And here we are, ladies and gentlemen! I'd like to personally congratulate each and every one of you for making it this far. This is the big finale, the moment you've all been waiting for! Starting with #10 and moving our way up, here, at long last, are my…
TOP TEN FAVORITE MOVIES OF 2014
("You don't think it's too subtle, Marty, you don't think people are going to drive down and not see the sign?")
10. SNOWPIERCER
Arguably the most original action film of 2014. Joon-ho Bong is an amazing filmmaker and he continues to prove himself as such with this thrilling and unforgettable experience. Gotta love Tilda Swinton as a total nut.
9. DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
The eighth film in the
Planet of the Apes franchise is arguably the best of the bunch. It's a stunning achievement on nearly every level, deepening the themes and characters of its predecessor. The effects are extraordinary, but even more impressive is just how affecting the story is. Matt Reeves is quickly becoming one of the best directors of this day and age and Andy Serkis continues to cement himself as one of the greatest actors ever.
8. EDGE OF TOMORROW
One of the most unfairly overlooked movies of the year,
Edge of Tomorrow is also one of 2014’s most original, both exciting and consistently entertaining. Think Groundhog’s Day meets sci-fi action super kickass extravaganza and you'll start to get the idea, but even that description doesn't do full justice to how awesome it is. It's nice to see both Tom Cruise and director Doug Liman back on track after a string of disappointments.
7. GONE GIRL
Another hypnotizing thriller from David Fincher. Based on Gillian's Flynn superb novel,
Gone Girl functions as both a black comedy of the highest order and a taut, well-spun mystery with amazing performances from Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, and the rest of the supporting cast. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross craft another incredible soundtrack and Jeff Cronenweth's cinematography is some of his best work yet.
6. THE LEGO MOVIE
So much energy, so much heart, so much fun.
The Lego Movie is hilarious and even finds the time to be incredibly touching. One of the best animated movies I’ve ever seen.
5. CHEF
Simple, hilarious, and immensely charming, Jon Favreau takes a break from big budget filmmaking to deliver one of the finest films of his career and one of 2014’s most endearing. In some ways, it feels like a successor to the great Jimmy Stewart/Frank Capra collaborations, and that's quite an achievement.
4. CAPTAIN AMERICA: WINTER SOLDIER
Everyone's still going gaga for
Guardians of the Galaxy and rightfully so, but I firmly believe the award for best Marvel movie of 2014 belongs to the Captain.
Captain America: Winter Soldier takes the Marvel franchise into exciting new territory, deservedly meriting comparisons to Christopher Nolan's masterpiece
The Dark Knight. It also stands tall as one of the year’s finest action flicks.
Captain America: Winter Soldier continues Marvel Studios' winning streak, upping the stakes for the entire Marvel franchise and further developing its characters.
3. THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
Nobody makes ‘em like Wes Anderson and he continues to prove this point, following up his 2012 masterpiece
Moonrise Kingdom with yet another work of genius. Incredible performances from one of the best casts Anderson has ever assembled (and that's saying a lot) matched with one of his best screenplays and trademark unforgettable imagery. Anderson has an unparalleled imagination (gotta love his use of different aspect ratios to indicate different time periods) and
The Grand Budapest Hotel serves as further proof that he is one of the great artistic minds of our time.
2. BIRDMAN
I adore
Birdman with all my being. On every level, from Alejandro González Iñárritu's direction and the unparalleled work of cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki to the incredible cast, which features the likes of Michael Keaton (giving a career-defining performance), Edward Norton, Emma Stone, and Naomi Watts; from one of the best screenplays of the year to Antonio Sanchez's jazz-infused whirlwind of a soundtrack,
Birdman is an indisputable masterpiece and one of the single most remarkable films I have ever seen. Hilarious and heartbreaking.
1. BOYHOOD
And now we come to it, a film that has the power to invoke more hyperboles than every other movie released in 2014 combined (or perhaps the entire century thus far). And yet, there's no other way to put it, because in the entire history of film there is simply nothing quite like
Boyhood. Filmed over the course of 12 years, following the life of a young boy and his family,
Boyhood is a singular cinematic experience and a celebration of life, rejoicing in the little moments that make us who we are. Richard Linklater has made quite a few remarkable films in his career, but this stands as one of his finest moments and perhaps the crowning achievement of his entire filmography.
And there you have it! Agree? Disagree? Something in-between? I'd love to hear about it! Thanks so much for checking out my favorite films of 2014. We'll see you in Sweden!…er…2015!
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