22. The Lego Movie
I had to
watch this movie a second time to truly uncover the genius of it. You’ve all seen it. The best part is Batman’s rock tune he
wrote.
21. Chef
Jon Favreau’s come-back. He plays a chef wanting to experiment with his entrees, but the owner of the restaurant will not let him. Yes, the metaphor slaps you across the face pretty hard, but it’s sweet and mostly works. His relationship with his son reminded me of my old man.
20. Obvious Child
The boldest romantic comedy out
there. Jenny Slate plays a woman who got
pregnant by a nice guy during a one night stand. She plans to have an abortion, the nice guy from
the one night stand supports her. The
end. It’s never about a choice by Slate’s
character or the dude who got her pregnant. This is what she wants and he support it. It's charming and funny as hell. The movie doesn’t pull punches.
19. Only Lovers Left Alive
This is the best looking Jim Jarmush movie to date. It stars the always wonderful Tilda Swinton
and Tom Hiddleston as two vampires that have lived through history and are in a
bit of rut. Now, them being vampires is really secondary
to the movie. It’s really an exploration
in humanity and lost chances (or causes).
18. Neighbors
This one
surprised me. I laughed a lot and I’m
not a huge Seth Rogan fan. The
marketing, including the poster, mostly focused on the Zac Effron and
Rogan which is unfortunate. They left out the most
important character that had just as much screen time: Rose Byrne. She makes the movie. If it wasn’t for her, it would not have made
this list. Hey Hollywood - It’s time to include the
marketing to ladies as well. So while
Effron and Rogan are funny in the film, Byrne frankly burned them!
17. Blue Ruin
This revenge
movie is interesting because the revenge actually takes place in the first
act. It’s more about the repercussions. Some have described this as a modern day
Fargo. I get the comparison, since both
are crime related and have a distinct dark comedy to it. It’s a solid movie with star Macon Blair
really holding the film together nicely.
But of course, it’s no Fargo.
16. Guardians of the Galaxy
More than
likely you saw this movie considering it was the biggest grossing movie of the
year. Now, I love me a good space opera and Star Wars
rip-off, so this was right up my alley. I also love weird shit like talking raccoon and a one phrase talking tree.
I love Chris Pratt. I love great music. What a great combination. My favorite part of the movie, could be the
opening credit sequence with Chris Pratt singing “Come and Get Your Love”. Once that title sequence happened, I knew I
was in for something special.
Here is the intro to the movie if you haven't seen it.
Here is the intro to the movie if you haven't seen it.
15. Grand Piano
This had a
feel of an old Hitchock movie, with the use of music and shadows. However, the concept is beyond ridiculous, but
sometimes in movies, you just gotta go with it people. Basically, John Cusack somehow rigs a piano
to blow up if the pianist, played by Elijah Wood, hits a wrong note during a
performance. I know. I know.
It’s ridiculous. But somehow,
somehow, they made it work for me. I don’t
know how, but they did it.
14. The Grand Budapest Hotel
Yeah, I know. You hate
Wes Anderson. I get it. His movies can come across as smug, claustrophobic,
maybe even a bit too put together, but still, do me a favor and give The Grand Budapest Hotel a
shot. He’s at the top of his game with
this murder mystery heist movie. The
movie is doing so many brilliant things, like playing around with aspect ratio
depending on the time-frame he is shooting in, working with stop animation and
just technically doing what he does best.
But the most brilliant thing of all is casting Ralph Fiennes in the lead
role. He plays a distinguished concierge at a prestigious hotel who later becomes
unhinged after being accused of murder. Anderson's best movie since The Royal Tennenbaums.
13. Mistaken for Strangers
Now this one surprised me.
It’s a documentary about a band I dislike called The National. But really, it’s not about The National at
all. It’s about the lead singers less
focused, disheveled, beer drinking brother who goes on tour with them and
decides to make a documentary about the band.
It’s a sweet film about family,
about art, about not judging a book by its cover. I was deeply moved at times, however, most
of it was just so damn funny.
12. Top Five
I am a HUGE Chris Rock fan and own all his stand-up specials. He’s the most brilliant comedian out
there. Unfortunately, he isn’t the
greatest actor and he has chosen roles that just never fit him. In
Top Five, he did the smart thing. He created
his character off himself. Rock
is a huge Woody Allen fan, so to me, this is basically Chris Rock, writing,
directing and starring in his own Woody Allen type movie. I dug it.
I also found Rosario Dawson so damn delightful.
11. Coherence
This science
fiction tale feels like a modern day Twilight Zone episode. It mostly takes place in one setting: A dining
room during a dinner party. I don’t
want to say anymore other than that. OK,
well weird shit happens when a meteor is flying over earth. This movie is so low budget it needed a
kick-starter campaign. That charmed
me.
10. The Imitation Game
I knew very
little about this movie, besides it starring Bennedict “The Game's afoot”
Cumberbatch. The movie is based on a true story about a code-breaker during WWII. It’s mostly plays as a simple, but riveting procedural. However, it took an interesting turn delving
into topics like gay rights and individuality.
9. Tusk
Haters gottta hate people.
Kevin Smith’s Tusk was dismissed way too quickly. I understand that when there is a loud mouth personality like Smith, it’s easy to want to hate on his work. I can’t say, I’m in love with everything he’s
done, but Tusk is truly a unique film
that takes twists and turns and goes places no other movie has this whole
year. Smith should be commended for
that. It’s also his best looking film,
using darkness and shadows to create a nice creepy palette. Michael Parks could be the freakiest he’s
ever been as a man obsessed with walruses.
Justin Long puts in a great manic performance basically playing Kevin Smith. Some have criticized the movie’s tonal
shifts. I was endeared by them. It
reminded me of old Roger Coreman movies that purposefully fucked around with
structure and tone. Also, big tip of
the hat to the make-up in this film.
8. Frank
When I first got on stage (it was
actually a basement party in college) to play guitar and sing, I was so nervous
I could hardly play a chord. My hands
were jittery, my voice was cracking and I was sweating like a pig. So the idea of wearing a paper machete hat
while I sing, does seem oddly appealing.
That’s what Frank is about. But
it wasn’t just that, I connected with the idea of both wanting to experiment
with art, while at the same time, wanting people to desperately like it. It’s a sinful admission I know, but it’s
true. I also simply love the idea of
putting one of the biggest named recognizable actors, Michael Fassbender,
hidden for most of the movie. By the
way, his performance is outstanding.
7. Edge of Tomorrow - Live.Die.Repeat
This was one of the biggest box office flops of the year, which is just a damn shame, because it is smart and spectacular. It’s basically Groundhog’s Day in a futuristic war setting. Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt are equally energetic and engaging. I could not take my eyes off of either of them. And the humor, oh man, the humor. Even though this is a sci-fi movie, I laughed out loud a lot on numerous occasions, thanks to an outstanding Tom Cruise performance. Great stuff!
6. Under the Skin
I don’t want to give away too much of the premise. However, the movie does something that I wish more movies would do. The director literally throws you in the middle of the story. And like Mathew “alirght, alright alright” McConaughey, Scarlet Johansen is simply at the top of her game these days, picking unique movies and challenging roles. She knocked this out of the park. Everything about this is spectacular, including the amazing score and interesting premise of using hidden cameras to record real people (non-actors) that Johansen seduces, not knowing they were being filmed.
5. The One I Love
Like Under the Skin, I don’t want to give anything away. ANYTHING! Alright, well I’ll tell you that most of the movie stars just two actors Mark Duplass (The League and Director of Puffy Chair) and Elizabeth Moss (Mad Men). It’s a magical love story. I loved everything up to the last 10 seconds. I’m going to make my own cut of the movie that eliminates the very last few seconds.
4. Gone Girl
I went into
this movie knowing nothing about the plot or any of its twists. Of course, it was an extremely popular book,
but I knew nothin’ I tell ya. While at
times I feel David Fincher is a bit overrated (Fight Club – most overrated
movie ever), this material seemed to fit his sensibilities perfectly. It was some riveting shit. I love watching a movie and truly not
knowing where the story will wisp me away to.
3. Captain America: Winter Soldier
That’s right, Captain America: Winter Soldier made it this high on the list. I give Marvel credit for allowing their movies to play around in different genres and taking risks, unlike DC. In the vein of All the President’s Men, Captain America: Winter Soldier is basically a 70’s paranoia thriller. Besides the third act, there actually isn’t a lot of action. However, when it is on screen, the action is phenomenal. Unlike most action scenes, you can actually tell what’s happening and you know surroundings around. So people, don’t dismiss it because it’s a super-hero movie. I know it’s easy to do, but DON’T DO IT! Plus, who doesn’t want to see Samuel L. Jackson kick major ballz?
2. The Babadook
The director of The Exorcist, William Friedkin, recently stated
that The Babadook is the scariest movie ever made. I would emphatically disagree with that, but
what I did find fascinating was the different levels and themes the film is
playing with, like single motherhood, mental illness, fighting your demons and
longing for something you just can’t have.
So while the movie was freaky and absolutely had scary moments, I was mostly hooked
on the relationship between the mother and the son, putting the pieces of the
puzzle together and interpreting it.
1. Birdman
I cannot deny Birdman the number one spot. Besides the technical achievement of making
the film appear as one unedited shot (it’s truly remarkable), the characters,
the energy of the film, the story, the meta-ness, the almost lucid dreamy feel
of it all….well it stuck with me weeks after seeing it. Some
critics (I’m looking at you Filmspotting), dismissed the film too quickly as a
gimmick, some didn’t like the ending (I’m looking at you Slash Film), some thought
Michael Keaton is not worthy of the praise he is receiving for the role (I’m
looking at you again Filmspotting).
That’s not how I saw it. Michael
Keaton was the perfect and only choice for the lead of this film. Since the film contains non-stop continuous
one-shots, we get to be an invisible character in the rooms. We get to be a fly on the wall while the
craziness ramps up to opening night of a
Broadway play. We get to see actors
actually acting and interacting with each other as if it was the play they were
putting on in the movie. Birdman may
not be for everyone, but damn, it feels like it was made for me. Big
props to the music (great drum score), the director for deciding to step away
from being such a “Debbie Downer” (Alenjandro G. Inarritu who made Happiness
and Beautiful), Edward Norton and Emma Stone for some truly great moments on
screen and to the Director of Photography (Emanuell Lubeski) for just nailing
the difficulty of the project.
There is no movie like Birdman.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
X-Men: Days
of Future Past - Pretty fun movie with the best slow motion sequence in a
movie, possibly ever.
Hunger Games
Part 1 – Lawrence is just born to play Katniss.
Dawn of the
Planet of the Apes – If the story didn’t hinge on misunderstandings and
coincidences that seemed to have been inspired by Three’s Company episodeS, it
would have been much higher on my list.
22 Jump
Street- The movie works due to Hill and Tatum’s chemistry. I also fell in love with the
self-referential humor.
How to Train
Your Dragon 2 – I love these movies…almost made the list.
The
Interview- Fuck Kim Jong Un, that why….Actually, I do think critics are being
too tough on this movie. I thoroughly
enjoyed the craziness of it all.
SOMEWHAT HONORABLE MENTIONS
Cold in July
Life Itself
Cuban Fury
Robocop
Bad Words
The Muppets Most Wanted
