Top Ten Films of 2014

Ebola begins

Malaysia flight 370 disappears

Flint water crisis

Michael Brown is murdered by police

Not even going to talk about the worldwide box office because it is mostly gross. Except my favorite film of the year coming in at number ten.

I don’t have a ton to say right now. I just really like this movie year. Especially at the top. The independent movies were booming right now just before they stopped spending on them.

I’m just going to get to the list on this one.

25. Edge of Tomorrow (Directed by Doug Liman)

24. The Gambler (Directed by Rupert Wyatt)

23. The Rover (Directed by David Michod)

22. Obvious Child (Directed by Gillian Robespierre

21. Noah (Directed by Darren Aronofsky)

20. Fury (Directed by David Ayer)

19. The Grand Budapest Hotel (Directed by Wes Anderson)

18. The Homesman (Directed by Tommy Lee Jones)

17. Boyhood (Directed by Richard Linklater) - The Criterion Channel

16. A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence (Directed by Roy Anderson)

15. Still Alice (Directed by Richard Glatzer & Wash Westmoreland)

14. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (Directed by Ana Lily Amirpour) - Shudder

13. Force Majeure (Directed by Ruben Ostland) - Hulu

12. Gone Girl (Directed by David Fincher)

11. Phoenix (Directed by Christian Petzold) - The Criterion Channel

top ten

10. The Look of Silence (Directed by Joshua Oppenheimer) - Amazon Prime

A tremendously bleak but effective follow up to The Act of Killing that I can’t recommend enough. Especially during these times in our country. There aren’t documentaries like this one and I hope you’ll seek them both out and talk to me about them.

9. Ex Machina (Directed by Alex Garland)

A really good sci-fi movie that plays now as a pseudo prequel to his series Devs. Oscar Isaac getting to let his freak flag fly and giving Domnhall Gleeson a starring roll is always welcome. Alicia Vikander then became a household name for a while and although that didn’t totally work she is very good in this.

8. It Follows (Directed by David Robert Mitchell)

An awesome horror movie that you don’t need to think about at all to enjoy but I think it only gains esteem if you do. This is a guy who gets a career pass for me because he may not always hit but he really tries things and knows how to direct. A rare movie where the cast is almost pointless. It could be anyone in this movie. Because it is.

7. Clouds of Sils Maria (Directed by Olivier Assayas) - The Criterion Channel

One of the early Kristen Stewart wake up calls I got, and I’m so glad I did. Although the movie belongs to Juliette Binoche, one of the best actors of all time, and she carries it and then some. Another ego actor movie but the styles couldn’t be more different.

6. Birdman (Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu)

Some people are allergic to this movie but I think it works and is very funny. Amazing performances and I am a sucker for long takes and stories about creative people learning how to fight ego.

5. Whiplash (Directed by Damien Chazelle)

An impressive debut by a still very young next great director. He loves old hollywood and music. I wonder what he would do after this. But here he gives Miles Teller the best thing he will be apart of and makes JK Simmons a star. Small thing, but I think Melissa Benoist is underrated and makes the most of her scenes in a movie that doesn’t care about her, for a reason, but still.

4. Nightcrawler (Directed by Dan Gilroy)- Netflix

Gyllenhaal is maybe the most versatile actor I can think of right now. He morphs and disappears into characters. He is clearly a star, but is trying so hard not to be. Losing weight, stressing features of his face, and talking quickly he created a haunting and memorable sociopath in this. It is a little late in its messaging, more in line with 70’s movies than current ones, but it still makes all the sense in the world.

3. Calvary (Directed by John Michael McDonagh)

While not as good as his brother, he is better than most directors already. He hasn’t been able to capture the strong tone of this one with his next features, but I will take this movie over most. It is so delicate and cynical and humane all at the same time. A stunning setting in Ireland, and a taboo subject treated with the respect and dark humor of the best playwrights. Give Brendan Gleeson an Oscar.

2. Inherent Vice (Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson)

A stunning movie that gets me more and more towards it being one of his best every time I watch it. Joaquin having a lot of fun and at the same time being completely heartbreaking. The cast is constant and fantastic each scene. One of the most faithful adaptations I’ve ever seen and yet it feels solely his own. Gorgeous movie with one of my favorite title cards ever.

1. Interstellar (Directed by Christopher Nolan)

Love being the strongest force in the universe is something you either let the movie do or you roll your eyes and scoff. I think if the movie works for you early you will let it happen. It always happens for me. I get so excited about this movie and it is maybe the movie I’ve seen most in theaters after the year it was released (thank you Music Box). The acting is top tier, the production is unmatched, and the emotion works for me. Give me some crying McConaghey all day.