cinemadiso's - 1990s In Films Vol. 2 List
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The Bandit (1996)Eskiya
The epic adventures of the legendary Baran (Sener Sen) the Bandit following his release from prison. After serving 35 years, it is no surprise that the world has changed dramatically. Still, Baran can't help but be shocked to discover that his home village is now underwater thanks to the construction of a new dam. He then heads for Istanbul to get revenge upon his former best friend, the man who snitched on him and stole his lover Keje (Sermin Hürmeriç). Along the way, Baran teams up with Cumali (Ugur Yücel), a tough young punk who finds the thief's old-fashioned ways rather quaint. When Cumali gets into deep trouble with a crime boss, Baran adds another vengeful task to his roster. - Director:
- Yavuz Turgul
- Cast:
- Sener Sen, Ugur Yücel, Sermin Hürmeric
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This high-octane fuelled East-End gangster comedy thriller is a journey into London's seedy underworld with brilliant street-wise dialogue and razor sharp black comedy.
- Director:
- Guy Ritchie
- Cast:
- Jason Flemyng, Dexter Fletcher, Nick Moran
- Formats:
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Danger. Power. Seduction. Welcome to Las Vegas 1973. Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone and Joe Pesci star in director Martin Scorsese's riveting look at how blind ambition, white-hot passion and 24-carat greed toppled an empire. In an era of over-the-top glitz, Sam 'Ace' Rothstein (De Niro) is riding high as frontman for the Mob's multi-billion dollar Las Vegas operation. To protect their 'investment', the bosses send in Ace's boyhood pal, hot-headed enforcer Nicky Santoro (Pesci). It's a winning hand: Ace's brain and Nicky's muscle - until sexy wild card Ginger McKenna (Stone) turns up the heat. This gripping, fact-based tale boasts extraordinary performances, a sizzling soundtrack and a dizzying look beneath the glamorous facade, beyond the closed doors and behind the eyes of the men and women whose fortunes - and lives - were made and lost with a roll of the dice. - Director:
- Martin Scorsese
- Cast:
- Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci
- Formats:
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To Live (1994)Huo zhe
Zhang Yimou, often regarded as China's leading contemporary filmmaker, directed this drama chronicling the ebb and flow of one family's fortunes, set against the backdrop of China's tumultuous history between the 1940s and the 1970s. Fugui (Ge You) is the father of a once-wealthy family whose addiction to gambling and chronic bad luck causes him to lose his home in a game of dice with Long'er (Ni Dabong). Fugui's wife Jiazhen (Gong Li) abandons him, and he finds himself working as a peddler, until the man who now owns his home gives him a pair of shadow puppets. Fugui learns the art of puppetry and travels as a performer; while on the road, he is arrested by Nationalist forces, until he is liberated by advancing Red Army factions, and he comes him home to his wife and children as they adapt to the nation's new leadership. While once a lazy spendthrift, Fugui vows to change his ways, and he struggles to become a better worker and citizen. But Fugui and his family soon realize that there is adversity waiting for them around every corner, and the onset of the Cultural Revolution makes it clear that China's new regime can be as corrupt and callous as the old order. While a Grand Prize winner at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival and recipient of the Best Foreign Language Film award at the 1995 BAFTA Awards, Huozhe did not fare well in its homeland. Chinese censors objected to the film's commentary about political abuses in China's past, as well as Zhang Yimou's attempts to present the film at several international festivals. As punishment, he was forced to write a formal apology and was not allowed to make another film for two years. - Director:
- Yimou Zhang
- Cast:
- You Ge, Li Gong, Ben Niu
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