My Top 10 Movies Of 2014

MY TOP 10 MOVIES OF 2014

With the Christmas tree down, the decorations put away in the farthest reaches of the loft and the last few mince pies and chocolate coins munched down, it is time to wave a much needed goodbye to 2014 and count down the absolute best and worst movies of the past 12 months. As always, this list is a highly personal and completely biased compilation so naturally there will be films that feature here that you may or may not necessarily agree with. If there are any movies that I have omitted or that you believe should feature in the list, please comment below and let me know what movies you enjoyed the most. With all that said, here is my countdown of the 10 absolute best movies of 2014.

Due to the astonishing amount of truly terrific movies that were released last year, condensing them down to a finite 10 was a very hard task indeed. To show just how hard it was making this list, here are some examples of films that I really, really loved but still didn't quite make it into the final 10 -

'Edge Of Tomorrow'

'How To Train Your Dragon 2'

'Her'

'Oculus'

'X-Men - Days Of Future Past'

'The Wolf Of Wall Street'

'Noah'

'Nymphomaniac'

'Under The Skin'

'The Wind Rises'

'The Babadook'

 'Captain America : The Winter Soldier'

All of these movies were brilliant in their own unique ways and I would be incredibly happy to have each and every one in my definitive 'best of' count down. But as the title states, 10 movies above all the others released last year shone out. My list begins with possibly the most divisive movie of 2014 -

10) 'GODZILLA' -

Yes, my tenth favourite movie of 2014 was in fact one of the most controversial releases of the entire cinematic year. As a huge fan of the original Toho movies of the 50's, 60's and 70's, Gareth Edwards 'Godzilla' captured both the majesty and the awe of cinemas most famous monster while still maintaining the ideologies behind Ishiro Honda's original metaphorical and terrifying creation. True, the giant atomic reptile could have been in more scenes and it is most certainly true that Bryan Cranston was severely underused. But without any shadow of a doubt, no movie of 2014 entertained more than this epic and quite stunning reboot of one of the most influential and beloved science fiction franchises of all time. I simply cannot wait for the sequel due to feature Mothra, King Ghidorah and Rodan in 2018.

9) 'THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL' -

With an all star cast including an Academy Award worthy Ralph Fiennes, F. Murray Abraham, Jude Law, Tilda Swinton, WIllem Dafoe, Tom Wilkinson, Jude Law and Bill Murray among many others, 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' is easily director Wes Anderson's most entertaining movie to date. Beautifully shot, hilariously written and wonderfully quirky and wry, 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' is one of the most accomplished and well thought-out pictures of these past few years, sure to feature heavily at this years award season in both the costume and set design categories.

8) 'DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES' -





A much more serious tone replaces the strange and campy atmosphere of the much loved and long running sci-fi saga with this sequel to the much-better-than-expected 'Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes' from 2011. Andy Serkis delivers a knockout performance as Cesar; leader of the apes, while director Matt Reeves cloaks the movie in a dark and brooding ambience leading to one of the most foreboding but deeply engrossing motion pictures of the past 12 months.

7) 'NEXT GOAL WINS' -

I hate football but even I was completely captivated and moved by this extraordinary documentary focusing on the worst football team in the world and their attempts to enter the 2014 World Cup qualifiers. Directors Steve Jamison and Mike Brett's utterly delightful film is the first time a piece of footage has ever made me understand the power and importance that a game like football can and does provide for millions upon millions of people around the world and believe me, that is not an easy task!

6) 'THE LEGO MOVIE' -

Both a massive critical success and an even bigger box office success, Phil Lord and Chris Miller's utterly euphoric 'The LEGO Movie' is without a doubt the best animated movie of 2014. An incredible melding of imagination, talent and effort combine to create a cinematic experience that is all once brilliant, hilarious and at some times, beautifully poignant. A 'Toy Story' for a new generation.

5) 'LIFE ITSELF' -

A documentary that didn't get the reputation it most certainly deserved, 'Life Itself' is a humbling and remarkable movie tracing the life, career and tragic death of one of my heroes, the US film critic Roger Ebert. Directed with grace and care by 'Hoop Dreams' Steve James, 'Life Itself'' is at times a hauntingly sombre but all the while remarkable and indelible portrait of a man who made it is mission in life to bring the movies to millions upon millions of people a year.

4) 'DALLAS BUYERS CLUB '-

The worthy winner of countless awards as well as unanimous praise and adoration, Jean Marc Vallee's monumental 'Dallas Buyers Club' is certainly a contender for one of the most important movies to be made in this century so far. Matthew McConaughey is frighteningly powerful in the lead role as a homophobe who contracts AIDS and Jared Leto is equally accomplished standing alongside him as a stricken transsexual. Of course both won Oscars for their astonishing performances and deservedly so, but I do truly believe that 'Dallas Buyers Club' will stay in the public consciousness for many more years to come not due to its cast but thanks to it's underlying messages of hope, acceptance, forgiveness and above all, the power of the human spirit.

3) 'BOYHOOD'-

A film that has topped many critics lists of 2014, Richard Linklaters' ground-breaking 'Boyhood' is indeed a cinematic milestone that has to be seen to be believed. Tracing 12 years in the life of a six year old boy, the film quickly reveals itself as a tremendous work of art and one that flawlessly shows both the joy and sorrow that life can bring, usually on a daily basis. Magnificent performances and wondrous direction make 'Boyhood' a film for the ages and one that is sure to be talked about, studied and pondered upon for many years to come.

2) '12 YEARS A SLAVE' -

Out of the 8 films nominated for Best Picture in 2014, none came close to the heart-stopping and earth shattering power of Steve McQueen's masterpiece '12 Years A Slave'. While McConaughey and Leto most definitely deserved their Academy Awards for their work in the aforementioned 'Dallas Buyers Club' it cannot be understated just how terrific both Chiwetel Ejiofor and Michael Fassbender were in their respective roles too; one playing the epitome of hope and triumph, the other portraying the true evil and hatred that humanity has displayed on far too many occasions. Brutal, unrelenting, harrowing and quite tremendous, '12 Years A Slave' is the definitive cinematic representation of a time in our human history that we would much rather forget than face.

1) 'THE RAID 2 : BERENDAL' -

It may be true that '12 Years A Slave', 'Boyhood' and 'Dallas Buyers Club' are technically better motion pictures but without any hesitation whatsoever, the movie that impressed me the most throughout 2014 was the greatest action movie I have ever had the pleasure to witness, Gareth Evans' spine cracking, eye gouging,  ankle splitting, head severing wonder 'The Raid 2 : Berendal'. A sequel to the 2011 cult smash 'The Raid', 'The Raid 2 : Berendal' ups the ante to eleven when it comes to on screen violence and brutality and I adored every single blood-stained second of it. The fight scenes are incomparable to anything ever filmed for a martial arts film and Iko Awais once again proves himself to be this generations Bruce Lee, displaying technique, skill and agility unmatched in modern action cinema. From the moment it began to the moment it ended, I knew that it was going to take a truly unique movie to knock 'The Raid 2 : Berendal' off the top spot of my annual countdown and alas, despite the best efforts of wonderful filmmakers and incredible actors, nothing could quite beat it.

So that's it, another year gone, another top 10 list completed. Will 2015 prove to be as entertaining, as revolutionary and as wonderful? Well, with movies such as 'Avengers : Age Of Ultron', 'Foxcatcher', 'Selma', 'Star Wars : The Force Awakens', 'Birdman', 'The Minions Movie' and (my most anticipated movie of the whole year) 'Jurassic World' all due for release over the next 12 months, it is certainly shaping up to be...

Coming tomorrow - MY BOTTOM 10 MOVIES OF 2014.....