Top 5 Films of 2014

So, did you see many movies in 2014? I caught 38 of them from January through December, and where in years past most of my favorite films arrived during the holidays, this year they were spread pretty nicely over the entire 12-month calendar. A very welcome change.

Surprisingly, the majority of my favorites arrived over the summer. Films like Chef, Snowpiercer, Boyhood, Begin Again, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and Life Itself all opened in quick succession and actually made braving the cineplex in July a memorable experience.

Below are my picks for the Top Five Film of 2014.


1.Life Itself: I'm really not one for theatrical documentaries, but this one from Steve James (Hoop Dreams) on the late film critic Roger Ebert may get me to seek out more of them. This superbly crafted tale is about much more than a love of film. It's really about the love of life, specifically the one shared between Ebert and his wife Chaz. Easily the most engaging and moving film of the year.

2. Boyhood : Richard Linklater's 12-years-in-the-making odyssey of family and self-discovery is just as good as everyone has been telling you. Simply an incredibly relatable and poignant film about breaking free and finding your way in this world. So see it, already!

3:The Grand Budapest Hotel: I'm a sucker for anything from Wes Anderson and this picaresque tale of a smarmy concierge and the legendary resort at which he plies his trade continues the uber-talented auteur's impressive run of wildly original cinema. Just an absolute visual joy from start to finish. Keep 'em coming, Wes.

4:Chef: Jon Favreau's return to indie cinema as a disgraced gourmet chef who finds a new life as a food-truck operator was easily the most surprising and hunger-inducing film of the year. Everything - the performances, the music, the locales - was just as warm and full of flavor as the Cubanos on the plate. Nice to have you back, Favreau.

5.The Theory of Everything: James Marsh's real-life account of renowned physicist Stephen Hawking's battle with motor neuron disease is an exceptionally crafted tale of love and adversity, not to mention a career triumph for actor Eddie Redmayne. If this guy isn't the Best Actor Oscar winner, there's something seriously wrong with the system.


If I Could Pick Five More: 6. Begin Again 7. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes 8. Captain America: The Winter Soldier 9.St. Vincent 10. Snowpiercer

Happy New Year!

Top 5 Blu-rays of 2014

It seems with each passing year physical media becomes more and more obsolete. It's all about streaming your entertainment now. You can watch a movie on your tablet, smartphone, even your wrist watch. The possibilities are endless, as long as your Wi-Fi and 4G networks don't lock up.

For most, enduring the buffering and occasional data freezes are just pesky, necessary evils for the right to experience the power of cinema in the palm of your hand.

For me, I like watching movies at home on the biggest screen possible, in the best format available. And for my money, Blu-ray is the format of choice. With a Blu-ray, I know that the image and sound quality will always be top-notch and not susceptible to "outside influences." And being a cineaste, I get a nice keepsake for my favorite films, to boot.

Blu-ray your format of choice, too? Great, read on for my picks of the five best discs of the year.


1.Thief - Criterion Collection: Michael Mann's 1981 crime-noir debut got a long-overdue deluxe treatment from Criterion this year and the result was nothing short of amazing. Not only did we get a sparkling new 4K restoration with DTS audio, but some great new interviews with star James Caan and score composer Tangerine Dream as well. You even get a DVD copy for that old player and 4:3 TV in your bedroom. Overall, a very satisfying package for a highly underrated film.

2.Double Indemnity - Universal Home Video: Billy Wilder's 1944 classic film-noir of murder and double-cross remains one of my all-time favorites. For its 70th anniversary, Universal restored the film in 4K and the resulting image is about as silky smooth as one of Barbara Stanwyck's sheer stockings (she's in the movie, if you didn't know). You also get a pair of commentary tracks, a feature on 1940s Hollywood and a set of lobby cards and theatrical poster reproductions. Definitely worth upgrading your old DVD copy.

3.Steven Spielberg Director's Collection - Universal Home Video: Like they did for their impressive Alfred Hitchcock set in 2012, Universal released a glossy, nicely packaged 8-film collection of Steven Spielberg hits and misses this year, including new-to-Blu offerings of Duel, The Sugarland Express, 1941 and Always. Each new release looks great in high-def, especially the widescreen theatrical cut of Duel, which wonderfully adds even more unnerving menace to that oil-slicked tanker truck from hell.

4.Ace In the Hole - Criterion Collection: Here's another Billy Wilder gem that got the deluxe treatment in 2014. For this 1951 Kirk Douglas-starring tale of an unscrupulous reporter who manipulates a local story into a national sensation for his own benefit, Criterion struck a beautiful new 2K print that allows the gritty, deeply layered black-and white imagery to practically leap off the screen. Throw in a DVD copy and Criterion's usual array of fine extras and you've got a very engaging, top-notch release.

5.Sorcerer - Warner Home Video: I had always heard of but never had seen William Friedkin's poorly titled 1977 tale of desperate men tasked with transporting explosives across a South-American jungle hell. (Sorcerer is actually the name of one of the trucks the men use.) Largely dismissed by audiences and critics alike and quickly shuffled out of theaters to make room for Star Wars, the film gained a large cult following over the years and was recently afforded a new digital restoration by Warner Brothers. The film's not for everyone, but it does benefit greatly from Friedkin's unique documentary-like filmmaking style and features probably the most nerve-racking bridge-crossing sequence ever put on film.


Merry Christmas!

Dec. 31: Top 5 Films of the Year

Top 5 Albums of 2014

Looking over Entertainment Weekly's Top Albums of 2014 I suddenly feel very old. Of the 10 artists listed, I’ve heard of one: Beck. Run the Jewels? Perfume Genius? FKA Twigs? Who the hell are these people?

Music has been an integral part of my everyday life since I was 13 years old, 31 years to be exact, and I’ve always been “hip” (I feel old just writing that word, even more so enclosing it in quotation marks) to new trends and emerging artists. While my wife is content to confine her musical palate to the '80s and the likes of Bon Jovi and Adam Ant, I’ve always sought out and extolled new music: The White Stripes, Arcade Fire and Kings of Leon, to name a few. I read Rolling Stone. I check in with iTunes every Tuesday to see what’s new. When did I suddenly become Rip Van Winkle rising from a pile of Doobie Brothers and Three Dog Night eight tracks?

Fortunately for geezers like me, there were some standout releases in 2014 from artists we’ve actually heard of. Below are my top five of the year.


1. The Breeze - Eric Clapton & Friends: Slowhand's exceptionally crafted 16-track tribute to the late singer/songwriter J.J. Cale features collaborations with Tom Petty, Mark Knopfler, Willie Nelson and John Mayer and was easily my most listened-to album of the year. Just a bevy of the world's top musicians doing what they do best. Can't ask for much more than that. Favorite Tracks: Someday, Sensitive Kind.

2. Lazaretto - Jack White: The eclectic Detroit rocker's follow-up to 2012's Blunderbuss is another highly creative 11-track set of soulful mood and contagious rhythm that debunks the sophomore slump rule and forever earns White a spot on my elite "blind purchase" list. Favorite Tracks: Would You Fight For My Love?, That Black Bat Licorice.

3. Songs of Innocence - U2: The iTunes download debacle aside, this long-awaited follow-up to 2009's No Line on the Horizon is a satisfying 11-track blend of arena rockers and introspective ballads that proves our favorite Irish quartet is still capable of delivering timely, relevant music 30 years after The Unforgettable Fire. Favorite Tracks: Song For Someone, Raised By Wolves

4. Standing In The Breach - Jackson Browne: What astonishes me about Jackson Browne at age 66 is that his voice remains as velvety smooth as it did 40 years ago. Seriously, this new 10-track collection of laid-back, country-tinged tunes could just as easily be a product of 1974 than 2014. And like those richly textured releases of yesteryear, this one is perfect for the long drive home or a lazy Sunday morning. Favorite Tracks: You Know The Night, Standing In The Breach

5. Ride Out - Bob Seger: The iconic blue-collar belter's 17th studio release, his first in six years, offers a nice blend of hard-hitting toe-tappers and soulful ballads and reminds us that one of the best voices in rock history can still deliver 'em right between the eyes, even at 69. Seek out the deluxe version for five additional songs. Favorite Tracks: The Devil's Right Hand, Listen


Dec. 19: Top 5 Blu-Rays