By: Lance
There were 684 movies released this year by Box Office Mojo’s count. Seeing them all is a challenge I am not up for. The vast amount of films shown from January through December is a reason why I don’t always like best-of lists. How can you properly judge the motion picture industry’s output if you’ve only watched a small portion of it?
If you’ve got the fortunate job of writing about film and get to see movies earlier and more frequently than normal folk, then you can compile a list as long as this one before the year’s end. However, how many of you will seek out #45 on that list, Blue Ruin? It’s a good little revenge film, but what kind of prestige does the number 45 hold for most people? Does anyone recall the name of the male who finished 45th in the Boston Marathon? My guess is, only that guy remembers.
In honor of Chris Rock’s Top Five, which has evaded me seeing it for the past few weeks due to pesky work and canceled plans, I will rank the five films in 2014 that I feel are essential viewing for every filmgoer. This way, you know I really mean it when I label these films “the best” because they are part of a select few. So as not to disregard the other excellent entries from this year, you’ll find them mentioned after the top five in no particular order. I liked every film I discuss here, but to save time (and to go out and catch films like Whiplash and A Most Violent Year before they leave theaters), I won’t bother putting them in an order no one actually cares about.
To paraphrase the late director Mike Nichols (1931-2014), too often do we exit a movie theater and instead of appreciating the hard work that went into making the film, we try to find a place still open where we can eat. This list aims to make you hunger for film, not for food.
My Top Five:
1. Birdman, or Get Ur Beak On*
A movie that’s a commentary on so many things, from trying to stay relevant in a fast-paced world to going to great lengths to never hide the truth in artistic expression, Birdman literally takes flight and transcends the term “movie.”
2. Guardians of the Galaxy, or Come and Get Your Infinity Stone
The most fun I had at the movies this year. James Gunn and company crafted an immensely entertaining and irreverent story and pulled together a perfect cast of heroes & villains to tell it.
3. Boyhood, or The World According To Mason
You know, a runtime of 2 hours and 46 minutes is actually not enough time to show a child’s life change over 12 years. Yet Boyhood still contains all the drama, all the joy, all the boredom, and all the pain of growing up.
4. Gone Girl, or Gone Girl Gone Wild
Right now, Gone Girl is seen as a pulpy, sensational, and nasty movie about a marriage and the media gone wrong. 10 years from now, it will be called one of the best films of the decade.
5. Starred Up, or Hell In a Cell
Jack O’Connell and Ben Mendelsohn have a father-son reunion in the worst place imaginable in this hard-hitting, gut-wrenching prison drama. They fight for their lives as well as the right to call themselves family.
And now I present the rest of the best:
The Guest, or He Is the One Who Knocks
To describe this movie is to spoil all the glorious fun. Go see it if you’re a fan of John Carpenter or George A. Romero’s juicy, horror, and heart-racing movies. I reveled in every minute of the killer soundtrack too.
Edge of Tomorrow, or Risky Time-Travel Alien Business
We’re talking good, innovative sci-fi here. Too bad it wasn’t a huge box-office success stateside because Tom Cruise was in top-form and Emily Blunt was a dirty, sweaty angel who could make Alien’s Ripley scream in space.
Interstellar, or Planet Earth Terror
Like the space exploration depicted in the movie, Christopher Nolan goes deep with this futuristic and humanistic tale about a father-daughter relationship. The docking sequence is unbelievable, as is the entire score from Hans “Don’t call me ‘Bubby’” Zimmer.
Under the Skin, or Man-eater
It was 14 years back that he brought us Sexy Beast and nine years ago that he gave us Birth, but Jonathan Glazer proved that he lost none of his weird and striking visual sense that kept your eyes glued to the screen for those films.
The Grand Budapest Hotel, or The Lost Art of Being a Concierge
All the talk about this film is that it’s Anderson’s best to date, and in a way that’s correct. It’s the most light and energetic entry in his filmography and simultaneously the most somber and subtle.
Foxcatcher, or How I Could Just Wrestle a Man
The true story can be looked up on Wikipedia, but the film is something you get weaved into. Powerhouse performances and daring direction are on display in this undeniably American film about the quest to achieve Olympic gold and recognition on one’s own terms.
Captain America: The Winter Solider, or The Hydras Are Coming, The Hydras Are Coming.
It’s arguably the most accomplished Marvel comic-book movie thus far. It contains the same spectacle as previous Marvel showdowns but where Cap 2 really excels is the characterization of Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanoff, Bucky Barnes, and Sam Wilson aka Captain America, Black Widow, Winter Solider, and Falcon, respectively.
X-Men: Days of Future Past, or Did I Do Thaaaat?
The seventh X-Men movie saved time in a bottle and its reputation as a franchise. We can finally forget about the Brett Ratner-helmed X-Men: The Last Stand (although some fan boys will never let that go). Plus, it was the best case made for the threat that mutants pose to society. Thanks Tyrion Lannister!
Snowpiercer, or This Train Don’t Stop There Anymore
The revolution will not be televised as Chris Evans and a group of underprivileged survivors fight their way to the front of a speeding train where the elite bask in excess. South Korea’s Bong Joon-ho makes his English-language debut here and the story and setting make this a must-see film.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, or Something of the Planet of the Apes
Whenever there was an opportunity to do a long take, Matt Reeves took it. Andy Serkis, Toby Kebbell, and the advanced effects team seriously brought their Ape game to this one.
Nightcrawler, or Shoot First, Ask For Money Later
Jake Gyllenhaal is a vicious videographer in this surprisingly action-packed thriller with great chase scenes. The script is well written too, albeit just a little bit far-fetched.
Frank, or Maybe He’s Born With It, Maybe It’s the Paper Mache Head
Michael Fassbender will leave you in stiches with his portrayal of a wacky artist living and rocking while constantly wearing a giant fake head mask in this thought-provoking and funny music film.
The Babadook, or We’ve Got an Evil Spirit, How ‘Bout You?
Scary, spooky, and sentimental, the horror story from Australia is deserving of all of its good buzz.
Fury, or Tanks For the Memories
A brutal and horrific war film where many people die for…what is it again? Yeah, David Ayer’s film doesn’t give any answers to that question. Only bullets, bombs, blood, and bodies.
John Wick, or You Killed My Dog, Prepare to Die
A revenge movie done right! Starring Keanu Reeves as he bulldozes his way through the mob and takes no prisoners.
The Lego Movie, or Will Arnett Is the Best Batman Ever
We should all be thankful that the cast & crew found it necessary to make a touching and hilarious movie about EXACTLY why we play with Legos and not some lame product tie-in. Not being nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars is like stepping on a Lego for fans of the flick.
Honorable Mention: True Detective, or Darkness Is Spreading, and Fargo, or There Be Dragons in Minnesota.
I believe Jimmy Kimmel was right when he harmlessly roasted Matthew McConaughey at the Emmy awards. “That’s a movie-star face,” he told him. HBO’s True Detective was the TV event of the year and its acting, writing, directing, and production value rivaled many feature films. Although the finale wasn’t the “bang” we were all expecting it certainly wasn’t a whimper. Can’t wait for Season 2!
And another show that had us thinking we were in a movie theater instead of our own living rooms was FX’s Fargo. Creator Noah Hawley took all the quality aspects from the Coen’s 1996 movie—strange and seedy characters, grisly violence, and bizarre occurrences—and told his tale over 10 of the finest episodes I have ever seen on television. Aces!
*The actual subtitle for Birdman is (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance).
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