THE NINETIES MOVIE PLAYOFFS

Help us decide the ultimate film of the dirtbaggiest decade

“Film is a contact sport.” –Werner Herzog

The 1990s have popped up here a lot on Cinema Dirtbag. As far as decades go, it’s a bit overrated, but given the film industry’s existential crisis this year we thought the raging, scrappy culture of the 1990s deserved the spotlight one more time.

Emily Schultz and I have set up an eight film bracket to debate over the next two months, culminating in the championship title. The winner from these films will represent not so much the best film of the 1990s, but rather the most ’90s film of the decade.

Just like in any other sport, the films are grouped in thematic conferences and were chosen with rules that verge on irritating eccentricity:

• It was released between 1990 and 1999.

• We already own it on physical media.

• We can’t have already covered it. Sorry to 1997’s Crash.

• Be reasonably popular enough that casual readers might have seen it, but not so popular as to be obvious. Sorry to 1992’s Man Bites Dog.

For each match up we’ll vote along with you, the readers! The winners will advance to their conference semis, and then a final competition.

Narrative Rebellion Conference

Chungking Express vs. Short Cuts

The Limey vs. Jackie Brown

Love in the Ruins Conference

Before Sunrise vs. Romance

Lost Highway vs. Doom Generation

We hope you catch up on some of these films and join us next week for the opening game of The Nineties Movie Playoffs! You’re also welcome to complain about your team not making it in the comments below.