As 2014 draws to close, fans, critics and pundits begin to reminisce about the past 12 months – what was worthwhile, what was sensational and what was garbage.
One of the most well-received documentaries of the year was Steve James’ ode to the late Roger Ebert, “Life Itself.” “Life” is a treat for anyone who is a fan of films or just touching success stories.
Michael Winterbottom’s follow-up to “The Trip,” the even funnier and wittier “The Trip to Italy,” reunites Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon for some more food tasting while cracking jokes and doing pop culture impressions.
Lenny Abrahamson’s bizarre yet endearing tale of Domhnall Gleeson and Michael Fassbender as the title character in “Frank” was one of the sleeper surprises at the end of summer.
David Fincher’s much-awaited screen adaptation of Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl lived up to the hype, primarily because of its lead actors Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike, as well as the versatile supporting cast rounding out this sardonic thriller.
Jake Gyllenhaal shocked viewers by losing weight for the creep fest “Nightcrawler” from Dan Gilroy. The film, which follows Gyllenhaal’s character driving around Los Angeles in the early-morning hours looking for a scoop, kept audiences glued to their seats in anticipation.
Steve Carell also changed his appearance to the creepier degree in Bennett Miller’s biopic “Foxcatcher” alongside Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo for one of – if not the most – unnerving dramas of the year.
The most surprising success story in 2014 film had to be Damien Chazelle’s “Whiplash,” which follows the heart-pounding rivalry between music student Miles Teller and hard-edged professor J.K. Simmons. With a tense tone and tour-de-force performances, Chazelle found his first hit.
Keira Knightley delivered a surprisingly brilliant and charming lead performance in Lynn Shelton’s “Laggies.” As the odd BFF to Chloë Moretz and love interest of Sam Rockwell, Knightley contributed to a unique and cute romantic comedy.
This movie lover’s top two choices for best films of 2014 go to two distinctly different period piece adaptations by the most famous (non-related) filmmakers named Anderson.
Wes Anderson’s “The Grand Budapest Hotel” is a lively and colorful romp inspired by Stefan Zweig’s stories, portrayed by the talented likes of Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori, Saoirse Ronan, Jeff Goldblum, Edward Norton and Tilda Swinton.
On the opposite end is P.T. Anderson’s trippy screen version of Thomas Pynchon’s novel Inherent Vice. The film is a satire on film noir in the most irreverent way possible. It is led by Joaquin Phoenix and supported by stars such as Josh Brolin, Owen Wilson, Benicio del Toro, Maya Rudolph and Reese Witherspoon.
Though the two star-studded ensemble pieces aren’t targeted at the same audiences, both are certain to be most enjoyed by those obsessed with cinema.
Here’s to another great year of films in 2015.
mbianco@durangoherald.com. Megan Bianco is a movie reviewer and also contributes other entertainment related features and articles.
