Top Five Films of 2014...so far

**Exo** · 06-27-2014, 04:44 PM

Watch a lot of movies so far this year? I'll admit there haven't been many great ones but there certainly have been fantastic films so far. Let's do a top five!

I'm going out drinking so I'll write mine up when I return tomorrow.

Let's hear it!

Paul Smeenus · 06-27-2014, 06:30 PM

I havent seen a single 2014 release

**Exo** · 06-29-2014, 12:31 PM

Honorable Mentions

Edge of Tomorrow – Perfectly fun and exciting sci fi film. Emily Blunt kicked major ass and it was fun to see Tom Cruise be a human being before he turned into his typical badass action hero. The film was also pretty tight for a film that had such a high concept. I would have liked a less Hollywood ending but I left very satisfied.

The Wind Rises – I know this hit the festivals in 2013 but it had a limited release in 2014 so I included it. It was certainly the least fantastical Miyazaki film I’ve ever seen but the love and heart that went into it is unmistakable. Miyazaki wrote a poem about himself and it came out beautifully. I didn’t care for the American voice acting and it ran a tad long but if the genius is truly done directing films I’m satisfied with his last.

Godzilla – Sometimes you just need a cool monster movie and this was it for me. I enjoyed the havoc and the set pieces, especially the halo drop, were cool as ****. I just needed more Bryan Cranston and Godzilla but overall it was an enjoyable film.

NUMBER FIVE - ENEMY

Denis Villenuvue is one of my favorite new film makers right now so naturally I would have a high regard of his doppleganger film staring Jake Gyllenhaal. It was a bit slow but when it picked up it turned into a psychotic piece of mystery with amazing visuals and a key performance from Gyllenhaal. Also, the ending is bat**** insane yet so thought provoking. I love good mysteries. I love mysteries even more when I still haven’t figured it out.

NUMBER FOUR - THE LEGO MOVIE

SPACESHIP!!! There isn’t much to say other than that. It’s a fun as hell ride into many a childhoods with a strong message to be yourself. The voice cast was hilarious and the film implied a joke a minute strategy that had me in stitches the whole time. Oh, and SPACESHIP!!!

NUMBER THREE - THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL

The only film this year I have seen multiple times in the theater. I can’t express how much I loved this film. It is up there with the Wes Anderson greats, Tennenbaums and Rushmore, while still being unique and delightfully surprising. The design and story were clever and crafted with such detail and care and the cast was just amazing. We’ll get into Ralph Fiennes later on. It’s just a completely joyous film.

NUMBER TWO - ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE

I love Jim Jarmusch. I’ve been binge watching his films ever seeing Only Lovers in the theater and I firmly believe he makes films just for me know. I love slow movies. I love movies where the clever dialogue is basically another character. I love committed and subtly powerful performances. Only Lovers had all of that. Swinton and Hiddleston were two of the most perfect casting choices I’ve ever seen. They were magnificent. The soundtrack was as dark and brooding as the camera work. It’s just the perfect chill out movie. It was my number one until only recently which brings me too…

NUMBER ONE - THE ROVER

What can I say? I’m obsessed with David Michod. Jim Jarmusch may make films for me, but Michod makes films I want to make. They are unflinching and unapologetic, brutal and beautiful, deep and symbolic, and just as shocking the second time you see it as the first. I may like Animal Kingdom slightly better than this but never has a film grown on me the longer I thought about it than The Rover. I forget what rating I gave it originally but now it’s a firm five out of five. The ending received groans from the audience I was in but it left me speechless. Everything came together for me during the last shot and the significance of it lingered for days. Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson gave career performances and the gorgeous cinematography was the icing on the cake. It’s my number one film of the year so far and will be hard to top.

__________________________________________________ _______

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS

Robocop – One of the worst films I’ve seen in years. Nothing happened. I didn’t care. Not even Michael K. Williams was good in it. Abbie Cornish should stop trying. The only redeeming factor was Gary Oldman. I just hated it.

Monuments Men – What a snoozefest. Did I even write about this one? I can’t remember if I did or not. I may have clocked out halfway and thought a review was wrong which tells you how boring this movie was.

The Raid 2 – I left halfway because I just couldn’t sit in the theater any longer. The fight scenes were great and I’m going to give it another try but I just didn’t care for the story at all. I was pissed all night after this one.

_________________________________

Best Performances

Ralph Fiennes in The Grand Budapest Hotel – There has not been a more perfectly cast role in comedy in the last ten years that lives up to this role. Hysterical, serious, and outlandishly bizarre, Fiennes brought it all. He’s the reason I had no problem at all seeing this is theaters the same week as when I saw it first. He was amazing.

Guy Pearce/Robert Pattinson in The Rover – This was the performance of Pearce’s career and even though he won’t get it, he deserves recognition for it. His face was heartbreaking and his actions were brutal. He has perfected the thousand yard stare. I combined the two because they complimented each other so well. Pearce was a menace and Pattinson was unpredictable and seemed lost in whatever he was doing. They were a treat to watch.

Bryan Cranston in Godzilla – My favorite part of the film that included gigantic monsters kicking the **** out of each other. I cared so much for his character in such a little time. He broke my heart in half on multiple occasions and may I remind you he did it in a film that is about MONSTERS KICKING THE **** OUT OF EACH OTHER. Cranston is just amazing.

Jake Gyllenhaal and Jake Gyllenhaal in Enemy – The guy can act. The guy can also act with himself. The two Jakes (movie reference) were nearly complete opposites yet Gyllenhaal was able to get it done almost effortlessly. He’s turning into a ridiculously good actor.

Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston in Only Lovers Left Alive – Another two that have to be together because they complimented each other so well. I want to hang out with these two and talk about the world so bad. Hiddleston was dark and Swinton was his light. They were a perfect team.

__________________________________________________ __________________

Favorite scenes/moments (Spoiler free)

The Lego Movie – SPACESHIP!!!!!!!

Godzilla – The Halo Drop. So unnerving with the music and the camera angle.

The Grand Budapest Hotel – The mountain chase in the snow. Just delightful and also hysterical.

Only Lovers Left Alive – Swinton, Hiddleston, and Hurt all drinking their blood. Also, the opening scene was incredible. Perfect song choice with Wendy Jackson.

X-Men : First Class – The Escape. You know what scene I’m talking about. Time Stuck in a Bottle. One of the best action sequences I’ve ever seen.

The Rover/Enemy – The endings.

bob. · 06-29-2014, 01:05 PM

5. Jodorowsky's Dune

such an intriguing film....a fairly simple documentary about what probably would have been the greatest movie of all time....also an exploration into the mind of someone who is truly insane.....and the hope of this actually becoming an animated film
4. The Lego Movie

other than my number one pick...i can honestly say that there has not been a film this year that left as astonished at the end....there is absolutely nothing wrong with this movie....wonderful writing, clever inside jokes, and a heart wrenching moral....actually just re-watched it this morning with some friends and their kids....which made even better
*3. The Rover

what can i say....i love bleak existential films about horrible people...and The Rover pays off in such an amazing way....both Guy Pierce and Robert Pattinson give really amazing performances....the shots in this film are reminiscent of the amazing shots Sergio Leone would pull off....you could take away everything else in this movie and just leave the cinematography and it would still be worth seeing several times....but the story is well written and the parallels are not so obvious leaving the viewer to really think (thank you Exo

).....this flick sticks with you
2. Only Lovers Left Alive

i think Adam from Filmspotting really explains this perfectly when he said that the people who enjoy this movie do so because they want to spend time with these characters....two minutes into Eve's screen time and i was hopelessly in love with her....being a huge fan already of Jim Jarmusch i went into this with very high expectations and honestly i think we got his best film to date....both Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston are perfect as two centuries old vampires....every shot in this movie is thought out and executed perfectly....the soundtrack is amazing....and so far this year...this is the only movie that really made me think about myself and how i perceive the world around me....seriously i can one for hours about the impact the mushroom scene had on me

1. Under The Skin

i can honestly say that i don't think anything will come out that will be better than this movie....maybe The Lobster but i think that has been pushed to a 2015 release

honestly this movie floored me in a way that i just can't explain....everything i love about film is in this....i've seen it three times in less than a week and i've just started reading the book for a second time

feeling that in many ways Scarlett Johansson got robbed last year for not even a nod for her amazing performance in Her....i almost know for a fact that this film will be ignored....which is a shame....this one is a true piece of art....and it obviously centers completely around her as an alien driving around Scotland picking up men

if you see anything this year Paul....see this

*kind of like last year with Inside Llewyn Davis and Her....my number three and two could easily change between The Rover and Only Lovers Left Alive depending on my mood or even just the time of day

Wpnfire · 06-29-2014, 01:09 PM

Totally agree with Monument's Men being a tad boring. It was not really that engaging and I had a hard time liking any of the characters because they were introduced so quickly. I honestly forgot that I saw that movie, probably because I did not like that much.

Also agree that Edge of Tomorrow suffered from a cop-out hollywood ending, but other than that it was well done. That car scene was really really good.

bob. · 06-29-2014, 01:31 PM

hmmmm

honorable mentions....

Godzilla
Nymphomaniac Vol. 1
Captain America: Winter Soldier
Chef

biggest disappointments....
fucking Maleficent.....FUCK!!@!!
Robocop
Nymphomaniac Vol. 2 (seriously this was supposed to be my movie of the year....Vol. 1 was amazing as to be expected....but Vol. 2 destroyed everything i love about Von Trier....i suppose i need to decided whether to accept them as two very different movies or as a really good first half and shitty blow job of an ending)

best performances....

Scarlett Johansson (Under The Skin)
Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston (Only Lovers Left Alive)
Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson (The Rover)
Christian Slater (Nymphomaniac Vol 1)
Godzilla (Godzilla)

favorite scenes....(spoiler free)

a huge "hell yes" to that time in a bottle scene from x-men

the mushroom scene and the dancing scene in Only Lovers Left Alive

everything involving the Unikitty in the Lego Movie "marry a marshmallow"

the train sequence in Nymphomaniac: Vol. I

defiantly the end of The Rover

the swimming scene in Godzilla

all 108 minutes of Under The Skin

edit

i really need to see Grand Budapest Hotel....and i'm really glad to see that you favor Edge of Tomorrow....think i may see it next week

**Exo** · 06-29-2014, 08:12 PM

I really like Von Trier but I just have no interest at all in Nymphomaniac. I also really need to see Under the Skin. Great list bob.

bob. · 06-30-2014, 01:30 AM

right back at ya man

i really cannot wait to talk with you about Under The Skin....i think i'm just gonna send Stephanie a copy of it with this book i got for her

as for Nymphomaniac.....it's the third installment of his "depression" trilogy....and covers that subject well in the first volume....but the second just became a sick s&m fest with a seriously stupid ending

also i can't remember....did you write a review of The Lego Movie?

so glad we're on the same page about such a wonderfully fun movie

**Exo** · 06-30-2014, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bob.

also i can't remember....did you write a review of The Lego Movie?

so glad we're on the same page about such a wonderfully fun movie

Sure did!

Film Review : The Lego Movie (2014) | Thoughts From the Booth

bob. · 07-01-2014, 09:18 PM

I love your comparison to the Calvin and Hobbes strip......purrrrrrfect

06-27-2014, 04:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
Exo All day jazz and biscuits Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 7,359	Top Five Films of 2014...so far Watch a lot of movies so far this year? I'll admit there haven't been many great ones but there certainly have been fantastic films so far. Let's do a top five! I'm going out drinking so I'll write mine up when I return tomorrow. Let's hear it! __________________ LastFM SUPREME POO BAH MODERATOR EXTRAORDINAIRE

06-29-2014, 12:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
Exo All day jazz and biscuits Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 7,359	Honorable Mentions Edge of Tomorrow – Perfectly fun and exciting sci fi film. Emily Blunt kicked major ass and it was fun to see Tom Cruise be a human being before he turned into his typical badass action hero. The film was also pretty tight for a film that had such a high concept. I would have liked a less Hollywood ending but I left very satisfied. The Wind Rises – I know this hit the festivals in 2013 but it had a limited release in 2014 so I included it. It was certainly the least fantastical Miyazaki film I’ve ever seen but the love and heart that went into it is unmistakable. Miyazaki wrote a poem about himself and it came out beautifully. I didn’t care for the American voice acting and it ran a tad long but if the genius is truly done directing films I’m satisfied with his last. Godzilla – Sometimes you just need a cool monster movie and this was it for me. I enjoyed the havoc and the set pieces, especially the halo drop, were cool as **. I just needed more Bryan Cranston and Godzilla but overall it was an enjoyable film. NUMBER FIVE - ENEMY Denis Villenuvue is one of my favorite new film makers right now so naturally I would have a high regard of his doppleganger film staring Jake Gyllenhaal. It was a bit slow but when it picked up it turned into a psychotic piece of mystery with amazing visuals and a key performance from Gyllenhaal. Also, the ending is bat insane yet so thought provoking. I love good mysteries. I love mysteries even more when I still haven’t figured it out. NUMBER FOUR - THE LEGO MOVIE SPACESHIP!!! There isn’t much to say other than that. It’s a fun as hell ride into many a childhoods with a strong message to be yourself. The voice cast was hilarious and the film implied a joke a minute strategy that had me in stitches the whole time. Oh, and SPACESHIP!!! NUMBER THREE - THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL The only film this year I have seen multiple times in the theater. I can’t express how much I loved this film. It is up there with the Wes Anderson greats, Tennenbaums and Rushmore, while still being unique and delightfully surprising. The design and story were clever and crafted with such detail and care and the cast was just amazing. We’ll get into Ralph Fiennes later on. It’s just a completely joyous film. NUMBER TWO - ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE I love Jim Jarmusch. I’ve been binge watching his films ever seeing Only Lovers in the theater and I firmly believe he makes films just for me know. I love slow movies. I love movies where the clever dialogue is basically another character. I love committed and subtly powerful performances. Only Lovers had all of that. Swinton and Hiddleston were two of the most perfect casting choices I’ve ever seen. They were magnificent. The soundtrack was as dark and brooding as the camera work. It’s just the perfect chill out movie. It was my number one until only recently which brings me too… NUMBER ONE - THE ROVER What can I say? I’m obsessed with David Michod. Jim Jarmusch may make films for me, but Michod makes films I want to make. They are unflinching and unapologetic, brutal and beautiful, deep and symbolic, and just as shocking the second time you see it as the first. I may like Animal Kingdom slightly better than this but never has a film grown on me the longer I thought about it than The Rover. I forget what rating I gave it originally but now it’s a firm five out of five. The ending received groans from the audience I was in but it left me speechless. Everything came together for me during the last shot and the significance of it lingered for days. Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson gave career performances and the gorgeous cinematography was the icing on the cake. It’s my number one film of the year so far and will be hard to top. __________________________________________________ _______ BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS Robocop – One of the worst films I’ve seen in years. Nothing happened. I didn’t care. Not even Michael K. Williams was good in it. Abbie Cornish should stop trying. The only redeeming factor was Gary Oldman. I just hated it. Monuments Men – What a snoozefest. Did I even write about this one? I can’t remember if I did or not. I may have clocked out halfway and thought a review was wrong which tells you how boring this movie was. The Raid 2 – I left halfway because I just couldn’t sit in the theater any longer. The fight scenes were great and I’m going to give it another try but I just didn’t care for the story at all. I was pissed all night after this one. _________________________________ Best Performances Ralph Fiennes in The Grand Budapest Hotel – There has not been a more perfectly cast role in comedy in the last ten years that lives up to this role. Hysterical, serious, and outlandishly bizarre, Fiennes brought it all. He’s the reason I had no problem at all seeing this is theaters the same week as when I saw it first. He was amazing. Guy Pearce/Robert Pattinson in The Rover – This was the performance of Pearce’s career and even though he won’t get it, he deserves recognition for it. His face was heartbreaking and his actions were brutal. He has perfected the thousand yard stare. I combined the two because they complimented each other so well. Pearce was a menace and Pattinson was unpredictable and seemed lost in whatever he was doing. They were a treat to watch. Bryan Cranston in Godzilla – My favorite part of the film that included gigantic monsters kicking the out of each other. I cared so much for his character in such a little time. He broke my heart in half on multiple occasions and may I remind you he did it in a film that is about MONSTERS KICKING THE OUT OF EACH OTHER. Cranston is just amazing. Jake Gyllenhaal and Jake Gyllenhaal in Enemy – The guy can act. The guy can also act with himself. The two Jakes (movie reference) were nearly complete opposites yet Gyllenhaal was able to get it done almost effortlessly. He’s turning into a ridiculously good actor. Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston in Only Lovers Left Alive – Another two that have to be together because they complimented each other so well. I want to hang out with these two and talk about the world so bad. Hiddleston was dark and Swinton was his light. They were a perfect team. __________________________________________________ __________________ Favorite scenes/moments (Spoiler free) The Lego Movie – SPACESHIP!!!!!!! Godzilla – The Halo Drop. So unnerving with the music and the camera angle. The Grand Budapest Hotel – The mountain chase in the snow. Just delightful and also hysterical. Only Lovers Left Alive – Swinton, Hiddleston, and Hurt all drinking their blood. Also, the opening scene was incredible. Perfect song choice with Wendy Jackson. X-Men : First Class – The Escape. You know what scene I’m talking about. Time Stuck in a Bottle. One of the best action sequences I’ve ever seen. The Rover/Enemy – The endings. __________________ LastFM SUPREME POO BAH MODERATOR EXTRAORDINAIRE**

06-29-2014, 01:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
bob. Still sends his reguards. Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Trying to get out of the cat town.... Posts: 5,039	5. Jodorowsky's Dune such an intriguing film....a fairly simple documentary about what probably would have been the greatest movie of all time....also an exploration into the mind of someone who is truly insane.....and the hope of this actually becoming an animated film 4. The Lego Movie other than my number one pick...i can honestly say that there has not been a film this year that left as astonished at the end....there is absolutely nothing wrong with this movie....wonderful writing, clever inside jokes, and a heart wrenching moral....actually just re-watched it this morning with some friends and their kids....which made even better 3. The Rover* what can i say....i love bleak existential films about horrible people...and The Rover pays off in such an amazing way....both Guy Pierce and Robert Pattinson give really amazing performances....the shots in this film are reminiscent of the amazing shots Sergio Leone would pull off....you could take away everything else in this movie and just leave the cinematography and it would still be worth seeing several times....but the story is well written and the parallels are not so obvious leaving the viewer to really think (thank you Exo ).....this flick sticks with you 2. Only Lovers Left Alive i think Adam from Filmspotting really explains this perfectly when he said that the people who enjoy this movie do so because they want to spend time with these characters....two minutes into Eve's screen time and i was hopelessly in love with her....being a huge fan already of Jim Jarmusch i went into this with very high expectations and honestly i think we got his best film to date....both Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston are perfect as two centuries old vampires....every shot in this movie is thought out and executed perfectly....the soundtrack is amazing....and so far this year...this is the only movie that really made me think about myself and how i perceive the world around me....seriously i can one for hours about the impact the mushroom scene had on me 1. Under The Skin i can honestly say that i don't think anything will come out that will be better than this movie....maybe The Lobster but i think that has been pushed to a 2015 release honestly this movie floored me in a way that i just can't explain....everything i love about film is in this....i've seen it three times in less than a week and i've just started reading the book for a second time feeling that in many ways Scarlett Johansson got robbed last year for not even a nod for her amazing performance in Her....i almost know for a fact that this film will be ignored....which is a shame....this one is a true piece of art....and it obviously centers completely around her as an alien driving around Scotland picking up men if you see anything this year Paul....see this *kind of like last year with Inside Llewyn Davis and Her....my number three and two could easily change between The Rover and Only Lovers Left Alive depending on my mood or even just the time of day __________________ A kiss is the beginning of cannibalism. Reach out, pierce the fine fabric of the sheltering sky, take repose.

06-29-2014, 01:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
Wpnfire Dragon Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Kansas, United States Posts: 2,744	Totally agree with Monument's Men being a tad boring. It was not really that engaging and I had a hard time liking any of the characters because they were introduced so quickly. I honestly forgot that I saw that movie, probably because I did not like that much. Also agree that Edge of Tomorrow suffered from a cop-out hollywood ending, but other than that it was well done. That car scene was really really good. __________________ Last.FM My RYM Ratings *My Glitchwave Beta Profile*

06-29-2014, 01:31 PM	#6 (permalink)
bob. Still sends his reguards. Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Trying to get out of the cat town.... Posts: 5,039	hmmmm honorable mentions.... Godzilla Nymphomaniac Vol. 1 Captain America: Winter Soldier Chef biggest disappointments.... fucking Maleficent.....FUCK!!@!! Robocop Nymphomaniac Vol. 2 (seriously this was supposed to be my movie of the year....Vol. 1 was amazing as to be expected....but Vol. 2 destroyed everything i love about Von Trier....i suppose i need to decided whether to accept them as two very different movies or as a really good first half and shitty blow job of an ending) best performances.... Scarlett Johansson (Under The Skin) Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston (Only Lovers Left Alive) Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson (The Rover) Christian Slater (Nymphomaniac Vol 1) Godzilla (Godzilla) favorite scenes....(spoiler free) a huge "hell yes" to that time in a bottle scene from x-men the mushroom scene and the dancing scene in Only Lovers Left Alive everything involving the Unikitty in the Lego Movie "marry a marshmallow" the train sequence in Nymphomaniac: Vol. I defiantly the end of The Rover the swimming scene in Godzilla all 108 minutes of Under The Skin edit i really need to see Grand Budapest Hotel....and i'm really glad to see that you favor Edge of Tomorrow....think i may see it next week __________________ A kiss is the beginning of cannibalism. Reach out, pierce the fine fabric of the sheltering sky, take repose. Last edited by bob.; 06-29-2014 at 02:20 PM.

06-29-2014, 08:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
Exo All day jazz and biscuits Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 7,359	I really like Von Trier but I just have no interest at all in Nymphomaniac. I also really need to see Under the Skin. Great list bob. __________________ LastFM SUPREME POO BAH MODERATOR EXTRAORDINAIRE

06-30-2014, 01:30 AM	#8 (permalink)
bob. Still sends his reguards. Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Trying to get out of the cat town.... Posts: 5,039	right back at ya man i really cannot wait to talk with you about Under The Skin....i think i'm just gonna send Stephanie a copy of it with this book i got for her as for Nymphomaniac.....it's the third installment of his "depression" trilogy....and covers that subject well in the first volume....but the second just became a sick s&m fest with a seriously stupid ending also i can't remember....did you write a review of The Lego Movie? so glad we're on the same page about such a wonderfully fun movie __________________ A kiss is the beginning of cannibalism. Reach out, pierce the fine fabric of the sheltering sky, take repose.

07-01-2014, 09:18 PM	#10 (permalink)
bob. Still sends his reguards. Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Trying to get out of the cat town.... Posts: 5,039	I love your comparison to the Calvin and Hobbes strip......purrrrrrfect __________________ A kiss is the beginning of cannibalism. Reach out, pierce the fine fabric of the sheltering sky, take repose.