Trevor's Top 10 Films of 2014

by Trevor Kirkendall

Back in June, I remember having a conversation with a couple people that presented the following realization: if the quality of films doesn't improve throughout the second half of 2014, I might not even have 10 films to put on a list. But then, with the year winding down, everything finally started to come together. For the second year in a row, I wracked my brain trying to put this list together because of the overwhelming quality of films.

The good news is that I am able to single out 10 films for my list. The bad news is that only one studio picture from Hollywood is represented on this list. Only one. Is that because the quality of films coming from outside the studio system is so strong? That's part of the reason, but I think the bigger reason - or rather, the bigger issue - is that the studios have completely opted out of producing films with quality stories in favor of films that play more like bloated commercials for multi-million dollar enterprises. There are rare exceptions to this notion, including one on my list below. I enjoyed "Guardians of the Galaxy" despite it being yet another installment into a billion dollar franchise, but the Marvel films in particular aren't films that contain any further substance. They're nothing more than flash and pizzazz. I can see why people love it, but I don't ever walk away feeling satisfied.

While the studios choose to release a mostly subpar product, the independent filmmakers are hard at work crafting the stories and films that the majority of people largely crave, despite their continued patronization of the studio tentpoles. There's nothing wrong with a fun summer movie, but I do believe people as a whole want more out of their moviegoing experience than watching things exploding on the screen left and right for two-and-a-half very long hours. There needs to be more focus on original visions.

And that seems to be the theme of my list year: original vision. With so many great films this year, something had to separate the best from the rest. There was a distinct voice of originality that resonated throughout the year, from filmmakers who have been perfecting their craft for years to filmmakers who are only now emerging onto the scene. Here now are 10 films from 2014 that I think represent the year's best and also the most original.


10. Life Itself

I don’t normally make sentimental picks for my Top Ten List, but "Life Itself" will be one of them. There are two film critics who have made a significant impact on me as a film critic. The first was Dan Craft, the film critic of my childhood newspaper in Bloomington-Normal, IL The Pantagraph. (I would read his reviews when they ran twice a week and modeled all my early reviews at that time off his.) The second is Roger Ebert. Bloomington-Normal was only about two hours away from Chicago, so Ebert’s syndicated reviews and TV show with Gene Siskel made it to my area relatively quickly. I never missed an episode of At The Movies. That was the public side of Ebert. Steve ("Hoop Dreams") James’ remarkable documentary “Life Itself” shows the Pulitzer Prize winning film critic’s private life. With filming taking place only a few months before Ebert’s 2013 death, James was given unprecedented access to the final days of his life. The film comes complete with heartwarming and heartbreaking accounts from filmmakers Martin Scorsese, Errol Morris, Ana DuVernay, Werner Herzog and Ramin Bahrani. Then there’s the first hand accounts from Ebert’s beloved wife Chaz, all of which are moving and tear jerking. I wouldn’t be writing movie reviews and obsessing over films the way I do had it not been for Roger Ebert. James’ documentary is more than a well-crafted film, but a celebration to the life of a man who had a such profound impact on this entire industry.

9. The Lego Movie

When I first saw the teaser trailer for “The Lego Movie,” I thought it was a joke. It looked like it would be a lackadaisical effort better suited for pre-school hour on PBS. Upon watching it, I could not have been more wrong. The animated adventure from directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller is an absolute riot. It’s highly entertaining from the moment the film gets started and never lets up. It’s one of the most inventive screenplays I’ve seen from an animated film is years. I loved everything about the way the story evolved throughout the movie. The villain isn’t a clichéd animated antagonist; he’s even able to justify his actions. It’s a welcoming surprise to find the year’s best original screenplay coming from such a screwy and random animated movie meant for kids. Despite who the intended audience is, this is entertaining film for everyone. And even though this could be perceived as a massive commercial for Legos, it never feels like unwelcome product placement. It’s exceptionally well made, even with its quirky and peculiar tendencies.

8. Snowpiercer

“Snowpiercer” will be the only film adapted from a comic/graphic novel on my list this year. If Hollywood is so hell bent on adapting comic books and graphic novels, there are plenty to choose from that aren’t marketed by Marvel and DC. “Snowpiercer” comes to us from Korean filmmaker Bong Joon Ho and is set in a post-apocalyptic world. Unlike most films that occur during this fictional time, “Snowpiercer” is set entirely on a speeding train, separated by social class. The film contains a career best performance from Chris Evans, who proves that he’s more than Captain America. The film’s top performance comes from none other than Tilda Swinton who is both twisted and maniacal. The film doesn’t make any sort of profound statement – even though the script tells us the world has been destroyed due to our attempts to reverse the effects of climate change – but it does showcase enormous amounts of originality. This originality comes from the mind of the visionary filmmaker, the setting and the characters. There is nothing typical or familiar about this movie. Despite the source material's medium, you won't find anything like this coming from a Hollywood studio these days. 

7. Nightcrawler

This may be one of the most overlooked movies of the year. Sure, "Nightcrawler" did snag some nominations and recognition from some of the awards shows this season, but I'm not sure anyone went to go see this. Dan Gilroy's directorial debut is a masterwork in all aspects of the film. From his technical prowess, his razor sharp screenplay and the sensational performances from both Jake Gyllenhaal and Rene Russo. Gyllenhaal is the film's anti-hero. He's a driven and ambitious entrepreneur to the point where he's stepping over all those in his way on his journey to the top. "If you want to win the lottery, you have to make the money to buy a ticket," he says. I love that line. It might be one of my favorites of the year, especially after you get to learn who his character really is. On one hand, the film addresses the ever-watchful eye of the news media and the public's insatiable appetite for blood and destruction on television. But on the other, I think the movie also explores a darker side of capitalism. Gyllenhaal's character is a compelling and complex man, but he's also a bit of a sociopath. What happens when he turns himself loose in a world where everyone and everything is fair game? This is the key question raised in "Nightcrawler" which makes it one of the most compelling films of the year.

6. Ida

The attention span if the average moviegoer is rapidly fading. Running times are coming down, which I'm appreciating, but there are still big name movies that run over two-and-a-half hours in length. What have filmmakers done to keep people's attention with that kind of run time? Massive amounts of special effects and rapid editing, which has brought the average shot length of a film down to something like 4 seconds. Pavel Pawlikowski's "Ida" turns this current paradigm on its head with a relatively short feature length film (only 82 minutes) and an average shot length of about 18 seconds (according to Cinemetrics). By comparison, "Guardians of the Galaxy" clocks in with an average shot length of 3.8 seconds. See what I mean? "Ida" is refreshing from this stand point. It lets the script and the characters do all the storytelling for you. What a novel concept. Not only that, it's filmed on breathtaking black-and-white with many shots deliberately framed to put the actors toward to bottom of the frame. This isn't only a technical marvel, but Pawlikowski's story is both dark and emotional. The film is anchored by triumphant performances by veteran Agata Kulesza and newcomer Agata Trzebuchowska. The simple story - about a young nun in 1960s Poland who discovers she's actually Jewish when she finally meets her only living relative - is a captivating film to watch unfold. And the final moments will leave you shocked. It's not all that uplifting, but it is masterfully done.

5. Under the Skin

There isn't much of a story that goes along with Jonathan Glazer's twisted and beautiful "Under the Skin." The loose premise is that Scarlett Johansson is an alien sent to earth in order to lure men with her sexuality and then devour them. Or something. The film plays more like a painting in motion, or some kind of hair-raising nightmare. I'm reminded of films by David Lynch or Stanley Kubrick while watching this. Usually, I'll knock a film for it's lack of a solid story, but I can't do that here. There isn't much to this screenplay at all, but the success of the film comes more from Glazer's vision. There are many haunting images put on film here that have stuck with me throughout the entire year. The film's tone is accentuated by an absolutely bone-chilling score by Mica Levi, which is hands down the best score of the year. The movie features very little in the way of dialogue. Johansson only has a handful of lines, but she's utterly spectacular in her performance. She performs the whole film with a minimalist tone, and a facial expression that rarely changes. All emotion is projected from her eyes, which isn't easy to do. This is a challenging film that will not be for everyone. Those who are able to accept it for what it is - a strictly visual presentation - will probably be moved by its enormously dark undertones. This is a fascinating and unapologetic movie. Films like this are a constant reminder of cinema's limitless possibilities when filmmakers dare to push the boundaries as far as they can.

4. Birdman

In a year full of stunning originality, "Birdman" stands out as the most original and innovative of them all. Director Alejandro González Iñárritu could have taken his script and set up cameras, filmed it and edited it like everything else out there nowadays, but he wanted to make sure this film was special. He's already proven himself to be innovative with unique plots in his earlier works "Amores Perros" and "21 Grams." The only way to continue to stay relevant year in and year out is to take chances. This easily could have been another throwaway film, but you can feel the love for this work from all those involved. This is far and away the best cast assembled in a film this year. Everyone turns in one of their best performances ever, from Edward Norton to Emma Stone and even Zach Galifianakis. But this is Michael Keaton's starring role and he makes the most out of it. The amount of emotion he channels through this role is remarkable. I hope he didn't have to go too far into the dark corners of his mind to pull out this character. If he did, then bravo for being so fearless to put this character out there for everyone to see. It's almost insulting to put this movie at number four on my list. It really is one of the most spectacular examples of original vision I've seen in a many years.

3. Boyhood

If anything, "Boyhood" is a monumental achievement in the history of cinema. By now, everyone knows that this film took 12 years to complete. Richard Linklater is the only filmmaker working today who could have pulled this off. Despite only filming it for one week a year since 2002, the film actually makes sense. A script wasn't in place when filming began. Only Linklater knew the direction he wanted to take this. Eventually, his cast started to contribute to the story, but that was much later in the process. Words cannot accurately describe what it's like to watch these actors age right in front of you throughout this film, especially from the it's young star Ellar Coltrane. The biggest criticism I've heard about this movie is, "nothing really happens." That may be true, to an extent. There are periods of time where the film seems to tread water, but this film is more a snapshot at one child's life. There are many things that happen during his childhood that may or may not have happened during yours. This is a movie about one child dealing with everything in front of him. It's tremendous to see the love and dedication of all this involved. It's asking a lot from the four main actors (Coltrane, Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette and Lorelei Linklater) to commit to a project and maintain that commitment for 12 years.  It's an ambitious idea that will never again be matched, at least not to this level of success.

2. The Grand Budapest Hotel

Wes Anderson has been one of my favorite contemporary filmmakers since I first saw "Rushmore." Since then, he's continued to refine his craft and his level of quirkiness. While he still might be a difficult filmmaker for some to understand, "The Grand Budapest Hotel" is probably his most accessible for the mainstream audience to grasp. It's also the best film he's done to date. The film's narrative is presented to us in a very unique way, which Anderson helps to illustrate further by filming the different time periods in different aspect ratios. Ralph Fiennes is at his absolute best. He's done some more light hearted pieces before, but nothing quite like this. He's unrecognizable in his constant state of jubilation. His delivery of Anderson's always odd dialogue is perfect. I can't think of a better performance by a leading actor this year. The film is full of Anderson's signature trademarks. He's able to make a film fit for the mainstream while at the same time staying true to a style that is unmistakably his. There is never a dull moment in this film. It's a side splitting romp from beginning to end, but still full of all the right human emotions to make it so easily relatable. Anderson is at the top of his game with this film, and he's proving to audiences that he's one of the top talents in American cinema.

1. Whiplash

While films by seasoned veterans Anderson, Linklater and Iñárritu earn spots on my list, the year's top movie belongs to a newcomer. Damien Chazelle's "Whiplash" is the best film of 2014. Miles Teller stars as a motivated and dedicated musician enrolled at the nation's top music program where he aspires to be one of the greatest jazz drummers of all time. His band director, played by J.K. Simmons, expects nothing short of perfection from all his students, and goes as far as being both emotionally and physically abusive to them when they fail to achieve it. There are no words or phrases that can sum up the experience of watching this film. Perhaps the beads of sweat falling from my forehead after screening this in a chilly theater might help summarize the experience. Or being completely out of breath by the time the credits roll. The amount of intensity poured into these rolls by Teller and Simmons is a complete revelation. Both actors are at a different points in their careers right now, but these rolls will forever define them. Teller is still on the rise, but everyone will remember him now. Simmons has been around for years, but mostly in distant supporting roles. Anyone who's seen him in something already knows he's a solid actor, but I don't think anyone would have expected him to turn in one of the best performances in history. (I don't say that lightly either.) I also can't believe this film was directed by someone who only recently turned 30. Instead, it feels as though Chazelle has been making films for 30 years. He has remarkable vision, and his screenplay is the year's best. "Whiplash" is a prime example of why we all love the movies so much. This is a film that takes you on the type of journey you want to experience. There's no mind numbing CGI and explosions every 15 seconds, no unnecessary plot points, no watered down one dimensional characters. As moviegoers, this is the type of film we should crave from producers. If you missed this movie, you are missing out on one hell of an experience. And the last 15 minutes of this film might be some of the most remarkable minutes of film in years. Your pulse will pound as fast as Teller's double time swing and you'll be begging for more. More of "Whiplash" but most importantly, more movies with this kind of exhilaration and rapture.

Please, filmmakers, more movies like these!

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Trevor's Individual Awards:

Best Film of the Year: Whiplash

Best Director: Richard Linklater (Boyhood)

Best Actress in a Leading Role: Scarlett Johansson (Under the Skin)
Best Actor in a Leading Role: Ralph Fiennes (The Grand Budapest Hotel)
Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Agata Kulesza (Ida)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role: J.K. Simmons (Whiplash)

Best Original Screenplay: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller (The Lego Movie)

Best Adapted Screenplay: Damien Chazelle (Whiplash)