(Originally posted on Facebook)
OK, one top ten list of my own – Favourite (not BEST) movies of 2014 (in order that I remember them)
1) Life Itself. A biography of Roger Ebert that began filming after he’d had cancer surgery. It’s a little off-putting at times (mainly the results of his cancer), but Roger insisted they hold nothing back.
2) Guardians of the Galaxy. If you haven’t seen it, you should. It’s the exciting talk of some people who guard the galaxy from certain doom. Funny, and thrilling at the same time.
3) Captain America: Winter Soldier – A superhero movie that works on just about every level. Good Story, good acting, great special effects that DON’T get in the way or overpower the plot.
4) The Lego Movie – better than expected. Fun film that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The end of the movie was totally unexpected and very heartwarming.
5) The Skeleton Twins – Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader play twins to reunite after one attempts suicide. Both are unhappy with their lives for different reasons, but it’s clear they each need the support of the other to survive.
6) Fury – Proof that not every World War II movie has been done. Fury is about frontline grunts in a Sherman tank. Brad Pitt puts in a strong performance as their commander in the last days of the war. Some tense moments (and some graphic ones!), and the ending isn’t entirely satisfying, but worth a look if you’re into this sort of film.
7) Force Majeure – A family goes on a ski vacation, and something happens that makes the husband and wife question their relationship. I’m told that the director based the concept of this movie on the psychological phenomenon that happens when couples experience a life-threatening incident.
8) Grand Budapest Hotel – Wes Anderson’s latest movie about quirky people doing odd things. Typical ensemble cast for his movies.
9) Birdman – Yes, ANOTHER movie related to superheroes, however, completely unrelated. A washed up movie star tries to break from the role that’s typecast him. Excellent soundtrack and edited in such a way that every scene blends together by use of careful transitions and scene flow. Excellent work by Michael Keaton, and Emma Stone’s performance should, IMO, earn her a best supporting actress Oscar. (but maybe I’m saying that because I’m infatuated with her).
10) Godzilla – Yes, while it’s not the greatest film, I enjoyed it a lot. The characters are almost secondary to what’s happening with the big guy, but it made me feel like a kid again.
Movies I didn’t see, but wanna:
-The Imitation Game
-Stalingrad
-Only Lovers Left Alive
-Chef
-Obvious Child
-To Be Takei
-Zero Theorum
Some disappointments that I did see:
-The Nut Job – unsympathetic animals (mostly squirrels) in a boring story.
-Laggies – Yet another film to fuel my dislike of Kiera Knightley.
-The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies – don’t be shocked! I liked the film, but watching CGI armies fight each other is not as thrilling as it sounds. Time to tone it down, Peter Jackson.