2014: A Year in Review

Another big year for film has come and gone, this year we saw 12 Years A Slave secure Oscar triumph, The Lego Movie remind us how 'Everything is Awesome' and the underwhelming effect of Godzilla returning on the big screen. We also lost two of the most loved figures in film in Philip Seymour Hoffman and Robin Williams, a void which will never truly be filled. Closer to the Edge also moved blog sites, but that is another story. 

So live and direct from Toronto, Ontario I give you my review of 2014!

Top 10 Films of 2014

1. Nightcrawler (USA Dir: Dan Gilroy):
   
   
   Dark, dense and utterly pulsating, debut director Dan Gilroy has created 2014 most original and enticing work. With a mesmerising central turn from Jake Gyllenhaal as Lou, a man drawn deeper into the underworld of freelance crime journalism, this proved to be a shocking yet awe inspiring tale. As each step takes him further across the lines of morality, our viewing takes another shocking turn. One of the dark horse contenders for the awards and rightfully my film of 2014! Read Review

2. Whiplash (USA Dir: Damien Chazelle) 
   
   
   After wowing Sundance and taking the Audience Award, the boundaries of the teacher pushed to the limit in Damien Chazelle's riveting drama. Featuring a star making turn from Miles Teller and a frightening career best from J K Simmons, this film was both heart stopping and psychologically testing for all. As Teller's Andrew strives to be one of the great jazz musicians, the prize will come at the ultimate cost. Read Review

3. Birdman (ESP Dir: Alejandro G Iñárritu)
   
   
   The return of Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu provided one of 2014's most off beat dark comedies. Former caped crusader, Michael Keaton proved a surprise success as a former action star Riggan Thompson, who is floundering his way to attempted stage glory. The knives of the Boardway world are fully sharpened throughout and Iñárritu ignites this fine satire piece. Keaton's half naked spirit through Time Square is laugh guaranteed. Read Review.
   
   
4. Foxcatcher (USA Dir: Bennett Miller)
   
   
   The true story of real life brother wrestlers Mark & Dave Schultz was brought to fruition by Bennett Miller in a slow burning but explosive fashion. Steve Carrell was the stand out in a career high role as their unpredictable and schizophrenic coach John Du Pont. With great support from Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo, the tension rises to unbearable levels. What starts as a beautiful opportunity gradually becomes a nightmare! Read Review.
   
   
5. Boyhood (USA Dir: Richard Linklater)
   
   
   Richard Linklater's 12 year project was well worth the long wait and served as the most naturalistic and most moving experience of this year. A revelatory turn from star Eller Coltrane gave the films its beating heart and we was ably supported by Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette. Linklater undertook a huge gamble, but the time invested has produced the most refined and seasoned movie of his career. Read Review.
6. Nymphomaniac Volume 1 & 2 (DEN/FRA/DEU/BEL Dir Lars Von Trier) 
    
   When Lars Von Trier is in town, expect things to get shocking, Nymphomaniac Vol 1 & 2 was yet another fine example of his polarizing style. With more flesh on display than you would see in a life time of European cinema, the story of sex addict Joe (Charlotte Gainsbourg) was stunning yet nauseating experience. With a bold turn from British actress Stacy Martin, Von Trier has again shown himself to be the master of awkward cinema. Read Review.
   
   
7. Miss Julie (NOR Dir: Liv Ullmann) 
   
   
   Liv Ullmann's first effort behind the camera in 15 years was a sexually charged battle of social classes as Midsummer Eve in 1890 Ireland begins to heat up. Boasting a fascinating central performance from Jessica Chastain as the aforementioned Miss Julie, Ullmann ensured that our hearts were put through the wringer. Big questions of love, desire, status and happiness were firmly asked, but this is one place where reassuring answers are a forgotten dream! Read Review.
   
   
8. Wild (USA/CAN Dir: Jean-Marc Vallée') 
   
   
   The story of Cheryl Strayed's 1100 mile trek of the Pacific Coast Trail was an enthralling tale of redemption by French/Canadian Jean-Marc Vallée'. Reese Witherspoon in a career best role superbly conveys Strayed sense of anguish through the premature loss of her mother (Laura Dern) and her fierce desire to get life back on the rails after falling off due drug addiction and divorce. This was one long walk that had a stiff yet uplifting feel that cannot be beaten. Read Review.
   
   
9. Snowpiercer (KR Dir: Bong Joon-ho) 
   
   
   Boon Jong-ho may have experienced a Harvey Weinstein style nightmare getting his arctic apocalypse drama to the screen, but it was worth the waiting. One of the more unique movies of the year, Joon-ho combines stunning visuals mixed with brutal yet ravishing violence. The gradually building animosity between classes on the big train soon reaches boiling point. When the battle begins, our eyes go wild with shock. Read Review.
   
   
10. Dallas Buyers Club (USA/CAN Dir Jean-Marc Vallée') 
    
    
    The second part of our Vallée' double bill gave us only the resurrection of Matthew McConaughey but one of 2014 most memorable characters. The exploits of AIDS patient Ron Woodroof gave us a real anti-hero who refuses to quit after his life changing diagnosis. His efforts to help people prolong life are ones that bring tears to our eyes. Ron may not be the most pleasant of men, but his heart is in the right place. Read Review.

Best of the Rest

11. The Grand Budapest Hotel 
    
    
    Through some excellent set design and memorable turn from Ralph Fiennes as concierge Gustave M, Wes Anderson brought us one of the most well designed and easy humored pieces of the year. His trademark quirk present as usual, there were also signs of a more mature and refined Anderson breaking through in future. Read Review.
    
    
12. Starred Up (UK Dir: David MacKenzie)
    
    
    Jack O'Connell's hypnotically savage Eric lit up this grim prison drama from director David MacKenzie. One of the best pieces of British cinema this year, MacKenzie succeeds in bringing forth the horrors of British prison life. Watching Eric's hysterically laughter at hurting his first victim is assured to make you squirm. Read Review.
    
    
13. Guardians of the Galaxy (USA Dir: James Gunn) 
    
    
    By far one of Marvel's most fun and original efforts of years gone by, James Gunn helped put the smiles back on fans faces with a fast paced yet hilarious ride. Armed with the best soundtrack of the year and a winning performance by Chris Pratt, the next installment already has us waiting in anticipation. Read Review.
    
    
14. The Wolf of Wall Street (USA Dir: Martin Scorsese) 
    
    
    Few would have predicted that Martin Scorsese could do funny, well his look at the drug fueled life of Wall Street Jordan Belfort proved doubters wrong. It have alienated Academy voters with its overly time and over use of drugs and sex, but with a magnificent performance from old faithful, Leonardo DiCaprio, this ranks as Marty's best 21 century effort!  Read Review.
    
    
15. Blue Ruin (USA: Dir Jeremy Saulnier)
    
    
    Jeremy Saulnier's indie effort may have flown under the radar, but his tale of revenge is an effort destined for cult status. With an impassioned turn from little known actor Macon Blair, Saulnier gave us the perfect everyman to convey his tale. A director to watch in future, this man ensured that anxiety was cranked up the max and the unexpected was forever there. Read Review.

Male Star of the Year: Matthew McConaughey 

Few people would have predicted that Matthew McConaughey would be the main man of 2014! Many have frowned his past romantic comedy efforts and considered him a lost cause. Well an Oscar win later, McConaughey was the one laughing and along with starring in this years best TV in True Detective, he would end the year anchoring Christopher Nolan's heavyweight effort, Interstellar. We are now in the presence of a man who is becoming one of the actors of his generation! Just keep him away from Kate Hudson please.

Female Star of the Year: Julianne Moore 

Through her devastatingly brilliant turns in Maps to the Stars (which won her Best Actress at Cannes) and Still Alice, Julianne Moore has shown how she is one of the most underrated talents today. One more a contender for prizes, Moore has had one of the finest years of her career and still provides an alluring presence on screen (look how she lit up Mockingjay in limited screen time). Fast becoming one of this blogs favourite girl, Julianne is the deserved winner of this category.

Director: Jean-Marc Vallée' Wild/ Dallas Buyers Club) 

Montreal native Vallée' has had his star being on the rise for years since 2005's CRAZY. This year would see his impact on the industry imprinted as he gave us the one/two punch of Wild and Dallas Buyers Club. Sporting a real eye for human emotion, his ability to highlight real people's strives makes for absorbing viewing and we should hopefully see this name on prize lists for years to come. 

Scene of the Year: Jordan Belfort Paralysed on Quaalude's 

Scorsese's ability to do comedy was never better demonstrated than when Jordan Belfort finds out the exact effect of the ancient Quaalude's he has ingested. What starts as a simple phone call quickly descends into something far more shocking and hysterical. Prepare the stitching kit, it will come in handy after seeing this. 

Finally I want to extend a massive thanks to all my readers in over 98 Countries who yearly listen to my rambling about film. Without you guys I am nothing, like Roger Ebert once said "I'll see you at the Movies!" 

A Dangerous Woman: Review of Miss Julie

TIFF EXCLUSIVE 

Miss Julie

Director: Liv Ullmann

By Alex Watson

Liv Ullmann is a true icon of both Swedish and World Cinema in so many ways. As an actress, the Norweigan was the centerpiece of a great number of Ingmar Bergman's masterpieces such as Persona, Autumn Sonata and Cries and Whispers. She had a presence that was unmistakable and she proven to be an influence to many actress after. She has also turned her talents behind the screen by directing Sofie, Private Confessions and Faithless. For the last 15 years though, Ullmann has been absent from our screens, but this year she returns behind the camera adapting August Strindberg's play, Miss Julie. Today I was fortunate enough to attend the TIFF premiere at the Winter Garden Theatre, complete with introduction by Ullmann herself!

Set in Fermanagh, Ireland in 1890, midsummer's eve is upon the region and all are out celebrating. That is all except the troubled and mysterious Miss Julie (Jessica Chastain), the daughter of an Anglo- Irish baron who has chosen to stay behind with only the valet Jean (Colin Farrell) and the cook Christine (Samatha Morton). As the night approaches, Miss Julie attempts to seduce Jean, leading them down a dangerous path and differences classes will come into play.

Ullmann's return to the screen is by far one of the most glorious and affecting of 2014 and Miss Julie is a work of immense power. Changing the setting from Sweden to Ireland, from the very outset, there is a gloomy shadow cast upon the house where the Baron's power unquestionable. Miss Julie is a person who people continuously wonder about and her recent erratic behaviour is starting to trouble people. Jean however, has no interest at first but as the night unfolds lives are gradually changed forever.

There is a highly charged sexuality to the feel of this movie and through Ullmann's skillful direction, the smallest gestures such as Julie silkily requesting Jean kiss her hand makes gigantic waves. Set largely amongst the mansion kitchen and bedrooms, lust and unrequited desire fill each room to unbearable levels. Jean and Julie are two people feeling trapped in life and this feeling of desperation adds a fantastic simmering tension as the pair are both fighting playing their cards right. But this also leads to trickery on both sides as each uses their sexuality as a weapon for different means and often to devastating effects. 

Class position plays a important role and this causes friction throughout Miss Julie. Our heroine is sneered upon by the other servants for being a snobby rich girl. But in one brilliant monologue, we learn that power is not what she desires and she in fact the cruel creation of the differing emotions of her parents and truly, doesn't not know love or happiness. Miss Julie comes across as a caged animal inside a large, empty house who is slowly succumbing to madness. Jean is the definition of the working man and all his life he has looked upon Julie's life with a sense of wonder and scorn and although drawn to his mistresses advances he also feels insulted by them.

Jessica Chastain once again proves that she is one the finest actress around today with an eclectic performance as the forementioned Miss Julie. Her presence on the screen is one of ethereal beauty and sheer fragility and she succeeds in wonderfully bringing to life what is a high complex role. Chastain steals our hearts throughly, particularly during the closing act when Miss Julie is literally brought to her knees in panic and anguish. Expect to see this name again come awards season!

Colin Farrell proves to be a just sparing partner for Miss Chastain and his performance could well be in contention for the big prizes as well. Jean is tricky fox to predict and oozes sexual prowess from every corner. But it is his inner conflict with himself that makes Farrell so memorable as he brings to light Jeans urgency to attain a better life, but fearing stepping outside the servants world because there is nothing else he knows! One of the more underrated big name actors, Farrell hits pay dirt with this part and deserves a large reward.

It may have taken 15 years for her return, but Liv Ullmann's adaptation of Miss Julie is not only destined to be one of TIFF's finest films, but of 2014 as well! This is one piece of work that is incredibly touching but also unbearably heart breaking, it may just be one of the finest bits of work of Ullmann's career! As a man who is practicing to learn Swedish, may I end by saying, Välkommen tillbaka Fröken Ullmann , är det bra att se er igen !