'Twas the start of a new year, when all thro' the land not a critic was silent, as they
still had films to pan.
// The releases were packed throughout 2014, as I reclined in my seat to watch the big
screen.
// There were original scripts that charmed and amazed, so it'll be difficult to decide
which gets the most praise.
// Reboots and remakes, we had a few - but sequels were many, and fun to review.
// Most of these follow-ups were not invited, but by-and-large, they mostly delighted.
// Book adaptations made us think and cry, but dystopian futures need to say goodbye.
// The jokes they delivered were often hit or miss, but certain comedies became impossible
to dismiss.
// After years in the making, we were finally treated, while elsewhere, superheroes remain
undefeated.
// Low-budget entries still managed to impress, as for where they rank, we'll have to assess.
// The gunplay was fast, as the action was loose, we even got two movies with the son
of Zeus.
// The animated characters were colorful in flight, but which was the best?
You'll have to sit tight.
// 'The Purge' may have proved that it wasn't a fluke... but who can forget the sounds of
Babdook?
// When the stories of fiction unfortunately failed, there were still documentaries left
to unveil.
// On a beach with a priest, or dancing with Hook - there were a number of films we shouldn't
overlook.
// If you saw them it all, it was quite a sight - for those that didn't, this is Movie
Night!
Hello and welcome to Movie Night's first annual yearly retrospective - I'm your host, Jonathan
Paula.
2014 was a fantastic year for cinema, and in this reviewer's opinion, perhaps the best
of the century.
I assembled a list on Letterboxd.com of all the notable films that I saw, or wanted to
see that were released last year.
So for purposes of context, the highlighted films you're looking at were those I unfortunately
haven't gotten to yet.
Inherently, I've always believed that creating lists like this so near the end of the year
is a pointless exercise: as there's no conceivable way to see every feature in time.
But the film-reviewing community is an impatient one, so even though I ran out of time to see
them all, I did watch well over 80 releases from 2014 - which is by-far a personal record
for me.
My picks are obviously subjective and biased - but hopefully you'll enjoy this retrospective,
and maybe even discover a few films you missed out on.
I also encourage you to check out my full-reviews for tonight's selections by visiting the links
below.
In additional to ranking my top-ten favorites, I'll also be awarding superlatives to 14 other
pictures, so let's begin with the first of these bonus categories.
Funniest movie of the year was an easy pick, "22 Jump Street".
A fantastic comedy that expands on the original concept with self-referential humor, great
physical gags, and impeccable timing from the hilarious cast; and Ice Cube's freak-out
scene in the buffet is perhaps the hardest I laughed all year.
My pick for 10th best movie of 2014 goes to "Grand Budapest Hotel".
Wes Anderson has once again crafted a wholly unique, vibrant, and exciting narrative oozing
with personality.
Three parallel stories are shared in three separate aspect ratios - but Ralph Fiennes
turns in a goofy and endearing performance that's impossible to look away from.
A surprisingly good time - this was an obvious choice to begin my list.
I only watched a few documentaries last year, but the Roger Ebert biopic, "Life Itself"
really moved me.
It's a touching and honest portrayal of a man I personally admired.
It intercuts talking-head interviews about his humble beginnings with raw moments of
his final days in the hospital.
A sad but necessary picture, this is required viewing for all critics.
Grabbing the 9th spot is David Fincher's latest: "Gone Girl".
This was an unpredictable, sexy, and smart thriller that had me engrossed every step
of the way.
And Rosamund Pike gave one of my favorite performances of the year.
A modern twist on the classic abduction thriller story, it also had a chilling score.
Weirdest movie of the year goes to "Under The Skin".
This is a slow-moving, but captivating character study of Scarlett Johansson, a curious individual
who obviously doesn't belong.
This is a moody and deceptive film that never spells anything out for you.
I honestly didn't enjoy much of it - but it made me think, and I can appreciate that.
It's fitting that the 8th slot goes to the eighth film in a franchise, "Dawn Of The Planet
Of The Apes".
Excellent motion-capture CGI set within a ruined future made for some great action sequences,
and effective emotional moments.
This is the sort of layered and complex narrative the "Apes" series has been waiting for, and
it totally delivered.
I can't wait to see where they take the long-running franchise next.
I'm sure plenty will disagree, but I felt "Snowpiecer" was the most overrated picture
of the year.
This South Korean science fiction action thriller about the last surviving members of the human
race, who are stuck on a speeding train, is a really fascinating concept - but it ultimately
boils down to a thinly veiled and predictable commentary on the class-system.
Some unique ideas and gritty imagery, but ultimately, I wasn't that impressed by it.
I had been anticipating my 7th pick for years - so when I finally saw "The Fault In Our
Stars", I was really overcome with emotion.
My friend John Green wrote a beautiful story, and Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort provide
fantastic performances that will make even the strongest of constitutions breakdown and
cry.
A real and faithful romance story worth seeing at least once.
Again, this is likely a controversial pick, but I felt the reboot of "RoboCop" was several
underrated by critics and audiences alike.
I preferred this faster, and more emotionally-charged than the clunky original.
The action was more intense, and the story far more interesting.
But I seem to be in the minority here, so it's unlikely this will spark a new trilogy
of cyborg crime fighters.
My sixth favorite is "The LEGO Movie".
Even to this day, I'm a ridiculously huge fan of the toys... and this fast-paced, cameo-filled,
humor-laced action adventure gave me everything I could have hoped for.
The voice talents of Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, and Will Arnett only sealed the deal.
It's not only flashy, and funny - but shares a really touching message that adults and
children alike can appreciate.
Produced on less than a million dollars, my favorite low-budget film is "Blue Ruin" - a
methodical revenge thriller that portrays the real dilemmas with plotting a murder and
trying to get away with it.
The cast of relative unknowns provide great performances, and director Jeremy Saulnier
exhibits some beautiful shots and scenery.
Definitely check this one out.
Number five...
"Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)" - a masterful combination of believable dialogue,
pitch-perfect acting, and one incredible camera-move that lasts for the entire 119-minute picture.
There are obviously edits hidden throughout, but this illusion of a single, unbroken steady-cam
shot that effortlessly glides from setup to setup was beautiful to watch unfold.
Michael Keaton draws from personal experience with an nuanced performance as a washed up
movie star looking to find relevance again - and I can only hope he'll receive some recognition
from the Academy for his work here.
A movie many probably haven't heard of, "Calvary" gets my pick for most-overlooked picture of
the year.
Brendan Gleeson plays a patient Irish priest who has just received a very credible death
threat, but must see to his flock of parishioners and wayward neighbors before dealing with
his would-be murderer.
This is a slower and quiet narrative, but a very engaging and interesting one.
I strongly recommend giving this one a shot.
Containing my favorite performance of the year, "Nightcrawler" comes in at number four.
Jake Gyllenhaal is remarkable and frightening as a bottom-feeding opportunity who will do
anything for a leg-up in the world of late-night news journalism.
The music, cinematography and story are all top-notch, but it's the exciting climax that
was perhaps the most thrilling sequence I saw all year.
I don't watch a lot of horror movies, but "The Babadook" was absolutely the scariest
I have seen in a long time.
Australian director Jennifer Kent paints a haunting and visceral experience of an unseen
entity that terrorizes a single-mother well-past her breaking point.
The lighting, shadows, and sound effects all elevate this original and unsettling story,
but it's Essie Davis's heartbreaking performance that holds it together.
Top-three territory...
"Guardians Of The Galaxy" was perhaps the most fun I've had at the cinema in ages: a
fast, hilarious, and action-packed superhero film that gets every ingredient of its massive
recipe correct.
Chris Pratt is now a bona fide movie star, and from the opening moments of him dancing
to Redbone, to an explosive climax: it's impossible not to smile and enjoy yourself while watching
this picture.
It mayn't have been deep or philosophical, but it was fresh take on an old formula - and
one of I'll have no problem re-watching again and again.
They can't all be good though... which is why "Left Behind" gets my pick for worst movie
of the year.
At this point, Nicholas Cage has become a pathetic caricature of himself, taking any
awful project that promises a paycheck.
This unnecessary remake of the terrible Kirk Cameron Christian propaganda picture of the
same name is a total mess.
Forget that the movie is poorly made, has cringe-worthy dialogue, and iMovie-quality
visuals: it's a blatant insult to the very religion its attempting to promote.
The fact that this saw actual theatrical release is a mockery of cinema.
This is easily Cage's worst film, and that's saying something.
Avoid at all costs.
My runner-up for best film of the year goes to "Edge Of Tomorrow" - a breath of fresh
air in the bloated sci-fi action genre, Tom Cruise is at his best here.
The visuals and action are absolutely incredible, but it's the dry-wit and humor of this fast-paced
narrative that make it work so effortlessly.
The repeating time-loop concept made famous in "Groundhog Day" receives a big-budget alien-infested
treatment here, and it totally works - I only wish more people paid money to see it.
Now, for some honorable mentions... these are the pictures I scored a nine out of ten,
but unfortunately didn't quite make my list: the musical-drama "Whiplash" has astonishing
performances from Miles Teller and J.K.
Simmons in a fierce and emotional film that pulls you in at the start and never lets go.
"How To Train Your Dragon 2" was an excellent follow-up to one of my favorite original animated
pictures of the last few years, while "X-Men: Days Of Future Past" found an intriguing way
to combine the casts of yesteryear and today into a fun, action-packed thrill ride.
Richard Linklater's "Boyhood" was a cinematic marvel... portraying the same group of characters
over 12-years of their lives... and "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" fixed all the flaws of its unneeded
predecessor with some high-stakes battles and complicated characters.
And finally...
my pick for the best movie of 2014 goes to...
"Interstellar".
No real surprise here, Christopher Nolan's latest effort is also his most ambitious,
and a modern masterpiece of everything I appreciate about cinema.
It had ideas, images, and sounds I had never even dreamed of before: packaged together
in an intriguing sci-fi story about love, hope, and loss... anchored by spectacular
Oscar-winning actors.
The type of inspirational and moving experience that stays with you long after the credits
roll, this is one picture that truly resonated, and it was my favorite for the year.
Well, there you have it - the 24 films I felt deserved special mention as we enter a new
year.
All in all, I watched 330 movies in 2014... and reviewed almost half of them - so make
sure to check out my Letterboxd page for a complete list of everything I saw and reviewed.
As great as last year was though, 2015 is promising to be even bigger - especially for
franchises, as Fast And Furious 7, Avengers: Age Of Ultron, Jurassic World, Terminator:
Genisys, SPECTRE (Bond 24), and Star Wars: Episode VII are all being released
in the next 52 weeks.
I for one, can't wait!
Before we finish, let's take a look at some of your Tweet Critiques.
If you see a new movie in theaters, Tweet your review with the #JPMN hashtag.
Next week we'll be reviewing three recent releases: Into The Woods, The Interview, and
Taken 3.
Once you've seen these films, share your opinions by voting in the polls below, or by leaving
a comment review.
If you'd like to watch more Movie Night episodes, check out the "related videos" on the right,
or click SUBSCRIBE to be notified of future uploads.
Also be sure to follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Instagram, or Letterboxd for updates
between episodes.
Once again, my name is Jonathan Paula, thank you for watching and listening.
Until next time, have a happy new year good Movie Night!