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#5 The Raid 2
As martial arts movies go, The Raid 2 showcases some truly extraordinary choreography. But to label it a “martial arts movie” would do a huge disservice to the film’s unexpectedly powerful tale of filial obligations, territorial conflicts, and internal insecurities. It dares to offer bone-breaking action as easily as conjure quiet moments of heartbreaking regret -- a feat much easier said than done.
#4 Boyhood
It’s tough not to fall in love with Boyhood, despite its almost gimmicky logline of “The movie shot over twelve years.” But this is an instance in which form dictates content, and vice versa. The film would not have nearly the same emotional impact had it used multiple actors to tell the same story; and its efficacy in detailing an ordinary day-to-day life is intrinsically tied to its one-of-a-kind shooting methods. It may not dazzle with explosions or monsters, but I feel equally entranced by this technical and creative achievement.
#3 Gone Girl
David Fincher’s latest endeavor into the dark abyss of human nature may not be his most profound trip, but it may be the most entertaining and biting. The effectiveness of Fincher’s manipulation of characters, emotions, and structure is so sharp that it belies the film’s complexities. Part documentarial whodunit, part dark comedy, part social satire, and part Hitchcockian horror, Gone Girl combines every element and balances its drastic tonal and structural requirements like a juggler tossing chainsaws, at once dangerous but exhilarating, frightening but irresistible.
#2 Whiplash
“There are no two words in the English language more harmful than ‘Good Job,’” mutters the iron-willed, ruthless perfectionist jazz instructor Terence Fletcher as he articulates his view on music, ambition, and life itself. There is no trace of irony in his speech, only absolution. It is Fletcher’s drive to extract every ounce of talent from his students, often at the detriment of their mental, emotional, and physical states, that drives this avalanche of a film. Whiplash strives mightily -- and succeeds mightily -- in achieving that which may or may not exist -- perfection.
#1 Birdman
I was not expecting to enjoy Birdman as much as I did. In fact, I wasn’t even sure I fully understood it all upon leaving the theater. But like any great work of art, it lingered in my mind for days, forcing me to reconsider what I had seen and challenge my initial perceptions. It dazzles on a technical level as much as excites on an intellectual; and it’s anchored by daring, sharp, and wryly amusing performances from every actor involved. The result is a story, a movie, a work of art that evolves in complexity and intrigue as it marinades in your mind. It not only flies, it soars.
