Top Ten Favorite Films of 2014
I thought 2015 proved to be a great year for films, particularly in Indie movies. A lot of first time filmmakers with bright futures were introduced while the old masters proved that they still had new ground to cover. I have to remind anyone reading that these are my favorite films, not the best. The difference being some are flawed but had an impact on me. So without further ado. Here’s the list roughly from last to first.
#10 - How to Train Your Dragon 2
A year ago I would have been shocked to see this on my list, but the surprisingly great sequel to the first How to Train Your Dragon movie was more emotional and beautiful than I ever imagined. This is by far DreamWorks best movie in my opinion. The story of Hiccups family, specifically his relationship with his Father are handled so well, and I was surprised to see small intimate moments between characters like that great scene when Hiccup’s dad dances with his Mother. Not only that but I need to at some point make the headdress that Hiccup’s mom wears because it’s kind of amazing.
First time director, Dan Gilroy did an amazing job creating tension and atmosphere but Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance pulls the movie together. After all, at its core the film is really a character study on Jake’s character, Lou Bloom. He’s creepy and uncomfortable, and Jake slips into his skin so easily and embodies the character so well that at a glance I wouldn’t recognize him underneath all that greasy hair and awkward smile. It’s also a great commentary on the exploitive machines our tv news outlets have become.
I know I’ll be just repeating what so many other have said, but this movie is way better than it has any reason to be. What at first seemed like a cash grab by Warner Bros turned out to be a smart commentary on the process of creation. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are quickly becoming my favorite directing team. They have a knack for taking what seems like horrible ideas and breathing new life into them. Also, that damn song will be forever stuck in your head.
From the same director of Once, comes another intimate study of a relationship set against a backdrop of aspiring singers and artists. The music like Once is fantastic but I felt like this film built on what Once did. Besides for having a visibly higher production, the way that scenes are staged and shot evoke what the characters are going through and feeling. It’s deceptively simple, but the emotional impact is greater than what a lot of movies are capable of. The relationship between the main characters feels real and natural. The director John Carney has a lovely ability to make you care so much for his characters. This movie also has one of my favorite scenes from a movie this year where Ruffalo’s and Knightley’s characters walk down the street listening to music together, musing on music’s ability to take a mundane scene and make it meaningful.
If Birdman were just a movie about an out-of-work, ex-superhero actor trying to put on a meaningful play and make great art, this film would probably be a lot closer to my number one spot. All the scenes about the play and Michael Keaton’s struggles with his family and legacy were fantastic, but anything with the “Birdman” aspect tended to feel out of place and worked less with the rest of the film. That said, it didn’t entirely ruin the movie for me since all the other material was so great. Edward Norton’s performance in this is particularly good, and the long tracking shots which make the movie look like it was shot in one long take, were impressive. I was especially fond of the neon-colored look of the cinematography. It stood out amongst the rest of the films this year. Michael Keaton’s rant to a critic in a bar, will go down as one of my favorite monologues. “You risk nothing!”
#5 - The Tale of Princess Kaguya
I know most people have not even heard of this one, and it probably won’t be playing in your home town which saddens me deeply. Beyond being a beautifully animated film, Princess Kaguya tells a bittersweet tale of life choices and regret. Animated by Studio Ghibli, this film deserves to win for Best Animated Film, but sadly it probably won’t even be nominated. It’s frustrating to me that American Animation has yet to tell different and more intelligent stories. They have yet to really push the medium. The Japanese have shown us time and time again the limitless bounds of animation. Once this comes out on DVD, please go see this movie. It really is a masterpiece.
The Tale of Princess Kaguya Trailer
A couple struggling with their marriage, go on a retreat as an attempt to rekindle their relationship. Seems like a simple premise but a surreal twist is thrown in. I never knew where this film was going, and I loved how it got stranger and stranger towards the end. The weirdness though is not there for it’s own sake but bolsters the plot and characters while dealing with the themes of everyone’s desire to have the perfect version of their mate. It feels so fresh and new. I’m so happy a film like this exists.
Gone Girl spins a lot of plates - it’s a mystery, a character study and a commentary on relationships. It spins all of these so well and the storytelling is so tight. The atmosphere it creates with Trent Reznor’s score is evocative and cleverly used. This film haunted me for weeks after viewing it. Its world exists so strongly that even now I feel like I can close my eyes and enter it easily. Also, it had hands down my favorite trailer of this year. I linked it below.
Once again, a great film from a first time director. It was a definite battle in my mind between this film and the one I chose to be number one. Whiplash left my muscles sore by the end of the movie. The tension it creates is incredible, and it’s only about an insanely demanding teacher and his eager-to-please drum student. Both give amazing performances. The editing in the movie evokes the jazz music it showcases, and I never knew which way the story was going to unfold. It constantly subverted your expectations and it has one of my favorite end sequences. The subject matter itself is also incredibly relatable to me. Miles Teller’s character, Andrew, is incredibly ambitious and wants nothing more than to become one of the greatest jazz drummers. His drive and what he sacrifices are questionable, but as a fellow artist who one day hopes they will have an impact, I completely identify with Andrew. Perhaps Whiplash should also be seen as a cautionary tale to be careful what you lose on your quest for greatness.
I know this might seem like a strange choice, and I am aware of its flaws, but I can remember this theatre experience so well and the subject matter and themes really spoke to me. I’m also a huge fan of science fiction. The way it utilized physics and science in the storytelling, is something I’ve always wanted to do. They couched it all in a human story, a small story about a father and his daughter. Besides for having gorgeous space scenes, Interstellar also boasts one of my favorite soundtracks. I loved how Hans Zimmer chose to use organs in his score. It gives the movie a unique feel. I also appreciated their depiction of a fifth dimension. With this and Gravity in existence, I’m hoping to see more films tackling space exploration and quantum physics.
Those are all my favorite films of the year, but it didn’t feel right leaving out great filmmaking that has been happening on the small screen, so I have to mention my favorite TV show of the year -
It was surprising to read about a tv show based on the Coen brother movie, Fargo. I wondered how it would be handled, and if it would just be a re-telling of the original film. From the first episode though, I was hooked. Noah Hawley’s writing had completely captured the Coen brother’s voice and style while still remaining new and different. The story didn’t follow the regular structure of a story but it still worked. In an interview, Noah said that he had to break the usual structure since he was following the conceit of the events being based on a true story and in real life our lives don’t follow a three act structure. It goes to show Noah’s grasp on storytelling though since the plot and characters do not suffer from this unique form he’s using. You can watch Fargo now on DVD/ Blu-ray/ Amazon/ iTunes etc. If you have a chance, please be sure to check it out.
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