The Year in Movies: 2014

By Mark Pukalo

I have spent time and money in the first half of 2015 trying to find a hidden jewel among the movies from the previous year that I did not see in the theatre.

Although there were a few additions to my top 20 and many to the so-so red box category, 2014 was not a great year for movies. Like some other years, there were more great acting performances than great movies – none better than the pick for the best film. In my opinion, there were eight standout films -- for various reasons -- and one, well, Soared.

Here’s a look at the Year in Movies 2014:

Worst of the year: The Monuments Men – A great cure for Insomnia.

Almost worst of the year: The Signal, Jersey Boys, Cavalry

Most disappointing: Neighbors, Wish I Was Here, The Gambler

Did not see: Into the Woods, Big Eyes, Life Itself, Two Days, One Night and Noah among others

Enough value to make it worth a $1.50 rent when there is nothing else to watch: Fading Gigolo, Godzilla, 22 Jump Street, A Million Ways to Die in the West, A Most Wanted Man, When the Game Stands Tall, Fury, Nightcrawler, Foxcatcher (verrry creepy), White Bird in a Blizzard, Dear White People, A Most Violent Year, Taken3 (he has skills), Unbroken, Dumb & Dumber Too, Bad Words (might be a 2013 flick)

Most over-rated: The Theory of Everything

Honorable Mention: Edge of Tomorrow (decent sci-fi thriller), Lone Survivor (current war drama that makes you think), The Judge (Robert Duvall was solid; Downey, too), The Grand Budapest Hotel (humorous, but a bit over-rated). Let’s Be Cops (goofy comedy that didn’t annoy me), Cake (Jennifer Anniston as a woman dealing grief and pain), 50-to-1 (story about Mine That Bird’s upset win in the Derby), Elliott Smith: Heaven Adores You (Interesting documentary about a terrific musician who died way too soon), Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Top 20

                                                   

20. Inherent Vice – Joaquin Phoenix plays a drugged out California PI in a mess of a comedy mystery movie that is so wild at times it makes you chuckle. Great cast. Josh Brolin is quite humorous as Big Foot, a weird cop.

19. Mockingjay – The third in the Hunger Games trilogy is basically a set up for the finale, but it has some interesting elements and the unbeatable Jen.

18. St. Vincent – Bill Murray is terrific in this mildly-entertaining film with a heart.

17. Ruddlerless – Interesting, imperfect movie that can really surprise you if you are not alert. Billy Crudup plays a father who loses a college-aged son. We’ll stop at that.

16. Kill the Messenger – Jeremy Renner plays Gary Webb, a flawed reporter who faces problems after his mostly accurate article about CIA improprieties in Nicaragua. It makes you mad and sad.

15. Gone Girl – Not sure I liked the ending all that much, but a strong murder mystery with an absolutely chilling performance by Rosamund Pike.

14. Interstellar – Matthew McConaughy plays an astronaut on the mission of a lifetime to save the earth, which turns a little too mystical at the end. It is too powerful a film not to be in the top 10, though.

13. American Sniper – I walked out thinking it was a good movie, regardless of the arguments both ways about Chris Kyle and the things left out in his story. These soldiers were in an impossible situation and the first priority they had was to protect each other. I won’t judge Kyle unless there’s concrete evidence against him. I honor his service.

12. Wild – Expected maybe a tad more depth to the film, but enjoyed Reese Witherspoon’s journey along the trail. She fully deserved an Oscar nomination.

11. Draft Day – Can everything happen this way? No. But it’s a fun ride with Kevin Costner playing the GM of an NFL team trying to turn their fortunes around in a unique way.

10. The Fault in Our Stars – Not sure I have yet wiped the final tear from my eyes after this one. It’s a touching film about a pair of amazing young people – played by Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort -- fighting cancer in their own way.

9. Beyond the Lights – A really good, under-the-radar film about life in the music business. Gorgeous superstar singer Gugu Mbatha-Raw needs to be saved and boy scout Nate Parker makes an attempt.

8. Selma – Extremely well done historical look at Martin Luther King’s march to Montgomery, Alabama.

7. Divergent – An interesting, action-filled science fiction trilogy begins with the amazing Shailene Woodley as the hero and the great Ashley Judd as her mom.

6. Boyhood – A two-hour, 45-minute journey through the life of Mason – from childhood to college. You have to have three free hours with no distractions and stay with it to be rewarded. I have liked it even more the second and third time through.

5. Whiplash – J.K. Simmons kills it as the Bobby Knight of band leaders, pounding away at prize drum student Miles Teller to try and get the best from him.

4. The Imitation Game – Terrific performances from Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley in a story about the under-appreciated mathematician Alan Turing, who helped crack the Nazi code and develop the first computers.

3. Begin Again – A washed-up music executive (Mark Ruffalo) finds a lost, but brilliant singer-songwriter (Keira Knightley) and makes music with her. Perhaps it wasn’t edgy enough for the Academy, but I loved it despite its imperfections.

2. Guardians of the Galaxy – Just a fun couple of hours with a unique group of “super heroes.” There is great music and enough smart, goofy moments to make you laugh. I AM GROOT!

1.   Birdman – Captain Obvious. Yes. An amazing performance by Michael Keaton as a former celebrity actor from a super hero series trying to find credibility on Broadway. As good as Keaton is, Ed Norton and the adorable Emma Stone cap the film with standout efforts in their roles.

Previous picks for Best of the Year

2013 -- Nebraska

2012 – Silver Linings Playbook

2011 – The Descendants

2010 – The Social Network

2009 – Inglourious Basterds

2008 – Frost/Nixon (The Wrestler, a close second)

2007 – Once

Best of Decade 2000-2009 – Almost Famous