With its 2014 World Poll, gathering lists from well over 100 contributors, Senses of Cinema aims “to present a snapshot of the favourite films of Senses readers, contributors and friends (mostly international programmers, critics, filmmakers and cinephiles),” writes Michelle Carey. “Yes, the parameters may be looser—we encourage submissions of older films, for example, firmly believing that such viewing keeps cinephilia alive and is always in dialogue with contemporary film viewing.” But the Poll “reflects the heterogeneity of international film-going.”
“We’ve been on-the-record Linklater lovers for more than a decade now, and it only seems fitting that the film that is widely considered this great American artist’s magnum opus (though his Before trilogy is arguably that) should sit comfortably at the top,” write editors Michael Koresky and Jeff Reichert, introducing Reverse Shot‘s wonderfully annotated 2014 top ten. Following Boyhood: Alain Guiraudie‘s Stranger by the Lake, Tsai Ming-liang’s Stray Dogs, Jean-Luc Godard‘s Goodbye to Language, James Gray’s The Immigrant, Stephanie Spray and Pacho Velez‘s Manakamana, Wes Anderson‘s The Grand Budapest Hotel, Joaquim Pinto’s What Now? Remind Me, Ramon Zürcher‘s The Strange Little Cat, Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne’s Two Days, One Night and Sergei Loznitsa‘s Maidan.
The Boston Globe‘s Ty Burr: “Boyhood transcended its gimmick to serve as a life raft of decency in a year that needed it, and maybe it’s not too much to ask whether Richard Linklater can just go on revisiting the life of Mason every year and keep us posted on what he finds.”
Dana Stevens is discussing the year in film with David Ehrlich, Amy Nicholson and Stephanie Zacharek in Slate‘s 2014 Movie Club.
“While the industry for think pieces about the end of cinema and the end of filmmaking-as-we-know-it-now continues to boom in our digital era, and while some of these pieces have become refined enough to make some valid claims about the tumultuous industry and art form we call cinema, it’s simultaneously true that taking a look back at the year can produce a sense of awe,” writes Tina Hassannia, introducing Movie Mezzanine‘s “Best Movies of 2014,” a list that runs to 50. #1: Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin. And you can scan the individual ballots, too, as well as Greg Cwik‘s list of the five “Best Film Restorations of 2014.”
Under the Skin tops Nathaniel Rogers‘s list as well.
As mentioned yesterday, Peter Labuza and Keith Uhlich have begun talking about their favorite films of 2014 on the Cinephiliacs (118’26”).
Here’s a nifty “2014 Mini-Poll.”
On a much grander scale, the Guardian‘s Peter Bradshaw looks back on the trends of the past five years and compiles a list of the 50 best films of the demi-decade.
From the Korea Times‘ Jason Bechervaise, the “Top 10 Korean Films of 2014”: “I would argue that commercial films, by in large, have been weaker compared to last year. But independent Korean cinema, especially documentaries are going through a particular exciting phase.” #1: July Jung’s A Girl at My Door.
At Twitch, Christopher O’Keeffe looks back on the top ten Japanese films of the year.
For those who read German, Cargo‘s annual feature is a must: “Was vom Jahr bleibt.”
AWARDS
The Producers Guild of America has announced its nominations. “And most of the familiar names are on there,” notes Slate‘s Aisha Harris: “Boyhood, Birdman, The Imitation Game. But one is noticeably absent: Selma. Despite widespread acclaim for director Ava DuVernay and star David Oyelowo, the film has had a bumpy road this awards season, hampered most recently by claims against its historical accuracy. Selma could still wind up on the shortlist for Best Picture, sure—but its chances just took a hit. (Only one movie, Braveheart, has failed to score a PGA Award nomination and gone on to win Best Picture.)”
“American Sniper, Boyhood, Gone Girl, The Imitation Game, Nightcrawler and Whiplash are among the top film nominees for ACE Eddie honors as chosen by the American Cinema Editors,” reports Variety‘s Dave McNary. “The film drama category has six contenders this year due to a tie for only the second time in the history of the awards.”
“The Art Directors Guild nominations anoint some of the usual awards suspects in eleven categories, including period films The Imitation Game, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Theory of Everything and Unbroken, fantasies Interstellar and Into the Woods, and contemporary Birdman and Gone Girl.” Anne Thompson‘s got the list.
“Boyhood stars Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette made merry in Manhattan on Monday as Richard Linklater’s coming-of-age drama received three prizes from the New York Film Critics Circle,” reports the BBC. Presenting the best film award, Jon Stewart cracked that he’d “read ‘hacked’ studio emails about Boyhood that labelled Linklater an egomaniac. Before giving Linklater the best director prize, Hawke quoted a New York Times review of Boyhood that said he had ‘achieve[d] the impossible with Ethan Hawke [by making] him seem bearable.'” And Patricia Arquette brought her scotch up on stage with her “because I’m a fourth-generation actor.”
Meantime, Boyhood scores with the Vancouver Film Critics Circle, the North Texas Film Critics Association and the Oklahoma Film Critics Circle.
The 2014 Lists and Awards Index. For news and tips throughout the day every day, follow @KeyframeDaily. Get Keyframe Daily in your inbox by signing in at fandor.com/daily.
