Best Movies of 1999

An argued cross-language ranking of films first publicly released in 1999, a year whose range runs from intimate observation to unusually inventive mainstream spectacle. Festival premieres count: Beau Travail, Audition and The Virgin Suicides screened publicly in 1999 before the later commercial dates shown in some catalogues. The Iron Giant and The Straight Story offer gentler routes in; Kiarostami and Denis reward patient attention. Audition and Eyes Wide Shut contain especially challenging adult material. Each placement judges a complete film, with viewing differences made explicit rather than assuming every highly ranked choice suits the same mood.