Hello, Top Ten, my old friend...

Well friends, another year has passed. Time for that age-old tradition of making my Top Ten list! My total number of movies seen this year was a little lower than the past, for two very clear reasons. One is spending as much time as possible with this little guy (being an aunt is the best):

and the other is spending as much time as possible with these guys (yes, fellow nerds, my cred is no longer in question, I am officially addicted to Doctor Who, and it fully cut into my movie watching time. Alas...)

Through purity of spirit and strength of will I managed to overcome these alluring gentlemen and still see tons of movies, simply so I could report back to you all. What can I say, I'm a giver. Without further ado, Jessica's Top Ten Movies of 2014!

The List

1. Whiplash 
This movie. Whew, this movie. First of all, it just needs to be said that both J.K. Simmons and Miles Teller are amazing. Unless something crazy happens, Simmons will be taking home an Oscar next weekend. But the movie deserves extra kudos for going beyond the abusive mentor trope as it examines the concept of genius, and what it takes to be truly great. I don't know if I agree with Simmons' character's philosophy that there are no two words in the English language more harmful than "good job" (see #8 on this list for a different take on that), but it starts a fascinating conversation on what we are willing to forgive in the name of greatness.

2. Boyhood
I really tried to resist this movie. When it first came out, and people were proclaiming it a transformative movie going experience, I was a little turned off. I mean, it can't be THAT good, right? And while I wouldn't call it the best film of the past 10 years, as others have (obviously, since it's not even number 1 on this list), wow, did I love this movie. It could have felt gimmicky, with filming taking place over 12 years to allow the characters to age realistically, and it definitely could have not worked (what if your 5 year old actor decides he wants no part of this come age 16?), but somehow it avoided both, and was instead just a lovely, realistic look at growing up. The focus on the small moments that make us who we are felt intimate and personal. It's really nice to find movies that can still surprise you.

3. Selma
Just a really powerful and visceral experience at the movies. The acting, directing, and writing are all top-notch. There's been plenty written about its snub at the Oscars (receiving a best picture nod, but being left out of the acting and directing categories), so I won't go there (except with the reminder that the Academy is primarily made up of old, white men, so it's not surprising they don't speak for my (and MANY others') tastes). I will simply give credit to the remarkable snapshot put together by director Ava DuVernay (who wisely focuses on just one chapter of MLK's life, rather than trying to fit the whole story into a single two hour movie), and the performances all around, particularly David Oyelowo as MLK. The story feels frighteningly relevant, given the current state of the country.

4. Obvious Child
Man, I LOVED this movie. Films tend to be afraid to touch the topic of abortion with a 10 foot pole. Even ones that feature an unplanned pregnancy seldom use the word. Obvious Child not only embraces it, but helps to normalize abortion as well (let us not forget that this is something that nearly 1 in 3 women will experience in her lifetime). It's a very realistic portrayal, from emotions to logistics (e.g. finding a way to pay for the procedure- the only way I could have loved the movie more is if it directly called out abortion funds like The CAIR Project (shameless shout-out)). And it does all this while being a hilarious and touching romantic comedy. Jenny Slate is my hero.

5. The LEGO Movie
Even just writing about this movie gets the theme song stuck in my head. "Everything is Awesome" indeed (with the exception, of course, of the Academy's mind-boggling omission of the movie from the "Best Animated Film" category... but whatever, again, the Oscars are dumb). By far the most creative animated film I've seen in years. This could have been one giant commercial for Legos, but it's surprisingly funny and heartfelt (and yes, it also made me want to go out and buy Legos, so I guess the commercial thing worked, too). As the credits rolled, it felt like waking up from a dream in which I was 10 years old. The all-star cast is hilarious (seriously, Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, Will Ferrell, Will Arnett, Nick Offerman, Allison Brie, Charlie Day... and that's not even mentioning the cameo voices), and the clever ways that the Lego world is interwoven with the real world continuously crack me up (I will never stop laughing at the Cloak of Band-ai-id).

6. Snowpiercer
Again, talk about creative. This movie was simply different from anything I've ever seen. And Captain America himself, Chris Evans, was fantastic in it. Setting the post-apocalyptic class warfare story aboard a train traveling nonstop around the world gives the film a breakneck pace. Some parts of this movie are so weird that they shouldn't work (Tilda Swinton's character referred to as "Sir" anyone?), but feel completely right in the world that director Bong Joon-ho created. A fascinating blend of sci-fi apocalyptic prison-break movie.

7. The Imitation Game
A truly well-made story that needed to be told. Cumberbatch is fantastic as Alan Turing, both as he's working to crack the Enigma code during WWII, and especially following his arrest for "gross indecency" (homosexuality) after the war. Yes, the filmmakers took creative license with history, as is pretty much always the case with historical movies. But the heart is in the true story, and the actors who bring it convincingly to life.

8. Keep On Keepin' On
Okay, go watch Whiplash. Ponder that film for a bit. Then come back for Keep On Keepin' On, the documentary following the friendship between jazz-legend Clark Terry and Justin Kaufln, a 23-year-old blind piano prodigy. The relationships between mentor and student portrayed in these two films could not be more different (and only one of them is a documentary, so feel a little better about the world for that), but I think they're fascinating to consider together. Keep On Keepin' On filled my heart to the brim- I watched the movie with pretty much constant tears in my eyes (if you don't know me, I'm a sucker for an inspirational story). Just a lovely movie.

9. Wild
I was surprised by how personal this movie felt for me. The points of reference weren't obvious, but the emotional connection was undeniable. Its a powerful tale of individual growth, and Reese Witherspoon just nailed it. Beautifully shot and with a great soundtrack.

10. Birdman (or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
I really wanted to love this movie. Everything I'd read made it sound like my perfect film. But, I'll be honest, it was hit or miss for me. Even with that, it was good enough to make this list, which tells you that the hits were pretty darn good. I was not entirely taken with the magical realism of the movie, but the acting and directing were so excellent that it was hard not to include here. Edward Norton and Emma Stone were the standouts for me, and Alejandro González Iñárritu wins for Best Director as far as I'm concerned.

Honorable Mentions:
American Sniper, Belle, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Edge of Tomorrow, Feast, Foxcatcher, Gone Girl, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Guardians of the Galaxy, How to Train Your Dragon 2, Locke, The Theory of Everything, Top Five, Veronica Mars

The Actors
Best Actor: Miles Teller, Whiplash
Runners-up: Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything and Tom Hardy, Locke

Best Actress: Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Runner-up: Reese Witherspoon, Wild

Best Supporting Actor: J.K. Simmons, Whiplash
Runner-up: Edward Norton, Birdman

Best Supporting Actress: Emma Stone, Birdman
Runner-up: Emily Blunt, The Edge of Tomorrow

The Extras


Dude I Fell in Love with this Year: As much as I want to say Chris Pratt for the killer year he had, let's be honest, I've been in love with Andy Dwyer since the beginning of Parks & Rec. So let's give it to his Super Bowl bet opponent, Chris Evans, for his stellar work in Snowpiercer and solid followup of Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Gal I Fell in Love with this Year: Once again, Jenny Slate is my hero. I had always loved Marcel the Shell, but man is she wonderful in Obvious Child.

Genre of the Year: Biopics of questionable historical accuracy. The Imitation Game, American Sniper, Selma, Foxcatcher, and The Theory of Everything all received some criticism for historical inaccuracies, but all were interesting and entertaining movies (some more powerful than others). Let's just all stop pretending that "Based on a true story" means "100% historically accurate" and we'll all be a lot happier.

The Up in the Air Award for Critically Acclaimed Movie That Can Suck It: A Most Wanted Man. Apparently, I just don't really like John Le Carre adaptations.

The Voice of Reason: Gaby Hoffman. As the best friend helping the main character make it through her challenges in Obvious Child and Wild, Gaby Hoffman deserves a large glass of wine and a hug. Even her obsessive fan character in Veronica Mars helped our protagonist learn more. I guess what I'm saying is, if Gaby Hoffman gives you advice, listen.

The Veronica Mars Award for Veronica Mars-ness: Sigh, I loved this TV show. And was immediately on board to financially support it being made into a movie (thank you, Kickstarter!). I'm not sure if it's a great movie for those who didn't watch/love the show, but for me it felt like a love letter to the fans. It didn't hurt that I got to attend the premiere with some of my favorite people as we hobnobbed with our favorite characters. Nothing is going to beat that experience.

Thanks for reading! On to 2015!