Top 30 Best New Movies Of 2014 1.12.13 # Top Ten # 12 Comments 18th – Transformers: Age Of Extinction Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz, Jack Reynor, Kelsey Grammer, Stanley Tucci Director: Michael Bay Released: June 27th, 2014 A semi-reboot: Shia is gone, along with the entire human cast, a couple of key writers, and all but two of the Transformers (a redesigned Prime and Bumblebee). Instead this is about a mechanic (Wahlberg) and his daughter (Peltz) making a discovery 4 years later that brings the Autobots, Decepticons, and a paranoid government official (Grammer) down on them. Also involved is the long-overdue introduction of the Dinobots (see Grimlock, above), who may not necessarily be Autobot allies much of the time. The all-new Decepticons are Galvatron, Cyclonus and Lockdown. The human cast was tired so I’m glad to see fresh talent. If only Bay would hand directing duties onto someone else. 17th – Sin City: A Dame To Kill For Starring: Josh Brolin, Jessica Alba, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Mickey Rourke Directors: Frank Miller, Robert Rodriguez Released: August 22nd, 2014 Neo-noir prequel and sequel with interlinking stories set before and after the 2005 original. Plotlines include: Dwight (Brolin) being called by his former lover (Eva Green) to help her escape her abusive husband; A cocky gambler (Gordon-Levitt) setting out to destroy the biggest villain in Sin City at his own game; And Marv (Rourke) regaining consciousness on a highway overlooking the Projects, surrounded by dead young men, unable to remember how he got there. Dwight was played by Clive Owen in ‘Sin City’, but here Josh Brolin takes over as it’s pre-extensive facial surgery. The cast also includes Rosario Dawson, Ray Liotta, Powers Boothe, Jamie Chung, Jaime King, Jeremy Piven and Bruce Willis. The first film was a beautiful piece of cinema with unique visuals and compelling storytelling. It’ll be hard to have the same impact second time around, but expect a quality production. 16th – Jupiter Ascending Starring: Mila Kunis, Channing Tatum, Sean Bean, Eddie Redmayne Director: Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski Released: July 25th, 2014 New Movies 2014 In a universe where humans are near the bottom of the evolutionary ladder, an unlucky Russian immigrant (Kunis) who cleans toilets for a living encounters an interplanetary warrior (Tatum) who the Queen of the Universe has sent to kill her. He tells her that the stars were pointing to an extraordinary event on the night she was born, and that her DNA could mark her as the universe’s next leader… Sean Bean plays Stinger, a “Han Solo-type character”, who helps them as they are pursued by cyber hunters. Also Terry Gilliam has “a small but vital” acting role. The Wachowskis are returning to their ‘Matrix’ roots with another story of an average person plucked from obscurity and told they’re “The One”. But is the rest of the plot too wacky to connect with people? (Are Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum the actors you’d want to sell a silly idea as serious – here Tatum plays a half-albino with wolf and human DNA). Visually the Wachowskis are about the best in the business, and in a sci-fi setting it should be something to behold. I hope this sees them back on top. 15th – Gone Girl Starring: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Tyler Perry, Neil Patrick Harris Director: David Fincher Released: October 3rd, 2014 Best Movies 2014 Thriller based on the word-of-mouth best-selling novel about a woman (Rosamund Pike, ‘An Education’) who goes missing on her fifth wedding anniversary. The police suspect her husband (Affleck). Her friends reveal she was afraid of him, that she kept secrets from him. He swears it isn’t true. A police examination of his computer shows strange searches. He says they weren’t made by him. And then there are the persistent calls on his mobile phone. So what really did happen to his beautiful wife? The book alternated perspective between the husband and wife, and the movie seemingly sticks to that. It was also full of twists and had a bad ending – hopefully they’ve tweaked that. Given the surprising cast list, expect to see career-best performances from many under director David Fincher. He can turn any material into compelling, classy cinema. 14th – Inherent Vice Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Josh Brolin, Reese Witherspoon, Owen Wilson Director: Paul Thomas Anderson Released: TBC 2014 At the tail end of the psychedelic sixties when free love is slipping away and paranoia is creeping in, marijuana-fueled L.A. private eye Larry “Doc” Sportello (Pheonix) is confronted by his long-absent ex. She tells him of a sinister plot to kidnap a billionaire land developer she’s in love with. When she vanishes, he’s lead into a labyrinthine web of crime involving infidelity, mental institutions, and a policeman called “Bigfoot” (Brolin). Also in the tangle are surfers, hustlers, dopers and rockers, a murderous loan shark, a tenor sax player working undercover, and a mysterious entity known as the Golden Fang, which may only be a tax dodge set up by some dentists. An adaptation of Thomas Pynchon’s novel that’s part noir, part psychedelic romp. Think ‘Chinatown’ meets ‘The Big Lebowski’. Director P.T. Anderson (‘The Master’, ‘There Will Be Blood’) combined with the elements above should make for something wonderful, and his most accessible film since ‘Boogie Nights’. 13th – 22 Jump Street Starring: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube, Wyatt Russell, Amber Stevens Directors: Phil Lord, Chris Miller Released: June 13th, 2014 Top Movies 2014 Officers Schmidt (Hill) and Jenko (Tatum) go deep undercover at a local college to crack a crime ring within a fraternity. But when Jenko meets a kindred spirit on the football team and Schmidt infiltrates the bohemian art major scene, they begin to question their partnership. In addition to cracking the case, the two freshmen must figure out if they can have a mature relationship like real men… The highly-entertaining-in-this-role Ice Cube, is back as police Captain Dickson. Amber Stevens (‘Greek’) has joined as a romantic interest for Schmidt, while Kurt Russell’s son Wyatt plays Jenko’s fraternity brother who’s a lead suspect in their investigation. Jonah Hill lost 40 pounds for the original, but won’t be doing so this time around – Expect the character’s sudden weight gain to be a plot point, probably. The first movie was a surprise hit critically and commercially. With the same directors on board and the same great chemistry between the leads, expect this to be a good time too. Hill and Tatum have said, “As we all know, sequels are ALWAYS better than the original. Every single time. This will be no exception.” 12th Place >
Posted on: Fri, 02 May 2014 13:41:06 +0000
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