The Year of C14ssy Films
If I've seen a film released in the United States in 2014, this is where you'll find it.
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- DirectorAlejandro G. IñárrituStarsMichael KeatonZach GalifianakisEdward NortonA washed-up superhero actor attempts to revive his fading career by writing, directing, and starring in a Broadway production.99/100 - While quite possibly the strangest film on this list, Birdman is one of my favorites mostly due to two things: Emmanuel Lubezki's seamless cinematography and Innaritu's unique vision for the film. Granted, this cast is stellar, and the writing is funny, witty, and unpredictable all at the same time; however, it is due to the two aforementioned men that this is one heck of a ride.
- DirectorDamien ChazelleStarsMiles TellerJ.K. SimmonsMelissa BenoistA promising young drummer enrolls at a cut-throat music conservatory where his dreams of greatness are mentored by an instructor who will stop at nothing to realize a student's potential.98/100 - While J.K. Simmons and Miles Teller take center stage with their electrifying, fantastic performances, Whiplash's true appeal lies in its intense, fast-paced story and editing, creating a frantic yet fitting atmosphere for Damian Chazelle's fantastic second outing.
- DirectorRichard LinklaterStarsEllar ColtranePatricia ArquetteEthan HawkeThe life of Mason, from early childhood to his arrival at college.97/100 - Boyhood is an incredible cinematic achievement with groundbreaking direction from Richard Linklater, committed acting from Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke, and an incredibly real script that accurately captures the struggles of growing up while being thought-provoking and insightful into human nature.
- DirectorWes AndersonStarsRalph FiennesF. Murray AbrahamMathieu AmalricA writer encounters the owner of an aging high-class hotel, who tells him of his early years serving as a lobby boy in the hotel's glorious years under an exceptional concierge.97/100 - Wes Anderson once again makes both a light-hearted and thoughtful film in The Grand Budapest Hotel, combining his unique visual style and quirky, comical tone with a well-performing cast and thrilling story to explore human motivation and emotion in different ways that most directors never dare to explore.
- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsMatthew McConaugheyAnne HathawayJessica ChastainWhen Earth becomes uninhabitable in the future, a farmer and ex-NASA pilot, Joseph Cooper, is tasked to pilot a spacecraft, along with a team of researchers, to find a new planet for humans.97/100 - Complex in scope but simple in message, Interstellar is yet another masterpiece from Christopher Nolan because of its stellar cast, impressive visuals, and well-crafted plot.
- DirectorBong Joon HoStarsChris EvansJamie BellTilda SwintonIn a future where a failed climate change experiment has killed all life except for the survivors who boarded the Snowpiercer (a train that travels around the globe), a new class system emerges.97/100
- DirectorDan GilroyStarsJake GyllenhaalRene RussoBill PaxtonWhen Louis Bloom, a con man desperate for work, muscles into the world of L.A. crime journalism, he blurs the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story.95/100 - Jake Gyllenhaal is Nightcrawler. His lead performance is one of the most chilling I've seen recently and drives the tone of the film. Often times, I have no idea whether I should be rooting for or against his character and his plots to rise in the world of news video. The supporting cast performs well too, and Dan Gilroy frames every single shot beautifully. The one problem is how the climax seems to not know when to stop growing in scale, but besides that this is a really excellent film.
- DirectorAva DuVernayStarsDavid OyelowoCarmen EjogoOprah WinfreyA chronicle of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, in 1965.95/100 - With its gripping direction from Ava DuVernay and an incredible portrayal of King by David Oyelowo, Selma delivers the emotional punch it needs to relate to all audiences while also reminding us that, even though the police no longer beat blacks intentionally, we still have a long way to go before we reach King's ideals.
- DirectorDavid FincherStarsBen AffleckRosamund PikeNeil Patrick HarrisWith his wife's disappearance having become the focus of an intense media circus, a man sees the spotlight turned on him when it's suspected that he may not be innocent.93/100 - Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike's acting and David Fincher's sick, twisted direction are wonderful; however, Gone Girl's success lies in its thrilling story, its plot twists, and its beautifully sickening dramatic irony.
- DirectorJames GunnStarsChris PrattVin DieselBradley CooperA group of intergalactic criminals must pull together to stop a fanatical warrior with plans to purge the universe.93/100 - Guardians of the Galaxy has the most fun of any movie all year, providing a heaping of fast-paced and visually stimulating sequences with very well-placed humor to make it one of the best examples of a classic blockbuster in recent years.
- DirectorDoug LimanStarsTom CruiseEmily BluntBill PaxtonA soldier fighting aliens gets to relive the same day over and over again, the day restarting every time he dies.90/100 - Groundhog Day + aliens + war = Edge of Tomorrow. Doug Liman directs this film perfectly. Every little detail is spot-on, from the bleak landscapes to the well-designed aliens. His action sequences are also some of the best you'll see from this year. Tom Cruise proves once again that he is great with original material, as his performance as William Cage is one of the best of his prolific career. Emily Blunt also steps into the limelight as Rita Vrataski, making her character come alive.
- DirectorRichard AyoadeStarsJesse EisenbergMia WasikowskaWallace ShawnThe unenviable life of a government-agency clerk takes a horrific turn with the arrival of a new co-worker who is both his exact physical double and his opposite otherwise--he's a confident, charismatic ladies' man.89/100 - Jesse Eisenberg's deft ability to play both of the leads in this film is one of the greatest acting feats I've ever seen. However, Richard Ayoade's unique tone that creates an unsettling feel to the entire film is the real draw here, as it emphasizes the film's themes in just the right places and almost turns The Double into a Hitchcockian thriller.
- DirectorAnthony RussoJoe RussoStarsChris EvansSamuel L. JacksonScarlett JohanssonAs Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world, he teams up with a fellow Avenger and S.H.I.E.L.D agent, Black Widow, to battle a new threat from history: an assassin known as the Winter Soldier.89/100 - Captain America: The Winter Soldier is more political thriller than cookie-cutter Marvel movie, allowing it to showcase a plethora of good performances and quality direction from the Russo brothers.
- DirectorJosh BooneStarsShailene WoodleyAnsel ElgortNat WolffHazel and Gus are teenagers who meet at a cancer support group and fall in love. They both share the same acerbic wit and a love of books, especially "An Imperial Affliction", so they embark on a journey to visit an author in Amsterdam.88/100 - I am completely unashamed to say that I loved The Fault in Our Stars. It is sentimental enough to get me emotionally invested in the characters and story, but humorous enough to provide a slightly different perspective on cancer and its devastating effects. Woodley and Elgort turn in incredible performances and have great chemistry as well, making their romance very believable. Dafoe also has a great bit part that shows some nice range. It's definitely very sappy, but in the best way possible.
- DirectorRob MarshallStarsAnna KendrickMeryl StreepChris PineA witch tasks a childless baker and his wife with procuring magical items from classic fairy tales to reverse the curse put on their family tree.88/100 - Visually impressive direction from Rob Marshall and some great performances from Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Chris Pine carry the dark tone and beautiful music of Into the Woods perfectly onto the big screen.
- DirectorPhil LordChristopher MillerStarsChris PrattWill FerrellElizabeth BanksAn ordinary LEGO construction worker, thought to be the prophesied as "special", is recruited to join a quest to stop an evil tyrant from gluing the LEGO universe into eternal stasis.87/100 - One of the most well-rounded films of all time, The Lego Movie's stellar voice cast, timely comedy and satire, colorful animation, and uplifting message about the power of imagination make it well worth the whole family's time.
- DirectorDavid AyerStarsBrad PittShia LaBeoufLogan LermanA grizzled tank commander makes tough decisions as he and his crew fight their way across Germany in April, 1945.87/100 - Fury's fantastic performances from Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, and Logan Lerman are augmented beautifully by David Ayer's direction and Steven Price's score to make one of the best war dramas of the decade to date.
- DirectorJames MarshStarsEddie RedmayneFelicity JonesTom PriorStephen Hawking gets unprecedented success in the field of physics despite being diagnosed with motor neuron disease at the age of 21. He defeats awful odds as his first wife Jane aids him loyally.83/100
- DirectorDean DeBloisStarsJay BaruchelCate BlanchettGerard ButlerWhen Hiccup and Toothless discover an ice cave that is home to hundreds of new wild dragons and the mysterious Dragon Rider, the two friends find themselves at the center of a battle to protect the peace.81/100 - Funny and emotionally satisfying, How to Train Your Dragon 2 has a solid plot and captivating animation, lending its somewhat childish premise to audiences of all ages and being a true family film.
- DirectorMorten TyldumStarsBenedict CumberbatchKeira KnightleyMatthew GoodeDuring World War II, the English mathematical genius Alan Turing tries to crack the German Enigma code with help from fellow mathematicians while attempting to come to terms with his troubled private life.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsChristian BaleJoel EdgertonBen KingsleyThe defiant leader Moses rises up against Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II, setting six hundred thousand slaves on a monumental journey of escape from Egypt and its terrifying cycle of deadly plagues.79/100 - Criticize the casting of white actors all you want: Exodus is the better of the two major Biblical epics this year. This is mostly due to its stricter adherence to the Biblical account and Christian Bale and Joel Edgerton's performances as Moses and Ramses, respectively. As a film, however, its length can occasionally be a slight hindrance, despite Ridley Scott's keen eye for filming on a large scale.
- DirectorJason ReitmanStarsKaitlyn DeverRosemarie DeWittAnsel ElgortA group of high school teenagers and their parents attempt to navigate the many ways the Internet has changed their relationships, their communications, their self-images, and their love lives.77/100 - Despite some muddiness and confusion in its opening, what Jason Reitman does with Men, Women & Children is nothing short of astounding, making us realize both that the end does not justify the means and that technology and social media can do more harm than good when placed in the hands of a fallen humanity.
- DirectorDavid DobkinStarsRobert Downey Jr.Robert DuvallVera FarmigaBig-city lawyer Hank Palmer returns to his childhood home where his father, the town's judge, is suspected of murder. Hank sets out to discover the truth; along the way he reconnects with his estranged family.74/100 - Even though it brings nothing new to the family or courtroom drama genres, The Judge's good pacing, deep character development, and wonderful performances from Robert Downey, Jr., and Robert Duvall are more than worth your while.
- DirectorTim BurtonStarsAmy AdamsChristoph WaltzDanny HustonA drama about the awakening of painter Margaret Keane, her phenomenal success in the 1950s, and the subsequent legal difficulties she had with her husband, who claimed credit for her works in the 1960s.
- DirectorDarren AronofskyStarsRussell CroweJennifer ConnellyAnthony HopkinsNoah is chosen by God to undertake a momentous mission before an apocalyptic flood cleanses the world.70/100 - Biblically accurate it is not; however, Noah is a riveting, engaging film that brings a heavenly story of God's destruction and rebirth of the world down to earth, thanks to an incredibly human portrayal of Noah by Russell Crowe.