2014 MOVIE GUIDE
4 STARS
– Richard Linklater’s 12-year coming-of-age story is a one-of-a-kind time capsule
– Michael Keaton haunted by superhero past in stunning satire of Hollywood & Broadway
– Ava DuVernay gracefully recounts Martin Luther King’s march for equal voting rights
– Two Thumbs Up for this powerful documentary on the life of movie critic Roger Ebert
– J.K. Simmons chills as an abusive New York jazz instructor in Sundance champ
3 1/2 STARS
– Cumberbatch聽breaks Nazi code in bittersweet聽backstory of聽first computer
– Jake Gyllenhaal creeps us out in sensationalist world of L.A. crime journalism
– Ben Affleck searches for missing wife in another unforgettable thriller by David Fincher
– Daring documentary offers amazing access to Edward Snowden’s NSA leaks
– Reese Witherspoon takes ‘Wild’ hike of inspiration with ‘Dallas Buyers Club’ director
– Tom Hardy delivers a one-man show behind the wheel in riveting one-location thriller
– Clint Eastwood directs Bradley Cooper as deadliest sniper in U.S. history
– Family ski trip explores survival instincts in Foreign Language Oscar favorite
– Sci-fi reboot sequel ponders war & peace w/ Serkis as Caesar
– Steve Carell shows dark side in true crime wrestling tale that’s a touch too cynical
– Past and present superheroes collide in time travel installment
– South Korean sci-fi action thriller is the best kept secret of the summer
– Michelle Monaghan stars as Army medic who has to win back the love of her son
– Australian horror flick is freaky with depth to the real mother-son relationship
– John Lithgow & Alfred Molina play lovers separated by NYC apartment search
– Julianne Moore’s portrait of Alzheimer’s should finally win her an overdue Oscar
– Eddie Redmayne & Felicity Jones shine in Stephen Hawking biopic
– Inspirational documentary follows soccer team from world’s worst to winners
– Polish gem follows Christian nun-in-training who discovers the truth of her Jewish roots
– Christian Bale plays Moses in Ridley Scott’s spectacular biblical epic
– Elisabeth Moss & Mark Duplass take couple’s retreat in year’s craziest premise
3 STARS
– Tom Cruise turns “Groundhog Day” premise into surprising sci-fi action fun
– Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi epic isn’t stellar, but its heart is in the right place
– Scarlett Johansson plays alien seductress in experimental聽social commentary
– The quirky Wes Anderson delivers war-time farce with all-star cast
– Amy Adams & Christoph Waltz spar as painters in Tim Burton’s best since “Big Fish”
– Award-worthy turns from Jessica Chastain & James McAvoy
– Meryl Streep, Anna Kendrick, Emily Blunt star in Disney fairytale musical
– Mark Ruffalo cuts records with Keira Knightley in tale of music’s “lost stars”
– Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall are dynamite in family courtroom drama
– Jon Stewart makes directorial debut in true story of detained journalist in Iran
– Angeline Jolie directs harrowing P.O.W. story of Olympian Louis Zamperini
– Marvel’s scrappy new group of superheroes offers great banter
– Actor/director Jon Favreau uses food truck as analogy for his own creative pursuits
– Snubbed at awards season, this flick has unique visuals and a fun soundtrack.
– Chris Isaac and Jessica Chastain shine in J.C. Chandor’s modern crime saga
– Chadwick Boseman is dynamite as the godfather of soul James Brown
– Bill Murray shines once again, here as a crotchety “Gran Torino” style neighbor
– Freedom vs. security debate makes this one of Marvel’s best
– Doc follows “The Wire” alum Brandy Burre’s return to acting after housewife hiatus
– Third installment could be best, but we’ll have to wait and see
– John Turturro directs himself in modern-day “Midnight Cowboy”
– Kevin Costner wheels and deals as underdog GM of the Cleveland Browns
– Angelina Jolie is wickedly talented in this alternate take on “Sleeping Beauty”
– Jason Bateman makes directorial debut as adult who enters a child spelling bee
2 1/2 STARS
– Seth MacFarlane’s western spoof is funny, but no Mel Brooks
– The daring Darren Aronofsky builds moody Biblical epic, but with one unforgivable flaw
– Bryan Cranston and the legendary lizard fade to the background in blockbuster spectacle
“Medora” – Small-town decay presented through Indiana high school hoops
– Story is better than storytelling in true high school winning streak
– Spidey sequel brings great romance, but too many villains
“Peabody & Sherman” – Time travel cartoon brings history lesson, but convoluted plot for kids
– Quvenzhane Wallis, Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz star in remake of 1982 musical
2 STARS
– Eastwood’s take on the Broadway smash is way too bleak
– Johnny Depp sci-fi thriller starts strong, but falters down the stretch
“Monuments Men” – Clooney can’t decide between comedy or drama in WWII art rescue flick
– Kate Winslet falls for Josh Brolin’s fugitive in rare Jason Reitman stumble
1 STAR
– Aaron Paul’s ridiculous racing flick quickly “breaks bad”
“The Other Woman” – Over-the-top Leslie Mann performance ruins a creative revenge premise
– Cheap scares as teens are haunted by a killer Ouija board
Review from Past Years:
