Through the history of cinema, whether it was coincidental or on purpose there are certain months and years that just blessed movie goers with sheer classics. If you are one of those people like me, who enjoy finding out scenarios like that. You appreciate all the stars aligning to provide us with a certain amount of films of certain levels of greatness, in a short timeframe. April of 1995 is one of those times that somehow has fallen under the radar. It gave us films that are still loved to this day, and are classics in various genres. From cult classics, comedy classics to straight classics.
April is traditionally a slow month for film releases, ahead of the summer season. Though the tide is turning, back in the 90's it was dumping season. April of 1995 was ahead of the curve in being a blockbuster month. We got cult classics like New Jersey Drive. A flawed but telling movie, about a group of teens products of their environment who steal cars for the hell of it.
Romantic comedy While You Were Sleeping, starring Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman which is a hopeless romantics dream film. On the other end of the spectrum John Carpenter released Village Of The Damned. Which by all accounts is not a great movie, but has developed a cult following all these years later.
Drama Basketball Diaries which is still one of Leonardo Dicaprio's best films was released. He truly showed his acting range and depth in this film, which helped him gain bigger roles such as Jack in Titanic. Mark Wahlberg also is in the film in what I can recall was one of his first serious roles. I'm sure he learned alot from Dicaprio that helped him years later.
Besides those films, what that month and year bought us is three heavy hitter films that are still relevant and loved today. For families we were blessed with A Goofy Movie, featuring Disney's favorite R&B singer Powerline.
The film is so loved, a documentary was released earlier this month on Disney plus. While Disney is taking it on the road as part of a 30 year celebration. Visiting multiple cities playing the movie.
Bad Boys which debuted in theaters the same day as A Goofy Movie. The film catapulted Martin Lawrence and Will Smith into super stardom. If not for Bad Boys, Will Smith would not have been considered for Independence Day and start his July 4th reign in the late 90's.
The film sparked a franchise 30 years that is still going strong, evident by the widely praised fourth film in the series that released last summer. Besides the jokes and chemistry between the two leads, the film also had it's fair share of amazing action scenes. This particular one being a all time classic in my opinion.
Then we have Friday which is a stoner classic, a hood classic, and just a classic comedy. Ice Cube's writing debut and Chris Tucker's career launching role. Honestly who doesn't love Friday?
It's a very relatable comedy that hits all the right notes. Spawning two sequels and plans for a third. As well as a animated series and several copycat films. It's highly quotable and legendary and is beloved from grandma's to weedheads.
You can still watch it today and laugh like you haven't seen it. While still trying to figure out why Craig didn't have $200, if he got his check the day before? It's a all time classic film that has spanned generations.
And that my friends is April of '95, we as movie fans should be grateful to the film gods.
