THE TOP 25 MOVIES OF 2014

UPDATED on Feb 20th, 2015.
Before I didn't want to wait for Song of the Sea to be released, but obviously, I did not wait and now that I have seen it, it caused a slight change to say the least. Sucks to suck, Boyhood (except you don't suck, you're still pretty good)

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Here it is. The very best of 2014. There have been a lot of great films to come out this year, and I was lucky enough to have seen exactly 74 of them (because I keep count of shit like this.) It was a bit of a struggle to weed through all of them and pick out just 25, let alone pick out 10. I like to think of the other 15 films, numbers 11-25, as more of an honorable mention. It's difficult for me not to come up with ten films and then just not mention all of the other wonderful movies that came out this year.
But I am happy with my selection this year. I am very fortunate enough to have seen so many of this year's great films (and some not so great). The top 10 gets a description, simply because I always look at people's top 10 lists and wonder "why?" so I personally like to provide the "why."

So, without further ado, here are my top 25 movies that came out in the year 2014.


25. Snowpiercer
24. The Grand Budapest Hotel
23. Stretch
22. The Babadook
21. Big Hero 6
20. John Wick
19. How to Train Your Dragon 2
18. Blue Ruin
17. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
16. Wild
15. Foxcatcher
14. Edge of Tomorrow
13. The Guest
12. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
11. TIE - Chef/Boyhood

10. Gone Girl - 9
David Fincher makes a lot of fucked up movies, but this one may just take the cake. If you've seen it, you'll understand exactly why. It's got everything a Fincher film should have and more, including two of the best performances of the year from Rosamund Pike and Ben Affleck. It's not the kind of movie that's easy to get out of your head. And for some, it may give you trust problems. That much is for sure.

9. Song of the Sea - 9.5/10
This is the best Hayao Miyazaki film that Hayao Miyazaki didn't make. Aside from being beautifully and distinctively animated, the character arcs, voicework, and music are incredibly strong... just like all Miyazaki films. Except everyone has an Irish accent. All comparisons aside, it's an absolutely gorgeous film that moved me to tears. And despite being predictable for a younger audience, there are several great twists along the way. In a word, Song of the Sea is quite simply the most whimsical film this year, and it is definitely not to be missed by kids and adults alike.

8. Selma - 9.4/10
I'm pretty sure that this is the first major biopic that has focused on Martin Luther King Jr, and holy crap, did they knock it out of the park. I had no clue that the march in Selma was even a thing. There are two things that make Selma work as well as it does: the first is Ava DuVernay's impeccable direction. The film oozes style with impressive editing and cinematography that moves with the rhythm of Dr. King's speeches. Oh, and the other thing that makes Selma so great? David Oyelowo. He's not much of a name, but it's going to be. He doesn't just play Dr. King, he is Dr. King. He is unbelievably charismatic, especially when delivering speeches. Oyelowo's performance is the single best of the year.

7. The Lego Movie 9.5/10
Raise your hand if you expected The Lego Movie to just be a 100 minute commercial! Somehow, Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the guys who did 21 Jump Street, managed to infuse the immortal toy brand with more heart and humor than most animated movies have. It's hilarious and simply delightful. And delightful is a word I don't use that often, but let's be real, I can't think of another way to describe it. I never would have expected a movie about Legos to have such strong character arcs. Even more impressive, the film has a simply spectacular message for people of all ages. It's definitely the movie that surprised me most this year, and I think that says a lot. It may not have gotten the Oscar nomination it should have, but everything about this movie is still awesome.

6. Inherent Vice - 9.4/10
Paul Thomas Anderson movies are always the best. Thank god he followed up The Master with something a bit more old school. His adaptation of Thomas Pynchon's novel of the same name is a goofy and chaotic blend of good 'ol fashioned detective work and hazy plot threads that weave through one another like a Gordion knot. The performances are all around outstanding. Joaquin Phoenix is clearly Paul Thomas Anderson's new regular leading man, but it was the performance of up-and-comer Katherine Waterston that really got me hooked. Sure, she only has a few minutes of screen time, but I'll be damned if she doesn't make them count. It may run a bit long, but it's the kind of movie that I didn't want to stop watching.

5. The Raid 2: Berandal - 9.8/10
The Raid 2 is the best action film ever made. Period. I know it's a bold claim. But if you've seen it, you'll understand why. Hell, if you've seen the first one, you may not even believe me when I say that it's better. The story is larger in scope and the violence spans a wide array of locations instead of just an old apartment building. The film is also perfect on a technical level as well. The editing and cinematography perfectly compliment the distinctive Indonesian fighting style. It doesn't even run that long at 2.5 hours because of how fast and frequent the action is. I found myself frequently muttering, "holy fuck" under my breath dozens of times in the theater. And I could hear the other theatergoers saying the same thing. Now that is rare.

4. Nightcrawler - 9.7/10
This is probably one of the most fucked up movies of 2014. Jake Gyllenhaal proves once again that he is one of the most competent actors in the business. The dude literally starved himself for the role, and it actually shows. While much of the film's success can be attributed to his performance, the script is tightly written and directed by Dan Gilroy, this being his first feature. Like many films before it, Nightcrawler is a love-letter of sorts to Los Angeles. The city seems to be as much of a character as those that inhabit the film. Nightcrawler will terrify you in ways you didn't realize were possible, throwing "holy shit" moments at you left and right.

3. Birdman - 9.7/10
Every critic out there, including myself, has noted that Keaton's character in the film, Riggan Thompson, reflects Keaton's own story: He's a washed up actor who was known for playing the world's biggest superhero a couple of decades ago. Okay. We get it. At least Keaton totally kicked ass in what I consider to be one of the biggest and brightest comebacks in a long time. He's going to win an Oscar, I am sure of it. But it's not just his performance. Everything about this film works. The writing is just as dark and twisted as it is hilarious. The supporting cast has brilliant chemistry and is just as interesting as Riggan Thompson. Even more impressive is how the filmmakers told the story itself: a single, two hour long shot that expertly masks every cut. It's wonderfully surreal and something that has not been attempted in such a way before. It's arguably the most inventive film of the year.

2. Guardians of the Galaxy - 9.8/10
There is something rather special about Guardians of the Galaxy. Marvel Studios took a hefty gamble in more ways than one. Thankfully, the actors and filmmakers managed to crate not just the single most fun movie of the year, but the best comic book movie ever made. Although Guardians is certainly a flawed film (Gamora and Ronan are somewhat weak characters), I can't remember the last time I have had so much fun watching a movie. I've seen it four times, and every time, it was just... fun. It's a fun movie. Something like Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a phenomenal and very enjoyable film, but I don't know if I would call it "fun."
Guardians of the Galaxy is the reason that I go to the movies. I want to laugh and have a good time. Guardians is one of the few films this year that gave me exactly that. The film is barely a few months old, yet it seems to have become ingrained in popular culture. Even the soundtrack is making waves, despite just being a mixtape of classic rock songs that expertly compliment each other. It's one of the only movies on the list that I want to watch dozens of times.
I don't think I'll ever get sick of it.

1. Whiplash - 10/10
After my first screening, as the credits rolled, a good friend of mine simply stated, "that is the best movie of 2014." I responded, "You're full of shit. There are still dozens of movies you haven't seen yet, and Oscar season is just getting started." His position did not change. Turns out, I was wrong. Whiplash is the single best film of 2014 for dozens of reasons. Powerful performances, sharp dialogue, crisp cinematography, and rhythmic editing... I could go on. But there is something rare about Whiplash that I have never encountered before.
When I read reviews, I try to find a mixture of positive and negative. When I read a bad review for a film I enjoyed, I usually understand why the critic didn't enjoy it. "Boyhood was too long and the main character was kind of a dick." Okay, sure. I understand your argument, but I still disagree with you. "Birdman" was overly pretentious and I didn't understand the message." Maybe the dialogue was a bit on-the-nose, I found that to be the case. But it didn't bother me. Although I understand complaints, it doesn't stop me from enjoying the hell out of a film.
And then there's Whiplash. I've read some of the very few negative reviews on the film, yet something was different: I didn't understand their arguments. Was I stubborn? I don't think so. In fact, I have yet to meet someone, film student or otherwise, who has said bad things about the film. I've overhyped it to a lot of people and they have all said, "that was fucking awesome."
Whiplash is flawless. It is the only film this year that I can give a solid 10/10 to. Forget everything I said about Boyhood. After the second time I saw that, I realized it was flawed. After three viewings, Whiplash has remained a perfect film that should never be forgotten. Film schools should teach it. Musicians should learn something from it. Editors, cinematographers and sound designers should comb it for its juicy details. Whiplash deserves far more than most of the films on this list, and it will almost guaranteed get screwed over by the Academy at the Oscars this year, but that should not persuade anyone from ignoring this film.
Just give it a go and see for yourself.