1989

The year when hype began to explode out of control, as evidenced by the unstoppable Batman. But the best films of the year included some that were considered disappointments at the time, such as James Cameron's epic The Abyss. In fact, that would have been my choice for best film of the year if the director's cut had been the version released to cinemas.

Best Movie: Field of Dreams; Runners-up: The Abyss, Back to the Future Part II, The Little Mermaid, Batman, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Society, The Burbs, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, The Fly II
Best Screenplay: The two Bobs (Back to the Future Part II)
Best Director: James Cameron (The Abyss)
Best Actor: Ed Harris (The Abyss); Runners-up: Michael Keaton (Batman), James Earl Jones (Field of Dreams), Jack Nicholson (Batman), Sean Connery (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade)
Best Actress: Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (The Abyss); Runner-up: Kim Basinger . . . just kidding!
Best Music: Danny Elfman (Batman); Runners-up: Field of Dreams, The Abyss, The Little Mermaid
Best Visual Effects: The Abyss; Runner-up: Back to the Future Part II
Best Makeup: The Fly II
Best Production Design: Batman