2014 in Review

  1. The Grand Budapest Hotel, A, a grand visual experience, with a fine cast
  2. Selma, A, well made movie about a pivotal piece of history
  3. Whiplash, A, very good story and characters with great acting
  4. Interstellar, A, great visuals, neat science, and a complex story
  5. All This Mayhem, A, well made documentary about skateboarding brothers
  6. Gone Girl, A-, very good story and acting
  7. Guardians of the Galaxy, A-, fun and entertaining sci fi flick
  8. Into the Woods, A-, great cast and characters get new music and story
  9. The Imitation Game, A-, good characters, great acting, interesting story
  10. The Theory of Everything, A-, a great personal story of a science celebrity
  11. Fury, A-, well made effective movie about tank battles
  12. How to Train Your Dragon 2, A-, gorgeous animation with a heavy story
  13. The Lego Movie, B+, surprisingly good movie about plastic people
  14. Paddington, B+, well made origin story with sharp humor and cast
  15. Big Hero 6, B+, typical action movie has a strong beginning
  16. Under the Skin, B+, interesting artsy sci-fi flick slowly fizzles
  17. The Book of Life, B+, spectacular animation tells a strong Mexican story
  18. Song of the Sea, B+, beautiful but slow artsy animated film
  19. Nightcrawler, B+, interesting movie about freelance news gathering
  20. Inherent Vice, B+, entertaining, foggy neo-noir stoner comedy
  21. Foxcatcher, B+, good performances of odd characters
  22. Lucy, B+, a wild sci-fi and gangster mashup, fun to watch
  23. Night at the Museum 3, B+, solid finale avoids pitfalls of first sequel
  24. Captain America: The Winter Soldier, B, enjoyable action movie with silly political stuff
  25. American Sniper, B, good portrait of a soldier, not a great movie
  26. Godzilla, B, a solid update of a classic monster movie
  27. St. Vincent, B-, Bill Murray is very good in a familiar role
  28. John Wick, B, well done, but basically plotless gun ballet
  29. Frank, B-, funny and weird concept doesn't pan out
  30. The Amazing Spider-Man 2, B-, looks good, but story and characters are weak
  31. Let's Be Cops, B-, bad movie exceeded my low expectations
  32. Son of Batman, B-, fun series, but has character and action flaws
  33. Birdman, C+, an acting movie for actors
  34. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, C+, disappointing plot, but some bright spots
  35. Calvary, C-, well made but dark, depressing, and mean movie
  36. Boyhood, D+, actually seems 12 years long

Years in Review