JK’s TOP 20 MOVIES OF 2014
365 days in the making, a list that I have been chopping, changing and amending on a weekly basis, a list that takes great pains. In total this year I have viewed and reviewed 132 films. The biggest in my career to date. I have noticed in the last few years my tastes in films are changing and I am getting more judgmental and picky in my tastes (I suppose this should happen – I am a freaking critic after all) but one thing you notice when you watch so many movies is how so many of them just suck, it is the few pieces of brilliance that keep you watching, viewing movies is like fishing, you know there are huge fish at the bottom of the ocean but occasionally you pull up a great one (fewer and further apart than the others), occasionally a little baby and sometimes you get rorted and the fish takes all your bait. And so it is with movies.
There is something I would like to bring up, films are subjective, something I have been learning over the years. I am usually offended if someone does not like the same movies as me. If someone says a film I have loved beyond compare is shit, I think that person suffers a form of mental retardation. This is something I am coming to accept and something that makes Salty a good site for reviews, so many reviewers, you might not like my style of film love but you may love Andrew’s, John’s, Emma’s, or some of the other Kernels, this is fine – films are an each to their own liking – you will eventually find your critic or site that you agree with – hang on to them. That being said, if you do not like my list, my writer’s lists or the Salty list, good for you, we disagree, if you want to whine or bitch about it then it will just slide off our back, if you want to debate or discuss and say something positive including what you liked then you are a true popper and are welcome! In the words of a million parents the world over “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. Just judge internally – (totally my own addition :)).
I have already published our WORST MOVIES OF 2014 and this year I have two more top 20 lists to publish, that of Kernel Andrew and that of the combined score votes of Salty Popcorn. Stay tuned more to come. Now enjoy my list, the few big fish that came to the surface, what are your thoughts? All the best…………JK
20) ALL IS LOST
Incredible story, incredible performance.
Shit timing for this movie, came out right at the start of the year. Superb movie, Leo is my god but it was too long. That scene with the drugs just bloody hell, I think I was bleeding through laughter and haven’t quite seen a vagina like that before – thanks Margot Robbie – this gay man blushed 🙂
18) THE LEGO MOVIE
Genius movie! An entire movie marketing a product that was still next level brilliance. Batman for the win and Astronaut guy was my all time fave.
17) BILLY ELLIOT: THE MUSICAL LIVE
Now I did debate this briefly with a friend the other day, Rixy Dix did not believe it should be in a top 20 movie list but in my defence it was a movie that played in cinemas. It was three hours, it had an intermission and it blew my mind – visit the article for more information.
16) THE ROVER
Only saw this last week and just WOW – best Australian movie for the year. RPatz deserves an Oscar nomination for supporting actor, but alas, the academy will not even consider it.
15) ANY DAY NOW
Saw this movie with the parents and we were all floored, occasionally schmaltzy but Cumming is a master of the stage and screen and the movie is worth it for him alone.
14) VENUS IN FUR
Was sent this to review at home, was not really that keen but then sat glued to the screen, such a superb movie, Polanski is a winner!
13) THE GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
Best Marvel film of all time. There, I said it but seriously WTF with the credits scene – any movie that makes me get a crush on a racoon deserves a Top 20 place 🙂
12) HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2
Better than the first movie and the best animation of the year, I think this is possibly my favourite animation series/ franchise of all time – Hiccup and Toothless – I bow to thee!
Wes Anderson GOLD = the end!
10) SNOWPIERCER
The most under-rated movie of the year that was sorted the world over on cinema release. Sublime OTT action movie. It has Tilda – that is all you need!
Speaking of Tilda – in this one she is the sexiest vampire to ever live – sorry Louis.
8) NIGHTCRAWLER
My future lover’s masterpiece of the year. Jake is amazing in this movie and the script is standing ovation worthy!
7) YOUNG ONES
Subtle nuanced and bleak, a great science-fiction Western thriller that has a very nuanced cast delivery of a scary looking possible future of planet earth.
A great year for gay cinema, this movie is remarkable and the ending – just a punch in the face!
5) PRIDE
The Billy Elliot/ Brassed Off movie of 2014 – standing ovation for gay films this year!!
You can’t help but fall in love with this stunning children’s/ family movie, cutest child actor of all time and the story so innocent but also dangerous – can watch it over and over – will be seeing it with the parents on boxing day again – thanks for my Blu Ray Icon 🙂 Should also be known the band named themselves after this story.
3) WHIPLASH
The Black Swan for the jazz world – JK Simmons for supporting actor Oscar!! The sublime art of abuse for brilliance – it was how Michael Jackson became so brilliant and James Teller is a great match to Simmons!
2) INTERSTELLAR
The movie that divided a planet 🙂 You will love it or hate it, for me this is a film that I could watch a thousand times and still be asking questions. Any movie that can come close to the level of excellence of 2001 is a supreme work of cinematic art, seeing it in 70mm Imax was also an experience I will forever remember. Pity a lot of the viewing public do not grasp it’s achievements.
Drumroll……………………………………………………….
1) BOYHOOD
One of the best movies I have ever seen, a film that I literally cried in because it was ending at 3hrs long. A movie with no plot but a movie that welcomed me into a family and allowed me to stay for 12years – god I hope they are continuing and making a sequel I can watch when I am 54. I applaud this film on every level.
I guess this list isn’t just for cinema releases as I know from memory 3 didn’t have a release in Melbourne at least. There are 3 on your list which i haven’t seen but am doing a bit of catch up over the next week of so
I would only have 2 of your 20 in MY list of the Best of 2014
All movies in our top 20s for the year must have screened in a cinema. This may be at festivals or for release.
I’ll give you a pass with Billy Elliot as it was one of those NT screenings which I recall around the traps but Any Day Now, Venus in Furs (which 9 wouldve gone to see being a Polanski), Young Ones [which we have discussed] and Land of Storms I don’t recall them even playing MiFF or in cinemas here but they might of done at SiFF obviously
Any Day Now and Venus in Fur had full art house releases here – either Palace or Dendy – both played at Cinema Nova in VIC – Young Ones – yep, festivals – sorted – should have been full art house release, Land of Storms – recent festival – Windows on Europe FF – think it only played Sydney/ Canberra.
Hmm i have to “disagree” with Venus unless it had a 2-3 week slot at Nova in July while I was in Hong Kong, but i have a lost of 2014 releases at cinemas on my ipad with films I want to see and its not on that list
It was a July release – only thing I can find re Melbourne – http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/melbourne-film-listings-venus-in-fur-the-french-minister-20140717-3c3se.html
Any Day Now played Cinema Nova in Melbourne for weeks, it was also at MQFF. Venus in Furs was in a few of the Palace Cinemas in Melbourne but it lasted exactly one week. It did however also have lost of screenings in the French Film Festival earlier in the year in Melbourne.
Awesome list – seen a few of these and these ones I completely agree (Boyhood, Interstellar, Whiplash, Nightcrawler, Snowpiercer, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Guardians of the Galaxy, Any Day Now and The Wolf of Wall Street.) As for the rest, I haven’t seen or either I didn’t quite think highly of them (Only Lovers Left Alive and Pride are not my kind of flick, How to Train a Dragon 2 (This one is good but not great), The Lego Movie (so-so))
On my list as well are Edge of Tomorrow, The Babadook, The Little Death, Two Days, One Night, Gone Girl, Winter Sleep, Particle Fever, Finding Vivian Maier, St Vincent, Omar and Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Ohhhh and also The Raid 2!
P.S – I can’t wait for your review on The Hobbit and I am going to see it in 4DX soon!
I loved the Lego movie and The Grand Budapest Hotel too. I look forward to watching a few of the others on dvd in coming weeks/months. (ie. when I find the time!)
I’ll be back with my Top 10 (or 20) in 10 days time. Still have to see Nightcrawler and A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night which might contend ! At the moment we only have 2 in common (there’s a surprise 🙂 )
Sorry Andrew, no Russian films this year – hhhmmmmmmmmmm – as to the two? Boyhood and Only Lovers Left Alive or The Rover???? Nightcrawler will definitely make your lost – I need to see A Girl Walks…….
No Russian films for me either ! Damn that delayed Leviathan release. And I read your list too quickly, there’s actually 4. The Triple-Tilda & Boyhood. Though I’ve a lot of work to do, I’ve seen 180 new release/festival films and a lot of them haven’t been added to the list yet. Nightcrawler will have its work cut out cracking the Top 20.
Did you say 180 movies? This year? #freak!
Yay Tilda 🙂 What about The Rover – thought you would like that one.
Did you see Young Ones?
[…] in my list – sublime movie. For our other lists for the end of 2014 be sure to see my own Top 20 List and also our Top 20 Worst Movies of 2014 and coming later today – our combined vote Top 20 […]
Yep, I’m heading for 400 movies this year including retrospectives, 360 of those watched in cinemas! I didn’t see The Young Ones. The Rover was pretty good but it’s tough to get into my top 20 movies when you’ve seen 180 new releases, it isn’t even my favourite Australian film this year, trailing The Babadook and Charlie’s Country and none of them are going to make the top 20.
When do you have time? Do you work? 🙂 Was not a huge fan of Charlie’s Country – Babadook was my number 22 🙂
Sure it’s barely more than 1 movie a day. I’m surprised I haven’t watched more.
I take it you do not watch any TV shows, rarely shower, have a social life or cook your own meals? Haha. Is that what Ryan is for? 🙂
I watch as many television shows as movies and have an internal battle over Salty or pleasure every day. Although Salty is not far from pleasure.
Sorry for my previous outburst readers – stupid ignorant trolls yanking my chain occasionally sets me off 🙂 My usually calm demeanour got a bit flustered to the explosion point 🙂
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