Top 5 Best Films Of 2014
2015 has just arrived. So let’s celebrate it by doing what any major newspaper does regarding films around this time of year; talk about the movies from last year. When it comes to movies, not much really happens in January. Most movie releases around this time were dumped by studios because they know they are bad and the only good movies seem to be the holiday leftovers or expanding independent films. Nonetheless, some of these movies might still be playing in theaters or already on DVD and Blu-ray. Keep in mind that these films are not what I consider the best films, just the ones that I liked or loved the most. So with that said My Top 5 films of 2014:
- Noah
Darren Aronofsky is one of modern day cinemas most visionary directors and Noah is his
biggest, most ambitious, most controversial, and best film to date. It is both one of the most accurate takes on a bible story (this time the story of Noah’s Ark) and most divergent takes on anything ever. The cast is fantastic, the visuals are extraordinary, it caused some hell to break up amongst Jews, Christians, and Muslims about whether it was blasphemous or not and I loved every minute of it. It’s as if Aronofsky said “I want to take the bible and make it even better.” In a way, he kind of has. Alright, now I want him to do Samson next.
- Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
The Blockbuster scene was a bit iffy in 2014. Yeah there were some really good ones, but for the most part a majority of them were underwhelming. Out of all of them, this one was my favorite. What makes it not only the best ‘Apes’ film so far but also one of the best blockbusters in recent memory comes straight from the script. In a film where one of the highlights is a chimpanzee riding a horse while dual wielding machine guns, you wouldn’t expect to see a story so deep and smart as this one which brings up the topics of racism, classism, and the power of two of the most powerful emotions amongst all living creatures- love and hate. And unlike other movies where the main antagonists would be the humans, the decision to make Koba, an ape, the one who starts the trouble was a genius decision on the parts of writers Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver. The effects are top-notch, the performances, especially Andy Serkis as Caesar and Toby Kebbell as Koba, are amazing and this film has solidified the current Planet of the Apes reboot to be the best reboot franchise out there.
- Birdman
Michael Keaton is going to win an Oscar for this. I repeat, Michael Keaton is going to win an Oscar for pretty much playing himself. Birdman brings up a topic most actors in big franchises ask themselves, “Am I going to let this big role I do rule my life? Do I really want to be remembered for doing this one thing?” Many actors embrace this type of role and the popularity that comes with it while others absolutely hate this because they want to be taken seriously. Michael Keaton’s character, washed-up actor Riggan Thompson, thinks about this as he is trying to make a career turn in a serious Broadway production and doesn’t know what to do with his popularity that he gained from playing famous superhero Birdman in the 90s. Gee, kind of sounds familiar don’t you think? The acting aside from Keaton are also solid, especially from Edward Norton. The cinematography is stunning, and the editing that makes it look like one long take is award-worthy. Plus its Michael Keaton playing a Batman-like character. I loved this from the get go.
- Gone Girl
The best way to describe Gone Girl is: that it is the pebble in your shoe, the thought in the back of your head, every single uncomfortable thought about marriage and married couples come true. After this, David Fincher (The Social Network and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) is now the master of taking previously thought un-filmable books and making them great. Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike are great and the characters show the dark side of marriage. There is always his side of the story and her side of the story and then there is the truth and the truth about Amy and Nick is scary and uncomfortable to watch because you realize that these two were made for each other, not because they are pretty, they get along, and they just look the part of the perfect couple, but because when you get down to it, these two are awful, awful people and that’s what makes Gone Girl so damn good. How good is it? Tyler Perry is in it and he’s awesome.
- Inherent Vice
Paul Thomas Anderson adapting a Thomas Pynchon novel? I’m surprised this hasn’t happened sooner, but it’s here and it’s glorious. Not only is Inherent Vice my favorite film of the year, it’s my favorite PTA film yet. The hook of the movie is that it’s a crime-noir that takes place in early 1970’s Los Angeles (like most Noir films nowadays) and it has all the decorations of a 70’s crime film – crooked land deals, sleazy celebrities, dirty cops, new age cults, enigmatic missing girls, and so forth. Everyone in it is so high on so many drugs and stimulants (just like anyone who lived in Los Angeles in the early 70’s) that even the people who know what’s going on, probably don’t know what’s going on. Joaquin Phoenix is funny as hell as the main character Detective “Doc” Sportello, who is the smart man in a world of drugged-out wackos (almost as if he was a reverse Hunter S. Thompson). He is constantly shocked at everyone’s behavior that he doesn’t even know if he should take his job seriously anymore. Josh Brolin, Benicio Del Toro, and Owen Wilson bring the laughs, Reese Witherspoon and Maya Rudolph are in their element, and the mystery itself is still rather compelling in just how ridiculous it is. How do you solve a crime in an environment like that? I’ve seen it twice and by the time you read this I’ll probably have seen this a third time and I’m still not sure, but seeing these characters try was the most compelling experience I’ve had all year and I recommend that you have that experience too since it’s probably playing in a theater near you right now.
Well, that was 2014. Here’s to an even better 2015.
