2014 Films, Ranked.

9/10

What a movie. Outstanding story, realistic, and an amazing performance from Cotillard. The direction is beautiful and the ending was the purest I have seen all year. It's a masterful foreign film that is relevant to our times and will stay with you long after the credits roll.

9/10

The last 20 minutes of this film are jaw-dropping. I love drumming and man.. this film.. just got it right. Amazing performances all-around. Direction and editing were both original and outstanding. The themes in this film are very hard to pull off and they did so brilliantly. Loved it.

9/10

Animation has really come a long way in 4 years. HTTYD is one of my favorite animated films, and if you had told me the sequel would exceed it in nearly every way I would have called you a liar. HTTYD 2 is a nearly-perfect animation. It was nice to see such an epic story after the first film's simple premise. The story here is beautifully told.

I love the mixture of goofy-looking dragons and their puppy-like behavior with a dark storyline. HTTYD's most memorable moment was the touching of Toothless, a moment that was unforgettable. HTTYD 2 has 3 or 4 of those moments. It's a really brave and emotional story. The villain had a great reveal.

What I loved above all was the feeling that these characters have really grown up. You sense that time has passed and for an animation to be able to do that takes true talent. The animation is visually breathtaking and wonderfully directed.

This is right up there with the best. One of my new favorites.

9/10

An emotional journey of grief and finding yourself. A bit similar to 127 Hours, it's a story told through the main character's memory flashbacks. It's impeccably directed and acted. Reese Witherfork gives the best female performance of the year and she really lays it all out on the line in this one. Mistakes in life shouldn't be seen as mistakes, but a process of learning and how we deal with them defines who we are. Wonderful soundtrack as well.

9/10

For me this is right up there with Dogville and Melancholia. It's thought-provoking, funny, always entertaining and surprisingly sometimes brilliant. It pokes fun at itself and our society as a hole (pun intended) yet still manages to provide intrigue. It's artistic but it doesn't take itself overly serious. In my opinion this is better than Vol I because, although the pacing is a bit off, I found that it takes more risk and is more "out there," which ultimately made it more entertaining. Gainsbourg (easily one of my favorite actresses) shines in her role in Vol II and gives a memorable and brave performance.

9/10

If you've ever wondered what a David Fincher romantic film would be like, this is it. Gone Girl shows this director at the top of his game. Tonally, this is extremely similar to The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Similar atmosphere, similar score, and some of the scenarios are similar as well. The acting is top notch and the "girl" is played with an unforgettable performance. Go into this one knowing nothing. It's a movie that will make you think but not over-think; Fincher shows a nice balance between entertainment and thought. This is also his funniest film to date. Just see it.

8/10

An instant classic. Imagine if young Tim Burton made a horror movie and it was genuinely scary. I loved the atmosphere; the way the characters change throughout the film. The story was interesting and had real, non-jump scares. It also has some Raimi-esque comedic elements. I actually wanted to put off watching it to the morning half-way into the movie. When does that ever happen? This will be re-watched every Halloween. This puts most modern horror films to shame.

10/10

By far the greatest achievement in film-making this year. The way the story, albeit simple, is told is incredible. The fact that these actors stuck around is incredible. How the tone of the film was maintained throughout twelve years is incredible. How you could see technology advance, these people grow, is incredible. And finally, the fact that it made me feel like I was reliving my own childhood is incredible.

Despite the 10, no it's not "perfect". The second half wasn't nearly as interesting as the first for me, and I just can't see myself re-watching this anytime soon, if ever. With that said, if you care even a hint about the power of cinema, see it.

8/10

Probably the funniest vampire movie ever made, and the most original since Let the Right One In. It is down-right hilarious at times. There's not much of a story here, but it's very clever. These characters are written with precision and wit. The use of practical effects surprised me. It was campy yet still looked realistic. This is a must watch.

7/10

I've never seen anything quite like this film before. I always give kudos when a writer can make a minimalist setting/story so interesting. Even though it's only around 80 minutes, the story is memorable and well-told. It all takes place in a car, and I can see if people find that boring, but pair great dialogue and a brilliant performance from Tom Hardy and you have a worthwhile and interesting film.

8/10

This is the most lop-sided movie of this year. It is sometimes astonishingly breathtaking, and other times laughably bad. Starting with the bad, the amount of exposition is ridiculous. The dialogue can be horrendous to the point that I have no idea how a professional writer can submit it in a final draft. The acting is hit-or-miss throughout. The story can be nonsensical. It has no idea if it wants to be artistic ala Gravity, thought-provoking ala 2001: A Space Odyssey, or a generic popcorn Hollywood flick that insults the audience's intelligence. The ending is a cop-out but well-executed.

With that said, and like I said, this film is breathtaking. The visuals are extraordinary. The emotion this film portrays, although it doesn't always work, is brutal and had me near tears. I loved the main astronaut actors of the film. The score is one of the best of the year and it fits the movie to a tee. The movie felt like it was 90 minutes which is saying something.

I am disappointed. There is a story here to be told and I thought it was told poorly. Some people may be going crazy over this movie, but I don't see it from an entire package point-of-view. The film has so many frustrating flaws that are difficult to forgive. Make no mistake this is more of a disappointment because other aspects of the movie were some of the best I've ever seen. Had the dialogue been a little better, the direction a little more tight and the story maintained better flow, this would have been a masterpiece.

8/10

This is a really well-made documentary. It's half a re-telling of Ebert's book of the same name, and half of Ebert's health issues. It's heartbreaking but at the same time a nice way of seeing the impact this man has made. RIP

9/10

I'm surprised at the negative feedback on this film. It's not perfect, but it does so many things well. Strictly as an epic, it's tremendous. It's big-scale film-making but it feels so confined and well-structured that it doesn't feel over-bloated. The graphics and effects were a nice surprise. It's more difficult to make animation come to life in a world that is this bleak and dark, but it worked. The practical effects and cinematography in this film are simply breathtaking.

Aronofsky does take a few liberties in the story, which should be no surprise, but why would anyone want a by-the-books retelling of the story we all know? You see these amateurs try to retell stories and add controversy and they end up looking ridiculous and attention-seeking. This is not the case. Everything that was added adds new elements to the story but keeps the central theme in tact. I loved some of the undertones of the film and it really spoke true to my personal beliefs. The acting was superb by the entire cast and add to it a memorable score and you have [easily] one of the best, most daring films of the year.

7/10

A nice little thriller. Tom Hardy is outstanding in this. Great acting all-around. Voice over makes no sense but that's okay. Really entertaining and packs an emotional punch at the end. Kind of similar to Place Beyond the Pines but much, much smaller in scale. Really enjoyed this one.

7/10

One of the sadder stories of the year. It has a very "Lifetime" movie feel, but it's much more than that. Moore gives a great performance that will earn her many awards. It's never in-your-face, and I enjoyed the mellowness and realism to it. Not one I'd recommend but if you're interested in the subject matter then it's a must-see.

8/10

This was a really well-made film. Gyllenhaal gives one of his best performances. The way he delivers his dialogue was special to watch. His character is super-focused, maybe Adderall-overdosed and intelligent. Reminds me of myself. The last act was outstanding, nail-biting and had me on the edge of my seat. See this one.

8/10

A complete blast from start to finish. Unlike most Marvel movies, it didn't take itself too seriously and it was obvious the director had more control over production. Great characters, action, music.. you name it, it's all great. An unforgettable ride not to be missed.

7/10

I'd describe this as The Godfather meets There Will Be Blood. I loved the score to this film. The acting was all-around excellent and it had a great story. See it.

7/10

A simple story told through Anderson's beautiful direction. I didn't love it nearly as much as some of his previous work (like Moonrise Kingdom), but it was good nonetheless. The story felt a little convoluted and jumbled at times, with many things happening at once and many A-list actors showing up in minor roles, but overall it is another masterfully-directed effort by Wes Anderson.

7/10

A difficult film to critique. It's technically sound, outstandingly-acted and beautifully shot. Redmayne gives a truly memorable performance. There isn't too much story here, but I enjoyed the direction they took. Much of the story is told through visuals as opposed to dialogue. I also liked the score. Highly recommended.

7/10

Dumb and Dumber is one of my favorite movies, and my favorite comedy. When this was announced I became excited, not because I thought this was going to live up to the original, but because I wanted to see these characters again. I'm not someone who thinks a sequel can "ruin" the original. I was pleasantly surprised. I don't understand the hate. This movie is hilarious. It's never going to be a classic like the first film, because it's a little too raunchy (sometimes distasteful) and the story is a little too forgettable. With that said, there are tons of nostalgic similarities to the original, it's funny throughout, it's dumb, and there are even a couple of surprises in store. The credits brought some sadness as well. If you're a true fan of the original and grew up with these characters like I have then give it a shot.

8/10

Source Code on a grander scale. This was a really entertaining blockbuster. Story was complicated, in a somewhat positive way. It was extremely funny, and I enjoyed the direction. The action was top-notch. No, it didn't all fit together perfectly and there were a bunch of things that made no sense, but whatever. An overall great film.

8/10

This is the kind of animated film you don't see too often. The animation is wonderful, despite my initial thoughts based on the trailer. It's unique and quirky and it works. It's also hilarious, and probably the funniest animation I've ever seen. The tone is similar to CN's Adventure Time cartoon on acid (in other words: it's really fast paced). The great thing is that there is also plenty to love for the adults; from the nostalgia of Legos alone, to all of the cameos, The Lego Movie is a blast from the past.

7/10

A really polarizing film. Some will be bored by it while others will love every single second. I'm sort of in between. I believe a large portion of the audience will either not understand the story, or not be able to piece it all together in their first viewing. Given the slow nature of the film, those people may not care to give it a second viewing. This is unfortunate because Under the Skin is a really deep film.

Right off the bat this is an "experience" movie. Don't watch it on your phone or your laptop. The experience is unparalleled to anything you will see this year. The score of the film is one of the best I've ever heard in a movie. It's inspiring and haunting. The visuals are unique and fit the music well. It's similar to some of the imagery seen in Hannibal (the TV show). The first thirty minutes are perfect.

My biggest gripe with the film is its repetitive nature and its unwillingness to provide more information to the audience. It's a puzzle that gets more stale as the minutes run along. It gives no reason behind the actions of these characters, but rather focuses on the emotions and character development. This is where it will divide audiences; the crowd that takes in the characters and how they change throughout a story and the crowd that focuses on the story alone (plot). The latter will not enjoy this film. I felt there were a few unnecessary scenes that made the film repetitive, and scenes that needed more editing.

Overall, I would say it's mostly a brilliant movie and like nothing I've ever seen. It'll be something I will re-watch very soon, because even though I feel like I fully understood it, it's a story that may change depending on who is experiencing it.

7/10

This is a good movie that is difficult for me to fully appreciate. The score is a revelation, and absolutely enhances the experience. The acting was all-around great, particularly by Emma Stone, Keaton and Norton. My biggest gripe is with the direction. It's a nice achievement that they are able to fake the one-take structure for a film of this scale, but at the same time I couldn't fully appreciate it because, well, it's fake. There are many filmmakers that have been able to pull off films in one-take by putting in time and effort to make sure every little detail worked.

I didn't think Birdman's style particularly enhanced the experience. It was more gimmicky than anything, and I felt it held back the film's potential. It's hard to appreciate all aspects of the cinematography when every camera angle feels cheap. It may have been better to only have a couple of real long takes with genuinity and artistry (think Touch of Evil). I thought the film lacked emotion; I didn't particularly care for any of these characters on an emotional level. I did like the ending.

Even though I had many problems with Birdman, I still recommend you see it. The score, story, and acting are worth the price of admission.

7/10

It's funny how the hacks actually got this film so much attention and many more people will watch it now. It really does disgrace North Korea, but it's for our enjoyment so it's fine. The movie is really entertaining and funny, with a surprising amount of action. Very well-made. James Franco was absolutely hilarious, see it.

8/10

It's not perfect, not even close. The characters are careless to the point that it's frustrating, and the child actors bring the film down (the acting is nowhere near as good as, for example, the acting seen in Mud). A few decisions the director made are a little suspect. With that sad, it's an extremely well-written, well-directed story that is well worth the watch. It's a emotional romance that anyone can enjoy equally.

8/10

Directed by one of the most polarizing directors working today, you'd think that I wouldn't know what to expect. But this was exactly what I expected. I've loved every single film I've seen of Lars von Trier and this is no different. It's actually quiet surprising in many ways. The dialogue has weight to it and I like the structure. The acting is superb and this film is his funniest yet. To my surprise the ending actually has me excited to watch Volume II, where we get to finally see Charlotte Gainsbourg play a bigger role.

6/10

A weird one to criticize. Mark Ruffalo steals the show. It's unlike any sports movie out there, and in fact I wouldn't even consider it one. Steve Carell's performance is haunting, but I credit that a tiny bit more to the character himself and great writing than his performance. It was interesting to see him in a role like this, but at times I felt he was over-acting. The wrestling isn't very exciting to watch, so it's difficult for me to recommend this movie. The film is worth experiencing for the acting and direction alone, but the story here wasn't enough for me to say that it is a must watch.

7/10

This is another original horror film from Ti West. It's another slow-burn, masterfully paced story similar to The Innkeepers. There is a real sense of dread that builds up to a rather large crescendo. It's not as outstanding as The House of the Devil but it is much better than the disappointingly mediocre Innkeepers. The acting was all over the place as you may expect from a low-budget horror but the main actors, especially Father, give great performances. It shares many of the actors from You're Next, which Ti West also had a cameo in.

I loved the way the film was shot. Yes, it's found footage, but it mixes it up nicely with regular camerawork and overall it makes sense. It's found footage done RIGHT; you feel like you are there with the characters and it is totally immersive. However I did notice many times during the film where the camera work was far-fetched, as were some of the story elements. So no, it's not perfect, but it's certainly worth a watch and is a return to form for one of horror's promising storytellers.

8/10

Grand yet simplistic. Beautiful yet disappointing. What I loved: the motion capture has come a long way. The atmosphere is commendable and the world they created feels real. The action is sometimes brilliant.

What disappointed me: rarely a somber note. Action, action, and more action. The story itself was predictable and too simple for how big this film was in my opinion. The ending was disappointing and, again, rather predictable. Pacing is off.

I would say it's as good as the first, both with flaws (the first being more cheesy), yet coming with high expectations into Dawn might leave you a little disappointed. What could have been intelligent, intriguing science fiction turned out to be an action-packed, predictable summer blockbuster. What disappointed me the most was the story, which I found uninteresting and unimportant. With that said, it's visually perfect, has one of the best scores of 2014 and has many great moments that make me put it up there with Rise, for different reasons.