Tumbleweeds (1999) - ★★★½

Director: Gavin O'Conner
Writers: Angela Shelton, Gavin O'Connor (Screenplay)
Stars: Janet McTeer, Kimberly J. Brown, Jay O. Sanders, Gavin O. Conner, Laurel Hollomon, Lois Smith

Not quite a road-trip, not quite a coming-of-age story, Tumbleweeds is a pretty awesome drama about the crazy lives of a mother and daughter. Even though I think it's really good, I can't deny that it's entirely forgettable. I sat down at my computer and had to think about what movie I was watching last night. It took me a while to remember the name Tumbleweeds. Yet I can't stop smiling when I think about it. With the film fresh in my mind, I can tell you that this is a solid movie that's worth a watch.

Plus, Janet McTeer's performance was amazing, so that makes it a must-see in my opinion.

Fight Club (1999) - ★★★★

Director: David Fincher
Writers: Jim Uhls (screenplay, Chuck Palahniuk (novel)
Stars: Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, Helena Bonham Carter, Meatloaf, Jared Leto

"It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything" is one of the many entertaining lessons we learn from Fight Club. This film is marvelous! The twists and turns, the dry humour, the spectacular acting and an amazing original story from director David Fincher makes this one of the greatest movies I have seen. 

Edward Norton plays an insomniac office worker 'everyman' that takes comfort in going to self-help groups for various illnesses by faking being sick. Through doing this he is born again by crying out all the pain in his life and leaving a happier person through the experience. When a chain smoking woman starts faking illnesses and showing up to all of his support groups, he can't cry anymore because she reflects the lie he is living. Her name is Marla (Helena Bonham Carter). 'The Narrator' unaffectionately refers to her as "the little scratch on the roof of your mouth that would heal if only you could stop tonguing it, but you can't." Although neither are attractive or likable characters, there is beautiful chemistry between the two. She was the catalyst that launched him into the crazy world of Tyler Durden, played by Brad Pitt. 

'The Narrator' is sucked into Tyler's world of self-confidence, self-dependence and manhood. Together they create mayhem and start an underground Fight Club franchise where every day men come to release their frustrations by beating the living daylights out of each other, resulting in catastrophic consequences for the Narrator. The way this film describes human nature is presented in an unsettling and raw way. The special effects and directing technique to this movie is masterful. I believe this is one of the best screenplays in film history and has one of the most memorable endings. Just a riveting watch. I highly recommend it. 

The Matrix (1999) - ★★★★

Directors: Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
Writers: Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Ann Moss, Hugo Weaving, Gloria Foster

The Matrix is in many ways one of the most epic and original cinema creations of all time. It's revolutionary use of effects, almost incomprehensible yet totally astonishing storyline and great cast makes this movie one for the all time greats list.

Neo can be seen as the average hero just like in many movies. He's a normal man with a desk job, a suit and apartment. Only he really isn't. None of that is truly real. It is actually a computer generated simulation that machines use to make humans think they are living out their lives on planet earth, when really they're stuck in a tube that will eventually lead to their energy being harnessed by the race of machines. Quite a lot to rap your mind around huh? Now you can't tell me that doesn't make for an interesting story...

One would think from my description that it would be about a war against machines, (very similar to The Terminator no?). However this movie focus' on Neo's path of enlightenment through learning that he has been stuck in the Matrix for his whole life. It is a classic 'zero-to-hero' story where he starts of weak, confused and not as good as what others expected him to be, then ends up being even better than what should have been. The many incredible effects used in the film such as the Bullet-Time scene (in the photo above) separate this movie from all others. Overall this movie is a riveting watch and though it can be compared to others, it can never be seen as inferior.