On the Top Ten of 2014

2014’s is a homogeneous list, British and American. This is not because foreign language cinema was not competitive, but simply because they were not seen. Films such as Ida, Leviathan, Winter Sleep and Goodbye to Language have been fantastically received and would likely be here. Maybe in 2015.

  

The number one spot was tight. Both films are inventive, emotional, challenging films, but Boyhood pips Birdman to the post, as its achievement is unique. Firstly in its twelve-year shoot, but also it appears to be universally adored, perhaps because it speaks to so many people. It would likely top the list any year.

As with last year, there are none of the larger budget films (Interstellar didn’t impress as one may have hoped), but unlike last year, none even came close. The blockbuster is a dying art and even though Christopher Nolan may not have made another Inception (2010), at least he is trying to do something with the form. Everyone else seems happy to follow the boring blockbuster blueprint. Although, Guardians of the Galaxy should be mentioned, not for breaking from the blueprint, but for having fun with it.

The list may represent only a small section of the filmmaking world, but these are all quality pieces of work, representing a nice mix of established filmmakers producing great work after years in the business and some new filmmakers making their stand. 

1.     Boyhood (dir. Richard Linklater)

2.     Birdman (or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (dir. Alejandro González Iñárritu)

3.     Dallas Buyers Club (dir. Jean-Marc Vallee)

4.     Her (dir. Spike Jonze)

5.     Inside Llewyn Davis (dir. Ethan Coen and Joel Coen)

6.     The Double (dir. Richard Ayoade)

7.     Frank (dir. Lenny Abrahamson)

8.     The Grand Budapest Hotel (dir. Wes Anderson)

9.     The Wolf of Wall Street (dir. Martin Scorsese)

10. Nightcrawler (dir. Dan Gilroy)