Boyhood - Linklater's film covers so much territory that it seems to give short shrift to some aspects (and the boy's sister is a strange non-factor for most of the film). Even though the movie flies through events, however, by the end of the movie you can't help but feel emotionally connected to the lead character. That Linklater is able to make things ring true and is able to build an emotional connection to the audience is a testament to his skill.
Cold in July - Jim Mickle's revenge noir is a fascinating exploration of the intersection between masculinity and violence. Featuring an outstanding set of performances and a script that manages to surprise throughout, this film should have had a much bigger audience. Hopefully it will catch on in the video and VOD markets.
The Congress - Another under-seen film from last year, this fascinating movie from Ari Folman is half live-action and half animated. At its core is an intriguing performance from lead Robin Wright, who plays a version of herself. Kudos to Wright for being willing to take on her persona and even her career choices, and then to throw herself into this visually challenging film that explores the need for true human connections even in a world that wishes to turn humanity itself into a fiction.
Gloria - Paulina Garcia's winning performance illuminates this fascinating and fun story of a middle-aged divorcée rediscovering her own sense of identity, independence, and sexuality. Underlying the feminist story is a subtle exploration of Chilean politics. A group of middle-aged folks that fondly reminisce about their youthful radicalism mostly ignore the rising tide of radical political action taking place around them as they enjoy their middle-class bourgeois existence.
Ida - A haunting story that also deals with identity from a woman's perspective, this time with a youthful novitiate nun who faces a crisis of identity and spirituality just as she is about to finally take her vows. Haunting visuals and a fascinating story in a compact package, I thoroughly recommend this film.
The Immigrant - This old-school historical epic was unjustly dumped mid-summer by its distributor. That's a shame, because it is movie that should be seen. Featuring a great performance from Marion Cotillard, this film from director James Gray aptly explores both the downside and upside of the American Dream.
Kids for Cash - Hey, what do you know: another underseen film from 2014. This outstanding documentary works as a fascinating procedural, an informative work of journalism, and a rousing call to action. The issue is the downside of America's fetish for zero tolerance for juvenile offenders. Kids For Cash builds on the story of a corrupt Pennsylvania judge locking up kids in a private prison in which he had a financial interest. The filmmakers manage to build a broader story about how the modern state of juvenile justice is not improving society, but instead just breaking down and destroying children's lives.
Selma - There are a few iffy moments in this film but it mostly soars as it presents the true story of Martin Luther King's Selma march for voting rights. The debate over historical accuracy is mostly a distraction built around mere details and tangents, and that debate should be mostly ignored by all but academics. Filmmaker Ava Duvernay refuses to turn this into hagiography - she explores King's foibles and mistakes as well as his doubts. The result is an MLK that is ultimately more powerful and admirable precisely because he is so human. Duvernay also does an excellent job of tying these struggles into struggles that are ongoing to this day, without making it obvious (or perhaps there is no other way since we appear to have taken steps backward in recent years to where even 1965 Selma has resonance to today's events). There are several moments that pack astonishing emotional punches - an elderly man's discussion of his desire to vote as he stands over the body of his dead grandson might have been the most emotional moment I had at any point in a movie in 2014. This film is a must-see.
Snowpiercer - There might not have been a more interesting action film all year. Too bad since the distributor also dumped this one. There's plenty of action here but the movie also has a brain and it serves as an interesting exploration of class struggle - and close quarters axe-fighting.
Two Days, One Night - And the best shall be last. The Dardenne Brothers' latest neo-realist film is a brilliant dissection of modern capitalism and how it crushes worker solidarity and pits worker against worker in a brutal race to the bottom. That's not to say that this movie is overly cruel or even all that dark. There are many moments of hope and ultimately a conclusion that suggests, whether a worker wins or loses in the short term, it is the fight that matters. A great film.
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* Technically, some of these movies might have first appeared somewhere before 2014, but if they weren't available to screen in a theater near me until 2014, then they're on my 2014 list.
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