Just gonna come right out and say: I haven't really watch a lot of movies the last year. Don't know why, but I just happened to watch one every few weeks. I guess it's a more contemplative year for me? I think the list itself reflects it.
Don't get me wrong, I love these movies this year: Guardians of the Galaxy, 22 Jump Street (Channing Tatum's "My name is Jeff!"), Captain America 2 (Surprisingly solid action) and Amazing Spider-Man 2(Gwen's death is probably saddest thing to ever happen to a Spider-Man movie, other than the abysmal Spider-Man 3) etc.
So Top 10, here it goes..
10) Interstellar
Everyone should know by now: Chris Nolan's sci-fi adventure is nothing short of ambition and grand vision. It's a gorgeous-looking film at times, shot by Hoyte Van Hoytema and aided by the amazing VFX work done by Double Negative. The looks of the voyages are visually the best parts of the movie. The cast is a bunch of top-notch talents, led by Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain. And you even get Casey Afleck, Michael Caine and John Lithgow. Special mention goes out to Mackenzie Foy for her realistic and charming portrayal of McConaughey's on-screen daughter. If you're not into the science of the movie, their relationship alone tugs at the audience's heartstrings, and you're just waiting for them to be reunited. And this is where the movie falters just a bit. It's overlong and pacing is a bit erratic. I thought the editing could be much tighter and it could have been a lot shorter. But why complain so much when you have one of the best churning out great, great visual stories. Strap in, you're in for a bumpy ride for this one.
9) Nightcrawler
The story follows a hardworking man, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, hungry for success and he chances upon a scene where a citizen was filming an accident wreckage in the night and sold his footage to news channels. One thing led to another, Lou Bloom starts out on his own and goes out to film crimes and whatnot, as long it's deemed good content. Gyllenhaal is haunting and creepy beyond measure in this one. I haven't seen anyone played such a scheming and maniacal role to perfection in a long time. The L.A backdrop, reminiscent of Drive, succinctly adds more layers to his deceitful character. But also, at the same time, you can understand where his determination and drive comes from, as he explains it so well in the film. It's a movie that explores the human nature's striving for the best results and what we deem as "newsworthy" content, and it pushes over the edge and crosses the line. By far, it's one of the best scripts ever to come out this year and a masterclass performance from Jake Gyllenhaal.
8) Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Firstly, the visual effects in this was simply jaw-dropping. Andy Serkis and the entire gang at WETA have done a tremendous job at giving us really authentic apes that are almost too real to look at. I was never a fan of Apes series, but this one really has a social commentary that is relevant and timely. I saw the first one and didn't really give much thought to it, but I knew it was a good film. This sequel, directed by Matt Reeves (Cloverfield and Let Me In; both good films) really outdid himself. The set design, the amount of thought and time that went into it was incredible, and the end results show it. This is a rare summer blockbuster with action scenes that makes audience sit in awe and put on their thinking caps. Can't wait to see where the film goes.
7) The Raid 2: Berandal
I named The Raid Redemption as one my favourite movies in its year, and now the sequel is in another my top-10-movie list of another year. Honestly, this shit is good. With the budget significantly bigger this time, you can tell with its huge, action sequences in many different locations. The thing about action movies these days, they don't pace themselves. They're often shot in dark places, lots of close-ups and using body doubles to clear up their mistakes, but The Raid series never shies itself from it. They are all shot differently and are the choreographies are very distinct from each other. The pacing and rhythm sometimes doesn't let up and you're just along for the intense ride. It's perhaps my favorite action series of all time. Story-wise? It's bigger this time, but also much more clunkier as it takes cliches from typical mafia movies. They could trimmed it a bit more, but overall, The Raid: Berandal is a solid hit. Massive kudos to director Gareth Evans and its star Iko Uwais.
6) Gone Girl
Gone Girl, directed by David Fincher, stars Ben Afleck and Rosamund Pike as a married couple, Nick and Amy Dunne, whose relationship deteriorates over the years, and then one day, poof, Amy disappears, possibly kidnapped and murdered. If you haven't read anything about this movie, I highly suggest you don't search for it, because the experience of it is gonna blow your mind. As the movie takes its 2.5hr long runtime, slowly peeling and peeling away the plot for you to see, you're gonna be sucked into it. And I can't tell you enough how amazing it is. Gillian Flynn, who wrote the screenplay, has probably one of the greatest scripts this year, and to have your story directed by David Fincher is a fortunate event. Because he is a great story-teller; he paces it for the viewers, withholds the info and gives them bits and bits of it, until it's time of the reveal! Then he still continues, sharing the consequences of his characters. Gone Girl may come off as cynical, narcissistic and over-the-top, but, oh, Fincher loves reveling in our darkest human psyche, and it's brilliant stuff.
I kinda got tired writing all these sentences, so I'm gonna just reveal the top 5 films in order. Reasons for loving them? There are plenty and mostly, they're shot, acted and put together really well. And the stories are just engaging, thoughtful and inventive, whichever period (or medium) they were set in. Some are comedies, some are dramas, but ultimately, they have one thing in common: They've achieved what they set out to do: Tell a great story.
5) The Grand Budapest Hotel
Directed by Wes Anderson
4) The Lego Movie
Directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller
3) The Wind Rises
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
2) Blue is the Warmest Color
Directed by Abdellatif Kechiche
1) Her
Directed by Spike Jonze
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