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FEATURE
039
BEST OF
2014
It’s that time of year again, when agonising decisions need to be made. Namely
selecting the
10 best releases of the year in FILM,TV and BLU-RAY.
STACK
accepted the challenge, sorting
through numerous contenders to determine the cream of the crop.
ACTION:
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
The second film truly ignited the Young Adult
franchise, with a darker tone, a better insight into
the dystopian future that J.Law’s Katniss Everdeen
is fighting to change, and a cliffhanger ending that
left you hungry for more.
Second place:
300: Rise of an Empire
was better
than the original, and not just because of Eva Green.
COMEDY:
The Lego Movie
Everything was awesome about this animated
feature; the relentless barrage of jokes made a
repeat viewing essential in order to catch ‘em all.
Easily the best kids’ film for adults since
Toy Story
.
Second place:
WhatWe Do InThe Shadows
saw
Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement reuniting for a
hilarious (and bloody) vampire mockumentary.
DRAMA:
Dallas Buyers Club
The McConaughey movie that proved he’s not
just a guy with no shirt, and a rare ‘triumph over
adversity’ true story that eschewed the sentiment.
Second place:
The art of the con was brilliantly
executed in David O. Russell’s
American Hustle
,
with a stellar cast, ‘70s soundtrack, and bad hair
complementing the serpentine plot.
HORROR:
The Babadook
Australia trumped Hollywood’s plethora of
remakes and found-footage films with a truly
disturbing, downbeat and original horror movie
featuring a terrifying new boogeyman.
Second place:
You’re Next
gave us a twist-laden
take on the home invasion scenario, and a gutsy
new scream queen in Sharni Vinson.
THRILLER:
Prisoners
Denis Villeneuve’s grim and gripping child abduction
thriller delivered an exhausting 150 minutes of
unrestrained violence and Hugh Jackman grimacing.
Second place:
Cold in July
was one of this year’s
most unpredictable thrill rides, proving there’s more
to Michael C. Hall than
Dexter
and that author Joe R.
Lansdale is an untapped commodity for filmmakers.
SCI-FI:
Snowpiercer
The survivors of a new ice age find themselves
aboard a perpetual train circling a frozen planet in
Bong Joon-Ho’s high concept combo of post-
apocalypse adventure and class struggle.
Second place:
The sublime
Gravity
launched
us into orbit with Clooney and Bullock. A cheaper
alternative to a Virgin Galactic flight.
ARTHOUSE:
Nymphomaniac Vol. I & II
Danish provocateur Lars von Trier’s epic double bill,
exploring the life of self-confessed sex addict Charlotte
Gainsbourg, was a truly unforgettable journey through
sexual awakening and uncontrollable desire. Whoa!
Second place:
Under the Skin
gave us another
reason to love Scarlett Johansson and definitely got
under the skin – and into the head.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:
The Raid 2
Gareth Evans’ sprawling and insane sequel was a
technically dazzling masterclass in action filmmaking,
and even managed to top the frenetic original.
Second place:
Explicit French lesbian epic
Blue is
theWarmest Colour
actually scored higher with
male critics than its target audience! Hmmm...
TV:
True Detective
HBO gave us another winner when they sent
Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson
on a 17-year hunt for a ritualistic serial killer in the
deepest and darkest corners of Louisiana.
Second place:
The haunting British whodunnit
Broadchurch
deservedly cleaned up at the
BAFTAs – we can wait for the second series.
BLU-RAY:
Don’t Look Now
Nicolas Roeg’s eerie and sensual 1973 masterpiece
about a married couple haunted by visions of their
recently-deceased young daughter was a much
welcome addition to the High Def shelves.
Second place:
The
Steven Spielberg Director’s
Collection
added early works
Duel
,
The Sugarland
Express
,
1941
and
Always
to the HD ranks.
2014
The
Best
of