Note: This list is of films only from January 1, 2014-June 30, 2014, the first half of the year, and does not include films that I have not seen as of this writing but might otherwise have been in consideration according to their reputations such as THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL, UNDER THE SKIN, LOCKE, OBVIOUS CHILD, SNOWPIERCER, STRANGER BY THE LAKE, etc., art-house films. They can be hard to get to during their theatrical runs.
THE BEST MOVIES OF 2014: Part 1
THE LEGO MOVIE (ANIMATED/FAMILY) Directed by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller
Featuring the Voices of: Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Ferrell, Morgan Freeman, Will Arnett, Nick Offerman, Alison Brie, Liam Neeson, Charlie Day
Rated PG for mild action and rude humor.
There were signs that we were in for a treat with THE LEGO MOVIE. Although at first glance, the idea of a movie based on LEGO construction toys is a bad, bad idea, the directing team of Phil Lord and Chris Miller had twice taken abysmal concepts and defied expectations by turning in excellent movies with CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS, based on a thinly-plotted picture book, and 21 JUMP STREET, based on a ludicrous 1980s television series. So who was to say that they couldn't do it again? But, good hell, nobody had reason to expect a masterwork. A multi-layered, hilarious, exciting and intelligent visual spectacle, it's not just a movie that finds a way to work in the concept of being based on LEGOs, but it's legitimately a movie with the right to call itself "THE LEGO MOVIE" and much more. Few family films have this level of reward for repeated viewings.
THE LEGO MOVIE is currently available on Blu-ray, DVD and digital download
NOAH (FANTASY/ADVENTURE) Directed by Darren Aronofsky
Starring: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Ray Winstone, Emma Watson, Logan Lerman, Anthony Hopkins, Douglas Booth
Rated PG-13 for violence, disturbing images and brief suggestive content.
Controversy is typically expected to some degree for major movies based on religious texts, but a lot of the lashing out came from the target American demographic of NOAH; Christians, especially the orthodox, in addition to right-wing radicals and Young Earth Creationists. It's not necessarily the film that the average American Christian would have in mind, but unlike religious films like HEAVEN IS FOR REAL and GOD IS NOT DEAD, which were other big box office hits, NOAH has the ability to reach the otherwise "less devout". As a piece of filmmaking, it's definitely very bold, dark and unique in its vision, and to those who are open to the spirit of the story, rather than the literal interpretation, the theological value in this agnostic director's film is immense. It tells the traditional story of Noah and the Great Flood, incorporating details not only from the Bible, but also Apocryphal texts, the Quran and Jewish midrash, along with original concepts in an epic that works not only as the story of Noah, but as a story of The Creation. The performances range from good to amazing, the visuals are astounding, the emotions are resonant and the action is brutal. It's a taste that might take a little time to acquire, but it's another movie that rewards repeated viewing.
NOAH is now available on digital download and will become available on Blu-ray and DVD on July 29
EDGE OF TOMORROW (ACTION/SCI-FI) Directed by Doug Liman
Starring: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton, Brendan Gleeson, Noah Taylor
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, language and brief suggestive material.
Previously much-more awesomely titled ALL YOU NEED IS KILL, after its Japanese young adult source novel, I wasn't expecting much from EDGE OF TOMORROW. I suppose I was making a connection to last year's Tom Cruise-starring sci-fi OBLIVION, which was bland and boring, but this was leagues above that. Tom Cruise plays one of the more interesting characters he's played in a long time as Major William Cage, a weaselly coward of a U.S. Army officer who's gone well out of his way to avoid the war zone in Europe where the world's military forces are waging a losing battle with an invading alien race. After being shanghaied onto the frontlines, Cage is killed by a splatter of alien blood, but he immediately wakes up, caught in a time-loop GROUNDHOG DAY-style, reliving the same day's combat and figuring out how to use this to his advantage with the help of Sgt. Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt), a war hero who's lived through the same phenomenon. It's like a brilliantly fun blend of James Cameron's ALIENS with GROUNDHOG DAY and has some of the most awe-inspiring action of the summer.
EDGE OF TOMORROW is currently playing in theaters everywhere
Honorable Mention:
HER (ROMANCE/COMEDY-DRAMA)
Directed by Spike Jonze
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson (voice role), Amy Adams, Olivia Wilde, Rooney Mara, Chris Pratt
Rated R for language, sexual content and brief graphic nudity.
Technically, HER is a 2013 film, having been released in major cities in December 2013 in order to qualify for the 86th Academy Awards (where it won a very well-deserved Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay), but the rest of us didn't get to see it until January 10, 2014. A warm, funny (occasionally hilarious), imaginative and extremely touching science fiction love story, HER is the story of Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix), a good-natured recent divorcee who unexpectedly falls in love with his state-of-the-art computer system's personality (voiced by Scarlett Johansson in an astounding vocal performance) in the near future. Thoroughly original while at the same time familiar, Spike Jonze's ode to human love uses its unique premise to explore love and relationships in their many forms, with respect, insight and dignity, and you won't be able to wipe the stupidly genuine smile from your face for its entire running time. I know I couldn't.
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