These are in my opinion the best films of 2014. I didn't see everything obviously, but I did see a lot. They are in a kind-of order from least favorite to favorite at the end, but they are all excellent movies that I thoroughly enjoyed. Check them all out if you haven't already!
Jodoworsky's Dune
Directed by Frank Pavich
If you are a fan of documentaries about movie making then this will be the best one you'll ever see about a film that was never made. In the mid-1970's the rights to Frank Herbert's science fiction epic, Dune, fell into the hands of Argentinian experimental filmmaker, Alejandro Jodoworsky. Pavich's doc explores the eccentric director's meticulous process of scripting, designing and storyboarding the huge production. Watching him talk about his process of scouting and assembling a dream team of a crew to help him realize his vision it's obvious this is man who lacks none of the ambition or talent needed to create Dune. He hires mostly undiscovered people who would go on to be pioneers in their fields. Dan O'Bannon, H.R. Giger, Moebius, and Chris Foss would all contribute to his vision. Jodoworsky would craft every moment of the moment of the massive film and compile into a giant bound book that he shipped to every studio. Each one turned him down. Pavich submits that these very studios used the work they were allowed to see on Jodoworsky's Dune and used it to influence future classics like Ridley Scott's Alien (Giger and O'Bannon were both involved), Star Wars and Blade Runner. You will leave this film convinced that this movie was probably the most influential one never made.
The Imitation Game
Directed by Morten Tyldum
Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightly, Matthew Goode and Charles Dance
This film was one of the biggest surprises of the year for me. I knew a little bit about Alan Turing and his contributions to the Allied victory in World War II. He was a pioneer in computer science and a genius-level cryptanalyst who was primarily responsible for inventing a machine that could break Enigma, the machine the Nazis used for all of their encrypted radio communications. What I didn't know was what this movie revealed about his personal life. Without spoiling anything, I'll just say that it was a gross injustice that the British judicial system imposed on him -- one who should have been reveared as the hero he was. Cumberbatch gives one of his very finest performances. The movie really is just a vehicle for his performance, which is one of the best of the year. The Imitation Game is the best historical drama of the year and a moving portrait of a man whose contributions to the war effort can finally now be celebrated. Without his early work on his "Turing Machines," we would never have had the modern-day computer and I would not be writing this blog.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo
Starring Chris Evans, Scarlett Johanson, Samuel L. Jackson, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan and Robert Redford
This sequel to 2011's Captain America: The First Avenger is the best of the Marvel movies to come out since the first Iron Man in 2008. Don't get me wrong I loved Guardians of the Galaxy and I understand why it was such a huge box office hit, but The Winter Soldier is more suited to my taste. Taking a due from 1970's era conspiracy thrillers, this action-packed movie is not only a lot of fun it is a dark commentary on many current events like the NSA's spy programs, Edward Snowden, etc. In some ways it is a cautionary tale for all of us. Chris Evans epitomizes everything Cap stands for and pulls off the roll flawlessly without making it hokey. Scarlett Johansson is given much more to work with in this movie than she was in The Avengers or Iron Man 2. And Robert Redford is perfectly, ironically cast as the villain that all of us fears might actually be pulling similar strings in our own real government. The Winter Soldier has everything that makes it one of the very best comic book films ever made.
Gone Girl
Directed by David Fincher
Starring Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Tyler Perry and Neil Patrick Harris
David Fincher's best film since Seven is part gripping mystery and part biting commentary on marital dynamics and the media. It's also one of the hardest movies to write a lot about because you don't want to spoil any of its secrets. When Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) finds his life unraveled by the disappearance of his wife, Amy (Rosamund Pike). Instantly the media pounces on Nick as the most likely suspect. His calm demeanor and aloof personality make him a prime target for sensationalized TV shows that gobble these kind of stories up. About half way through, the movie takes a sharp turn though, taking it from just a stylishly made missing-person flick into a much darker and more satirical one. Fincher's takes Gillian Flynn's script, based on her best selling novel, and really hits it out of the park. Pike is a revelation as Amy and is deserving of any and all Oscar attention she gets this year. Neil Patrick Harris continues to choose interesting roles as one of Amy's former boyfriends who still harbors feelings for her. Gone Girl is more than it appears. It manages to present deeper themes like mysogonism and marital conflict through the lens of a mainstream thriller. It certainly kept me on the edge of my seat.
Under the Skin
Directed by Jonathan Glazer
Starring Scarlett Johansson
A lone woman (Scarlett Johansson) prowls the darkened streets of Glasgow, Scotland, in a white van. She is searching for a man, any man, willing to fall for her beauty and accompany back to her apartment where . . . . weird stuff happens. They follow her, apparently hypnotized, into a pool of some sort of liquid where they are consumed and only their skins remain. Now, if that's all you thought Under the Skin was about than you have totally missed the bus. Really a metaphor for what it is to be human, and a comment on body image, Jonathan Glazer's masterful film is a moving fable about a woman, decidedly inhuman, who throughout the course of the movie gradually discovers her humanity. I loved every moment of this dark, moody, and engaging picture. It is Johansson's best performance of her career and indictment of what true beauty really is.
Snowpiercer
Directed by Joon-ho Bong
Starring Chris Evans, Jaimie Bell, Tilda Swinton, John Hurt and Ed Harris
This unique dystopian adventure film comes from the Korean director of The Host (2006) and Mother (2009). Along with Chan-Wook Park (Oldboy, Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance, Stoker) and Kim Jee-Woon (I Saw the Devil, The Good, the Bad, and the Weird), he is part of a new wave of film makers from Korea making smart, daring and audacious movies. Snowpiercer finds the world in the throngs of an apocalyptic ice age. The last survivors of the human race live onboard a supersonic train that circumvents the globe every year. In the front of the train are the upper class citizens, the 1% if you will. In the caboose are the workers and the poor. Chris Evans continues to solidify his leading man chops as a leader of a rebellion that seeks to work its way to the front of the train to take control of the "divine engine" from its creator, Wilford. In his way is a cadre of guards led by The Minister of this flimsy government, Mason (played with over-the-top absurdity by Tilda Swinton, having too much fun). It's obvious that Bong is channeling Terry Gilliam (Brazil, Twelve Monkeys, Time Bandits) in the style and story of Snowpiercer. Hell, one main character is even named "Gilliam." Like the cult filmmaker's most accomplished films, Bong's adventure shares themes like resisting control, and the hopelessness of fighting against a system that society has come to rely on.
Life Itself
Directed by Steve James
Documentarian Steve James (Hoop Dreams) was given unprecedented access to legendary film critic Roger Ebert as he battled the cancer that would ultimately end his life. At the time, James couldn't have known the tragic ending that his film would ultimately have. A lifelong friend of Ebert, his fantastic doc explores the entirety of the critic's life, the majority focusing on the success of his hit television show with partner, Gene Siskel. The heart of this movie, though, is the focus on Ebert's nearly unwavering positivity in the face of the disease, even when it escalates and his entire lower jaw has to be removed. Through it all his wife, Chaz, stays by his side trying to keep it together as the man she married slowly wastes away. More than just a documentary about a film critic, Life Itself is a moving portrait of man who lived life to the fullest, even when it dealt him a bad hand at the end.
Nightcrawler
Directed by Dan Gilroy
Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Riz Ahmed and Bill Paxton
The nighttime streets of Los Angeles come alive in Dan Gilroy's darkly comic tale of ambition and the media' obsession with violence. Jake Gyllenhaal gives his finest performance as Leo Bloom, a sleazy, down-on-his-luck bottom feeder who discovers a way to make a name for himself by becoming a freelance videographer of car accidents and violent crimes. He sell these clips to a desperate local news producer, Nina (Rene Russo), who instantly starts to see her ratings rise due to the public's eager response to Leo's gruesome images. They become embroiled in a warped kind of symbiotic relationship that he tries to awkwardly exploit in order to entice her into bed. At first she resists, but it becomes clear that she cannot avoid his demented extortion. It's Russo's best role in years. Meanwhile, Leo pushes the envelope further and further about how far he is willing to go in order to get the most intense footage. Ultimately, he will make decisions that blur the line between reporting the news or creating it. Nightcrawler has the feel of a Michael Mann film at its best moments. It's a great debut for Gilroy and is a biting, cynical look at what people will do to make it in America.
The LEGO Movie
Directed by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller
Starring Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Ferrell, Will Arnett, Morgan Freeman, Alison Brie, and Nick Offerman
The best animated family movie of the year may be the most thoughtful and insightful movie of its kind in years. Pixar used to make films like this before they became focused on cranking out Cars and Planes sequels. First, let me say the animation in this movie is unparalleled. The multiple LEGO worlds come to life vividly and there are many times there is so much going on in the scene that it can make one dizzy. Its an astonishing achievement alone, without the excellent story being told. Normal, everyday LEGO construction worker, Emmet (Chris Pratt) is enjoying his mundane existence along with all the other LEGO people when he accidentally discovers the "Piece of Resistance" that is prophesized to belong to "The Special." Emmet must use the "Piece of Resistance" to stop the evil Lord Business (Will Ferrell) from using an all powerful weapon called the "Kragle" to destroy the world. What makes the LEGO movie so great, other than the sharp humor throughout that will leave you laughing out load many times, is its transparent themes of individualism and artistic expression. Presented with a world that is built on following the "instructions" at all times, where every Master Builder (that's a LEGO character that can improvise and build its own creations without a diagram) is imprisoned, Emmet and his friends are on a quest to restore creativity to the masses. Like Matt said, at the last 20 minutes or so, things take a sharp turn in the movie as the "force" behind all of the craziness we've been watching is revealed and we are surprised to learn the motivations behind the adventure played out in front of us and the true origins of the Lord Business's motivations. This is smart, highly entertaining fun with an important message for everyone.
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Directed by Wes Anderson
Starring Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori, F. Murray Abraham, Adrien Brody, Edward Norton, Willem Dafoe, and Saoirse Ronan
I'm unapologetic in my love of Wes Anderson and almost all of his films. I just get him and his style and what he's trying to say. His only real misstep for me was his 2007 brother-bonding effort, The Darjeeling Limited, which I failed to connect with. The Grand Budapest Hotel is his best film since what I consider to be his masterpiece, Rushmore. Anderson is experimenting even further with non-linear narrative as the story jumps backwards in time a few times until it settles on period between the great wars. The locale is a fictional East European country where the eccentric councierge, M. Gustave (Ralph Fiennes) caters to the rich clientele of the Grand Budapest Hotel. Along with his faithful Lobby Boy, Zero (Tony Revolori), Gustave becomes embroiled in the mysterious death of one of his elderly lovers (Tilda Swinton). Like the whimsical offspring of the best Michael Powell and Emeric Pressberger films (The Life and Death of Colonol Blimp, Black Narcissus, The Red Shoes), The Grand Budapest Hotel is an even more heightened version of the style Anderson has become known for. It is certainly an acquired taste as I'm sure there are many out there who may not like it, but I found it a beautiful and hilarious fable that comes pre-packaged the typical melancholic undertones that grace all of his work. Ralph Fiennes gives one of his best and most surprising performances as he proves to be a sublimely talented comedic actor, capable of delivering sharply witted dialogue like he's simply breathing. It's my favorite performance of the year and not surprisingly it's underrated.
Whiplash
Directed by Damien Chazelle
Starring Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, Melissa Benoist and Paul Reiser
Similar to Nightcrawler, Damien Chazelle's brilliant, Whiplash is a gripping and highly entertaining commentary on ambition and also, in a way, our society's acceptance of mediocrity. It's a simple story about a young jazz drummer named, Andrew (Miles Teller, one of the best young actors making a name for himself) who attends one of the most prestigious music conservatories in the country. Andrew desperately wants to be chosen to join the school's most exclusive jazz band led by its strictest and most abrasive teacher, Terrance Fletcher (J.K. Simmons). Once the starry-eyed student is accepted into Fletcher's group, it isn't long before the line is crossed between musician and conductor. Terrance is vicious to his pupils, mostly to Andrew, who consistently struggles to keep up. The crueler the cantankerous mentor is to the young drummer, the more Andrew pushes himself to meet the high expectations put on him, raising real questions about Fletcher's motivations and weather or not the abuse he is inflicting actually works. Everything in the film culminates in a mesmerizing last 20 minutes that will have you on the edge of your seat. Seriously it is more thrilling than most action flicks, and it involves a jazz performance. Just, trust me . . . . J.K. Simmons is deserving of all the praise he is getting for his dynamite performance, but don't overlook Teller who was equally as good and convinced me that he could tear up a drum solo.
Boyhood
Directed by Richard Linklater
Starring Ellar Coltrane, Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke and Lorelai Linklater
My pick for best movie of the year isn't a shocker. I wrote when it came out that I was unlikely to see a better film this year and that held true. Some of the backlash against this movie surprises me. I've heard that it has no plot and that nothing happens. Well, life happens. It's a movie about a boy's life. A boy who could be any boy . . . . you . . . . me . . . . I guess if Iron Man or Superman swooped in at the end and had a huge fight then it would be acceptable to those naysayers. Also, I have heard that the choice to film the same cast over 12 years is nothing more than a gimmick. OK, just because someone tries something different doesn't make it gimmicky. Movies are supposed to be about innovations and experimenting with different ways to tell a story, as well as entertainment. It's not pretentious, it's art. It's fine to say you don't like the movie, but have a better reason than that. I guess the same people that hate on this movie are the ones who would like to see The Amazing Spider-Man 3 get made. The reason why Linklater tried this was that it allows the audience to connect with this boy, Mason, (Ellar Coltrane) and his family in a way that is unique and untried. Is Coltrane a good actor? Not really. But, that's part of the experience for me. It was always going to be a gamble to cast a 6-year-old and hope that he can carry the film as he ages. For the most part he succeeds. Patricia Arquette surprises everyone with the best performance in the movie, and Ethan Hawke is equally fantastic as Mason's estranged father. Boyhood feels like the culmination of everything Linklater has been striving for throughout his career. Slacker, Dazed and Confused, The Before Trilogy, and Waking Life are all films that play with narrative and time in order to elicit different responses from the viewer. In this, his masterpiece, the filmmaker has managed to perfect that, while also crafting a moving and ultimately real depiction of growing up.
Jay's Biggest Disappointment of 2014
Unbroken
Directed by Angelina Jolie
Starring Jack O'Connell, Takamasa Ishihara, Domhnall Gleeson, Garrett Hedlund
OK, when I approached this choice, I want to make it clear that Unbroken is not the worst film of 2014. More than likely, I didn't even see the worst film of 2014, But, for me, it was the most disappointing because I really loved the book by Seabiscuit author, Laura Hildenbrand. Now, I am not a stickler for slavish adherence to the source material, but you hope that the movie can capture the voice of the book in some way. Unbroken didn't do that for me. The story of Louis Zamperini and his journey from neighborhood sneak-thief to Olympic runner and finally to WWII bombardier and survivor of a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp, is the epitome of inspiring. But director Angelina Jolie's film seems to gloss over these events, like it's in a rush to get the story over with. It jumps from major moment to major moment, never taking the time to give us the reality of Louis's life that the book does so well. I know you can't fit everything in, but a good filmmaker would have found a way to tell this story in a way that still kept some of those details intact. For example, the book spends a lot of time detailing what life was like for bombing teams in the Pacific. It relays very well how most casualties and crashes were not caused by any conflict with the enemy. They were mostly mechanical failures, friendly fire or poor landings that resulted in deaths. The movie just wants to jump to the moment of Louis being stranded in open water without exploring any of this. It also take no time to build the characters of his fellow crew members on the plane with him, whose lives are detailed in Hildenbrand's book. Jolie should have taken notes from how Gary Ross adapted Seabiscuit. Watching that movie gives a similar experience to reading that book without having to cram it all in.
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