50. Fury - This is possibly the best war film that has been made in years, and it reintroduced the world to the concept of Shia LeBeouf as a good actor.
49. Into the Woods - 12 years after striking gold with his adaptation of Chicago, Rob Marshall made a stunning adaptation of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's fairy tale masterwork. Though it was scrubbed up for Disney audiences, it still plays beautifully.
48. Interstellar - Christopher Nolan took us into vast reaches of space in this epic, and gave us an incredible story about family, obsession, and survival.
47. Grand Piano - Calling this film Hitchcockian sounds like an insane amount of praise, or hyperbole, but Eugenio Mira has captured the auteur's style near perfectly.
46. Willow Creek - Found footage has found its champion! This film is never boring, always finds its cameras properly placed, and keeps the terror off screen, making it far more terrifying.
45. The Congress - Robin Wright shines in this beautifully written sci-fi as a fictional version of herself living in a drug induced cartoon world years after she has let herself become an avatar in the film industry.
44. Blue Ruin - A revenge film about a drifter who is forced to protect his family from the men he is trying to kill. It is quiet, stark, and violent in all the right ways.
43. Locke - Tom Hardy handles a master class in acting in this film about a man losing his grip on the world while on a car trip to see the woman he accidentally got pregnant.
42. Joe - When an ex-con, played by Nicolas Cage at his best, takes a 15 year old boy under his wing, apparently magic happens.
41. The Trip to Italy - A sequel to a film that made its way onto my twenty favorite films list the first year I ran this blog. Now the two are men are back, eating expensive food, doing Michael Caine impressions, and dealing with their insecurities.
40. Noah - Director Darren Aaronofsky tweaked and updated the biblical story of Noah's Ark, and shaped Noah into his regular protagonist model. The result was a wondrous epic complete with giant rock monsters!
39. Wild - This affecting true tale of a woman trying to get her life back on track, by walking 1100 miles, was certainly the best I have ever seen Reese Witherspoon on screen.
38. Young Ones - A beautifully bleak dystopian future flick that surprised me with its depth and quality. Nicholas Hoult and Kodi Smit-McPhee turn in a pair of haunting performances.
37. The Tale of Princess Kaguya - Gorgeously animated and wildly original, this story of a young girl found in a bamboo stalk is breathtaking. Isao Takahata has made my favorite film of his since 1988's "The Grave of the Fireflies".
36. Still Alice - Julianne Moore shines as a linguistics professor struggling with early onset Alzheimer's. Watching her deteriorate slowly is absolutely heartbreaking in every way.
35. Begin Again - This is a fun, bubbly movie from "Once" writer/director John Carney. Mark Ruffalo and Keira Knightley have great chemistry together, and James Corden is always welcome in any film.
34. Top Five - Chris Rock wrote, directed, and starred in this marvelous story about a comedian trying to find respect after a string of empty successes and fighting alcoholism. It is funny, poignant, and awkward in all the right places.
33. Pride - Based on the true story of British gay political group raising money for a striking Welsh mining community in the 1980's is emotionally fulfilling, and extremely uplifting. It was a joy watching two oppressed communities come together in a time of need.
32. Force Majeure - 2014 was an interesting year for marriage in cinema. This Swedish film about a family who experiences an avalanche while on vacation, and has their faith in each other shaken. The fallout of the events is harrowing, and the performances are some the year's best.
31. Obvious Child - It is nice to see that someone in cinema can be an adult about the subject of abortion. Jenny Slate is wonderful in this romantic comedy about a young woman coming into her own while dealing with the mistakes she makes. Thank you, Gillian Robespierre.
30. Edge of Tomorrow - Poor marketing and a bad title almost kept me from wanting to see this, but that was a huge mistake, because this film was absolutely phenomenal. Tom Cruise carries it well, and Emily Blunt is a pure badass.
29. Inherent Vice - Paul Thomas Anderson strikes again with this bizzare noir about a man looking for his missing ex-girlfriend, and her lover, who might be missing at the hand's of his wife and her lover. Joaquin Phoenix is tremendous, and the ensemble just shines in this twisty-turny tale.
28. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes - Whoever thought the sequel to a reboot would be worthy of praise, and possibly award consideration? Every bit as smart as any other "Apes" film, and positively boiling over with stunning performances from both human cast and the mo-cap apes.
27. Mr. Turner - When will Timothy Spall get the recognition he so richly deserves for his deep performances in every film he is in? Hopefully soon, because he was absolutely perfect as J.W.M. Turner in Mike Leigh's quietly stunning biopic.
26. Foxcatcher - Steve Carrell, Channing Tatum, and Mark Ruffalo all put in their absolute best performances in Bennett Miller's biopic about Gold Medal wrestlers Mark and David Schultz. It is a riveting story about competition, jealousy, and privilege.
25. We Are the Best! - Three 13 year-old Swedish girls decide to start a punk band after punk has "died" in the '80's. Simple concept, simple execution, simple to fall in love with.
24. The Babadook - Australian film maker Jennifer Kent makes this year's best horror film about a single mother whose son sees a storybook character every where he goes. Actress Essie Davis perfectly captures the fears of single parenting, as she is pushed close to the edge, in this glorious allegory.
23. Dear White People - I want to thank Justin Simien for making such a timely and honest film about race relations. It was refreshing to see that nobody was spared from the ugliness and hypocrisy of racism (or homophobia) in his debut movie about life on an Ivy League college campus.
22. Calvary - A man walks into a priest's confessional and tells him, due to the sexual abuse he endured at the hands of the priest, he is going to murder this innocent man. This Irish made movie, from John Michael McDonagh, is tense and wonderfully crafted.
21. Frank - Domhnall Gleeson plays a young keyboardist who joins a band, fronted by a eccentric music genius (Michael Fassbender) who wears a fake head, just before they lock themselves away to record an album. It is refreshingly funny, and surprisingly emotional. The soundtrack is also incredible.
20. Snowpiercer
Acclaimed Korean director Joon-ho Bong made his English Language debut in stunning fashion with a post-apocalyptic sci-fi-action-thriller about a band of survivors living on a train. The land outside is frozen, and the moving train is the only thing that can keep them safe. The cinematography is beautiful and dark. The action scenes are well put together and intense. The story is astonishing and is a grand parable about ever widening class separation. Bong's ensemble, including Chris Evans, Jamie Bell, and an almost unrecognizable Tilda Swinton, is absolutely on point. I'm still having trouble picking my jaw up from the floor.
Moment I Fell in Love: Lights go out, and then a perfectly edited battle breaks out.
19. The Double
So, in England there is this wonderful comedian named Richard Ayoade, and those in the know about him, love him immensely. Now he is directing, and the two films he has under his belt have both been fantastic. His sophomore effort, however, is terrifically stunning. He has cast a perfect Jesse Eisenberg in a dual role, playing an awkwardly shy office drone and his exact doppelganger, with the opposite personality, who is slowly replacing him. Based off of the Fyodor Dostoyevsky novella, it is updated, and filled to the brim with great humour.
Moment I Fell in Love: Wallace Shawn is in this movie!
18. The Rover
Why do I seem to be the only one who fell head over heels in love with David Michod's latest opus? It is based 10 years after an incident simply known as "the collapse", and the world is a desolate, desperate place. A man (Guy Pearce) has his car stolen, and kidnaps one of the thieves' brother (Robert Pattinson) in order to track them down. The film quickly devolves into a violent downward spiral. Guy Pearce is excellent as always, and Pattinson is near unrecognizable in his role. Every moment with these two on their uncomfortable road trip is captivating.
Moment I Fell in Love: A very well shot car crash really sets off the action of the film.
17. The One I Love
Mark Duplass and Elizabeth Moss are the picture of perfection in Charlie McDowell's rousing tale of a marriage in disrepair. It is truly difficult to explain the things that made this film so utterly enthralling, because it is sort of a surprise, and I do want people who haven't seen it to enjoy that surprise. McDowell made a quirky film with so many awkwardly timed moments. The writing is sharp, and the on-screen couple has such great chemistry together. I sincerely believe these two should be in every movie together.
Moment I Fell in Love: When the secret of the guest house is revealed.
16. Guardians of the Galaxy
The Marvel Universe got weird this year. Breaking from the normal mold of super heroes saving the earth, they decided to focus on a group of intergalactic criminals (among them a talking raccoon and a walking tree) as they try to do the right thing, and save the galaxy from a murderous psychopath wielding an enormous amount of power. James Gunn, a cult fan favorite, expanded the universe in fun and unexpected ways, bringing along a pitch perfect cast, and some of the best action scenes in film this year. This film was endearingly funny, and had a lot of heart to boot.
Moment I Fell in Love: "I need that guy's leg."
15. Birdman or: (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
I want to start by saying that Michael Keaton was so good in this movie, that he should be a lock for the Academy Award, but I understand if there is some competition. Alejandro González Iñárritu did so many things right with "Birdman", so damn many things. There is Keaton, and then there is the marvelous ensemble including Edward Norton, Naomi Watts, and a never better Emma Stone. His long-time collaborator Emmauel Lubezki shot the film as one take, and it looks gorgeous. The soundtrack, by Antonio Sanchez, is mostly just drums that accent the manic nature of the film wonderfully. The more I think about this movie, the higher it gets on my list.
The Moment I Fell in Love: Simply reading the title.
14. Chef
Jon Favreau has written and directed a lot of films I am very fond of (and also, "Iron Man 2" which is just okay). With his newest offering, "Chef", he has easily managed to top them all. This isn't the kind of film that is going to change the way films are made, or even find a lot of award buzz, but it is fun little indie with a lot of heart. Favreau plays a renowned L.A. chef who loses his job after he blows up at a critic (Oliver Platt). With his new free time, he buys a food truck, and takes it on the road with his son, and for his former partner (John Leguizamo). His cast is on fire, his script is light and energetic, and you can tell he was having a good time making it.
The Moment I Fell in Love: The interaction between Favreau and his kitchen staff, which includes John Leguizamo and Bobby Cannavale.
13. Ida
This was a sleeper for me. It came completely out of left field, and just shocked me on a couple of levels. First, it shocked me with its quality. Pawel Pawlikowski co-wrote (with Rebbeca Linkiewicz) and directed an emotional journey of a young woman (Agata Trzebuchowska) in the 1960's, on the verge of taking her vows, that discovers the truths of her past, and her estranged family. It is thoughtful and poignant, and masterfully crafted in every avenue. Second, it shocked me with its content. The film takes a few twists and turns, and ends up in a few places you don't really expect it to go. By the time the credits roll, there are moments that have already made their way into your psyche, and will stay with you for some time.
Moment I Fell in Love: Wanda (Trzebuchowska) meets her aunt for the first time, and learns the first piece of her past.
12. Selma
Most of this year's biopics and "true-to-life" films were very bland ("The Theory of Everything"), or somehow managed to fall a little short on emotion ("Get On Up"), even if they were very well made. Selma, on the other hand, hits every emotional cue, and managed to gain a lot of tension along the way. Watching Martin Luther King, Jr. (David Oyelowo) and Lyndon Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) go head to head in a battle of wills is every bit as engrossing as one would hope. The stakes are very high, and neither man is willing to give up ground. Ava DuVernay should be heaped with praise for finding the heart of such a subject, and handling it with extreme care.
Moment I Fell in Love: An elderly man tells Dr. King about his son's promise that he will vote.
11. Big Hero 6
There are many good superhero films coming out these days, and as long as they're as great as they have been in 2014, I hope they continue to get made. "Big Hero 6" was among the best of this year's crop. After a young robotics genius loses his brother in a fire, he teams up with his brother's creation, and former lab mates, to catch his killer. It is an action packed animated movie that is a lot of fun, and makes heroes of the nerds in a very positive way. Disney gave life to Duncan Rouleau and Steven T. Seagle's comic, and made a beautiful film about pain and loss. Then they sold it to children! Brilliant.
The Moment I Fell in Love: Hiro, the young protagonist, takes a small underdog robot into an underground "Battle Bots" style fighting ring.
10. Gone Girl
David Fincher is possibly one of the best director working today. His constant appearances on my favorite films lists should be proof enough of that. His adaptation of Gillian Flynn's novel (from her script) is a stunning meditation on marriage, and it will leave you speechless. Especially if, like myself, you have not read the novel. He is one of the few directors that makes my must-see lists on name alone. His cast is crammed with peak performances, including a star-making turn from Rosamund Pike playing Amazing Amy. Throw in beautiful cinematography from Jeff Cronenweth, and a truly inspired score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, and this movie will stay with you for days after.
Moment I Fell in Love: When it was revealed what happened to Amy after her kidnapping.
There is something about Damien Chazelle's sophomore film that made me completely uneasy. Maybe it was the rapid-fire editing. Maybe it was the almost horror movie like pacing. Maybe it was J.K. Simmons being the most frightening villain this side of Heath Ledger's Joker. Whatever it was, it made for one hell of a great time in the theatre. This small film about a young drummer (played by Miles Teller in perfect form) in a music conservatory, trying to make it in a jazz ensemble was absolutely breathtaking. The student/mentor relationship is abusive and engrossing. It just dares to ask the question, "Can greatness be achieved without complete pain and sacrifice?"
Moment I Fell in Love: The impromptu audition that kicks the film off.
8. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Must See #2)
Marvel was on top of its game in 2014, and the Russo Brothers got to kick it off in April with the sequel to "Captain America: The First Avenger". It was absolutely marvelous in every way (no pun intended). The story had far reaching implications in the overall universe, as well a for the characters personally. "Winter Soldier" was part shoot-em-up action movie, and part political thriller, and it managed to be the best comic book film since 2008's "The Dark Knight". Chris Evans coolly proved how capable he is as an action star with a charming, and quite unarming, portrayal of a man trying to catch up to world that is constantly shifting under his newly unfrozen feet. Adding Robert Redford as the SHIELD higher up, Alexander Pierce, and Anthony Mackie as The Flacon (the best of the Phase 2 comic relief) was quite a nice touch, as well. "Avengers: Age of Ultron" has a lot to live up to, and I hope Whedon is up to the challenge of topping this.
Moment I Fell in Love: "On Your Left!"
7. Big Bad Wolves
When I sat down to watch Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado's dark comedy-thriller, I didn't know what to expect, and what I got was brutal, thoughtful, and supremely entertaining meditation on revenge. Keshales and Papushado both wrote and directed a superb film about a suspected child molester/murderer who is kidnapped by a victim's father and a disgraced detective. "Wolves" makes a point of turning the men seeking revenge into complete monsters, questioning the difference between revenge and justice, and how revenge consumes the soul, and eventually destroys it. In a way, the initial plot reminded me a lot of Fritz Lang's "M", but soon the comparisons fell away, and I was treated to something equally as beautiful and horrific.
The Moment I Fell in Love: During an interrogation, the child murderer keeps "running into" an interrogators' fists.
6. Nightcrawler
Welcome to my must watch list, Dan Gilroy! If his follow-up to "Nightcrawler" (his debut feature) is even half of the film that this was, it is going to make my top 20 list in whatever year it comes out. Gilroy not only wrote and directed a solid movie that should be studied for years to come, but he gave Jake Gyllenhaal the best best role of his career, and, in turn, Gyllenhaal gave his finest performance as Lou Bloom. He made Bloom a believable manipulative sociopath (think Travis Bickle with more tact) who is willing to do or say whatever he needs to get the things he puts his mind towards. The script is rife with social commentary, and is a perfect representation of the modern media landscape.
The Moment I Fell in Love: Gyllenhaal's Lou Bloom tries to ask for a job from a man who has just purchased stolen construction from him.
5. Only Lovers Left Alive
When an already established film maker makes a good film, it is reason to celebrate, but when that film maker creates what is arguably the best of his career, it is reason to start handing that person awards. Jim Jarmusch has written and directed a gorgeous film that is, in equal parts, poetic and bleak. It uses two vampires (Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton), in a centuries old marriage, as an allegory for addiciton, and a love letter to Jarmusch's long time partner. With Yorick Le Saux as his director of photography, Jarmusch captures the moody lovers with slow precision, and quiet contemplation. Hiddleston and Swinton play Adam and Eve (our lovers) with pitch perfect performances; capturing every nuance of the layered script. To say I love this film is possibly the understatement of the year.
Moment I Fell in Love: When John Hurt is introduced as Christopher Marlowe, the vampire who wrote all of Shakespeare's plays. In the film, of course...
4. The Lego Movie
I was not a fan of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller's "21 Jump Street", so I was a bit worried when they were listed on this film. Much to my surprise, they pulled off a brilliantly emotional and hyper-active family film focused on the power of imagination. An average construction worker, who always follows the instructions, accidentally finds a piece of plastic that is said to be able to save the world. Along with a wizard, a rebellious woman with multi-colored hair, an astronaut, and Batman he sets off to beat the evil President Business. Along the way they all learn about heroism, courage, and teamwork. It really is hard to explain exactly how good this film is without spoiling the ending for everyone, but trust me, "Everything is Awesome!"
Moment I Fell in Love: A sudden shift in focus turned this into a completely different film.
3. A Field in England
There are moments in this drug trip English Civil War drama that I'm still not sure I comprehended properly, and that may be the best part of it. Emerging director, Ben Wheatley, bombards the screen with drool-worthy imagery, and his actors don't hold anything back with their visceral performances. He has shot it in the vain of Ingmar Bergman, and the black and white photography is absolutely stunning. I was entranced from beginning to end with the way this movie looked. The only negative thing I can say about it, was that I'm sure I'm one of the few that will actually love it.
The Moment I Fell in Love: I'm pretty sure it happened during one of the many jarring slow-motion shots or tableaus.
2. The Grand Budapest Hotel
There is so much about Wes Anderson that I love, and he seems to have put all of it into "The Grand Budapest Hotel". This movie was Anderson, at his most Wes Anderson-y. His dialogue is absolutely perfect, and his characters are as zany as ever. Every shot is perfectly captured. Every performance is excellently crafted. Every beat is expertly hit. It is hard for me to not gush over every aspect of this movie. From the ground up, it is a perfect film.
Moment I Fell in Love: I'm sure I fell for this movie during the trailer.
1. Boyhood
Moment I Fell in Love: The 160 or so minutes before the credits rolled.
Good read brother! I have a issue with Boyhood being number one, but other than that I think the ones you listed were really good. The ones I saw at least. I'm going to have to check the rest of them out really soon! Thanks for these reviews brother! I read most of them and it has a large bearing on what I watch next.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I really appreciate your input. Anything that you saw, that I missed?
ReplyDeleteI love this list --- especially that you include blockbusters as well as movies that no one else has ever heard of. I think I would have put Interstellar higher, but other than that, no issues. I agreed with so many things that you said. I was especially intrigued to hear that you hadn't read Gone Girl first...that had to have been one hell of a movie experience when you got to the halfway point!
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