If I were to say one thing about this movie, it would be that "A Separation" is one of the most humanistic movies you will ever watch. Released in 2011, this Iranian film is about a couple that has been married for 14 years getting a divorce. The wife wants to leave the country with her family in order to give their daughter a chance at a better life, but the husband refuses to leave because he needs to take care of his father who is suffering from Alzheimer's. He signs off on the divorce but refuses to let her take their daughter out of the country, and the rest of the film is about the trials and tribulations of their lives. I think what this movie does best is that it feels real. These characters, their dialog, and the situations that they get into feel like they could happen in real life. By the end of the movie you really connect with these characters, and want nothing but the best for them. I love foreign movies, they offer something different than what we traditionally see in American movies. "A Separation" is all business, there is no padding. It is a hard hitting drama that captures and keeps your attention for its entire run time.
Everyone, at some point in their life has strived to be truly great at something; work, school, video games, whatever. People have an inherent need to be great at something. What separates people though is how hard you are willing to work at something to become great at it. Unless you're willing to bleed for it you probably won't make it. That dynamic is what is explored in "Whiplash." A student at a prestigious music college named Andrew has real talent on the drums and wants to become one of the greats. One day while practicing he catches the attention of the conductor of the school's top band who shows an interest in him. He ultimately invites Andrew to join his band; this is everything Andrew wanted, but he soon realizes the conductor is a taskmaster who will accept nothing short of perfection. "Whiplash" might have been the most entertaining movie to come out in 2014. A phenomenal soundtrack, great performances, and beautiful cinematography were just some of the things this movie did right. It's not hard to see why this movie was universally praised as one of the best movies of the year.
"Drive"
can best be described as a love letter to the movies of the past, director
Nicolas Winding Refn wanted to make a movie in the style of some his favorite
films. The style, writing, and the way it was shot pays tribute to many movies
from many genres. And despite being a hodgepodge of genres like action,
neo-noir, drama, romance, and art house, the movie comes together into
something truly unique. The film follows an unnamed stunt drive who moonlights
as a getaway driver for criminals and his unconventional romance with his
neighbor. "Drive" is a movie that polarized people; many go into it
expecting a non-stop action thriller and not a sincere calm drama. So upon its
release it was met with many mixed reactions. But almost immediately it was met
with praise from critics and true movie fans. Highlight by beautiful
cinematography, minimalistic dialog, and great performances from the lead, many
would list "Drive" alongside some of the greatest art house films of
all time.
In 2011 director Gareth Evans released "The Raid: Redemption," an Indonesian martial arts that was the best action movie in over a decade. Three years late the sequel came out titled "The Raid 2: Berandal," and it will go down as one of the greatest action movies of all time. The story follows a young police officer named Rama who is recruited by an anti-corruption task force to infiltrate one of the largest crime organizations in the country. Going undercover for two years in prison to gain the trust of the boss's son, Rama gets in much deeper than he ever thought possible, and wants nothing more to finish his mission and get back to his family. From the opening scene to the final epic fight, "The Raid 2" is a nonstop thrill ride with some of the best fight choreography ever put into a movie. This was one of my favorite movies of 2014, and considering how great the first film was it is impressive that the sequel manages to top it in every way. It maintained that amazing action that made the first film so great while improving the dialog and story. This is one of the most enjoyable movies I have ever seen, and I am so happy that it will be getting a sequel in a few years.
From 1995 to 2010, the animation studio Pixar was the king of the animated film industry; and that reign started and ended with the "Toy Story" franchise. The first film in the series released in 1995 was a huge hit and is not considered one of the greatest animated films of all time. 15 years later the series ended with "Toy Story 3," and like its predecessors it is often considered one of the greatest animated movies of all time. The story takes place years after the first film, and as you can imagine it follows a group of toys. These toys had always been owned by a young boy named Andy, now being 17, he is off to college soon and no longer needs them; so he decides to donate them, and they end up making their way to a day care center. At first everything seems great, but they soon discover that everything isn't sunshine and rainbows at their new home. I grew up on Pixar movies, and this series holds a special place in my heart. It has been announced that there will be a "Toy Story 4" released in the next few years; while I'm nervous about how good it will be, if anywhere close to the level of this one, I'm sure it will be great.
On a list with several underappreciated films, "The Imposter" has to be the most underappreciated of the bunch. A 2012 documentary, it tells the story of Nicholas Barclay, a thirteen year old boy from Texas who disappeared in 1994. Several years after his disappearance his family received a call from police officers in Spain saying they believe that they found Nicholas. After being sent back to the States, he is questioned by the police and his family and everyone is sure that it is him. But from the second he showed up, something didn't seem right. 2012 produced several great documentaries but none even came close to this one, and yet somehow it didn't even get a nomination for best documentary at the Oscars. Probably one of the creepiest movies you will ever see, this is the type of film that will stay with you long after you watch it.
For just over 20 years, director Quentin Tarantino has been one of the most polarizing, controversial, and beloved members of the film industry. Making his debut with "Reservoir Dogs" in 1992, and just two years later the masterpiece that is "Pulp Fiction," Tarantino quickly made a name for himself as one of the best up and coming directors. Noted for his style, writing ability, and constant homage's to old movies, he has often been called one of the most influential directors of all time. In 2012 he released "Django Unchained," a spaghetti western film with elements of satire and blaxploitation; it was in instant hit with critics and audiences and even won two Oscars. The story revolves around a slave named Django who is hired by a bounty hunter to capture three wanted men only Django can identify, he agrees but only on the condition that the bounty hunter helps him find his wife. Brilliant, bloody, and downright hilarious at times, this movie stands alongside some of Tarantino's best movies and has become a fan favorite of many movie goers.
On a list filled with movies that I love, this might actually be my favorite. Loosely based off the book of the same name, "How to Train Your Dragon" is a 2010 animated movie that was one of the surprise hits of the year. The story revolves around a young boy named Hiccup who lives in a village in somewhere in Scandinavia and is son of the village chief. In this village the people have been forced to fight dragons on a daily basis because they steal their livestock. While it is a time honored tradition to fight dragons, Hiccup is small, weak, and can barely hold a sword. After devising a contraption used to shoot nets and capture dragons he manages to catch a feared dragon called a Night Furry, but instead of killing it he lets it go; and soon discovers there are more to dragons than meets the eye. I remember reading the book this movie is based off of back in elementary school. And while the movie and the book have almost nothing in common accept for character names, this movie manages to accomplish the rare feat of being better than the book. Fun for all ages, "How to Train Your Dragon" can easily be listed alongside some of the best animated movies of all time.
Believe it or not there are formulas that have been designed for movies to help them win Oscars. For example, an autobiographical period drama about a slave is an almost sure fire way to win best picture. And despite the fact that these Oscar bait type movies get a little old after a while, they can still produce a damn fine film. "12 Years a Slave" tells the true life story of Solomon Northup, a free black man who lived in the north but was kidnapped and sold into slavery. The film chronicles his 12 year journey going from plantation to plantation, and the struggles he faced along the way. Directed by a very promising director named Steve McQueen, this is easily one of the best movies ever regarding slavery. Phenomenal acting, a great screenplay, and beautiful cinematography are just some of the stand out features of this movie. This is one of those films that they should show in school when they talk about slavery, because it showed what a truly dark period that time in America was. But despite the darkness there was a light at the end of the tunnel.
Every year there is at least one movie that comes out of nowhere and takes the world by storm, in 2013 it was Alfonso Cauron's "Gravity." The plot centers around two astronauts doing repairs on the Hubble Telescope, a veteran on his last mission and a rookie helping in the repairs. While working they learn that several satellites have been destroyed and are spinning around the planet at breakneck speeds and are heading right towards them. They manage to survive the first wave of debris, but they are now stuck on the most hostile environment known to man with no contact to those on the ground. Upon its release the movie was hailed as one of the best of the year going on to win six Oscars, and at the box office it made over 700 million dollars. "Gravity" is one of the most thrilling movies I've ever seen, I was on the edge of my seat through most of its run time. It also featured some of the greatest cinematography and jaw dropping CGI ever put into a movie. While some complained that the science behind the movie wasn't accurate, the general consensus is that this is a truly amazing movie.
If
you ask me there are only three truly great movie trilogies, where each movie was phenomenal. You look at the "Indiana Jones" trilogy example, the first
and the third film were great but the second was not up to par. The three great
trilogies are "The Lord of the Rings," the original "Star
Wars" trilogy, and the little know "Before" trilogy. The series
revolves around a love struck couple through different stages of their lives.
"Before Sunrise" in 1995 was about them meeting for the first time,
"Before Sunset" in 2004 was about them reuniting after not seeing
each other for years, and "Before Midnight" in 2013 is about them
having an established relationship with kids and their personal interests competing
with one another. This movie trilogy tells undoubtedly the best love story ever
captured on film. Stars Ethan Hawke and Julie Deeply have phenomenal chemistry
together, the screenplay is one of the best in recent years with some of the
most realistic dialog I can recall in a long time, and director Richard Linklater
manages to tell a heart breaking and uplifting story of a couple that fans of
the series have come to adore. When it comes to romantic movies, I can't think
of another film where I cared about the characters as much as I did in this one.
Right
off the bat I feel I should say that I hold this movie in much higher regard
than most. Many reviews for "The Place Beyond the Pines" were
positive but critical. I on the other hand saw something rather special in it on my first viewing. The plot follows the story of fathers and sons, and
how the sins of the past are passed onto the future. Split into three very
distinctive parts, "The Place Beyond the Pines" is a greatly
underappreciated movie. With gorgeous cinematography, fantastic performances
from the leads, and one of the best musical scores of 2013 come together into a
movie I love. I feel this will be one of those movies that years down the line
will be seen as a movie ahead of its time. It is dark, emotional roller coaster
that is worth the watch just to see if you love it as much as I do.
I
don't believe I have seen a movie that is more powerful than this one; it is a
movie that will rock you to your very core. "The Act of Killing" is a
documentary that illustrates the horrors of the Indonesian Killings of
1965-1966. Under fear that Indonesia would become a communist country, the US
supported a military coup that overthrew the government. While this was going
on, gangsters and paramilitary groups were tasked with killing innocent people
who were labeled "communists." Over the course of a year, more than a
million people were slaughtered. The worst part of it is that instead of facing
a UN tribunal for genocide, many of the men who committed these crimes are
still in political power; some have even become local celebrities. War crimes
are defined by the winners, and according to them they did not commit war
crimes. The film follows several of these men, and tries to illustrate the
horrors they have committed. "The Act of Killing" is one of the
greatest documentaries I have ever seen and is a movie that everyone should
watch.
In
1995 Director David Fincher released "Seven," a violent and
controversial psychological thriller about a serial killer murdering according
to the seven deadly sins. A few years later he released a film titled
"Fight Club" based off the book of the same name, and while it was
met with mixed reviews upon release it has since been called a classic and one
of the best films of the 1990s. Ever since his early films he has often been
regarded as one of America's best directors. And despite his already stoic filmography,
2011's "The Social Network" might be his best movie. The movie tells
the true life story of Mark Zuckerberg, the creation of Facebook, and legal
battles he had to enter involving several different parties. Fincher's films
have often been highlighted by blood and serial killers, but this movie was
something different. A sincere drama about a strange man's troubles with
everyone else; this movie is filled with great acting, a fantastic soundtrack,
and some of the best cinematography we saw in a movie in 2010. Auto
biographical dramas have become popular over the years, especially in regards
to winning awards. Yet of all those released of the 2010s, this one has to be
one of the best.
If implemented properly, an underlying theme can really help add to a movie; and over the years I've noticed that I have discovered a theme that I consistently find fascinating, the decent into madness. "Take Shelter" is a 2011 drama-thriller, and only the second movie from director Jeff Nichols. His first film was "Shotgun Stories," an intense family drama that was one of the stand out films of 2008. "Take Shelter" revolves around a middle class family living in Ohio. Curtis works hard at his construction company in order to provide from his family and help take care of his deaf daughter. One day Curtis starts to suffer from hallucinations and apocalyptic dreams. It turns out that he might be showing early signs of paranoid schizophrenia, which his mother does have. He becomes obsessed with his families safety and starts to build a shelter in their back yard, while simultaneously losing himself with the depths of his mind and growing farther from his family. "Take Shelter" is one of the most terrifying movies you will ever watch regarding mental illness. It is intense and emotional, and shows why Jeff Nichols will one day be considered one of the great American directors.
It takes a special movie to be able to beat out the number 5 movie on this list for Best Picture at the Oscars, and it wasn't even that surprising of a choice. Likely my favorite movie of 2014, "Birdman (or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)" can best be described as a tour-de-force. Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, the film follows a down and out actor who is attempting to revitalize his career with a Broadway play. At the same time he must battle with his family, co-stars, and his personal demons in order to have this play be any kind of success; also, he might have telekinetic powers. I loved everything about "Birdman," the cinematography made to make the movie look like one continuous shot, the score that is made up almost entirely of percussion and classical music, and the writing that brings this story together and lets the dialog flow seamlessly from the actors' mouths. Years from now when I reminisce about 2014, the movie that will likely come to mind will be "Birdman."
Richard Linklater's "Boyhood" first debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2014, and since its debut it has been met with almost nothing but universal praise. Filmed over the course of twelve years using the same cast, it tells the story of a young boy in Texas growing up from a child to a young adult and all the trials and tribulations he must go through on his path to becoming an adult. This movie is something special, the dedication and heart put into it are like noting we've ever seen in cinema before. The movie made me nostalgic, it made me remember my childhood. I think that's why this movie has connected to so many people, because it is easy to connect to. This is one of those rare movies where future generations will look back at and just wish that they could have seen it in theaters.
Director Jeff Nichols is one of only two directors to have two movies on this list, and for good reason. While he only has three films, each has been phenomenal, and the best of those three has to be 2013's "Mud." The story takes place in rural Arkansas and primarily revolves around a young boy named Ellis. One day Ellis travels to a small island in the middle of the Arkansas River with his friend Neckbone. On the island they find a boat that has been logged in a tree after a recent storm, while inspecting the boat they discover that someone is living out of it. When they head back to their boat to get home, they discover a man named Mud fishing on the beach. They soon learn that Mud is a fugitive that is hiding out on the island, and after some persuasion, Mud convinces them to help him gather the parts he needs to fix the boat so he can travel down the river and get out of the state with his true love. "Mud" feels like something out of a Mark Twain novel, the movie really manages to capture the American spirit like few movies do. Greatly underrated, "Mud" is sure to one day become a true American classic.
Everyone loves an underdog story, ones where people must overcome great odds in order to achieve greatness themselves. Released in 2010 and directed by Tom Hooper; the film is based off the true life story of King George the Sixth, who took the thrown upon his father's death when his older brother refused to take the thrown. The problem was that he had severe speech impediment, to the point where he couldn't even give public addresses without sounding like a stammering idiot. The film chronicles his work with speech therapist and overcoming his impediment. "The King's Speech" ended up winning best picture at the Oscars, but it is often called highly overrated and that the Oscar should have gone to "The Social Network." I never saw how people could consider this movie overrated. The acting is fantastic, the directing is top notch by Tom Hooper, it was well written with some very emotional moments, and some of the best production value we saw in a movie that year. I love this movie, it is the type of movie that makes me want to go out and conquer obstacles. So if you're looking for a feel good movie anytime soon, look no further.
It is truly hard to believe that Ben Affleck, the actor who starred in cinematic abominations like "Daredevil" and "Gigli," has become one of the most respected directors currently working in Hollywood; talk about a career comeback. Affleck made his directorial debut back in 2007 with the mystery film "Gone Baby Gone," which was widely considered one of the best films of the year. In 2010 he directed the crime drama "The Town," which received wide acclaim and a best supporting Oscar nomination for Jeremy Renner. While both of those movies were great, his third film "Argo" blew both of them out of the water. It tells the true life story of a secret CIA operation to save several Americans who were taken in by the Canadian ambassador in Tehran during the Iranian Hostage Crisis. While the movie did receive some criticism for not being entirely historically accurate, the film was lauded by both critics and audience; it went on to become a huge box office success and even won three Oscars, including best picture. Great acting, a fantastic screenplay, and an almost unbelievable story add up to one of the most suspenseful movies you'll ever see.
In 2001, the terrorist group Al Qaeda committed the worst terrorist attacks in human history when they hijacked several planes and flew them into the World Trade Centers and the pentagon. After that the leader of the group and one of the master minds behind the attack, Osama Bin Laden, became public enemy number one. "Zero Dark Thirty" revolves around a CIA agent named Mia, who helps lead the charge in the hunt for Bin Laden. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, from the first minute to the final scene this movie was nothing short of astounding. Showing the dark and dirty side of war and the questionable tactics the American government used during the recent wars in the Middle East, this movie is not for the faint of heart and drew a lot of controversy for its depiction of American torture tactics. For the entirety of the 21st century, the entire world has stood in fear of the threats of terrorists. It wasn't until Osama Bin Laden's death in 2011 that many were able to rest easy and breathe. Thrilling from start to finish, an intense screenplay, one of the best performances from a female lead ever, and one of the single greatest and nerve racking scenes ever shown on the silver screen are featured in this movie. While not for everyone, in my mind this film is astonishing; I think it was Forbes Magazine that described this movie best, "Zero Dark Thirty is a film to define a decade."
