Top Film Films of 2014

With the year coming to a close The Bigger Boat Reviews are looking back at the 10 best films of 2014. However, obviously there were a few films that, due to varying reasons, we were unable to review which had the potential to break into the top 10, so honourable mentions go to the likes of Nightcrawler, Boyhood, Under the Skin and Locke.

10. 22 Jump Street

 The best way to follow a ludicrously over the top action comedy film is to be even more ludicrously over the top, and acknowledge it. Channing Tatum continues to flex his comedy vocals to great effect and his chemistry with Jonah Hill is there for all to see, but it’s in the end credits which will leave you in stitches, which sounds like a discredit to the film, but rest assure, the previous 120 minutes are equally as funny.

9. Gone Girl

Anybody who is having any wedding jitters might want to stay away from Gone Girl. It’s difficult to describe the film without giving away any important narrative details so we’ll keep it simple. Chilling and tense, Gone Girl will have you shouting at the screen with Rosamund Pike on excellent form. Not Fincher’s best (though this is hardly a criticism) but its stylish, edgy and will keep you guessing right up until the end.

8. Interstellar

Yes it wasn’t Nolan’s best film in comparison with The Dark Knight trilogy and Inception, yes the narrative could do with a running footnotes from Brian Cox and yes the ending is a little on the mawkish side, but there’s no denying the spectacle that is Interstellar. The IMAX film of the year brought about a 2001-like edge to the idea of space expedition and exploration with ground breaking visuals. The film also packs an emotional punch with the opening (space-less) 45 minutes featuring one of the most heart-wrenching scenes of the year.

7. The Imitation Game

The part patriotic, park heart-breaking story of Alan Turing, who seemingly invented the computer, cracked the German enigma code and arguably single-handedly winning the war. Benedict Cumberbatch is superb as the tortured genius Turing who struggles to balance his commitment to the war cause and hiding his sexuality. It’s a sensational war-time thriller owing a great deal to the likes of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (coincidentally also directed by a Scandinavian filmmaker) about a worthy and previously untold part of our history.

6. The Wolf of Wall Street

It’s understandable why this film, based on a true story about debauchery, excessiveness and greed (or orgies, drugs and money if you prefer) failed to win any of the 5 awards it was nominated for at the Oscars, which is a shame as it was our favourite during the run up to the awards season. The Wolf of Wall Street tells the story of Jordan Belfort, a stock broker who delves into tax fraud and money laundering leading to excessive riches. About as ‘un-Scorecese’ as Scorcese’s last outing, Hugo, yet the film is darkly hilarious with an excellent leading performance from Leonardo DiCaprio, and the seemingly excessive 3 hour running time will fly by.

5. The Lego Movie

The first huge surprise of the year. On paper you can understand why, and you’d be forgiven for thinking this is a blatant cash cow, more interested in how much profit they can turn without worrying about the end product. How wrong we all were. The film was hyperactive and hilarious featuring glorious animation and even the sniffiest critics gave up resisting after 10 minutes. The voice acting (led by Chris Pratt along with Well Ferrell and Morgan Freeman to name a few), is superb and has terrific repetition of ‘SPACESHIP!’ The best aspect(or worst, depending on your outlook) is the fact that even by just reading the words ‘Everything is awesome’ will ensure that the song is stuck in your head for hours to come.

4. The Babadook

If it's in a word or it's in a look, you can’t get rid of the Babadook…A uniquely refreshing Aussie horror film telling the story of the struggles between a widow and her young son. It is a rare treat for a horror film that manages to not only have you feel for its central characters but simultaneously scare the living daylights out of you and The Babadook manages this perfectly!

3. Pride

The feel good film of the year bar none. Owing a great deal to Billy Elliot and Brassed off, Pride tells the story of the unlikely friendship between gay activists and Welsh miners. Pride manages to expertly balance the right amount of truth, comedy, and drama without stumbling into sentimentality. A tip of the cap must also go to the sensational Imelda Staunton and an outstanding supporting cast. Dominic West dancing to Shame Shame Shame will forever stick in our minds.

2. Guardians of the Galaxy

Nobody, I repeat, nobody expected anything from Guardians of the Galaxy. Somehow people weren’t too keen on the idea of a Star Wars-esque space opera following a disband of humans, aliens, racoons and a 9ft talking tree on their adventures, directed by James Gunn, a generally inexperienced big-budget director (his last film Super cost just $2.5 million). Then the trailer was released, and people were even more convinced of a spectacular crash and burn for the latest Marvel flick. Then the film was released, and how wrong the naysayers were! Guardians is one of the biggest surprises of the year, blasting its way into cinemas becoming the second most successful film of the year so far. Audiences took to Guardians in their drones with its spectacular action and razor sharp script all combined with an absolutely killer soundtrack creating an entirely new franchise for the cinema giants. Never have 3 words brought watery eyes to so many people. Also, that end scene!

1. The Grand Budapest Hotel 

Is this the most mainstream Wes Anderson film yet? Certainly the box office speaks for itself but this does not give enough credit to The Bigger Boat Reviews film of 2014. Set in the fictional Zubrowka, TGBH tells the story of Zero telling the story of his acquisition of the hotel from the enigmatic Gustave. The film features an all-star cast with a healthy mix of Anderson regulars (Wilson, Murray, Brody and Schwartzman all appear) along with some newcomers (Jude Law and F. Murray Abraham), however its Ralph Fiennes who steals the show. In the best performance of the year, Clouseau-esque Fiennes provides both the films comic side and heart which must surely have him heavily touted come awards season (he has already been nominated for a Golden Globe). There were of course the usual Anderson naysayers (there always will be), but the film contains all the charm and just enough whimsy which makes it without a doubt the best film of the year and one of Anderson’s best for many years, also showing a side of Ralph Fiennes we have rarely seen and one we’re welcome to see again.

 

And the worst…

Transformers: Age of Extinction.

Because of ‘transformium’, that’s why.