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#10
UNDER THE SKIN
Under the Skin poster

CAST
SCARLETT JOHANSSON, PAUL BRANNIGAN, KRYSTOF HADEK, JEREMY McWILLIAMS, ADAM PEARSON, JOE SZULA

DIRECTED BY
JONATHAN GLAZER

Under the Skin is a film that delivers upon its title. Eerie, strange & haunting in its visuals & commentary, Jonathan Glazer's first feature film in 10 years perfectly blends the sci-fi world with the art-house, as Scarlett Johansson's extra-terrestrial predator (one of the actor’s finest & most courageous performances) falls prey to the fragility, beauty & horror of mankind. Playing soundtrack to it all is the other worldly sounds of Mica Levi.

 

 


#9
THE DROP
The Drop poster

CAST
TOM HARDY, ANN DOWD, JAMES FRECHEVILLE, JAMES GANDOLFINI, JOHN ORTIZ, NOOMI RAPACE, MATTHIAS SCHOENAERTS

DIRECTED BY
MICHAEL R. ROSKAM

Crime writer Dennis Lehane has had many of his works adapted into quality cinema (Gone Baby Gone, Mystic River), yet the Boston writer's screen adaptation of his own short story resulted in the best film based on Lehane's work yet: The Drop.

Assuredly directed by Michael R. Roskam and featuring incredible performances by Tom Hardy (claiming title as the next Brando), James Gandolfini (brilliant in what would tragically be his last turn), & Mathias Schoenarts (stealing scenes with an intimidating turn), The Drop is a Brooklyn set crime thriller that beats a strong moral pulse, with a strong religious-driven undercurrent exemplifying its message that in order to survive the mean streets also means to be damned.

 

 

 

#8
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING
The Theory of Everything poster

CAST
FELICITY JONES, EDDIE REDMAYNE, CHARLIE COX, SIMON McBURNEY, CHRISTIAN McKAY, EMILY WATSON

DIRECTED BY
JAMES MARSH

In the still raging culture wars, key is the battle between the religious faithful & the "freethinking" atheist. The Theory of Everything is a movie that beautifully portrays this often volatile clash of ideologies.

While it can be described as a "Stephen Hawking biopic", The Theory of Everything is in fact based on the lauded scientist’s ex-wife Jane Hawkins biography, resulting in a moving & illuminating tale of how love can bring two people of conflicting life philosophy together.

Eddie Redmayne delivers an outstanding performance in his portrayal of the brilliant mind and crippling body of the ALS suffering Hawkins. Yet the heart of the movie belongs to Felicity Jones in her portrayal of a loving, devoted and conflicted wife. Beautifully directed by Janes Marsh & scored by Johann Johannsson, The Theory of Everything is a film that will make you feel, think & applaud at its majesty.

 

 

 

#7
BIRDMAN
Birdman poster

CAST
MICHAEL KEATON, ZACH GALIFIANAKIS, EDWARD NORTON, ANDREA RISEBOROUGH, AMY RYAN, EMMA STONE, NAOMI WATTS

DIRECTED BY
ALEJANDRO GONZALEZ INARRITU

Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu was in quite the artistic funk before Birdman swooped in for the save.

His 2010 release Biutiful took the Mexican director's penchant for heavy drama to cloggy, depressing lows, & his frequent collaborator screenwriter Guillermo Ariarga had moved on. Needed was a kick start to Gonzalez Inarritu's artistry and career, and Birdman proved to be just that, revitalising the career of Michael Keaton in the process.

While many have their own theories about what the film  is essentially about (Gonzalez Inarritu states it's about ego; this critic views it as a warning about the over saturation of superhero movies), there is no doubt about the high quality of filmmaking -from direction, to writing, to performance, to its technical aspects - that is on display.

Unique, entertaining & remarkable, Birdman soars high.

 

 

 

#6
A MOST VIOLENT YEAR
A Most Violent Year poster

CAST
OSCAR ISAAC, ALBERT BROOKS, JESSICA CHASTAIN, GLENN FLESHLER, EYES GABEL, ALESSANDRO NIVOLA, DAVID OYELOWO

DIRECTED BY
J.C. CHANDOR

With the release of his third feature film, writer/director J.C. Chandor has had many a comparison with legendary filmmaker Sidney Lumet (Serpico, Network). On top of the fact that both filmmakers have not received enough recognition for their work, both also deal with morally driven storylines filled with rich characters.

Thus we come to A Most Violent Year, Chandor’s latest film that stars an incredible Oscar Isaac as an immigrant turned self-made businessman, who must contend with a violent New York City hell-bent on swallowing him into its dark abyss.

While beautifully shot by Bradford Young, the films crisp veneer quickly gives way to a story of murky morality with one man fighting to attain the moral high ground in a battle for power, Isacc’s performance brilliantly conveying his characters inner struggle to have his soul stain free while plunging into the corruptive cesspool of power.

 

 

 

#5
CALVARY
Calvary poster

CAST
BRENDAN GLEESON, ISAACH DE BANKOLE, MARIE-JOSEE CROZE, AIDAN GILLEN, DYLAN MORAN, CHRIS O’DOWD, KELLY REILLY, M. EMMET WALSH

DIRECTED BY
JOHN MICHAEL McDONAGH

Writer/director John Michael McDonagh has quickly established himself as one of the most unique, talented & forthright filmmakers working today.

Where his debut The Guard bravely took a un-PC approach to race, drugs & law enforcement in the guise of a buddy comedy, Calvary was a brave new step into other controversial issue: clerical abuse within the Catholic Church. What made things even more controversial is that McDonaugh had the gumption to have as his lead character a good Catholic priest (Shock! Horror! Reality!) in the form of Father James, the parish priest of a small Irish village of which the good Father must figure which one of his parishioners has threatened to kill him for the sins of other priests.

Brendan Gleeson plays the role with intelligence, gravitas and a wicked sense of humour, delivering McDonagh's pitch black funny yet profoundly dialogue with commanding authority, resulting in one of the year’s best performances. 

 

 

 

#4
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
The Grand Budapest Hotel poster

CAST
RALPH FIENNES, F. MURRAY ABRAHAM, ADRIEN BRODY, WILLEM DAFOE, JEFF GOLDBLUM, JUDE LAW, EDWARD NORTON, SAOIRSE RONAN

DIRECTED BY
WES ANDERSON

Following career best work in Moonrise Kingdom would not have been an easy task for filmmaker Wes Anderson, but the tweed-one rose to the challenge with another zany, vibrant, entertaining & incredibly heartfelt slice of wonder from his off the charts imagination, with The Grand Budapest Hotel.

Yet outside of the incredible design work & zip-zang brilliant screenplay, The Grand Budapest Hotel is that much more grand thanks to the excellent performances of its star studded cast, especially Ralph Fiennes whose turn as devoted concierge Gustave H. not only stands as one of the best turns in the esteemed thespians career, but one of the best results of a dramatic actor taking on a comedic role. 

 

 


#3
DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes poster

CAST
JASON CLARKE, ANDY SERKIS, TOBY KEBBELL, GARY OLDMAN, KERI RUSSELL, KODY SMIT-McPHEE

DIRECTED BY
MATT REEVES

There have been a number of significant chapters in the history of prominent visual effects cinema: Star Wars, Terminator 2, The Lord of the Rings, Avatar. In 2014 another was written in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.

While the films predecessor Rise of the Planet of the Apes was in itself a significant work, Dawn... took things to a whole new level in attaining that ever elusive perfection of blending the digital with the real, with those wickedly marvellous wizards from WETA outdoing previous efforts.

Yet any blockbuster can have stellar FX work; it's the emotion -heart filled, powerful, profound- that pulsates throughout Dawn... that makes it that much more special, with the continued evolution of genetically modified ape Ceaser (Andy Serkis, the Marlon Brando of stop motion acting) one that engrosses & thrills in his journey as the leader of an advanced species poised to rule the world.

Making it all work is director Matt Reeves, who excelled in creating a movie that is large in scale and deep in feeling. 

 

 

 

#2
SELMA
Selma poster

CAST
DAVID OYELOWO, CARMEN EJOGO, WENDELL PIERCE, GIOVANNI RIBISI, TIM ROTH, TOM WILKINSON, OPRAH WINFREY

DIRECTED BY
AVA DUVERNAY

Any filmmaker who decides to tackle a film about Martin Luther King will face insurmountable expectations, based on who the man was and the legacy he left behind. For Ava Devurnay it was a project which she tackled with skill, passion & an upmost responsibility, Selma presenting the Nobel Prize winning, Christian activist and his crusade for racial equality, with power & truth.

Set during the civil-rights fight for the right to vote in the racial hotbed of Selma, Alabama, Duvernay's historical drama successfully transports viewers back to the time where racial segregation was at its ugliest. Yet from that darkness came a shining light in King's preach that God created all men equal.

Portraying that righteous, commanding power was British actor David Oyelowo, who quite simply became Martin Luther King, delivering a stunning, complete performance that mesmerises with its grace & gravitas.

A mighty achievement as both a film and socially relevant reminder of where we were and where we still are, Selma is not only a masterful movie, but a vitally important one.

 

 

 

#1
BOYHOOD
Boyhood poster

CAST
ELLA COLTRANE, PARTRICIA ARQUETTE, ETHAN HAWKE, BRAD HAWKINS, LORELEI LINKLATER, MARCO PERELLA

DIRECTED BY
RICHARD LINKLATER

Who knew that during those 12 years prolific filmmaker Richard Linklater was creating films such as Before Sunrise, Me & Orson Welles & Bernie that he was also hard at work filming and piecing together the movie of his career? Yet that is what he delivered with Boyhood, an ambitious and suitably epic chronicle of young Mason's (Ella Coltrone) journey from 6 year old boy to 18 year old young man.

Linklater's presentation that life is but a series of moments is beautifully realised and structurally impressive, not to mention excellently portrayed with both Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette's performances as Mason's divorced parents especially strong.

Most impressive is that Linklater has not merely created a film but a once in a lifetime viewing experience, as we watch human life grow, interact, love & learn with incredibly natural feel and profound effect.

Linklater has not only created something unique; he has crafted an exceptional story that does not exhaust with its three hour run time nor relies upon any kind of " novelty" to see it through. No, Linklater has delivered something all movie lovers pine for: a genuine experience delivered in the guise of a movie. And like those moments in life, it is an experience to be cherished. 

 

 

 

 
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