LeapBackBlog 2014 Film Awards

2014 was such a great year for movies. Putting together my top 25 lists was very difficult (and it is impossible to see every film and every performance). Here are lists of my favorites from the year. I have put an “*” next to the best (or, at least, what I think is the best) film, performance and artistic/technical/aesthetic achievement in each category.

Favorite 25 Films of 2014

Birdman, a character dramedy directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarrutu – Trailer

Boyhood, a coming-of-age drama directed by Richard Linklater – Trailer

Calvary, a character drama directed by John Michael McDonagh – Trailer

Captain America: The Winter Soldier, an action adventure directed by Anthony & Joe Russo – Trailer

Edge of Tomorrow, a sci-fi action adventure directed by Doug Liman – Trailer

The Fault in Our Stars, a teen romantic drama directed by Josh Boone – Trailer

Foxcatcher, a character drama directed by Bennett Miller – Trailer

Fury, a WWII action drama directed by David Ayer – Trailer

The Grand Budapest Hotel, a mystery comedy directed by Wes Anderson - Trailer

Gone Girl, a mystery thriller directed by David Fincher – Trailer

Guardians of the Galaxy, a sci-fi action adventure directed by James Gunn – Trailer

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, a fantasy action adventure directed by Peter Jackson – Trailer

The Imitation Game, a biographical WWII character drama directed by Morten Tyldum - Trailer

Intersteller*, a sci-fi action adventure drama directed by Christopher Nolan - Trailer

Into the Woods, a musical fantasy drama directed by Rob Marshall - Trailer

The Lego Movie, an animated action comedy directed by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller – Trailer

A Most Violent Year, a period crime drama directed by J.C. Chandor – Trailer

The Normal Heart, a period drama directed by Ryan Murphy – Trailer

Pride, a period drama directed by Matthew Warchus – Trailer

The Raid 2, a martial arts action adventure directed by Gareth Evans – Trailer

Selma, a period drama directed by Ava DuVernay – Trailer

The Theory of Everything, a biographical period character drama directed by James Marsh – Trailer

Unbroken, a WWII biographical character drama directed by Angelina Jolie – Trailer

Whiplash, a character drama directed by Damien Chazelle – Trailer

Wild, a character drama directed by Jean-Marc Vallee – Trailer

Favorite 25 Performances of 2014

Ben Affleck, a leading performance in Gone Girl

Emily Blunt, a leading performance in Into the Woods

Jessica Chastain, a supporting performance in A Most Violent Year

Carrie Coon, a supporting performance in Gone Girl

Marion Cotillard, a leading performance in Two Days, One Night

Benedict Cumberbatch, a leading performance in The Imitation Game

Ralph Fiennes, a leading performance in The Grand Budapest Hotel

Brendan Gleeson, a leading performance in Calvary

Oscar Isaac, a leading performance in A Most Violent Year

Felicity Jones, a leading performance in The Theory of Everything

Keira Knightley, a leading performance in Begin Again

Keira Knightley*, a supporting performance in The Imitation Game

Matthew McConaughey, a leading performance in Interstellar

Edward Norton*, a supporting performance in Birdman

David Oyelowo, a leading performance in Selma

Rosamund Pike*, a leading performance in Gone Girl

Chris Pine, a supporting performance in Into the Woods

Eddie Redmayne*, a leading performance in The Theory of Everything

Mark Ruffalo, a supporting performance in Foxcatcher

Jenny Slate, a leading performance in Obvious Child

Emma Stone, a supporting performance in Birdman

Miles Teller, a leading performance in Whiplash

Reese Witherspoon, a leading performance in Wild

Shailene Woodley, a leading performance in The Fault in Our Stars

Favorite 25 Artistic, Technical & Aesthetic Achievements

Wes Anderson, the director of The Grand Budapest Hotel

Donald Graham Burt, the production designer of Gone Girl

Damien Chazelle, the director of Whiplash

Jeff Cronenweth, the cinematographer of Gone Girl

Nathan Crowley, the production designer of Interstellar

Roger Deakins, the cinematographer of Unbroken

Alexandre Desplat, the composer of Godzilla

Alexandre Desplat, the composer of The Grand Budapest Hotel

Alexandre Desplat, the composer of The Imitation Game

Maria Djurkovic, the production designer of The Imitation Game

David Fincher, the director of Gone Girl

Hoyte Van Hoytema, the cinematographer of Interstellar

Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, the director of Birdman

Johann Johannsson, the composer of The Theory of Everything

Ryszard Lenczewski & Lukasz Zal, the cinematographers of Ida

Richard Linklater, the director of Boyhood

Emmanuel Lubezki*, the cinematographer of Birdman

Seamus McGarvey, the cinematographer of Godzilla

Christopher Nolan*, the director of Interstellar

Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, the composers of Gone Girl

Adam Stockhausen*, the production designer of The Grand Budapest Hotel

Charles Wood, the production designer of Guardians of the Galaxy

Robert D. Yeoman, the cinematographer of The Grand Budapest Hotel

Hans Zimmer*, the composer of Interstellar

A Few More Fun, Entertaining and Interesting Films You Might Have Missed from 2014

Begin Again, a musical romance drama directed by John Carney – Trailer

Enemy, a mystery thriller directed by Denis Villeneuve – Trailer

Fort Bliss, a character drama directed by Claudia Myers – Trailer

The Guest, a horror thriller directed by Adam Wingard - Trailer

In Your Eyes, a sci-fi romance directed by Brin Hill – Trailer

Laggies, a character dramedy directed by Lynn Shelton – Trailer

Locke, a drama thriller directed by Steven Knight - Trailer

Obvious Child, a dramedy directed by Gillian Robspierre - Trailer

The Skeleton Twins, a character drama directed by Craig Johnson – Trailer

What If, a romantic comedy directed by Michael Dowse - Trailer

A Few More Wonderful and Under-Heralded Performances that I also Loved

Rose Byrne, a leading performance in Neighbors

Kim Dickens, a supporting performance in Gone Girl

Michael Fassbender, a leading performance in Frank

David Gyasi, a supporting performance in Interstellar

Bill Hader, a leading performance in The Skeleton Twins

Tom Hardy, a leading performance in Locke

Michelle Monaghan, a leading performance in Fort Bliss

Joaquin Phoenix, a leading performance in The Immigrant

Tilda Swinton, a supporting performance in Snowpiercer

Kristen Wiig, a leading performance in The Skeleton Twins

Good Films I Have Yet to See (that probably would have factored into the above lists)

The Babadock, a horror thriller directed by Jennifer Kent – Trailer

Force Majeure, a drama directed by Ruben Ostlund – Trailer

Mr. Turner, a period character drama directed by Mike Leigh – Trailer

Nightcrawler, a drama thriller directed by Dan Gilroy – Trailer

Starred Up, a crime drama directed by David Mackenzie – Trailer

The Imitation Game (2014) – Review

Review: The Imitation Game is an excellent look at a brilliant man who made enormous contributions to our free world only to be tragically brought down by hatred, fear and intolerance (and then subsequently forgotten in time).

The film is about Alan Turing, a mathematician and logician who is worked with the British armed forces and MI6 decoding the German Enigma machine, thereby giving the allies a great advantage during WWII (and saving millions of lives, if not the world). More specifically, the film is split into three sections. One that looks at Turing during boarding school as a teenager and a key relationship that shaped his life. Another that looks at Turing’s time at Bletchley Park, cracking the code with his team that included Joan Clarke and Hugh Alexander. And the third that looks at Turing’s life a few years later when it comes out that he is a homosexual to the public. He is given a choice: prison or chemical castration, as his sexual orientation was illegal under British law. He decides to take the drugs, fearing he will not be able to do his work in prison.

The Imitation Game works very well on multiple levels. Chiefly, it is an excellent character drama about an outsider trying to find his place in a society that does not seem to want him, built around the fantastic performances, especially from the film’s leads. It also plays very well as a WWII thriller, as the team works against the clock to break the code, directly contributing to the allies winning the war in Europe.

Director Morten Tyldum does a good job with both these aspects of the narrative. The character work, in particular, is quite powerful. Tyldum, along with the actors, does a very good job ingratiating the characters. The audience cares deeply about Turing (and Clarke) and wants to see him succeed. Tyldum has a difficult job, actually, with making Turing likable. For starters, he is an outsider who seems arrogant and unsociable. Plus, the audience has likely never heard of him despite his considerable contribution to the war effort and math. There is no built-in appeal; thus, the likability of the character falls completely on the performance and narrative. To this end, the performance is wonderful and Tyldum caters the narrative to make Turing also appear very vulnerable, allowing the audience to side with him. Turing resonates because the narrative and performance allow him to emote and showcase his feelings. The audience understands him and what he wants and thus sides with him.

Tyldum also uses the narrative to create supporting characters to promote Turing as well. Clarke is incredibly likable, as is Alexander. Clarke likes Turing almost right off the bat (and seeing him give her a chance, recognizing his own life struggles in her situation, also endears him to the audience) and Alexander comes around. They are likable and they support and like Turing, which subconsciously also allows the audience to like Turing (because they like Clarke and Alexander). Tyldum creates a great personal villain for Turing in Commander Denniston as well (though, how much of this is based in reality is unknown; but in terms of him being an antagonist for Turing, he works well). Denniston is so dismissive of Turing, seeming to have a personal vendetta against him that by nature the audience takes Turing’s side. It also helps that Turing is balking in the face of authority. That is a very relatable reaction in all of us (whether we get to express it as much as we want to or not).

With great characters established, Tyldum turns his attention to cracking the Engima for much of the second act. The film then becomes as much a thriller as a character piece. Tyldum excels here. The film is gripping and paced very well. Turing and his (ragtag) team (of sorts) work against the clock (both the very real one – as more British soldiers die each day fighting the Germans and the narrative one, as Denniston wants to shut down Turing and his project – a machine he is building to crack the code). Here, Tyldum turns the film into a basic puzzle solving thriller, hitting all the right narrative beats.

Through the first two acts, The Imitation Game could be taken as a feel-good character drama, but the third act reveals it as a tragedy. Turing did solve the Enigma machine and he did aid the allies in winning the war maybe more so than any other individual. Yet, his story is ultimately a very sad one. Turing’s story becomes all the more important and socially relevant today because of what he faced in his personal life.

In the early 1950s he was chemically castrated by the British Government; and subsequently, he committed suicide a few years later while self-administrating the pills designed to take away his homosexual urges. Even today in Britain and America, far too many gay and lesbian people are not given equal rights, harassed and told that they are less because of their sexual orientation. Turing, by all accounts, was a war hero and yet that did not change anyone’s mind about humiliating him and destroying his life (the Queen of England did not even pardon him until 2013!!!). Over sixty years later, things seem to be getting better, but the fact that we still do not have equal rights for all people is just sad. And, with the radicalization of the Republican party here in America (to be honest, Republicans are not really Republicans anymore; what the Republican party stands for has been warped and shifted so far to the right that I cannot believe that Republicans even want to be associated with the utter hatefulness and ignorance of the party today; it is disgusting – but not to digress too much), there is fear that maybe there is a social shift away from progress (a shift away from a world of equality and tolerance – you know things that America stands for, yet not enough people actually practice). Turing’s story is yet another rallying cry against hate, fear and prejudice – a rallying cry for personal and social freedom to be the people we are. Imagine what Turing could have accomplished in a world that fully accepted him.

The third act is emotionally effective, as Tyldum showcases the downfall of Turing as a result of taking his mandated pills. He becomes a shadow of his former self. Tyldum also uses Clarke very effectively here as well. Seeing her reaction to the state of Turing makes the emotional resonance of the drama all the more powerful.

The Imitation Game is a brilliant film. Alan Turing is a figure who we should all know about – his contribution to the world and the tragedy of his story. Tyldum balances the different narrative goals of the film very well, making a film that is compelling in every regard.

Technical, aesthetic & acting achievements: Morten Tyldum became a much in-demand director with the breakout success internationally of his great thriller Headhunters. The Imitation Game is his first English-language film. I think it is even better. Tyldum has a knack for both character and narrative. I look forward to his future films.

Aesthetically, The Imitation Game is beautifully put together. Alexandre Desplat’s score is wonderful, capturing both the gravity of Britain at war and the tension of desperately trying to solve the Enigma machine puzzle as well as the jovial spirit of scientific discovery shared between the people working to crack the code. It is a playful yet moving score. Desplat, again, has given us many of the film’s best music this year (also scoring Unbroken, Godzilla and The Grand Budapest Hotel). Oscar Faura’s cinematography is great as well. The drastic visual difference between Turing’s WWII years and the years after, the muted color palate in the latter, exemplifies the tragedy of his story. Maria Djurkovic’s production design is very good too. The film looks and feels very natural, even though it is a period piece. Her set design also showcases Turing begin shunned by society through his apartment in the years after WWII. It is a cluttered mess.

The cast is fantastic. Tuppence Middleton, Mark Strong, Charles Dance, Allen Leech, and Rory Kinnear are all very good in small supporting roles. Matthew Goode is also very good in a small supporting role as Hugh Alexander (the multiple British chess champion and part of Turing’s team). Goode is wonderfully good at playing charming characters and Alexander is no different. His performance is quite endearing and goes a long way to making Turing likable. Alex Lawther is quite good as Turing as a teenager. He is able to convey the emotional turmoil that shaped Turing, which is a key narrative component to the film as a whole. Keira Knightley is wonderful as Joan Clarke. She brings a lot of energy and charm to a film dominated by male characters. She lights up all of her scenes and she has brilliant chemistry with Benedict Cumberbatch. In a year in which she has had four films come out in theaters (Jack Ryan, Begin Again and Laggies being the other three), she has given an array of great performances, but her work in The Imitation Game is her best of the year. She looks utterly heartbroken when she finds Turing a man crippled by the drugs he is forced to take and the knowledge that society does not accept him. Her performance in this moment breaks the hearts of the audience as well. Cumberbatch is spellbinding as Turing. He perfectly captures the conflict of being utterly brilliant but having a tough time socializing (to some extent, his work on Sherlock does inform his performance here, as they are similarly stylized characters). Cumberbatch captures Turing’s heroism and pain as well. He has the courage to think of the greater good when most of us would be selfish. To see him broken in the end, it is tragic.

Summary & score: The Imitation Game is simply a biopic, telling the story of a remarkable man – however Alan Turing’s story is not just about how he saved the world, it is also about how our ‘civilized’ world destroyed him because it perceived him as being different. His story is a cry for change – change we are still fighting for. 9/10

At the Movies – November 2014 – Part 3: Most Anticipated Films

Must-See of the Month:

Interstellar – Adventure/Sci-Fi – Nov 7 (Nov 5, projected on 70mm IMAX film only)

Plot Summary: The Earth is dying. Humanity’s only hope lies beyond our universe. A group of explorers/astronauts set out on a mission of discovery through a newly found wormhole, allowing them to surpass the limitations of human space travel. They must find Earth’s salvation and make it back in time to save those they left behind. Key Filmmakers Involved: Writer-director-producer Christopher Nolan, writer Jonathan Nolan, producer Emma Thomas, theoretical physicist and executive producer Kip Thorne, cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema, editor Lee Smith, composer Hans Zimmer, and production designer Nathan Crowley. Actors Involved: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Michael Caine, Wes Bentley, Casey Affleck, Mackenzie Foy, Topher Grace, Ellen Burstyn, John Lithgow, and David Oyelowo. Quality Potential: Very High. Christopher Nolan is our greatest current blockbuster filmmaker. His films (like: The Prestige, The Dark Knight Trilogy and Inception) are incredible. Interstellar might be his best yet. He is again working with his frequent collaborators, only Hoyte Van Hoytema is new to the team, replacing Wally Pfister who is off directing features now. He has also again put together a brilliant cast. Interstellar will likely be 2014’s best film and a strong Oscar contender. Nolan’s use of IMAX’s 70mm film stock gives the film such a grand visual scale. It is stunning. Theoretical physicist Kip Thorne also working on the film’s story and serving as the science advisor gives everything an extra level of credibility (something somewhat lacking in Alfonso Cuaron’s wonderful space thriller Gravity). I think Interstellar has the potential to be 2014’s best film. Go see it November 5^th-6^th projected on IMAX film and then go again when it opens wide on the 7^th projected digitally. Trailer: Here.

Worth Checking Out:

Foxcatcher – Biographical Drama/Thriller – Nov 14

Plot Summary: Mark Schultz and his older brother Dave were both Olympic wrestlers. Millionaire John du Pont took a special interest in Mark, sponsoring his training and coaching him; however, his relationship with the Schultz brothers would lead to dark places. This is based on the true story. Key Filmmakers Involved: Director-producer Bennett Miller, producer Megan Ellison, cinematographer Greig Fraser, and production designer Jess Gonchor. Actors Involved: Channing Tatum, Steve Carell, Sienna Miller, Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Michael Hall, and Vanessa Redgrave. Quality Potential: High. Brilliant director Bennett Miller makes his third feature film with Foxcatcher (his first two are Capote and Moneyball). He is known for garnering wonderful performances, and Foxcatcher seems no different. Channing Tatum, Steve Carell and Mark Ruffalo are all getting lots of Oscar buzz for their work in the film (especially Carell). It looks like it will be a fantastic character drama, built on very strong performances. Trailer: Here.

The Imitation Game – Biographical Drama/War Thriller – Nov 21

Plot Summary: English mathematician and logician Alan Turing proved to be one of the most important minds of the last century. He and his team broke the Nazi Enigma code, allowing the allies to finally decrypt their communication messages – paramount to the allies turning the tide and winning the war. Yet, Turing was also persecuted for his sexual orientation and chemically castrated. He committed suicide. He was a hero, destroyed by an intolerant government. His story is just as important today as ever. We still face intolerance, ignorance and worse. This is based on the true story of Turing’s life. Key Filmmakers Involved: Director Morten Tyldum, composer Alexandre Desplat, cinematographer Oscar Faura, and production designer Maria Djurkovic. Actors Involved: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Charles Dance, Matthew Goode, Mark Strong, and Allen Leech. Quality Potential: High. Director Morten Tyldum’s name might sound familiar to some; he directed the excellent crime thriller Headhunters, a breakout Norwegian export to the States. He has a wonderful cast and crew around him for The Imitation Game. It has performed very well on the festival circuit, winning the People’s Choice Award at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley are also getting a ton of Oscar buzz for their performances. The Imitation Game will likely be among this year’s nominees for Best Picture at the 2015 Academy Awards. Trailer: Here.

Directors to Watch: Part 4 – Movies Spotlight – September 2014

One of the great things about cinema is its constant inflow of great talent. These are three directors who having been active for many years but are about to debut potentially very impressive work in the States, thereby introducing themselves to a bigger audience.

David Ayer

Filmography to Date:

David Ayer, 46, got his start after leaving the U.S. Navy rewriting the script for the WWII thriller U-571 (using his own Navy service experiences as reference – today, however, it is a film he is not proud of as it distorts history; while it is fictional, it presupposes that American troops captured the German Enigma code when it was really the British). He then collaborated on the script for The Fast and the Furious. Next, he wrote his first solo screenplay, Dark Blue. He did extensive research into the Los Angeles Police Department for the film, this lead to him writing another LA-based crime drama Training Day. Sticking with what was working, he was hired based on a story pitch to write the action movie S.W.A.T.

Ayer had made a name for himself writing crime dramas about police in Lose Angeles. In 2005 he got a chance to write and direct his own film. Harsh Times is a lot darker than his previous work, but still featured many of the same themes. He then directed the more action-oriented Street Kings. Next, he wrote and directed his best film to date End of Watch – this time effectively employing a found-footage style. Earlier this year, Ayer wrote and directed Sabotage. It is more of an action film than his previous work, but just does not work. It is by far his worst film as a director.

2014 Film:

Ayer leaves Los Angeles police crime dramas behind to return to the WWII period. He writes and directs Fury, an action war/drama about a battle-hardened Sherman tank five-man crew. It is near the end of the war, but they are tasked with a deadly mission behind enemy lines. The film stars Brad Pitt, Logan Lerman, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Bernthal, and Michael Pena. The film is garnering a lot of buzz as a potential Oscar contender. Here is the trailer. The film comes out October 17^th.

Upcoming:

Ayer does not have any new films in production, but he has been rumored to be attached to remakes of Commando and The Wild Bunch.

Career Highlights:

1)      Training Day (2001) – writer (Blu-ray, Video On-Demand, Trailer)

2)      Harsh Times (2005) – writer, director (Blu-ray, Video On-Demand, Trailer)

3)      End of Watch (2012) – writer, director (Blu-ray, Video On-Demand, Trailer)

*Editor’s picks

Lynn Shelton

Filmography to Date:

Lynn Shelton, 48, is a primary figure in the American independent film style known as mumblecore (other prevalent members include Jay and Mark Duplass). She got her start writing and directing her own micro-budget films We Go Way Back and My Effortless Brilliance. In 2009, she had her first quasi hit with Humpday, a film that played very well at Sundance – winning a Special Jury Prize. She also won the Independent Spirt Awards’ John Cassavetes Award for the film. She then started to make her characteristically low-budget feeling films with bigger-named actors. The first is my favorite of her films so far Your Sister’s Sister, and then Touchy Feely.

Shelton has also made a career directing episodes of television. She has done good work on Mad Men, Ben and Kate, and New Girl.

2014 Film:

Shelton’s new film Laggies is slated to come out October 24^th. It is about Megan, a woman in her late twenties who is still not ready to grow up. So, she decides to hang out with a high school girl she meets, hiding from her life. It is an interesting reversal of the man-child character that comedy has done to death. Shelton is directing with the script from newcomer Andrea Seigel. The film stars Keria Knightley, Chloe Grace Moretz, and Sam Rockwell. It is garnering a lot of positive buzz as being incredibly fun. It played to very good reviews at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Here is the trailer.

Upcoming:

Upcoming, Shelton is directing the pilot for the new ABC comedy Fresh Off the Boat about a Taiwanese family making their way in 1990s America. She is also working on a new film called Open to Anything.

Career Highlights:

1)      Your Sister’s Sister (2011) – writer, director (Blu-ray, Video On-Demand, Trailer)

*Editor’s picks

Morten Tyldum

Filmography to Date:

Morten Tyldum, 47, got his start in his home country of Norway, working on television. In 2003, he made his first feature Buddy. He next made the crime thriller Fallen Angels; however, it was his next film that propelled him into Hollywood.

 In 2011, he made the fantastic crime thriller Headhunters (which you should see if you have not). The film mixes strong violence with black comedy, striking visuals and a great twisty story. The film also showcases Tyldum’s ability to get really strong performances from his actors (Aksel Hennie is wonderful in it).

2014 Film:

Tyldum’s new film is The Imitation Game. It is based on the true story of mathematician/logician Alan Turing, an Englishman who helped the Allies win WWII by cracking the Enigma code. The film stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Keria Knightley, Mark Strong, Matthew Goode, Charles Dance, and Allen Leech. It is among my most anticipated films for 2014 – and, from what I have seen, it looks excellent. I am interested to see if the film gets into the darker side of Turing life (he was chemically castrated by the British government because he was gay). Here is the trailer. It is slated for release November 21^st.

Upcoming:

Tyldum has a few projects that he is in various stages of development – that said, he is likely to become a very in-demand filmmaker after The Imitation Game.

Career Highlights:

1)      Headhunters (2011)* – director (Blu-ray, Video On-Demand, Trailer)

*Editor’s picks

Most Anticipated Films of 2014 – Part 2: Prestige and Fun Films

Prestige Films:

Title: Gone Girl

Release: October 3

Genre: Drama/Mystery/Thriller

Plot: Amy Dunne mysteriously disappears on her wedding anniversary. Her husband Nick desperately looks for her, but many suspect that he may have killed her and disposed of the body, as their marriage had noticeably disintegrated in recent months leading up to Amy’s disappearance.

Director: David Fincher

Main Cast: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, and Scoot McNairy

Editor’s Thoughts: Who is not eagerly anticipating a new mystery-thriller from David Fincher, one of America’s great current auteurs. His past mystery-thrillers include Se7en, The Game, Fight Club (I suppose that counts, right), Zodiac, and his most recent film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Gone Girl very well could end up being one of the ten best films of 2014. Plus, it will be nice to see Rosamund Pike finally in a great Hollywood part.

Trailer: Here (if available)

Title: Foxcatcher

Release: Fall/Winter

Genre: Drama

Plot: Mark Schultz and his brother Dave are both phenomenal wrestlers: Mark competing in the Olympics and Dave a former Olympic Champion. But, this is the story of how paranoid schizophrenic John DuPont completely destroys their lives by killing Dave.

Director: Bennett Miller

Main Cast: Channing Tatum, Steve Carell, Sienna Miller, and Mark Ruffalo

Editor’s Thoughts: Foxcatcher seems like it should be a fantastic character-driven drama, built on strong leading performances. And, Bennett Miller is among Hollywood greatest new talents. This is his third feature, following up Capote and Moneyball. The question is, however, why was this film delayed from its original 2013 release? Sony Pictures stated that the delay is to give Miller more time to finish the film, but some wonder if it is just not up to the high standards of the top films of 2013 (a reason many former ‘awards’ films were pushed to 2014). I think that in all likeliness this will be a brilliant drama and was not pushed for quality reasons (after all, it did make this list).

Trailer: Here (if available)

Title: Inherent Vice

Release: Fall/Winter

Genre: Drama

Plot: 1970s Los Angeles, Larry “Doc” Sportello, a drug-dependent detective, investigates the disappearance of a former girlfriend.

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

Main Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Josh Brolin, Reese Witherspoon, Jena Malone, Benicio Del Toro, and Owen Wilson

Editor’s Thoughts: Paul Thomas Anderson has been on a role lately – his last two films being There Will Be Blood and The Master, both multiple Oscar nominees and among the ten best films in their respective years (and really, he has only made good films so far). Inherent Vice sees Anderson reteaming with Joaquin Phoenix (who has also been among Hollywood’s best leading men lately performance wise), leaving me excited to see another wonderful collaboration between the two artistes.  Another great collaboration on the film sees Jonny Greenwood again returning to provide the score. His work on There Will Be Blood and The Master is utterly dynamic; thusly, I am very interested to see what he does with this noirish narrative.

Trailer: Here (if available)

Title: Trash

Release: Fall/Winter

Genre: Drama/Thriller

Plot: Set in an unnamed Central/South American Third World country, three kids make a shocking discovery in a garbage dump. Finding something they should not have, they soon find themselves on the run from the cops and corrupt authorities.

Director: Stephen Daldry

Main Cast: Rooney Mara, Martin Sheen, and Wagner Moura

Editor’s Thoughts: Trash sounds a little like Slumdog Millionaire – at least the parts involving the young kids running around the streets trying to survive in a world gone mad. Stephen Daldry is a very good director (three of his four films have been nominated for Best Picture, and three of the four are quite good – Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close was nominated for Best Picture but is not very good – my favorite of Daldry’s work is The Hours) and he is working with great screenwriter Richard Curtis. I also think the cast in support of the three young unknown actors playing the boys is excellent (Rooney Mara has really established herself as one of the very best young actresses and some will know Brazilian actor Wagner Moura from Elite Squad). This is probably under the radar on most ‘anticipated films’ lists for 2014, but I think it has a lot of potential to be in the mix for Best Picture.

Trailer: Here (if available)

Title: One of Terrence Malick’s Many in production films

Release: Unknown

Genre: Drama

Plot: Terrence Malick has three films that could potentially see release in 2014. The first is Knight of Cups. It is about a man dealing being a celebrity, the temptations and excesses. The second is Untitled and is about two love triangles that intersect against the backdrop of Austin’s music scene. Last is Voyage of Time. It is an examination of the birth and death of the known universe (picking up where The Tree of Life left off?).

Director: Terrence Malick

Main Cast: Christian Bale, Natalie Portman, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Brad Pitt, and Ryan Gosling

Editor’s Thoughts: Anytime we are treated to a new Terrence Malick film it is a great day for cinema. In 2013, Malick released To the Wonder, what is probably his weakest film, but that said it still plays as an aesthetically beautiful piece that deeply ponders love. I do not know for sure that any of these three films will get released in 2014, but I really hope one does. The sheer star power and acting talent involved is staggering. Plus, I really like Malick’s approach to filmmaking, as his films play much more like visual poems than cookie-cutter narratives (that have been done to death even when appearing new).

Trailer: Here (if available)

Fun Films:

Title: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Release: March 7

Genre: Comedy/Drama

Plot: Told through a series of flashbacks, the film is about the adventures of Gustave H, the legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the world wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend.

Director: Wes Anderson

Main Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Edward Norton, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, Saoirse Ronan, and Bill Murray (among many others)

Editor’s Thoughts: The Great Budapest Hotel looks like Wes Anderson’s most aesthetically magnificent film yet. It is no secret for those who read this blog a lot that Anderson is among my favorite filmmakers, and thus this is maybe the film I am most looking forward to in 2014 (well this and Interstellar). While Anderson’s fans know that his films have always been fantastic, the general public seemed to forget, only catching back on with Moonrise Kingdom (his most successful film to date at the box office). That said, however, The Grand Budapest Hotel looks very steeped in the traditions of film history and very much influenced by the films of the 1930s (European filmmakers like Ernst Lubitsch) with each time period being reflected by its appropriate aspect ratio (with some scenes shot in 1.37:1 which looks very odd now to modern filmgoers who are accustomed to widescreen), as well as the writing of Stefan Zweig. It is a film that will likely not play as well or go over the heads of many not well-versed in film history (especially in film’s golden era). I, myself, cannot wait to see it. It looks completely brilliant, and what a great cast. The film just debuted at the Berlin International Film Festival to very positive critical reviews – many calling it the first Oscar contender of the year.

Trailer: Here

Title: Transcendence

Release: April 18

Genre: Sci-Fit/Thriller

Plot: Will is a brilliant scientist poised to change the world with his breakthroughs in technology. There is only one problem. He is terminally ill. In an attempt to save his consciousness, his mind is downloaded into a computer. Now, with unimaginable power, Will begins to change, embracing the power becoming unstoppable as he dictates his will upon the world.

Director: Wally Pfister

Main Cast: Johnny Depp, Rebecca Hall, Kate Mara, Morgan Freeman, and Paul Bettany

Editor’s Thoughts: Transcendence is Wally Pfister’s directorial debut. He is best known for his brilliant work as Christopher Nolan’s cinematographer (shooting all but one of his films – his first called Following). This film looks like it takes a bit of its grand style from Nolan, who also serves as a producer on the film, but hopefully Pfister will showcase his talent and his own voice as well. I think it looks like a great thriller and it is one of the films I am most looking forward to this year. I also like the fact that it is an original story. Plus, it has a pretty great cast. Johnny Depp looks like he may have finally taken on a challenging character (instead of just coasting on the typical strange personas he has been relegated to lately).

Trailer: Here

Title: The Interview

Release: October 10

Genre: Comedy

Plot: TV talk show host Dave Skylark and his producer Aaron Rapoport get an exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime interview with North Korean dictator Kim Jon-Un. As they prep for the interview, they are approached by the CIA and asked to assassinate Kim.

Director: Evan Goldberg & Seth Rogan

Main Cast: Seth Rogan, James Franco, and Lizzy Caplan

Editor’s Thoughts: Writer-directors Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogan delivered a very funny action-horror-comedy last year with This Is the End (probably 2013’s best comedy). Thus, The Interview certainly has the potential to be hilarious as well. Plus, the premise is just insane enough to really create lots of opportunities for fantastic comedy. Seth Rogan and James Franco also make a great comedy team. I cannot think of a comedy I am looking forward to more than this in 2014.

Trailer: Here (if available)

Title: Exodus

Release: December 12

Genre: Drama/Epic

Plot: The story of Moses leading the Israelite slaves out of Egypt.

Director: Ridley Scott

Main Cast: Christian Bale, Aaron Paul, Joel Edgerton, Sigourney Weaver, and Ben Kingsley

Editor’s Thoughts: Exodus looks like it is going to be a grand epic from Ridley Scott, a director known for his brilliant visual style – and he is working with a script by Steven Zaillian. I also cannot think of a better actor to portray Moses than Christian Bale (who is the most talented leading man of his generation). It will be interesting to see how Scott approaches this Biblical figure – whether it is played realistically or tending more towards the mystical.

Trailer: Here (if available)

Title: The Imitation Game

Release: Fall

Genre: Thriller

Plot: The Enigma code was used by the Nazi’s to transmit secret messages throughout WWII. English mathematician and logician, Alan Turing, made it is goal to crack to the code and help the allies win the war.

Director: Morten Tydum

Main Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Mark Strong, and Charles Dance

Editor’s Thoughts: The Imitation Game is another film that is mostly under the radar, but it certainly has the potential to be one of 2014’s best thrillers. The cast is fantastic – who does not want to see Benedict Cumberbatch as Alan Turing? And, Morten Tydum is a really great choice as director. His breakthrough film, the crime-thriller Headhunters, is wonderful and very much worth checking out. I also love WWII era narratives.

Trailer: Here (if available)