Top 10 List of 2014 Part 1

Well Ladies and Sirs I think you've all waited long enough. It's that time of the year that I know you have all been waiting for. It's time for my Top 10 List of 2014.  I know what you are thinking right now, and before you even finish that thought allow me to tell you to shut up.  Because if you didn't know this my year goes from Oscars to Oscars. Much like the TV networks year starts in August and ends in May. Oh and here is another twist on my Top 10 List it's really 13 movies and you know what I don't care because I couldn't just stop at 10.  So here goes nothing.

10D. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
If I'm being honest here this movie is probably the reason that I needed to go to 13.  Because I just couldn't bump anything out of my top 10 and I just wanted to badly to put this movie in. This is definitely one of the best rides I went on in a movie this year. I hope so badly that these people exists in our galaxy.  The comedic timing between Rocket, Groot, and Drax the Destroyer are worth the price of admission alone. Let me also say that I think that Chris Pratt becoming a superstar has been a long time coming. I remember him way back when he was in The O.C. and I loved him then.  And if you don't like Andy from Parks and Rec you are just wrong. Who out there doesn't want to see a group of misfits become heroes? I also Challenge anyone to watch this movie and not immediately want to buy the soundtrack.

10C. OBVIOUS CHILD
I saw this movie quite a bit ago in the early summer of 2014 if I'm not mistaken and it is a movie that has been with me ever since. I think it is a movie that just hits all the right notes.  And after watching this movie and already seeing her has Mona-Lisa Ralphio on Parks and Rec I have to just say that the sky is the limit for this young actress. she is just an all around breath for fresh air. And really in a time when there just really isn't enough good roles for women I believe that this is one of the better ones of the year. Also touching on a topic that not to many people want to touch these days (abortion) but doing it in a way that feels very real and natural to the choices that people make every single day. I can't tell you how much I love this movie, and it got me hooked on Paul Simon so thank you for that.

10B. FURY
I'm really not sure if I've ever seen a war movie quite like this one. And while there are some that I like better such as Saving Private Ryan, Platoon, or even Glory for instance I still can't shake the haunting affect that this movie had on me. As Brad Pitt's Wardaddy leads a tank crew through Germany at the end of WWII you will be amazed. Pitt is amazing as always but the rest of the actors in this movie shine as well. Including Shia LeBeouf who I'm sure you've all thought has fallen off the face of the earth. Watching Logan Lerman's Character go from innocent to become a blunt instrument of war brings me back to my first year of college playing baseball at Seminole State. Which also made me want to call up all the gentlemen I played with at and around that time and let them all know, Playing ball with you, best job I ever had. 

10A. BEGIN AGAIN
Sometimes a movie comes along at just the right time and it can remind you of how wonderfully optimistic life can be.  And for me Begin Again is that movie.  A movie about a songwriter and a music producer creating a wonderful album using the great city of New York as their inspiration and their almost romance. This movie just hits me on so many levels for starters the music in it is just amazing. for seconds Mark Ruffalo is my hero and the chemistry between him and Keira Knightley is just wonderful.  And I have to say that Adam Levine playing a even doucheier version of himself is so damn funny to see. I think it's just a wonderful movie that will remind you that no matter how far you fall, it's never too late to Begin Again.

9. EDGE OF TOMORROW
I know that even as I write this one down there are so many of you Tom Cruise haters out there that can't even believe that this one made the list. Let me just say that your cynicism and dislike for Tome Cruise is causing you to miss out on some damn good movies. This being one of them. On the surface this movie is an Action/Sci-Fi movie but believe me it is so much more. Let me say that it is so much more because of how great an actor Tom Cruise is. I found myself cracking up so many times in this movie, a lot of that having to do with the wonderful Bill Paxton who steals the show. And it is action packed, but the drama of this movie is very hard hitting and so movie. Emily Blunt also shines, but really when doesn't she, and she is just wonderful opposite of Tom Cruise. I really just dare you to know like this movie.

8. CHEF
I'm not kidding when I say this, but this movie might just be the feel good movie of the year. It is actually between this movie and St. Vincent. I just love this movie on so many different levels. The first of course being that it is a father and son movie. If you know me at all, you know I'm a sucker for that because of how important my father is to me. Second, the food that they show in this movie is amazing. I just wanted more and more scenes of Jon Favreau's character just cooking great food. Then on top of all of that it is a road trip movie as well. It's almost as if the movie gods wrapped this one up in a bow and delivered it to me. This is just a really wonderful and funny movie. John Leguizamo is the perfect best friend character to Jon Favreau and there is this wacky hilarious scene with Robert Downey Jr. that makes me happier and happier every time I see this movie.

7. FOXCATCHER
Bennet Miller is becoming one of the most fascinating directors around if you ask me.  He really just knocked it out of the park with Moneyball, no pun intended. And then he comes back with Foxcatcher and just blows me away. The performances by the three LEADS in this movie is amazing.  I say that they are all leads because that is exactly what I believe.  I think that you will be hard pressed to find three better performances in any movie let alone all in the same movie this year.  Steve Carrell is almost unrecognizable as DuPont in this movie and his performance is chilling. I think that it is well documented my feelings about Mark Ruffalo and in this movie he once again he just blows my mind. And I want to take a minute to talk about Channing Tatum who was not nominated but just gives the best performance of his career. As he finds himself drawn in my Carrell's DuPont only to be thrown away when his brother Ruffalo shows up. The fact that this movie is a true story will blow your mind. Go see this movie right now.

6. NIGHTCRAWLER
Where do I even begin with this movie? I guess the only true way to start to talk about this film is to talk about what Jake Gyllenhaal and what a spectacular job he did in this film. I believe that this year Gyllenhaal not being nominated for his portrayal of a fringe character on the edge of society that will do anything to get ahead Lou Bloom was one of the biggest snubs of the Oscars.  I came into this movie expecting to see a great performance from Gyllenhaal but what I saw was nothing that I could have ever expected and that is in the best possible way. I believe that this movie depicts a very harsh and what I believe a very true look on what living the "American Dream" can really mean in this country.  I will venture to say that Lou Bloom isn't the only person in this country to do despicable things to get ahead.  And for anyone living out here in LA you will get a special kick out of the movie because it is an LA movie to its very bones from the opening titles all the way to the end credits.