The Top Ten of 2014

As 2014 rolls to a close, I've compiled the film releases which I believe to be the ten best that the year has offered. From big-hitting blockbusters to small-time indies, my list includes films which were released between January 1st through to December 31st. This means that films I have been fortunate enough to see this year but are due for a 2015 release (Inherent Vice, A Most Violent Year, Whiplash) can only be in contention in next year's list.

The films I have not yet seen, which will be ruled out as a consequence, include: Boyhood, Ida, Lucy, Pride, Two Days One Night and X-Men: Days of Future Past.

10. The Guest

2014 threw forward a number of relatively successful films drenched in old school elegance (Cold in July, The Two Faces of January) but it was The Guest – from director Adam Wingard – that impressed more than the rest. Former Downton Abbey resident Dan Stevens showcased his chops as a charismatic yet beguiling screen presence in this old school thriller which is surely destined for cult status.

9. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Rupert Wyatt may not have returned to direct the sequel to his resoundingly successful reinvention of the Apes franchise which arose three years previous, but under the direction of Matt Reeves (Cloverfield, Let Me In) and with the greatest WETA performances thus far – both Andy Serkis and Toby Kebbell thankfully given top billing as Caesar and Koba –  Dawn... didn't propel the overarching plot forward as expected but focused on a crucial battle which left apes as the dominant species going into part three.

8. The LEGO Movie

It's doubtful whether anybody could have predicted the success of The LEGO Movie. Under the guide of duo Phil Lord and Christopher Miller – who, with sequel 22 Jump Street,  scored a cracking 2014 – the year's best kids film (with Paddington a close second) threw in everything it could muster and, somehow, it all proved pretty... well, awesome; if you're searching for a film to bring out your inner child, look no further.

7. The Wolf of Wall Street

Leo DiCaprio failed to win an Oscar once again for his brilliant portrayal of Jordan Belfort in Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street – a film which tracked the real-life story of a wealthy stock-broker's high life to his crime-corrupted dalliance with the FBI. Despite never reaching the heights of the filmmaker's efforts throughout the past decade (The Departed, or even Hugo), this black comedy remains thrillingly debauched throughout and is all the more impressive for it.

6. Gone Girl

David Fincher turned in another reliably twist-laden adult pulp thriller, this time taking the source material of author Gillian Flynn (on screenwriting duties also). If the film's plot concerning Ben Affleck's character Nick Dunne and the search for his missing wife, Amy (Rosamund Pike in one of the performances of the year) has escaped you since Gone Girl's release back in October, then a) where have you been?, and b) great going; there are some films which come along with the need to be simply seen with zero known. Gone Girl, for all of it's screwed-up intensity, is one of them.

5. Guardians of the Galaxy

Cinema audiences have such faith in Marvel, what with their past Avengers-shaped successes, that when Guardians of the Galaxy arrived in the summer based on a fresh group of oddball individuals – including a talking raccoon and walking tree, no less – it still managed to prove the commercial and critical success of the year.  Not bad going for a film whose downright brilliant opening credits sequence saw a sitcom supporting star (Parks and Recreation's Chris Pratt) jiving to Redbone's Come and Get Your Love in space.

4. Under the Skin

Scarlett Johansson, hidden in a brown fur coat and under a tousled mop of black hair, driving a van around Scotland while picking up the most unsuspecting of blokes was one hell of a cinematic hook. That Jonathan Glazer's – at times –  difficult film (based on Michael Faber's novel of the same name) benefits so gloriously from re-watch is a feat which would be scandalous to dismiss.

3. Interstellar

Up until Interstellar, many would have found it impossible to criticise the impressively illustrious career that British filmmaker Christopher Nolan has crafted for himself in such a short space of time. However, this space opus – which follows Matthew McConaughey's Cooper on a mission to discover new habitable planters – seemed to split audiences right down the middle. In a time of mindless blockbusters, Interstellar remains a lovingly cinematic adventure which is wormholes ahead of the competition.

2. Nightcrawler

The King of Comedy meets Drive by way of Network – but to say that Jake Gyllenhaal recalls characters like De Niro's Pupkin is to somewhat disservice what the actor brings to the table in Dan Gilroy's directorial debut. Gyllenhaal is Lou Bloom, a dementedly driven cameraman who scours the night for crime, in a film which will surely be drawn upon as the influence for many pretenders to come.

1. Inside Llewyn Davis

The Coen Brothers's foray into the folk music scene of early sixties Greenwich Village isn't so much a love letter than a pure exploration. Set to the backdrop of the titular Llewyn's muted exasperation at the failure of his singer-songwriting career (in what is sure to endure as a career-defining performance from Oscar Isaac), the brothers Coen once again effortlessly fuse all the required elements (cinematography, screenplay, not to mention a soundtrack to die for) in order to craft a film that would almost definitely be in a list compiling the best films of the past 15 years.

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Best Picture Nominee #2

Captain Phillips

It was almost a breath of fresh air to see Captain Phillips nominated for Best Picture on announcement day, enhanced even more so when Tom Hanks’ baffling lack of appearance in the Actor category hit (for the final five minutes alone, he would have been the worthiest of winners...). Paul Greengrass’ taut, thrilling feature (and by thrilling, read: so tense it will leave you speechless) wracked nerves like no other. Setting the true-to-life story of Hanks’ Captain Richard Phillips, whose cargo ship is held captive by Somali pirates, Greengrass barks down those who mauled the underrated Green Zone (2010) through deliverance of one of the films of last year. Its chances of winning are slim, yet its inclusion remains well deserved; a reminder that the best films do get nominated - let's just ignore Inside Llewyn Davis' snub.

Film: 4.5/5

Chances of winning: 2/5

What will it win? Nada. Unfortunately, Barkhad Abdi won't replicate his BAFTA win for Supporting Actor here.

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Inside Llewyn Davis

15, 2014, Directed by Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Starring: Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Justin Timberlake, John Goodman
  

Pluck a film from the back catalogue of those brothers Coen and sure as anything it'll have a leading character oozing hapless self-obsessed schmuckery; a leading character who - in any other filmmaker's feature - would traipse around on-screen with an air of teeth-baring unlikability; someone that you'd walk past on the street and never ever look back at.

...and so, add Llewyn Davis, our titular guide through the 1961 New York folk scene, to that list (the same one including both Barton Fink and Jerry Lundegaard, just resting under Larry Gopnik). An immensely talented guitar-strumming musician attempting to make a break in a scene that offers him no breaks, Llewyn is fundamentally a sofa-dwelling layabout who makes no effort to appease those closest he has to friends.

With the loving attention-to-detail the Coen's are so adept at layering over every shot, their films live a life different to most others with Inside Llewyn Davis bearing no difference. Such is the conviction of their period setting, dabbled with the effortlessly fluent screenplay setting a tone that flows with no specific apex, at times it is saddening to recalibrate to the notion that you aren’t watching a biographical documentary, but a work of fiction inspired by real-life musician Dave van Ronk (which, if you didn’t know, makes for a world class soundtrack - songs come in full here).

That’s no negative. Cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel creates a lavishly bleak locale for the events that befall ole’ Llewyn and bleak has rarely looked so beautiful. Oscar Isaac embraces the opportunity to become somebody, breathing life into this character potentially having the worst week of his life. In between performing songs to a near-packed Gaslight Café (the basement coffee house situated in Greenwich Village, which famously introduced an unsuspecting world to Bob Dylan) and deciding whose sofa-space he can scrounge the following night, Llewyn’s half-hearted futile attempts to earn a record deal are dampened further by his unwitting theft of the hospitable Gorfein’s orange tabby cat and Jean, the girlfriend-of-a friend that he may or may not have knocked up (a deliciously frosty Carey Mulligan, churning Coen Brother dialogue like a pro and Justin Timberlake at home in woollen jumpers).

An offbeat middle section follows, with Davis hitching a ride to Chicago with a strangely menacing John Goodman (no surprises) as a travelling jazz musician and his beat poet driver (Garrett Hedlund).  Serving as an opportunity to make discoveries of his troubled past he wouldn’t dream on reflecting upon otherwise, the sequence also presents that now-classic Coen notion of presenting a sequence of importance that leaves as rapidly as it comes - introducing a scenario that departs before a resolution - capturing that unknowing essence of life: if we encounter a stranger on the street, what happens to them later on that evening will simply never be known.

But here is a Joel and Ethan film with a beating heart that pulsates a little harder than usual; in Davis, we’ve a protagonist that bit different to the others featured throughout Coen canon. Sure, his future remains as uncertain, yet you’re left with a tint of optimism that if returned to in years to come, Llewyn Davis could be a cat-owning, home-dwelling, sofa-lender all of his own. In what has been a milestone year for cinema, these brothers effortlessly show that you don’t need 3D glasses or tear-jerking subjects to provide cinemagoers with what is quite evidently yet another emotive masterclass in filmmaking.  

5/5

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Oscar Nominations 2014 - Jacob Predicts...

The Golden Globes have been and gone, with the BAFTA jury out until the ceremony in February. You can eye roll. You can sigh. You can pfft all you want. The Academy Awards - presented by Ellen DeGeneres on Sunday 2nd March - are the master of them all. With Oscar nominations poised to be announced tomorrow, I assess the films, actors, actresses and directors I believe will come away with a chance at claiming a golden baldie come March.

Best Picture:

Get ready for a two-horse race with 12 Years a Slave currently edging Gravity, with help from its Golden Globe win on Sunday night. Coming up the outskirts though, we have American Hustle, building stead and proving itself as a worthy opponent. The other two dead certs for a nomination are Nebraska and The Wolf of Wall Street - no surprise considering one is an Alexander Payne film and the other a Martin Scorsese.

The Coen Brothers won in 2008 for No Country for Old Men, and every film of theirs since has featured in the extended nominations list. Inside Llewyn Davis will be no different. Expect to see Captain Phillips there also; it was nominated at the Globes, is up for a BAFTA and would be a damned worthy appearance. The nomination list doesn't necessarily have to be 10 films, but let's go under the impression there will be... Spike Jonze's latest Her will probably tail the nominations. The tough one is whose shoes will fill that final nomination. Will the Academy buckle and go with The Butler? Or will Philomena rear its British head? Other films that are sure to get Oscar recognition have a shot too (Dallas Buyers Club, August: Osage County).

My Prediction: American Hustle, Captain Phillips, Dallas Buyers Club, Gravity, Her, Inside Llewyn Davis, Nebraska, Philomena, 12 Years a Slave, The Wolf of Wall Street

Shock Omission: The Butler

Best Actor:
An extremely easy category to call, surely all of these are going to be nominated? Other surprising, but not unwelcome entrants would include Joaquin Phoenix (Her), Forest Whitaker (The Butler), Christian Bale (American Hustle) and Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis). In fact, don't be surprised if Bale makes it on there what with the glory American Hustle has been receiving. As for who he would replace, I don't even want to hazard a guess. The person who should be nominated - Robert Redford for his incredible, largely-silent performance in All Is Lost - will be snubbed.

My Prediction:

Tom Hanks - Captain Phillips, Matthew McConaughey - Dallas Buyers Club, Bruce Dern - Nebraska, Chiwetel Ejiofor - 12 Years a Slave, Leonardo DiCaprio - The Wolf of Wall Street

Shock Omission: Robert Redford - All Is Lost

Best Actress:
We can probably call off all bets now, right? Cate Blanchett has this one (and so she should) - however, as for who will be set up for disappointment is another question entirely. Surely Meryl Streep is a nomination shoo-in because Meryl Streep has delivered a good performance this year, as is Sandra Bullock for carrying what many perceive to be 2013's greatest film. It would be nice for Judi Dench and Emma Thompson repping the British side of things for their fantastic appearances as Philomena Lee and Mary Poppins author P.L. Travers, respectively. But American Hustle has something over voters, and this will trounce somebody's chance of a nomination - Amy Adams is in (especially considering her many nominations and Golden Globe win), and shockingly, I predict Streep will be out.  

My Prediction:

Amy Adams - American Hustle, Cate Blanchett - Blue Jasmine, Sandra Bullock - Gravity, Judi Dench - Philomena, Emma Thompson - Saving Mr. Banks

Shock Omission: Meryl Streep - August: Osage County

Best Supporting Actor:If American Hustle deserves one nomination, and I never thought I'd catch myself saying this, it's for Bradley Cooper who manages to steal every scene he's in. Jared Leto's Dallas Buyers Club Golden Globe win has just sealed the fact his name will be read by presenter Chris Hemsworth on Thursday, and these Supporting categories love a newcomer... so step forward, Barkhad Abdi who deserves some form of accolade for appearing unfazed opposite Tom Hanks, let alone his gripping performance as a Somali Pirate in Captain Phillips. I'm hoping that this is the year Michael Fassbender's incredible acting skills are rewarded with some recognition - delivering a harrowing performance in 12 Years a Slave. You'd be brave to not expect Jonah Hill to build on his former nomination (for Moneyball) in Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street. Things appear clear-cut here, but could Steve Coogan pull a blinder for Philomena? Or will Daniel Brühl's portrayal of F1 racer Niki Lauda be lauded, despite a poor box office performance for Rush in the States? I'm discounting Tom Hanks' slim-pickings performance as Walt Disney in Saving Mr. Banks right now, as well as a posthumous appearance from the late James Gandolfini (Enough Said).  

My Prediction:

Bradley Cooper - American Hustle, Barkhad Abdi - Captain Phillips, Jared Leto - Dallas Buyers Club, Daniel Brühl - Rush, Michael Fassbender - 12 Years a Slave   

Shock Omission: Jonah Hill - The Wolf of Wall Street

Best Supporting Actress:
Alongside guaranteed nominees - awards darling Jennifer Lawrence and beloved newcomer Lupita Nyong'o - expect appearances from some very credible actresses who delivered top-rate performances. June Squibb was electric, lighting up the black-and-white bleakness of Nebraska, whilst Sally Hawkins did an incredible job at playing the polar opposite to Blanchett's Blue Jasmine. Julia Roberts has stepped up to the plate in the Harvey Weinstein-produced August: Osage County, as has The Butler's Oprah Winfrey. Only five can be nominated however, and I'm saying Hawkins will wrongfully be ousted.

My Prediction: Jennifer Lawrence - American Hustle, Julia Roberts - August: Osage County, Oprah Winfrey - The Butler, June Squibb - Nebraska, Lupita Nyong’o - 12 Years a Slave

Shock Omission: Sally Hawkins - Blue Jasmine   

Best Director:
Clear as day, the below five directors will be nominated come tomorrow. All displayed stellar work in fantastic films, and will continue to do so. Lee Daniels, Alexander Payne and the Coen Brothers have a slim chance of causing a shock announcement (remember that time Chris Nolan never got nominated for Inception?), but it's doubtful. 

My Prediction:

David O. Russell - American Hustle, Paul Greengrass - Captain Phillips, Alfonso Cuaron - Gravity, Steve McQueen - 12 Years a Slave, Martin Scorsese - The Wolf of Wall Street

Shock Omission: Alexander Payne - Nebraska  

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