{"id":2915,"date":"2014-12-29T13:52:01","date_gmt":"2014-12-29T18:52:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hardwoodandhollywood.com\/pop-culture-spin\/?p=2915"},"modified":"2014-12-29T13:52:01","modified_gmt":"2014-12-29T18:52:01","slug":"top-10-films-2014","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hardwoodandhollywood.com\/pop-culture-spin\/2014\/12\/29\/top-10-films-2014\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 10 Films of 2014"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>There were plenty of amazing films in 2014, but these 10 films seem to just stand taller than the rest. This is in no way a definitive list, as I was not able watch every single film of 2014 because I needed to do other things (like sleep). Anyways, here are the top 10 films of 2014 in all their glory:<\/p>\n<p><b>10. Locke:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"702\" height=\"395\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xdaofZfgV_Q?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>This entire film is about a man making calls in his car as he\u2019s driving to a certain destination. That\u2019s it; no explosions, no bloody violence, no sexual tension, no special effects. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hardwoodandhollywood.com\/pop-culture-spin\/2014\/08\/21\/movie-review-locke\/\"><em>Locke<\/em><\/a> is a showcase for both Tom Hardy and the determination to redeem yourself from the wrongs you\u2019ve done. Hardy is Ivan Locke, and he gives a blistering performance in this minimalist approach to filmmaking. It allows us to observe the choices that we make, reminding us that we must choose a destination in order to move forward.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLook. Look and fucking learn. I drove in this direction and there will be a new person when I get there. Yes, because of that night.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b>9. Nightcrawler:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"702\" height=\"395\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/u1uP_8VJkDQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>If there\u2019s one film in 2014 that showed us how dark we can get, it\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hardwoodandhollywood.com\/pop-culture-spin\/2014\/11\/04\/jake-gyllenhaal-gives-best-performance-nightcrawler\/\"><i>Nightcrawler<\/i><\/a>. Jake Gyllenhaal plays Louis Bloom, a lethally determined sociopath that becomes a crime news hound cameraman. This a thriller with a main character that will shock you with his hollow stare alone. It\u2019s also the closest thing we\u2019ll have to another Travis Bickle. The film definitely sticks with you after the credits roll because of Gyllenhaal\u2019s performance. This is one of the most chilling movies of the year, even more so because there are plenty of Louis Blooms in the world.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy you pursue something is as important as what you pursue.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b>8. Chef:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"702\" height=\"395\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wgFws3AoIUY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>With plenty of films focusing on violence and dread, this is a film that shines because of its good vibes. Just like rappers don\u2019t sing too much about love anymore (Drake doesn\u2019t count), filmmakers tend to ignore the bright side of the human condition. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hardwoodandhollywood.com\/pop-culture-spin\/2014\/06\/15\/chef-review-jon-favreaus-declious-return-small-movie\/\"><i>Chef <\/i><\/a>embraces the good in us with its promotion of creativity through delicious food. Jon Favreau has penned a script that feels natural and truly captures the essence of summer, as well as paying the rent by doing something you love.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI may not do everything great in my life, but I&#8217;m good at this. I manage to touch people&#8217;s lives with what I do and I want to share this with you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b>7. Gone Girl:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"702\" height=\"395\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Ym3LB0lOJ0o?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>David Fincher gives us another memorable crime mystery classic on celluloid with this odd little nightmare of a story. Let me elaborate on that: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hardwoodandhollywood.com\/pop-culture-spin\/2014\/10\/06\/gone-girl-takes-trust-issues-new-level\/\"><em>Gone Girl<\/em><\/a> is a man\u2019s <i>ideal <\/i>nightmare, a car wreck that\u2019s unique and smoldering in a way that engulfs your attention. Rosamund Pike gives a performance that will haunt you, and one that will open many more roles for her in the future. Ben Affleck also does an amazing job in this film, working well with the many levels of his everyman character. This was the thriller to watch of 2014, plain and simple.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat are you thinking? How are you feeling? What have we done to each other? What will we do?\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b>6. Snowpiercer:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"702\" height=\"395\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/nX5PwfEMBM0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Set in 2031, the world is frozen, and the only humans left are stuck on a seemingly indestructible train on rotation around the world. This is the indie aci-fi\/action film of the year. It packs some bloody sequences as an appetizer for its sweeping ideas about the haves and the have-nots of the world. The social commentary it provides, especially about the manipulation of hierarchy, is just as appealing as the night-vision ax fights (you read that correctly). With an intelligent script, solid acting, and an intriguing storyline, <i>Snowpiercer <\/i>simply has it all in a brand new bag.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI believe it is easier for someone to survive on this train if they have some level of insanity. I mean, as Gilliam well understood, we need to maintain a proper balance of anxiety and fear, chaos and horror, in order to keep life going. And if we don&#8217;t have that, we need to invent it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b>5. Guardians of the Galaxy:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"702\" height=\"395\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d96cjJhvlMA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hardwoodandhollywood.com\/pop-culture-spin\/2014\/08\/02\/movie-reviews-guardians-of-the-galaxy\/\"><em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em><\/a>\u00a0is arguably the best Marvel movie yet, and with that, it blasts its way onto this list. Each character is memorable, the soundtrack is awesome, it\u2019s heartfelt, and it replaces the usual final fight scene with a dance off. How could it <i>not <\/i>make the list? A rag-tag band of losers (as in they\u2019ve each lost something) come together to become the title of the movie. There are so many memorable moments in this film, and it was definitely the most fun flick to watch in theaters this year.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Nothing<\/em> goes over my head!&#8230; My reflexes are too fast, I would catch it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b>4. The Grand Budapest Hotel:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"702\" height=\"395\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/zru-1DbbcsA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>This quirky little gem from Wes Anderson tells the tale of M. Gustave, concierge at the Grand Budapest Hotel, and his adventures surrounding the theft of a priceless Renaissance painting. This film manages to be odd, hilarious, badass, and touching without breaking a sweat. As far as Anderson films go, this one is probably one of his best, if not <i>the<\/i> best. We get to take a look at an old world that we can only recapture through reminiscence; a world that we can\u2019t go back to, but one that we should be thankful to have experienced.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere are still faint glimmers of civilization left in this barbaric slaughterhouse that was once known as humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b>3. Interstellar:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"702\" height=\"395\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0vxOhd4qlnA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hardwoodandhollywood.com\/pop-culture-spin\/2014\/11\/18\/interstellar-goes-beyond-awe\/\"><em>Interstellar<\/em><\/a> is a science lesson. Other than that, it\u2019s intriguing and ambitious beyond the norm, taking risks in storytelling and opening our eyes to not just space, but the space between each other. Christopher Nolan really weaves a tale that\u2019s unique in a way that the flaws don\u2019t really matter overall. This is a film that will be appreciated more over time, marinating into a sci-fi classic. No other film this year had you thinking more after leaving the theater than this movie; it\u2019s one that helps you delve into the mysteries of time, space, and life rather than escape it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLove is the one thing that transcends time and space.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b>2. Birdman:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"702\" height=\"395\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uJfLoE6hanc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Michael Keaton gives the performance of his career as Riggan Thomson, a washed up actor once famous for playing a superhero, who\u2019s taking on broadway in an attempt to be relevant again. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hardwoodandhollywood.com\/pop-culture-spin\/2014\/10\/28\/birdman-soars-rest\/\"><em>Birdman<\/em><\/a>\u00a0is a technical masterpiece, as director Alejandro Gonz\u00e1lez I\u00f1\u00e1rritu weaves together long tracking shots to give the film a heartbeat. Keaton turns in one of the best performances of the year, showing us the universal yearning to be relevant in a world where social media slices hearty moments into appetizers. This is definitely an arthouse film, but it\u2019s also funny as hell and is anchored by amazing performances from the entire cast. The hype is right on point with this one, and it deserves every award it\u2019s going to get.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPopularity is the slutty little cousin of prestige.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b>1. Boyhood:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"702\" height=\"395\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Y0oX0xiwOv8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Spanning a boy\u2019s life (Mason) from age 5 to 18, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hardwoodandhollywood.com\/pop-culture-spin\/2014\/08\/14\/see-richard-linklaters-boyhood\/\"><i>Boyhood <\/i><\/a>is a film unlike any other. It captures a piece of our timeline in a genuine way. Writer\/director Richard Linklater has certainly raised the bar for himself with this film. It\u2019s never gimmicky, even though it uses a gimmick; it\u2019s intriguing and relative, making it feel like you\u2019ve known Mason for quite a while. It\u2019s probably the most captivating film this year with its realness through the eyes of a boy turning into a man. This coming-of-age film will definitely go down in history as something important, simply because it observes our growth and the lessons we may learn along the way.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou know how everyone\u2019s always saying seize the moment? I don\u2019t know, I\u2019m kind of thinking it\u2019s the other way around, you know, like the moment seizes us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There were plenty of amazing films in 2014, but these 10 films seem to just stand taller than the rest. This is in no way a definitive list, as I was not able watch every single film of 2014 because I needed to do other things (like sleep). Anyways, here are the top 10 films<\/p>\n<div class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hardwoodandhollywood.com\/pop-culture-spin\/2014\/12\/29\/top-10-films-2014\/\" title=\"Read More\">Read More<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":123,"featured_media":2916,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[138],"tags":[1448,316,591,1008,420,1447],"class_list":{"0":"post-2915","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-movies","8":"tag-1448","9":"tag-birdman","10":"tag-boyhood","11":"tag-gone-girl","12":"tag-guardians-of-the-galaxy","13":"tag-top-10-films"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hardwoodandhollywood.com\/pop-culture-spin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2915","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hardwoodandhollywood.com\/pop-culture-spin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hardwoodandhollywood.com\/pop-culture-spin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hardwoodandhollywood.com\/pop-culture-spin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/123"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hardwoodandhollywood.com\/pop-culture-spin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2915"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.hardwoodandhollywood.com\/pop-culture-spin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2915\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hardwoodandhollywood.com\/pop-culture-spin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2916"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hardwoodandhollywood.com\/pop-culture-spin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2915"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hardwoodandhollywood.com\/pop-culture-spin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2915"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hardwoodandhollywood.com\/pop-culture-spin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2915"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}