My Favourite Films of 2014

I watch a lot of movies. An AWFUL lot, I’d say. For the last 10 years, I’ve watched almost the whole Top 100 movies every year as listed on Box Office Mojo, plus many other indie flicks that don’t make the list. Well, almost all, except the horror movies and some foreign language films.

Which make me wonder why I’ve never done a year end list like this.

But anyway. I’m sure you’ve all watched all the blockbusters – Guardians of the Galaxy, Transformers: Age of Extinction, Interstellar, etc. Don’t get me wrong, i like them too, but these following ones are my the standouts for me, movies that keep me thinking about them and then ones i’ll watch again and again in the years to come.

Just a note, some of these were actually released last year, but was only available (for ME) to watch this year, so lets not be a stickler for the rules.

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The Grand Budapest Hotel

Without a doubt, my favourite movie this year. Wes Anderson only makes a certain kind of movies, but how they are, its difficult to explain. Its quirky, colourful, humourous, star-studded, and enjoyable through and through. I think its Anderson’s best movie after Moonrise Kingdom. Do yourself a favour, watch it, and you can thank me later.

***

Blue Jasmine

A close second is Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine starring Cate Blanchett. I have not watched many of Allen’s films, but this one made me seek out some of his older stuff. A breezy, witty movie (although a times a little irritating), with an excellent supporting cast (Andrew Dice Clay!). This movie won Blanchett an Oscar, and it is easy to see why.

***

Edge of Tomorrow

Every summer brings their share of action blockbusters, the pick of the crop this year is Tom Cruise’s Edge of Tomorrow. the storyline is familiar – a futuristic Groundhog Day where humans battle strange tentacled aliens. But Cruise’s journey – reliving the same day over and over again, but everyday moving a little further and further into the unknown – is gripping and filled with twists. Emily Blunt, who plays the war hero, is an added delight to the movie.

***

Nebraska

this is a black and white movie about an old man on a slow, rambling road trip across the country with his son. Yes, most people will be bored to tears, but I find it endearing – in a quirky, poignant way. I hope I get to own a pickup truck when I’m old and nearly senile, too.

***

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

While his fellow Brat Pack buddies are reduced to making duds like The Internship, This is 40 and Delivery Man, Ben Stiller returns to form with this remake. its funny, snappy and has an awesome scene with Kristen Wiig singing Bowie’s Space Oddity (go on, search for it on youtube). Plus Stiller gets whacked in the face with a branch.

***

The Monuments Men

This started off really well – sort of like those old time heist movies with an ensemble of motley characters. Better still, instead of money or gold, they are retrieving classical art from the retreating Nazi, something that resonates with me. Throw into the mix George Clooney, Matt Damon, John Goodman and the Hugh Bonneville (father from Downton Abbey). But, for all the things going for it, I felt the movie let me down halfway through. It lost it momentum, and felt disjointed. But as a whole, it was a memorable movie for me. Kinda sad for all the art pieces the Nazis destroyed, though.

***

The Giver

Books (and movies based on books) for young adults are all the rage now. I was just talking to Patrick the other day about how when WE were young adults back then, there were hardly any books targeted at our age group, it was either for kids, or regular fiction for adults. Given that there were a deluge of movies based on YA books this year – Divergent, Mockingjay, Maze Runner, etc – The Giver is somewhat similar but much better. Its similarities are evident – a dystopian future where children’s futures are determined at an early age by a group of all-powerful, shadowy adults. But Jeff Bridges, playing the titular ‘Giver’, gives (heh) a fantastic performance, rather than just being a token adult character. While the resolution of the plot is somewhat lacking in panache, it eschews some of the cliches of the genre. Bonus for the movie – try to spot Taylor Swift’s cameo.