A Year in Review: Terry's Top 10 Films of 2014

I have a rule that I have developed over the last couple years.  I will not publish my top ten films of the year until I have at least seen all of the Oscar Best Picture nominees.  With the busy schedule I keep, this usually means I don't catch all of them until they are all out to rent or buy.  This week I finally saw the last of 2014's eight nominees (and I am glad I did as that last film made my top ten, but more on that later).  I am just happy I am able to put this list out before we reach the midpoint of 2015 ... barely.

Of the 37 movies I have seen from 2014, I gave seven 4 star ratings.  That is my lowest total of 4 stars since 2006.  There were not many great films, but I will say there were a whole lot of good films.  I may have only given seven 4 star ratings, but I also only gave seven ratings under 3 stars.  That is partially because, with a busy schedule, I am very selective in what films I see.  However, I also think there was a lot of quality.  Maybe not high quality, but quality nonetheless.  Anyways, here is the list.

Honorable Mention

Life Itself

Foxcatcher

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

A Most Violent Year

10.  Edge of Tomorrow

(dir. by Doug Liman)

I don't know how, but it feels like recently the phrase "Tom Cruise Movie" has become synonymous with mediocrity.  I honestly don't know how.  Outside of a couple duds (which, let's face it, everyone has), Cruise has been a steady and bankable action star especially recently with films like Jack Reacher, Oblivion, and the Mission Impossible franchise.  Edge of Tomorrow might be the best of the group.  It truly feels like a throwback action film that is just fun from start to finish.  Cruise and Emily Blunt are great as the two heroes out to save the world.  This is a strange action mix of Groundhog Day and Source Code as Cruise continually relives the same day that he always dies at the end of.  With each new reliving of that same day, he learns a little more about what he has to do to save the world, as he goes from clueless desk jockey to ultimate action hero.  My only two complaints with the film are the title and the timing.  The original title of Live. Die. Repeat. was such a better title for this film.  The timing was another issue I had.  Tom Cruise was just a little too old for this role.  If this had been made about 10 years ago (or with a different lead), it would have potentially been even better.  I can't complain too much about Tom Cruise though.  I would just love to see him throw in a few more critically acclaimed roles that could get him in awards talk again, but I don't see that happening in the near future.  As long as the quality stays up, I don't mind.

9.  Begin Again

(dir. by John Carney)

Possibly my favorite film of the last decade was Once, a small, simple love story with music at the center.  So when I heard director John Carney would be exploring a similar story with Begin Again, it quickly became one of my most anticipated films of the year.  I knew it would be different with big names like Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Adam Levine, Hailee Steinfeld, Mos Def, and Catherine Keener (a far cry from Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova) being involved.  It definitely wasn't on the same level of Once, but it was very good in its own way.  Although the characters and details of the story are different, the basic stories of the two films are the same.  Two people develop an incredible bond with the help of music that forces each of them to reevaluate and reassess their lives.  The performances are great, the music is great, the film is great.

8.  Birdman

(dir. by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu)

I hate putting this film on my list, and it has nothing to do with the film itself.  It had no business winning Best Picture!  However, with that said, Birdman is very good in its own way.  It is such a strange and bizarre film to get the attention it got.  A movie star haunted (quite literally) by his career-defining role tries to reinvent himself through the theater.  It's a simple premise, but nothing about the execution is simple and conventional which is what makes this film endlessly interesting and engaging.  There are two things I love about this movie and one thing I hate.  First, I love the way it is shot.  Sure, there are several camera tricks involved, but it appears to be one continuous shot from start to finish of this movie.  We marvel at the brilliance of one continuous shot that will last 5 minutes or so in other films.  This is one continuous shot for a whole film!  Second, many of the actors seem to be playing slightly slanted (or dare I say ... almost sideways?) versions of themselves.  Michael Keaton plays a washed-out actor known for playing a superhero that is trying to resurrect his career.  Michael Keaton IS a washed-out actor known for playing a superhero that is trying to resurrect his career.  Edward Norton plays a neurotic method actor that everyone loves on stage but hates off stage.  Edward Norton IS a neurotic method actor that everyone loves on stage but hates off stage!!!  Add to that performances by Emma Stone and Naomi Watts that also don't stray too far from reality, and you have a cast playing with their own lives.  This could have been a lot higher on this list if it weren't for the ending.  I hated the ending.  The movie goes about 5 minutes too long.  Chop off that ending, and I would be a little more okay with this film winning Best Picture.  Never mind ... I will never be okay with this winning Best Picture.

7.  The Imitation Game

(dir. by Morten Tyldum)

This biopic is a story I feel has been told before.  In fact, there were two biopics (The Theory of Everything being the other) nominated for Best Picture this year that basically tell the same story.  This one just tells it a lot better.  The obvious comparison for these films about genius minds tortured from within is 2001's A Beautiful Mind, which is an all-time favorite of mine (RIP John and Alicia Nash).  Although The Imitation Game is nowhere near A Beautiful Mind, it is its own type of brilliance as the story plays out quite differently from its doppelganger.  Alan Turing is a genius mind obsessed with puzzles that is given the task of breaking the Nazi coding system during World War II.  With the help of his companions, played by the likes of Keira Knightley and Matthew Goode, he creates the first computer to do it.  All the time, he is haunted by the fact that he is homosexual, something that was illegal in England at the time.  I love watching brilliant minds solve puzzles.  It is one of the things that makes A Beautiful Mind so great.  However, what makes this film unique and special in its own way is Turing's "demon."  It is so different than any of the other similar films because of society's view of homosexuality then, society's view of homosexuality now, and ultimately, how the story is shaped by these perspectives.  It is a fascinating story that, much like John Nash, is one that needed to be told.

6.  The Lego Movie

(dir. by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller)

This movie was just plain fun.  Whoever came up with this idea is a genius.  From the very beginning, you realize this would be a movie unlike any other you have seen.  At no point does the LEGO-ness feel like a gimmick.  It stays fresh from start to finish in a way few films are able to accomplish.  All this can be said about many films, but what makes this one special is the ending.  The heart comes out at the end in a way changes your perspective on the whole film.  It gives this silly little LEGO movie meaning and purpose that puts it on par with the Toy Story franchise in how it can relate to multiple age groups on multiple levels.  To paraphrase it's Oscar nominated song, everything was awesome.

5.  Whiplash

(dir. by Damien Chazelle)

As a musician and a teacher, this film automatically appealed to me on a different level.  However, I was not fully prepared for the chaotic ride this film takes you on.  Miles Teller plays an ambitious young drummer looking to impress the dictatorial (emphasis on "dic(k)") band director played by J.K. Simmons.  Simmons's character seems to be never satisfied simply for the sake of never being satisfied.  His search for approval drives the young pupil to the brink of insanity.  Watching this train wreck spiral out of control is sad, frustrating, inspiring, exhausting, and absolutely enthralling.  This film also produced my favorite quote of the year.  "The two worst words in the English language are 'good job.'"

4.  American Sniper

(dir. by Clint Eastwood)

This was the last of the Best Picture nominees I needed to see to make this list, and I am so glad I waited for it.  Bradley Cooper plays real life Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, the deadliest sniper in American military history.  This film basically becomes a sniper version of 2009's The Hurt Locker, as it tells of the troubled life of a successful military man in the middle of the most recent conflicts in the Middle East.  While Kathryn Bigelow's masterpiece focuses more on the exploits of the deployment, Clint Eastwood's masterpiece focuses much more on the struggle it is to come home.  Being a successful soldier does not necessarily translate to being a successful member of society.  Kyle's wife, played brilliantly by Sienna Miller, learns this fact the hard way as Chris struggles to turn off the instincts that make him such a great soldier.  What makes this so perfect is the subtlety it deals with the subject.  It addresses it without ever really talking about it.  Bradley Cooper gives the best performance of his already impressive career as he is becoming one of the best actors of his generation.

3.  Gone Girl

(dir. by David Fincher)

Some directors just know how to make a certain genre.  With Martin Scorsese, it is mobster drama.  With Quentin Tarantino, it is dialogue driven homage.  With David Fincher, it is crime drama.  From Se7en to The Game to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Fincher has shown time and time again that he is the master of this domain.  Gone Girl is the latest to enter his canon, and it belongs solidly on his list of masterpieces.  Ben Affleck plays a troubled and shady character who is trying not to become a suspect in his wife's disappearance and possible murder.  This really feels like several different films thrown into one, as you are not really sure what is going on until halfway through the film.  Rosamund Pike gives a performance that should finally make her a household name.  Supporting characters played by Neil Patrick Harris, Carrie Coon, and Tyler Perry (yes, that Tyler Perry) round out a truly perfect cast.  This film leaves you guessing from start to finish at what is really going on, and it never seems to be what is expected.  It truly is Fincher at his best.

2.  Selma

(dir. by Ava DuVernay)

What an important story this is to tell, and what an important time to tell it.  Selma tells the inspiring story of Martin Luther King, Jr. leading his peaceful, non-violent march from Selma, Alabama to the state capital of Montgomery.  Led by David Oyelowo as MLK, this film does the very difficult task of blurring the lines between dramatization and reality.  You forget at times that you are not watching this happen live instead of watching a movie made 50 years later.  This film stirred so many emotions for me.  First, the story itself is so inspiring.  To see a group of people mistreated so universally by those around them, and to see a reaction come from such a place of strength and bravery is one of the greatest tales of the human condition I have seen in some time.  However, it also forces me to look at our current culture now and the issues with discrimination that have emerged once again.  People on every side of the current argument could learn from a film like Selma.  It is illogical to hate someone on the basis of something someone can't choose, like skin color.  However, whether any action is spurned by race or not, the other main lesson that can be learned from Selma is the way you fight violence towards minorities is through the strength of non-violence that Dr. King showed on that bridge leaving Selma.  How badly this generation needs their own Martin Luther King, Jr....

1.  Boyhood

(dir. by Richard Linklater)

With the strength of all the films on this list, there was no question what the top film on this list would be.  I cannot remember a movie-going experience quite like seeing Richard Linklater's Boyhood.  That is exactly what seeing this movie is too: an experience.  This film tells the story of growing up over a 12 year period.  The movie was filmed in short episodes with one being shot every year for 12 years.  We truly see the characters grow up.  This could have easily become just a gimmick of the film, but it truly worked and told a story from start to finish.  The best part was the story was very subtle, much like growing up actually is.  This is a film everyone needs to see.  It is a landmark achievement in filmmaking that should go down in history with some of the all-time greats.  It tells the story of a generation because, honestly, it took that long to make it.  It is one of the best films to come out in some time and will set a standard for films moving forward.

7th Annual AlmostSideways Oscar Challenge

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Year in Review: Top 10 Films of 2014

2014 was a lot like previous years in that there were an abundance of great films, but truly transcendent ones, not so much (only three 4-star movies). 2012 was absolutely the closest relative to 2014 in that way. The best films of the year were really great, but I still found myself hoping that they would be surpassed by some surprise films that came out of nowhere, but we can’t always be so lucky. In 2012, I had to wait until a mid March 2013 video release of a foreign film to find the best film of 2012 (Holy Motors). In 2011, it was all the way until June 2012 before I saw Margaret. It is frustrating that 95% of cities never get to see them on the big screen, but that is just the way of the industry.

Many of my most anticipated movies such as Child 44, Midnight Special, 99 Homes, the Cameron Crowe movie, and the Terrence Malick movies all got pushed back. While We’re Young, Trash, and Love & Mercy seemingly never surfaced. This just reminds us that even the most talented and successful indie directors do not always get the benefit of the doubt and get distribution, which is really unfortunate. I am sure that their eventual summer video release will give them a nice run on Netflix or wherever, but they are never going to get the audience and attention that they most likely deserve. Oh well… I digress.

I really did enjoy 2014, though. A little teaser: for the 2^nd time ever (and 1^st time in 62 years), a director has back-to-back #1 films of the year for me [Preston Sturges; Sullivan’s Travels (1941), The Palm Beach Story (1942)]. Without further ado, here are 2014’s best achievements in film:

Films seen: 99

Thumbs up percentage: 55.56%

Actor of the year: Mark Ruffalo (Begin Again, Infinitely Polar Bear, Foxcatcher, The Normal Heart)

Actress of the year: Julianne Moore (Non-Stop, Maps to the Stars, Still Alice, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1)

Best Actor: Miles Teller – Whiplash, Jake Gyllenhaal – Nightcrawler, Brendan Gleeson – Calvary, Macon Blair – Blue Ruin, Joaquin Phoenix – Inherent Vice

Best Actress: Emmanuelle Seigner – Venus in Fur, Kristen Wiig – The Skeleton Twins, Scarlett Johansson – Under the Skin, Lika Babluani – In Bloom, Felicity Jones – The Theory of Everything

Best Supporting Actor: J.K. Simmons – Whiplash, Edward Norton – Birdman, Robert Pattinson – The Rover, Ethan Hawke – Boyhood, Takamasa Ishihara – Unbroken

Best Supporting Actress: Uma Thurman – Nymphomaniac: Vol. 1, Patricia Arquette – Boyhood, Sienna Miller – American Sniper, Mireille Enos – Sabotage, Carrie Coon – Gone Girl

Best Original Screenplay: Birdman, Nightcrawler, Boyhood, In Bloom, Calvary

Best Adapted Screenplay: Whiplash, Gone Girl, Jersey Boys, Inherent Vice, We Are the Best!

Best ensemble casts: Birdman, Fury, Inherent Vice, Gone Girl, Boyhood
Most underrated film: Jersey Boys

Most overrated film: Interstellar

Biggest surprise: Chef

Biggest disappointment: Sin City: A Dame to Kill For

Best sequel: The Raid 2

Great indie films that no one saw: Blue Ruin, Cold in July, The Guest, In Bloom, Joe

Bottom five of the year (from bad to worst): That Awkward Moment, This Is Where I Leave You, Blended, Draft Day, Gambit

Most anticipated unseen films: Boulevard, Coming Home, The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, Goodbye to Language, Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter, Life Itself, A Most Violent Year, Mr. Turner, Selma, Two Days, One Night, White Bird in a Blizzard, Wild, Winter Sleep

Others receiving votes: Calvary, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Gone Girl, The Raid 2, We Are the Best!

10. Foxcatcher (directed by Bennett Miller)

Kicking off the list is a movie that was among my most anticipated since I first saw the trailer in summer 2013. With every month that went by, my anticipation grew. Somehow, it met my expectations and exceeded them in some ways. The movie is the true story of Jon du Pont (Steve Carell), a millionaire who sponsors the Foxcatcher wrestling team for the Olympics in 1988. The union that he has with Mark Shultz (Channing Tatum) and mentor/brother David (Mark Ruffalo) becomes increasingly complicated and leads to tragedy. Director Bennett Miller has now made three films that were so in touch with their tone and real life characters that they have gotten high praise from all circuits. Watching Foxcatcher is not pleasant, but it is something that the audience will have a hard time forgetting. The performances will get under your skin, and the mood will leave you greatly unsettled and stunned. It is a special film and will only get better with age.

 

Personal Nominations/Wins: Best Original Screenplay (#5; Birdman), Best Ensemble Cast (#4; Birdman)

9. Big Bad Wolves (directed by Aharon Keshales, Navot Papushado)

Thank you Mr. Tarantino for proclaiming that this was the best film he saw in 2013. Like many other movie buffs, when QT recommends something, I see it. I would likely have never come across this movie otherwise. It is a brutal and thrilling little film from Israel about a string of murders that cause a collision course with the father of the latest victim (Tzahi Grad), a vigilante cop (Lior Ashkenazi), and the main suspect in the case (Rotem Keinan). Much of the movie takes place in a basement with just these three characters trying to hash out exactly what is going on along with the audience. The movie is filled with twists and turns, none of which are too far-fetched or artificial. It is the best foreign crime drama of the year, a title that might not seem like much, but for someone who watches them constantly, that is a real achievement. Other than perhaps David Fincher, Hollywood does not have a director who consistently makes great crime dramas like this. They are all overseas.

 

Personal Nominations/Wins: Best Foreign Language Film (#2; In Bloom)

8. Snowpiercer (directed by Joon-ho Bong)

When Korean director Joon-ho Bong gets a movie made, I pay attention. Each of his last four films have wound up in or approaching my top 10, including my #1 film of 2005 (Memories of Murder). He is a master of suspense and complex characters. With Snowpiercer, we got his first effort in the English language, and not an ounce of his appeal or intensity was lost. The Snowpiercer is a train that represents the last of civilization. A climate experiment left most of the earth frozen over, so the speeding train is all that remains. What makes this different than any other runaway train film is the politics. A class system is developed on the Snowpiercer, and it becomes more and more evident that this is just a small representation of the current earth, just with a more extreme and small-scale scope. A couple Bong regulars (Kang-ho Song, Ah-sung Ko) have parts, but it is the work that Bong is able to get out of Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton, among others that is really impressive. I hope that he can become the next Ang Lee and really take over the title of being the best Asian director in the world, but we will see. More people need to be exposed to this, The Host, Memories of Murder, Tokyo, and Mother for that to happen.

 

Personal Nominations/Wins: Best Cinematography (#4; Under the Skin), Best Sound Effects Editing (#3; The Raid 2)

7. The Guest (directed by Adam Wingard)

At first glance, this movie might not seem like much. As the movie begins, it doesn’t seem like much more. Maybe it really isn’t supposed to be. However, as the movie went along, violent scene after violent scene, twist after twist, I became hooked. The movie is about a soldier named David (Dan Stevens), who shows up at a family’s house claiming to be a friend from the military of their son who recently was killed in action. The more we see, the more clear that there is something sinister about David and his past. Bodies begin to pile up, as does the suspense. This is not a horror movie, although that description might imply that. The story is really in that Labor Day subgenre, but it has the panache of Nicolas Winging Refn and the visual style and queues of John Carpenter. It is absolutely a throwback, and I really had a hard time getting it out of my head. Pulling a movie like this off is really difficult since the audience really has to buy in and care enough to not write it off as unrealistic. It is fairly absurd, but then again, so was Breaking Bad. There are moments when the two are comparable. I could ramble on more, but just trust me. Find a way to see this. You will not regret it…I hope?

 

Personal Nominations/Wins: Best Sound Mixing (#2; Whiplash), Best Editing (#5; Boyhood), Best Original Score (#1)

6. In Bloom (directed by Nana Ekvtimishvili, Simon Groß)

It always seems like there is one obscure foreign film that I see every year that ends up on my top 10, and for 2014, it was absolutely In Bloom, a coming-of-age film from Georgia. It is the story of Eka (Lika Babluani) and Natia (Mariam Bokeria), two young girls who are constantly trying to break away from society and their overbearing family lives. It has a lot of 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days in it, as well as the visual style of A Separation. Coming from a couple first time directors and starring two young actresses giving their film debuts, it is really an astonishing feat to make a film this passionate and polished. It portrays coming-of-age and sexual awakening with as much authenticity as possible. For films like this, one of the best compliments you can give is that it feels like a documentary, and that is absolutely true of In Bloom. There is not a false note in it, and it is one of the most rewarding experiences I had watching a film in 2014.

 

Personal Nominations/Wins: Best Actress – Lika Babluani (#4; Emmanuelle Seigner), Best Original Screenplay (#4; Birdman), Best Foreign Language Film (#1)

5. Nightcrawler (directed by Dan Gilroy)

Nightcrawler represents the biggest surprise hit of the year. Think about it: a movie called “Nightcrawler” being one of the undisputed best movies of the year. It’s crazy, but it’s true. Jake Gyllenhaal gives the performance of his life in the lead role as Louis Bloom, a criminal who stumbles upon his calling, which is being a freelance crime scene photographer. He combines his street smarts with his obsessive and psychotic attitude to become the class of the very defined subculture and constantly shocks the other characters and audience with his behavior. First-time director Dan Gilroy outdoes himself with Nightcrawler. It is the best representation of Los Angeles at night since Crash. The movie blends elements of Dexter, Chinatown, Taxi Driver, and Drive to pull out every thrill and thought-provoking aspect imaginable. Throughout the movie, the audience is just spellbound and hoping that it never takes a misstep. It doesn’t. It is a special movie and one that will define 2014 in time.

 

Personal Nominations/Wins: Best Picture (#5), Best Actor – Jake Gyllenhaal (#2; Miles Teller), Best Director (#5; Richard Linklater), Best Original Screenplay (#2; Birdman), Best Editing (#2; Boyhood)

4. Whiplash (directed by Damien Chazelle)

Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash might very well be the best movie of the year. More than any other in 2014, this movie I could not forget. It was stuck in my head for days after first viewing, and with another, I might just have to put it at the top of this list. Miles Teller plays Andrew, an aspiring drummer with all the talent and motivation in the world. J.K. Simmons is Fletcher, the tough-as-nails instructor who pushes his students to the point of breakdown in order to achieve his musical vision. Both actors are at the top of their game and give the two best performances of 2014. Chazelle’s direction is furious, and the editing is as relentless as any movie I have ever seen. The movie has the grit and visual fury of a Darren Aronofsky movie, particularly Black Swan. It gets under your skin and stays there. Teller makes us care about Andrew, even though he is not all that likable. Chazelle hits us over the head and leaves the audience with a feeling similar to the title, and it is hard to recover. It is the best Sundance winner since American Splendor in 2003.

 

Personal Nominations/Wins: Best Picture (#4), Best Actor – Miles Teller (#1), Best Supporting Actor – J.K. Simmons (#1), Best Director (#4; Richard Linklater), Best Adapted Screenplay (#1), Best Sound Mixing (#1), Best Editing (#4; Boyhood)

3. Jersey Boys (directed by Clint Eastwood)

Go ahead, roll your eyes. I am not even a fan of musicals in general, but something about this movie about the rise of The Four Seasons in the 1960s really got to me. Eastwood directs it with such flair and beauty that you would think that it was a Scorsese picture. It is a mob drama on top of a music biopic. The performances are all top notch, particularly stage performer John Lloyd Young as lead singer Frankie Valli and veteran Christopher Walken in his scene-stealing supporting role. The movie is simply the most entertaining couple hours of the year, which is saying quite a lot. The music is outstanding, but that is not limited to the actual music scenes. It is a soundtrack to die for. It has the token Eastwood winks to Hollywood and other media, and it ends the story correctly and fully, like all of his films. Nobody loved this movie as much as I did, but I stand by it. It is in the argument with Yankee Doodle Dandy, Sid & Nancy, and Control for the title of the greatest music biopic of all time and is easily the best Eastwood movie of 2014, despite what audiences (and Oscar/any voters) may think.

 

Personal Nominations/Wins: Best Picture (#3), Best Director (#3; Richard Linklater), Best Adapted Screenplay (#3; Whiplash), Best Cinematography (#5; Under the Skin), Best Art Direction (#4; The Grand Budapest Hotel)

2. Birdman (directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu)

I really loved this movie. It was my prediction to win Best Picture back in March, and it is right there in the forefront of the Oscar race still. Upon hearing the premise, it was my most anticipated movie of the year. It sounded so bizarre and cool, but filmed by the most depressing director on the planet. It basically lived up to that as well as the hype. It is about a washed-up actor who once played a superhero and never got out of its typecasting. Riggan Thomson/Michael Keaton is that actor. He is trying to put on a stage play, while trying to balance family issues and conflicts with his costar Mike (Edward Norton). The movie is really funny, but it is also extremely dark and true. Few movies get the backstage life quite like this movie does. The actors are all up to the challenge of a film that is essentially one continuous shot, especially Norton, Keaton, and Emma Stone, all receiving nominations. There is something very Black Swan-ish in this movie as well. It blends the real with the surreal, making the audience really question exactly what they are seeing. Give the writers and editors credit here. To make this movie this way is a remarkable achievement. It burns in the memory. There is nothing like it.

 

Personal Nominations/Wins: Best Picture (#2), Best Supporting Actor – Edward Norton (#2; J.K. Simmons), Best Director (#2; Richard Linklater), Best Original Screenplay (#1), Best Cinematography (#3; Under the Skin), Best Makeup (#3; Under the Skin), Best Original Score (#4; The Guest), Best Ensemble Cast (#1)

1. Boyhood (directed by Richard Linklater)

Surprise, surprise. The best movie of the year is actually being hailed as such. Richard Linklater is officially a top five director working today. With his “Before” series, he won our hearts over and broke them, never straying from the flawless standard that he set. Here, he had a much larger leap of faith, not simply having nine years to go from film to film, but he had a short amount of time to shape his characters year by year, continuously filming for twelve. The end result is near impossible. It is the most rewarding movie-going experience I can remember. The movie centers on Mason (Ellar Coltrane), who ages on screen and before our eyes. Skipping ahead a year never seems out-of-place or forced. It is just the gradual progression of life, life looking back at a photo album and connecting the dots. The scenes we don’t see are vaguely explained, but for some reason we just know. Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette, and Lorelei Linklater add to the astonishing and daring cast that really make us believe and feel what the characters do. It is hard to not see some of yourself in all of the characters. It is like watching a documentation of an actual family, but only seeing the highlights, the important parts of childhood and parenthood. I cannot fully express what this movie means to me in words, but I can say for certain that it is an experience that I have never had before, and while it is approaching three hours, it does not feel nearly that long, yet if feels like we have known the characters our whole lives. It is a near-flawless motion picture and clearly, almost without debate, the #1 movie of 2014.

 

Personal Nominations/Wins: Best Picture (#1), Best Supporting Actor – Ethan Hawke (#4; J.K. Simmons), Best Supporting Actress – Patricia Arquette (#2; Uma Thurman), Best Director (#1), Best Original Screenplay (#3; Birdman), Best Editing (#1), Best Ensemble Cast (#5; Birdman)

Thoughts? Your top 10? What are you surprised didn’t make my list? Let me know in the comments!

A Year in Review:Adams Top Movies of 2014

2014 has come an gone!  Its amazing how fast the year went too!  This year was so amazing I witnessed the birth of my beautiful baby girl and I got engaged to an amazing woman.  Also, I was able to be a part of a great group of fellow movie fans, and write my thoughts for all of you!  For that I say THANK YOU!  2014, brought us highs (Boyhood, Guardians of the Galaxy, Birdman, Whiplash) and some lows (Tammy, Oculus, Tusk, Transcendence), but over all, it was a great year for film.  I was introduced to a lot more indie and foreign films and I realized that I was missing out on a whole new realm of story telling. We all also witness the best movie that come out, was only 80 seconds long!!!  After waiting a long time we were given several new trailers for upcoming movies for 2015 (Star Wars VII, Jurassic World, Mad Max: Fury Road, Avengers 2) as well as a epic conclusion of the The Hobbit/Lord of the Rings universe.  We witnessed an attack on our theater experience as well as our right of free speech, that delayed the release of The Interview.  We took a journey that was 12 years in the making with Boyhood.  Two great actors went to very dark places for their roles, Steve Carrel and Jake Gyllenhaal.  An Michael Keaton made a huge come back!  We also lost some great actors to this business we all love.  Rest in Peace- Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Williams, Joan Rivers, Bob Hoskins, Mickey Rooney, Harold Ramis, Shirley Temple, and many more.  2014 you will be missed.

Before we turn the page on 2014, lets see where it took us.
It took me back to being my Boyhood living on Jumpstreet.  I was in a spelling bee, surrounded by apes.  We were attacked by a huge monster, but we were saved by mutants, and a captain, and some guardians.  Birdman, however, was no where to be found, cause he was checking into a Grand Hotel.  I boarded a train, and pretend to be a cop.  I signed up at Foxcatcher and journeyed to North Korea and to space.  But when I was there I noticed that there was no fault in our stars.  But in the end, no turtles, transformers, a crazy band teacher, dragons, a sex tape, or even an evil doll could keep us from the woods.  We made some tracks, cause the ride along of life is a long way down.  So let us purge, with our neighbors, for this is where I leave you! Thank you 2014!

  I was able to see a lot of films this year in the theater.  I really enjoy the theater experience.  When you are watching a movie on the big screen or just at your house, it is an experience, for good or bad.  I had some of the most fun at a theater this year.  My good experiences would be laughing out loud with whats happening on screen (22 Jumpstreet, Guardians of the Galaxy, Top Five), gasping when something shocking happens (Foxcatcher, Gone Girl), being taken back to a time that I forgot (Boyhood), enjoying the action on screen (John Wick, The Purge: Anarchy)  or being scared out of my mind (Annabelle).

                                                                                                               

It wasn't all just good though.  My bad experiences included a drunk lady talking and filming the movie (Birdman), being grossed out to the point I couldn't eat (Tusk), bring our baby to a film and then she starts being fussy so my wife has to leave (Calvary), thinking one of my favorite actresses was overrated (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1) or just being bored (Tammy, The Amazing Spider-man 2, Transformers Age of Extinction).  But if a film is doing its job correctly it doesn't matter if its a good or bad experience cause the story will conquer.  I loved being sucked in and hooked on the screen.

So lets see what I thought was the best of 2014!!!

Total 2014 Films Seen: 109
Thumbs Up percentage: 60%
Movies I need to see, that could make my list: A Most Violent Year, Selma, Inherent Vice, and American Sniper

Actor of the Year:

Jake Gyllenhall

(Enemy and Nightcrawler)

Actress of the Year:

Scarlett Johnansson

(Captain America: The Winter Solider, Chef, Under the Skin, Lucy)

Best Actor: Michael Keaton - Birdman, Steve Carrel - Foxcatcher, Andy Serkis - Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Brendan Gleeson - Calvary, and Miles Teller - Whiplash

Best Actress: Rosamund Pike - Gone Girl, Agata Trzebuchowska - Ida, Shailene Woodley - The Fault in Our Stars, Felicity Jones - The Theory of Everything, and Mia Wasikowska - Tracks

Best Supporting Actor: J.K. Simmons - Whiplash, Shia LaBeouf - Fury, Ethan Hawke - Boyhood, Edward Norton - Birdman, and Mark Ruffalo - Foxcatcher 

Best Supporting Actress: Emma Stone - Birdman, Patricia Arquette - Boyhood, Carrie Croon - Gone Girl, Rosario Dawson - Top Five, and Tilda Swinton - Snowpiercer 

Surprises of the Year: Edge of Tomorrow, John Wick, 13 Sins, Snowpiercer, The Purge: Anarchy 

Best Laughs: 22 Jumpstreet, Top Five, Bad Words, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Lego Movie, The Grand Budapest Hotel

Biggest Disappointment of the Year: Godzilla and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

Worst of the Year (from bad to awful): Transcendence, Tammy, Tusk, Oculus, Leprechaun: Origins

Honorable Mentions for the Top 10: Snowpiercer, The Lego Movie, Chef,  Big Bad Wolves, Wish I Was Here, The Fault in our Stars, X-Men Days of Futures Past, Captain America: The Winter Solider, and Interstellar

-TIE-

10.

Calvary

(John Michael McDonagh)

Brendan Gleeson portrays Father James, a priest of a small community, in Ireland, and a good man.  As he begins to listen to his Sunday confessionals, he gets threat on his life.  He becomes deeply conflicted and troubled about what to do.  He tries to continue his life as usual, but as it gets closer to his confrontation with the mystery man, his life begins to fall apart.  I really enjoyed Gleeson in this role.  He is truly underrated as an actor.  This film has a great cast that play their characters so well, that you begin to believe that it could be anyone of them who wants to kill Father James.  Aidan Gillen and Chris O Dowd are also great in this and add some dark humor as well.

10.

Top Five

(Chris Rock)

I really didn't know anything about this film when I first walked into the theater to watch it.  When the credits finally rolled, I had a huge smile on my face.  This movie is really smart and really well directed.  I like how Chris Rock can poke fun at himself, basically plays a parody of himself.  This film follows Andre Allen (C.Rock), a recovering alcoholic, and comedian, who is tired of doing comedies.  He wants to branch out to more serious roles.  As he does this no one is taking him seriously.  As he is promoting, one of his dramatic roles, he is followed by a report, Chelsea Brown (R.Dawson).  The chemistry between Rock and Dawson is amazing. Its because of that chemistry that this movie finds it heart and its growth for the characters themselves.  

9.

Foxcatcher

(Bennett Miller)

Talk about totally disappearing into a role!  Steve Carrel has so much talent and brings a scary presence to the screen.  I was literally wondering what this guy was going to do next.  This film is very tense and methodical.  Every performance (Carrel, Tatum, Ruffalo) grips you.  Based on true events, Foxcatcher tells the story of the relationship between John du Pont and the Schultz brothers.  John du Pont, has to be one of the scariest people on the silver screen all year.  He is eccentric and trying to gain the approval of his mother, and respect from his fellow peers.  He wants to have the wrestler he coaches win a gold medal, more than anything.  The places the characters go, are truly remarkable.    

8.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

(Matt Reeves)

It is a rare feet to see a sequel build off the success of the previous film and be better than it in every way.  This is the Empire Strikes Back of this soon to be franchise.  Andy Serkis, has once again proven to every one that he is an actor not just a guy in a green suit.  His performance in this film, as Ceasar, should be nominated for a Golden Globe or an Oscar.  He brings so much depth to his character.  Also, Toby Kebbell, is just as amazing as Serkis.  It shows, that its not just Serkis who knows how to act in the suit.  This film takes placed 10 years after the events of Rise of the Planet of the Apes.  It shows an interaction between the apes and humans and the fragile peace, that is built.  It is the beginning of the war to determine the dominant species.

7.

Guardians of the Galaxy

(James Gunn)

When this movie was first announced, I was really skeptical.  How could a movie with a talking raccoon and and walking tree be any good?  Marvel, however took a big risk that paid off.  This was the most fun I had in a theater all year and was the only film I went for a second time to see.  I love the soundtrack.  The characters are fun and goofy.  Chris Pratt, proves that he is not just a comedy star but now an action star.  The chemistry between Pratt, Saldana, Bautista, and Cooper is what makes the movie fun. It had everything I wanted this movie to have, and a lot of things I didn't expect.  Just a good flick!  

 6.

Gone Girl

(David Fincher)

This has to be one of the most talked about films of the year.  I know I have had a good long discussion on this movie.  You can love it or hate it, but the fact remains that if you are talking about it outside the theater, the movie did its job.  A compelling story about a husband (Affleck) and wife (Pike) and the struggles of true love and the crazy things we will do.  I know its based on the Gillian Flynn novel, but I loved how it plays of some other real life murder cases that has happened in the past.  You also don't find many authors willing to write the screenplay based of their book, but I'm glad she did!  Cause I believe she will win her Oscar!  The performances are awesome, as we come to expect in Fincher movies.  But my favorite thing has to be the mastermind of Trent Reznor.  He once again sets up the scenes of this movie.  Watching this movie on the silver screen, was amazing cause the whole crowd was on the edge of their seat.   

5.

Fury

(David Ayer)

Fury, this isn't your typical war film.  This film isn't concerned with flashy battle sequences or explosions, but of the soldiers who fight in this wars and why.  I find that extremely refreshing.  As a fan of war movies, some of them feel like they are trying to be to Saving Private Ryan and not something unique and real.  Each character is unique and brings a totally different dynamic to this squad.  As you follow this characters, you start to feel for them and care about them.  They will piss you off one minute then do something totally redeeming that will make you realize that each one of them is like us, the viewers.  It was truly an experience that made me want to purchase another ticket as soon as the credits rolled.  The standouts for me were Shia LaBeouf and Jon Bernthal.  Shia LaBeouf, is a damn good actor when he wants to be! Thats all Ill say!    

4.

Nightcrawler

(Dan Gilroy)

Jake Gyllenhaal has slowly climbed up my favorite actors list the last couple of years.  Last year, I witnessed him, as Loki, in the movie Prisoners. In that film, he was one of two maybe three standouts (Hugh Jackman and Paul Dano) that made the films for me.  However, unlike that movie, Gylenhaal, stands above all the rest.  As you watch his performance as, Louis Bloom, his eyes go black.  He is totally that character and is totally lost in it.  Louis Bloom is a very driven character, who muscles his way into this world of journalism.  Not just any kind, mind you, crime journalism.  Nina Romina (Rene Russo) aides him in his effort to provide the most haunting visuals he can.  He blurs the lines of just observing and participating.  It is truly haunting.  Rene Russo, is also a sight for sore eyes!  She was also really good in this role and its a good surprise.  Going into this, I had no idea she was in this.  When she is on screen with Gyllenhaal, their interactions between one another will blow your mind!  As will Gyllenhaals performance! It was F***ing Amaze Balls!!! 

3.

Birdman

(Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu)

I said this about Top Five, but I really enjoy when actors can play parodies of themselves.  This movie was such an accomplishment to all involved.  Michael Keaton was so amazing in this role!  He totally had me cheering for him every second as the film rolled on.  Keaton, plays a washed up actor, who just so happened to play a superhero.  He must over come his ego and his family troubles as he tries to reclaim his past glory.  The other star of this film was Mr. Inarritu.  I have never seen a movie filmed like this before.  The camera seemed to be in one continual shot the entire movie.  I would say any other year he would get the Oscar but this isn't other year!  Emma Stone has an amazing monologue in this that totally made me almost stand up and clap!  This movie will really make you think, so pay close attention!    

2.

Whiplash

(Damien Chazelle)

Back in the day I use to play the trombone, and I thought I had a tough band teacher!  Well, I was totally out of my mind to have ever thought that!  J.K. Simmons, acts his ass off in this film!  He is your worst nightmare and is truly frightening.  Miles Teller is no joke either, as he is quick becoming one of my favorite actors as well.  Teller, plays a young drummer who is enrolled in a tough as nails, music school.  The only problem is his band teacher, Mr. Fletcher (Simmons), will stop at nothing to make him realize his true potential.  Fletcher will stop at nothing until he realizes it.  In a year with 5 super heroes movies, this is the ultimate test between good and evil!  The ending alone is breath taking!  Makes me want to play the drums, or just download the soundtrack and act like I'm drumming.  So, dare I say it, but, GOOD JOB!  

1.

Boyhood

(Richard Linklater)

When it all comes down to it, this was truly the best film of the year!  A movie that took me back to my child hood and into the brain of a child.  This film is such a unique experience, cause you are growing with the characters.  You follow a boy named Mason, through his life for 12 years.  He becomes apart of you.  He is you!  This movie might not take you to the flashiest events in his life, but where it takes him are the events that change his life!  The parents of Mason (Patricia Arqutte and Ethan Hawke) are some of the key characters that might be the most enduring of anyone on the screen this year!  Such powerful performances were given to such real characters.  If you see only one movie on this list or even all year, make it Boyhood.  Cause its not just a movie but it reminds you of where we have been, and where we hope to go in our life, even if we don't know yet!   

    

So there you go!!!  Thats my Top Ten of the year!  What are your thoughts? Disagreements?  What did you like? Share below!

Adam