The Best Movies of 2014 (Reviews+Ratings)
My personal favorite movies of 2014 complete with reviews and my rating for each film! I've been updating this list throughout the entire year and now is finally the time to sort it all out! This list is still periodically updated as I see more films from 2014.
2014 has been another spectacular year for films!
2014 has been another spectacular year for films!
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- 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.Holy ****.
This film blew me away; as soon as it would start to slow down it'd slam me back up against the wall and my eyes would be glued to the screen. This is pure cinema. This is art. It's essentially flawless. The script and direction are so incredibly well done it made my head spin. Every scene has raw power behind it. Right from the start there is this immediate sense of tension. You're legs won't stop bouncing and you're not entirely sure why. This is a testament to the immaculate talent on display in front and behind the camera. Miles Teller and JK Simmons absolutely destroy their competition. They dedicated themselves to every scene, every line of incredibly written dialogue and the pay off is spectacular.
If I were to criticize one thing, just for the sake of nitpicking, I would say the overall story is slightly shallow (you basically know how the movie will end, what matters is the journey). The film is far from predictable and keeps you at the edge of your seat (quite literally) but some may be underwhelmed by the ending.
Oh, and the editing was fantastic; some of the best this year right up there with Birdman and the Raid 2.
9.0/10 - 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.Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, and Emma Stone all give the best performances of their careers, which is especially notable for Norton given his past works. It never feels like they're are acting; they feel like real people. The performances are, once again, subtle and incredibly natural giving everything a more genuine feel. The rest of the cast is great as well but don't standout as much.
Birdman is a simple movie, or it appears that way. Underneath it's a complex beast full of ideology and philosophy about life, the people we spend life with, and, most importantly, who we ourselves are. It also spends a fair amount of time analyzing what the film industry has become as well as what impact critics have on both artists and audiences. It's a fascinating study of modern society.
If someone were to ask me what Birdman was about I'd tell them it's really just a simple metaphor of life itself. Its beautiful, sad, funny, and enormously rewarding. I couldn't recommend this movie enough. If you're looking for that sense of wonder you haven't felt in cinemas in quite some time, look no further; Birdman came to save you!
9.0/10 - 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.Interstellar is the most ambitious movie I've seen in years. The size, scope, story, philosophical themes about humanity and the way it ties in with the characters really set this aside from other movies released in 2014. I'd be hard pressed if there is another film this year that impresses me like Interstellar has. Interstellar is everything I could ever ask from a movie; it was exciting, funny, emotional, intense (that docking scene...), awe-inspiring, gorgeous, grand, and epic. And even with its nearly three hour run time the movie flew by within what felt like a standard two hour movie.
Is Interstellar Nolan's best film? Perhaps... and maybe not. That's up to the viewers to decide. It is, however, his most ambitious and epic. Interstellar is going to stay with me for days, weeks maybe. It leaves you with just enough thought provoking material that it leaves you completely satisfied and fulfilled.
9.0/10 - DirectorRichard LinklaterStarsEllar ColtranePatricia ArquetteEthan HawkeThe life of Mason, from early childhood to his arrival at college.Don't miss out on this one. It's where cinema and art meet and create something that is only possible on film. It pleases me that films like this are still being made. This is what cinema is all about: losing yourself in a different world and forgetting the rest. This is truly something remarkable and rare, I can't enforce this enough. Listen to the reviews and the hype; it deserves all of it.
9.0/10. - DirectorGareth EvansStarsIko UwaisYayan RuhianArifin PutraOnly a short time after the first raid, Rama goes undercover with the thugs of Jakarta and plans to bring down the syndicate and uncover the corruption within his police force.Without a doubt, the best action movie I have ever seen. Absolutely incredible. Everything from the acting to the directing and the cinematography to the action scenes is masterful. Its a shame more people won't see this because of subtitles. The story was engaging, characters interesting, action scenes were *unbelievable*, and (again) cinematography and direction were mind blowing. I can't say enough about this movie.
9.0/10. - DirectorSam EsmailStarsJustin LongEmmy RossumKayla ServiSet in a parallel universe, Comet bounces back and forth over the course of an unlikely but perfectly paired couple's six-year relationship.It is difficult for me to form words after seeing this movie. I'm sitting here at my desk trying to gather my thoughts to string together logical sentences but I have become overwhelmed with emotion.
For now let's talk technicalities. The acting, directing, cinematography and lighting, editing, and soundtrack are gorgeous. The film is aesthetically beautiful to look at, so much so that it almost hurts.
But the real star is Sam Esmail's (USA's Mr. Robot) writing. This is where I'm having difficulty expressing my general thoughts. This IS NOT a film for everyone; and that's what makes it so unbelievably special. The characters are painted beautifully and feel fresh and new, which is something I can't say often. The screenplay is so incredibly touching that it often felt like a transcending experience; something more than just a film.
If you are a fan of deeply challenging films (i.e. Mr Nobody) then this is an absolute must see. If your a film student, this is a must see. If you are a lover of cinema in general, this is a must see.
The film is on Netflix and it's only an hour and a half in length making for an extremely easy watch. Please support this film. It's such a rarity that we see such beauty in a film released in 2014.
9.0/10 - DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsJake GyllenhaalMélanie LaurentSarah GadonA man seeks out his exact look-alike after spotting him in a movie.A psychological masterpiece. Jack Gyllenhaal turns in a riveting performance and Denis Villeneuve paints a picture that spins and turns seemingly endlessly. This is art; symbolism and "subtle-ness" are off the charts here. It demands deep and intense thinking; it's not a movie for everyone. You'll leave the movie with either one of two things spinning around your head: "What the **** just happened?" or you'll be reevaluating what you think of yourself.
8.5/10 - DirectorShawn ChristensenStarsShawn ChristensenFatima PtacekEmmy RossumAt the lowest point of his life, Richie gets a call from his estranged sister, asking him to look after his 11-year old niece Sophia for a few hours.When you have a movie about a man trying to find redemption it's either going to be really bad or really good; there isn't really an in-between. Thankfully, this is a great one and avoids most cliches and feel good moments that plague lesser redemption stories. The acting is heartfelt and real without being overdone and the direction and cinematography are just excellent, bringing out the devastating path towards self redemption.
8.5/10 - DirectorSteven KnightStarsTom HardyOlivia ColmanRuth WilsonIvan Locke, a dedicated family man and successful construction manager, receives a phone call on the eve of the biggest challenge of his career that sets in motion a series of events that threaten his carefully cultivated existence.Tom Hardy's Tour de France performance; absolutely phenomenal. It's without a doubt one of the best performances this year. The screenplah and direction from Steven Knight are just as impressive. Cinematography is gorgeous and keeps you engaged with what's happening on screen even though the entire movie takes place in a car. The story, even though it advances slowly, has excellent pacing and never gets bored.
Tom Hardy's performance alone is worth seeing this movie.
8.5/10. - DirectorBryan SingerStarsPatrick StewartIan McKellenHugh JackmanThe X-Men send Wolverine to the past in a desperate effort to change history and prevent an event that results in doom for both humans and mutants.One of the best movies of the year so far, in my opinion, and the best X-Men movie yet! Brian Singer has outdone himself with this one. Not only is the action dazzling, the soundtrack exciting and emotional, the special effects top notch, the cinematography great, the direction amazing, and the acting phenomenal, but the story and the character development is what really sets this movie apart. You genuinely care about these people and what happens.
8.5/10 - 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.Best animated movie since Toy Story 3! By far the most fun I've had in theaters all year and had a truly genuine story with a fantastic message and awesome characters!
8.5/10 - DirectorMatt ReevesStarsGary OldmanKeri RussellAndy SerkisThe fragile peace between apes and humans is threatened as mistrust and betrayal threaten to plunge both tribes into a war for dominance over the Earth.While perhaps it wasn't as good as Rise, it definitely told a very emotional and powerful story with some absolutely mind blowing CGI and some impressive action sequences.
8.5/10. - DirectorPeter ChelsomStarsSimon PeggRosamund PikeTracy-Ann ObermanA psychiatrist searches the globe to find the secret of happiness.8.5/10
- DirectorCharles-Olivier MichaudStarsKelly BlatzRichard JenkinsKim BasingerA former track coach decides to train a student with natural athletic talent. Tragedy strikes, forcing the student to confront everything that has been holding him back.4 Minute Mile is a film that seems like it'll be full of cliches and sports moments we've seen dozens of times before but it's not. Instead, we get fantastic characters and a story that is emotionally involving. 4 Minute Mile isn't a story about winning and loosing or reaching your goals; it's about life. It's about facing your fears. It's about letting go and moving forward.
Combine that with fantastic performances from the entire cast and *beautiful* cinematography and you've got one of the year's best films.
8.5/10 - DirectorChad StahelskiStarsKeanu ReevesMichael NyqvistAlfie AllenAn ex-hitman comes out of retirement to track down the gangsters who killed his dog and stole his car.John Wick is a surprising movie. Not only is it one of the best movies of the year but it's probably the best Hollywood action movie of the past several years. The stunt-work and choreography are brilliant; it helps having Keanu Reeves doing nearly all his own stunts and it pays off magnificently. Fight scenes haven't looked this great from a Hollywood movie in quite some time.
But that's not all there is to praise; the story works. It works very well. It seems cliche (and maybe it is) but it doesn't matter. The world is deeply written and keeps your interest the entire time. The direction is fantastic, as is the cinematography.
This movie shouldn't really have been that good but it is.
8.0/10 - 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.The animation is by far the best I've seen in an animated movie (The Lego Movie is the only one comparable). Voice acting was great. Cinematography was gorgeous. The story was interesting. The soundtrack was good. And the art direction was wonderful!
8.0/10. - DirectorCraig JohnsonStarsKristen WiigBill HaderLuke WilsonHaving both coincidentally cheated death on the same day, estranged twins reunite with the possibility of mending their relationship.A simple story told with very realistic portrayals of depression and amazing performances by the entire cast make for an emotional film that will stay with you.
8.0/10 - DirectorLynn SheltonStarsKeira KnightleyChloë Grace MoretzSam RockwellIn the throes of a quarter-life crisis, Megan panics when her boyfriend proposes. She takes an opportunity to escape for a week, hiding out in the house of her new 16-year-old friend Annika and her world-weary single dad.Kiera Knightley once again proves how great an actor she is in this funny and easily relatable film about an adult who is having a difficult time fitting in with the world around her.
8.0/10 - 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.Despite nearly universal negative opinions towards this film, I loved it. I didn't feel that it was anti-technology at all but rather showed both sides of the argument equally and realistically. The acting from everyone is exceptional as well. Even Adam Sandler, who takes on a much more serious role, is fantastic and believable as a depressed father. My only complaint is the film ends abruptly and the narration was kind of annoying.
Overall, the film is definitely worth checking out, especially if you like Jason Reitman.
8.0/10 - DirectorGren WellsStarsRobert SheehanDev PatelZoë KravitzA young man with Tourette's Syndrome embarks on a road trip with his recently-deceased mother's ashes.This is one of the few movies that's made me laugh to tears. It's genuinely hilarious and features great and likable characters that have actors that are on the top of their game.
8.0/10 - 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.Benedict Cumberbatch gives an absolutely incredible performance as the genius homosexual mathematician with such extreme emotion yet subtle undertones that solidify him for one of the best performances of the year. The movie is directed carefully and the cinematography is simplistic but beautiful as it slowly pans and zooms on objects as it slowly adjusts focus.
The plot is pretty straight forward (especially if you know the true life story already) but that doesn't detract from the film at all. It isn't only an emotional and heartbreaking experience but also a humorous and "eye opening" story. The film is extremely cautious when dealing with politically sensitive issues such as women's rights and gay rights so it doesn't feel obnoxious and thrown in.
I really enjoyed the Imitation Game and it's Cumberbatch's best performance yet, if you can even imagine that...
8.0/10 - DirectorCharlie McDowellStarsMark DuplassElisabeth MossTed DansonA troubled couple vacate to a beautiful getaway, but bizarre circumstances further complicate their situation.DO NOT watch any trailers or read anything other than the description on Netflix. The less you know, the better.
This is a great film that takes a simple idea but infuses interesting character drama and mystery along with it. I won't say anything else.
8/10 - 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.Best Marvel Studios movie since Iron Man 1. Perhaps a little overrated... but still a great movie with good action scenes.
8/10 - DirectorAllison BurnettStarsBritt RobertsonMolly HaganAndy BuckleyA confused teenager writes a blog revealing her daily activities and secrets, advised to do so by her high school guidance counselor in lieu of moving on to her first year in college.A brilliantly acted and touching script make for a brutally honest and emotional journey of a young girl who's lost in the world of growing up.
8.0/10 - DirectorPeter BergStarsMark WahlbergTaylor KitschEmile HirschMarcus Luttrell and his team set out on a mission to capture or kill notorious Taliban leader Ahmad Shah, in late June 2005. Marcus and his team are left to fight for their lives in one of the most valiant efforts of modern warfare.Technically a 2013 release but most will see it in 2014.
I really liked the realistic feel to everything down to uniforms and all the way to the action scenes. At first it felt like a "go America" movie but in the third act that completely turns around. Probably the best war movie in quite some time.
8/10