The 10 Best Movies of 1989
1. Do the Right Thing: In his finest film yet, Spike Lee boldly provoked debate on the roots of racial violence.
2. Sex, Lies, And Videotape: Writer-director Steven Soderbergh scored the debut of the year with three hot topics.
3. Roger & Me: Michael Moore’s incisively witty documentary took on the corporate arrogance of General Motors.
4. Crimes and Misdemeanors: Woody Allen skewered Eighties morality in a movie in which every joke has a sting.
5. Henry V: Like Olivier before him, actor-director Kenneth Branagh brought Shakespeare alive for his time.
6. Enemies, A Love Story: Paul Mazursky’s vivid comedy-drama found romance among Holocaust survivors.
7. My Left Foot: Director Jim Sheridan and actor Daniel Day Lewis uncovered a crippled artist’s passion for life.
8. The War of the Roses: With devilish skill, Danny DeVito directed a perversely cheerful comedy of divorce.
9. Heathers: Michael Lehmann’s Blue Velvety satire on teen suicide made for a seductive blend of fun and fright.
10. Batman: The hype couldn’t dim the scary glee of Jack Nicholson’s Joker or the grandeur of Tim Burton’s vision.