The Morning: The movies of ’99

Looking back on a landmark year. Plus, Kamala Harris's economic plan.

View in browser|nytimes.com August 17, 2024 Good morning. Today, we're looking back on one of the great years in cinema history. We're also covering Kamala Harris's economic agenda and fall fashion trends. Laurence Fishburne, in a scene from "The Matrix."  Our futuristic past By Alissa Wilkinson Film critic Do you remember 1999? The vibes were peculiar. On the one hand, politicians and pundits talked ceaselessly about "building a bridge to the 21st century" and entering the new millennium (even though technically it wouldn't start till 2001). On the other hand, fear lurked around all corners, mostly thanks to new technologies. The internet was still a place you wouldn't dare use your real name, for reasons that were never totally clear. And the much-hyped Y2K bug left a lot of us wondering if society as we knew it was about to end because of faulty computer code, or something. (I recommend the delightful documentary "Time Bomb Y2K" for reliving that weird moment.) That collective mood — one of hope and fear mashed together — made 1999 an incredible year at the movies. Just look at the list: "Fight Club." "The Matrix." "Toy Story 2." "Eyes Wide Shut." "Office Space." "Shakespeare in Love." "Magnolia." "The Green Mile." "The Blair Witch Project." "Being John Malkovich." "The Virgin Suicides." There's a feeling of danger in a lot of these movies, alongside a fixation on sex appeal and youthful ennui. You could go down to the movie theater and see a great rom-com like "You've Got Mail," "Runaway Bride" or "Notting Hill," a teen classic like "10 Things I Hate About You" or "American Pie," a campy horror adventure like "The Mummy" or a sexy take on a classic novel like "The Talented Mr. Ripley," which has one of the best casts of all time. It's striking to see how many of these movies are still beloved by both audiences and critics. Some of that has to do with eccentric creative visions. In 1999, studios still took chances on very peculiar movies instead of leaning on blandly imagined sequels to rake in megabucks. Yes, unsurprisingly, "Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace" ruled the box office. But the No. 2 film of the year was "The Sixth Sense," from M. Night Shyamalan, which introduced a new and exciting voice through a totally new story. There are other factors, too: 1999 was an inflection point in the industry, in which venerable masters like Stanley Kubrick and Martin Scorsese were working alongside young upstarts like Paul Thomas Anderson, Spike Jonze, Sofia Coppola and the Wachowskis. And though we weren't yet living in a world in which everyone carried a high-definition video camera in their pocket, recording technology was becoming cheaper, lighter and more accessible. That meant you could start shooting a movie like "The Blair Witch Project" with a paltry $35,000 in your pocket and turn it into $250 million. Over on The Times's Culture desk, we've been talking about 1999 all year. Our "Class of 1999" series examines some of the movies, celebrities and ideas that emerged a quarter-century ago, and how they remain significant today. I kicked off the series by writing about how the opening scene in "The Matrix" proved remarkably prescient. My colleague Maya Salam had a fascinating essay on how "The Blair Witch Project" foreshadowed our age of misinformation. Melena Ryzik profiled the breakout star of "The Sixth Sense," Haley Joel Osment, and his post-child-star career. What's been amazing about revisiting the films of 1999 is realizing that, for as much as the world has changed, a lot has stayed the same. Looking at a few of this year's biggest movies — "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes," "Twisters," "A Quiet Place: Day One" — I think that mix of optimism and fear set the tone for the 21st century more than any of us expected. THE WEEK IN CULTURE Film and TV Gena Rowlands in 2014. Chris Pizzello/Invision, via Associated Press The actress Gena Rowlands, known for her vulnerable portraits of women in states of crisis, died at 94. Read her obituary, and stream some of her best performances, including "The Notebook" and 1968's "Faces." John Cena and Awkwafina star in the movie "Jackpot!" It is one of eight movies our critics are talking about this week. Paramount — the parent company of CBS and Nickelodeon — started a series of long-scheduled layoffs that will cut its U.S. staff by around 15 percent. Jay Kanter, who served as an agent to stars including Marilyn Monroe and Marlon Brando, died at 97. Music The influential rapper Missy Elliott is headlining a tour for the first time in three decades. Jon Caramanica called the show a "relentless and exhilarating 75 minutes." Taylor Swift fans gathered at London's Wembley Stadium for the first Eras show since a terrorist plot caused three concerts to be canceled in Vienna. Barack Obama revealed his annual summer playlist. This year's list includes Charli XCX and Tems, Pitchfork reports. Other Culture News A party at the Loft, a nightclub on Martha's Vineyard. Gabriela Herman for The New York Times An intimate film festival on Martha's Vineyard drew celebrities and politicians including Taraji P. Henson, Don Cheadle and Senator Cory Booker. See inside the festival — and the parties. Paula Modersohn-Becker was a trailblazing German artist who died in 1907. In her first American museum show, her work looks "unmistakably modern," our critic writes. Fans have speculated for months over whether Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are headed for divorce. The Cut created a timeline of the rumors. A set of proposed Biden administration policies could make it easier for consumers to cancel subscriptions. Burning Man has sold out every year since 2011. But this year, after two consecutive festivals marred by bad weather, tickets are moving more slowly. Former football players — strong, agile and fast — often make good NASCAR pit crew members. Racing teams are scouring college campuses to hire them. "Shoot me up with a big one": Court papers show the desperate final weeks leading up to the actor Matthew Perry's death from ketamine. THE LATEST NEWS 2024 Election Kamala Harris at a rally yesterday in Raleigh, N.C. Erin Schaff/The New York Times Kamala Harris laid out an economic agenda focused on bringing down the cost of living, pledging at a North Carolina rally to advance "economic security, stability and dignity" for the middle class. Harris's plans call for building more housing, subsidizing first-time home buyers and increased tax credits for parents. She also said she would expand President Biden's policies lowering drug prices. Harris also criticized Donald Trump's proposed trade tariff hikes, calling them "in effect, a national sales tax" that would raise prices. Trump has likened Harris's economic policies to "something straight out of Venezuela or the Soviet Union." Other Big Stories The U.S., Egypt and Qatar presented Israel and Hamas with a "bridging proposal" in an effort to reach a cease-fire deal to end the war in Gaza. Negotiations will continue next week. Iran appears to be delaying any retaliation against Israel for the assassination of a top Hamas leader to let the cease-fire negotiations continue. Russian troops are closing in on Pokrovsk, a strategic Ukrainian-held town in the eastern Donetsk region. Taking it would bring Russia closer to its goal of seizing the region. The Supreme Court continued to block, for now, Biden administration rules meant to protect transgender students in Republican states. A Florida jury found a white woman guilty of manslaughter after she shot her unarmed Black neighbor through her door. Subscribe Today The Morning highlights a small portion of the journalism that The New York Times offers. To access all of it, become a subscriber with this introductory offer. CULTURE CALENDAR By Andrew LaVallee 👽 "Alien: Romulus" (out now): Real talk, I watch Aliens movies the way Hezly Rivera's dad watches her compete on the balance beam. The latest installment stars Cailee Spaeny as a Sigourney Weaver-esque heroine. And it features the creatures you came for, as Manohla Dargis puts it, "scuttling and scurrying and causing their usual gory mayhem." ❤️‍🔥 "Love Island U.S.A." (Monday): This dating show, set in Fiji, was the guilty pleasure of the summer. Cast members return on Monday for the reunion special, so if you want to go in prepared, this weekend is a perfect time to binge the 30-plus episodes (and to read our interview with two who shared a special bromance.) RECIPE OF THE WEEK Ryan Liebe for The New York Times By Melissa Clark Antipasto salad The end of summer is peak no-cook recipe season, and Dan Pelosi's tangy antipasto salad is one of the most satisfying things you can make without turning on the stove. A combination of Italian deli favorites like chunks of salami, marinated artichoke hearts, roasted peppers and provolone cheese, this hearty mix is lightened by juicy ripe cherry tomatoes along with fresh basil and parsley. Dan also adds a can of butter beans, but if you can't find them, canned chickpeas work just as well. For the best flavor, let the salad sit in the fridge for at least an hour before serving; this gives it — and the cook — ample time to chill before dinner. T MAGAZINE Photograph by Collier Schorr. Styled by Raphael Hirsch Click the image above to read this weekend's issue of T, The Times's style magazine. REAL ESTATE Susan Quillin, left, and Jean Nelsen with Poppy. Drew Kelly for The New York Times The Hunt: After six years in Palm Springs, a retired couple wanted a three-bedroom house in the Bay Area for under $1 million. Which did they choose? Play our game. What you get for $280,000: A bungalow with three bedrooms in Minneapolis; a 1920 Craftsman-style house in Pittsburgh; or a Cape Cod-style cottage in Hagerstown, Md. LIVING Kelly Wearstler at home in Beverly Hills. Teal Thomsen for The New York Times So you've framed your art? Here's how to hang a gallery wall. Fall fashion: Crisp, timeless silhouettes and kitten heels. Frugal Traveler: Driving solo (and on a budget) from Nova Scotia to Montreal. "Cucumber guy": This TikTok creator shows the many ways to eat the vegetable. Painless pap smears: The F.D.A. recently approved a test that allows women to collect their own samples to screen for cervical cancer, no speculum required. Trends: Wearing shorts to a wedding is no longer forbidden. ADVICE FROM WIRECUTTER The secret to a perfect smash burger When it comes to burgers, I like them one way: smashed. The ultrathin patty offers a wider platform for toppings and maximizes umami flavor. But achieving the perfect smash is easy if — and only if — you have the right equipment. After much trial and error, I've found that a stainless steel grill press is the best tool for the job. And it's not just great for burgers. Use it to make evenly toasted grilled cheeses, griddled cinnamon rolls, crispy asparagus spears, smashed mini potatoes and more. — Maki Yazawas GAME OF THE WEEK Aaron Judge Erin Hooley/Associated Press New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers, M.L.B.: Comparisons to Babe Ruth can feel like sacrilege to baseball fans — especially Yankees fans — but Aaron Judge has earned it. Judge hit his 300th career home run this week, and he did so faster than anyone in baseball history. In fact, he broke two records, hitting 300 in the fewest games (surpassing Ralph Kiner) and the fewest at-bats (surpassing Ruth). The Yankees are having a great season, thanks not only to Judge but also to Juan Soto, who bats just before him in the lineup. One jaw-dropping stat, via The Athletic's Chris Kirschner: Judge and Soto are the most productive Yankees duo since Ruth and Lou Gehrig in 1927. Tomorrow at 7 p.m. on ESPN NOW TIME TO PLAY Here is today's Spelling Bee. Yesterday's pangram was laboratory. Take the news quiz to see how well you followed this week's headlines. And here are today's Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku, Connections and Strands. Thanks for spending part of your weekend with The Times. — Melissa Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Editor: David Leonhardt Deputy Editor: Adam B. Kushner News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti Associate Editor: Lauren Jackson News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for the Morning newsletter from The New York Times, or as part of your New York Times account. To stop receiving The Morning, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018