This is unforgivably late, but this year I found it very hard to nail down a top 10. So I gave up and went with top nine. Deal with it.
Boyhood
Clearly, I have a thing for Richard Linklater
(see my obsession with his Before series, including last year's No. 1 pick).
His style of free-flowing dialogue, unobtrusive camerawork and
long takes consistently makes me swoon. With Boyhood, he has given us all
that we love him for, along with an experience that chronicles what it's really
like to grow up. Life doesn't have some grand dramatic structure — it's a
collection of moments. The gimmick is Linklater checks in with his characters over
a 12 year period, showing moments both big (Mason's last day with his mom) and
small (Mason and his friends looking at a lingerie catalog). But Boyhood is
really more than just its moments. It's not until the end when what you've
watched washes over you in a wave of nostalgia — for Mason's childhood, for his
parents' journey, for your own life, for your own parents, for your kids or for
the kids you hope to have one day. We've seen enough conventional
coming-of-age stories that this one feels incredibly fresh. Time is
something we all must reckon with, and with this movie, Linklater demands us to
do so in glorious heartstring-pulling fashion.
The LEGO Movie
I wrote earlier this year about the blessing and curse of expectations and The LEGO Movie is a great example of how expectations are tricky business. There is no way ANYONE thought a movie that was ostensibly green-lit to sell more LEGOs could be this funny, fun, thoughtful and actually beautiful. I haven't experienced pure joy with in a move theater since Fantastic Mr. Fox. The jokes and pop culture references come fast and furious and make me so happy I think I'll just go put it on right now.
I wrote earlier this year about the blessing and curse of expectations and The LEGO Movie is a great example of how expectations are tricky business. There is no way ANYONE thought a movie that was ostensibly green-lit to sell more LEGOs could be this funny, fun, thoughtful and actually beautiful. I haven't experienced pure joy with in a move theater since Fantastic Mr. Fox. The jokes and pop culture references come fast and furious and make me so happy I think I'll just go put it on right now.
Birdman
Kinetic from the first shot through all 119 minutes, Birdman makes me excited for the future of film. As Riggan Thomson, Michael Keaton brings a palpable desperation — to be great and to regain the fame he lost —that makes you both root for and pity him. Beyond the meta level greatness of its premise, the movie is wonderfully funny and bruising as a satire and critique of the curse of celebrity and how it clashes with actors’ desire to do “meaningful” work.
Kinetic from the first shot through all 119 minutes, Birdman makes me excited for the future of film. As Riggan Thomson, Michael Keaton brings a palpable desperation — to be great and to regain the fame he lost —that makes you both root for and pity him. Beyond the meta level greatness of its premise, the movie is wonderfully funny and bruising as a satire and critique of the curse of celebrity and how it clashes with actors’ desire to do “meaningful” work.
Selma
What makes Selma truly great isn’t the grand oratory (which isn’t even verbatim MLK, Jr.) or its relevancy with current events or even just the fact that it’s based on landmark battle of the civil rights movement: It’s a story about a man. It shows how that man shouldered the immense responsibility of a whole movement, how it affected his wife and family, and ultimately wrestles with if it was worth it. Despite any cries of inaccuracy, if you don’t well up when MLK, Jr. finally stands up to start the march, you are officially dead inside.
What makes Selma truly great isn’t the grand oratory (which isn’t even verbatim MLK, Jr.) or its relevancy with current events or even just the fact that it’s based on landmark battle of the civil rights movement: It’s a story about a man. It shows how that man shouldered the immense responsibility of a whole movement, how it affected his wife and family, and ultimately wrestles with if it was worth it. Despite any cries of inaccuracy, if you don’t well up when MLK, Jr. finally stands up to start the march, you are officially dead inside.
Whiplash
What is Whiplash trying to teach us about how artists become great? If we buy into J.K. Simmons' character's philosophy, verbal and physical abuse would be rewarded. But I don't think the film is actually celebrating his approach. Miles Teller, as jazz drummer Andrew, however, is buying it. Their abusive duet culminates in one of my favorite scenes of the year when Andrew, almost defeated by Fletcher again, turns the tables on his old teacher and shows him what he’s made of. I left the theater exhausted, but ultimately, absolutely elated by what I had just witnessed.
What is Whiplash trying to teach us about how artists become great? If we buy into J.K. Simmons' character's philosophy, verbal and physical abuse would be rewarded. But I don't think the film is actually celebrating his approach. Miles Teller, as jazz drummer Andrew, however, is buying it. Their abusive duet culminates in one of my favorite scenes of the year when Andrew, almost defeated by Fletcher again, turns the tables on his old teacher and shows him what he’s made of. I left the theater exhausted, but ultimately, absolutely elated by what I had just witnessed.
Gone Girl
Based on Gillian Flynn's best-selling book, I was wary that the book could be made into a movie period, let alone one that works this well. I have some nitpicks — I think the movie lets Nick off way easier than he is in the books — but it's changes like that are understandable and didn't color my enjoyment of the movie. Rosamund Pike is phenomenal as the truly repugnant Amy. The way she switches it on and off at the end of the movie makes you want to shiver and then applaud. Ben Affleck uses his natural smarm to play a guy who we're not sure if we should be rooting for. And with David Fincher at the helm, the movie gives us a darkly funny, twisty ride that asks loaded questions about how much we can ever really know about the people we "love."
Based on Gillian Flynn's best-selling book, I was wary that the book could be made into a movie period, let alone one that works this well. I have some nitpicks — I think the movie lets Nick off way easier than he is in the books — but it's changes like that are understandable and didn't color my enjoyment of the movie. Rosamund Pike is phenomenal as the truly repugnant Amy. The way she switches it on and off at the end of the movie makes you want to shiver and then applaud. Ben Affleck uses his natural smarm to play a guy who we're not sure if we should be rooting for. And with David Fincher at the helm, the movie gives us a darkly funny, twisty ride that asks loaded questions about how much we can ever really know about the people we "love."
Guardians of the Galaxy
Here's another movie where pure fun is validated on this list. What should have been the movie to unravel Marvel's infinite grasp on our wallets, ended up being the most fun I've ever had watching a comic book movie. The film focuses on creating a world of characters that don't adhere to franchise-building norms. It turned Chris Pratt in an official American treasure, which giving thrice Oscar-nominee Bradley Cooper the chance to actually have some fun. Plus, it has a killer soundtrack that is fueled by story. I could do without Lee Pace as the super-boring villain, but the rest of the film moves by so fast and funny, I was willing to forgive the universe building the movie was clearly selling. And don't forget, dancing baby Groot!
Here's another movie where pure fun is validated on this list. What should have been the movie to unravel Marvel's infinite grasp on our wallets, ended up being the most fun I've ever had watching a comic book movie. The film focuses on creating a world of characters that don't adhere to franchise-building norms. It turned Chris Pratt in an official American treasure, which giving thrice Oscar-nominee Bradley Cooper the chance to actually have some fun. Plus, it has a killer soundtrack that is fueled by story. I could do without Lee Pace as the super-boring villain, but the rest of the film moves by so fast and funny, I was willing to forgive the universe building the movie was clearly selling. And don't forget, dancing baby Groot!
Under the Skin
An incredibly appropriate title, once Under Skin nestles in your head, you can't ever forget it. Scarlett Johansson plays an unearthly beauty who lures unsuspecting Scottish rogues to their doom. As our femme fatale starts to realize some important truths about humanity, she starts to unravel and show her vulnerability. Quiet, beautifully shot and just wonderfully weird, it's hard to spell out exactly what's going on here, but the feelings — about beauty's power, it inspires are the real deal.
An incredibly appropriate title, once Under Skin nestles in your head, you can't ever forget it. Scarlett Johansson plays an unearthly beauty who lures unsuspecting Scottish rogues to their doom. As our femme fatale starts to realize some important truths about humanity, she starts to unravel and show her vulnerability. Quiet, beautifully shot and just wonderfully weird, it's hard to spell out exactly what's going on here, but the feelings — about beauty's power, it inspires are the real deal.
Obvious Child
When culture think pieces mourn the death of the rom-com, Obvious Child should be the smart comedy-lover's retort. Jenny Slate's Donna is a Brooklyn comedian/bookstore clerk who, while recovering from a break-up, has a one-night stand with a normcore nice guy (Jake Lacy) and winds up pregnant. Her decision to have an abortion (and whether to tell the father) is treated with tears, laughs and, most importantly, honesty. It takes an incredibly hot-button subject and treats it with heart and humor and that makes it a worthy title to bring back the rom-com from its near death experience.
When culture think pieces mourn the death of the rom-com, Obvious Child should be the smart comedy-lover's retort. Jenny Slate's Donna is a Brooklyn comedian/bookstore clerk who, while recovering from a break-up, has a one-night stand with a normcore nice guy (Jake Lacy) and winds up pregnant. Her decision to have an abortion (and whether to tell the father) is treated with tears, laughs and, most importantly, honesty. It takes an incredibly hot-button subject and treats it with heart and humor and that makes it a worthy title to bring back the rom-com from its near death experience.
Considered for spot # 10: Nightcrawler, The Fault in Our Stars, Life Itself
