10 Best Films of 1996

1996 has proven to be one of the more difficult years to analyze as I am yet to see most of the critically acclaimed films. Even so, it remains a very weak year. With the exception of the wonderful Coen Bros' film Fargo, here are 10 films released in 1996 that kept me only moderately entertained.

Need to See:
- Breaking the Waves (dir. Lars Von Trier)
- The English Patient (Anthony Minghella)
- Hamlet (Kenneth Branagh)
- Lone Star (John Sayles)
- Secrets and Lies (Mike Leigh)
- Shine (Scott Hicks)
- Sling Blade (Billy Bob Thornton)
- The People vs. Larry Flynt (Milos Forman)

10. A Time to Kill (Joel Schumacher)


9. The Birdcage (Mike Nichols)


8. Mission: Impossible (Brian De Palma)


7. Romeo + Juliet (Baz Luhrmann)


6. Sleepers (Barry Levinson)


5. Primal Fear (Gregory Hoblit)


4. The Crucible (Nicholas Hytner)


3. Jerry Maguire (Cameron Crowe)


2. Trainspotting (Danny Boyle)


1. Fargo (Joel and Ethan Coen)