On Film

MovieStyle colleagues tally their top picks

Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy

L to R: Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel) and Peter Quill/Star-Lord (Chris Pratt)

Ph: Film Frame

©Marvel 2014
Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy L to R: Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel) and Peter Quill/Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) Ph: Film Frame ©Marvel 2014

Every year we invite members of the Arkansas film community to send us lists of their favorite movies of the year.

Over the years, our roster of correspondents has grown to the point that we aren't able to fit everyone's list and comments into one column. This is the third and final installment of these lists. We will run some more on the blood, dirt & angels blog. Thanks to all who participated.

Jay Russell, filmmaker, lives in Los Angeles:

In no order: 1. The Grand Budapest Hotel 2. Boyhood 3. Birdman 4. Whiplash 5. Under the Skin 6. Calvary 7. Snowpiercer 8. Nightcrawler 9. Foxcatcher 10. The Theory of Everything

Special mention -- The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies -- for capping an amazing series of films dating back to the Lord of the Rings trilogy

Also -- The Imitation Game, Edge of Tomorrow, Gone Girl, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Frank

Have not seen -- Wild; A Most Violent Year; Force Majeure; Selma; American Sniper; Into the Woods; Unbroken; Mr. Turner; Love Is Strange; Citizenfour; Ida; Goodbye to Language; Two Days, One Night

Tanner Smith, film critic (Eye on Independence, Delta Crossroads magazines), filmmaker and blogger (smithsverdict.wordpress.com):

Boyhood -- The ultimate slice-of-life picture, presenting little moments in the arc of a boy growing into a man. It's a moving, intimate epic about coming of age. There were times when I felt like I knew this kid or even was this kid. It spoke to me, touched me deeply, and is the absolute best film I've seen all year.

Life Itself -- It was fascinating to find out all the things I didn't know about one of my late heroes, film critic Roger Ebert, through this documentary based on his memoirs. It gives us a talking-head approach with interviews from people from his life before giving us a fly-on-the-wall perspective to see just how much Roger suffered during the final months and years of his life; sometimes it was hard to watch. The commentary near the end, by Roger's wife, Chaz, is one of the most heartbreaking I've heard in any documentary. Four stars for the story of Roger Ebert.

Rich Hill -- I've seen films try to truly capture what it's like growing up in the South, but this documentary shows the real deal in a hard but sensitive journey into the lives of three teenage boys who live in Rich Hill, Mo. The result is one of the finest films of this or any year.

Birdman -- A truly fantastic film that takes us behind the scenes of a difficult Broadway production and through the mindset of a hardworking, washed-up actor looking for redemption. Remarkable cinematography, excellent acting, an environment that sucks you in -- a film that definitely deserves to be checked out.

Whiplash -- This was a riveting, intense film about striving for greatness, being pushed too far to achieve it and the conflict of hardly knowing when to draw the line. The film is less of a sports formula drama and more of a tense thriller. J.K. Simmons, as a tough jazz instructor, gives the performance of a lifetime.

Guardians of the Galaxy -- This Marvel-superhero film was definitely one of the most fun times I've had at the movies this year. It's action-packed, it has solid characterization, it's full of heart and, arguably more important, it has a sense of humor. Instead of going for an epic story, it's more in the spirit of "why not" with its giddiness.

Nightcrawler -- A compelling, disturbingly effective character study and a well-made, tense thriller, as well as a fitting satire on news media. Great leading performance by Jake Gyllenhaal.

To Kill a Man -- This little-seen Chilean drama-thriller was a gripping film about a man seeking vengeance and having to cope with his decisions. The tense tracking shot leading up to a violent act is not a scene I'll forget anytime soon.

Locke -- Not the most exciting concept (a man goes on a long drive alone in the dark, making decisions through cellphone calls that will ruin his life), but nonetheless it's brought to life with much dramatic tension put into its writing and a top-notch performance by Tom Hardy, leading an effective one-man show.

X-Men: Days of Future Past -- For someone who isn't the biggest fan, it's saying something that after this film I eagerly await the next chapter. I thought this one was a lot of fun -- an exciting, exhilarating action-thriller that was just plain fun to watch.

Honorable mention: 22 Jump Street, Gone Girl, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Joe, The Lego Movie

Special mention: Mark Thiedeman's Sacred Hearts, Holy Souls; Taylor Feltner's Man Shot Dead; and Alex Johnson's Two Step.

Email:

pmartin@arkansasonline.com

www.blooddirtangels.com

MovieStyle on 01/23/2015

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