The 30 Best Movies of 2014
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- DirectorRichard LinklaterStarsEllar ColtranePatricia ArquetteEthan HawkeThe life of Mason, from early childhood to his arrival at college.A once in a lifetime experience, Boyhood is a ground-breaking achievement in the art of film and the art of storytelling. Not only is it unique in the way it has been filmed and edited, but the story and dialogue are brilliant, honest, and so very real. So many times I smiled, looking at the different years and the nostalgia they bring. So many times I was moved by these characters, it seriously felt like I was experiencing somebody else's lifetime, with all the pain and joy that comes with it. Richard Linklater has crafted something incredible, and when I saw this movie, I felt like I already knew that this was the best film of 2014. It's innovation in movies at it's finest. In a scene where the boy Mason asks his dad if he believes in magic, and his dad responds by saying that magic can be found within our world, outside of mythical things. I can say that with Boyhood that that's a true statement; Boyhood is a piece of magic within our world, and reminds us how the movies can be a magical thing.
- DirectorAlejandro G. IñárrituStarsMichael KeatonZach GalifianakisEdward NortonA washed-up superhero actor attempts to revive his fading career by writing, directing, and starring in a Broadway production.Another film that truly stood out for it's innovation in 2014 was Birdman. Michael Keaton is fantastic in a piece of storytelling that is constantly enthralling, laughter-inducing, and awe-inspiring. It's a technical marvel where the mechanics and story walk hand-in-hand, creating something special. The cinematography is masterful and the editing flawless, complimenting the amazing cast and their intense performances. This one will stay with you long after you watch it, and you're going to want to go back and observe this epic over and over again.
- DirectorMarc WebbStarsAndrew GarfieldEmma StoneJamie FoxxWhen New York is put under siege by Oscorp, it is up to Spider-Man to save the city he swore to protect as well as his loved ones.The most underrated movie I think I've seen in a VERY long time, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 to me was the return of Spidey on the big screen to a much better form. This film works because it has such emotional depth and is often so moving. Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone are wonderful and the supporting cast is great as well. Hans Zimmer's score is so good. Critics complained this film was a giant commercial for the upcoming sequels and ended up meaning nothing, but I think they need to start pulling their heads out of their butts. You can't have a theatre full of crying people and say the film means nothing. This story means something and I really could see the honest intentions of the filmmakers. Some of it is masterfully done, especially Gwen's death; despite the tragedy, it is beautifully handled. Much of it is beautifully handled, and even made myself, a guy who's stingy when it comes to showing emotion at the movies, cry a good amount. So do I agree that this movie is packed with underdeveloped characters we don't care about? Heck no. Is the story unfocussed and all over the place? Heck no. Is this a bad movie? Absolutely not. I think the Amazing Spider-Man 2 is a victim of poor critiquing, by both pros and some amateur, though I've never actually met a person who hates this movie. As a Spider-Man fan, who has been disheartened by the way the film franchise has been going, this one was a BIG win. It saddens me that this movie didn't get the praise it deserved, because it truly is exceptional, and one of the best films of 2014.
- DirectorWes AndersonStarsRalph FiennesF. Murray AbrahamMathieu AmalricA writer encounters the owner of an aging high-class hotel, who tells him of his early years serving as a lobby boy in the hotel's glorious years under an exceptional concierge.The funniest movie of the year, and possibly Wes Anderson's best movie yet, The Grand Budapest Hotel is an absolute joy from beginning to end. It's style is charming and the performances are oh so good. I don't think I laughed more in 2014 than I did watching this comic gem. While I do believe Birdman perhaps should have won Best Musical of Comedy at the Golden Globes, I was not even remotely upset this one won the award; it's a fantastic movie that is indeed one of the year's best.
- DirectorAnthony RussoJoe RussoStarsChris EvansSamuel L. JacksonScarlett JohanssonAs Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world, he teams up with a fellow Avenger and S.H.I.E.L.D agent, Black Widow, to battle a new threat from history: an assassin known as the Winter Soldier.A true game-changer for Marvel and it's superhero movies, this Captain America has a bold story to tell and action sequences that are more enthralling than any Marvel film yet. Where Iron Man 3 and Thor: The Dark World failed to gain any ground forward in the film universe, Captain America: The Winter Soldier propels superhero movies in an awesome new direction, and maybe surpasses even The Avengers in the cannon of Marvel Studios films.
- DirectorDamien ChazelleStarsMiles TellerJ.K. SimmonsMelissa BenoistA promising young drummer enrolls at a cut-throat music conservatory where his dreams of greatness are mentored by an instructor who will stop at nothing to realize a student's potential.Never would have I thought that a movie about drumming could be so thrilling, but thanks to wonderful filmmaking and a truly diabolically evil performance from J.K. Simmons, Whiplash is a work that stands out. I think Simmons deserves an Oscar for this one; he portrays one of the scariest movie villains I've seen since Heath Ledger's Joker. You'll be on the edge of your seat constantly with this one.
- DirectorPhil LordChristopher MillerStarsChris PrattWill FerrellElizabeth BanksAn ordinary LEGO construction worker, thought to be the prophesied as "special", is recruited to join a quest to stop an evil tyrant from gluing the LEGO universe into eternal stasis.All hail the true best animated movie of 2014: The Lego Movie, a fact that the Hollywood Foreign Press neglected by awarding the vastly inferior How to Train Your Dragon 2 Best Animated Film, and a fact the Academy was so stupid to neglect that they didn't even nominate the film for the category. Anyways, The Lego Movie is a unique and beautiful film that has all the right morals and the immense fun to go with it. It's a funny, charming, and action-packed film with a lot to tug on your heartstrings. I loved this movie so much, and Golden Globe/Academy Award recognition or not, it's the best animated movie of 2014, and one of the best movies period.
- DirectorMorten TyldumStarsBenedict CumberbatchKeira KnightleyMatthew GoodeDuring World War II, the English mathematical genius Alan Turing tries to crack the German Enigma code with help from fellow mathematicians while attempting to come to terms with his troubled private life.Engaging, thrilling, and heartbreaking, The Imitation Game is an incredible look at a much overlooked piece of the Allied victory of World War Two, and an eye-opening exploration of a very dark part of Britain's past. Benedict Cumberbatch and Kiera Knightley make history come alive and are such a treat to watch. The father of the modern computer finally gets the recognition he deserves with a film that is brilliant in execution and true to it's history and message.
- DirectorDavid AyerStarsBrad PittShia LaBeoufLogan LermanA grizzled tank commander makes tough decisions as he and his crew fight their way across Germany in April, 1945.A much-overlooked masterpiece, Fury delivers the brutality of war convincingly, but displays the human side of it all beautifully. The performances are great, and Shia Labeouf really stands out in this one, giving the best performance of his career.
- DirectorJames MarshStarsEddie RedmayneFelicity JonesTom PriorStephen Hawking gets unprecedented success in the field of physics despite being diagnosed with motor neuron disease at the age of 21. He defeats awful odds as his first wife Jane aids him loyally.I don't know how Eddie Redmayne did it, but he became Stephen Hawking, truly. With two wonderful performances at the forefront, The Theory of Everything is a sensational biopic that gets to the heart of it's subjects clearly and effectively. I really did feel this one and thought about it a lot after I saw it. It's a great piece of filmmaking all around.
- DirectorClint EastwoodStarsBradley CooperSienna MillerKyle GallnerNavy S.E.A.L. sniper Chris Kyle's pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield and turns him into a legend. Back home with his family after four tours of duty, however, Chris finds that it is the war he can't leave behind.A gripping and intense biopic, led by an honest performance from Bradley Cooper and a steady hand by Clint Eastwood, who gives his best directorial effort since Gran Torino.
- DirectorDon HallChris WilliamsStarsRyan PotterScott AdsitJamie ChungA special bond develops between plus-sized inflatable robot Baymax and prodigy Hiro Hamada, who together team up with a group of friends to form a band of high-tech heroes.An absolutely wonderful animated movie that is so full of heart and so full of action. You'll fall in love with the characters and the imagery, and has all the right stuff for all ages.. This is probably Disney's best animated film in a few years, and yes, I'm not forgetting about Frozen.
- DirectorAva DuVernayStarsDavid OyelowoCarmen EjogoOprah WinfreyA chronicle of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, in 1965.Powerful and effective, this is a biopic that has the potential to open eyes and open hearts. It's never easy to watch, but it's a journey worth taking, and a man and movement worth celebrating.
- DirectorBong Joon HoStarsChris EvansJamie BellTilda SwintonIn a future where a failed climate change experiment has killed all life except for the survivors who boarded the Snowpiercer (a train that travels around the globe), a new class system emerges.You either love Snowpiercer or you hate it, there doesn't seem to be much of an in-between, so I'm on the side who loves it. It's an odd film for sure, but I could not take my eyes off it, and had my jaw hanging once the credits rolled. It's art-house action done so very right. It's not for everyone, but if you give it a chance, you just might be amazed by it.
- DirectorDavid FincherStarsBen AffleckRosamund PikeNeil Patrick HarrisWith his wife's disappearance having become the focus of an intense media circus, a man sees the spotlight turned on him when it's suspected that he may not be innocent.Another great film from my favorite director Mr. David Fincher, Gone Girl will make you cringe and laugh at the same time. It's brilliant and does the book justice.
- DirectorJohn CarneyStarsKeira KnightleyMark RuffaloAdam LevineA chance encounter between a down-and-out music business executive, and a young singer songwriter new to Manhattan, turns into a promising collaboration between the two talents.Great music, great performance, and a great story make Begin Again a film worth your time and the investment of your heart.
- DirectorJames GunnStarsChris PrattVin DieselBradley CooperA group of intergalactic criminals must pull together to stop a fanatical warrior with plans to purge the universe.Funny, exciting, and visually stunning, Guardians of the Galaxy perfectly capped off what was an amazing year for superhero movies. What was a risky move for Marvel turned out to be one of their biggest hits, and something you can't help but fall in love with.
- DirectorBennett MillerStarsSteve CarellChanning TatumMark RuffaloU.S. Olympic wrestling champions and brothers Mark Schultz and Dave Schultz join "Team Foxcatcher", led by eccentric multi-millionaire John du Pont, as they train for the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea, but John's self-destructive behavior threatens to consume them all.Steve Carrell is insanely good in this slow but involving film. The quiet tension will envelop you throughout as it builds.
- DirectorDan GilroyStarsJake GyllenhaalRene RussoBill PaxtonWhen Louis Bloom, a con man desperate for work, muscles into the world of L.A. crime journalism, he blurs the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story.Nightcrawler knows how to get under your skin, thanks to a rocking performance from Jake Gylenhaal and the script he has to work with.
- DirectorJ.C. ChandorStarsOscar IsaacJessica ChastainDavid OyelowoIn New York City 1981, an ambitious immigrant fights to protect his business and family during the most dangerous year in the city's history.Filled with tension and intrigue, A Most Violent Year is a different kind of crime movie that uses it's actors and setting masterfully.
- DirectorScott FrankStarsLiam NeesonDan StevensDavid HarbourPrivate investigator Matthew Scudder is hired by a drug kingpin to find out who kidnapped and murdered his wife.Liam Neeson is awesome in this gripping and heavy crime thriller that refreshingly strays away from his usual action movie ventures. It hits you hard right from the beginning, and holds on to you and never lets go.
- DirectorTommy Lee JonesStarsTommy Lee JonesHilary SwankGrace GummerThree women who have been driven mad by pioneer life are to be transported across the country by covered wagon by the pious, independent-minded Mary Bee Cuddy, who in turn employs low-life drifter George Briggs to assist her.Beautifully filmed and acted, The Homesman is a different kind of western that may end up being too much for some, but it is a very rewarding watch.
- DirectorSteven KnightStarsTom HardyOlivia ColmanRuth WilsonIvan Locke, a dedicated family man and successful construction manager, receives a phone call on the eve of the biggest challenge of his career that sets in motion a series of events that threaten his carefully cultivated existence.Spending most of his time in car on the phone, Tom Hardy gives his best performance yet in a film that proves that words can be just as thrilling as stunts.
- DirectorPhilippe FalardeauStarsReese WitherspoonArnold OcengGer DuanyA group of Sudanese refugees, given the chance to resettle in the U.S., arrive in Kansas City, Missouri, where their encounter with an employment agency counselor forever changes all of their lives.Though Witherspoon gets top billing, the true stars are the three newcomers who make The Good Lie an enjoyable and thoughtful film about Sudanese refugees trying to make it in America.
- DirectorTim BurtonStarsAmy AdamsChristoph WaltzDanny HustonA drama about the awakening of painter Margaret Keane, her phenomenal success in the 1950s, and the subsequent legal difficulties she had with her husband, who claimed credit for her works in the 1960s.Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz act up a storm in a solid and classy biopic about a controversial subject. It's Tim Burton's best in a long time.
- DirectorMichaël R. RoskamStarsTom HardyNoomi RapaceJames GandolfiniBob Saginowski finds himself at the center of a robbery gone awry and entwined in an investigation that digs deeply into the neighborhood's past where friends, families, and foes all work together to make a living--no matter the cost.A great crime film written by my favorite author Dennis Lehane.
- DirectorAngelina JolieStarsJack O'ConnellMiyaviDomhnall GleesonAfter a near-fatal plane crash in WWII, Olympian Louis Zamperini spends a harrowing 47 days in a raft with two fellow crewmen before he's caught by the Japanese navy and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp.Critics hated it, but Angelina Jolie's love for the man this movie is based upon clearly shows with her directorial effort. Well shot and well acted, it's a movie that presents this inspirational true story with above average results.
- DirectorJohn Michael McDonaghStarsBrendan GleesonChris O'DowdKelly ReillyAfter he is threatened during a confession, a good-natured priest must battle the dark forces closing in around him.Brendan Gleeson is flawless in this darkly funny film that has a sharp script and great supporting cast.
- DirectorCraig JohnsonStarsKristen WiigBill HaderLuke WilsonHaving both coincidentally cheated death on the same day, estranged twins reunite with the possibility of mending their relationship.Funny and real, Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig make The Skeleton Twins loveable and believable.
- DirectorBryan SingerStarsPatrick StewartIan McKellenHugh JackmanThe X-Men send Wolverine to the past in a desperate effort to change history and prevent an event that results in doom for both humans and mutants.The X-Men franchise is back to form in this imperfect but impressive reboot in the hands of director Bryan Singer.