Top 50 Movies of 2014
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- DirectorNoam MurroStarsSullivan StapletonEva GreenLena HeadeyGreek general Themistocles of Athens leads the naval charge against invading Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes and Artemisia, vengeful commander of the Persian navy.Another cash cow sequel milking concluded franchises to produce revenue? Surprisingly, 300:Rise of An Empire exceeds expectations, overcomes predicted redundancy, rarely awes, but undeniably entertains.
C+ - DirectorWes AndersonStarsRalph FiennesF. Murray AbrahamMathieu AmalricA writer encounters the owner of an aging high-class hotel, who tells him of his early years serving as a lobby boy in the hotel's glorious years under an exceptional concierge.Although the set pieces are as elaborate as ever, Wes Anderson's latest fantasy is a quintessential exemplar of style over substance. Overstuffed with far too many characters to create any sort of characterization, messily paced, overly indulgent and rarely riveting, Grand Budapest Hotel may be Anderson's most egotistical, overhyped, yet visually mesmerizing film to date.
B- - DirectorNeil BurgerStarsShailene WoodleyTheo JamesKate WinsletIn a world divided by factions based on virtues, Tris learns she's Divergent and won't fit in. When she discovers a plot to destroy Divergents, Tris and the mysterious Four must find out what makes Divergents dangerous before it's too late.Divergent, displaying unmistakable unoriginality, seems to be the love child of many other popular tween book franchises (i.e Harry Potter, The Hunger Games), but with that said, it also features thought provoking social allegory, critique, and enough thrilling action sequences to satisfy individuals outside the young adult demographic.
C+ - DirectorDarren AronofskyStarsRussell CroweJennifer ConnellyAnthony HopkinsNoah is chosen by God to undertake a momentous mission before an apocalyptic flood cleanses the world.Director Darren Aaronofsky's lavishly directed biblical epic requires the viewer to briefly suspend their predisposed philosophical perceptions, & immerse themselves in the visually enthralling, thoughtful, entertaining, and magical religious reimagining which is Noah.
B - DirectorRichard ShepardStarsJude LawRichard E. GrantDemián BichirAfter spending 12 years in prison for keeping his mouth shut, notorious safe-cracker Dom Hemingway is back on the streets of London looking to collect what he's owed.Dom Hemingway is essentially a failure to all its ambitions; it attempts to provoke originality in a title character that too closely resembles much more layered and endearing personalities such as Tom Hardy's Charles Bronson in 'Bronson'. Its redemption subplot , drastic character development specifically in his eventual self re-evaluation seem ridiculously out of place and over sentimentalized. Dom Hemingway is non the less a ocasionally entertaining mess
C- - DirectorMike FlanaganStarsKaren GillanBrenton ThwaitesKatee SackhoffA recently released inmate from a mental asylum learns from his sister that the murders he was convicted of committing were actually orchestrated by a supernatural entity, the Lasser Glass mirror.Although sporadically silly, Oculus is a cleverly conceptualized and creepy psychological thriller thats innovative nature often dilutes its flaws, evokes terror over cheap scares, and refuses to rely on tiresome horror movie cliches.
B- - DirectorAnthony RussoJoe RussoStarsChris EvansSamuel L. JacksonScarlett JohanssonAs Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world, he teams up with a fellow Avenger and S.H.I.E.L.D agent, Black Widow, to battle a new threat from history: an assassin known as the Winter Soldier.A typically marvelous spectacle infused with bland predictability; even its astute political commentary only displays minimal deviation from the modular superhero formula.
C+ - DirectorJonathan GlazerStarsScarlett JohanssonJeremy McWilliamsLynsey Taylor MackayA mysterious young woman seduces lonely men in the evening hours in Scotland. However, events lead her to begin a process of self-discovery.Johnathan Glazer's fascinating and beautifully hyper-stylized hybrid of social experimentation & ominous, kubrickian visual storytelling boasts endlessly thought provoking observation, commentary, & explicit examination of the inescapable nuances of human nature.
A- - DirectorWally PfisterStarsJohnny DeppRebecca HallMorgan FreemanA scientist's drive for artificial intelligence takes on dangerous implications when his own consciousness is uploaded into one such program.A majorly misunderstood provocation of existential inquisition that's intellectually poignant concept expertly theorizes the future of the transcending evolution of humans and technology into a solitary, metaphysical entity of consciousness.
B - DirectorJon S. BairdStarsJames McAvoyJamie BellEddie MarsanA corrupt, junkie cop with bipolar disorder attempts to manipulate his way through a promotion in order to win back his wife and daughter while also fighting his own inner demons.
- DirectorNicholas StollerStarsSeth RogenRose ByrneZac EfronAfter they are forced to live next to a fraternity house, a couple with a newborn baby do whatever they can to take them down.This overwhelmingly expeditious depiction of generational warfare and the threshold of change has its moments of undeniable comedic achievement, but whats left is drowned by thin plot, character, poor editing and pace execution.
B- - DirectorSteven KnightStarsTom HardyOlivia ColmanRuth WilsonIvan Locke, a dedicated family man and successful construction manager, receives a phone call on the eve of the biggest challenge of his career that sets in motion a series of events that threaten his carefully cultivated existence.A moderately intriguing but ultimately empty dictation of claustrophobic chaos, where the chaos ends up seeming sedate and anticlimactic in its overbearingly subtle depiction of the emotional destabilization of a practical man.
B- - DirectorGareth EdwardsStarsAaron Taylor-JohnsonElizabeth OlsenBryan CranstonThe world is beset by the appearance of monstrous creatures, but one of them may be the only one who can save humanity.Light on its commentary of epidemic conspiracy and heavy on disaster movie cliches; hollywood's latest rock-em sock-em monster mash reboot is far from compelling or original.
C+ - DirectorTim StoryStarsIce CubeKevin HartTika SumpterSecurity guard Ben must prove himself to his girlfriend's brother, top police officer James. He rides along James on a 24-hour patrol of Atlanta.This subpar cop comedy rides along on the chemistry of its likable leads but ultimately fails to provide enough laughs to overcome its formulaic nature
C - DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsJake GyllenhaalMélanie LaurentSarah GadonA man seeks out his exact look-alike after spotting him in a movie.An atmospheric dopplegang thriller embedded in ambiguity, mystery, and symbolic illusions to temptation, commitment, and the male psyche. This intriguing art house effort is a visual and conceptual feast.
B- - DirectorPhil LordChristopher MillerStarsChanning TatumJonah HillIce CubeAfter making their way through high school (twice), big changes are in store for officers Schmidt and Jenko when they go deep undercover at a local college.Laced in double entaundres, and a perfect combination of self deprecation and commitment to a proven formula, 22 Jump Street is a carbon copy that exceeds its predecessor, improving on original successes, cleverly referencing its redundancy, and staying consistently hilarious.
B+ - DirectorClint EastwoodStarsJohn Lloyd YoungErich BergenMichael LomendaThe story of four young men from the wrong side of the tracks in New Jersey who came together to form the iconic 1960s rock group The Four Seasons.A tedious and lifelessly executed emulation of far superior films; almost carelessly directed without any identifiable thesis to support its existence beyond broadway.
C - DirectorDavid WainStarsPaul RuddAmy PoehlerBill HaderMolly owns a quaint little sweet shop. Joel works for a gigantic candy company threatening to shut her down. How they meet, fall in love, break up and get back together is hilariously recounted in this rom-com spoof.An ambitious effort at post-modern absurdist hilarity, David Wain gets points for attempting new brands of humor while unfortunately succumbing to the formula he parodies.
C - DirectorJason BatemanStarsJason BatemanKathryn HahnAllison JanneyA spelling bee loser sets out to exact revenge by finding a loophole and attempting to win as an adult.In Bad Words, Jason Bateman steers clear from his usual every man type casting, and places himself in a new light; Directing the film, and starring as an endearingly crass and vulgar main character, but as the film progresses its hard not to ignore he wasn't the right man for either job.
C- - DirectorMatt ReevesStarsGary OldmanKeri RussellAndy SerkisThe fragile peace between apes and humans is threatened as mistrust and betrayal threaten to plunge both tribes into a war for dominance over the Earth.An epic fusion of spectacle and substance. With enchanting special effects, strong narrative, and emotional depth; Dawn also takes the Planet of the Apes franchise to an allegorically astute and thought provoking new level.
A- - DirectorPhil LordChristopher MillerStarsChris PrattWill FerrellElizabeth BanksAn ordinary LEGO construction worker, thought to be the prophesied as "special", is recruited to join a quest to stop an evil tyrant from gluing the LEGO universe into eternal stasis.Intelligently referential to cultural ideals, beautifully animated, clever and imaginative. The Lego Movie aims to please audiences of all ages with its consistently sharp humor and nostalgic platforming.
B - DirectorJames DeMonacoStarsFrank GrilloCarmen EjogoZach GilfordThree groups of people intertwine and are left stranded in the streets on Purge Night, trying to survive the chaos and violence that occurs.Although progressively conceptualizing its originally intreauging premise, The Purge is still too cartoonish to reach the profound allegorical level it attempts to grasp.
C- - DirectorRichard LinklaterStarsEllar ColtranePatricia ArquetteEthan HawkeThe life of Mason, from early childhood to his arrival at college.A profound exemplar of historic filmmaking; Richard Linklater's latest masterpiece is an epic fusion of groundbreaking cinema and affectionate exploration of the human condition
A - DirectorAnton CorbijnStarsPhilip Seymour HoffmanRachel McAdamsDaniel BrühlA Chechen Muslim illegally immigrates to Hamburg, where he gets caught in the international war on terror.Although sometimes tedious and seemingly aimless, A Most Wanted Man is a provocative examination of kgb collusion anchored by a stellar final performance by the late great Phillip Seymour Hoffman
B- - DirectorLuke GreenfieldStarsJake JohnsonDamon Wayans Jr.Rob RiggleTwo struggling pals dress as police officers for a costume party and become neighborhood sensations. But when these newly-minted "heroes" get tangled in a real life web of mobsters and dirty detectives, they must put their fake badges on the line.C+
- DirectorMarc WebbStarsAndrew GarfieldEmma StoneJamie FoxxWhen New York is put under siege by Oscorp, it is up to Spider-Man to save the city he swore to protect as well as his loved ones.C+
- DirectorThomas CarterStarsJim CaviezelAlexander LudwigMichael ChiklisThe journey of legendary football coach Bob Ladouceur, who took the De La Salle High School Spartans from obscurity to a 151-game winning streak that shattered all records for any American sport.C
- DirectorWes BallStarsDylan O'BrienKaya ScodelarioWill PoulterThomas is deposited in a community of boys after his memory is erased, soon learning they're all trapped in a maze that will require him to join forces with fellow "runners" for a shot at escape.B+
- DirectorDavid FincherStarsBen AffleckRosamund PikeNeil Patrick HarrisWith his wife's disappearance having become the focus of an intense media circus, a man sees the spotlight turned on him when it's suspected that he may not be innocent.A
- DirectorSeth MacFarlaneStarsSeth MacFarlaneCharlize TheronLiam NeesonAs a cowardly farmer begins to fall for the mysterious new woman in town, he must put his newly found courage to the test when her husband, a notorious gun-slinger, announces his arrival.B-
- DirectorDoug LimanStarsTom CruiseEmily BluntBill PaxtonA soldier fighting aliens gets to relive the same day over and over again, the day restarting every time he dies.
- DirectorBong Joon HoStarsChris EvansJamie BellTilda SwintonIn a future where a failed climate change experiment has killed all life except for the survivors who boarded the Snowpiercer (a train that travels around the globe), a new class system emerges.
- DirectorFrancis LawrenceStarsJennifer LawrenceJosh HutchersonLiam HemsworthKatniss Everdeen is in District 13 after she shatters the games forever. Under the leadership of President Coin and the advice of her trusted friends, Katniss spreads her wings as she fights to save Peeta and a nation moved by her courage.
- DirectorDamien ChazelleStarsMiles TellerJ.K. SimmonsMelissa BenoistA promising young drummer enrolls at a cut-throat music conservatory where his dreams of greatness are mentored by an instructor who will stop at nothing to realize a student's potential.An astonishing blend of excess and subtlety; Damian Chazelle's jazz-thriller is equal parts thought provoking, engaging, and endlessly intense. Encore
- DirectorBennett MillerStarsSteve CarellChanning TatumMark RuffaloU.S. Olympic wrestling champions and brothers Mark Schultz and Dave Schultz join "Team Foxcatcher", led by eccentric multi-millionaire John du Pont, as they train for the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea, but John's self-destructive behavior threatens to consume them all.A
- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsMatthew McConaugheyAnne HathawayJessica ChastainWhen Earth becomes uninhabitable in the future, a farmer and ex-NASA pilot, Joseph Cooper, is tasked to pilot a spacecraft, along with a team of researchers, to find a new planet for humans.Interstellar, while overwhelmingly informational, is a rare movie-going experience that is both visually and conceptually groundbreaking, enchanting and breathtaking.
- DirectorSteve JamesStarsRoger EbertChaz EbertGene SiskelThe life and career of the renowned film critic and social commentator, Roger Ebert.
- DirectorMichael DunawayTara WoodStarsJoey Lauren AdamsJack BlackLouis BlackIt's been said that the first 21 years defines the career of an artist. Few directors have single-handedly shaken up the film establishment like the godfather of indie, Richard Linklater. From the groundbreaking SLACKER to his innovative BOYHOOD, Linklater has just reached the 21-year mark and has unapologetically carved his signature into American pop culture. This compelling documentary takes you on a behind the scenes tour into Linklater's style, skills, and motivation via his friends, actors, and other directors. Get a raw and honest perspective on Richard through candid conversations with Ethan Hawke, Jack Black, Keanu Reeves, Billy Bob Thornton, Matthew McConaughey, Jason Reitman, Julie Delpy and others, and see their stories brought to life through hilarious animated sequences. For a guy who became famous for celebrating the cool and casual, Linklater emerges as a surprisingly strategic and visionary director who has already established a legacy and perfected a style that can't be denied.
- DirectorMatthew WeinerStarsOwen WilsonZach GalifianakisAmy PoehlerTwo childhood best friends, one a superficial womanizer and the other a barely functioning bipolar, embark on a road trip back to their hometown after one of them learns his estranged father has died.
- DirectorJames GunnStarsChris PrattVin DieselBradley CooperA group of intergalactic criminals must pull together to stop a fanatical warrior with plans to purge the universe.
- DirectorPeter JacksonStarsIan McKellenMartin FreemanRichard ArmitageBilbo Baggins and company are forced to engage in a war against an array of combatants and keep the Lonely Mountain from falling into the hands of a rising darkness.
- DirectorEvan GoldbergSeth RogenStarsJames FrancoSeth RogenRandall ParkDave Skylark and his producer Aaron Rapaport run the celebrity tabloid show "Skylark Tonight". When they land an interview with a surprise fan, North Korean dictator Jong-Un Kim, they are recruited by the CIA to assassinate him.Admirable for its groundbreaking conception, audacious ambition and social relevance; The Interview unfortunately does not reach its purposed heights due to middling comedic scripting and lack of consistently thought provoking satire.
- DirectorJake KasdanStarsJason SegelCameron DiazRob CorddryA married couple wake up to discover that the sex tape they made the evening before has gone missing, leading to a frantic search for its whereabouts.
- DirectorJosh BooneStarsShailene WoodleyAnsel ElgortNat WolffHazel and Gus are teenagers who meet at a cancer support group and fall in love. They both share the same acerbic wit and a love of books, especially "An Imperial Affliction", so they embark on a journey to visit an author in Amsterdam.