For 2014 (Top Ten)

 

    10. The Two Faces of January
 

UK Release: (16 May 2014)
Director: Hossein Amini
Writers: Hossein Amini (screenplay), Patricia Highsmith (novel)
Stars: Viggo Mortensen, Kirsten Dunst, Oscar Isaac

In the Two Faces of January Chester (Mortenson) and Rydal (Isaac) are as if engaged in a rather elongated and over-elaborate game of poker. Both are conmen in each their own way, each is unsure and untrusting of the others motives or true natures, however in this game the first to flinch might pay a heavy price. Set in Athens 1962 which serves as a glorious back drop to this thriller ‘Faces’ has more than just a little sense of reverence to a past and more glamorous era both in cinematic and stylistic sense.

    9. The Fault In Our Stars

UK Release:  (19 June 2014)
Director: Josh Boone
Writers: ScottNeustadter, Michael H. Weber, 
Stars: Shailene Woodley, AnselElgort, Nat Wolff

You would be hard pressed to find two better performances in the same film than those on offer from Shailene Woodley and AnselElgort in The Fault In Our Stars. It’s not only impressive that they are able to cope with the harshness of the subject matter concerning itself with teenage cancer and  mortality; but there is a genuine chemistry found between the pair which pulls you into their world, their plight, their romance. The set-up is simple the shy and unsuspecting Hazel (Woodley) meets the brash and confident Gus (Elgort) at a cancer support meeting for teenagers, despite initial differences the couple come to realise that they each make up what is missing from the other and hence make a whole as a pair. The film is tinged with enough emotion, insight and pain to leave you a weeping wailing mess by the end.   

 

8. Tracks

UK Release: (25 April 2014)
Director: John Curran
Writer: Marion Nelson (screenplay), Robyn Davidson (book)
Stars: Mia Wasikowska, Adam Driver, Lily Pearl

Tracks is tantamount to a bludgeoning of mind, body and soul as a misanthropic Mia Wasikowska braves 1700 miles of  punishing yet beautiful Australian terrain. Bringing to Robyn Davidson’s true life Camel driven odyssey to the screen Director John Curran makes this journey an internalised exploration of one’s self, the tangible threats greatly overshadowed by the enormity of task at hand and the manifestation of loneliness, doubt and fear.

7. Interstellar

UK Release: (7 November 2014)
Director: Christopher Nolan
Writers: Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain

Christopher Nolan’s epic space adventure is gargantuan in every conceivable way, ideas, visuals, sound and concept. Nolan has proven time and time again that his films are made with substance at the forefront and Interstellar is no exception. Science Fiction is as much about reflecting our past as it is about projecting the future, here the Earth is doomed; not by aliens or an impending asteroid collision but by the subtleties of famine and failing ecosystems of which we have suffered in recent and not so recent times.  To save the Earth or mankind Coop (McConaughey) leads a group of scientist to another galaxy to find new home for humanity. The dangers are not hostile life forms with ray guns, but are entities humanity has fought all of its existence such as space, time and gravity.

 

6. Blue Ruin

UK Release: (2 May 2014)
Director: Jeremy Saulnier
Writer: Jeremy Saulnier
Stars: Macon Blair, Devin Ratray, Amy Hargreaves

Blue Ruin is a film which starts where most others end, Jeremy Saulnier’s masterfully tense thriller is amongst other things an examination of the cyclical nature of vengeance and violence in American society. Macon Blair provides a superb central as the lead character Dwight who we find living a transitive and survivalist existence out of his eponymous shabby Blue vehicle. Dwight seeks out somebody from his past who has caused him harm but the question the film asks is after he finds what he is looking for.. What Then?

5. '71

UK Release: (10 October 2014)
Director: Yann Demange
Writer: Gregory Burke
Stars: Jack O'Connell, Sam Reid, Sean Harris

2014’s best kept secret came in the shape of Northern Ireland set Thriller ’71. French Director Yann Demange’s feature length debut is a blistering effort, filled with nerve shredding tension and heart pumping action. A young soldier (O’Connell)who is abandoned after his unit is ambushed must survive a night traversing the deadly Belfast streets where both the IRA and his unit race against each other to track him down.  The subtext of the piece is drawing parallels between each side of the conflict, both sides must deal with insubordination, underhanded tactics and internal conflict; all the time the film doesn’t preach or take sides but certainly pulls you into the furious action.

4. Pride

UK Release: (12 September 2014)
Director: Matthew Warchus
Writer: Stephen Beresford
Stars: Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Dominic West

Pride is a film about two tribes going to war on the same side against different opponents. The result is the year’s most life affirming and heart-warming film. The undeniable strength of Pride is a wonderful cast led by the Paddy Consadine whose character Dai may not have the most prominent role but certainly embodies the spirit of the movie as well as any other. Dai is the human bridge between his own Welsh mining community who are enduring the strikes of the films 1984 setting and the LGBT community who continue to endure hatred and bigotry. The result is  a larger than life odd couple story and the audience is left take in the blossoming friendships and discoveries both individually and collectively.

3. The Raid 2

UK Release: (11 April 2014)
Director:  Gareth Evans
Writer: Gareth Evans
Stars: Iko Uwais, Yayan Ruhian, Arifin Putra

Anyone wanting to watch the year’s best pure action extravaganza should look no further than Gareth Evans’ epic martial arts feast the Raid 2. Whilst the stunning first instalment was a sprint this is a comparative marathon. Sequels can fall apart because they resort to having to up the ante on its predecessor, this sequel works such escalation to perfection with everything from the writing, to the acting to the cinematography is amped up to perfection. The fight sequences couldn’t get any better so Evans gives us more of the same just buried within the guise of a Scorcese/departed-esque crime drama, Iko Uwais our returning hero is plunged into an undercover operation to infiltrate a pan-Asian crime syndicate which may have been responsible for his brother’s murder.

2. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

UK Release: (17 July 2014)
Director: Matt Reeves
Writers: Mark Bomback, Rick Jaffa,
Stars: Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, Andy Serkis

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes both embraces and defies the conventional summer Blockbuster cocktail, the film is the perfect blend of insight, art and social commentary. On the other hand the film ticks the necessary boxes by having an adhesive hero, a corrosive villain and  breath taking visuals; culminating in terrific spectacle. In a post-apocalyptic set-up Humans and Apes are forced to co-exist in order for them to both exists, however acceptance, peace and trust once again become elusive virtues for humanity and both species are doomed to fail themselves and each other in order to survive.

1. The Grand Budapest Hotel

UK Release: (7 March 2014)
Director: Wes Anderson
Writers: Stefan Zweig, Wes Anderson
Stars: Ralph Fiennes, F. Murray Abraham, Mathieu Amalric

Wes Anderson’s follow up to the joyous shenanigans of 2012’s Moonrise Kingdom is a crafty, crooked and crazy little caper. Ralph Fiennes dastardly hotelier Gustave H with a string of over aged lovers is bequeathed a priceless painting when one of them kicks the bucket. What ensues is a madcap game of cat and mouse captured with the usual Anderson off kilter gusto and verve. Aided by a superbly eclectic ensemble cast you won’t ever forget your stay at the Grand Budapest hotel.