2014 "Cinema & Stadium" Film Year-in-Review
It's time for another look back at a year of films - at least the ones that I got to see. And this year, I saw more then ever as my interest in this hobby just keeps increasing! Even with that, I still have not gotten to see all of the major Oscar nominees, but I hope to do so before the ceremony so that I can form an opinion about who truly should have won (and which films should have been left out in favor of the snub victims). Like last year, I also have my own Oscar-type awards, based only on the films that I got to see and that were released in 2014 (no Selma, American Sniper).
But first, my favorite post of the year - starting with my top 10 films (this year, you can click on the titles to get to my full review of the film), followed by various other notes. I hope you enjoy reading, and feel free to leave a comment about my selections!
Top 10 of 2014:
10. Guardians of the Galaxy (dir. by James Gunn; starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, et. al.)
The surprise hit of the year, Guardians was a calculated risk (little known characters, goofy premise) for Marvel that struck gold. It seems that audiences were ready for a less serious superhero film, and although I like those, too, it was indeed a refreshing change of pace. The movie really was driven by its oddball cast that had great chemistry, led by the hilarious Chris Pratt and supported by Saldana and off-the-wall (digital) roles for Cooper and Vin Diesel. The plot and villains weren't great, but the fun, humor and soundtrack helped make Guardians one of the most enjoyable films of the year.
9. The Judge (dir. by David Dobkin; starring Robert Downey, Jr., Robert Duvall, Bill Bob Thornton, et. al.)
Nothing flashy here - unless you count Downey, Jr. (who is a perpetual disco ball of an actor - in a good way). The Judge takes just about everything down to the fundamentals in a law/family drama, and it nails them. I always enjoy watching RDJ, and Duvall is of course an excellent actor; but the supporting cast is quietly strong, too. The script is very good, balancing realism and drama quite effectively. Plenty have argued that it's often over-emotional (I like it just fine), and it is a bit on the long side. However, for a good old fashioned movie night, this one is hard to beat.
8. Interstellar (dir. by Christopher Nolan; starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, et. al.)
Oh, Chris Nolan. Probably my current favorite director, the vision of Nolan's films just blow me away (and I usually try to avoid cliches like that, but it's true). His films are also dream-like in that often - particularly here and in Inception - that vision sits just a hair beyond the reach of its execution. The acting is both central and superficial to the film - McConaughey and co. do a fine job but not very memorable. Even the adventure - boldly venturing through a wormhole (and its spectacular visuals) to find a new home for humanity - is secondary to a very poignant ending that brings the big story full circle to a father and his daughter. Flawed, but well worthy of a watch with the right mindset.
7. St. Vincent (dir. by Theodore Melfi; starring Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy, Naomi Watts, et. al.)
"Standard" comedies have had a rough go of it in recent years, and they would all do well to look to this film for guidance. The premise - overwhelmed parent with bright, lonely kid moves next to grumpy old man - is not terribly original, but it shines brightly in oh-so-many ways. Bill Murray gives one of the top performances of the year, not easy for a comedic role; the character may be familiar to him, but he gives it all he's got. He's supported by a great cast, including stars who are in surprising roles. And perhaps most importantly, it's very funny and the script is great.
6. Edge of Tomorrow (dir. by Doug Liman; starring Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton, et. al.)
Over the past decade or even longer, Tom Cruise, one of the most famous actors in the world, has settled into cranking out sci-fi/action films. Almost all have been at least fun and decent, but he helps create a true gem in Tomorrow, sure to become a classic in the genre. The idea is pretty cool, having Cruise die and come back repeatedly to try to defeat an alien invasion, and everything just clicks. This could have been done badly, but the pacing and story progression is handled great, Cruise is charismatic as always, and Emily Blunt is a worthy partner. It's quite funny while capable of sending shivers of dread, and doesn't spoil it with forced emotion. Excellent.
5. Captain America: Winter Soldier (dir. by Anthony and Joe Russo; starring Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, et. al.)
I've been quite impressed with Marvel's lineup of superhero films, and the first Captain movie was one of their most fun. Winter Soldier executes a major pivot and is one of the strongest superhero films I've ever seen. Sure, there's still some sense of the original's lightweight fun, but this one throws the Captain into one of the most real - and dangerous - worlds I've seen in these films. The plot eschews the usual safe, all-the-good-guys win ending, while also effectively mirroring contemporary society. Evans is solid, but Johansson gets a much improved role this time. The action is hard-hitting, tense and well-choreographed. If you haven't seen the other Marvel films - well, this is a great excuse to do so so that you get the most out of it.
4. X-Men: Days of Future Past (dir. by Bryan Singer; starring Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, et. al.)
The X-Men have not been as enormously popular as some other superheroes, but the series has produced consistently good films. And this is possibly the best one (over X2). The plot played to the strengths of the series perfectly. The stakes are big, but the conflicts play out on a very intimate, personal level (except for its flashes of a vision of a potential dystopic future that works better than any I've seen before). Hugh Jackman, brilliant as always as Wolverine, fits right in with the younger cast led ably again by McAvoy, Fassbender, and especially Lawrence. The pacing is propulsive and tense, and the relatively few action scenes are spectacular (especially the slo-mo part). Once again, it works much better if you've seen the other X-Men films, and if you have, the ending is sublime.
3. The Imitation Game (dir. by Morten Tyldum; starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, et. al.)
I saw very few "traditional" Oscar-favorite dramas this year - partly because several didn't come out in my area - but this is one that is certainly worth the hype. This historical war drama hits most of the notes that the Academy expects, but it's excellently done and doesn't feel pandering. Benedict Cumberbatch gives a great performance in a familiar anti-social role but one that has depth and genuine emotion. Knightley plays a well-written and well-acted partner who enhances rather than cheapens the story (she's not just "the girlfriend"). The script is excellent, its before- and after- flashes providing key development to the main story - which itself is remarkably driven by a rather abstract puzzle but well supported by even more daunting human factors.
2. Birdman (dir. by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu; starring Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, et. al.)
And now for something completely different. I really didn't know what to expect from this, and was floored by the results. There's no easy way to describe Birdman; much of the plot is metaphorical (and just plain meta - exhibit A, Keaton's part) yet also straightforward. It's quite funny and quirky, but also deals seriously with redemption, family, and so on. The cast is just phenomenal, and Keaton, Stone, Norton - even Galifianakis showing some nice dramatic chops - are all riveting. And even on top of all that, Birdman is a remarkable experience in the camera work - single shots that extend with seemingly no break for thirty minutes and more, following the action through the labyrinth of the theater like a fly on the wall. A truly creative - and extremely well made - film.
1. The LEGO Movie (dir. by Phil Lord and Chris Miller; starring Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Morgan Freeman, et. al.)
I've said before, I review movies with a combination of how objectively (as well as I can, anyway) good they are with how much I enjoy them. And The LEGO Movie was quite simply my favorite film of the year, by far; it's also incredibly well done. While Pixar failed to release a film in 2014, I feel like this one definitely took its place in spirit and quality. The story is really clever, interweaving the unique elements of LEGOs (and those who love them) with a traditional structure. It's also the funniest movie of the year, thanks to a brilliant script and hilarious voicing from ever-eager Pratt, smirkingly "evil" Ferrell, spit-take sarcasm from Freeman, etc. These elements are all wrapped up in a tone that is just so fun and happy ("Everything Is Awesome", indeed) - it's one of the top reasons I love movies so much in the first place. With a poignant ending, The LEGO Movie (which I hadn't even planned on seeing at first!) is my top film of 2014.
Honorable mentions: Lone Survivor, Love Is Strange, The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies
Miscellaneous Awards:
Most Overrated Film of the Year: Snowpiercer (runner-up: The Grand Budapest Hotel)
I agreed with the overall critical consensus on many 2014 films, but there were a few that I disagree with significantly. I don't think GBH is a bad film exactly, but I did not like it at all. The plot was a poor match for the director's unique style, and the conflicting tones were disruptive. I heard the hype about Snowpiercer, and was disappointed that I couldn't see this new "instant classic" sci-fi action film in theaters. When I saw it on Netflix, though, I couldn't see what the fuss was about. It's pretty well made but there's little reward to offset the dismal tone. The plot is a poorly veiled metaphor, and the ending kinda sucks.
Most Underrated Film of the Year: Tammy (runner-up: N/A)
There are always at least a few of my top-10 films that I think were criminally underrated (this year, the big one is The Judge) but I leave them out of this. Frankly, there weren't many other films I saw that I rated significantly higher than most critics. However, Tammy was the biggest disagreement I had this year. Is it a great film? No. But it's worth a watch. It is not as outrageously funny (in terms of quality or type) as McCarthy's other films; instead, it's more of a romantic comedy. While it has its flaws, it's also very original with a lot of genuine moments and non-cliche relationships.
Most Disappointing Film of the Year: Godzilla (runner up: A Million Ways to Die in the West)
This year didn't feature a lot of films that I was looking forward to for months, so this section is also lighter than last year. After the success of Ted, I was quite hopeful for Seth MacFarlane's second film. I like his sense of humor, but this was just a poor film. There are a few funny parts but it is so generic that it's actually pretty boring. Godzilla wins if only because of the trailer-to-film differential. Featuring Bryan Cranston and awesome, ominous CGI, the trailer made it look almost like a "prestige" disaster film, if that's possible. Yeah. Cranston dies after 30 minutes, the plot is beyond bonkers and it stops being fun pretty fast.
Most Surprisingly Good Film of the Year: Lone Survivor (runner-up: John Wick)
There are always films that are the opposite of Godzilla - crappy trailer/premise that ends up being good. I was 99% sure that Keanu Reeves' career was over. He was good in The Matrix, but I hadn't even seen him in anything since because it was all getting horrible reviews. This, though, was one of the best action films of the year, with a combo of intense action and 007-type cool. Lone Survivor seemed like it would be a meat-headed, ra-ra shoot-'em-up, but it was quite well done. Not even Mark Wahlberg's presence could disrupt it! The military aspects seemed pretty real, along with a dose of Hollywood that didn't hurt it because I was sweating bullets (sorry, bad pun) and needed the reprieve.
drum roll, please...
Worst Film of the Year: Lucy (runner-up: Transformers 4)
Ah, there is a certain sadistic pleasure to ripping into a poorly made film. Before I get to the "top" two, I'd like to give shout-outs to Exodus: Gods and Kings and 300: Rise of an Empire for also being pretty dang crappy movies. Yes, I knew Transformers would suck. But sometimes I just get a sugar tooth for these blockbusters so I saw it. This is at least as bad as the last one, thanks in large measure to Mark Wahlberg taking on the starring role. It panders horribly to China (which still threw $300 million at it to make it the #1 movie in 2014, worldwide - hello, Transformers 5!) and misfires badly again in trying to just be a "fun" film. But Lucy takes the cake. This film is sort of interesting for the first five minutes. Then it sucked. Hard. I am not one to try to predict how movies will go, or even to do so unconsciously, but it was obvious what the end result would be after the first few minutes. That meant all drama/tension was completely out the window. Not only that, the writing the rest of the way was god-awful and I started to come up with my own sarcastic lines. There's no point, no fun, and I should have just left. In other words - avoid at all costs!
Netflix Summary
(from best to worst; not including those in my top-10)
Love Is Strange (A-): A movie about two married men that shows the strength of their relationship - and the difficulty of living with even loved ones - when times turn for the worse. Excellent.
Skeleton Twins (B+): Starring outstanding SNL alums Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig, this is a light comedy with heavy dramatic themes that shows the strength of siblings' bonds.
This Is Where I Leave You (B+): The critics said "meh" and it's not original, but the stars involved do a very good job and it has touching moments and relationships.
A Most Wanted Man (B+): In one of his final roles, Philip Seymour Hoffman plays a conflicted intelligence agent in a John le Carre thriller that cleverly shows the costs of the war on terror.
Divergent (B+): This didn't interest me enough for a theater viewing, but my expectations were surpassed. Despite a truly goofy premise, the human drama is more effect than the Hunger Games'.
Bad Words (B): Something of a disposable film, Jason Bateman is funny as an asshole competing in the spelling bee. Gets too deep into emotion, but cleverly done.
Locke (B): The entire thing takes place in a car, where one man makes phone calls to various people. It's much more interesting than that sounds, but it left some potential unfulfilled.
Robocop (B): Another that couldn't get me to the theater, this was a pretty decent action film. Most memorable for actually digging into the psyche of the wounded warrior.
They Came Together (B-): Depending on your company, this could go over much better. A romantic comedy making fun of romantic comedies, starring the affable Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler.
The Interview (B-): Not uproariously hilarious (other than the tiger scene; Rogen's Neighbors was much better, go see that one), but there's more going on here than I had expected.
Non-Stop (B-): Liam Neeson steals Harrison Ford's famous role thwarting terrorists aboard an airplane. Nothing great, but it's a fun Friday night flick if you need one.
Snowpiercer (B-): See Overrated Films of the Year, Most.
Ride Along (B-): I think Kevin Hart is very funny, so I wanted to give one of his movies a try. This isn't fantastic, but Hart's comic energy carries the film the whole way through.
22 Jump Street (C+): Overrated, just like the first one (at least I had the sense to wait for it on Netflix). It has its moments, but the comedy starts fizzling out quickly.
Noah (C+): This gets as good a score as it does because of the non-traditional take. But between the Ents - er, "Watchers" - and Drunk/Murderous Noah, it's an overlong weirdfest.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 (C+): I have a better question: HOW THE $%^& DID THIS GET NOMINATED FOR AN OSCAR OVER THE LEGO MOVIE?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Veronica Mars (C+): Probably better if you've seen the show, which I haven't. Comes off as an extended TV episode; not bad, but not particularly "cinematic."
Transcendence (C): Starts off OK (I've lost count of how many I can say that about), but it gets truly bizarre and goes off the rails. Skip.
I hope you enjoyed reading my 2014 review of the year in film. It was a pretty good year, with some highlights that I will enjoy revisiting sometime. Now, on to 2015 - with Star Wars, Jurassic World, Spectre (James Bond), Avengers 2 and more. I have been waiting for this year's slate of films for a long time, and I'm so excited that it's finally here!
"The Lego Movie Sequel..." http://www.jbgnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/the-lego-movie-sequel-takes-place-four-years-later.jpg
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