Sharing movies with people is one of my favorite things to do. You can never relive the experience of seeing a movie for the first time, but the next best thing is sharing a movie with someone as they watch it for the first time. So in an attempt to share what I think are some fantastic movies with other people, I'm ranking my favorite movies of the year. There's no way to honor every great movie made in a given year, so naturally, some really great films did not make my top ten. There are plenty of critically acclaimed films from the year that I still have not had a chance to see, but in any case I am happy with the ten films that made my list this year. This is more a list of films I simply enjoyed watching than a list of what I would call the year's most well made films, but I think there's plenty of overlap in that regard too. 2014 offered some really great cinematic works. Films like
featured some stunning direction, as well as a look into the darker spaces of the human mind.
feature some of the most groundbreaking visuals in the history of animated film. Movies such as
extended beyond the tired tropes of relationship films to ask some very intriguing questions about the nature of romantic love.
are just two examples of films that are helping to usher in an age of sleeker, and more entertaining Sci-Fi/Action films. Despite claims that this was a down year in cinema, there are plenty of examples of great films from 2014. And those are just the films that didn't make my list; which is admittedly a little unconventional this year. It features two surprisingly mature animated films, a biting social satire, a dark comedy, two significantly more lighthearted indie dramadies, an unprecidented drama, and three action/thrillers that were both smart and entertaining.
A look at the lives of four black students on an Ivy league campus, and how they confront issues of identity and discrimination in a predominately white setting.
For people who haven't seen this film, the premise might seem easy to write off as just a rant about racism. The reality is that Dear White People is a complex film that pulls off an extraordinary balancing act. It's really a film about identity more than anything else, and race makes up a large part of our identity, whether we realize it or not. Each of the four main characters in the film is struggling to find their identity, and at the forefront of that struggle is the fact that they are in the racial minority at the university they attend. Racism is an inherent point of discussion in the film, and the points made in the film are a beautiful example of the discussions we should be having as a country, but aren't. But that's not the sole defining characteristic of the film. At its heart, this is an intriguing character study that portrays both the brave and ugly sides of each character. Each of the four main characters does questionable things (some more than others), but they also each have at least one moment in the film where they bravely take a stand for what their identity means to them. These characters are flawed, but the film makes a strong case that it is a broken society that has made them this way, and that's a powerful statement to be making given the social atmosphere in 2014.
9.) The Skeleton Twins
What it's about:
Twin siblings, who haven't spoken to each other in years, are reunited and as they rebuild their relationship, they are forced to examine why they let it dissolve in the first place.
Rotten Tomatoes Score:
87% (Certified Fresh)
Why it made the list:
The Skeleton Twins can be a very dark movie, if the title didn't already give that away. It's a movie that puts both of the main characters through a lot of heartbreak, but also gives them a fair share of the blame for the hardships they suffer. With such a dark tone, viewers might not expect this to be a fun film to watch, but at times it really can be. What gives the film life in the midst of darkness is the charm and humanity that Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig bring to the characters. The film does an excellent job of portraying just how broken the siblings' relationship is, which make watching them build the relationship back up all the more rewarding. Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig are the heart and soul of this film, and the effortless sibling chemistry that they have, gives the film all of its life. There is one scene in particular where Hader's character tries to get Wiig's reluctant character to lip sync to a song with him, that is way more fun to watch than it reasonably should be. Fair warning, when I say this film is dark, I'm not kidding. That being said, watching Hader and Wiig on screen together is one of the best film experiences I have had this year.
8.) Big Hero 6
What it's about:
After the death of his brother, a young robotics prodigy gathers the help of a robot his brother created and a group of science students, to stop a man who is using technology for evil purposes.
Rotten Tomatoes Score:
89% (Certified Fresh)
Why it made the list:
These days, Walt Disney Animation Studios is on quite the creative streak. That means that a film like Big Hero 6 has a high standard to live up to. While it doesn't quite have the whimsy of a film like Frozen, and isn't nearly as emotionally aware as Wreck-It Ralph (though it comes close), Big Hero 6 is a worthy entry into the modern Disney canon. As seems to be the trend this year, this film features some truly amazing animation. One of the first aspects of the film that I noticed was that the fictional setting of San Fransokyo is visually stunning to look at. The story here is your basic superhero origin story. In that regard it's nothing too out of the box, and doesn't really make any attempt to put a spin on the concept. As far as origin stories go, it's not a bad one though. What the film lacks in plot, it makes up for in the way it builds some key relationships. The bond that Hiro, the protagonist, has with his brother feels very genuine, and that makes the death of his brother (a fact I feel safe sharing since it is clearly stated in the trailer for the film) that much more significant to the story. The movie doesn't skimp on showing the audience how deep the brotherly relationship goes, and that feeling continues on with the relationship Hiro builds with Baymax, his brother's robot. That's the film's best quality. I wish the film had done a little more to develop the other supporting characters, but I understand why the focus was placed on the brothers' relationship. Some elements of how the titular group is formed seem a little glossed over, but that is a minor point compared to the major successes of the film. I also admire the fact that this is a superhero movie that revolves around people being heroes by using their intellect and not just super powers. It is a nice twist on the traditional superhero story that makes the success of the heroes seem much more rewarding. My hope for this film is that it can become a franchise. I think that further films could move beyond the basic origin of the group and dig deeper into who the individual characters are and what motivates them.
7.) Boyhood
What it's about:
The life of a boy and his family is shown in glimpses for a 12 year span from when the boy is a child, to when he leaves home for college.
Rotten Tomatoes Score:
99% (Certified Fresh)
Why it made the list:
It's hard to describe the experience of seeing a film like Boyhood. In many ways it is less like watching a movie and more like watching a life. This is as close as any film has ever gotten to genuine realism, and that makes it a fascinating piece of art to watch. The film has gained recognition for the 12 years that it took to shoot, but make no mistake, this isn't a gimmick. A film like this takes dedication and vision that I think few people have. I've seen the film once, and I think I would have to see it a couple more times just to be able to even describe half of the things that it does exceptionally well. First of all, the acting is incredibly impressive. Hoping that child actors would grow up to be teenagers and adults that can act is a big risk, but all of the actors navigate the material with ease, and awareness. From a narrative perspective, Boyhood doesn't have a set plot. It's a portrait of a boy growing up and the people growing around him. So many aspects of this process are so accurately portrayed in the film that it gives the film a quality that sets it apart from every other film ever made. No matter how realistic a given film may aim to be, the audience always senses the narrative backbone to it. Fiction always has a tone to it that removes it from reality. This film manages to avoid coming across as a processed and polished piece of fiction, because it is always true to the idea of portraying life in a realistic manner. Few films this year are as touching or genuinely impressive as Boyhood.
6.) How To Train Your Dragon 2
What it's about:
After successfully integrating dragons into his home village of Berk, Hiccup begins to explore uncharted lands, where he finds both allies and enemies to his way of life.
Rotten Tomatoes Score:
92% (Certified Fresh)
Why it made the list:
Simply put, How to Train Your Dragon 2 is an incredibly well crafted movie. From visuals, to voice acting, to plot, this films knows exactly what it is and how to achieve its goals. First of all, the visual elements of this film are deceptively stunning. This movie has created a fantastical world where people and dragons live together, and smartly decided to take full advantage of that. When you have dragons, make them fly through the clouds, and make those clouds look gorgeous. The scenery is always either beautiful or haunting depending on what mood the film is going for in a given scene. Beyond visuals, this story makes all of the right narrative moves. Following the lead of The Empire Strikes Back, Dragon 2 expands Hiccup's universe and digs into some very compelling ramifications of doing so. The film is unafraid to go to some very dark places. By the end of the film Hiccup has experienced the kind of deep personal loss that changes a person's life. It makes him a stronger character, and it makes the entire film matter deeply to the mythology of this growing series. But the film doesn't just play on the big epic notes; the films always knows exactly the right moments to calm down and use a gentle touch. There is a scene early on where Hiccup's girlfriend Astrid is mocking his mannerisms, and the entire thing has no other purpose in the film than to remind viewers just how human these characters are. Those are the touches that make a film great. As always, I'm amazed by how these films can make a character like Toothless simultaneously adorable and intimidating. It's hard to legitimately pull off both of those characteristics in one character, but this series has managed to do it. Frankly, if this film doesn't win an Oscar, something went very wrong.
5.) Begin Again
What it's about:
A down on his luck music producer, and a singer/songwriter who just ended a relationship after being cheated on, join together to create a unique music project and get their lives back on track at the same time.
Rotten Tomatoes Score:
83% (Certified Fresh)
Why it made the list:
Music driven films can be hard to successfully pull off. I'm not talking about musicals, where people just randomly burst into song for no other reason than to loudly convey a plot point. I'm talking about films where music is a deeply important part of the characters' lives, but it never is used as a substitute for genuine plot. The problem is in finding just the right balance between highlighting the music, and allowing the characters to lead the plot outside of the music itself. One of the reasons Begin Again is a such a finely tuned film, is because it finds that balance. The movie is about falling apart and picking yourself back up again. I'm a bit of a sucker for these kinds of movies, but in this case I don't think I'm overselling the how good this movie is. The music is certainly good and entertaining. My first thought watching the film was, "Wait, Keira Knightley sings?" Indeed she does. It's not Jennifer Hudson in Dream Girls, but Knightley is more than capable of making the music in the film effective and highly emotive. The chemistry between Knightley and Mark Ruffalo is amazing. The two actors work well together because, you never get a sense that either of the characters is better or more important than the other. Yes, Ruffalo plays Knightley's producer, and Knightley in many ways has her life together more than Ruffalo's character, but they are both people who are struggling to create something meaningful in the world and they realize that their best chance of doing that is with each other's help. Being Again is at times funny, sad, and inspiring. It is a easily one of the most charming films of the year.
4.) Captain America: The Winter Soldier
What it's about:
Steve Rogers finds himself conflicted about his role in the actions being carried out by S.H.I.E.L.D., but when his world is turned upside down, he must find the few people he can trust and save humanity from a hidden threat.
Rotten Tomatoes Score:
89% (Certified Fresh)
Why it made the list:
Since the first Captain America film was essentially entirely an origin story for the character, my biggest question going forward from The Avengers was, what direction would future films in the franchise take? The Winter Soldier was a very satisfying answer to that question. This is easily one of the two most well made films in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, and that's already a pretty impressive list of films. There are so many things that the film does right, that it's hard to cover them all. First, the directing done by the Russo Brothers is nothing short of beautiful. If you take time to really focus on the way that they frame shots and choreograph actions sequences, it's stunning. This is easily the best directing job done in any of the MCU films, and I'm saying that as someone who was very impressed by what Joss Whedon did in The Avengers. Directly placing Steve Rogers in the environment of an organization such as S.H.I.E.L.D. also gave the film a lot to play with both narratively and thematically. The plot, which I won't delve into for those who haven't seen the film yet, is compelling and gives the characters a lot to do in the film. Thematically, Rogers and S.H.I.E.L.D. represent a struggle of ideals. S.H.I.E.L.D. is an organization that represents doing what it believes is the right thing by any means necessary. To be fair, those who represent this ideal in the organization have a legitimate sense of morality, but they are jaded by an understanding of just how terrible the world can be. Steve Rogers on the other hand is intimately aware of the consequences of trying to protect the right interests through arguably immoral methods. It is a battle of perspectives that is smartly touched on throughout the film. Another smart decision made in the film was giving Captain America allies, in the form of Falcon and Black Widow, to interact with. Falcon is a necessary part of the film, because he becomes a friend that Steve can go to who is not associated with S.H.I.E.L.D. or any of their activities. In this film Black Widow cements her status as one of the most interesting MCU characters. While Steve is steadfast and certain of who he is, Black Widow is a chameleon who has learned to never be herself so that she can survive any threat. She brings out the playful side of Steve, but her presence also causes him to contemplate her way of life. Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a refreshing change of pace for the already impressive Marvel Cinematic Universe.
3.) Chef
What it's about:
After being professionally disgraced by a famous food blogger, a Chef works to rebuild his family and his passion for food by traveling across the country in a food truck.
Rotten Tomatoes Score:
88% (Certified Fresh)
Why it made the list:
One of the reasons I advocate going to the movies so strongly, is that I think there's nothing like the experience of seeing a film for the first time in a theater. By all means, I should have hated Chef based on the experience I had seeing it. I had a painful catch in my neck, and the women sitting in front of me talked through most of the movie. It actually turned out to be one of my favorite experiences of the summer, and that is all due to the quality of this film. If there's one thing that director/writer/star Jon Favreau has proven in his work on films like Elf and the first two Iron Man films, it is that he knows how to have fun telling a compelling story.There are two stories taking place here, and what makes both of them compelling is that Favreau is able to meld both stories into one by the end of the film. This is a movie about a man who is passionate about his art, but who has found himself uninspired. The movie also tells the story of a man who let his marriage fall apart and has fallen out of touch with his son because of his perceived professional shortcomings. Watching Favreau's character build himself back up in the film is not just a rewarding experience, but an incredibly fun one too. I love how Favreau has infused the film with touches of Latin American culture. This is most notably done through the expertly chosen soundtrack. It was also nice to see a film where a capable actress like Sofia Vergara is given a worth while, albeit small, role to play. Chef does an incredible job of visualizing the current effect that social media has on the business world. Social media from blogging to Twitter is not only acknowledged in the film, but visualized in a way that gives viewers an immediate sense of how important it is to the story being told. Honestly, this just might be my favorite film of the year, but ask me that on any give day and I might say that about any of my top four films on this list. I walked out of the theater after seeing this film and felt refreshed by what I had just watched. If this is the direction Favreau's film making is going in post-Iron Man, then I am 100% on board for more. Oh yeah, and don't watch this movie on an empty stomach.
2.) Veronica Mars
What it's about:
Ten years after Veronica quit working as a private investigator, she reluctantly returns to her seedy home town of Neptune, California to prove that her ex-boyfriend didn't commit a high profile murder.
Rotten Tomatoes Score:
78% (Certified Fresh)
Why it made the list:
This is the movie I have seen the most this year (four times in theaters and at least as many on home video), and each time I saw it, I loved it more and more. From a visual standpoint, I was surprised (given the low budget and Rob Thomas' lack of experience directing movies) with just how impressive the cinematography is at times. There is a scene where Veronica is riding over a bridge at night that has the makings of being an iconic film scene if only more people had seen the film. I also like how the film takes on a darker visual tone, which parallels the noir inspired world Veronica lives in. As far as mystery/thrillers go, Veronica Mars (the show) has never been huge on the "thriller" aspect, but I was pleased that the movie incorporated a couple well placed thrills to keep the audience's pulse pumping throughout the film. While the mystery Veronica is investigating is fairly surface level as a plot device, the bread and butter of the film is Veronica the character. She's a strong female character with a piercing wit, who always manages to outwit foes who possess many more resources than she does. She's also a deeply conflicted character. This is the story of Veronica deciding what kind of life she is going to live, and nobody could narrate it better than the very self aware Veronica Mars. A running theme in the film is how Veronica likens her need to seek the truth to her mother's alcohol addiction. It's a perfect gateway to understanding the main plot of the film. Veronica can stay in New York and live a normal life as a successful lawyer, or she can return to Neptune, and resume her mantle as a P.I. fighting local corruption. Watching Veronica contemplate her future is one of the most compelling character studies on film this year.
1.) Guardians of the Galaxy
What it's about:
A group of intergalactic criminals come into possession of a mysterious and powerful object, and are forced to band together to make sure that it doesn't end up in the hands of a zealot who intends to use it to fulfill a personal vendetta.
Rotten Tomatoes Score:
90% (Certified Fresh)
Why it made the list:
Guardians of the Galaxy isn't the best superhero movie ever made (The Avengers), or the best superhero movie made this year (Captain America: Winter Soldier). It is, however, the best superhero origin story film ever made. Guardians of the Galaxy works because it sets a tone right from the opening shot, and it commits to that tone 100%. That probably sounds pretty basic, but it is a quality that has become more and more rare in movies these days. Guardians never takes itself too seriously, but isn't afraid to play with the viewer's emotions a little bit. The film opens with a Disney-esque parent tragedy, and then not a minute later features the hilarious Chris Pratt dancing through perilous ruins. The film is at points laugh-out-loud hilarious, and unceasingly clever in how and when it lands a joke. That being said, this isn't just a bunch of misfits goofing off on screen for two hours. The film packs a lot of thrilling action into the story as well. Gamora in particular is fascinating to watch with her near acrobatic combat style. It's nice to see Marvel add a female character to the roster that has the potential to be as complex and entertaining to watch as Black Widow has been. The real selling point here though is the entire cast of misfits banding together. It's not an original story device, but when a film like this makes you fall in love with every character in the ensemble, then it's doing something right. The film could have been a little more polished, and frankly is in desperate need of a legitimately intriguing villain, but no film this year was more fun to watch than Guardians of the Galaxy.
