Minnesota Society for Interest in Science Fiction and Fantasy Best Films of 1999

Instead of showing you everyones selections, we took a vote. Any members of the mailing list who wished to submit a top ten list for 1999 sent one in and we talleyed up the scores to come out with our composite top ten films of 1999. First place votes were worth ten points, second place votes were worth nine, etc. Ties were broken by the number of first place votes a movie recieved. We also allowed each voter to submit what they thought was the worst movie of 1999. Any movie voted as the worst was given a -5 off their composite score.

Voters could select any movie that was released in 1999 prior to midnight of Dec. 31st. Basically, any film that is in Oscar contention could be selected.

Fourteen people submitted lists and a total of 43 seperate movies received at least one vote.

As one might expect with a sci-fi fan group, a significant number of these films are Science Fiction/Fantasy oriented. The list also included three animated films, two foreign films and one independant film. The lists serves as our final testament to what a good year for movies 1999 was. The voting was so close, we are listing the top fifteen vote getters here.

Of course, our list is somewhat limited by the fact that many voters did not see every movie that could have been voted for, but it is an interesting snapshot of the year. Links are provided to individual lists so you can read a bit more about why certain films were selected. Not everyone submitted comments with their votes, so you can see those as well. And if you are on the morbid side, check out our worst list as well!

So, here are the MISFITS top fifteen films of 1999:

Rank	Title	Score	# 1 Votes	Votes
1	The Sixth Sense	99	3	12
	Only two points separated first and second place. "The Sixth Sense" had fewer first place votes, but a higher average placement. "I can't remember the last time a film threw me such a curve" - George Richard "The show is stolen by Haley Joel 'I see dead people' Osmont" - Eric Heideman "After you see it, you'll want a second viewing too." - Ishmael Williams
2	The Matrix	97	5	12
	Really, it is almost a tie between first and second, given the number of first place votes "The Matrix" received. "Quite likely the best Science Fiction film of the 1990's" - Mike Lee "The best ever usage of Hong Kong-style filmmaking in an American movie" - Jeremy Stomberg "The more you see it, the more you realize how good the script is" - Pat Wick
3	Galaxy Quest	57		11
	The scores drop precipitously between #2 and #3, but "Galaxy Quest" was on almost everyone's list. "One of the most fun movies of the year" - Chris Jones "It carries the SF banner proudly into an uncomprehending world and makes the world laugh with us" - George Richard
4	Magnolia	42	3	5
	Notable in that every voter that saw this movie put it on their top ten list. It had that highest average placement of any movie voted for. "You think you know how it will all wrap up in the end, but then…." - Jeremy Stomberg "As near to Perfect as a film can be" - Tim Wick "Like a good meal at a fine steakhouse, a movie to chew on and chew on and be completely satisfied by" - Windy Merrill
5	Being John Malkovich	41		6
	No first place votes, but most people who saw this film voted for it. "Come up to the 7 ½ floor and enter John Malkovich's mind. A very odd place to be, indeed" - Jeremy Stomberg "Wonderfully, hilariously paranoid" - Eric Heideman
6	The Iron Giant	40		7
	Top animated feature on the list. A movie solidly ignored by the studious and most audiences but now available on video. "I was six years old again, and I loved it" - Windy Merrill "It's a wonderful story beautifully told" - Chris Jones
7	Run Lola Run	37		6
	This film was released in Germany in 1998, but since none of us got to see it until September, we are counting it as a 1999 film. "A love story for the new millenium. When it gets here" - Tim Wick "A Crime Drama that proves RUNNING is the international language" - Jeremy Stomberg
8	Toy Story 2	36		8
	Our second animated film to make the top ten and the only sequel. "The story here is outstanding" - Mike Lee "[A] great movie [in] any medium" - Pat Wick
9	Princess Mononoke	32	1	5
	The third animated film to make the list and the only one to receive a first place vote. Like "Run Lola Run", this film had a much earlier release, but only came to America this year. "THE most original plots of all the movies I saw this year." - Jason Enberg
10	Star Wars Episode 1	32		6
	Technically not a sequel, but a prequel, so don't give us any crap about the "Toy Story 2" comment. You wouldn't expect this movie to miss the top ten for a sci-fi club, would you? "Plus: Final Lightsabre dual. Minus: Waiting three years for the next one." - Jeremy Stomberg
11	American Beauty	24		3
	Given the high average score (8), this movie most likely would have cracked the top ten had more of our voters seen it. "The story was so well told, that I had no idea how it was going to end." - Pat Wick
12	October Sky	21	1	3
	"A movie that makes it OK to be a nerd" - George Richard "Touching and inspirational, and real" - Eric Heideman
13	The Green Mile	20	1	3
	The lowest ranked film to still received a first place vote. "This tear jerker delves into the souls of everyone who sees it" - George Richard
14	Dogma	16		3
	"A Movie that actually has something interesting to say about faith and religion" - Mike Lee "It is gutsy in this day and age to take on Christianity" - Pat Wick
15	Austin Powers 2	13		3
	"Fluff though it is it does a good job spoofing the further exploits of James Bond and poking fun at his perfection and coolness." - Ishmael Williams

Two Honorable Mentions:

Man on the Moon
Received four votes, but all were low ranking so the film missed the top fifteen.
"Jim Carrey Doesn't play Andy Kaufman, he IS Andy Kaufman" - Jeremy Stomberg

Topsy-Turvy
Seen by four voters and made every one of their lists.
"Superb film making that is well worth the 160 minute investment" - Tim Wick
"If you love theatre, this is a must see" - Chris Jones