The best movies of 2014

I don't know how to make top 10 lists like normal people so I just made a top 30 list instead. I can't decide if I liked Nymphomaniac or not so I just left it off. I also have not seen Selma, American Sniper, Unbroken, Fury or Still Alice.

30. Enemy
I didn't like Enemy as much as Prisoners, maybe the spider imagery was a bit much, and I wouldn't call it Jake Gyllenhaal's best work (see below) but I was certainly intrigued throughout, I liked how the story moved at a fast pace, and Jake gave 2 strong performances. Oh and I know it won't please everyone but I thought the ending was pretty awesome.

29. Palo Alto
Palo Alto is built out of familiar parts but it still manages to feel fresh somehow. Maybe it's due to Emma Roberts giving another excellent performance (same with Jack Kilmer and Nat Wolff), maybe it's Gia Coppola's assured direction, maybe I just related to it. But there's something about the movie that definitely hooked me in.

28. 22 Jump Street
I thought it sometimes got a bit too meta actually, but still a really funny film that never tries to be anything more than a fun summer comedy which is absolutely fine.

27. Snowpiercer
Snowpiercer's train car metaphors may be a bit too obvious but with its fluid and violent action scenes that don't rely on flashy effects, I didn't really care. It's an exciting movie and doesn't feel like it's holding anything back.

26. X-Men: Days of Future Past

The time travel logic might not make sense if you think about it, but I was having too much fun to think about it. Days of Future Past shows the X-men franchise at its finest. Still featuring great effects without resorting to the Man of Steel route of destroying EVERYTHING in sight, it also has the fantastic performances we've come to love but refreshingly has Hugh Jackman let some of the other actors take center stage this time.

25. Inherent Vice
I'm tempted to put this higher on the list. Inherent Vice is hard to rank because it's not really like anything else and thus is hard to properly compare to other movies. The plot is very, very confusing but the characters are well written and funny and Paul Thomas Anderson does a good job at immersing you into the film's universe. It does lack the emotional resonance of PTA's best work but it's still a really fun movie and features what could be Josh Brolin's best performance to date.

24. Obvious Child
It's a film I would never recommend to anyone who's pro-life but I thought it was really well-written, entertaining, and refreshingly straightforward. Jenny Slate did an amazing job and I hope we can see her in more lead roles.

23. Guardians of the Galaxy

Maybe it would be higher on the list for some people. I guess I didn't think it completely redefined action movies or anything, but it did have a talking raccoon with a gun killing people with a giant tree and that's all that really matters.

22. Edge of Tomorrow

The ending still doesn't make sense to me, but Edge of Tomorrow was so much fun throughout that I almost feel like it should be higher on the list. Tom Cruise proves that he can still do awesome action movies, Emily Blunt proves that she's more badass than Tom Cruise, and Bill Paxton has an accent from Kentucky. It doesn't get more fun than that. I was also shocked by how funny the film was. I'm glad the movie didn't take itself too seriously.

21. Interstellar
I feel like Interstellar was sometimes a bit too ambitious for its own good, but I still gotta appreciate it for being so ambitious. It's not Christopher Nolan's best film but the emotional resonance reminds me why he's such a good filmmaker.

20. The Drop
The plot might have a few too many questions left unanswered but it's actually kind of nice that the film doesn't spell everything out to the audience. The Drop also reminded me why Tom Hardy is such an amazing actor and also features a wonderful sendoff for the late great James Gandolfini, playing a character very different from Tony Soprano. It also deserves points for having one of the cutest dogs in film history.

19. A Most Wanted Man

It was a bit uncomfortable watching this film as its Phillip Seymour Hoffman's final leading role, but I'm glad that he went out on a high note. I don't mind a fast paced spy action blockbuster, but it's nice to see an old fashioned slow burn spy thriller with lots of moral ambiguities. The ending definitely sticks with you.

18. We Are the Best
Telling the story of three Swedish girls who form a Punk Rock band, We Are The Best manages to be nostalgic, sweet, and funny with an excellent soundtrack and great acting.

17. The Theory of Everything

It follows a pretty standard biopic format and probably doesn't focus enough on Stephen Hawking's work, but the film features two excellent performances from Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones who fully embody their characters and make you care for them.

16. The Lego Movie

There's nothing to say that hasn't been said. It's simply refreshing to see a film so consistently funny from beginning to end, even if I have mixed feelings about how the plot develops in the final 10 minutes. Definitely snubbed by the Oscars.

15. Calvary
Calvary reminds me once again that Brendan Gleeson is one of the best actors working today. Directed by John Michael McDonagh, this film is much darker than his previous film, The Guard, but just as compelling. It tackles a lot of weighty themes and features one of the most powerful endings of the year.

14. The Raid 2
The Raid 2 quickly separates itself from the first film due to its lack of...raids. But I appreciated that the movie wasn't just a rehash of the first film and manages to stand on its own 2 feet. In fact, I think it's better than the first one. It's not a groundbreaking story, but it's interesting enough to hold my attention for its 150 minute running time and features some of the most suspenseful and exciting action scenes I've ever seen.

13. Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Everyone likes talking about Guardians of the Galaxy but it's Captain America: The Winter Soldier that's really stuck with me. It's filled with amazing action setpieces, doesn't overwhelm the audience with CGI, and features a lot of thought provoking political commentary without hammering the audience over the head with it. A perfect blockbuster in my opinion.

12. Frank
On the surface, Frank seems like a silly comedy but with Michael Fassbender as the title character, it shouldn't surprise anyone that it's so much more than just that. Fassbender continues to prove his versatility as an actor and the film manages to deal with some darker themes without resorting to off putting tonal shifts. And you gotta love the music.

11. Wild
Wild features what is easily Reese Witherspoon's best performance since she won an Oscar 9 years ago for Walk the Line. Unlike Walk The Line, this film 100% belongs to Witherspoon and nobody else. She dominates every frame and allows us to root for Cheryl Strayed while not ignoring her flaws.

10. The Imitation Game

It was a bit hard to know what to think about The Imitation Game going into it. There's a very powerful (and angering) story to be told, but do we really need to see Benedict Cumberbatch play another eccentric and anti-social genius? But the film makes the most out of its emotional story, balancing Alan Turing's achievements and personal life quite well and allows Alan Turing to be wonderfully multi-faceted and not just Sherlock in WWII. Cumberbatch gave what could be his best performance to date, but I'm sure there will be plenty more strong work to come.

9. Blue Ruin

In spite of being funded on a Kickstarter, Blue Ruin's low budget never really showed. A non-flashy, straight to the point (deconstruction of) revenge film(s), Blue Ruin also features a wonderful and quiet performance from its lead actor Macon Blair and some of the most intense and suspenseful set pieces of the year, all grounded in a sense of reality.

8. Locke

Locke is a film about Tom Hardy in a car for 84 minutes talking to various people on the phone and it didn't bore me for a second. Tom Hardy continues to prove himself as one of the finest actors today with what could be his best performance to date. More than just that, it's a film with complex moral dilemmas that will stress out the viewer as much as the title character.

7. The Grand Budapest Hotel

I'm a big Wes Anderson fan and I think The Grand Budapest Hotel is his best film to date and it's a pleasant surprise to see the film get the love it's gotten from the Academy, especially when you consider how non Oscar baity it is. I had no idea Ralph Fiennes could be so funny. I always knew he was a great actor but I didn't think he had THAT much range. The directorial style and art direction make it obvious that it's a Wes Anderson film and there's nothing wrong with that in my opinion. Like his past work, it's a beauty to look it, very funny, and filled with wonderful ideas.

6. Nightcrawler

SNUBBED! I've said it before and I'll say it again. Jake Gyllenhaal was snubbed by the Oscars. In my mind, the competition for Best Actor should be between Michael Keaton and Jake Gyllenhaal. Instead it's between Michael Keaton and Eddie Redmayne and Gyllenhaal wasn't even nominated. A scene involving Gyllenhaal's character screaming at a mirror is highlighted in the trailers but his performance really shines due to the subtle moments, the scenes where his character Lou just doesn't seem to "get" basic morality. Besides Jake's great performance, there's the strong work from Rene Russo and Riz Ahmed and the film's brilliant commentary on both the media and the economy. A promising directorial debut from Dan Gilroy.              

5. Boyhood

You might just know Boyhood as that movie that was filmed over 12 years with that whiny teenager, but it felt like so much more than that. I guess I loved it because it drew me in so easily. I cared about Mason, I cared about his mother and father (played wonderfully by Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke), and I loved revisiting the early years of the 21st century. I loved the way it was straightforward and simple though I understand why that wouldn't appeal to some people. But I loved seeing this honest portrayal of growing up with no big moral messages or judgments to make. I guess I have a soft spot for something that feels so relatable and real.

4. Birdman

You might just know Birdman as that movie where Michael Keaton plays a character with similarities to himself or as that movie that appears to all be done in a single take, but like Boyhood, it felt like so much more than just the gimmicks on the surface. First off, Keaton's performance is absolutely terrific but so is everyone: Edward Norton, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts, Amy Ryan, Zack Galifinakis. It deftly switches between comedy and drama, has an amazing score, beautiful cinematography and tons of 3-dimensional characters. What's not to like?

3. Whiplash

In my review I described Whiplash as one of the most stressful films I've ever seen. It effortlessly puts you into the shoes of its protagonist and you feel like you're experiencing everything he is. Featuring two outstanding performances from Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons, Whiplash asks a lot of tough questions but trusts the audience enough to let them come to their own conclusions. Everyone involved with this film should have a bright future ahead of them.

2. Foxcatcher

Foxcatcher was supposed to came out last year before being unexpectedly delayed a day after the first teaser came out. As a fan of Bennett Miller and being fascinated by the film's true story, it soon became my most hyped film of 2014. While I've heard other people share their complaints, it's been called slow, pointless, silly etc., I just can't say I feel the same way. I thought Foxcatcher was brilliant in every way. Not a second felt wasted. Carell was wonderfully creepy, Channing Tatum deserved far more Oscar buzz, and Mark Ruffalo shows the beauty of subtle acting. From it's quiet opening to heated finale, Foxcatcher had my eyes glued to the screen and I'd rewatch it in an instant.

1. Gone Girl

David Fincher is my favorite contemporary director and Fight Club is my #1 favorite movie of all time so I hope I'm not too biased when I call Gone Girl my favorite movie of the year, but it's my favorite movie of the year. Ben Affleck gives his best performance to date and it's a crime that he didn't get any Oscar buzz. But the film belongs to Rosamund Pike. Her performance as Amy is one of the greatest performances in film history. This is by far one of the most fascinating films I've ever seen. More than just a dark stylish thriller, it's the story of a marriage. It deals with assumptions, deceit, the media, and gender roles and at 149 minutes, the film never drags. Like all of Fincher's films, it's beautifully shot and has an amazing score that gets your blood pumping. It's also a crime that Gillian Flynn (who also wrote the novel) didn't get a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination at the Oscars, because if there was any justice in the world, she would win. Destined to be controversial, Gone Girl is a film with so much more than on the surface and after nearly 4 months, I still haven't stopped thinking about it.


So yeah, that's my list. tl;dr

30. Enemy
29. Palo Alto
28. 22 Jump Street
27. Snowpiercer
26. X-men: Days of Future Past
25. Inherent Vice
24. Obvious Child
23. Guardians of the Galaxy
22. Edge of Tomorrow
21. Interstellar
20. The Drop
19. A Most Wanted Man
18. We Are the Best
17. The Theory of Everything
16. The Lego Movie
15. Calvary
14. The Raid 2
13. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
12. Frank
11. Wild
10. The Imitation Game
9. Blue Ruin
8. Locke
7. The Grand Budapest Hotel
6. Nightcrawler
5. Boyhood
4. Birdman
3. Whiplash
2. Foxcatcher
1. Gone Girl

Whiplash review

Damien Chazelle's sophomore effort Whiplash is by far one of the most stressful and uncomfortable films I've ever seen. The easiest comparison to make is that it's Full Metal Jacket in the world of Jazz musicians but the film is truly its own unique film. While Full Metal Jacket allows the audience to laugh at Gunnery Sergeant Hartman as he hurls hilarious insults at his military recruits, Whiplash creates unease as insults are hurled at our main protagonist. It's also one of the best films of the year, succeeding on basically all fronts with its exceptional acting, directing, editing, and music.

Whiplash stars Miles Teller as Andrew Neiman, a 19 year old Jazz drummer who aspires to be "one of the greats" and attends Shaffer, a prestigious music college in New York City. He finds himself under the "mentorship" of Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), the conductor of Shaffer's Jazz Orchestra. However, this is no ordinary music school as Fletcher has no issue with manipulating and abusing his students which he justifies as pushing them beyond their limits.

Miles Teller in Whiplash

The performances are basically driven by Teller and Simmons as all of the other characters basically serve only as foils. Teller appears in nearly every frame and absolutely delivers, proving he can play far more than just confident frat-boys. The physical acting is especially impressive as Teller allows his stress and anxiety to translate to the audience. While it has been a strong year for leading actors, it's too bad that Miles Teller didn't get more Oscar buzz.

J.K. Simmons in Whiplash

J.K. Simmons can be easily compared to R. Lee Ermey's performance in Full Metal Jacket, except it's better. It was a legitimately frightening performance filled with rage that never felt over the top. But the best scenes might be the scenes where he puts on a friendly persona, making his true colors all the more confusing to the audience and allows him to be more than just an angry caricature.

Perhaps Whiplash simply resonated with me so much because I can relate to Neiman, at least in some ways. I'm no Jazz musician, but I am a 19 year old College freshman who likes to dream big and would love to be "one of the greats". The film definitely caused me to examine my own situation and wonder what it would take and if it would be worth it.

That's why Whiplash is such a compelling film. It's far more complex than just a story about a kid who wants to be a Jazz drummer and practices a lot. It asks thought provoking questions like "How far is too far?" and "At what cost is being one of the greats?" Fletcher dishes out more than just tough love as he has no problem with hurling not only insults at his students' music abilities but uncomfortably personal territory about the students themselves. In Fletcher's mind, there are no limits, but is that really true?

The ending feels a bit abrupt and certainly left me yearning for me but that just goes to show how I was never bored for even a second while watching this film. Whiplash is a film with intensity that never lets up from the first yelling scene. It's by far one of the most immersive films I've ever seen. It's the kind of film that makes your heart beat faster. It's easily one of the best films of the year and I can't wait to see what Damien Chazelle brings us next.

5/5

By Alex Bauman

So how were the Oscar nominations?

Bleh.

Let's get right down to it.

Best Actor

Steve Carell- Foxcatcher

Bradley Cooper- American Sniper

Benedict Cumberbatch- The Imitation Game

Michael Keaton- Birdman

Eddie Redmayne- The Theory of Everything.

Jake Gyllenhaal didn't get an Oscar nomination for his tour de force performance in Nightcrawler, despite it being the best performance of his career. Instead Bradley Cooper got in for American Sniper. I should have known that Eastwood making his first (allegedly) non mediocre film in years would have benefits. I guess I just question if we truly needed a Chris Kyle movie in the first place, since he was kind of an asshole, but I should probably see the movie before judging. I still think Gyllenhaal should have been a contender for WINNING. Hell, you can even keep Cooper and move Carell to Supporting actor if that's how it's gotta be, but there's no excuse for not nominating Jake! Hell, you could even replace Bradley Cooper with Ralph Fiennes for Grand Budapest Hotel. But seriously, I'm going to overhype Gyllenhaal's performance right now. It ranks up their with Robert De Niro in Taxi Driver. That's right! Taxi Driver. It's one of the greatest performances of all time and no Oscar snub is going to change that. Now do yourself a favor and see Jake Gyllenhaal in Nightcrawler. He's never given such a commanding performance.

Jake Gyllenhaal snubbed for Nightcrawler

Bradley Cooper squeezing his way in for American Sniper

Best Actress

Marion Cotillard- Two Days, One Night

Felicity Jones- The Theory of Everything

Julianne Moore- Still Alice

Rosamund Pike- Gone Girl

Reese Witherspoon- Wild

Marion Cotillard in Two Days, One Night

This was surprising but I'm okay with this. I haven't seen Two Days, One Night yet but I love Marion Cotillard and everyone who's seen it was hoping against hope that she was nominated. I knew Aniston was in danger but I figured Amy Adams would be the replacement. I hope the awards hype will encourage Jennifer Aniston to do more serious roles (like The Good Girl) even though she didn't get in. But all that really matters is that my gone girl (get it, hahahahah) Rosamund Pike got in. We love you, Amazing Amy. If you haven't seen Gone Girl, go see it now and you'll understand how amazing Rosamund Pike truly is.

Rosamund Pike: the face of perfection

Best Supporting Actor

Robert Duvall- The Judge

Ethan Hawke- Boyhood

Edward Norton- Birdman

Mark Ruffalo- Foxcatcher

J.K. Simmons- Whiplash

Robert Duvall, the filler slot

Well, it's the exact same thing as SAG and the Golden Globes. Only Duvall's nomination was in the air since it was a film that nobody liked and nobody saw. But he somehow made it in regardless. Though it's not a surprise, it's nice seeing Ethan Hawke get his first acting nomination in 13 years and Edward Norton's first in 16 years. And I'm glad Mark Ruffalo continues to get more recognition. I would have been happy seeing Josh Brolin getting in instead of Duvall or Steve Carell getting a supporting nomination for Foxcatcher instead of leading (making room for Jake Gyllenhaal or Ralph Fiennes). But deserved or not, I suppose it's nice that Robert Duvall is getting what could very well be his final nomination since he's 84 now. I just question how deserved it really is.

Josh Brolin's underrated performance in Inherent Vice

Best Supporting Actress

Patricia Arquette- Boyhood

Laura Dern- Wild

Keira Knightley- The Imitation Game

Emma Stone- Birdman

Meryl Streep- Into the Woods

So in news that surprises no one, Meryl Streep gets her 19th Oscar nomination but as a fun fact, this is only her 4th time being nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category, so that's something.

Rene Russo in Nightcrawler

In news that is surprising, Laura Dern got nominated for Wild over Jessica Chastain for A Most Violent Year and Rene Russo in Nightcrawler. My love for Nightcrawler had me pulling for Rene Russo who hasn't had a performance this good in years and at 60 years old, would have gotten her first Oscar nomination.. I mean Laura Dern was pretty good so I'm not upset over this but I would have preferred Russo.

Best Picture

American Sniper

Birdman

Boyhood

Grand Budapest Hotel

The Imitation Game

Selma

The Theory of Everything

Whiplash

Whiplash's poster, highlighting the critical acclaim

So the Academy did 8 instead of 9 this year, huh? Alright then. I understand the reason for making it between 5 and 10, that way filler nominees don't get in, but I almost wish it would just be 10. I'd be totally fine with seeing films like Gone Girl, Foxcatcher and Nightcrawler get Best Picture nominations if it meant a few not quite as deserving films had to be nominated alongside them.

By the way, it's quite a surprise that none of those three got in. I at least thought Foxcatcher got a shot since it got a directing nom (see below). Selma's nod is strange since it only got one other nomination (for best original song). And American Sniper got in which isn't really a surprise anymore since it suddenly built up momentum in the last couple of weeks. But Whiplash got nominated so that's pretty awesome. For a time, I thought it was only going to get away with a Best Supporting Actor nod but it got 5 nominations.

A lot of articles are STILL mentioning how Unbroken got snubbed even though it stopped being a contender the second it got a 50% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Come on, it's over. Go home.

Nightcrawler's poster, also highlighting the critical acclaim

Best Director

Wes Anderson- The Grand Budapest Hotel

Alejandro González Iñárritu- Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Richard Linklater- Boyhood

Bennett Miller- Foxcatcher

Morten Tyldum- The Imitation Game

Well this was weird. Bennett Miller got a nomination but his film wasn't nominated for Best Picture. While that's happened before, it's never happened since the best picture nominee number got increased. It's too bad since Miller was so close to being the first director to have his first 3 films nominated for best picture. Still, I'm happy he got in, since I figured Ava Duvernay or Clint Eastwood would take that fifth slot.

Wes Anderson got his first directing nomination for a very non-Oscar baity film so that's awesome. Tyldum got nominated for The Imitation Game which is cool but I would have preferred seeing David Fincher get nominated for his amazing work in Gone Girl or even Dan Gilroy for Nightcrawler (not that he was ever a contender).

Best Original Screenplay

Birdman

Boyhood

Foxcatcher

Grand Budapest Hotel

Nightcrawler

No real surprises here but I'm glad Nightcrawler was included.

Best Adapted Screenplay

American Sniper

The Imitation Game

Inherent Vice

The Theory of Everything

Whiplash

Inherent Vice getting in over Gone Girl was surprising, a film I personally would have picked to win the Oscar. But it's cool that Paul Thomas Anderson gets his 6th Oscar nomination. I just can't believe Gone Girl didn't get in. I would have replaced ANY of those films for Gone Girl.

Best Original Score

The Grand Budapest Hotel- Alexandre Desplat

The Imitation Game- Alexadre Desplat

Interstellar- Hans Zimmer

Mr. Turner- Gary Yershon

The Theory of Everything- Johann Johannsson

Hey, where the hell is Gone Girl? To the Academy's credit, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross won for The Social Network but then they weren't even nominated for their equally strong score in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and now they've been snubbed for Gone Girl. Just listen to it.

But on the positive side, Mr. Turner's score got nominated which shows how a movie with very little Oscar buzz can still have it's technical merits recognized by the Academy.

Oh and The Lego Movie wasn't even nominated for Best Animated Feature. What's up with that???

So yeah, these weren't too bad, I guess. Actually in a lot of ways, they were pretty good, but the Nightcrawler and Gone Girl snubs are enough to make me really upset. Some might say that award shows are stupid and don't matter and they're kinda right but I still disagree. Award shows bring attention to great movies. I doubt I would have seen A Better Life if its lead actor Demian Bichir didn't get a surprise Oscar nomination, but I'm really happy I did. Many more people will probably see Two Days, One Night now. If Nightcrawler got more recognition, like a Best Actor nomination, I'm certain it would have gotten a lot more attention to make up for its not very impressive box office performance. So that's why I'm upset. The award itself is nice and all but it's the power the award has that matters. So regardless of its number of oscar nominations, go see Nightcrawler and Gone Girl. Just do it.

Inherent Vice review

Inherent Vice is a hard film to review because it's a hard film to understand. It does feel...different from past Paul Thomas Anderson works for better or for worse. It's a film I enjoyed for what it was, but I can't help but wonder if it could have been more.

Inherent Vice stars Joaquin Phoenix as Doc Sportella, a private investigator and hippie stoner in Los Angeles. Long story short, he ends up investigating the disappearance of Mickey Wolfman, a prominent real estate developer and the lover of his ex-girlfriend Shasta Fay (Katherine Waterston). He ends up encountering a variety of crazy characters including corrupt cops, neo-nazis, mysterious drug cartels and dentists along the way. If that confuses you, I can't say that it makes a ton more sense in context.

Inherent Vice's reception has been fairly divisive but the closest thing to a consensus I've heard is that the plot gets confusing really quickly but you just kind of have to go with the flow and enjoy the ride. I basically agree with that consensus. About 45 minutes into the 148 minute film, I stopped trying to figure out what was going on. It's a very layered and dense plot but I do think I'd get some value out of watching it again. And in a way, the confusing plot almost kind of works. As you give up trying to figure out how all of the conspiracies connect and how everyone is involved, it's almost like a crazy trip which is sorta fitting since the main character is a hippie stoner.

The film still works thanks to its characters. Joaquin Phoenix continues to impress. It's amazing that this is his second outing with Paul Thomas Anderson considering how different his performance was in The Master. It's a very fun and energetic performance but it never feels like he's trying too hard. Katherine Waterston is also excellent as Shasta Fay, one scene in particular really sold me on her future as an actress. Martin Short has a wonderful bit part that had the whole theater laughing. Owen Wilson and Reese Witherspoon got the job done while Benicio Del Toro and especially Michael K. Williams felt underused.

But this film belongs to Josh Brolin, the hippie hating LAPD detective. Brolin stole every scene he was in whether it be kicking a hippie while he's down or yelling in Japanese at a restaurant. It's a performance that I think deserves serious consideration for a Best Supporting Actor nomination and could be Brolin's best performance to date. There's one scene in particular that I'll never forget. I don't want to give any details away as to what happens except I'll say the entire audience was cackling. I had no idea Brolin could be so funny.

Josh Brolin

Paul Thomas Anderson is one of my favorite directors, though this is definitely one of his weaker efforts. I feel like his other movies have more of a moral or takeaway of some kind while this was more just entertainment (albeit very unusual entertainment). That's not a bad thing but it's not what I expected from him, I guess. But this film looks just as beautiful as his other movies. The Costume design and makeup and hairstyling also deserves Oscar consideration in my opinion.

Inherent Vice isn't the perfect PTA outing but I certainly don't regret watching it and I wouldn't mind watching it again to see if I could grasp more of the plot. Go into it knowing that you might not completely "get it" and you'll have a good time. Perhaps my opinion will change on a rewatch.

Rating: 4/5

Foxcatcher Review

Foxcatcher...I've been waiting for Foxcatcher for over a year and I am so glad that it was worth it. It's been a great year for movies but Foxcatcher might be my favorite of the year. It's a true experience. Arguably a really dark deconstruction of The American Dream, Foxcatcher is weird, creepy, and often disturbing but never at the expense of the compelling story.

For those who don't know the plot, I'll give a quick synopsis. It's the last 1980s and Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) is an Olympic Gold wrestler though he's frequently lived in the shadow of his brother, Dave (Mark Ruffalo), also an Olympic Gold wrestler. Mark is taken in by Jon du Pont (Steve Carell), a millionaire wrestling enthusiast. du Pont has issues to say the least and a very strange relationship begins between the two.

Lets talk about the acting, though it's hard to add much new to the already praised performances. Steve Carell will hopefully have a bright future ahead of him now as a serious film actor. It's such a bizarre performance since Dupont is such a bizarre character but Carell drew me in from the start. The image of the goofy Michael Scott, the goodhearted Andy Stitzer, even the depressed Frank Ginsberg, were all gone. Jon DuPont was stuck in my head and he was the only thing that I saw. It's a shame he's no longer an Oscar frontrunner.

And it turns out Channing Tatum can act! Who knew? While he did prove himself to be a good comedic actor in 21 Jump Street, I still had my doubts about him as a serious actor especially after seeing films like Dear John. I'm glad I was proved wrong. It was definitely a risk casting him but it clearly paid off. His performance is a  wonderful mix of intensity and innocence/naivete.

I wasn't sure what to expect from Ruffalo. I knew his performance was acclaimed but he was a lot less highlighted in the trailers. Well, I've considered Ruffalo to be a pretty reliable actor since Zodiac and I'm standing by that statement. He definitely deserves a second Oscar nomination. It's a wonderfully subtle and non-flashy performance delivered with the perfect amount of nuance. The scene where he's being interviewed on camera should win the Academy voters.

Vanessa Redgrave also deserves an honorable mention. She has less than 10 minutes of screentime and only speaks in one scene but she did an amazing job. But it's Vanessa Redgrave so that shouldn't really surprise anyone.

Bennett Miller has now officially become one of my favorite directors. I feel he's made 3 masterpieces with Capote, Moneyball, and now Foxcatcher. Foxcatcher is definitely the best of the three.

My only real complaint is that there's a scene near the end where the film jumps forward several years. At least it jumps several years forward in real life. The film gives little indication that that much time has passed. There's no real reason for the movie to not include a title card to make things more clear for the audience.

Regardless, Foxcatcher was one of the most engaging movies of the year. I'm surprised that some people have found it slow or boring. Sure, it's not exactly fast paced but I was intrigued by the twisted relationship between Jon DuPont and Mark Schultz from their opening scene.

Overall rating: 5/5