Overall the 2014 cinematic year was awesome. I may have given off the impression in my “worst of 2014” list that there were a bunch of awful movies, but compared to other years the awful was held at bay. For the most part 2014 movies were an enjoyable fun experience, and now it’s finally time to count down the best or the best.
More accurately, this is my personal favorite movies of
2014, so if your favorite movies aren’t on here, it simply means that out
opinions differ (or that I didn’t get around to seeing said hypothetical
film.) It also means that some of my
choices for the list may be considered unconventional, I do not always agree
with popular opinion; so while some
universally loved movies are on the list (like Boyhood and Birdman,) others
didn’t (sorry Guardians of the Galaxy fans.)
. . . And with all of those disclaimers out of the way, let’s
get to the list. Here are the top 10
movies of 2014!
#10. 22 Jump Street
I absolutely adored 21 Jump Street, and this new sequel has delivered in more ways then one can imagine. It inventively and creatively spoofs its own identity while still creating a new central arc for it's characters.
For a movie that is constantly making fun of its self for being "the same thing," 22 Jump Street is refreshingly different from its predecessor while still containing all of the high energy hilarity one might expect.
#9. The Lego Movie
The Lego Movie is much more entertaining in practice then in theory. If I had heard the premise for this flick before I saw the trailers I would have grimaced, yet the filmmakers (some of whom also worked on 21 and 22 Jump Street) were able to inject enough humor, heart and unexpected twists to make it one heck of a ride.
But do you know what really puts this one into "Top Ten" territory? The visuals! Attached to all of the fun, action oriented, hilarity is some of the most stunning visual effects around. If you haven't seen this one yet, then you're sorely missing out.
#8. The Guest
This madhouse action/horror flick didn't really get the wide attention it deserved, and that's a shame because it is a supremely entertaining movie to watch. The Guest walks the line between almost every movie genre in such a glorious way that it feels wholly original without ever being all-out weird.
The Guest's director, Adam Wingaurd underwhelmed the first time around with You're Next, but The Guest is a far superior picture. It also happens to be one of the most flat-out entertaining films of the year.
#7. Edge of Tomorrow
Groundhog Day with aliens may seem like a terrible idea, and that's exactly what it is. The greatness of Edge of Tomorrow lies in its ability to take a silly premise and use fantastic direction, charismatic actors and an A-list script to pull the dead weight.
Director Doug Liman is a maser of high energy adventure like this, and Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt flex their blockbuster potential in this highly entertaining smash actioner.
#6. Muppets Most Wanted
You know what I love? Muppets. I love the Muppets so much that even if they made a terrible movie about aliens or something I would still buy it on DVD (yes I own Muppets from Space on DVD and quote it regularly.)
Fortunately for me, Muppets Most Wanted is not the kind of Muppet flick that I have to love guiltily; no, Muppets Most Wanted is the kind of musical Muppet adventure that makes you smile all the way through. So far Disney's ownership of the Muppets has heralded mostly good things, and Muppets Most Wanted is a primo example!
#5. Gone Girl
David Finchers most cmmercial movie, Gone Girl, may not be his greatest; but it's certainly the best thing he's done in a while. It's a fantastic twisty thriller in the vein of Hitchcock's Psycho. It's the kind of movie that you can't hardly talk about, because you can't bare the thought of spoiling it for somebody else.
On top of the great plot are a great cast, and some fantastic visuals and atmosphere. Every year I want one decent thriller to come out in wide release, and this year Gone Girl gave me more then I could have hoped for.
#4. The Grand Budapest Hotel
Wes Anderson, despite some claims to the contrary, is not making the same movie over and over again. Want proof? go see The Grand Budapest Hotel.
It may be the most bizarre Anderson flick yet, complete with Ralph Fiennes' best performance ever. The movie is both sadistically dark and uproariously hilarious in the best way possible. Wes Anderson is surprising us all with each new film, and "Grand Budapest" is no exception.
#3. Birdman
Everybody loves Birdman, and I'm no different. The movie truly needs to be seen to be believed, as its style a visual grandeur is incredibly unique and somewhat hypnotizing in its own rite.
The film is partially about a man who is trying to hold on to his artistic integrity, but mostly its a direct criticism of big-budget blockbusters in general. It's the sort of film that people are going to be looking at for years, and talking about the technical style as well as the underlying meaning. I might not think it's as great as others, but I definitely think it's one of the few movies that came out this year that everyone should see.
#2. Nightcrawler
Nightcrawler has been defined, commercially, by Jake Gyllenhaal's career best performance; and he certainly blew it out of the park. Yet it seems a shame to me that the film itself has been ignored, because it really is a fantastic piece of film-making.
I'm a sucker for character studies about the deranged, and Nightcrawler is one of the best I've seen in the while. The style and script work well with the fantastic directing to make one of the most underrated movies of the year.
#1. Boyhood
Boyhood is a masterpiece, and not just from a technical standpoint. The movie's production history is incredibly impressive, but what is truly impressive is the film itself.
Boyhood resonates on an incredible human way. Movies like Nightcrawler and Birdman both carve their stories around human oddities, but Boyhood is about a remarkably average group of people, and still tells a beautiful and compelling story. It truly has to be seen to be understood.
Maybe I'm jumping the gun, but I think that Boyhood should not only be set among the best movies of 2015, but also among the best movies ever made.
No comments:
Post a Comment