My Top 25 of 2014
Let me please note that it usually takes about a year for me to finish my watchlist for the previous year. Also, these lists sometimes show films that are listed from different years, but I usually use the US release date, or when the film is accessible to me.
There are still many films I need to watch but some I anticipate could make a run at the top 25: "ida", "Inherent Vice", "Digging Up the Marrow", and "In Order of Disappearance".... or at least those are the 2014 films on my watchlist.
i have watched 79/82 films from 2014s watchlist.(will edit)
Remember, it's just an opinion.
Just missed:26.Citizenfour, Hector and the Search for Happiness , Blue Ruin 27.American Sniper 27.Starry Eyes 28.Dawn of the Planet of the Apes 29.Leviathon 30.Camp X-Ray 31.Life Itself 32.The Judge
There are still many films I need to watch but some I anticipate could make a run at the top 25: "ida", "Inherent Vice", "Digging Up the Marrow", and "In Order of Disappearance".... or at least those are the 2014 films on my watchlist.
i have watched 79/82 films from 2014s watchlist.(will edit)
Remember, it's just an opinion.
Just missed:26.Citizenfour, Hector and the Search for Happiness , Blue Ruin 27.American Sniper 27.Starry Eyes 28.Dawn of the Planet of the Apes 29.Leviathon 30.Camp X-Ray 31.Life Itself 32.The Judge
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25 titles
- DirectorDamien ChazelleStarsMiles TellerJ.K. SimmonsMelissa BenoistA promising young drummer enrolls at a cut-throat music conservatory where his dreams of greatness are mentored by an instructor who will stop at nothing to realize a student's potential.
- DirectorJon FavreauStarsJon FavreauRobert Downey Jr.Scarlett JohanssonA head chef quits his restaurant job and buys a food truck in an effort to reclaim his creative promise, while piecing back together his estranged family.This is the kind of film that you just don't get much anymore. Exquisitely acted, well-written, yet light-hearted. Just a blast to watch and caters to a broad demographic. Great music, neat little touches.
- DirectorDan GilroyStarsJake GyllenhaalRene RussoBill PaxtonWhen Louis Bloom, a con man desperate for work, muscles into the world of L.A. crime journalism, he blurs the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story.This debut from this director isn't perfect(although it's very good, and the script is just awesome), but Jake's performance should have garnered him an Oscar nomination at the very least. It's got a bit of something for everyone;gearheads, horror fans, and psychological thriller types. Never has such a despicable character been this much fun to watch(well, save DeNiro in Taxi Driver).
- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsMatthew McConaugheyAnne HathawayJessica ChastainWhen Earth becomes uninhabitable in the future, a farmer and ex-NASA pilot, Joseph Cooper, is tasked to pilot a spacecraft, along with a team of researchers, to find a new planet for humans.
- DirectorAlejandro G. IñárrituStarsMichael KeatonZach GalifianakisEdward NortonA washed-up superhero actor attempts to revive his fading career by writing, directing, and starring in a Broadway production.It's funny how "Boyhood" got all the "hard-to-make" love, but "Birdman" was no minor feat itself. Several strong performances from an all-star cast, followed by originality in spades. "Birdman" lived-up to the hype for me. It's cut more than you think, but just the way he did it - skipping through time in the same space on long pans, and the way the film just seemed to walk for the duration. The method adds a real smooth-vibe despite the hard-edged, unstable nature of the story and characters.
- DirectorDavid FincherStarsBen AffleckRosamund PikeNeil Patrick HarrisWith his wife's disappearance having become the focus of an intense media circus, a man sees the spotlight turned on him when it's suspected that he may not be innocent.Enthralling murder mystery that doesn't waste any time, and breezes through a long running time. Less flashy than some of Fincher's previous work, but solid acting and a great story-line put this among the long list of his greatest films.
- DirectorJames GunnStarsChris PrattVin DieselBradley CooperA group of intergalactic criminals must pull together to stop a fanatical warrior with plans to purge the universe.The characters and the music lead the way, but the storyline wanes a bit(i guess typical for this type of thing). It's a total blast though.
- DirectorShawn ChristensenStarsShawn ChristensenFatima PtacekEmmy RossumAt the lowest point of his life, Richie gets a call from his estranged sister, asking him to look after his 11-year old niece Sophia for a few hours.
- DirectorMike CahillStarsMichael PittSteven YeunAstrid Bergès-FrisbeyA molecular biologist and his laboratory partner uncover evidence that may fundamentally change society as we know it.I wouldn't say the science aspect is deftly handled, but it's very interesting and thought-provoking still, with a nice finish and a raw style.
- DirectorGiuseppe TornatoreStarsGeoffrey RushJim SturgessSylvia HoeksVirgil Oldman, a wealthy art auctioneer, takes the help of a young artificer, Robert, to understand and woo Claire Ibbetson, a young heiress, who hires him to auction off an antique collection.
- DirectorWilliam H. MacyStarsBilly CrudupAnton YelchinFelicity HuffmanA grieving father in a downward spiral stumbles across a box of his recently deceased son's demo tapes and lyrics. Shocked by the discovery of this unknown talent, he forms a band in the hope of finding some catharsis.Strong directorial debut by Macy here. Crudup is amazing!! The music is good, and the twist is nice. Good flick.
- DirectorAlex HolmesStarsReed AlbergottiBetsy AndreuFrankie AndreuThis documentary is an intimate but explosive story about the man behind the greatest fraud in sporting history. Lance Armstrong enriched himself by cheating his fans, his sport and the truth.Something powerful about a group of friends throwing a former-friend under the bus.
- DirectorAnthony RussoJoe RussoStarsChris EvansSamuel L. JacksonScarlett JohanssonAs Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world, he teams up with a fellow Avenger and S.H.I.E.L.D agent, Black Widow, to battle a new threat from history: an assassin known as the Winter Soldier.Loses some of the 'camp' of the original, but in-turn becomes one of the most well-polished and action-packed Marvel films to date. The only thing that brings this down a notch is an under-written and under-whelming villain.
- DirectorGabriel LondonStarsScoot McNairyShea WhighamWhen a legendary escape artist comes up for parole after 30 years behind bars, a chance for freedom must be weighed against his infamous past.
- DirectorTheodore MelfiStarsBill MurrayMelissa McCarthyNaomi WattsA young boy whose parents have just divorced finds an unlikely friend and mentor in the misanthropic, bawdy, hedonistic war veteran who lives next door.An adult comedy with a coming-of-age twist that works quite nicely. The film isn't laugh out loud funny, but it is charming from start to finish. Some serious themes, and a collective great performance from the 4 leads really balance things out nicely. Good movie.
- DirectorJennifer KentStarsEssie DavisNoah WisemanDaniel HenshallA single mother and her child fall into a deep well of paranoia when an eerie children's book titled "Mister Babadook" manifests in their home.Great performance from the lead. One of the best in a horror flick in a long, long time. Genuinely scary and perfectly-paced for the genre.
- DirectorAli AkbarzadehStarsLawrence LessigTim WuPeter LudlowThe Internet is under attack. This award-winning documentary explores the threat Internet censorship imposes on free speech, innovation, and democracy.
- DirectorDoug LimanStarsTom CruiseEmily BluntBill PaxtonA soldier fighting aliens gets to relive the same day over and over again, the day restarting every time he dies.An adrenaline-rush. Cruise is great here. The film has a nice balance of humor and action, and the plot, while far fetched, is handled quite well.
- DirectorWes AndersonStarsRalph FiennesF. Murray AbrahamMathieu AmalricA writer encounters the owner of an aging high-class hotel, who tells him of his early years serving as a lobby boy in the hotel's glorious years under an exceptional concierge.Towards the top of the Wes Anderson pile. No "Rushmore", but it beats the stew out of "Darjeeling".
- DirectorRichard LinklaterStarsEllar ColtranePatricia ArquetteEthan HawkeThe life of Mason, from early childhood to his arrival at college.I appreciate the effort it took to make, and Arquette and Hawke are both exceptional here, but for me the storyline is a bit TOO NORMAL, and a bit drab and uneventful to move it to the high praise that some are giving it. I mean, I understand why the project didn't garner hoards of producers biting at the bit to do this, and I don't mean because of the labor of love, I mean that in terms of it's storyline substance. Great soundtrack.
- DirectorPhil LordChristopher MillerStarsChris PrattWill FerrellElizabeth BanksAn ordinary LEGO construction worker, thought to be the prophesied as "special", is recruited to join a quest to stop an evil tyrant from gluing the LEGO universe into eternal stasis.Great effort considering what I was anticipating. Managed to appeal to adults and create an exciting story-line with loads of moral fortitude.
- DirectorSteven KnightStarsTom HardyOlivia ColmanRuth WilsonIvan Locke, a dedicated family man and successful construction manager, receives a phone call on the eve of the biggest challenge of his career that sets in motion a series of events that threaten his carefully cultivated existence.Atmospheric, isolated drama/thriller. Perhaps Hardy's best performance. Certainly better than "The Drop", although "The Drop" isn't bad, it just didn't make the cut. Ambitious project. Works surprisingly well.
- DirectorGareth EvansStarsIko UwaisYayan RuhianArifin PutraOnly a short time after the first raid, Rama goes undercover with the thugs of Jakarta and plans to bring down the syndicate and uncover the corruption within his police force.Much better than the original because it's definitely not one-dimensional, and the producers sunk some of that money back-in and it shows. It's a little over-long and disjointed, but production-wise, action-wise, it's incredible.
- DirectorChad StahelskiStarsKeanu ReevesMichael NyqvistAlfie AllenAn ex-hitman comes out of retirement to track down the gangsters who killed his dog and stole his car.This is the cut-off projection right now. I figure this may hold onto a spot, and wouldn't mind seeing this as my 25th best film for 2014 when it all shakes out, because it's a fun film that isn't afraid to be what it is.
- DirectorMorten TyldumStarsBenedict CumberbatchKeira KnightleyMatthew GoodeDuring World War II, the English mathematical genius Alan Turing tries to crack the German Enigma code with help from fellow mathematicians while attempting to come to terms with his troubled private life.Good music, great perfromance, but the film is a bit slow for me, and the payoff a bit anti-climatic. Will all the hype I thought it would be significantly better than say the earlier "Enigma", but if it's better, it isn't by much, at all.