Now that the holidays are behind us, we’re on the fast track to award season including The Emmys, GRAMMYs and The Oscars. Nominations for the “Best of” will be coming over the wires any day now. It’s unlikely that any of the films below will receive recognition for one reason or another. If they do, it’ll be for a lesser known, yet still important category that highlights crucial parts of the craft like editing, costume or sound mixing.
However these films shouldn’t be overlooked. With all the films that released in 2014 (~529), it’s easy to have done so. If you’ve seen these already, then you’ll likely agree some of them should’ve made the list. If you haven’t, then consider this your homework before the end of 2015.
The Monuments Men – This is a film that takes a very different slant to “war flicks” where instead of combat, the focus is on art preservation. While it may seem like a no-brainer that a storage company would pick a film about “preservation,” The Monuments Men is a well-cast film with heart and passion. The reminder of what’s important to humanity — not just for the sake of that generation, but also for the sake of generations to come — is a bonus.
Get On Up – Biopics aren’t always easy, but it can be fun to take the “fly on the wall” approach to watching the story of someone’s life unfold. Chadwick Boseman is no stranger to biopics having already walked in the shoes of Jackie Robinson in 42, and he brings James Brown to life wonderfully in Get On Up. The Godfather of Soul would be proud and shout “Good God!” in approval.
The Boxtrolls – Artistic, stylish, and charming – three words that perfectly summarize this film from the creative talents behind ParaNorman and Coraline. Stop-motion animation is no easy feat but The Boxtrolls has such a well-crafted story and score that you may forget it’s not a live-action film. Equally amazing is the end credits that give a time-lapse view of some of the modeling work from the film. The Boxtrolls is a great reminder that film can be art.
Guardians of the Galaxy – Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is the Star Wars that the sci-fi genre has lately been missing. It’s got action, adventure, a charismatic cast and soul that keeps it standing on its own without having to be tied to other films from the studio. If you haven’t seen this film yet, then you must not like “joy” and “happiness.”
Chef – There are so many reasons to see this film. The timeless tale of doing what’s right vs. doing what you love, the reminder of the power of social media, or the “food porn.” What drives you to see this film isn’t as important as making sure that you do. Chef deals with contemporary issues everyone has encountered at some point – you’ll appreciate this film because you can relate with it. Put it on your “must watch” list.
2015 is sure to have its blockbusters with films like The Avengers: Age of Ultron, Jurassic World and Star Wars: The Force Awakens – all a movie fan’s dream. But don’t let the hype of returning franchises overshadow the indie or family film. See something unexpected in 2015, it may surprise you.
