Top 5 Movies of Sundance 2014

Something was definitely special about Sundance this year. 2014 marked the 4^th Sundance Film Festival I have been lucky enough to attend. The past three years Sundance has premiered some incredibly acclaimed films such as Beasts of the Southern Wild, Searching for Sugarman and Fruitvale Station. While the 2014 slate might not have a breakout Oscar worthy hit, from top to bottom I have never seen as many enjoyable, memorable films as the whole festival contained. 

All in all I watched 34 films in every Festival category, Narrowing the 34 to my top 5 favorites was incredibly difficult. Spending 10 days digesting films dealing with issues ranging from suicide to abortion to zombies to sugar addiction can be extremely overwhelming and exhausting. But alas, after much debate I narrowed my movies to my top 5, with two very worthy honorable mentions.

Honorable Mentions

Rudderless-

 Rudderless marks William H. Macy’s debut as a director and it appears that as good an actor as Macy is, he somehow might be an even better director.

     Rudderless is a very dramatic film about a father coming to terms with the loss of his son. The father played by the fantastic Billy Crudup honors his fallen son by putting a band together to play the son’s original music. The less detail I go into about this film the more enjoyable the film will be for all those who watch it.

   Rudderless was the perfect film to catch as a premiere. The fact there were no expectations going in mixed with the fact I hadn’t seen a trailer made it a truly fantastic experience. Rudderless brings to light an experience never before explored in a film that I can remember. It becomes an incredibly moving film and a movie that is hard to shake when you leave the theater.

Obvious Child-

  Obvious Child is the exact kind of movie you need in the middle of a film festival. Sundance does a wonderful job of selecting its films every year but obviously the ratio of drama to light hearted material is not exactly even. After seeing dramatic film on top of documentaries exploring pressing matters sometimes you need something that will make you laugh. Obvious Child provided that and a whole lot more.

  In a fantastic, possibly star launching role, Jenny Slate is wonderful as a stand-up comedian who finds herself heartbroken and lost in the world. After a drunken, one night stand, she discovers herself in an even worse position, pregnant. What follows is the very first abortion-romantic-comedy I have ever seen. It’s a truly hilarious film that in the end is incredibly moving.
Top 5

#5) Life Itself-

Roger Ebert may be the main reason I am writing this article now. Growing up, I watched At The Movies with Siskel & Ebert every week. As a kid, movies were on all the time at my house but I never knew the difference between a good and a bad one until I learned they could get “Thumps Up.” I became fascinated with their reviews, I rushed out to see all of their favorites and my true love of cinema began.

   Life Itself is a fitting tribute to the life and memory of Roger Ebert. Steve James directs this beautiful biopic that shows Ebert at his most vulnerable; the months and weeks before his tragic death. The film chronicles Ebert’s early days as a journalist to becoming the world’s most popular critic, and concluding with his battle with cancer.

   Life Itself was definitely the most moving thing I saw at Sundance. While death is a very prominent topic of the documentary it truly focuses on life. Ebert was a truly joyous man who did the most with his life and his love of people and their stories. This film left me with a very full heart and a true love of its subject.

#4) The Raid 2

The Raid premiered at Sundance in 2012 and I sadly missed it. In the months following I heard whispers of an incredible film from Indonesia that was changing the game of action films.

Well if The Raid:Redemption changed the game. The Raid 2 just invented a completely new one. Never have I seen a film more gruesome, violent, entertaining and enjoyable. The film plays out like the greatest video game you have always wanted to play.

 The first Raid is a truly entertaining film with a fantastic concept. Raid 2 has much more than just that. It is a fantastic film with a great storyline, wonderful characters, and action scenes that will blow your mind. I would be very willing to bet there will not be a single movie released in 2014 more entertaining than The Raid 2.

#3) Whiplash-

 

  

No film received as much success and acclaim as Whiplash. If you would like to read my full review you should click here. Whiplash was the very first film I watched at Sundance and it really set the bar for how great the festival was going to go.

    Miles Teller really showed what a breakout star he is ready to become as the jazz drummer student driven to be the best. J.K. Simmons as his abusive (both verbally and physically) instructor gives the best performance in any film in the festival. The films brings to light a lot of interesting issues when it comes to education, culture and where we are today. All of this happens with the backdrop of a truly entertaining and thrilling film. Definitely see this when it comes to a theater near you.

#2) I, Origins-

   No film had as much an impact on me as I, Origins. Days after seeing this film I kept thinking about it and searching for someone to talk about it with. In my 4 years of attending Sundance I have never seen a movie that I was as crazy about as this.

    I, Origins is a sort of sci-fi, futuristic, psychological thriller. I struggle to put it into a genre because it encompasses and does so much. The film is written and directed by Mike Cahill, who returned to Sundance after he debuted his first feature film Another Earth in 2011. Cahill has skyrocketed my list of favorite directors working now due to the fact he is making movies unlike anyone else. Cahill’s film explores issues dealing with science, religion, death and afterlife. It is a very deep film that is so incredibly, emotionally fulfilling.

    I am counting down the days until I get to see this film again. The 2 hours I spent in the theater watching this film were my most enjoyable 2 hours I spent at Sundance.

#1) Boyhood-

For as much as I absolutely loved I, Origins, I can’t argue that Boyhood was not the greatest thing at Sundance. That is because Boyhood might be the greatest accomplishment ever screened at the Sundance Film Festival.

    Boyhood is a monumental effort by Richard Linklater. Filmed for 39 days over 12 years, the film follows it’s central figure, a 6 year old boy, as he grows up all the way to the point where he leaves for college as an 18 year old. The cast remains the same and you watch them age alongside their characters. What this results in is possibly the most effective storytelling I have ever seen in a film.

      Linklater creates a time capsule for every year from 2002 to 2014. The audience becomes a member of this family. You follow the kids through all the issues that kids in broken homes deal with. You become attached to every member of the family and you find yourself truly pulling for them.

     Not much happens in this 164 minute film, but at the same time everything happens. It is an honest depiction of what it feels like to grow up. Although it’s a very lengthy running time you don’t want the film to end. When it’s over you feel like you have lost 4 members of your family for good. I have never experience a film like Boyhood before and I don’t know if I ever will again. It’s truly a remarkable cinematic achievement.

Here is a full list of all the movies I saw at Sundance:
Whiplash
A Man Most Wanted
Stranger By The Lake
Ping Pong Summer
Fishing Without Nets
I, Origins
Obvious Child
Cooties
Boyhood
Finding Fela
Hoop Dreams
Life Itself
Private Violence
Hellion
Battered Bastards of Baseball
Song One
The Raid 2
Blind
Skeleton Twins
Happy Christmas
Life After Beth
Dear White People
Alive Inside: Story of Music and Memory
20,000 Days on Earth
The Case Against 8
Listen Up Phillip
Rudderless
They Came Together
Fed Up
Frank
Wish I Was Here
To Kill A Man
Rich Hill
The One I Love