From more than 80 titles, I have chosen my top
ten most favorite films of 2014. The process included further analysis of the
movies, with some changes after seeing them twice or more, weighing them for
impact, execution/editing, cinematography and personal satisfaction. The final
three selections were the tough ones; there were at least five or more that
could have made the final cut, so I added an "honorable mentions"
list. Without further ado, here they are..
Top 10 Best Films:
10. The Lego Movie
(Directed by Chris Miller & Phil Lord.
Starring Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Liam Neeson)
Everything is awesome when an animated film delights you to
bones. The Lego Movie hits all cylinders, from eye candy visuals to witty
one-liners to its political message. It also features a surprisingly earnest
story and a remarkable cameo from Will Ferrell.
9. The Grand Budapest Hotel |
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8. The Skeleton Twins
(Directed by Craig Johnson. Starring Bill Hader,
Kristen Wiig, Luke Wilson)
The Skeleton Twins is a simple story about
twins Maggie and Milo, reunited after a number of years, when both of their
once happy lives became tragic. The exceptional compassion from its lead actors
(Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig) elevated the film into a level that made it a
heartfelt pleasure instead of a dragging cliché. Also, it features the best
lip-syncing moment in movie history.
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7. Gone Girl
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6. The Babadook
(Directed
by Jennifer Kent. Starring Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman, Daniel Henshall)
The Babadook is a breath of fresh air from the putrid cheap
scares of most horror movies nowadays; it is purely horrifying and genuinely
moving. It also works as a smart psychological film, with a final scene that
stirs the audience to different interpretations of what really occurred.
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5. Enemy
(Directed
by Dennis Villanueve. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Melanie Laurent, Sarah Gadon)
"Chaos is order yet undeciphered", the opening line to
this film is the key hint to the narrative’s message. Similar to "Under
the Skin", here is another cryptic film that will make you connect
everything about the story right after the credits roll. Dennis Villanueve
seems inspired by David Lynch and David Fincher, as he created a surreal
masterpiece. This is a story that will have you guessing even after the last
shocking reel.
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4. Nightcrawler
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3. Under the Skin
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2. Snowpiercer
(Directed by Bong Joon-Ho. Starring Chris Evans, Song Kang-Ho, Jamie Bell, Tilda Swinton)
Bong Joon-Ho's imaginative world of "Snowpiercer" is something that you have never seen before; it is desolate, inexplicable and wicked. This is by far the best apocalyptic science fiction vehicle I've seen from the past decade; it just never loses steam, an exceptional story that twists and turns with each door of the train being opened. A delight to the eye and brain from start to (the unexpected) finish, better watch it now or you'll miss a frenetic and helluva memorable classic.
1. Boyhood
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Honorable Mentions:
Whiplash
Guardians of the Galaxy
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Edge of Tomorrow
X-Men: Days of Future Past
Only Lovers Left Alive
Interstellar
Pride
Jodorowsky's Dune
X-Men: Days of Future Past
Note: Unfortunately, most of the award buzzing movies released last year was not shown theatrically and is still unavailable on DVD/Blu-ray here in the Philippines, that's the reason why there are tons of other movies that you might wonder of not making my top ten. The list includes Birdman, The Imitation Game, Theory of Everything, Citizenfour, Foxcatcher, Selma, The Immigrant, Still Alice and American Sniper.
Other Good Movies:
22 Jump Street, John Wick, The Guest, Big Hero 6, Fury, Filth, Chef, Obvious Child, Begin Again, Locke, Neighbors, The Fault In Our Stars.
Worst Films of 2014:
1. Let's Be Cops
2. Transformers: Age of Extinction
3. I, Frankenstein
4. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
5. Sex Tape
6. Dracula Untold
7. The Other Woman
8. Ouija
9. If I Stay
10. Blended
Other Awful Releases:
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Annabelle
Winter's Tale
The Judge
Transcendence