Top 5 Films of 2014

I generally shy away from posting each year's top films.  There are simply too many films to consume theatrically each year, and not enough money in the bank.  To my dismay, I am not an academy member, therefore, I am not sent copious amount of DVDs in the mail to review. It's a lot easier to generate 'End of the Year' music lists plainly because it is more attainable to acquire music online these days between album previews, generous free downloads from your favorite artists and YouTube.

I have seen a "whooping" fifteen films released in 2014.  I can guarantee you by next summer, my 'Top 5 Films of 2014' will look very different as I will have seen a dozen more films from 2014 as they are readily available as streaming rentals.

Still, I am eager to exchange personal favorites with other film lovers.  I want to know what has affected you cinematically and narratively.  I want to know which movies kept your mind reeling late at night.  Here are mine:


1.  Boyhood

I've been waiting several years for this film to see the light of day.  I can't think of anything more 'epic' than a coming of age film that chronicles the daily life of an ordinary boy throughout the course of twelve years (shot in real time).  Granted, nothing about this boy is all that heroic and nothing about his life may be considered universally important.  However, the ordinary is more extraordinary when seen through the lens of a boy as he reaches transformation.




 2.  Birdman

Just saw this blistering beautiful mess last Friday.  I'm not entirely sure what I witnessed, but I know I love it.





3.  Grand Budapest Hotel

Wes Anderson + Hitchcock approach = Must see




4.  Muppets Most Wanted

This may be the first Muppet feature film worthy of your time and affection since Muppet Treasure Island.  As much as I adore Jason Segel, I'm relieved the studio ditched him and his Muppet fanboy screenwriting approach.  This time around, we are gifted with the charming but also irreverent Muppets we dearly missed and a plot that keeps the film moving and soaring.






5.  3 Way Tie:
Interstellar, Gone Girl, The One I Love

All three of these films have kept me on the edge of my seat but also left me scratching my head.  I felt it was necessary to group these films together because of their hybrid genres.  Each film takes either a sci-fi or thriller approach to familiar romantic or family relationship tropes.  Although none of these films are perfect for they have left viewers with a number of intellectual plot gaps, they have still put a lease on my noggin.




Honorable Mentions: Chef, Guardians of the Galaxy, Only Lovers Left Alive, Our Vinyl Weighs a Ton

Films I Still Need to See: Theory of Everything, Whiplash, The Imitation Game, Inherent Vice, American Sniper

The Agony of The Marvel Studios Menace

I may watch The Big Bang Theory each week, or swoon over Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes, however, I am not a self-professed nerd.  The Big Bang Theory ranks #1 in television ratings and the BBC rendition of Sherlock Holmes has collected a slew of Emmy trophies this past year.  The media I consume is no longer a niche obsession.

One doesn’t have to belong to a Dungeons and Dragons league to appreciate most of the “geek culture” that has swept the entire nation thanks in part to America’s money-making machine: Hollywood.  Although I may not identify myself as a full-fledged nerd, I do consider myself a film nerd, and Marvel’s empire is making it more difficult to envision an ambitious future in cinema. 

If I were a geek in the 1980s, I would have to keep my geeky tendencies a secret as to avoid bullies. Nowadays, I feel as though I will become a victim amongst geeky trolls if I were to admit that quite a few Marvel flicks are generally the same movie retold through a nuance in characters and circumstance.  (Interesting how the tables have turned.)

Truth be told, I actually do enjoy a well-made comic book film regardless of the affiliation whether it be Marvel or DC Comics (The Dark Knight anyone?)  There are a small number of Marvel films that are watchable and perhaps even admirable.  I thoroughly enjoyed Guardians of the Galaxy this past summer and am eagerly waiting for its sequel.

Unfortunately, Hollywood (and Marvel Studios) have been extremely uncompromising when it comes to creative freedom.  Hollywood would prefer to focus on using their hefty budget on just a few movies they know will sell.  Pitches that are greenlit include the following film types: sequels, 80’s nostalgia reboots and superhero movies.   Why ruin the formula by tackling a provoking and original screenplay when these movies prove to succeed both domestically and internationally due to its brand alone? 

The few respected directors whom were considered for Thor 2 (Kenneth Branagh and Patty Jenkins of Monster fame) have since dropped out because of Marvel’s strict story-telling guidelines.  Most general movie-goers, it would seem, prefer to watch the same formulaic approach without a re-imagining from an Oscar-worthy auteur. 

As of a few days ago, Marvel Studios have announced their first female and black superhero films in order to appease critics that have demanded for more diversity.  With all the bickering in the media urging for more ‘strong female characters,’ I can’t imagine any female superhero under the supervision of Marvel Studios will stand as a strong AND complex female character that our society requests.

I suppose the best advice I could give to myself or other like-minded souls is to avoid superhero blockbusters altogether….but that would mean we would have to neglect most theatrical releases year-round. 

With the exception of brand related fare, I can’t relate to most disposable sex comedies (The Other Women).  Sometimes I would prefer not to share a theater with a ton of antsy kids while watching the latest animation sensation.  It looks as though most of the ambition that used to be grounded in the film industry can now be seen on the small screen.  More importantly, I don't foresee the Marvel franchise delivering continuous compelling storytelling products year after year.  If you need me, you can find me hiding in my comfy abode binging on The Wire.