With the continuing rise of cinematic universes and excess of sequels in Hollywood, it may seem difficult to find films these days that really stick out. Just when we thought Michael Bay had provided moviegoers with enough headache inducing explosions, he just had to go and make another "Transformers" movie. We also got another "Godzilla" remake, a lousy Spider-Man sequel, and adaptations of "The Hunger Games" and "The Hobbit" which were unneccesarily split into multiple parts. Yet amidst the remakes and money hogging franchises, 2014 has offered us more than one original and enticing cinematic experience. Here are my favorites.
5) "Gone Girl"; Dir. David Fincher: "Gone Girl" is a hard hitting and captivating thriller about a writer named Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) whose wife Amy (Rosamund Pike) goes missing. When evidence points to him as her murderer, a whirlwind of events follows which will shock even the most observant and intuitive audience members. This is Fincher's best thriller since "Zodiac", combining a Hitchcockian style with a knockout script by Gillian Flynn, who also wrote the novel which the movie is based on. Affleck gives a strong performance, but it's Pike who really stands out here. This is particularly refreshing given that some of her most recent roles are in the abysmal "Clash of the Titans" and its equally atrocious sequel. All in all, "Gone Girl" will leave you mesmerized with its stellar execution, making it one of the better thrillers of the last few years.
4) "Snowpiercer"; Dir. Joon-ho Bong: "Snowpiercer" takes place in a post-apocalyptic future in which the Earth has frozen over and the last survivors of humanity live on a continuously moving train. With a class system forcing the poorest occupants to live in terrible conditions in the very back of the train, a man named Curtis (Chris Evans) leads a resistance where members fight their way to the front. There have been several noteworthy science fiction movies this year, but it's this indie which I put at the top of my list. This film provides sociopolitical commentary, strong human drama and heart pounding action sequences. Bong's exquisite style creates a video game feel, which is appropriate given that the film is based on a graphic novel. Curtis and his comrades encounter multiple villains as they continue to advance before facing the charismatic final boss, played by Ed Harris. The ending seems to not sit well with a number of viewers, but all in all I found "Snowpiercer" thoroughly enjoyable and original. If you're interested in giving it a watch, it is on Netflix.
3) "The Grand Budapest Hotel"; Dir. Wes Anderson: The best movies take you out of the real world and suck you into an entirely different one. Wes Anderson does this in a phenomenal manner with "The Grand Budapest Hotel", a film about a corky concierge named M. Gustave (Ralph Fiennes) and his lobby boy Zero (Tony Revolori). The story tells of their antics and adventures, all told by an older version of Zero as he talks with a fascinated writer. This is one of Anderson's most delightful, satirical, humorous and beautifully choreographed films to date, right up there with "The Royal Tenenbaums." As soon as I left the theater, I knew it would be one I'd see multiple times. Fiennes gives an Oscar worthy performance and has great chemistry with Revolori. The film also features Willem Dafoe, Tilda Swinton (who also does terrific work in "Snowpiercer") and Anderson veterans like Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, Owen Wilson and Edward Norton. This is a must see for any film guru and especially for Anderson fans.
2) "Boyhood"; Dir. Richard Linklater: It's difficult to put "Boyhood" into words as it's just one of those movies you have to experience for yourself. Made over the course of 12 years and featuring the same cast members, the film is about a boy's childhood and transition into early adulthood. His parents, who divorce while he's still a child, are played by Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette, both longtime collaborators of Linklater. Ellar Coltrane makes his debut performance as the film's lead Mason, while Linklater's daughter Lorelei plays his sister Samantha. The film explores both a child's innocence and the struggles that come with adolescence. It boldly and captivatingly provides an untarnished portrayal of humanity. Rather than depict these characters in a flashy and untruthful way, Linklater shows us their faults as much as he does their more admirable traits. Both his script and direction display the mastery of a true auteur. Linklater knows his craft, and it is ten times as evident here as it is in his first film "Slacker", a cult classic. This film is a piece of art.
1) "Birdman"; Dir. Alejandro González Iñárritu: My favorite film of 2014 is one I saw this afternoon. As I'm writing this, I'm still in the midst of absorbing the experience of watching it. The film tells the story of Riggan Thomson (Michael Keaton), a washed up actor who used to play an iconic superhero in a popular franchise. Now divorced and having an estranged relationship with his daughter Sam (Emma Stone), Riggan attempts to make his comeback on Broadway. The film is particularly fascinating for being a commentary on the widespread popularity of superhero blockbusters. Are real actors extinct? Is the only way to earn a living in this field to play one of the Avengers? These are the kinds of questions explored in this film. Keaton, Stone, Edward Norton, and even Zach Galifianakis all give outstanding performances. The script is superb, and a special shoutout goes to "Gravity" cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki for his work here. Viewers experience the movie as if it were a single shot which seamlessly transitions from one scene to the next. This is is an undeniable cinematic achievement, putting "Birdman" at the top of my list.
Honorable Mentions:
-"Interstellar": Christopher Nolan pays tribute to "2001: A Space Odyssey" with his deeply philosophical and highly entertaining science fiction blockbuster. While not as great as "Inception" and "The Prestige" in my eyes, it's still a reminder of why Nolan remains one of my favorite directors.
-"Edge of Tomorrow": While I thought this was just going to be another Tom Cruise action movie, I was pleasantly surprised to find it to be my favorite film of his since "Minority Report." Director Doug Liman combines Halo and "Groundhog Day", making for a wildly entertaining science fiction thriller.
-"Captain America: The Winter Soldier": While I had tons of fun with "Guardians of the Galaxy", I must say that Cap stars in the best superhero movie of the year. The Russo brothers prove that franchise flicks can be good. The movie delivers both a sharply written script and fantastic directing.
Those are my favorites. Now let's hope for a great year of movies in 2015!
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