Top Ten Movies of 2014

I know, I know. When you write a Top Ten list for the best movies of the year, you're not supposed to write it three months into the following year. I got it. Who cares? I've been busy and had a lot of things to get done. So now I'm here with a list, a dream and a cardigan. So get ready for a list of tons of obvious choices. Because 2014 was honestly a real good year for movies, and plenty of people are split on their favourites. But if you've read my reviews at all, you know what I'm gonna pick. So just sit back, relax, take out some lotion and read this sexy list.

Honourable Mentions:

A Most Violent Year

Nightcrawler

The Guest

Selma
The Drop

Guardians of the Galaxy

Fury

The Babadook

Calvary

10. Edge of Tomorrow

If I've said it once, I've said it a million times: Tom Cruise running is my shit. I don't know what it is. I love watching that man run. He makes it so damn convincing. But seriously, Edge of Tomorrow may be one of the best action movies of the past decade. It's funny, action packed and features a fun premise. A guy keeps reliving the same battle over and over every time he dies, which ultimately makes him a great soldier. It's a video game. They should have marketed it as such. Regardless, Cruise and Emily Blunt have chemistry overflowing in every scene, along with great set pieces and a satisfying plot, making this a movie that should have gotten way more attention.

9. Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Yeah, I'll admit it. I've not been the biggest fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Outside of the first Iron Man, none of the movies had anything special going, and lacked rewatchability. That is, until The Winter Soldier came around. This movie did something that both the first Cap movie and The Avengers didn't do. They made Captain America a total badass. Sure, him deflecting laser beams in The Avengers was fine, but GOD DAMN was his fist fights with the Winter Soldier not awesome? Also that fight with Batroc? Come on man! Directed with expert precision by the Russo Brothers and actually featuring some world changing plot points, this Marvel movie made me a fan again.

8. The Grand Budapest Hotel

I feel like Wes Anderson is a true cinematic auteur or just a croissant wearing a top hat driving a Vespa. He's so good at making his movies pop with a certain style, substance and identity, that the second you see a Wes Anderson movie, you know it's a Wes Anderson movie. And Grand Budapest is no different. It's smart, well made and insanely funny. Seriously. This movie had me cracking up a lot. Especially with it's Inception style narrative within a narrative within a narrative within a narrative storytelling. Featuring Ralph Fiennes best performance in over a decade and all the regular Anderson stalwarts showing up, this made for a supremely fun movie. Oh, and also goofy facial hair. Love me some goofy facial hair.

7. Foxcatcher

Man, if you wanna feel uncomfortable watching people simply talk, watch this movie. The real life story of Mark Schultz and his brother Dave dealing with John Du Pont is outstanding, and is yet another brilliant film from Bennett Miller. All three of Miller's films have had an actor nominated for their first Oscar, and he really brings the most out of his actors. Featuring career best work from Channing Tatum and Steve Carrell, who is so fucking creepy it will instantly get rid of the boner that C-Tates causes, and a reliably strong performance from Mark Ruffalo. This movie unwinds slowly, making the viewer sit on the edge of their seat and holding their breathe as the final credits roll.

6. The Imitation Game

A true story about the man who ended the war two years early and was rewarded with punishment is one that could have honestly been handled poorly. It could have come across that Alan Turing was a complete hero, and he alone did what he did. Instead, this movie gave us a layered interesting man, driven by his own ambition and pain, to try to solve this unbreakable code. It's really one of the most interesting stories of our time, and it's a carried by wonderful performances by the entire cast, but mainly Benedict Cumberbatch, who steals the show. 

5. Locke

This movie features Tom Hardy alone in a car, driving somewhere, for a runtime of 85 minutes. Please excuse me while I clean myself off. This movie is so fucking good I can't even begin to explain to you. It's a simple premise. Ivan Locke is driving somewhere. He's got a lot on his mind, and he isn't sure he can figure it all out. Make no mistake, while Hardy is the only actor we see on screen, we get some strong vocal performances from Andrew Scott, Ruth Wilson and Olivia Colman. But it's Hardy's movie, and he proves he's one of the finest actors of his generation, giving an intense, steel eyed performance that rank among the years best. It's also written and directed by Steven Knight, who writes and created Peaky Blinders. So dude is legit.

4. Gone Girl

It's a David Fincher movie, so you had to know it was gonna be here somewhere. The fact that it's so high up shows that in a year of brilliant movies, David Fincher still gave us something great to talk about. He makes it look effortless, giving the film the perfect look, feel and uneasiness, to compliment the excellent work from every actor involved. Kim Dickens, Patrick Fugit, Neil Patrick Harris, Carrey Coon Scoot McNairy and, of all people, Tyler Perry give strong supporting performances, while Ben Affleck does great work, playing Nick perfectly. But it's Rosamund Pike who steals the show. She makes Amy such a formidable character and unstoppable force that you have no idea what she's gonna do next. It's really a showcase for the actress, and also a cautionary tale about banging your hot students and box cutters.

3. Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Is it Birdman or Batman? You're obviously going to ask yourself that as you watch Michael Keaton's Riggan Thomson try to work his way into being regarded as a respectable actor again, and not just another washed up superhero actor. A lot of people will draw the parallels, but that's what makes him so perfect in this role. He's lived and breathed it for 20 years, and it shows. Keaton is let of the leash and is phenomenal. He's surrounded by it though. From the fantastic jazz score, to the writing and directing of Alejandro G. Inarritu, the movie just works. The supporting performances of Naomi Watts, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan, Zach Galifianakis, Emma Stone and Edward Norton are all superb. And let's not forget the fact that the whole movie looks like one continuous take. THIS MOVIE IS SO GOOD.

2. Whiplash

My love for this fucking god damn pussy killing movie is well known. Sorry, got in JK Simmons mode there. The simple premise of a music student being taught by a brilliant instructor who is also a crazy person just works. If you've ever done anything where you've had a guy a bit too intense, you can completely relate to this movie. It also features the best soundtrack of the year, along with some wonderful editing. And the fact that it's so well written and directed makes you forget Damien Chazelle is a first time director. But let's not forget JK Simmons and Miles Teller, who are so god damn good. Like, absolutely brilliant. Every scene they share in this movie is a treat, and those final 10 minutes are some of the most intense put on film. It's damn good.

1. Interstellar

Did you really expect anything else? The way this movie made me think, feel and reflect is unlike anything I've seen in a long time. A lot of the time, we see films where we feel safe because we've seen someone do this countless times. However, with this movie, I felt the sense of exploration and ambition coursing through every scene. From the amazing shots of the ship in space, to the blackhole, to the water planet, it astonished me at every turn. However, it was the human story at the heart of the film that gets you. A man who simply wants to get back to his daughter. And the people around him, and all the sacrifices they make. Featuring strong performances from the entire cast, including Matthew McConaughey, Jessica Chastain, Anne Hatheway, Michael Caine and Matt Damon. It's an expertly crafted film from Christopher Nolan, who constantly seems to want to outdo himself. This movie had me talking about it weeks after I saw it, and still has me going.