Top Films of 2014

Before I start this list I have a few things to say: I try as much as much as possible to keep up with movies, however I could not get to a showing of The Imitation Game (Dir. Morten Tyldum), Snowpiercer (Dir. Joon-Ho Bong), The Rover (Dir. David Michod) or Joe (Dir. David Gordon Green) (sincere apologies to Nick Cage) in time for this list. Other films I was unable to see include the Christmas day releases of Unbroken (Dir. Angelina Jolie) and Big Eyes (Dir. Tim Burton). Due to being limited releases (most receiving wide release only in January) I was also unable to see Inherent Vice (Dir. P.T. Anderson), American Sniper (Dir. Clint Eastwood), and A Most Violent Year (Dir. J.C. Chandor). With all of this said let's start the list!

10) Neighbors (Dir. Nicholas Stoller) If one comedy made me laugh, it would be the film about a suburban couple (Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne) and the antics of a fraternity house with an alpha male leader Teddy (Zac Efron) moves in next door. From the welcome to the neighbourhood, the Robert De Niro party and the Applecrombie and Fitch scene, all were golden comedic scenes that made me laugh.

9) Dawn of The Planet of The Apes (Dir. Matt Reeves) This sequel proves to be even better than the 2011 reboot Rise of The Planet of the Apes (Dir. Rupert Wyatt). One major improvement would be the better interaction between the human family (Jason Clarke and Keri Russell) and Caesar's Family. The same top notch motion capture technology is used to capture the versatile performances of Andy Serkis as Caesar and Toby Kebbell as Koba.

8) Top Five (Dir. Chris Rock): Chris Rock came back strong in this satire comedy about a struggling comedian and actor, who is trying to promote his new film about a Haitian slave revolutionary. He wants to be taken seriously, but his character Hammy the Bear and a TV reality wedding keep getting in the way. As much as you want to take Andre Allen (Chris Rock) seriously, you find yourself cracking up at the people that surround him. As for a comedian Rock is still on top of his game either as an actor, Comedian or as a director.

7) Mommy (Dir Xavier Dolan): Xavier Dolan might seem a bit self-centered from time to time in interviews or in film, but this film has changed my perception of him. "Les sceptique seront confondu", this is to say a lot of audience member might be put off by put off by the crazy antics of Diane Despré (Anne Dorval), the foul mouthed and rude Steve (Antoine Pilon), or the square aspect ratio Dolan shot the film in. For me Dolan has created an emotional tidal wave in a tour de force film, with some truly gut wrenching emotional scenes about a mother’s everlasting love for her son.

6) Guardians of The Galaxy (Dri. James Gunn): As far as summer Superhero blockbusters go James Gunn created the coolest one and shows moviegoers that even in August you can still have the fun summer blockbusters. Superhero might be a loose term to describe the characters of this movie, but not for the breakout star Chris Pratt. Did I mention this features one of the coolest soundtracks for a film this year, or in the history of a Marvel Film?

5) Gone Girl (Dir. David Fincher): When it comes to mystery and thriller films, David Fincher is the man. This film is based on a book by Gillian Flynn, and tells the story of Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck), who is suspected of killing his wife  Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike). One of the way that this makes this a great thriller is that Fincher knows how to execute the twists and turns, with the jarringly good score composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. Where Affleck only finds his groove at the end of the film, Pike is firing on all cylinders as Amy and is one of my favourite female performance of this year.

4) Foxcatcher (Dir. Bennett Miller): Foxcatcher was one of the last two movies that I watched in 2014, and it was the film that I was anticipating the most over the winter holiday. There needs to be a fair warning that if you are thinking this based on a true crime is a fast pace film, you are wrong because this is one of the most slow paced movies that I have seen this year. I might have wanted to dive more into John DuPont's (Steve Carell) schizophrenia, but maybe that is just one of the mysteries that you never be in DuPont's head, but rather his world. No in doubt this is due to the great, vastly different and haunting  performance from Steve Carell. Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo deliver great performances as well.

3) Nightcrawler (Dir Dan Gilroy) There are many great things to be said about Dan Gilroy's directorial debut, but skin crawling can be a word used to define this psychological thriller of a film. Jake Gyllenhaal plays Lue Boom, who is looking or chasing the American Dream and a career path. He finds one in being a nightcrawler; shooting footage of accidents and crimes for the local news. Lou Bloom has to be one of the most intriguing and nerve wrenching character this year, without a doubt showing how Gyllenhaal is at ease playing such a chameleon of a character. There are also great supporting performances from Rene Russo as Nina the head producer of the local news and Riz Ahmed as Lou's intern.

2) Boyhood (Dir Richard Linklater): If one director knows how to capture the human spirit and emotions through film, it would be Richard Linklater. This is the most ambitious and complicated production for a film, because of a twelve year period of filming fallowing a boy named Mason (Ellar Coltrane) transition into an adult. To me Linklater pulled off movie magic by not only completing the ambitious project, but the presence of the magic is radiated throughout the film, especially in the last act. The most notable performance of this year comes in this film from Mason's single mother (Patricia Arquette), who is strong, wise and heartfelt all at the same time. This coincides a great performance of Ethan Hawke who plays Mason's Biological father who is witty as well as wise beyond his years. At the end of the day this is not movie magic, this is real magic called life that Linklater pulls off flawlessly.

1) Birdman (Dir Alejandro González Iñárritu): If there was a movie that I walked out of this year and it had me thinking about it's magical hold on me long after the credits had rolled it would be Birdman. If a movie can do that, than it probably is deserving of my number one spot. First of all the film magic is captured both real and surreal aspects through the the camera and the drum beats of Antonio Sánchez. Secondly the actors are all top notch from Michael Keaton as Riggan Thomson who is battling with his sanity from the voices of Birdman, an alter ego superhero character , while trying to put on his Broadway production. Edward Norton plays Mike Shiner who has inflated ego persona  of a stage actor. These also happen to be my two favourite performances from a male actor this year that the award season should recognize. I could tell you more about the magic of this movie, but you have to see it for yourself.

Honourable mentions (In No Order)

Nymphomaniac (Vol. 1) (Dir Lars Von Trier)

The Lego Movie (Dir  Phil Lord, Christopher Miller)

Chef (Dir Jon Favreau)

Under The Skin (Dir Jonathan Glazer)

Begin Again (Dir. John Carney)

Whiplash (Dir. Damien Chazelle)

The Theory of Everything (Dir. James Marsh)

Locke (Dir. Steven Knight)

Noah (Dir Darren Aronofsky)

The Grand Budapest Hotel (Dir. Wes Anderson)

Life Itself (Dir. Steve James)

Enemy (Dir.  Denis Villeneuve)

X-Men Days of Futures Past (Dir. Bryan Singer)

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Dir. Anthony Russo)

Highlights of 2014 at the Cinema

Steve Carell and Channing Tatum needs to do more Drama

Evan Peters as Quicksilver in X-Men: Days of Future Past (Dir. Bryan Singer)

My Perception of Xavier Dolan and Miles Teller has changed

Shia LaBeouf is still acting and trying more independent roles

Luc Besson, Jon Favreau and Jonathan Glazer

Scarlett Johansson

Finally saw my top films of 2013 Her (Dir. Spike Jonze)  and Side Effects (Dir. Steven Soderbergh)

Everything is Awesome, Everything is cool when you're part of a team

The Worst of 2014

Willem Dafoe needs a new agent for roles that don't involve playing unlikable characters

Tammy (Dir. Ben Falcone)

Jersey Boys (Dir. Clint Eastwood)

Shia LaBeouf in public life needs to check himself before he wrecks himself.

The Amazing Spiderman 2 (Marc Webb)

- Remi Caron-Liss is a huge film buff and host of CJLO's Film show At The Movies