DAILY DIRT: ‘Clueless’ headlines Steve’s list of best 90s films, but …

Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 968 of The Daily Dirt.

1. We’ve reached the 1990s in our five-part look at the best films in what we’ve labeled the modern golden age of cinema.

Heading into today, I feel the 1980s’ offerings have been the strongest overall. Let’s see what the ’90s bring us before we wrap things up on Tuesday with our composite top 10 from that marvelous era covering 1960-99.

The 1990s

• 1. “Clueless” (1995): This was the perfect coming-of-age comedy (well, if you lived in upper-class southern California), complete with language, wardrobe and attitude. The film was centered around Alicia Silverstone’s character known as Cher, but it was an exquisite supporting cast (Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy, Paul Rudd) that helped put the movie over the top. 
• 2. “Schindler’s List” (1993): For me, this is Steven Spielberg’s finest film. This movie, centered around the Holocaust, should be required viewing for every person at some point in his or her life.
• 3. “Titanic” (1997): This James Cameron film might have the finest ending of any movie in the 40-year period we have been dealing with in recent days. 
• 4. “Four Weddings and a Funeral” (1994): You know that feeling at the end of a movie when you think to yourself, “Man, that was good!” This is one of those films, featuring Hugh Grant at his finest.
• 5. “Saving Private Ryan” (1998): A great, great war film … and so much more.
• 6. “Jerry Maguire” (1996): Show me THE MONEY!
• 7. “The Blair Witch Project” (1999): Black and white. No blood and guts. But one of the scariest movies of this particular era. 
• 8. “Pretty Woman” (1990): The was the film that helped elevate Julia Roberts to superstar status.
• 9. “Last of the Mohicans” (1992): Not only did it have two of my favorite performers, Daniel Day Lewis and Madeleine Stowe, I love those action movies set in Colonial times.
• 10. “JFK” (1991): We’ll never know the entire truth surrounding the JFK assassination, but this film will have you examining some areas of concern you might not have considered — especially at the time it was released. 

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Ahem… JRG

• “A Few Good Men” (1992): Steve couldn’t handle the truth about how good this movie was and obviously forgot it.
• “Tombstone” (1993): Steve’s no daisy. He’s no daisy at all. Guess I’ll have to call down the thunder.
• “The Birdcage” (1996): Robin Williams and Nathan Lane are hilarious as the gay couple and their Miami drag club.
• “The Sandlot” (1993): You’re killing me, Steve.
• “A League of Their Own” (1992): How does Steve leave off two baseball movies?
• “Apollo 13” (1995): Houston, Steve has a problem.
• “Forrest Gump” (1994): Not sure why Steve didn’t include these two Tom Hanks classics, but it’s tough because he dominated the 90s. Best decade by an actor ever.

2. Did you know (Part 28)

• That you have 11 years added to your prison sentence in California if you intentionally fart on a prison guard.
• That the Mexican drug cartels are the country’s fifth-largest employer at more than 175,000 people.
• That the top country songs on the radio 30 years ago today were: “Don’t Take The Girl” by Tim McGraw, “That Ain’t No Way To Go” by Brooks & Dunn, “How Can I Help You Say Good-bye” by Patty Loveless and “I Wish I Didn’t Know Now” by Toby Keith. 
• That Martin Luther King Jr. and Anne Frank would be the same age today if they were still alive.
• That DisneyWorld is the second-largest purchaser of explosives in the United States. The U.S. Department of Defense is No. 1.

3. Here’s our latest MLB rankings as we move deeper into the second third of the season:

The best

• 1. Philadelphia Phillies: The team without any serious weakness.
• 2. New York Yankees: As good as the Phillies are (and should continue to be), remember the Yanks will likely have ace Gerrit Cole back in about a month and no one will be able to touch them in the American League.
• 3. Los Angeles Dodgers: Is there a better three-pronged punch in any other lineup that can rival Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman?
• 4. Cleveland Guardians: If the Guards play just .500 the best of the season, they’ll win 90 games, which should be a lock to reach the playoffs.
• 5. Baltimore Orioles: Is shortstop Gunnar Henderson the most exciting player in the American League?

The worst

• 1. Chicago White Sox: The White Sox have truly reached the status of “embarrassing”.
• 2. Colorado Rockies: Maybe it’s just me, but the Rockies appear even worse than they actually are when they wear those ridiculous City Connect uniforms.
• 3. New York Mets: Ah yes, the best team money can buy, right?
• 4. Los Angeles Angels: Give these guys another month. I think the (in)ability is there to make a run at the Chisox for No. 1.
• 5. Oakland Athletics: Of the really bad MLB teams, these guys have arguably made some great strides this year. They may even avoid 100 losses, which would be borderline remarkable.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — I thought Alicia Silverstone was destined for superstardom following “Clueless”. Guess I was wrong.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. He’s wrong about many things.