Top Movies of 2014!!!!
So 2014 has been a great year for film and with last years total of 66 films seen at the cinema I have happily surpassed last years with a total of 86 films. The only exception of two films that came out end of December that I managed to see in January.
So with the amount of films that I have seen this year I have decided to just again list the top films I have seen in 2014. This time around I am going to list not 10 but 20 films as their are just so many films that people NEED to go and check out.
So here goes the top 20 films for all you lovely readers to go and check out. Either rent, buy or borrow on DVD and Blu-Ray because they are all incredible in their own way.
20 - Pride.
Emotional story of the LGSM (Lesbian and Gays Support the Miners) who support the miners during the miners strike. And the prejudice they endured throughout Britain at a time when being a homosexual was frowned upon. The music and the sets all bring the 80's back to life and you become totally immersed in the film and the characters as well. A truly iconic British film portraying a harsh time in the UK but bringing joy and laughter as well.
20 - Pride.
Emotional story of the LGSM (Lesbian and Gays Support the Miners) who support the miners during the miners strike. And the prejudice they endured throughout Britain at a time when being a homosexual was frowned upon. The music and the sets all bring the 80's back to life and you become totally immersed in the film and the characters as well. A truly iconic British film portraying a harsh time in the UK but bringing joy and laughter as well.
19 - Dallas Buyers Club.
The true story of a HIV sufferer Ron Woodruff played by Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey (for this role) and how he provided drugs to other sufferers to help them live longer. Questioning the drug corporations and pushing the boundaries its really emotional and seriously impressive.
18 - Starred Up
What I feel will be a classic British prison film in years to come, starring up and coming actor Jack O'Connell he plays a lad fresh transferred from juvenile detention to a main prison he struggles to fit in. Causing problems he finally meets in father in the same prison and soon enough learns to try and control himself before something bad happens to him.
What I feel will be a classic British prison film in years to come, starring up and coming actor Jack O'Connell he plays a lad fresh transferred from juvenile detention to a main prison he struggles to fit in. Causing problems he finally meets in father in the same prison and soon enough learns to try and control himself before something bad happens to him.
17 - Fruitvale Station
Based on the true story of the killing of a young black man Oscar Grant, telling the story of his last day alive before he was shot dead by a transit police officer, it is emotional. Showing how he was starting to sort his own life out not just for himself but for his daughter you really connect with the portrayal of a man trying to change his ways.
Based on the true story of the killing of a young black man Oscar Grant, telling the story of his last day alive before he was shot dead by a transit police officer, it is emotional. Showing how he was starting to sort his own life out not just for himself but for his daughter you really connect with the portrayal of a man trying to change his ways.
16 - X-Men Days Of Future Past
What has to be a return to form for director Bryan Singer, we see the X-Men team in a distant future where sentinels are killing off all the mutants and the world looks ravaged by war. As professor X sends Wolverine back in time to stop the sentinels ever being created this film brings old characters and new characters together. A seriously impressive film that has made people sit-up and be interested in our favourite mutants again.
What has to be a return to form for director Bryan Singer, we see the X-Men team in a distant future where sentinels are killing off all the mutants and the world looks ravaged by war. As professor X sends Wolverine back in time to stop the sentinels ever being created this film brings old characters and new characters together. A seriously impressive film that has made people sit-up and be interested in our favourite mutants again.
15 - Her
Set in the not so distant future people who have smartphones are able to download a new update which gives them their own personal talking human like IOS. Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix) is a recent divorcee and starts a relationship with his IOS, strange looks and reactions cause him to question himself and his own real life. Fascinating and at times satirical on today's current smart phone age it is funny but also touching as well seeing a man rebuild his love life back up again.
Set in the not so distant future people who have smartphones are able to download a new update which gives them their own personal talking human like IOS. Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix) is a recent divorcee and starts a relationship with his IOS, strange looks and reactions cause him to question himself and his own real life. Fascinating and at times satirical on today's current smart phone age it is funny but also touching as well seeing a man rebuild his love life back up again.
14 - Maps To The Stars
Now when I heard about the plot to David Cronenbergs newest film I thought to myself "this is going to be a laugh" and boy did I laugh at this one. Again another satirical jibe at the hollywood community and lifestyle we all seem to envisage taking place it shows the lives of several characters all connected in some way. As you see the lives of: a child star, a newly released psychiatric patient, a big named egotistical movie star, a chauffeur and a couple who's lives have a dark secret. You get the chance to peep behind the curtain of their lives while on the outside they seem so normal and happy living the high life. A interesting twisting and turning film that will be seen as a serious comedy to others and a jumbled up mess to others.
Now when I heard about the plot to David Cronenbergs newest film I thought to myself "this is going to be a laugh" and boy did I laugh at this one. Again another satirical jibe at the hollywood community and lifestyle we all seem to envisage taking place it shows the lives of several characters all connected in some way. As you see the lives of: a child star, a newly released psychiatric patient, a big named egotistical movie star, a chauffeur and a couple who's lives have a dark secret. You get the chance to peep behind the curtain of their lives while on the outside they seem so normal and happy living the high life. A interesting twisting and turning film that will be seen as a serious comedy to others and a jumbled up mess to others.
13 - Two Days, One Night
One of for me the finest performances on screen, Marion Cotillard plays Sandra an emotional, depressed woman who is on the verge of losing her job. With only one way to keep her job she must muster up all the energy and positivity she can to go around and ask her fellow workers to save her job and not take a pay bonus. A simple story but something that brings pure raw emotion to the screen and one of Cotillard's finest films in years, a definite watch.
One of for me the finest performances on screen, Marion Cotillard plays Sandra an emotional, depressed woman who is on the verge of losing her job. With only one way to keep her job she must muster up all the energy and positivity she can to go around and ask her fellow workers to save her job and not take a pay bonus. A simple story but something that brings pure raw emotion to the screen and one of Cotillard's finest films in years, a definite watch.
12 - Mr Turner
Beautiful, inspirational, emotional, striking, visually stunning can best describe not only Turner's paintings but also this film by legendary British director Mike Leigh. Showing life of J.M.W. Turner portrayed by long standing Leigh collaborator Timothy Spall in his last 25 years of his life it shows the ups and downs of his career as an artist. The story is emotional and you get to see not only his life at the Royal Academy of Arts with other artists like Constable but you get to see his personal life as well. The struggle of health with his father, the two women who dominated his life and of course his own personal quest to broaden his knowledge of the world and place it down on canvas. A truly great British film and one for not only fans of J.M.W. Turner but of film as well as it has been made with true love of film and of Art.
Beautiful, inspirational, emotional, striking, visually stunning can best describe not only Turner's paintings but also this film by legendary British director Mike Leigh. Showing life of J.M.W. Turner portrayed by long standing Leigh collaborator Timothy Spall in his last 25 years of his life it shows the ups and downs of his career as an artist. The story is emotional and you get to see not only his life at the Royal Academy of Arts with other artists like Constable but you get to see his personal life as well. The struggle of health with his father, the two women who dominated his life and of course his own personal quest to broaden his knowledge of the world and place it down on canvas. A truly great British film and one for not only fans of J.M.W. Turner but of film as well as it has been made with true love of film and of Art.
11 - The Raid 2
A sequel at last for one of the years most impressive martial arts films The Raid, carrying on straight from the first film Rama must go undercover this time and infiltrate a mob boss through his son. Its safe to say this film has plenty of fight scenes, in cars, in kitchens, in hallways, in a nightclub, in a prison yard and of course their is an impressive car chase as well. The fight scenes are ridiculous at times and will have you shouting 'woah what the......" as Welsh director Gareth Evans has made something truly memorable and seriously impressive. The storyline is great and the fight scenes are brought together really well and bring something new to the table, you can have everything and still make it fun and impressive.
A sequel at last for one of the years most impressive martial arts films The Raid, carrying on straight from the first film Rama must go undercover this time and infiltrate a mob boss through his son. Its safe to say this film has plenty of fight scenes, in cars, in kitchens, in hallways, in a nightclub, in a prison yard and of course their is an impressive car chase as well. The fight scenes are ridiculous at times and will have you shouting 'woah what the......" as Welsh director Gareth Evans has made something truly memorable and seriously impressive. The storyline is great and the fight scenes are brought together really well and bring something new to the table, you can have everything and still make it fun and impressive.
10 - All Is Lost
One of the first films I saw in 2014 and stayed in my top films throughout the whole year and here it is now. What can be described by many as the 'Gravity' of the sea it sees an unnamed man (Robert Redford) struggling to survive out at sea. His boat crashes into a floating shipping container causing him to fix the massive hole in his boat but soon enough he is hit by the natural elements and struggles to keep everything together. Not just his boat but he struggles to keep himself, his spirit and his will to live together, gripping, emotional, staggering and with little dialogue it is one of Redford's finest films to date.
One of the first films I saw in 2014 and stayed in my top films throughout the whole year and here it is now. What can be described by many as the 'Gravity' of the sea it sees an unnamed man (Robert Redford) struggling to survive out at sea. His boat crashes into a floating shipping container causing him to fix the massive hole in his boat but soon enough he is hit by the natural elements and struggles to keep everything together. Not just his boat but he struggles to keep himself, his spirit and his will to live together, gripping, emotional, staggering and with little dialogue it is one of Redford's finest films to date.
9 - The Babadook
Now we all know that Horror films are going through the stage of having jump scares every two seconds and seem to have at least three or four released each year at the cinema. But this year one film came out under the radar that truly blew me away and that film was The Babadook and it didn't even need any jump scares to be good. Set in Australia a widowed mother struggles with her demanding young son and reads him the story of Mr Babadook, soon enough the boy says he sees the character from the book and is haunted by him. Both mother and son are terrorised by this character but is he really real or just a figment of their imagination?. Not only a horror film but touching upon the subject of loss, acceptance and how to move on while living with a young imaginative child it is a truly amazing film. As I said the way in which the film scares you is psychologically as you invest in the characters and work out what is and isn't real.
Now we all know that Horror films are going through the stage of having jump scares every two seconds and seem to have at least three or four released each year at the cinema. But this year one film came out under the radar that truly blew me away and that film was The Babadook and it didn't even need any jump scares to be good. Set in Australia a widowed mother struggles with her demanding young son and reads him the story of Mr Babadook, soon enough the boy says he sees the character from the book and is haunted by him. Both mother and son are terrorised by this character but is he really real or just a figment of their imagination?. Not only a horror film but touching upon the subject of loss, acceptance and how to move on while living with a young imaginative child it is a truly amazing film. As I said the way in which the film scares you is psychologically as you invest in the characters and work out what is and isn't real.
8 - Under The Skin
Think of how this would have sounded at the pitch stage, alien arrives on Earth, takes over human body and harvests humans for itself. Simple and could be made into a massive blockbuster movie but no kept low budget and shot on the streets of Scotland with big name actress Scarlett Johansson it is a surreal film that has you thinking. With jarring slow and eerie music in the background and hidden cameras used during scenes you try and work out who is real and who is not. What is this aliens purpose on Earth and why go for the same type of guy all the time, how will the alien fit into society. Johansson is perfect for the role just like her character in plain sight of normal people she is never recognised and is able to slip under the radar. Eerie, thought provoking, strange, arthouse and weirdly addictive it is a must see for sci-fi fans.
Think of how this would have sounded at the pitch stage, alien arrives on Earth, takes over human body and harvests humans for itself. Simple and could be made into a massive blockbuster movie but no kept low budget and shot on the streets of Scotland with big name actress Scarlett Johansson it is a surreal film that has you thinking. With jarring slow and eerie music in the background and hidden cameras used during scenes you try and work out who is real and who is not. What is this aliens purpose on Earth and why go for the same type of guy all the time, how will the alien fit into society. Johansson is perfect for the role just like her character in plain sight of normal people she is never recognised and is able to slip under the radar. Eerie, thought provoking, strange, arthouse and weirdly addictive it is a must see for sci-fi fans.
7 - Locke
This film is impressive in itself for various reasons, set in only a car with one actor it lets actor Tom Hardy showcase his acting talent. The scenes are shot beautifully, who knew the motorways of the UK could look so beautiful at night. Portraying Ivan Locke a construction foreman he decides to take a different route home but will he still have all the things in his life at the end of his journey: his home, his job, his wife and kids?
This film is impressive in itself for various reasons, set in only a car with one actor it lets actor Tom Hardy showcase his acting talent. The scenes are shot beautifully, who knew the motorways of the UK could look so beautiful at night. Portraying Ivan Locke a construction foreman he decides to take a different route home but will he still have all the things in his life at the end of his journey: his home, his job, his wife and kids?
6 - Gone Girl
The latest film by director David Fincher and you can tell it is one of his films as it has the dark edge that we all saw in his previous films. The story of Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike) who goes missing without a trace, her husband Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) is left to face the mass media and public as he searches for his missing wife. But not all is what it seems as Nick battles to not only find his wife but keep his positive profile everything slowly spirals out of his control. Dark, clever, funny, intense, thought provoking and one definitely for all the couples haha it's one of Fincher's finest.
The latest film by director David Fincher and you can tell it is one of his films as it has the dark edge that we all saw in his previous films. The story of Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike) who goes missing without a trace, her husband Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) is left to face the mass media and public as he searches for his missing wife. But not all is what it seems as Nick battles to not only find his wife but keep his positive profile everything slowly spirals out of his control. Dark, clever, funny, intense, thought provoking and one definitely for all the couples haha it's one of Fincher's finest.
5 - Inside Llewyn Davis
Think how many people would have loved to have seen Bob Dylan's career right at the start on the big screen, throw in some comedy and a stroy of life and you've got 'Inside Llewyn Davis'. Of course the main character is Llewyn Davis a folk singer trying to make a name for himself, couch surfing and playing near empty coffee shops in New York. Struggling to survive life throws him obstacles when all he wants is to become a fully paid successful musician. With some great comedy moments thrown in, great performances from Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Justin Timberlake and a funny vocal performance by Adam Driver it is again showcasing the wit and humour from the Coen brothers.
Think how many people would have loved to have seen Bob Dylan's career right at the start on the big screen, throw in some comedy and a stroy of life and you've got 'Inside Llewyn Davis'. Of course the main character is Llewyn Davis a folk singer trying to make a name for himself, couch surfing and playing near empty coffee shops in New York. Struggling to survive life throws him obstacles when all he wants is to become a fully paid successful musician. With some great comedy moments thrown in, great performances from Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Justin Timberlake and a funny vocal performance by Adam Driver it is again showcasing the wit and humour from the Coen brothers.
4 - The Grand Budapest Hotel
Whenever I hear of another Wes Anderson film I get really excited because I know it will be a visual masterpiece, from each shot being perfect to the set designs and costumes. It is safe to say that the Grand Budapest Hotel is everything and more than I expected, the acting is on cue perfect and the characters are just over the top and funny but it all works. Set in a hotel in the made up town of Zubrowka you follow the lives of M. Gustave a concierge at the hotel and his lobby boy Zero. With a cornucopia of actors and characters in the film every scene has something new and the humour is just on point perfect. Beautiful, funny, thrilling, interesting and above all slightly bonkers this is another of director Wes Anderson's hit films.
Whenever I hear of another Wes Anderson film I get really excited because I know it will be a visual masterpiece, from each shot being perfect to the set designs and costumes. It is safe to say that the Grand Budapest Hotel is everything and more than I expected, the acting is on cue perfect and the characters are just over the top and funny but it all works. Set in a hotel in the made up town of Zubrowka you follow the lives of M. Gustave a concierge at the hotel and his lobby boy Zero. With a cornucopia of actors and characters in the film every scene has something new and the humour is just on point perfect. Beautiful, funny, thrilling, interesting and above all slightly bonkers this is another of director Wes Anderson's hit films.
3 - Guardians Of The Galaxy
To quote "what a bunch of a-holes" if you know this line or laugh at this line then this is the film for you. Set in the Marvel cinematic Universe this film was to throw the typical superhero film setup right out of the window and into a black hole into another dimension and leave it to rot. This is not your typical Marvel film, director James Gunn has brought to the sreen a film that is truly impressive visually but truly funny as well. Following Star Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket and Groot they travel the universe to protect and keep safe a glowing purple gem. The jokes come thick and fast and it is just something Marvel fans would not have expected. Lighthearted but clearly bringing in aspects to expand the Marvel cinematic Universe it is what we all needed to shake up the dark, serious previous Marvel films.
To quote "what a bunch of a-holes" if you know this line or laugh at this line then this is the film for you. Set in the Marvel cinematic Universe this film was to throw the typical superhero film setup right out of the window and into a black hole into another dimension and leave it to rot. This is not your typical Marvel film, director James Gunn has brought to the sreen a film that is truly impressive visually but truly funny as well. Following Star Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket and Groot they travel the universe to protect and keep safe a glowing purple gem. The jokes come thick and fast and it is just something Marvel fans would not have expected. Lighthearted but clearly bringing in aspects to expand the Marvel cinematic Universe it is what we all needed to shake up the dark, serious previous Marvel films.
2 - Interstellar
What can be said about Christopher Nolan's latest film other than it is something that I myself would have not expected from Nolan. A film set in space and covering massive scientific subjects like blackholes, third and possible fourth dimensions and of course love and loss as well. Telling the story of a pilot being sent into space to enter a blackhole to find alternate dimensions to start a new colony of human beings on the next best habitable planet sounds crazy but Nolan makes it work. The space landscapes that you see on screen are epic and impressive, the acting is great with lead Matthew McConaughey really bringing the emotion of leaving and not seeing his family grow old. With the added music from long time collaborator Hans Zimmer the epic oragns and horns from the music really bring this grandiose feel to what is an epic sc-fi film.
What can be said about Christopher Nolan's latest film other than it is something that I myself would have not expected from Nolan. A film set in space and covering massive scientific subjects like blackholes, third and possible fourth dimensions and of course love and loss as well. Telling the story of a pilot being sent into space to enter a blackhole to find alternate dimensions to start a new colony of human beings on the next best habitable planet sounds crazy but Nolan makes it work. The space landscapes that you see on screen are epic and impressive, the acting is great with lead Matthew McConaughey really bringing the emotion of leaving and not seeing his family grow old. With the added music from long time collaborator Hans Zimmer the epic oragns and horns from the music really bring this grandiose feel to what is an epic sc-fi film.
1 - Nightcrawler
Now their are films that fall under the radar and you never watch the trailer or read about anything of the film. Having seen 86 films this year I have to say Nightcrawler was never even on my radar, seeing an advance screening of the film it seriously impressed me. I saw a quick trailer a day before the screening and I was intrigued, having been a student journalist at University it touched upon many aspects journalists face be it morals and what is newsworthy and of the public interest. It clearly showed a side to someone who would do anything to get to where he wants to be, Lou Bloom does exactly that. As a photographer in a war zone would you stop taking pictures and help the people or do your job, throw your morals away and keep snapping. Clearly Lou has no moral compass and will still film people even when their dead and dying on the ground. An intriguing, fascinating yet creepy and impressive film that touches on all aspects of life we all go through.
Now their are films that fall under the radar and you never watch the trailer or read about anything of the film. Having seen 86 films this year I have to say Nightcrawler was never even on my radar, seeing an advance screening of the film it seriously impressed me. I saw a quick trailer a day before the screening and I was intrigued, having been a student journalist at University it touched upon many aspects journalists face be it morals and what is newsworthy and of the public interest. It clearly showed a side to someone who would do anything to get to where he wants to be, Lou Bloom does exactly that. As a photographer in a war zone would you stop taking pictures and help the people or do your job, throw your morals away and keep snapping. Clearly Lou has no moral compass and will still film people even when their dead and dying on the ground. An intriguing, fascinating yet creepy and impressive film that touches on all aspects of life we all go through.
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