With June winding down, the year is nearly reaching its halfway point. Now it’s time to sort through the good, the bad, and the ugly, and take a look at my favorite 15 films of the year so far. Keep in mind there are a few films released with a lot of good buzz I have yet to see (Ida, Tom at the Farm, Hellion, Cold in July, Night Moves, Obvious Child and Snowpiercer). Note I am also using the word favorite as opposed to best or greatest – these are simply the ones I enjoyed most. So without further delay:
15 – Edge of Tomorrow
Why? – I was pleasantly surprised by how tight and free-flowing this film was. It has a great time with the whole time-loop ting but still manages to be kickass.
14 – Grand Piano
Why? It’s so refreshing to see a “concept horror” that actually knows how to have a good time and not suck. Plus Elijah Wood playing a non-hobbit.
13 – The Grand Budapest Hotel
Why? Wes Anderson has outdone himself again and created an enchanting film with an all-star cast.
12 – X-Men: Days of Future Past
Why? – The action is playful and fun and character dynamic between Magneto, Prof. X, and Mystique is great stuff. Plus – time travel. What could have been a TOTAL mess-up ended up becoming my favorite summer blockbuster.
11 – The Immigrant
Why? Great performances all around, but Marion Cotillard absolutely steals the show and gives her finest performance to date.
10 – Joe
Why? Because Nic Cage is still a total badass (seriously).
9 – The Babadook
Why? Australian horror gets a makeover with a genuinely terrifying film that satisfies with smarts as well as scares.
8- Infinitely Polar Bear
Why? This heartfelt film shows the ups and downs of mental illness and boasts some of the best child acting I have seen.
7 – Whiplash
Why? With great performances from J.K. Simmons and Miles Teller make this is an absolute must see for music fans.
6 – The Double
Why? A clever, dark comedy from Richard Ayode brings an introspective examination of identity, corporatism, and fate.\
5 – Borgman
Why? This weird, surreal tale about a mysterious vagabond probably won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s still an incredibly bold exercise in filmmaking.
4 – Blue Ruin
Why? A new arthouse take on the homestyle revenge thriller.
3 – Enemy
Why? Jake Gyllenhaal stars in this trippy, Freudian story of the dual nature of sexuality and manipulation.
2 – Under The Skin
Why? A beautifully creepy film featuring aliens, sexual tension, and jaw-dropping cinematography. Oh – and that haunting score by Mica Levi is genius.
1 – Boyhood
Why? Richard Linklater delivers the year’s best emotional high with his 12-year film which lets us follow a child who literally grows up right before our eyes.
So there ya go. Let me know in the comments of via email what films you think deserve a spot here, as well as any titles I might have missed out on.
