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More so than the albums we buy each year, the wide-variety of film that is produced each year is very much a reflection of what we as a culture are today. This roughly 10.4 billion dollar industry creates spectral visions of light that captivate, stories and characters that provide inspiration, magical effects and technical processes that ever attempt to draw us away from our modern home viewing enclaves and drop down our hard earned dough on the grand illusion.
As year’s in film go, 2014 had a little of everything, from the biggest exploding IMAX films ever made to the most intimate small budget art films. We tried our best to make sense of it all and came up with a list of films worth your time, in alphabetical order…
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) – Who thought that this year we’d see a character piece about a washed up superhero creating his own stage play, that stars Michael Keaton and would be considered one of the year’s best? Another seismic offering from the gifted director Alejandro Iñárritu and performed by Keaton, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts and Zach Galifianakis. Birdman is not to be missed, as it’s one of the best performances of Keaton’s career.
Boyhood – There was no better reviewed film in 2014 and audiences loved it almost as much. This film was made over the course of 12 years with the same actors growing up through the course of the film. It’s a one of a kind experience, lovingly crafted by Richard Linklater and featuring Ellar Coltrane who deftly pilots the heart of the story. It’s still on the big screen in a few places and may even see a re-release come Oscar time as it’s certain to garner many awards in the coming season.
Dear White People – This is one of those little films that would have otherwise flown under the radar were it not for the fact that it won writer/director Justin Simien the Jury Prize for Breakthrough Talent at Sundance. Focusing primarily on how all races, persuasions and personalities can struggle on a private college campus, this witty comedy is filled with poignant social commentary about race and gender stereotypes. Dear White People is a must see, especially in light of today’s headlines.
Gone Girl – Based on a novel by the same name, Gone Girl is a well-crafted thriller directed by David Fincher and stars Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike. Filled with twists and turns, this well-choreographed film seethes with murder, deception and the tangled lies of a relationship gone wrong. While not exactly something for the whole family to enjoy, it’ll certainly tickle the dark side of the imagination.
Guardians of the Galaxy – The top grossing domestic film of 2014, raking in over $332 million, this comedy was not only favored by critics but by the general public as well – not always an easy feat to accomplish in Hollywood. It’s also that rare comic book film that can pull off special-effects driven action, adventure, humor, in a family friendly way and still appeal to adults. It’s no wonder everyone flocked to this otherworldly release. Featuring Bradley Cooper, Chris Pratt, Vin Diesel and Zoe Saldana.
Inherent Vice – This psychedelic, slapstick, “surf-noir” film is in limited release until this weekend when the talents of madcap writer Thomas Pynchon and visionary writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson will be fully unleashed upon the masses. PTA’s first ensemble cast since 1999’s Magnolia, the film stars Joaquin Phoenix, Josh Brolin, Reese Witherspoon, Benicio Del Toro, Owen Wilson, Katherine Waterston, Martin Short and many more.
Imitation Game – This gloriously crafted World War II period piece centers on computer scientist Alan Turing who led England’s charge in cracking Nazi Germany’s Enigma code. Turing is brilliantly portrayed by the one the finest actors today, who also happens to possess one of the greatest names ever conceived, Benedict Cumberbatch. Playing opposite him is the gorgeous Keira Knightly in a film that has been garnering the highest of praise, including 5 Golden Globe nominations, since it’s late-November release.
The Grand Budapest Hotel – If you’ve followed director Wes Anderson’s filmography, you wouldn’t be surprised to find that he’s created yet another whimsical and fantastic visual adventure, taking the seemly mundane and finding the conflicting darkness and joy within. A wonderful romp through a fictional hotel inhabited by the year’s best cast including Ralph Fiennes, Edward Norton, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Jason Schwartzman, Jude Law, Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson, Bill Murray and many more.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 – Having now twice survived the Hunger Games, our fair Katniss, now a symbol of rebellion, is in the thick of things again, now in District 13. Suzanne Collins’ third and final book in the Hunger Games trilogy has been split into two (a la Harry Potter) and though it was only released toward the end of November, MockingjayPt 1 nearly surpassed Guardians of the Galaxy’s domestic totalsbefore the close of 2014. This is a one of those rare sets of sequels that have only gotten better over time, so it’s not to be missed.
Whiplash – The film that opened last year’s Sundance Film Festival, Whiplash is an intense, visceral story about the trials of a student jazz drummer coming up against one of the most fearsome maestro’s of his school. J.K. Simmons is explosive in his portrayal of the intense mentor and the young Miles Teller provides an emotion and exhausting performance as the student. This character driven piece of cinema is a stand out in so many ways, even among all the best 2014 had to offer
Honorable Mention
– Foxcatcher
– Goodbye to Language
– Interstellar
– Under the Skin
– Unbroken
…and the Worst Film of 2014
Transformers: Age of Extinction – maybe extinction is a good idea, yet it still literally grossed a billion dollars worldwide. Please stop Mr Bay. Please.
