100ish Movies in 2014
Past movie totals:
118/110 movies in 2013
127/100 movies in 2012
115/100 movies in 2011
125/100 movies in 2010
79/100 movies in 2009
95/100 movies in 2008
2014
1. American Hustle ........ B
Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper
January 1, 2014
This is an interesting story full of fantastic performances, however the pace drags a lot in places, and the film ends up feeling very long. I also think it was a bit mis-advertised. I was expecting a largely comedic romp, but the film is slowish and largely dramatic.
2. L'écume des jours (Mood Indigo) ........ C-
Romain Duris, Audrey Tautou, Gad Elmaleh
January 3, 2014
I've enjoyed Michel Gondry's surrealism in the past, especially in "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" where it worked perfectly. However this film is just a mess. There is basically no story arc, and whatever plotlines there are are incredibly hard to follow. Some scenes are really interesting and visually appealing, but the overall watching experience is tedious at best.
3. Nebraska ........ B
Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb
January 7, 2014
This was definitely an interesting movie. It's deliberately slow and plodding, which works well for the mood but did make it feel a bit long to sit through. Bruce Dern is amazing, but some of the other performances I felt were a bit high school theatre in places. A very unique, melancholy story, and well worth seeing.
4. Despicable Me 2 ........ B-
Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt
January 15, 2014
Really cute and enjoyable, although lacking in the bite and originality of the first instalment.
5. Her ........ A-
Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Scarlett Johansson
January 18, 2014
This is a truly fantastic and really fresh-feeling film, dealing with the near future of our weirdly disconnected, and yet hyper-connected, society. I have never been impressed by Scarlet Johansson before, and this is truly her best performance ever. I wasn't quite as satisfied with the latter 20 minutes of the film. I felt like there were at least two reasonable end points which would have tied up the story sooner. It goes a bit high concept at the end without truly being able to explore the ideas to their full potential. This would have been better left as an exploration of human relationships.
6. Frozen ........ B+
Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff
January 21, 2014
Although it contains some of the usual formulaic elements and messages of a Disney movie, this one does have a feeling of freshness about it. I appreciated the strong, independent female characters and really like the new direction that Disney is going with its princesses. The visuals are gorgeous as well.
7. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit ........ B
Chris Pine, Kevin Costner, Keira Knightley
January 27, 2014
This movie is a lot of fun, and pretty well put together for this type of thing. I was a bit uncertain about Kenneth Branagh as a Russian villain, but he pulled it off quite well. Also I was hugely amused by the random cameo from Mikhail Baryshnikov. Kiera Knightley's American accent is a wee bit off, but she still provides enough convincing allure and fear to elevate the quality of this film.
8. Labor Day ........ B+
Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin, Gattlin Griffith
January 29, 2014
This is a very interesting film, relying largely on score and very impressive, often non-verbal performances from all three leads. The slowly built up intensity is extremely effective. I did have a bit of an issue buying the incredibly fast change of heart and falling in love, the epilogue was also a bit rushed. Both pieces seemed like they were missing significant internal monologue from a novel. Otherwise a very enjoyable film.
9. That Awkward Moment ........ B
Zac Efron, Michael B. Jordan, Miles Teller
February 1, 2014
Entertainment Weekly was pretty on the ball with their review that called this "Sex and the City" with boys. Although the script is mostly made up of the typical romcom cliches, there's also a fairly genuine feeling from many of the boys' interactions. Although I felt like the actors might not be quite up to the task of the type of casual improvisation which seemed to be required in many of the scenes.
10. The Croods ........ B-
Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone
February 6, 2014
I appreciated the humour, and the unglamorous heroes in this one. It's an interesting story, with some great visuals and unique creatures. However I found the overall message to be far too thoroughly bashed over the heads of viewers. The pace is also quite slow. It picks up a lot in the latter half, but I found it to be a chore getting there.
11. August: Osage County ........ A-
Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor
February 9, 2014
Having seen and loved the play, I was a bit concerned about this film adaptation. I was pleasantly surprised by the result. The new script actually works as a movie and although it's very talky, does not feel usually feel like theatre on screen. The whole cast is phenomenal. There were a few plot lines which lost some of their impact, and I didn't appreciate the final touch to lighten the tone, but mostly this film is very well put together.
12. Rachel, Rachel ........ C
Joanne Woodward, James Olson, Kate Harrington
February 10, 2014
It's difficult for me to appreciate the style of performances from this period in time, so I won't comment. This film is slow to the point of plodding. Although it does do a decent job of capturing the feeling of a small town, and the art direction is lovely, it does absolutely no justice to Margaret Laurence's novel, which stands the test of time in ways that this adaptation clearly does not.
13. Kick-Ass 2 ........ C+
Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Chloë Grace Moretz
February 20, 2014
A fun watch for those who liked the original, but for the most part, it's not very good. The actors can't handle the cheesiness of a lot of the dialogue and the monologues sound like high school theatre. The message of this movie is also all over the place. The writers can't seem to decide if it's a positive or a negative thing that these people are dressing as heroes and endangering everyone around them, so they go back and forth on the topic, never really presenting a compelling argument for either, and yet still seem to feel that it's very important there be a message. The best part of the movie is watching Hit Girl attempt to survive as a regular high school student, but at the same time it's very difficult to buy that she would ever attempt to do so.
14. Bachelorette ........ B
Kirsten Dunst, Isla Fisher, Lizzy Caplan
February 21, 2014
Although this movie is still pretty formulaic and uninventive, I did appreciate the refreshing irreverence. I particularly liked Lizzy Caplan's character. Less good is Hollywood's continued insistence that longtime female friendships are all clouded with resentment and cattiness.
15. The Lego Movie ........ B
Chris Pratt, Will Arnett, Elizabeth Banks
March 4, 2014
This film is super cute, and very cleverly put together. However I do think my expectations were too high going in, and that a lot of the good stuff went a bit over my head, as someone who was never enthusiastic about Lego as a child. From my perspective it was a fun kids' movie without much depth.
16. Kaze tachinu (The Wind Rises) ........ B+
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt
March 5, 2015
This is a very interesting film. It's hard to know exactly what target audience they were going for. It's not at all a child-oriented movie, although the animation is beautiful. The story is very slow. The subject of aircrafts is obviously a great personal love of Miyazaki, and the story is unapologetically focused as such. The story also deals with issues of war and disease in a very mature way. Overall I would say that the pace is too slow, and I can't imagine most children enjoying this film at all. It is a beautiful piece of work though, and I'm not at all sad that I saw it.
17. Thanks For Sharing ........ B-
Mark Ruffalo, Tim Robbins, Gwyneth Paltrow
Started March 9, finished March 10, 2014
I felt like this was a good effort at tackling a very difficult subject. It actually took things to darker places than I was expecting, but mostly it stuck to a lighter tone which might not have been entirely appropriate. "Shame" is a much better example of realism. The cast is great, and I enjoyed the various storylines, except for the romance between Gwyneth Paltrow and Mark Ruffalo which is totally void of chemistry, and built on "cute" interactions which ring incredibly false.
18. Non-Stop ........ B-
Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore
March 15, 2014
Pretty much exactly what you would expect, "Non-Stop" is enjoyably cheesy as well as reasonably intense and exciting. I felt that the plot held together a bit better than most of its genre. It did seem like the filmmakers weren't sure of their tone. The first half of the movie seems rooted more in genuine action thriller, whereas the second half swings dramatically into deliberately over-the-top camp. The end product would have been better had the filmmakers just picked one, but it's still a very fun watch. Also many thanks to whoever decided to allow Liam Neeson to remain Irish despite the very American plotline. Not to say that his botched American accents aren't entertaining, but they are certainly distracting!
19. The Butler ........ B-
Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey
March 17, 2014
The large and impressive cast largely make up for what is a bit of a mess of a film. The beginning sequence in particular, showing the butler's traumatic childhood, is dealt with in such an emotionless and flippant way it's almost laughable. Especially when compared with the far more honest, "12 Years A Slave". The later story becomes much more watchable, but the problem with me is the film's inability to take a side on major issues. The Butler is embarrassed and upset by his son's participation in increasingly violent demonstrations for equal rights, while his son feels similarly about his father's longtime employment with the man. The film feels like it wants to side with The Butler, but cannot go so far as to condemn what was a very important part of history. The end product is that neither side of the story is really told to satisfaction.
20. About Time ........ A-
Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy
March 18, 2014
This is a really charming and genuinely heart warming film. It's amazing how the Brits can usually create a romantic comedy that's full of sap, and yet doesn't make me nauseous in the same way Hollywood always does. The time travel gimmick never feels over-used, and it adds another dimension to the story. The cast is thoroughly enjoyable. My only issues are with specific plot points, which are as follows:
SPOILER ALERT: First of all, I realize that the main character is supposed to be a romantic with a heart of gold, but it's still ludicrous to me that he possesses the restraint not to sleep with his first love when the experience is offered up on a silver platter. No one, particularly no one with the ability to travel back in time and unmake things would turn that opportunity down!!! I also found it extremely hard to buy that he would choose to have a third child over the ability to see his father whenever he wants for the rest of his life. Only child, maybe. But third child? And on that same note, although their "final walk" together was beautiful and touching, if they were able to do that without unmaking any of his children, how on earth would his continuing to return to a game of ping pong be a problem?? Yeesh. The issue with these types of films is that the end message always has to be that life is generally better without the supernatural powers, and yet, we all know that's a load of crap. But other than these gripes, I really enjoyed the movie and would highly recommend it.
21. Enemy ........ C+
Jake Gyllenhaal, Mélanie Laurent, Sarah Gadon
March 20, 2014
This film is watchable on the strength of Jake Gyllenhaal's performance as both characters. He is really incredible in this film. The supporting cast is impressive as well. There is far too much "arty for the sake of arty" in the actual film. The plot is very hard to follow and the resolution unsatisfying (and unintentionally laugh out loud funny in my opinion). I haven't read the novel by José Saramago, but a quick read through of a plot synopsis revealed that the filmmakers would have been better off sticking with the much more coherent, original story.
22. Divergent ........ B-
Shailene Woodley, Theo James
March 22, 2014
This is a very disappointing adaptation of a far better novel. I did appreciate the artistry that went into the actual filming, and the casting is perfect. The young actors in particular really impressed me. The way the actual story is portrayed though, leaves a lot to be desired. As is frequently the problem with these sorts of adaptations, the emotional depth of the characters is completely lost. The concept of "Divergent" is also bashed over the viewers' heads so many times that it comes across as condescending. Not once in three books does Veronica Roth speak down to her audience and spell out that her overall message is "dare to be different", so it's startling how many times that concept is stated in the film. Kate Winslet's villain comes off as cartoonish, and Theo James' "I want to be all of the things" speech comes off as cheesy and "well, duh". Overall I would say that I had fun watching the movie from the point of view of seeing the world brought to life, but I can't imagine that most viewers who aren't already fans of the books would find this story at all compelling.
23. Ender's Game ........ B-
Asa Butterfield, Harrison Ford, Hailee Steinfeld
March 24, 2014
This inonsistent adaptation of a much better novel falls flat in many places. The beginning drags a lot, the story picks up in the middle, and then oddly the excitement and intensity is not maintained through the climax. I found the training scenes, and the exploration of Ender's character to be much more interesting to watch than the supposedly exciting battle. The visuals in the film are very beautiful and interesting though. Overall a decent but fairly meh final product.
24. Touchy Feely ........ C
Rosemarie DeWitt, Josh Pais, Ellen Page
March 25, 2014
This is a rare miss for Lynn Shelton; I'm usually a big fan of her work. Although this film does feature the usual selection of unique characters and an impressive cast, the plot is nonsensical and the meandering conversations often not interesting enough to really hold one's attention. I found myself already forgetting what I'd watched a few hours after it was over. If there was really a point to this story, it seems to have missed me entirely.
25. Muppets Most Wanted ........ B
Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell, Tina Fey
March 29, 2014
Cute and fun. Ricky Gervais is perfect. That being said, it does lack the freshness of the first (re)instalment. Not as many laughs for sure. Still worth watching though!
26. No Way Out ........ B-
Kevin Costner, Gene Hackman
March 31, 2014
Although it's very slow to get going, I was impressed by the intensity level of this thriller. It doesn't quite stand up to today's standards; it is highly watchable, but it's really hard to escape the incredibly cheesy 80s score. There's also a fantastically laughable slo-mo death scene.
27. Noah ........ B-
Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Emma Watson
April 1, 2014
This is a very interesting film which generates much curious conversation as to why it exists in the first place. The goal is unclear. Many elements are added to the biblical story, seemingly not to criticise or to clarify, mostly just to expand. Performances are excellent, and the visuals are mostly beautiful, although the decision to make fallen angels look oddly like Transformers may have seemed like a better idea on paper.
28. Bad Words ........ B
Jason Bateman, Kathryn Hahn
April 5, 2014
Quite a refreshing film with plenty of irreverent comedy and very little formula. Unfortunately most of the funniest moments are in the red band trailer.
29. Captain America: The Winter Soldier ........ C+
Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson
April 8, 2014
Although there are a couple of really fantastic, innovatively shot, exciting action sequences in there, the overall movie is just a drag. The characters are uninteresting. The actors contribute nothing to elevate them from the drab dialogue. Anthony Mackie has been brought in mostly as comic relief, but isn't enough to generate much additional interest. The titular Winter Soldier is barely in the movie, and when he does appear, is not even a very fun villain. I've found the whole Avengers series largely underwhelming (with the exception of Iron Man 1 &3) but this instalment might just be the most disappointing yet.
30. Joe ........ A-
Nicolas Cage, Tye Sheridan
April 20, 2014
Such a pleasant surprise to see Nicolas Cage returning to form! This is a very interesting and heart breaking story of a teenager wanting to escape from his abusive, alcoholic father. I was very impressed by all of the performances. While the overall story arc is predictable, the characters are unique and the situations very interesting.
31. Away We Go ........ B+
John Krasinski, Maya Rudolph
April 21, 2014
While the story could be accused of being overly light, the film is charming and funny. Some of the minor characters are just hilarious. It was also refreshing to see a couple portrayed who are mostly in sync and only fight in a manner of general annoyance.
32. Draft Day ........ C+
Kevin Costner, Jennifer Garner
April 25, 2014
On the plus side, I now feel like I've learned quite a bit about draft day and everything it entails. The film does a good job of building up the intensity of the one day and generating excitement, even though the plot is as predictable and formulaic as one might expect. The dialogue in the script however, is embarrassingly bland. Costner and Garner seriously phone in their performances, although the supporting cast is quite entertaining. The characters are undeveloped and wooden, definitely taking a back seat to the event itself. Overall a pretty enjoyable watch but totally free of substance and any real effort on anyone's part.
33. Dom Hemingway ........ B+
Jude Law, Richard E. Grant, Demian Bichir
April 29, 2014
Jude Law is fantastic in this movie. It's wonderful to see him getting a real acting gig for once. Hopefully this will lead to future good work. I really enjoyed the movie. It's suitably frenzied and off the wall. I did find that the trailer made it out to be more of a comedy than it actually is. The more "heartwarming" parts with the main character's daughter and attempts at redemption, I could have done without.
34. La vie d'Adèle - Chapitres 1 et 2 (Blue is the Warmest Colour) ........ A-
Léa Seydoux, Adèle Exarchopoulos
May 4, 2014
A really beautifully shot coming of age story. I found the slow and ponderous tone to be appropriate and despite the film being three hours long, it didn't go by slowly. That being said, there is at least a half hour of over-indulgent footage that could have easily been shaved off to make this a more watchable experience. Both of the lead actresses are phenomenal.
35. The Other Woman ........ B+
Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
May 10, 2014
Despite negative reviews, I actually quite liked this movie. Lots of laugh out loud moments, and I truly appreciated the lack of cattiness. It's refreshing to see an otherwise fairly cookie-cutter Hollywood comedy not assuming that women would immediately jump down each other's throats over a man who is wronging them. Admittedly the actual comeuppance is the worst part of the movie. Lots of typical jokes, and scatological humour. The best comedy, and most genuine story, is the interactions between the three women.
36. I, Frankenstein ........ D-
Aaron Eckhart, Bill Nighy, Miranda Otto
May 19, 2014
Totally ridiculous, badly written and acted, and not even very much fun, Bill Nighy provides the only redeeming aspects of this movie with his scenery chewing performance.
37. Lucky Them ........ B
Toni Collette, Thomas Haden Church
May 31, 2014
If not hugely believable plot-wise, this film has very believable and quirky characters and great performances. I loved to see Toni Collette in this cynical and sexy role. Enjoyable music too.
38. Kill Your Darlings ........ B+
Daniel Radcliffe, Dane DeHaan, Michael C. Hall
June 5, 2014
Although slow to get started this film ends up being quite engrossing and beautifully filmed. While it does leave you feeling like you need more information about the whole subject, it definitely does get the viewer interested. Daniel Radcliffe and Dane Dehaan have great chemistry.
39. Only Lovers Left Alive ........ B
Tilda Swinton, Tom Hiddleston, Mia Wasikowska
June 6, 2014
Although the opening scenes of this film seem a bit slow and plodding, all are elegantly shot, and I saw the value in each one. So much is learned about the characters without words. This is a very fresh take on vampire lore. I enjoyed all performances and the general story, although I do think the film would have been better had it been just a little bit more plot-driven.
40. X-Men: Days of Future Past ........ B+
Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence
June 7, 2014
Yet another really excellent X-Men film that blows the entire Avengers franchise out of the water. The time travel paradox is handled very well here. I have some personal gripes about it based entirely on my own nerdiness though. The days of future past plotline is one of my favourites and I didn't love the way it was rewritten here. I know that everyone loves Jennifer Lawrence (and I am no exception) but the story was too based around her morality. The original Mystique is not a conflicted anti-hero, and the producers' reluctance to let Jennifer Lawrence go full bad-guy is frustrating, especially given the delicious version played by Rebecca Romijn.
41. A Million Ways to Die in the West ........ B-
Seth MacFarlane, Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson
June 8, 2014
Though still pretty entertaining, I really hoped that this movie would be funnier than it actually was. Most of the best moments are in the trailer (with a couple of notable exceptions). Most of the great parts come from cameos and Liam Neeson's hilarious Irish cowboy.
42. Neighbors ........ B+
Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Zac Efron
June 10, 2014
Although certainly not ground-breaking, this movie delivers plenty of awesome laughs. Zac Efron is surprisingly hilarious. Although the emphasis is on the raunchy, the movie still does a pretty good job of examining the difficulty people of our generation have easing into the role of "responsible adult". Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne seem almost more at ease partying with the 20-year-olds than taking care of their child, which to me is a surprisingly genuine take on many people's lives.
43. Edge of Tomorrow ........ B
Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt
June 15, 2014
An entertaining and well thought out time travel flick which mostly avoids paradoxes and infuses a surprising amount of humour into the plot. I really enjoyed Emily Blunt's badass performance, and Tom Cruise rarely fails to entertain me. I won't spoil anything, but this is one of those movies where the ending almost bastardises the entire thing for me. It felt like they must originally have a story that made sense but didn't fly with test audiences and rushed to throw something half-assed together for the end. Otherwise enjoyable!
44. Bronies: The Extremely Unexpected Adult Fans of My Little Pony ........ B-
June 19, 2014
A really effective documentary, which makes the viewer feel incredulous and somewhat judgmental of its subjects, and then ends up shaming those reactions and drawing attention to why we as a society feel the need to mock people for harmless things that make them genuinely happy. Although I must say, after this documentary inspired me to watch the first episode of "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic", in hopes of finding out what all the fuss is about, the fuss remains a mystery to me.
44. The Station Agent ........ A-
Peter Dinklage, Patricia Clarkson, Bobby Cannavale
June 19, 2014
Although quite slow to get started, this film is a very worthy experience. Peter Dinklage delivers a fantastic performance. Far more character-based than plotty, it's more about the journey than the destination in this one, and it's executed in such a way that the audience is more than satisfied.
45. Veronica Mars ........ B
Kristen Bell, Jason Dohring, Enrico Colanton
June 22, 2014
So great to see these characters back together! I was impressed with the seamlessness with which the writers incorporated all of the major players. It was transitioned much more elegantly than the attempt to keep everyone relevant that season 3 made. That being said, does this work as a standalone film that a non-fan can appreciate? Absolutely not. So much time is spent revisiting the characters and updating fans on their lives (without really explaining who they were in the first place) that the mystery itself isn't particularly focal or compelling. That isn't even really a criticism from my perspective; it feels appropriate that a kickstarter funded product would be aimed directly at the people who are already invested. The result is though, that the film is decent but not amazing, and feels more like an extended Veronica Mars episode than a feature, and and makes the viewer even hungrier for a decade-late season four. One can only hope!
46. Une vie de chat (A Cat in Paris) ........ B
June 22, 2014
A fun story that can be appreciated by all ages (although maybe slightly on the dark side for really young viewers). I loved the quirky, hand-drawn animation. Although the characters are pretty one-dimensional and the conclusion is a bit ridiculous, the creativity makes up for it.
47. Punch-Drunk Love ........ B-
Adam Sandler, Emily Watson
June 24, 2014
This is a very interesting film, and a very intelligent career move for Adam Sandler at the time. Although I appreciated the experimental artistry of it, and the deliberately absurd plot, I can't say that I actually enjoyed it very much.
48. 22 Jump Street ........ B-
Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube
June 26, 2014
I'm just going to go ahead and copy and paste my review of "21 Jump Street" ( #52 in 2012) cause it's basically the same movie. As they frequently state in fact!
The beginning of this movie had me a bit concerned, but fortunately it built itself up into an entertainingly dumb comedy. Unfortunately, while it's funny enough to escape being bad, it's not funny enough to cross over into genuinely "good" territory either. I did appreciate the many cheeky references to the original series fact that sequels are generally awful, blatant money-grubs, and to the recycling of ideas.
49. The Fault in our Stars ........ B-
Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort
June 27, 2014
This is a decent adaptation of a decent novel. I was impressed with how much plot actually stayed in the film without sacrificing much. Shailene Woodley is perfect. The only issue is that although she and Ansel Elgort have fantastic chemistry (moreso than the characters in the novel in all honesty), Elgort is just nowhere near as talented an actor and it feels like he's reading lines in a high school play at times.
50. Maleficient ........ B-
Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley
June 28, 2014
This film is totally gorgeous and definitely an achievement in visuals (although there's absolutely no point whatsoever in seeing it in 3D). Angelina Jolie is perfect. However, I wasn't thrilled with the plot. I was with them for about half the movie, but annoyed by the balls-less ending. Maleficent is such a fantastic villain and the new movie doesn't simply explain her motivation in going to the dark side, it actually flips the entire story to make her the hero almost throughout. And a pussy.
51. The Usual Suspects ........ B-
Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Chazz Palminteri
June 28, 2014
A great cast of characters and fun movie, although I found parts slow and a bit hard to follow.
52. Finding Vivian Maier ........ A-
John Maloof
July 5, 2014
A very interesting documentary about a talented and troubled individual. It seems almost fated the way her negatives ended up in the possession of a budding filmmaker. I also enjoyed the way the interviews with various individuals demonstrated the huge differences in memory, and relationships with the same person.
53. Adore ........ B-
Naomi Watts, Robin Wright
July 7, 2014
Beautifully filmed and engaging to watch, but unfortunately there just isn't enough character development in the script to justify how preposterous the premise is on paper.
54. Begin Again ........ B+
Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Adam Levine
July 12, 2014
Light and fun, with plenty of enjoyable music. The major story arc is quite predictable but the details are pleasantly not cookie cutter. I really appreciated Adam Levine's willingness to totally send up his own image.
55. Oldeuboi (Oldboy) ........ B-
Min-sik Choi, Ji-tae Yu, Hye-jeong Kang
July 18, 2014
This movie is extremely strange. The payoff at the end is fantastic enough to make the experience worthwhile, but the journey getting there is at times a slog.
56. Freier Fall (Free Fall) ........ A-
Hanno Koffler, Max Riemelt, Katharina Schüttler
July 18, 2014
Really great little movie that I stumbled upon by accident. Although this is really just a character study, it never feels slow. I was totally engaged throughout. It also has plenty of hot guy-on-guy action which is always a selling feature for me!
57. Sex Tape ........ B-
Jason Segel, Cameron Diaz
July 26, 2014
There are a lot of squandered opportunities for great comedy in this movie. It's not even particularly raunchy given the subject matter. It's decent, mindless entertainment. I enjoyed it well enough but was still disappointed.
58. The F Word ........ B+
Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan
July 31, 2014
A bit edgier take on the average romantic comedy, this film manages to use a much more realistic premise for its comedic misunderstanding (one character wanting more than friendship from another who's already in a relationship). I was concerned for the first 15 or so minutes, as the film starts off with a few scenes of obvious improvisation, which I'm not sure Daniel Radcliffe is actually very good at. Fortunately it smooths out and turns into a very enjoyable end product. I also really appreciated the very obvious inclusion of Toronto as another character in the story.
59. And While We Were Here ........ C
Kate Bosworth, Jamie Blackley, Iddo Goldberg
August 4, 2014
Although there are some great performances in here, and what should be a very interesting character arc, even the beautiful Italian backdrop can't do anything to save this film from being utterly tedious.
60. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 ........ B-
Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx
August 8, 2014
There are some truly great scenes in this movie, and I appreciated that it didn't shy away from the bleakness of the source material, but at the same time the script is just dull and the main story not that interesting and extremely cheesy in places.
61. 112 Weddings ........ B
Doug Block
August 9, 2014
Although I quite enjoyed this documentary about what's happened to a variety of couples ten years after their marriage, it was more a product of the stories told than the filmmaking. I also have to say that the viewing experience felt more voyeuristic than it did educational about the institution of marriage.
62. The Spectacular Now ........ C+
Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley
August 10, 2014
his movie is saved only by very endearing performances from its two leads. The script is just a complete mess, and the direction and some of the editing totally bizarre. Also, the "comeuppance" for the delinquent main character is a complete joke not once, but twice. I haven't read the book, so I'm not sure if this is a total cop-out on the part of the screenplay or just a flaw in the story.
63. The Hundred-Foot Journey ........ B
Helen Mirren, Om Puri, Manish Dayal
August 11, 2014
This film is totally unapologetic fluff, and it definitely meets the goals it sets out too. Much heart-warming story and amazing looking food. Good lord don't go see this film hungry!! Helen Mirren's stuffy retauranteur is a little too over the top with her ice bitch routine at the beginning of the movie, but otherwise it's a charming watch. As deep as a bowl of soup of course, but equally as comforting.
64. The Giver ........ B-
Brenton Thwaites, Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep
August 13, 2014
The typical YA dystopian adaptation which loses what makes it special in its effort to be entirely plot driven. Jeff Bridges is fully committed and fantastic in this film. His love of the book is very obvious throughout. It's a shame this adaptation came out after "The Hunger Games" et al, and many won't know that it was one of the pioneers of the very popular genre. It's easy to see that a lot of effort went into making this movie, but the final product falls disappointingly flat.
65. I Give It A Year ........ B+
Rose Byrne, Rafe Spall, Simon Baker, Anna Faris
August 14, 2014
Not quite your typical romcom, I enjoyed the edgier humour in this one, and the unusual stance that marriage is not necessarily the ideal ending.
66. Guardians of the Galaxy ........ A-
Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper
August 20, 2014
The first summer blockbuster in a long time that's both of high quality and outrageously fun. It's been a long time since an obvious sequel set up made me feel excited rather than annoyed. Despite the similarities, this one is leaps and bounds above The Avengers in my opinion. The characters are just so much more fun; even the "straight men" are interesting, which is where the Avengers is seriously lacking. I do really wish I had been able to see this one in 2D though. The 3D was pretty awful and unnecessary. It took much longer than usual for my poor spinning brain to adjust.
67. Boyhood ........ A
Ellar Coltrane, Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke
August 22, 2014
This film definitely won't be everyone's cup of tea. Although there is some drama, it's mostly a very beautiful picture of one boy's ordinary life. Most scenes feel extraordinarily real. If I have any criticism, it would be that the film does feel a bit too long. But given the 12 years of footage, that's probably forgivable.
68. The Song of Lunch ........ B-
Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson
August 23, 2014
A very strange little movie, wherein Alan Rickman narrates his lunch with a former love with elegant prose, while not really experiencing the moment. Worth watching for Rickman voiceover alone! Both he and Emma Thompson give amazing performances based almost entirely on facial expression. The pace is undeniably plodding though.
69. Calvary ........ A
Brendan Gleeson, Chris O'Dowd, Kelly Reilly
August 24, 2014
Brendan Gleeson is stunning in this film. It's a shame it's probably too far under the radar to generate Oscar buzz. The script is a mixture of an examination of faith and goodness, a mystery/thriller and some very dark comedy. If anything, it might have too much going on, but I still found it riveting.
70. Pompeii ........ D+
Kit Harington, Emily Browning, Keifer Sutherland
August 27, 2014
Basically a lower budget and considerably lower quality rip off of "Gladiator" starring a prettier leading man. It's entertaining enough, although the romance is contrived and implausible and the plot barely holds together. The combat scenes are very well executed though.
71. Lucy ........ D+
Scarlett Johansson, Morgan Freeman
September 3, 2014
Some seem to think that the hilarity of this movie is deliberate, but I don't quite buy that. There are a couple of laugh out loud absurd moments toward the end. The overall concept of the film doesn't really make sense, and not a lot of effort is contributed to making it plausible. It really should have been marketed as a comedic sci-fi romp rather than a legitimate thriller.
72. Winter's Tale ........ D-
Colin Farrell, Jessica Brown Findlay, Russell Crowe
September 9, 2014
Definitely one of the worst movies I've seen in a long time. It's unbelievable that so many well respected actors signed on for this project, largely as a favour to writer/director/producer Akiva Goldsman I suspect. I'm not even sure where to begin. The plot is just ludicrous and nonsensical. Some of the weightier good vs evil, and every day miracle concepts might have looked good in a novel but the attempt at bringing them to the screen ends up comical. Some moments which are meant to be touching made me laugh out loud. The editing is so awkward it feels jarring to watch. Just a mess from start to finish.
73. The Trip to Italy ........ B+
Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon
September 11, 2014
I actually saw this film without having watched the first "Trip" movie, so am unable to really evaluate it as a sequel. So while it may have been recycled from the first instalment, to me the idea felt really fresh. The interaction between the two comedians was totally engaging, and the food looked amazing. Definitely don't see this one while hungry! I look forward to watching the first film.
74. Cast Away ........ B+
Tom Hanks, Helen Hunt
September 12, 2014
It took me so many years to finally see this movie, and it ended up being not at all what I expected. Such an amazing two hour ad for FedEx! Also far more of the film was spent off the island than I was expecting. Still, the final product was really well done. Tom Hanks gives a fantastic performance, and the plane crash is appropriately horrifying. I also appreciated that the situation the character returns home to is not as sugar coated as many Hollywood movies would be tempted to make it.
75. The Captive ........ B-
Ryan Reynolds, Scott Speedman, Rosario Dawson
September 13, 2014
Although there are great performances in this film, as well as wonderfully built suspense, the script is just a mess. The story is told out of chronological order for no apparent reason. It does nothing to add to the storytelling and results in a bit of confusion. Also the operations of the pedophile ring are just totally implausible and no effort is really made to support their success of their methods.
76. Seduced and Abandoned ........ B
Alec Baldwin, James Toback
September 16, 2014
A really interesting look at the process of getting a smaller film funded. Baldwin and Toback's long process of canvassing is interspersed with interviews with famous individuals about filmmaking in general. These two sides to the film didn't actually complement each other very well. It was all very interesting, but the two aspects felt like they should have been in different documentaries, the latter almost coming across as filler in places.
77. Obvious Child ........ A-
Jenny Slate, Jake Lacy, Gaby Hoffmann
September 19, 2014
This is the type of totally irreverent romantic comedy I would like to see more of. The characters and situation feel believable even as the film is off the wall. I also appreciated the way that potentially controversial subject matter is handled almost nonchalantly, making it as much of a non-issue as it should be.
78. Lawless ........ C
Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, Guy Pearce
September 20, 2014
Despite its subject matter, this film manages to be completely tedious. The story is kind of hard to follow, possibly because of how little interest it generates. Jessica Chastain's character's inclusion to provide the film with T&A is so gratuitous it actually manages to offend me of all people. The hype over this one is totally lost on me.
79. A Walk Among the Tombstones ........ B+
Liam Neeson, Dan Stevens, David Harbour
September 23, 2014
I was expecting a funny and stupid "Taken" clone, so was pleasantly surprised to find a far grittier, grimmer film featuring Liam Neeson as a badass. Although parts are implausible and there's still one hilarious "I have a certain set of skills" speech over a phone, I was overall impressed with the quality of this thriller.
80. Picture Day ........ A-
Tatiana Maslany, Spencer Van Wyck, Steven McCarthy
September 27, 2014
Although the story itself is a little silly, the characters and performances are believable and the interactions feel totally improvised and genuine. The whole cast does a fantastic job here. I really enjoyed the film, and was especially impressed by the quality for a Canadian feature. I also appreciated the lack of judgment for the main character's sexual escapades.
81. Lola Versus ........ B+
Greta Gerwig, Zoe Lister Jones, Hamish Linklater
September 28, 2014
Although I didn't love the theme of "one must be in a relationship to be happy" which continued for the length of the movie (but thankfully was not the end message) I did quite enjoy the film overall. The characters are all delightfully flawed and entertaining.
82. The Grand Budapest Hotel ........ A-
Ralph Fiennes, F. Murray Abraham
September 29, 2014
It's refreshing to watch something so well written, and yet so much fun and totally off the wall. For once the cast crammed with celebrities adds to the enjoyment, rather than distracting from it.
83. This is Where I Leave You ........ B+
Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Adam Driver
October 1, 2014
Quite a decent dramedy with surprisingly well developed characters, considering how many of them there are and how little screen time most get. Although this film balances the story well, it is also pretty obvious that it's based on a novel which would delve much further into each story. I really enjoyed the cast and all the performances. My only real complaint would be that so many of the really funny lines were ruined by the trailer.
84. Gone Girl ........ A
Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike
October 4, 2014
One of the best adaptations of a novel I've ever seen. Perfectly cast.
85. My Old Lady ........ B+
Kevin Kline, Maggie Smith, Kristin Scott Thomas
October 7, 2014
Very interesting story, and Maggie Smith is fabulous.
86. The Equalizer ........ B
Denzel Washington, Marton Csokas, Chloë Grace Moretz
October 9, 2014
Fun, but takes itself too seriously.
87. Krah razbijenog kruga (The Broken Circle Breakdown) ........ A
Veerle Baetens, Johan Heldenbergh
October 11, 2014
Beautifully filmed, written and acted.
88. Nymphomaniac: Vol. I ........ B
Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stellan Skarsgård
October 14, 2014
Interesting, but quite slow. I must be amazingly desensitized because I didn't find the sex scenes remotely shocking.
89. Hector and the Search for Happiness ........ B+
Simon Pegg, Rosamund Pike
October 16, 2014
A bit darker than I was expecting, but still a very enjoyable exploration of what makes a person happy.
90. Nymphomaniac: Vol. II ........ B
Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stellan Skarsgård
Started October 15, 2014
Finished October 16, 2014
Truly the second half of "Nymphomaniac", there's really nothing to distinguish it from Part 1, other than a disappointingly bad ending.
91. Snowpiercer ........ B-
Chris Evans, Jamie Bell, Tilda Swinton
October 18, 2014
The script of this film felt like a huge waste of gorgeous filmmaking and a fantastic idea. Also, Chris Evans is just not up to the standards of the rest of the cast. Still an interesting take on an action movie.
92. The Judge ........ B+
Robert Downey Jr., Robert Duvall
October 19, 2014
Although there is definitely a lot of formula used in this one, the performances elevate it to a higher level.
93. Fish Tank ........ B
Katie Jarvis, Michael Fassbender
October 20, 2014
94. Left Behind ........ F+
Nicolas Cage, Lea Thompson, Cassi Thomson
October 21, 2014
Even if one doesn't have an automatic disdain for this sort of religious propaganda, every aspect of this movie is laughably bad. The acting, the embarrassingly inspirational score, the dialogue. The almighty would not approve.
95. Locke ........ C+
Tom Hardy
October 27, 2014
Although Tom Hardy is really amazing in this one-man show, his impressive performance can't make up for how incredibly fucking tedious the movie is.
96. The Shining ........ B+
Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd
October 31, 2014
Really too campy by current standards to really be frightening, this movie is still hugely entertaining. Glad I finally saw it! Happy Halloween!
97. Birdman: or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) ........ B+
Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, Naomi Watts
November 15, 2014
Wonderful performances in this film. I mostly loved the story, but could have done without the main character's hallucinations and the constant drums.
98. Interstellar ........ A-
Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway
November 16, 2014
Although I can totally understand why this sprawling 3-hour long, unapologetically SCI-FI filme has been polarizing, I found it to be totally captivating. It was totally engaging and never felt long to me. Christopher Nolan has an amazing talent for painting a full picture of a world with only the slightest detail. Although the ending is a bit far-fetched, it's still a good enough pay off for the process.
99. John Wick ........ C+
Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen
November 18, 2014
I am mystified by the relatively positive critical reception to this one. I actually found myself actively not enjoying the first half. Keanu Reeves is brutally bad. Thank God he almost never speaks. I was actively rooting for Michael Nyqvist's character simply because he was the only one doing anything interesting. The action sequences are admittedly stylish and impressive. Once the story arrives at the assassin hotel, it does pick up. However there is just way too little plot (and what plot there is is glaring with holes), and absolutely no character development. I need a bit more fun with my body count.
100. Blended ......... D+
Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore
November 20, 2014
Drew Barrymore is embarrassingly bad in this movie. Adam Sandler acts circles around her, which is really saying something. The plot is also full somewhat offensive sexism regarding how the children of single parents will turn out.
101. The Book Thief ........ B
Sophie Nélisse, Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson
November 21, 2014
A decent adaptation of a difficult novel to bring to the screen. Sophie Nélisse is fantastic. The film definitely lacks the emotional wallop that the book packs though.
102. The Theory of Everything ........ B+
Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones
November 29, 2014
I'm a bit on the fence about this one. I thought that the performances were phenomenal. It's also beautifully filmed. That being said, and I realize that the script is based on Jane Hawking's memoir, but it seems unbelievably reductive to tell the story of Stephen Hawking and focus almost entirely on his marriage. The package is too neat and tidy, and there is nowhere near enough time focused on Hawking's personal achievements.
103. Mockingjay Part 1 ........ B+
Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth
November 30, 2014
It's impressive how engaging this film manages to be when really almost nothing happens when you actually reflect on it. Although I think that dividing the final Hunger Games installement in two was a bad idea and blatant money grab, part one is still a very watchable movie, if not entirely holding up to the first two.
104. Happy Christmas ........ B-
Anna Kendrick, Melanie Lynskey, Mark Webber
December 2, 2014
A bit too slow, and a bit too much child content for my liking, but still pretty enjoyable. Although as a "holiday" movie, it has about two minutes of footage that is in any way holiday related.
105. That Guy...Who Was in That Thing ........ B
Xander Berkeley, Bruce Davison, Craig Fairbrass
December 2, 2014
A very interesting study of the lives of character actors. The film is basically just sets of interviews put together. If anything, I think they chose to focus on too many different people. I quickly lost track of who had said what. It would have been more effective and more enlightening to have a smaller selection of actors tell more of their story.
106. Horrible Bosses 2 ........ B+
Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, Charlie Day
December 4, 2014
As far as sequels go, this one is pretty great. Almost as funny as the original, Chris Pine is a welcome addition.
107. La Bare ........ B
Joe Manganiello
December 5, 2014
Very interesting exploration of what goes on behind the scenes at a male strip club. It could have used a bit better editing but overall an excellent first outing for Joe Manganiello.
108. 10 Things I Hate About You ........ C+
Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, Andrew Keegan, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
December 16, 2014
I think if I'd actually seen this one in high school I might have enjoyed it more. It's definitely a cut above many of the teen flicks that were coming out around that time. Which is not saying a whole heck of a lot of course. There are some really great moments, and some moments of pure pain.
110. Arthur Christmas ........ A
James McAvoy, Jim Broadbent, Bill Nighy
December 23, 2014
Totally adorable Christmas flick. Plenty in here for adults as well as children.
111. Love Is Strange ........ A-
Alfred Molina, John Lithgow
December 27, 2014
Although a bit slow and pondering, this is a great film with impressive performances. I watched it on a plane which was probably not the best venue, but still really enjoyed it.
112. Million Dollar Arm ........ C+
Jon Hamm, Aasif Mandvi, Alan Arkin
December 27, 2014
Pretty much 100% as expected. Nothing ground-breaking but not terrible either.
118/110 movies in 2013
127/100 movies in 2012
115/100 movies in 2011
125/100 movies in 2010
79/100 movies in 2009
95/100 movies in 2008
2014
1. American Hustle ........ B
Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper
January 1, 2014
This is an interesting story full of fantastic performances, however the pace drags a lot in places, and the film ends up feeling very long. I also think it was a bit mis-advertised. I was expecting a largely comedic romp, but the film is slowish and largely dramatic.
2. L'écume des jours (Mood Indigo) ........ C-
Romain Duris, Audrey Tautou, Gad Elmaleh
January 3, 2014
I've enjoyed Michel Gondry's surrealism in the past, especially in "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" where it worked perfectly. However this film is just a mess. There is basically no story arc, and whatever plotlines there are are incredibly hard to follow. Some scenes are really interesting and visually appealing, but the overall watching experience is tedious at best.
3. Nebraska ........ B
Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb
January 7, 2014
This was definitely an interesting movie. It's deliberately slow and plodding, which works well for the mood but did make it feel a bit long to sit through. Bruce Dern is amazing, but some of the other performances I felt were a bit high school theatre in places. A very unique, melancholy story, and well worth seeing.
4. Despicable Me 2 ........ B-
Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt
January 15, 2014
Really cute and enjoyable, although lacking in the bite and originality of the first instalment.
5. Her ........ A-
Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Scarlett Johansson
January 18, 2014
This is a truly fantastic and really fresh-feeling film, dealing with the near future of our weirdly disconnected, and yet hyper-connected, society. I have never been impressed by Scarlet Johansson before, and this is truly her best performance ever. I wasn't quite as satisfied with the latter 20 minutes of the film. I felt like there were at least two reasonable end points which would have tied up the story sooner. It goes a bit high concept at the end without truly being able to explore the ideas to their full potential. This would have been better left as an exploration of human relationships.
6. Frozen ........ B+
Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff
January 21, 2014
Although it contains some of the usual formulaic elements and messages of a Disney movie, this one does have a feeling of freshness about it. I appreciated the strong, independent female characters and really like the new direction that Disney is going with its princesses. The visuals are gorgeous as well.
7. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit ........ B
Chris Pine, Kevin Costner, Keira Knightley
January 27, 2014
This movie is a lot of fun, and pretty well put together for this type of thing. I was a bit uncertain about Kenneth Branagh as a Russian villain, but he pulled it off quite well. Also I was hugely amused by the random cameo from Mikhail Baryshnikov. Kiera Knightley's American accent is a wee bit off, but she still provides enough convincing allure and fear to elevate the quality of this film.
8. Labor Day ........ B+
Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin, Gattlin Griffith
January 29, 2014
This is a very interesting film, relying largely on score and very impressive, often non-verbal performances from all three leads. The slowly built up intensity is extremely effective. I did have a bit of an issue buying the incredibly fast change of heart and falling in love, the epilogue was also a bit rushed. Both pieces seemed like they were missing significant internal monologue from a novel. Otherwise a very enjoyable film.
9. That Awkward Moment ........ B
Zac Efron, Michael B. Jordan, Miles Teller
February 1, 2014
Entertainment Weekly was pretty on the ball with their review that called this "Sex and the City" with boys. Although the script is mostly made up of the typical romcom cliches, there's also a fairly genuine feeling from many of the boys' interactions. Although I felt like the actors might not be quite up to the task of the type of casual improvisation which seemed to be required in many of the scenes.
10. The Croods ........ B-
Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone
February 6, 2014
I appreciated the humour, and the unglamorous heroes in this one. It's an interesting story, with some great visuals and unique creatures. However I found the overall message to be far too thoroughly bashed over the heads of viewers. The pace is also quite slow. It picks up a lot in the latter half, but I found it to be a chore getting there.
11. August: Osage County ........ A-
Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor
February 9, 2014
Having seen and loved the play, I was a bit concerned about this film adaptation. I was pleasantly surprised by the result. The new script actually works as a movie and although it's very talky, does not feel usually feel like theatre on screen. The whole cast is phenomenal. There were a few plot lines which lost some of their impact, and I didn't appreciate the final touch to lighten the tone, but mostly this film is very well put together.
12. Rachel, Rachel ........ C
Joanne Woodward, James Olson, Kate Harrington
February 10, 2014
It's difficult for me to appreciate the style of performances from this period in time, so I won't comment. This film is slow to the point of plodding. Although it does do a decent job of capturing the feeling of a small town, and the art direction is lovely, it does absolutely no justice to Margaret Laurence's novel, which stands the test of time in ways that this adaptation clearly does not.
13. Kick-Ass 2 ........ C+
Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Chloë Grace Moretz
February 20, 2014
A fun watch for those who liked the original, but for the most part, it's not very good. The actors can't handle the cheesiness of a lot of the dialogue and the monologues sound like high school theatre. The message of this movie is also all over the place. The writers can't seem to decide if it's a positive or a negative thing that these people are dressing as heroes and endangering everyone around them, so they go back and forth on the topic, never really presenting a compelling argument for either, and yet still seem to feel that it's very important there be a message. The best part of the movie is watching Hit Girl attempt to survive as a regular high school student, but at the same time it's very difficult to buy that she would ever attempt to do so.
14. Bachelorette ........ B
Kirsten Dunst, Isla Fisher, Lizzy Caplan
February 21, 2014
Although this movie is still pretty formulaic and uninventive, I did appreciate the refreshing irreverence. I particularly liked Lizzy Caplan's character. Less good is Hollywood's continued insistence that longtime female friendships are all clouded with resentment and cattiness.
15. The Lego Movie ........ B
Chris Pratt, Will Arnett, Elizabeth Banks
March 4, 2014
This film is super cute, and very cleverly put together. However I do think my expectations were too high going in, and that a lot of the good stuff went a bit over my head, as someone who was never enthusiastic about Lego as a child. From my perspective it was a fun kids' movie without much depth.
16. Kaze tachinu (The Wind Rises) ........ B+
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt
March 5, 2015
This is a very interesting film. It's hard to know exactly what target audience they were going for. It's not at all a child-oriented movie, although the animation is beautiful. The story is very slow. The subject of aircrafts is obviously a great personal love of Miyazaki, and the story is unapologetically focused as such. The story also deals with issues of war and disease in a very mature way. Overall I would say that the pace is too slow, and I can't imagine most children enjoying this film at all. It is a beautiful piece of work though, and I'm not at all sad that I saw it.
17. Thanks For Sharing ........ B-
Mark Ruffalo, Tim Robbins, Gwyneth Paltrow
Started March 9, finished March 10, 2014
I felt like this was a good effort at tackling a very difficult subject. It actually took things to darker places than I was expecting, but mostly it stuck to a lighter tone which might not have been entirely appropriate. "Shame" is a much better example of realism. The cast is great, and I enjoyed the various storylines, except for the romance between Gwyneth Paltrow and Mark Ruffalo which is totally void of chemistry, and built on "cute" interactions which ring incredibly false.
18. Non-Stop ........ B-
Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore
March 15, 2014
Pretty much exactly what you would expect, "Non-Stop" is enjoyably cheesy as well as reasonably intense and exciting. I felt that the plot held together a bit better than most of its genre. It did seem like the filmmakers weren't sure of their tone. The first half of the movie seems rooted more in genuine action thriller, whereas the second half swings dramatically into deliberately over-the-top camp. The end product would have been better had the filmmakers just picked one, but it's still a very fun watch. Also many thanks to whoever decided to allow Liam Neeson to remain Irish despite the very American plotline. Not to say that his botched American accents aren't entertaining, but they are certainly distracting!
19. The Butler ........ B-
Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey
March 17, 2014
The large and impressive cast largely make up for what is a bit of a mess of a film. The beginning sequence in particular, showing the butler's traumatic childhood, is dealt with in such an emotionless and flippant way it's almost laughable. Especially when compared with the far more honest, "12 Years A Slave". The later story becomes much more watchable, but the problem with me is the film's inability to take a side on major issues. The Butler is embarrassed and upset by his son's participation in increasingly violent demonstrations for equal rights, while his son feels similarly about his father's longtime employment with the man. The film feels like it wants to side with The Butler, but cannot go so far as to condemn what was a very important part of history. The end product is that neither side of the story is really told to satisfaction.
20. About Time ........ A-
Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy
March 18, 2014
This is a really charming and genuinely heart warming film. It's amazing how the Brits can usually create a romantic comedy that's full of sap, and yet doesn't make me nauseous in the same way Hollywood always does. The time travel gimmick never feels over-used, and it adds another dimension to the story. The cast is thoroughly enjoyable. My only issues are with specific plot points, which are as follows:
SPOILER ALERT: First of all, I realize that the main character is supposed to be a romantic with a heart of gold, but it's still ludicrous to me that he possesses the restraint not to sleep with his first love when the experience is offered up on a silver platter. No one, particularly no one with the ability to travel back in time and unmake things would turn that opportunity down!!! I also found it extremely hard to buy that he would choose to have a third child over the ability to see his father whenever he wants for the rest of his life. Only child, maybe. But third child? And on that same note, although their "final walk" together was beautiful and touching, if they were able to do that without unmaking any of his children, how on earth would his continuing to return to a game of ping pong be a problem?? Yeesh. The issue with these types of films is that the end message always has to be that life is generally better without the supernatural powers, and yet, we all know that's a load of crap. But other than these gripes, I really enjoyed the movie and would highly recommend it.
21. Enemy ........ C+
Jake Gyllenhaal, Mélanie Laurent, Sarah Gadon
March 20, 2014
This film is watchable on the strength of Jake Gyllenhaal's performance as both characters. He is really incredible in this film. The supporting cast is impressive as well. There is far too much "arty for the sake of arty" in the actual film. The plot is very hard to follow and the resolution unsatisfying (and unintentionally laugh out loud funny in my opinion). I haven't read the novel by José Saramago, but a quick read through of a plot synopsis revealed that the filmmakers would have been better off sticking with the much more coherent, original story.
22. Divergent ........ B-
Shailene Woodley, Theo James
March 22, 2014
This is a very disappointing adaptation of a far better novel. I did appreciate the artistry that went into the actual filming, and the casting is perfect. The young actors in particular really impressed me. The way the actual story is portrayed though, leaves a lot to be desired. As is frequently the problem with these sorts of adaptations, the emotional depth of the characters is completely lost. The concept of "Divergent" is also bashed over the viewers' heads so many times that it comes across as condescending. Not once in three books does Veronica Roth speak down to her audience and spell out that her overall message is "dare to be different", so it's startling how many times that concept is stated in the film. Kate Winslet's villain comes off as cartoonish, and Theo James' "I want to be all of the things" speech comes off as cheesy and "well, duh". Overall I would say that I had fun watching the movie from the point of view of seeing the world brought to life, but I can't imagine that most viewers who aren't already fans of the books would find this story at all compelling.
23. Ender's Game ........ B-
Asa Butterfield, Harrison Ford, Hailee Steinfeld
March 24, 2014
This inonsistent adaptation of a much better novel falls flat in many places. The beginning drags a lot, the story picks up in the middle, and then oddly the excitement and intensity is not maintained through the climax. I found the training scenes, and the exploration of Ender's character to be much more interesting to watch than the supposedly exciting battle. The visuals in the film are very beautiful and interesting though. Overall a decent but fairly meh final product.
24. Touchy Feely ........ C
Rosemarie DeWitt, Josh Pais, Ellen Page
March 25, 2014
This is a rare miss for Lynn Shelton; I'm usually a big fan of her work. Although this film does feature the usual selection of unique characters and an impressive cast, the plot is nonsensical and the meandering conversations often not interesting enough to really hold one's attention. I found myself already forgetting what I'd watched a few hours after it was over. If there was really a point to this story, it seems to have missed me entirely.
25. Muppets Most Wanted ........ B
Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell, Tina Fey
March 29, 2014
Cute and fun. Ricky Gervais is perfect. That being said, it does lack the freshness of the first (re)instalment. Not as many laughs for sure. Still worth watching though!
26. No Way Out ........ B-
Kevin Costner, Gene Hackman
March 31, 2014
Although it's very slow to get going, I was impressed by the intensity level of this thriller. It doesn't quite stand up to today's standards; it is highly watchable, but it's really hard to escape the incredibly cheesy 80s score. There's also a fantastically laughable slo-mo death scene.
27. Noah ........ B-
Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Emma Watson
April 1, 2014
This is a very interesting film which generates much curious conversation as to why it exists in the first place. The goal is unclear. Many elements are added to the biblical story, seemingly not to criticise or to clarify, mostly just to expand. Performances are excellent, and the visuals are mostly beautiful, although the decision to make fallen angels look oddly like Transformers may have seemed like a better idea on paper.
28. Bad Words ........ B
Jason Bateman, Kathryn Hahn
April 5, 2014
Quite a refreshing film with plenty of irreverent comedy and very little formula. Unfortunately most of the funniest moments are in the red band trailer.
29. Captain America: The Winter Soldier ........ C+
Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson
April 8, 2014
Although there are a couple of really fantastic, innovatively shot, exciting action sequences in there, the overall movie is just a drag. The characters are uninteresting. The actors contribute nothing to elevate them from the drab dialogue. Anthony Mackie has been brought in mostly as comic relief, but isn't enough to generate much additional interest. The titular Winter Soldier is barely in the movie, and when he does appear, is not even a very fun villain. I've found the whole Avengers series largely underwhelming (with the exception of Iron Man 1 &3) but this instalment might just be the most disappointing yet.
30. Joe ........ A-
Nicolas Cage, Tye Sheridan
April 20, 2014
Such a pleasant surprise to see Nicolas Cage returning to form! This is a very interesting and heart breaking story of a teenager wanting to escape from his abusive, alcoholic father. I was very impressed by all of the performances. While the overall story arc is predictable, the characters are unique and the situations very interesting.
31. Away We Go ........ B+
John Krasinski, Maya Rudolph
April 21, 2014
While the story could be accused of being overly light, the film is charming and funny. Some of the minor characters are just hilarious. It was also refreshing to see a couple portrayed who are mostly in sync and only fight in a manner of general annoyance.
32. Draft Day ........ C+
Kevin Costner, Jennifer Garner
April 25, 2014
On the plus side, I now feel like I've learned quite a bit about draft day and everything it entails. The film does a good job of building up the intensity of the one day and generating excitement, even though the plot is as predictable and formulaic as one might expect. The dialogue in the script however, is embarrassingly bland. Costner and Garner seriously phone in their performances, although the supporting cast is quite entertaining. The characters are undeveloped and wooden, definitely taking a back seat to the event itself. Overall a pretty enjoyable watch but totally free of substance and any real effort on anyone's part.
33. Dom Hemingway ........ B+
Jude Law, Richard E. Grant, Demian Bichir
April 29, 2014
Jude Law is fantastic in this movie. It's wonderful to see him getting a real acting gig for once. Hopefully this will lead to future good work. I really enjoyed the movie. It's suitably frenzied and off the wall. I did find that the trailer made it out to be more of a comedy than it actually is. The more "heartwarming" parts with the main character's daughter and attempts at redemption, I could have done without.
34. La vie d'Adèle - Chapitres 1 et 2 (Blue is the Warmest Colour) ........ A-
Léa Seydoux, Adèle Exarchopoulos
May 4, 2014
A really beautifully shot coming of age story. I found the slow and ponderous tone to be appropriate and despite the film being three hours long, it didn't go by slowly. That being said, there is at least a half hour of over-indulgent footage that could have easily been shaved off to make this a more watchable experience. Both of the lead actresses are phenomenal.
35. The Other Woman ........ B+
Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
May 10, 2014
Despite negative reviews, I actually quite liked this movie. Lots of laugh out loud moments, and I truly appreciated the lack of cattiness. It's refreshing to see an otherwise fairly cookie-cutter Hollywood comedy not assuming that women would immediately jump down each other's throats over a man who is wronging them. Admittedly the actual comeuppance is the worst part of the movie. Lots of typical jokes, and scatological humour. The best comedy, and most genuine story, is the interactions between the three women.
36. I, Frankenstein ........ D-
Aaron Eckhart, Bill Nighy, Miranda Otto
May 19, 2014
Totally ridiculous, badly written and acted, and not even very much fun, Bill Nighy provides the only redeeming aspects of this movie with his scenery chewing performance.
37. Lucky Them ........ B
Toni Collette, Thomas Haden Church
May 31, 2014
If not hugely believable plot-wise, this film has very believable and quirky characters and great performances. I loved to see Toni Collette in this cynical and sexy role. Enjoyable music too.
38. Kill Your Darlings ........ B+
Daniel Radcliffe, Dane DeHaan, Michael C. Hall
June 5, 2014
Although slow to get started this film ends up being quite engrossing and beautifully filmed. While it does leave you feeling like you need more information about the whole subject, it definitely does get the viewer interested. Daniel Radcliffe and Dane Dehaan have great chemistry.
39. Only Lovers Left Alive ........ B
Tilda Swinton, Tom Hiddleston, Mia Wasikowska
June 6, 2014
Although the opening scenes of this film seem a bit slow and plodding, all are elegantly shot, and I saw the value in each one. So much is learned about the characters without words. This is a very fresh take on vampire lore. I enjoyed all performances and the general story, although I do think the film would have been better had it been just a little bit more plot-driven.
40. X-Men: Days of Future Past ........ B+
Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence
June 7, 2014
Yet another really excellent X-Men film that blows the entire Avengers franchise out of the water. The time travel paradox is handled very well here. I have some personal gripes about it based entirely on my own nerdiness though. The days of future past plotline is one of my favourites and I didn't love the way it was rewritten here. I know that everyone loves Jennifer Lawrence (and I am no exception) but the story was too based around her morality. The original Mystique is not a conflicted anti-hero, and the producers' reluctance to let Jennifer Lawrence go full bad-guy is frustrating, especially given the delicious version played by Rebecca Romijn.
41. A Million Ways to Die in the West ........ B-
Seth MacFarlane, Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson
June 8, 2014
Though still pretty entertaining, I really hoped that this movie would be funnier than it actually was. Most of the best moments are in the trailer (with a couple of notable exceptions). Most of the great parts come from cameos and Liam Neeson's hilarious Irish cowboy.
42. Neighbors ........ B+
Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Zac Efron
June 10, 2014
Although certainly not ground-breaking, this movie delivers plenty of awesome laughs. Zac Efron is surprisingly hilarious. Although the emphasis is on the raunchy, the movie still does a pretty good job of examining the difficulty people of our generation have easing into the role of "responsible adult". Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne seem almost more at ease partying with the 20-year-olds than taking care of their child, which to me is a surprisingly genuine take on many people's lives.
43. Edge of Tomorrow ........ B
Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt
June 15, 2014
An entertaining and well thought out time travel flick which mostly avoids paradoxes and infuses a surprising amount of humour into the plot. I really enjoyed Emily Blunt's badass performance, and Tom Cruise rarely fails to entertain me. I won't spoil anything, but this is one of those movies where the ending almost bastardises the entire thing for me. It felt like they must originally have a story that made sense but didn't fly with test audiences and rushed to throw something half-assed together for the end. Otherwise enjoyable!
44. Bronies: The Extremely Unexpected Adult Fans of My Little Pony ........ B-
June 19, 2014
A really effective documentary, which makes the viewer feel incredulous and somewhat judgmental of its subjects, and then ends up shaming those reactions and drawing attention to why we as a society feel the need to mock people for harmless things that make them genuinely happy. Although I must say, after this documentary inspired me to watch the first episode of "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic", in hopes of finding out what all the fuss is about, the fuss remains a mystery to me.
44. The Station Agent ........ A-
Peter Dinklage, Patricia Clarkson, Bobby Cannavale
June 19, 2014
Although quite slow to get started, this film is a very worthy experience. Peter Dinklage delivers a fantastic performance. Far more character-based than plotty, it's more about the journey than the destination in this one, and it's executed in such a way that the audience is more than satisfied.
45. Veronica Mars ........ B
Kristen Bell, Jason Dohring, Enrico Colanton
June 22, 2014
So great to see these characters back together! I was impressed with the seamlessness with which the writers incorporated all of the major players. It was transitioned much more elegantly than the attempt to keep everyone relevant that season 3 made. That being said, does this work as a standalone film that a non-fan can appreciate? Absolutely not. So much time is spent revisiting the characters and updating fans on their lives (without really explaining who they were in the first place) that the mystery itself isn't particularly focal or compelling. That isn't even really a criticism from my perspective; it feels appropriate that a kickstarter funded product would be aimed directly at the people who are already invested. The result is though, that the film is decent but not amazing, and feels more like an extended Veronica Mars episode than a feature, and and makes the viewer even hungrier for a decade-late season four. One can only hope!
46. Une vie de chat (A Cat in Paris) ........ B
June 22, 2014
A fun story that can be appreciated by all ages (although maybe slightly on the dark side for really young viewers). I loved the quirky, hand-drawn animation. Although the characters are pretty one-dimensional and the conclusion is a bit ridiculous, the creativity makes up for it.
47. Punch-Drunk Love ........ B-
Adam Sandler, Emily Watson
June 24, 2014
This is a very interesting film, and a very intelligent career move for Adam Sandler at the time. Although I appreciated the experimental artistry of it, and the deliberately absurd plot, I can't say that I actually enjoyed it very much.
48. 22 Jump Street ........ B-
Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube
June 26, 2014
I'm just going to go ahead and copy and paste my review of "21 Jump Street" ( #52 in 2012) cause it's basically the same movie. As they frequently state in fact!
The beginning of this movie had me a bit concerned, but fortunately it built itself up into an entertainingly dumb comedy. Unfortunately, while it's funny enough to escape being bad, it's not funny enough to cross over into genuinely "good" territory either. I did appreciate the many cheeky references to the original series fact that sequels are generally awful, blatant money-grubs, and to the recycling of ideas.
49. The Fault in our Stars ........ B-
Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort
June 27, 2014
This is a decent adaptation of a decent novel. I was impressed with how much plot actually stayed in the film without sacrificing much. Shailene Woodley is perfect. The only issue is that although she and Ansel Elgort have fantastic chemistry (moreso than the characters in the novel in all honesty), Elgort is just nowhere near as talented an actor and it feels like he's reading lines in a high school play at times.
50. Maleficient ........ B-
Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley
June 28, 2014
This film is totally gorgeous and definitely an achievement in visuals (although there's absolutely no point whatsoever in seeing it in 3D). Angelina Jolie is perfect. However, I wasn't thrilled with the plot. I was with them for about half the movie, but annoyed by the balls-less ending. Maleficent is such a fantastic villain and the new movie doesn't simply explain her motivation in going to the dark side, it actually flips the entire story to make her the hero almost throughout. And a pussy.
51. The Usual Suspects ........ B-
Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Chazz Palminteri
June 28, 2014
A great cast of characters and fun movie, although I found parts slow and a bit hard to follow.
52. Finding Vivian Maier ........ A-
John Maloof
July 5, 2014
A very interesting documentary about a talented and troubled individual. It seems almost fated the way her negatives ended up in the possession of a budding filmmaker. I also enjoyed the way the interviews with various individuals demonstrated the huge differences in memory, and relationships with the same person.
53. Adore ........ B-
Naomi Watts, Robin Wright
July 7, 2014
Beautifully filmed and engaging to watch, but unfortunately there just isn't enough character development in the script to justify how preposterous the premise is on paper.
54. Begin Again ........ B+
Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Adam Levine
July 12, 2014
Light and fun, with plenty of enjoyable music. The major story arc is quite predictable but the details are pleasantly not cookie cutter. I really appreciated Adam Levine's willingness to totally send up his own image.
55. Oldeuboi (Oldboy) ........ B-
Min-sik Choi, Ji-tae Yu, Hye-jeong Kang
July 18, 2014
This movie is extremely strange. The payoff at the end is fantastic enough to make the experience worthwhile, but the journey getting there is at times a slog.
56. Freier Fall (Free Fall) ........ A-
Hanno Koffler, Max Riemelt, Katharina Schüttler
July 18, 2014
Really great little movie that I stumbled upon by accident. Although this is really just a character study, it never feels slow. I was totally engaged throughout. It also has plenty of hot guy-on-guy action which is always a selling feature for me!
57. Sex Tape ........ B-
Jason Segel, Cameron Diaz
July 26, 2014
There are a lot of squandered opportunities for great comedy in this movie. It's not even particularly raunchy given the subject matter. It's decent, mindless entertainment. I enjoyed it well enough but was still disappointed.
58. The F Word ........ B+
Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan
July 31, 2014
A bit edgier take on the average romantic comedy, this film manages to use a much more realistic premise for its comedic misunderstanding (one character wanting more than friendship from another who's already in a relationship). I was concerned for the first 15 or so minutes, as the film starts off with a few scenes of obvious improvisation, which I'm not sure Daniel Radcliffe is actually very good at. Fortunately it smooths out and turns into a very enjoyable end product. I also really appreciated the very obvious inclusion of Toronto as another character in the story.
59. And While We Were Here ........ C
Kate Bosworth, Jamie Blackley, Iddo Goldberg
August 4, 2014
Although there are some great performances in here, and what should be a very interesting character arc, even the beautiful Italian backdrop can't do anything to save this film from being utterly tedious.
60. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 ........ B-
Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx
August 8, 2014
There are some truly great scenes in this movie, and I appreciated that it didn't shy away from the bleakness of the source material, but at the same time the script is just dull and the main story not that interesting and extremely cheesy in places.
61. 112 Weddings ........ B
Doug Block
August 9, 2014
Although I quite enjoyed this documentary about what's happened to a variety of couples ten years after their marriage, it was more a product of the stories told than the filmmaking. I also have to say that the viewing experience felt more voyeuristic than it did educational about the institution of marriage.
62. The Spectacular Now ........ C+
Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley
August 10, 2014
his movie is saved only by very endearing performances from its two leads. The script is just a complete mess, and the direction and some of the editing totally bizarre. Also, the "comeuppance" for the delinquent main character is a complete joke not once, but twice. I haven't read the book, so I'm not sure if this is a total cop-out on the part of the screenplay or just a flaw in the story.
63. The Hundred-Foot Journey ........ B
Helen Mirren, Om Puri, Manish Dayal
August 11, 2014
This film is totally unapologetic fluff, and it definitely meets the goals it sets out too. Much heart-warming story and amazing looking food. Good lord don't go see this film hungry!! Helen Mirren's stuffy retauranteur is a little too over the top with her ice bitch routine at the beginning of the movie, but otherwise it's a charming watch. As deep as a bowl of soup of course, but equally as comforting.
64. The Giver ........ B-
Brenton Thwaites, Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep
August 13, 2014
The typical YA dystopian adaptation which loses what makes it special in its effort to be entirely plot driven. Jeff Bridges is fully committed and fantastic in this film. His love of the book is very obvious throughout. It's a shame this adaptation came out after "The Hunger Games" et al, and many won't know that it was one of the pioneers of the very popular genre. It's easy to see that a lot of effort went into making this movie, but the final product falls disappointingly flat.
65. I Give It A Year ........ B+
Rose Byrne, Rafe Spall, Simon Baker, Anna Faris
August 14, 2014
Not quite your typical romcom, I enjoyed the edgier humour in this one, and the unusual stance that marriage is not necessarily the ideal ending.
66. Guardians of the Galaxy ........ A-
Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper
August 20, 2014
The first summer blockbuster in a long time that's both of high quality and outrageously fun. It's been a long time since an obvious sequel set up made me feel excited rather than annoyed. Despite the similarities, this one is leaps and bounds above The Avengers in my opinion. The characters are just so much more fun; even the "straight men" are interesting, which is where the Avengers is seriously lacking. I do really wish I had been able to see this one in 2D though. The 3D was pretty awful and unnecessary. It took much longer than usual for my poor spinning brain to adjust.
67. Boyhood ........ A
Ellar Coltrane, Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke
August 22, 2014
This film definitely won't be everyone's cup of tea. Although there is some drama, it's mostly a very beautiful picture of one boy's ordinary life. Most scenes feel extraordinarily real. If I have any criticism, it would be that the film does feel a bit too long. But given the 12 years of footage, that's probably forgivable.
68. The Song of Lunch ........ B-
Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson
August 23, 2014
A very strange little movie, wherein Alan Rickman narrates his lunch with a former love with elegant prose, while not really experiencing the moment. Worth watching for Rickman voiceover alone! Both he and Emma Thompson give amazing performances based almost entirely on facial expression. The pace is undeniably plodding though.
69. Calvary ........ A
Brendan Gleeson, Chris O'Dowd, Kelly Reilly
August 24, 2014
Brendan Gleeson is stunning in this film. It's a shame it's probably too far under the radar to generate Oscar buzz. The script is a mixture of an examination of faith and goodness, a mystery/thriller and some very dark comedy. If anything, it might have too much going on, but I still found it riveting.
70. Pompeii ........ D+
Kit Harington, Emily Browning, Keifer Sutherland
August 27, 2014
Basically a lower budget and considerably lower quality rip off of "Gladiator" starring a prettier leading man. It's entertaining enough, although the romance is contrived and implausible and the plot barely holds together. The combat scenes are very well executed though.
71. Lucy ........ D+
Scarlett Johansson, Morgan Freeman
September 3, 2014
Some seem to think that the hilarity of this movie is deliberate, but I don't quite buy that. There are a couple of laugh out loud absurd moments toward the end. The overall concept of the film doesn't really make sense, and not a lot of effort is contributed to making it plausible. It really should have been marketed as a comedic sci-fi romp rather than a legitimate thriller.
72. Winter's Tale ........ D-
Colin Farrell, Jessica Brown Findlay, Russell Crowe
September 9, 2014
Definitely one of the worst movies I've seen in a long time. It's unbelievable that so many well respected actors signed on for this project, largely as a favour to writer/director/producer Akiva Goldsman I suspect. I'm not even sure where to begin. The plot is just ludicrous and nonsensical. Some of the weightier good vs evil, and every day miracle concepts might have looked good in a novel but the attempt at bringing them to the screen ends up comical. Some moments which are meant to be touching made me laugh out loud. The editing is so awkward it feels jarring to watch. Just a mess from start to finish.
73. The Trip to Italy ........ B+
Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon
September 11, 2014
I actually saw this film without having watched the first "Trip" movie, so am unable to really evaluate it as a sequel. So while it may have been recycled from the first instalment, to me the idea felt really fresh. The interaction between the two comedians was totally engaging, and the food looked amazing. Definitely don't see this one while hungry! I look forward to watching the first film.
74. Cast Away ........ B+
Tom Hanks, Helen Hunt
September 12, 2014
It took me so many years to finally see this movie, and it ended up being not at all what I expected. Such an amazing two hour ad for FedEx! Also far more of the film was spent off the island than I was expecting. Still, the final product was really well done. Tom Hanks gives a fantastic performance, and the plane crash is appropriately horrifying. I also appreciated that the situation the character returns home to is not as sugar coated as many Hollywood movies would be tempted to make it.
75. The Captive ........ B-
Ryan Reynolds, Scott Speedman, Rosario Dawson
September 13, 2014
Although there are great performances in this film, as well as wonderfully built suspense, the script is just a mess. The story is told out of chronological order for no apparent reason. It does nothing to add to the storytelling and results in a bit of confusion. Also the operations of the pedophile ring are just totally implausible and no effort is really made to support their success of their methods.
76. Seduced and Abandoned ........ B
Alec Baldwin, James Toback
September 16, 2014
A really interesting look at the process of getting a smaller film funded. Baldwin and Toback's long process of canvassing is interspersed with interviews with famous individuals about filmmaking in general. These two sides to the film didn't actually complement each other very well. It was all very interesting, but the two aspects felt like they should have been in different documentaries, the latter almost coming across as filler in places.
77. Obvious Child ........ A-
Jenny Slate, Jake Lacy, Gaby Hoffmann
September 19, 2014
This is the type of totally irreverent romantic comedy I would like to see more of. The characters and situation feel believable even as the film is off the wall. I also appreciated the way that potentially controversial subject matter is handled almost nonchalantly, making it as much of a non-issue as it should be.
78. Lawless ........ C
Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, Guy Pearce
September 20, 2014
Despite its subject matter, this film manages to be completely tedious. The story is kind of hard to follow, possibly because of how little interest it generates. Jessica Chastain's character's inclusion to provide the film with T&A is so gratuitous it actually manages to offend me of all people. The hype over this one is totally lost on me.
79. A Walk Among the Tombstones ........ B+
Liam Neeson, Dan Stevens, David Harbour
September 23, 2014
I was expecting a funny and stupid "Taken" clone, so was pleasantly surprised to find a far grittier, grimmer film featuring Liam Neeson as a badass. Although parts are implausible and there's still one hilarious "I have a certain set of skills" speech over a phone, I was overall impressed with the quality of this thriller.
80. Picture Day ........ A-
Tatiana Maslany, Spencer Van Wyck, Steven McCarthy
September 27, 2014
Although the story itself is a little silly, the characters and performances are believable and the interactions feel totally improvised and genuine. The whole cast does a fantastic job here. I really enjoyed the film, and was especially impressed by the quality for a Canadian feature. I also appreciated the lack of judgment for the main character's sexual escapades.
81. Lola Versus ........ B+
Greta Gerwig, Zoe Lister Jones, Hamish Linklater
September 28, 2014
Although I didn't love the theme of "one must be in a relationship to be happy" which continued for the length of the movie (but thankfully was not the end message) I did quite enjoy the film overall. The characters are all delightfully flawed and entertaining.
82. The Grand Budapest Hotel ........ A-
Ralph Fiennes, F. Murray Abraham
September 29, 2014
It's refreshing to watch something so well written, and yet so much fun and totally off the wall. For once the cast crammed with celebrities adds to the enjoyment, rather than distracting from it.
83. This is Where I Leave You ........ B+
Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Adam Driver
October 1, 2014
Quite a decent dramedy with surprisingly well developed characters, considering how many of them there are and how little screen time most get. Although this film balances the story well, it is also pretty obvious that it's based on a novel which would delve much further into each story. I really enjoyed the cast and all the performances. My only real complaint would be that so many of the really funny lines were ruined by the trailer.
84. Gone Girl ........ A
Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike
October 4, 2014
One of the best adaptations of a novel I've ever seen. Perfectly cast.
85. My Old Lady ........ B+
Kevin Kline, Maggie Smith, Kristin Scott Thomas
October 7, 2014
Very interesting story, and Maggie Smith is fabulous.
86. The Equalizer ........ B
Denzel Washington, Marton Csokas, Chloë Grace Moretz
October 9, 2014
Fun, but takes itself too seriously.
87. Krah razbijenog kruga (The Broken Circle Breakdown) ........ A
Veerle Baetens, Johan Heldenbergh
October 11, 2014
Beautifully filmed, written and acted.
88. Nymphomaniac: Vol. I ........ B
Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stellan Skarsgård
October 14, 2014
Interesting, but quite slow. I must be amazingly desensitized because I didn't find the sex scenes remotely shocking.
89. Hector and the Search for Happiness ........ B+
Simon Pegg, Rosamund Pike
October 16, 2014
A bit darker than I was expecting, but still a very enjoyable exploration of what makes a person happy.
90. Nymphomaniac: Vol. II ........ B
Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stellan Skarsgård
Started October 15, 2014
Finished October 16, 2014
Truly the second half of "Nymphomaniac", there's really nothing to distinguish it from Part 1, other than a disappointingly bad ending.
91. Snowpiercer ........ B-
Chris Evans, Jamie Bell, Tilda Swinton
October 18, 2014
The script of this film felt like a huge waste of gorgeous filmmaking and a fantastic idea. Also, Chris Evans is just not up to the standards of the rest of the cast. Still an interesting take on an action movie.
92. The Judge ........ B+
Robert Downey Jr., Robert Duvall
October 19, 2014
Although there is definitely a lot of formula used in this one, the performances elevate it to a higher level.
93. Fish Tank ........ B
Katie Jarvis, Michael Fassbender
October 20, 2014
94. Left Behind ........ F+
Nicolas Cage, Lea Thompson, Cassi Thomson
October 21, 2014
Even if one doesn't have an automatic disdain for this sort of religious propaganda, every aspect of this movie is laughably bad. The acting, the embarrassingly inspirational score, the dialogue. The almighty would not approve.
95. Locke ........ C+
Tom Hardy
October 27, 2014
Although Tom Hardy is really amazing in this one-man show, his impressive performance can't make up for how incredibly fucking tedious the movie is.
96. The Shining ........ B+
Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd
October 31, 2014
Really too campy by current standards to really be frightening, this movie is still hugely entertaining. Glad I finally saw it! Happy Halloween!
97. Birdman: or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) ........ B+
Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, Naomi Watts
November 15, 2014
Wonderful performances in this film. I mostly loved the story, but could have done without the main character's hallucinations and the constant drums.
98. Interstellar ........ A-
Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway
November 16, 2014
Although I can totally understand why this sprawling 3-hour long, unapologetically SCI-FI filme has been polarizing, I found it to be totally captivating. It was totally engaging and never felt long to me. Christopher Nolan has an amazing talent for painting a full picture of a world with only the slightest detail. Although the ending is a bit far-fetched, it's still a good enough pay off for the process.
99. John Wick ........ C+
Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen
November 18, 2014
I am mystified by the relatively positive critical reception to this one. I actually found myself actively not enjoying the first half. Keanu Reeves is brutally bad. Thank God he almost never speaks. I was actively rooting for Michael Nyqvist's character simply because he was the only one doing anything interesting. The action sequences are admittedly stylish and impressive. Once the story arrives at the assassin hotel, it does pick up. However there is just way too little plot (and what plot there is is glaring with holes), and absolutely no character development. I need a bit more fun with my body count.
100. Blended ......... D+
Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore
November 20, 2014
Drew Barrymore is embarrassingly bad in this movie. Adam Sandler acts circles around her, which is really saying something. The plot is also full somewhat offensive sexism regarding how the children of single parents will turn out.
101. The Book Thief ........ B
Sophie Nélisse, Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson
November 21, 2014
A decent adaptation of a difficult novel to bring to the screen. Sophie Nélisse is fantastic. The film definitely lacks the emotional wallop that the book packs though.
102. The Theory of Everything ........ B+
Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones
November 29, 2014
I'm a bit on the fence about this one. I thought that the performances were phenomenal. It's also beautifully filmed. That being said, and I realize that the script is based on Jane Hawking's memoir, but it seems unbelievably reductive to tell the story of Stephen Hawking and focus almost entirely on his marriage. The package is too neat and tidy, and there is nowhere near enough time focused on Hawking's personal achievements.
103. Mockingjay Part 1 ........ B+
Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth
November 30, 2014
It's impressive how engaging this film manages to be when really almost nothing happens when you actually reflect on it. Although I think that dividing the final Hunger Games installement in two was a bad idea and blatant money grab, part one is still a very watchable movie, if not entirely holding up to the first two.
104. Happy Christmas ........ B-
Anna Kendrick, Melanie Lynskey, Mark Webber
December 2, 2014
A bit too slow, and a bit too much child content for my liking, but still pretty enjoyable. Although as a "holiday" movie, it has about two minutes of footage that is in any way holiday related.
105. That Guy...Who Was in That Thing ........ B
Xander Berkeley, Bruce Davison, Craig Fairbrass
December 2, 2014
A very interesting study of the lives of character actors. The film is basically just sets of interviews put together. If anything, I think they chose to focus on too many different people. I quickly lost track of who had said what. It would have been more effective and more enlightening to have a smaller selection of actors tell more of their story.
106. Horrible Bosses 2 ........ B+
Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, Charlie Day
December 4, 2014
As far as sequels go, this one is pretty great. Almost as funny as the original, Chris Pine is a welcome addition.
107. La Bare ........ B
Joe Manganiello
December 5, 2014
Very interesting exploration of what goes on behind the scenes at a male strip club. It could have used a bit better editing but overall an excellent first outing for Joe Manganiello.
108. 10 Things I Hate About You ........ C+
Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, Andrew Keegan, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
December 16, 2014
I think if I'd actually seen this one in high school I might have enjoyed it more. It's definitely a cut above many of the teen flicks that were coming out around that time. Which is not saying a whole heck of a lot of course. There are some really great moments, and some moments of pure pain.
110. Arthur Christmas ........ A
James McAvoy, Jim Broadbent, Bill Nighy
December 23, 2014
Totally adorable Christmas flick. Plenty in here for adults as well as children.
111. Love Is Strange ........ A-
Alfred Molina, John Lithgow
December 27, 2014
Although a bit slow and pondering, this is a great film with impressive performances. I watched it on a plane which was probably not the best venue, but still really enjoyed it.
112. Million Dollar Arm ........ C+
Jon Hamm, Aasif Mandvi, Alan Arkin
December 27, 2014
Pretty much 100% as expected. Nothing ground-breaking but not terrible either.