled thriller where an injured romance novelist is held captive by an unhinged and deeply disturbed fan. This physiological horror film delves deeply into the nature of misery and what it can drive people to do. Here are Ted’s Picks for more great non-supernatural Stephen King film adaptations: Stand by Me (1986) The Shawshank Redemption (1994) Dolores Claiborne (1995)

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1990's, Drama, Horror, Thriller

Episode 13 – Sense and Sensibility (1995)

Bill and Ted discuss Ang Lee’s “Sense and Sensibility,” the 1995 adaption of Jane Austen’s 1811 commentary on the social mores of late 18th century England and the place of love, honour and romance alongside practicality concerns revolving around property, patronage and inheritance. The plot follows the widow Dashwood and her three daughters as the older two, Elinor and Marianne, struggle through the challenges of finding marriage proposals without a dower. If you enjoyed this film you may also like these: Clueless (1995), Mansfield Park (1999), Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)

 

 

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1990's, Drama, Romance

Episode 3 – Being John Malkovich (1999)

Bill and Ted discuss music video and TV commercial director Spike Jonze’s first feature film “Being John Malkovich,” known for its darkly wry and humorous investigation of existential angst. If you enjoyed this film you may also like these; here are Ted’s Picks: Get Out (2017), Adaptation. (2002), Fight Club (1999)

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1990's, Comedy, Fantasy

Episode 2 – Rushmore (1998)

Bill and Ted discuss Wes Anderson’s second feature film “Rushmore,” known for its quirkiness, odd characters, and bitter-sweet comedic flair. If you enjoyed this film you may also like these; here are Ted’s Picks: Lady Bird (2017), Moonrise Kingdom (2012), Election (1999)

 

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1990's, Auteur director, Comedy