My pick: Top 10 Movies of 2014

2014 was an interesting year in film history. We had a film that was shot over twelve years (Boyhood). We had a famous actress crossing over into directorial teritory (Angelina Jolie with Unbroken). There were gripping bio-pics (Selma, The Theory of Everything) and there were phenomenal children's movies that struck a chord with adults (Big Hero 6, How to Train Your Dragon 2). There were thought-provoking studio films (Gone Girl, Interstellar). And, finally, since this isn't the seventies or the nineties, there were franchise films (Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy, 300: Rise of an Empire, X-Men: Days of Future Past, Tranformers: Age of Extinction, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay: Part 1, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, ... are you still reading this...? Fine. I'll keep going... The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Divergent... is that it? Probably not, but I can't spend all day listing the franchise movies here).

10. Interstellar - Christopher Nolan is a beloved director. It seems as almost everything he writes or directs gets tremendous critial acclaim and winds up being a commercial success. Interstellar tells the story of Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) who is chosen to lead a space-travel mission to find the people of Earth a new planet to inhabit while Earth slowly becomes unfit to house human life. This is a truly imaginative film that provokes many thoughts about the way we act and the repercussions those actions will have on the world we live in.

9. How to Train Your Dragon 2 - In a sequel to a fan-favorite film, How to Train your Dragon 2 was spectacular. This film reminded me of the old Disney films like the Lion King with its epic score and its phenomenal animation. While it is hard to top the story of the first movie, this film was throughly entertaining. It is fun for kids and adults who are still kids at heart.

8. The Theory of Everything - Eddie Redmayne dramatizes the life of legendary physicist Stephen Hawking in this biopic. The story shows how his relationship with his wife was affected by Hawking’s Lou Gehrig’s Disease and how he strived to overcome the impediments that his illness presented. Redmayne paints a vivid picture of how Hawking continued to live and persevere even when his disease looked as though it would kill him. While the accuracy of the account remains in question, the story remains powerful and the acting is exceptional.

7. Big Hero 6 - A commendable element of certain animated films is that they appeal to both kids and adults alike. Big Hero 6 is funny, charming, and even poignant at times. It tells the story of Hiro Hamada (voiced by the talented young Ryan Potter) who programs a robot designed to assist with medical procedures. Seeing this movie was a joyous experience. The characters portrayed are kind and smart, which both make them great role models for certain younger viewers. Hiro’s innovative nature and his desire to help humanity are defining characteristics that makes him the hero of the film.

6. Gone Girl - One of the most shocking films of the year was Gone Girl. Rosamund Pike gives an amazing performance as Amy, the wife of Nick (played by Ben Affleck) who mysteriously disappears. Without spoiling the ending, the film shows a dark twisting narrative. One of the most shocking moments is when one of the characters walks through the streets covered in blood. Even more shocking was the scene that preceded it. The film is a metaphor for abuse that people in some relationships endure for love. I am always a fan of David Fincher and this film is no exception.

5. Edge of Tomorrow - When I first heard the premise for this film, it sounded a lot like the high-budget version of Source Code. I wondered how a movie about living a day over and over could be fresh and new, but Edge of Tomorrow was certainly impressive. Tom Cruise plays a military officer who is forced to live the same day over and over until he defeats an invading alien force. This is not just another sci-fi action film. Edge of Tomorrow delivers thrills, inspires thought, and spices in a bit of comedy to create a highly watchable film.

4. Whiplash - How far are you willing to go to make your dreams come true? What are you willing to endure in your struggle to achieve greatness in your field? These are the questions Damien Chazelle, the talented young writer and director of Whiplash poses to his audience. Miles Teller plays Andrew, a talented young drummer who makes his way into a competitive music school. Andrew is tormented and pushed to his limits by Fletcher (masterfully played by J.K. Simmons), a frightening jazz band teacher whose teaching style is both abusive and capricious. Andrew is faced with the prospects of both success and failure in this spellbinding film.

3. Boyhood - With a 12 year shooting schedule, Boyhood broke new ground. Writer/director Richard Linklater takes the audience on a journey through a young boy’s life as he copes with separated parents, an abusive step-father and adolescence. Ellar Coltrane plays Mason who goes from a six-year old boy to an 18-year old young man who goes to college. Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette give highly believable performances as Mason’s separated parents. The film raises questions about American family life and the high rate of divorce in our country. Ultimately, it will stand out because Mason’s growth and development is magnified by Linklater’s creative shooting process.

2. Birdman - I have to admit, I went into this film thinking it was a superhero movie and I left it feeling tremendously surprised and excited. Birdman is the story of an actor named Riggan who wants a shot at greatness on his own terms. Michael Keaton gives an amazing performance in the lead role and the film is shot to make it look like it was all one take, but the real magic of the film is the script. The writers artfully weave characters into Riggan’s story in a way that highlights the protagonist’s contradictory traits. Riggan’s daughter Sam (played by Emma Stone) shows that he can be both harsh and vulnerable simultaneously. Edward Norton’s character Mike shows both Riggan’s willingness to negotiate in order to create the best work of art and also Riggan’s propensity to fight vehemently for control over the PR. These contradictions add layers to the character and make the film an intriguing picture.

1. Selma - This gripping political drama is one of the most emotionally rocking films I've ever seen. We as people respond emotionally to injustice, and this film depicted the injustice African-Americans faced in their civil rights struggle to vote. David Oyelowo gives an excellent performance as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The film marvelously depicts the march on Selma and does so by staying true to history in a number of ways. First, the film shows that King alienated himself from other liberals by taking a stance on the war in Vietnam. Secondly, the film showed King was a radical who fought against the state and was despised by politicians rather than portraying King as the uncontroversial, universally loved heroic figure that we know today. Even outside of the speeches King gave in the film, the script pulls dialogue directly from King's personal writings which serves the authenticity of the film. In the light of the Michael Brown killing and other similar incidents, the film is highly relevant to the modern discussion about race relations and police brutality. Finally, it is a deft demonstration of a powerful political and social revolution driven by a man who refused to hurt his morally sound position by resorting to violence.

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