Shawn Eastridge's Fantastically Spectacular Favorite Movies of 2014 Part 2: Favorite Films of the Year Vol.1

And we're back! Thanks for dropping by. I believe you already know the drill, so let's push off, shall we? Starting with #20 and working our way up, here are my…

FAVORITE FILMS OF 2014 VOL. 1 

(#20-11)

20. FOXCATCHER

Foxcatcher manages to keep you on the edge of your seat despite its lack of compelling storytelling and an almost glacial pace thanks to some strong direction and incredible performances. It’ll keep you riveted even when it feels like absolutely nothing is happening.

19. INTERSTELLAR

Christopher Nolan bounces back from the disaster that was The Dark Knight Rises with this stunning work of sci-fi splendor. Interstellar falls apart in its third act, but its visual majesty and emotional impact cannot be denied, the latter thanks to another winning performance from Matthew McConaughey.

18. JOHN WICK

Keanu Reeves is back with a vengeance in this blood soaked, action-packed extravaganza. Screenwriter Derek Kolstad keeps this revenge flick simple and to the point and Chad Stahelski’s direction is fast-paced and stylish without resorting to shaky-cam clichés of other less impressive action fare. The fight choreography is some of the best you’ll see from a movie released in 2014.

17. TOP FIVE

Chris Rock is without question one of the most gifted comedians of…well...ever. With Top Five, he proves he’s got the chops to make it as a writer/director too. Channeling the spirit of Woody Allen sans pretentiousness, Rock’s latest effort is charming and hilarious.

16. HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2

This long-awaited sequel might not be as strong as its predecessor, but that's not really a complaint. After all, the first How to Train Your Dragon set the bar so high, it’s no surprise this one doesn’t quite measure up. Regardless, this excellent sequel manages to satisfy by deepening the themes and characters, and it's not afraid to delve a bit more into the darkness as well. It stands tall amongst its animated brethren. Bring on number 3!

15. THE IMITATION GAME

Benedict Cumberbatch gives a powerful performance in Morten Tyldum’s well-crafted, emotional thriller, which depicts the life of haunted genius Alan Turing. Matthew Goode and Keira Knightley lead a strong supporting cast.

14. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

Guardians of the Galaxy suffers from familiar plotting and a dull villain, but it more than makes up for it in charm, sheer entertainment value, and one of the best soundtracks of the year. Marvel is on a roll and Guardians of the Galaxy is yet another successful notch in their championship belt. In a way, they've become the live-action version of 'old-school' PIXAR: you can always count on them to deliver the goods.

13. 22 JUMP STREET

I don't think I laughed harder in a movie theater this past year than I did watching 22 Jump Street. I’ll go so far as to say this is the best comedy sequel I've ever seen. It manages to match its predecessor in nearly every way and in some ways even surpasses it. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum are the new Riggs and Murtaugh.

12. X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST

Bryan Singer returns to rescue the X-Men franchise once and for all with a spirited, enormously entertaining return to form. Yes, its plot holes are almost mind numbing in number, but Days of Future Past is so much fun and has such excellent performances from its all star cast that all is forgiven. Best of all, it wipes the X-Men 3-stained slate clean, giving much needed hope for the future of the franchise.

11. LOCKE

Tom Hardy drives a car and talks to people on a phone for 90 minutes. Sound boring? Not in the slightest. Locke is great filmmaking and storytelling. Steven Knight’s direction and screenplay are compelling and Tom Hardy gives one of 2014’s best performances. See this one by any means you can.

That's it for this episode, ladies and gentlemen! Stay tuned for my Top Ten Favorite Films of 2014!! Same Bat time, same Bat channel.