2014 saw a lot of incredible movies and it was pretty hard to make a Top 10 list this year again. I think runner-up lists are cheating, but I'll mention a few awesome movies that I think deserve some recognition first.
If you haven't seen the awesome throwback to 80's horror in The Guest, definitely check it out! Speaking of actor Dan Stevens, A Walk Among Tombstones was very underrated. I also thought The Skeleton Twins was pretty fantastic and combining the casts of the two X-Men franchises in X-Men: Days of Future Past was pulled off incredibly well. Also great were Chef and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, for what they were.
Some disappointments? I thought Steve Carell was great in Foxcatcher but I didn't think the movie was quite up to par. Similarly, I think Eddie Redmayne may be a future Oscar winner for his role as Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything, but the movie seemed uneven and lacked depth. Exodus: Gods and Kings gets put into movie jail for the criminal under utilization of stars Aaron Paul and Sigourney Weaver, who both must have had less than five lines.
It's also worth mentioning that there was quite a bit I didn't get a chance to see. Selma, Wild, Still Alice, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (that's a joke) all might have made the list had I seen them. But here's my Top 10 Movies of 2014.
10. Interstellar
I don't think I understand why people didn't enjoy this movie more. Sure, I admit that it wasn't quite as good as director Christopher Nolan's last non-Batman movie Inception. But there's a lot going on here that I think make it worthy of the 10 spot. From an impressive cast (look out for the cameo of the year here) to some great plot twists, Interstellar kept you on the edge of your seat. The stakes of the characters' actions in this movie literally can't be higher - they're looking to save humankind by finding another planet that would sustain human life. But the concept of time on Earth speeding by while our characters are in space delivered some truly heart-breaking moments. While the conclusion felt somewhat contrived, I thought Interstellar was definitely entertaining.
9. The Imitation Game
I didn't know much about real-life mathematician Alan Turing before watching The Imitation Game, but I'm glad I learned more about him. The man is credited with ending World War II about two years early and saving countless lives by cracking Germany's Enigma code. And who better to play the socially awkward computer scientist than Benedict Cumberbatch? So far, the man can do no wrong and with more starring roles like this, I see many Oscar nominations in his future. I also have to give props to first-time feature writer Graham Moore, who somehow managed to blend some truly funny moments into this unbelievably upsetting story. I don't want to spoil anything, but the way the world treated Turing after the war is truly despicable.
8. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Is anyone else wondering when Marvel is going to screw up one of these movies? Some have definitely been a bit weaker (Thor 2), but they have yet to put out a bad movie post Iron Man in 2008. Fortunately, we received two great Marvel additions this year. The first was this one, which saw Chris Evans return in a solo Captain America adventure after the big superhero team-up in The Avengers. This time Cap is assisted by Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow (who is put to much better use here) and newcomer to the series Anthony Mackie as Falcon. Marvel continues with the Oscar-caliber casting as well with the welcome addition of Robert Redford as a mysterious senior S.H.I.E.L.D. official. With the stakes higher and more personal, this sequel was a home-run. With 103 upcoming movies on their plate, I again ask, can Marvel do no wrong?
7. Snowpiercer
Speaking of Chris Evans, his other 2014 film Snowpiercer lands at the #7 spot. Based on the French graphic novel Le Transperceneige, Snowpiercer was the most visually striking and creative movie of 2014. If you haven't seen it, the only thing you need to know is that it takes place entirely on a moving train, where the last of Earth's inhabitants have gathered to stay alive after another ice age. There's a very distinct class system and the poor inhabitants have been relegated to the tail section to live in horrid conditions while the others thrive at the front. As the movie opens, the tail section has had enough and have decided to take the train. What happens next is two hours of incredibly choreographed action by the writer and director of popular South Korean film The Host. I also have to specifically call out Tilda Swinton for her portrayal of one of my favorite characters of 2014.
6. Nightcrawler
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the year was this film, from the brothers that brought us The Bourne Legacy movies. While those movies are great action movies, they definitely didn't contain the depth and emotion that Nightcrawler does. Jake Gylenhaal stars as Lou Bloom, a man so desperate for work (and attention) that he throws himself into the world of Los Angeles crime journalism. The film feels extremely topical - where is the ethical line that you don't cross in a world of networks competing for ratings to survive? An emaciated Gylenhaal is incredible as 2014's creepiest character Lou Bloom. And where the hell is Rene Russo been? She's also great as a cutthroat news producer. There's a scene between them late in the movie where they both struggle to have control over their business arrangement. It's fantastic.
5. Birdman
CAW! Birdman may be one of the front-runners for the Best Picture Oscar, but it came up a little short to put any higher than #5 for me. Even so, I consider Birdman the greatest technical achievement in film in a year that also had a movie whose production spanned over a decade. Filmed in incredibly long-takes by Babel director Alejandro González Iñárritu, it's almost unbelievable how much the cast and crew are able to accomplish before the camera cuts. It's almost like watching a play, as the incredibly talented cast (especially Edward Norton and Emma Stone) recite epic lines without the aid of camera cuts. In my opinion, however, the movie wouldn't be what it was without Michael Keaton. The man behind Beetlejuice (and the second greatest Batman) gives an incredible comeback performance. Birdman's truly a masterclass in writing, directing, and acting.
4. Gone Girl
"When I think of my wife, I always think of the back of her head. I
picture cracking her lovely skull, unspooling her brain, trying to get
answers." It's really crazy how much of a different meaning the opening lines of the film have by the end. I went into Gone Girl completely clean, having never read the book of the same name or even hearing much about it. And I think that's how everyone should see the movie if possible, as the mid-movie twist really blew my mind. Was it plausible? Definitely not and you could punch some pretty big holes in the plot. But it made for a really wild ride - one that will ensure I NEVER get married. Once again director David Fincher has made a gripping drama with an all-star cast. I also hope composers Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor (of Nine Inch Nails) never stop working with him as this combination continues to be awesome.
3. Guardians of the Galaxy
Movie studios take note - the most fun movie of the year contained no "bankable" actors (at least not seen on screen), a relatively untested director, and was based on a comic series that mainstream America had never heard of. Marvel took its biggest gamble yet with Guardians of the Galaxy, but it paid off big time. Although it takes place in the same cinematic universe as The Avengers, Guardians is like it's crazier and funnier younger cousin. Led by Chris Pratt (Parks and Rec), Guardian's cast on paper probably shouldn't work. Who could have guessed that WWE wrestler Dave Bautista (who has never really acted before) would wind up stealing scenes from the others? Or that Bradley Cooper would make such a hilarious talking raccoon? Guardians of the Galaxy was an awesome time at the movies and here's hoping we get many more installments!
2. Boyhood
Surprised that Boyhood only ended up at #2? I am too! Perhaps any other year this would have been my favorite, but there was one film that edged it out. It's still an unbelievably fantastic movie though. Filmed over 12 years, Boyhood follows the life of Mason (newcomer Ellar Coltrane) from age 5 to age 18. The fact that this film was in production for over a decade, with the cast and crew returning each year to shoot for a week or two, is unbelievable. Only a director as talented as Richard Linklater would be able to attempt something like this. Imagine all the things that could have gone wrong in twelve years of production! Although this is a movie that highlights some of the more mundane moments in life, I found it fascinating to watch a normal kid grow up over the course of the movie and face problems we all face. I'm not sure if it's because I'm a fellow kid of the 90's (Mason's only a few years younger), but I found it incredibly relatable.
1. Whiplash
Want to press play and watch 107 minutes of intensity on screen? Then Whiplash is the movie for you. Written and directed by newcomer Damien Chaezelle, Whiplash stars Miles Teller (of The Spectacular Now and the upcoming Fantastic Four reboot) as a promising young drummer at a cutthroat music conservatory program. What sounds like a somewhat cliche movie ends up being the most original of its kind. You know that actor J.K. Simmons? The man that's put in some really great supporting performances? Well here he's finally given a chance to headline and he pulls off the greatest acting of the year. He's intensity personified on screen. You won't be able to take your eyes off of him and you're terrified for what he might do next. Trust me, this is a performance and a movie that you have to see to believe. Don't miss it.
And those were my favorite movies of last year! Hit the comments and let me know what yours were!
-Jared
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