This has also made this years list one of the most difficult ones I've ever had to put together! There were so many excellent non-mainstream movies released (in Australia) this year, that I have been anguishing over the placements of these films for at least a week and a half.
Because of the large number of films that were released this year, and because of my limited funds and time, I have not been able to see every film. So, if you're wondering why Boyhood, Whiplash, and Nightcrawler are not on this list, it's because I have not yet been able to see them.
Again, my definition for a non-mainstream film is a film that has been released through only one cinema chain, or was only able to be seen at a film festival, and that they must have been released or shown in an Australian cinema in 2014.
So, without further ado, let's begin!
(Note: I have noticed that most of these films did actually come out in 2013. Oh well. Sorry. Blame the Australian release schedule.)
10. Populaire
You know, sometimes all you want to watch is a cute, little romantic comedy, set in the 50s about a secretary and her boss, and how they enter a typing competition and fall in love along the way! This film is adorable, from the sets to the costumes to the acting, adorable all around! I know it's not a deep film, or a subversive film. But what it is is a charming comedy that had me smiling all the way through it! The fact that I also went onto Amazon and spent $30 on shipping to get the DVD after I saw it should also indicate how much I enjoyed this film. And sometimes, an enjoyable film is all you need and want!
9. Keep On Keepin' On
If you haven't heard of Clark Terry, I don't blame you. While his name is probably one that floats around jazz circles, but this trumpeter is still not that much of a household name, unlike Miles Davis and Quincey Jones. I hadn't even heard of Clark Terry until I saw this film, but now I think he is one of my favourite jazz instrumentalists. And not just for his playing, which as the film describes stands out by being so joyous and mellow. The man himself is incredible! CT has taught both Quincey and Miles, and played with the likes of Count Basie and Duke Ellington, and during the later part of his life, he started teaching other young musicians. This documentary is a love letter to a musician who should be more well-known, and it shows off his achievements by following one of his students, a blind pianist named Justin Kauflin. The best parts of the film are the moments when CT is teaching Justin, and just mumbles melodies to him that the pianist picks up and plays over and over. The film also goes over CT's life, as well as Justin's and how they came to be working together. But the most incredible thing is that CT keeps going, keeps teaching, and keeps playing when he is 94 years old! A wonderful tribute to an excellent, not well-known man.
8. Blue is the Warmest Colour
So, this is the spot I have been agonising over for at least a week. And this is also the reason that I hate Australian release schedules, because it means that I have to leave off other incredible films like Snowpiercer since this technically came out in 2014 down here. But after thinking it over, I decided that Blue is the Warmest Colour would appear on this list for a number of reasons. While Snowpiercer is an excellent film and I would recommend it to everyone, Blue is the Warmest Colour stands out in my mind more clearly for being an exceptional film experience. Although, like most other critics I do find the sex scenes uncomfortable and borderline pornographic, the good things in this film outweigh that controversial part. The acting is incredible, both Léa Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos give such emotional and intense performances that they keeps the audience enraptured for the entire 179 minutes. It is also beautifully shot, and I do like the way that the director, Abdellatif Kechiche (around whom controversy swarms like flies), put the colour blue somewhere in every shot. And the way he shot the food! I have never wanted spaghetti bolognese so much after I watched this film! I do regret that there is no place for Snowpiercer on this list, but I am still pleased with my choices, and I am glad that the film instead of it is Blue is the Warmest Colour.
7. In a World
This film is a comedy about the cut-throat world of voice-over artists. That description sounds interesting, but not exceptional. But this awkward comedy also serves as a look into how hard it is for women to make a name for themselves in a man's world. The film follows Carol Solomon (played by the writer-director Lake Bell) as she tries to not only move out of her fathers shadow, but also fights against a system that favours men. And it is pretty hilarious along the way! I really like the way it makes fun of old movie trailer voice-overs, while also celebrating how cheesy they are. I really like the main character, and how she interacts with her family, and her co-workers. I really like the humour, as it ranges from awkward dialogue, to subtle sight gags. Again, this is a fun film to watch and enjoy. It may not be the best film ever made, but to me it is an excellent film that brings to light some important issues without feeling the film is shoving them down your throat. And I dare anyone not to say the title in a silly voice-over voice!
6. Cupcakes
There was no way this film was never not going to be on this list somewhere. For those who don't know what this film is about (and I'm guessing that's most of you, unfortunately), this film is about a group of friends who enter a song contest that greatly resembles another famous European song contest. Of course, they can't call it the Eurovision Song Contest, but that doesn't matter. Everyone who went to see this knew they meant the ESC. Again, this is an adorable, hilarious little film (most of the films on this list seem to fall into that category) about friends in Israel who one day find themselves entered into the UniverSong Contest. I love anything even slightly Eurovision related, so of course I love this film! And I am not ashamed of it! If you want a cheesy, fun, hilarious film, then I would recommend this. If you like Eurovision, I recommend this even more so! And you know what, the song they come up with is actually pretty darn good!
5. The Babadook
For a film that is getting a lot of praise from overseas, it might surprise everyone on how limited a release it received in its own country. However, I do know that everyone here who saw the film agrees that it is one of the best horror films ever made. And I agree wholeheartedly! This is a film that uses the character of the boogeyman to examine how grief and depression can destroy a family. The acting is incredible, with Essie Davis giving an incredible performance, but Noah Wiseman, who plays her son, also gives a very affecting performance. A lot of what happens in the film could just be blamed on the resentment that Davis' Amelia feels towards her son, or the Wiseman's Sam's troublesome behaviour, but both of them are not quite right and get worse as the film goes on. It's a very clever psychological horror film that I would recommend for everyone, though you might want to watch it with the lights on!
4. Calvary
This is a film that questions whether the Catholic Church is relevant and needed in a modern world. And it does this by making the film a sort of murder mystery. I say sort of, since the plot revolves around one of Brendan Gleeson's Father James parishioners telling him in confessional that they are going to kill him, and Father James already know who it is. The mystery is instead for the audience, as we go through a normal week for the priest and all of his encounters with potential suspects. This is a very good character study, looking at how Father James deals with the prejudice against himself and his religion, while also looking at how victims of the church are sometimes unable to let go of traumatic events. The acting in this is excellent, especially from traditionally comedic actors like Dylan Moran and Chris O'Dowd. This was one of the tensest films of this year, and also one who wasn't afraid to question religion and dogma, without providing any r3eal answers.
3. The Indie Vampire Movies of 2014
Okay, so I'm going to cheat a little here. This was the year of indie vampire films, with not one, or two, but three excellent films all revolving around the creatures of the night, and made by three incredibly different filmmakers. Since I love all these films, I couldn't bear to keep any of them off. So all three are on the list. In one spot. Yep, I'm tripling up on this best of list, because these vampire films were just that good!
Only Lovers Left Alive
The first indie vampire film is Jim Jarmusch's Only Lovers Left Alive, which I'm pretty sure had the greatest soundtrack of the year. There is so much to talk about in this film. The characters are different from your usual vampires, you really get the feeling that they have been alive for hundreds, maybe even thousands of years. Tilda Swinton is almost ethereal in nature Eve, a vampire who has spent her life reading and gathering knowledge. And for the first time, Tom Hiddleston has kinda impressed me as Adam, a brooding musician who can barely survive on his own, and needs Eve there to look after him. I love the sets and houses they use as the vampires lairs, especially since they're cluttered with books and guitars and other oddments garnered over the years. Vampire lore in this film is sort of upheld, but not forced down people's throats. It's acknowledged, but not made a big fuss of, which is a definite plus. It's also quite funny at times, with most of the laughs coming from John Hurt's Christopher Marlowe, who didn't die in the 16th century, but was instead turned into a vampire! For a more stylish vampire story, with interesting ideas on what vampires actually do throughout such a long lifetime, I'd definitely recommend this. For a slightly more in depth analysis of the film, I'd recommend you to check out Maven's review of the film, which focuses more on themes and all that (which I've kinda forgotten now, since I did see the film way back in April).
What We Do in the Shadows
And from the sublime to the ridiculous, as my mum would say. What We Do in the Shadows had the best premise of the year, and delivered it beyond measure! The film is a mockumentary about 4 vampires who share a house in modern day Wellington. The group's dynamic is changed with the arrival of a recently turned vampire named Nick (Cori Gonzalez-Macuer), and how he both helps and hinders the group. This film, as you might have guessed from the poster, is hilarious! While it deals primarily with how a group of centuries old vampires survive in the modern day, it does so by taking known vampire law to nth degree and spinning it on its head! In recent years, New Zealand has really come out with some excellent writers, directors, and actors, with the Jermaine Clement and Taika Waititi at the forefront. If you haven't had a chance to see it yet, it is still showing at Cinema Nova, in its sixth month of release! Yep, this film is so popular that it is still playing at a cinema after being released six months ago! Do yourself a favour and see this film! It is hilarious, kinda adorable and very very clever.
A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
We finish with the most recently released vampire film, A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night. The director of this film, Ana Lily Amirpour, calls this an Iranian vampire spaghetti western, and it certainly feels like that. This film is style personified, shot in black and white and features an eclectic musical score. The plot is basically nonexistent, which might alienate it from more mainstream audiences. Scenes do lead naturally into one another, it's just that not a lot happens over the course of the film. But that is fine by me! I love horror films that subvert cliches, and this one does it straight from the title. The acting is also good, with the eponymous Girl of the title giving a very subdued performance. We don't much about her, or why she has become a vigilante vampire, but from a few scenes we get an idea of what might of happened. Nothing is very clear cut in this film, and that's what makes interesting and very re-watchable. I know I'll be looking out for this on DVD!
2. Gloria
This film had my favourite character of the year. An older woman who goes to bars to pick up men, takes drugs, drinks, does whatever the fuck she wants, has breakdowns and flaws, but always gets up back and keeps dancing! This is the woman I want to be when I'm older. The film serves as a character study of Gloria (Paulina García), a 58 year old divorcee, and how she lives in modern day Chile. The film follows how she meets a man, Rodolfo (Sergio Hernández), who may or may not be someone she can spend the rest of her life with. I love how the film doesn't think middle age is the end of someone's life! More of these films are coming out, ever since Shirley Valentine really, where older female protagonists re-discover life, but this is the first film I've seen where the protagonist never thought her life had ended after 50. Like I said, I love this character. Chilean cinema is becoming more predominant, which is awesome! It also means that those who about Chilean history and the Pinochet regime can read this film as an interpretation of how modern Chile has evolved after such a brutal era. But if that's not your thing, the rest of the film offers an interesting look at a woman who keeps on living however she likes! And of course, the song 'Gloria' is in this!
1. Obvious Child
So, that was my list. When writing I realised that there are a lot more comedies on here than on a lot of other critics Best of 2014 lists. Not sure if that's good or bad.
One more list to go, and this last one was a lot easier to put together. Hopefully, next week will see the arrival of the Best Mainstream Movies of 2014. Fingers crossed! Until next time, readers.
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