10
“Frances Ha”
Directed by Noah Baumbach
Reminiscent of some of Woody Allen’s early work, "Frances Ha" is
a charming and endlessly surprising little film with amusing dialogue and one
fantastic lead performance. Greta Gerwig, star and co-writer, is perfect in the
role of Frances, an impulsive 20-something struggling to find her place in a
world where rent isn’t cheap and all of her friends seem to have everything
together. Directed by Noah Baumbach and shot in crisp black and white, “Frances
Ha” is playful, smart and potent.
“Don Jon”
Directed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Joseph Gordon-Levitt wrote, directed and starred in this
fast-paced dramedy about a porn-addicted, self absorbed juice head. JGL’s film influences are
heavily apparent here, but never take away from this spectacularly funny,
original little gem. The script is witty and fast and offers up some really
interesting commentary on how our society views relationships, love and one
another. (Review)
“The Conjuring”
Directed by James Wan
From the opening credits, "The Conjuring" had me in its cold,
dead grasp. Thanks to a fantastically talented cast and James Wan’s love for
the horror genre, this instant classic is absolutely terrifying. Boasting an R
rating for simply being 'too scary,' "The Conjuring" is as spooky as it is fresh
and surprising.
“American Hustle”
Directed by David O. Russell
Admittedly much different than I was expecting, "American
Hustle" wows thanks to its perfect ensemble cast and David O. Russell’s sharp
screenplay. Focusing less on story structure and more on its flawed characters
and their increasingly complicated lives, “Hustle” is so much fun it almost
feels like a guilty pleasure. Jennifer Lawrence, Christian Bale and Bradley
Cooper are all terrific, but Amy Adams steals the show.
6
“Blue Jasmine”
Directed by Woody Allen
The rate at which Woody Allen puts out script after script is
almost alarming. His latest, “Blue Jasmine” is one of his best, showcasing one
of the most interesting casts of his career. It is a dark, painfully hilarious
character study in which Cate Blanchett—arguably the greatest living actress—gives the best performance of her insanely stellar career.
“Inside Llewyn Davis”
Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen
Speaking of dark and hilarious, the Coen Brothers have added
another classic to their near-flawless list of films with “Inside Llewyn
Davis.” New York in the 60s is a glorious place to see through the eyes of
Coen. Every crisp shot looks like it could be the cover of a Bob Dylan album,
thanks to Bruno Delbonnel’s superb cinematography. Semi-newcomer Oscar Isaac shines
as the talented, but hopelessly pessimistic Llewyn Davis.
“12 Years a Slave”
Directed by Steve McQueen
Sprawling and unrelenting, “12 Years a Slave” goes to places
rarely seen on film. Its power comes from a top notch ensemble cast and Steve’s
McQeen’s ability to commit to brutal realism. Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael
Fassbender and Lupita Nyong’o are just a few of the actors giving award worthy
performances.
“The Wolf of Wall Street”
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Topping off his unofficial trilogy of "Goodfellas," "Casino" and
now “The Wolf of Wall Street,” Martin Scorsese’s drug-fueled roller coaster ride of
chaos is one of the best times I had in the movies all year. Leonardo DiCaprio
and Jonah Hill both give Oscar worthy performances that are just as hysterical
as they are sickening. Scorsese isn’t afraid to get down and dirty as he
explores themes of greed, power and excess, throwing the audience into a world
of debauchery, madness and pure, filthy fun.
“Her”
Directed by Spike Jonze
“Her” is just about perfect. Spike Jonze creates a beautifully
imagined and optimistically bright vision of the future. As bizarre as the
concept is, every bit of it feels authentic thanks to Jonze’s brilliantly
quirky direction, profound script and some of the best performances of the
year. Joaquin Phoenix is perfect in the role of the shy and broken Theodore,
while Amy Adams’ criminally under-appreciated performance as his best friend is
unforgettable.
“Gravity”
Directed by Alfonso Cuarón
Terrifying. Beautiful. Mind-blowing. Did I say terrifying?
“Gravity” is unlike any movie-going experience I’ve ever had,
blowing me away visually and crushing me emotionally. The simplicity of the
Cuarón’s minimalist script offers just enough to grab hold of you but doesn’t
complicate or distract form the gorgeousness of what’s on screen. Sandra
Bullock’s vulnerable and heartbreaking performance is a career-best. Alfonso
Cuarón has made a smart, game-changing masterpiece that is worthy of being
mentioned in the same sentence as Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey.”
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