Every Movie I Watched in 2014

Every year I like to keep track of my insanity, or in other words keep track of every movie I watch throughout the year.  After I watch a movie, I log it into a word document, rate it out of 10, and put the date that I watched the movie.  And every year I look back on the list and I admire the film discoveries I made, the films I've seen before that have held up over time, and wonder how I managed to get anything done throughout the year.

In All Seriousness:

My one rule for this list of watched films is I only count it if I watch the movie from start to finish.  I don't count it if I start a movie and don't pay attention for most of it, I don't count it if I start watching a movie 20 minutes in and then finish it, I don't count it if I miss the last 5 minutes.  All of these films I've seen from the opening to the closing credits.

Ratings mean something different for everyone who rates things, so here is what each rating I make means.

.5-1.5 means I hated it.
2-3 means I really didn't like it.
3.5-4.5 means I almost liked it.
5 means I thought it was okay.
5.5-7means I liked it.
7.5-8 means I liked it a lot.
8.5-9 means I loved it.
9.5-10 means it's one of my favorite movies of all-time.

The * next to some of the movies means that the movie came out this year.

1. A Clockwork Orange – Rating: 9.5/10 – 1/1

2. The Wolf of Wall Street – Rating: 9/10 – 1/5

3. Frozen – Rating: 8/10 – 1/5

4. Greenberg – Rating: 7/10 – 1/6

5. Schindler’s List – Rating: 9/10 – 1/6

6. Boogie Nights – Rating: 10/10 – 1/8

7. Her – Rating: 9.5/10 – 1/9

8. Caché (Hidden) – Rating: 8.5/10 – 1/10

9. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire – Rating: 7.5/10 – 1/10

10. Dallas Buyers Club – Rating: 7/10 – 1/12

11. Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues – Rating: 7.5/10 – 1/13

12. Breathless – Rating: 8/10 – 1/14

13. The Hunt – Rating: 8.5/10 – 1/15

14. Inside Llewyn Davis – Rating: 9/10 – 1/15

15. Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist – Rating: 6.5/10 – 1/16

16. Where the Wild Things Are – Rating: 7.5/10 – 1/16

17. Blue Jasmine – Rating: 6/10 – 1/17

18. 2001: A Space Odyssey – Rating: 9/10 – 1/17

19. Revolutionary Road – Rating: 6/10 – 1/18

20. Punch-Drunk Love – Rating: 9/10 – 1/18

21. Lone Survivor – Rating: 7.5/10 – 1/18

22. Eraserhead – Rating: 6.5/10 – 1/20

23. Short Term 12 – Rating: 9/10 – 1/21

24. Les Miserables – Rating: 6.5/10 – 1/21

25. Rush – Rating: 7.5/10 – 1/21

26. Beau Travail – Rating: 8.5/10 – 1/22

27. Rashomon – Rating: 8/10 – 1/22

28. Barry Lyndon – Rating: 8.5/10 – 1/23

29. Chasing Amy – Rating: 7/10 – 1/30

30. Chicago – Rating: 9/10 – 1/31

31. The Kite Runner – Rating: 7/10 – 2/5

32. Fantastic Mr. Fox – Rating: 8/10 – 2/8

33. We Need to Talk About Kevin – Rating: 7.5/10 – 2/16

34. Saw – Rating: 8/10 – 2/17

35. Saw 2 – Rating: 7/10 – 2/18

36. Little Miss Sunshine – Rating: 9.5/10 – 2/20

37. Escape from Alcatraz – Rating: 6.5/10 – 2/21

38. Saw IV – Rating: 6.5/10 – 2/25

39. Saw 5 – Rating: 5/10 – 2/26

40. Perks of Being a Wallflower – Rating: 8/10 – 2/26

41. Boogie Nights – Rating: 10/10 – 2/27

42. Nebraska – Rating: 6/10 – 2/28

43. Philomena – Rating: 6/10 – 3/1

44. Saw 6 – Rating: 7/10 – 3/2

45. Saw 7 – Rating: 7.5/10 – 3/3

46. Cube – Rating: 5/10 – 3/5

47. Sin City – Rating: 7.5/10 – 3/7

48. *Nymphomaniac Pt. 1 – Rating: 8/10 – 3/11

49. *Nymphomaniac Pt. 2 – Rating: 8/10 – 3/11

50. The Great Train Robbery – Rating: 4/10 – 3/12

51. Jackass 2 – Rating: 6/10 – 3/15

52. Jackass The Movie – Rating: 5/10 – 3/15

53. *Non-Stop – Rating: 7/10 – 3/16

54. Clerks – Rating: 7.5/10 – 3/17

55. Zack and Miri Make a Porno – Rating: 6/10 – 3/17

56. Annie Hall – Rating: 8.5/10 – 3/18

57. The Replacements – Rating: 7/10 – 3/19

58. Groundhog Day – Rating: 8/10 – 3/22

59. The Truman Show – Rating: 7.5/10 – 3/28

60. Good Night, and Good Luck – Rating: 6/10 – 4/2

61. Semi-Pro – Rating: 6.5/10 – 4/5

62. The Blair Witch Project – Rating: 5.5/10 – 4/5

63. Raising Arizona – Rating: 8/10 – 4/6

64. *The Grand Budapest Hotel – Rating: 9/10 – 4/7

65. The Station Agent – Rating: 8.5/10 – 4/7

66. Capote – Rating: 8/10 – 4/8

67. The Avengers – Rating: 7/10 – 4/13

68. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – Rating: 7/10 – 4/14

69. Goodfellas – Rating: 9.5/10 – 4/17

70. Mulholland Drive – Rating: 9/10 – 4/18

71. Sunset Boulevard – Rating: 7/10 – 4/19

72. In the Mood for Love – Rating: 8.5/10 – 4/19

73. Short Term 12 – Rating: 9/10 – 4/19

74. The Boondock Saints – Rating: 7.5/10 – 4/23

75. Swingers – Rating: 7.5/10 – 4/26

76. The Untouchables – Rating: 8/10 – 4/26

77. Mean Streets – Rating: 7.5/10 – 4/26

78. Raiders of the Lost Ark – Rating: 7/10 – 4/26

79. Batman Begins – Rating: 7.5/10 – 4/29

80. Easy Rider – Rating: 7.5/10 – 4/30

81. The Dark Knight – Rating: 9.5/10 – 4/30

82. The Dark Knight Rises – Rating: 8.5/10 – 5/3

83. Best in Show – Rating: 8/10 – 5/4

84. Leon: The Professional – Rating: 7/10 – 5/7

85. Ocean’s 11 – Rating: 7/10 – 5/7

86. Traffic – Rating: 7.5/10 – 5/8

87. Going the Distance – Rating: 8/10 – 5/8

88. Super High Me – Rating: 7/10 – 5/8

89. Garden State – Rating: 8/10 – 5/9

90. *The Lego Movie – Rating: 9/10 – 5/13

91. *The Amazing Spider-Man 2 – Rating: 7/10 – 5/16

92. *Neighbors – Rating: 6.5/10 – 5/20

93. The Great Beauty – Rating: 8/10 – 5/21

94. Naked Lunch – Rating: 7.5/10 – 5/21

95. Antichrist – Rating: 7.5/10 – 5/22

96. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father – Rating: 8/10 – 5/23

97. Super Troopers – Rating: 8/10 – 5/23

98. *The Normal Heart – Rating: 7/10 – 5/26

99. Fitzcarraldo – Rating: 7.5/10 – 5/28

100. Burden of Dreams – Rating: 8/10 – 5/30

101. Nashville – Rating: 8.5/10 – 5/30

102. Her – Rating: 9.5/10 – 6/2

103. Thelma and Louise – Rating: 8.5/10 – 6/4

104. Wayne’s World – Rating: 7/10 – 6/4

105. *X-Men: Days of Future Past – Rating: 8.5/10 – 6/5

106. The Wolf of Wall Street – Rating: 9/10 – 6/5

107. Inside Llewyn Davis – Rating: 9/10 – 6/8

108. 8 ½ - Rating: 9/10 – 6/9

109. Eyes Without a Face – Rating: 9/10 – 6/11

110. Bottle Rocket – Rating: 8/10 – 6/12

111. Manhattan – Rating: 8/10 – 6/12

112. Serpico – Rating: 8.5/10 – 6/14

113. *22 Jump Street – Rating: 7.5/10 – 6/14

114. Stalker – Rating: 8/10 - 6/17

115. The King of Comedy – Rating: 7.5/10 – 6/19

116. Once Upon a Time in the West – Rating: 9/10 – 6/25

117. Django Unchained – Rating: 8.5/10 – 6/25

118. *Under the Skin – Rating: 7/10 – 6/26

119. The Godfather – Rating: 9/10 – 7/9

120. *Noah – Rating: 7/10 – 7/11

121. The Godfather Pt. 2 – Rating: 9.5/10 – 7/12

122. *Life Itself – Rating: 8.5/10 – 7/12

123. Raging Bull – Rating: 9.5/10 – 7/13

124. This Is 40 – Rating: 7/10 – 7/14

125. Rushmore – Rating: 9/10 – 7/15

126. Seven Samurai – Rating: 9.5/10 – 7/19

127. Annie Hall – Rating: 9.5/10 – 7/20

128. The Great Dictator – Rating: 9/10 – 7/22

129. Enough Said – Rating: 7/10 – 7/26

130. Gravity – Rating: 8/10 – 7/26

131. 12 Angry Men – Rating: 9/10 – 7/26

132. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – Rating: 9/10 – 7/26

133. The Big Chill – Rating: 8/10 – 7/27

134. *Guardians of the Galaxy – Rating: 8.5/10 – 8/1

135. Win Win – Rating: 8.5/10 – 8/7

136. The Passenger – Rating: 8/10 – 8/11

137. Rear Window – Rating: 9.5/10 – 8/24

138. Shadow of a Doubt – Rating: 7.5/10 – 8/24

139. Little Miss Sunshine – Rating: 9.5/10 – 9/5

140. Rookie of the Year – 8/10 – 9/13

141. Her – Rating: 9.5/10 – 9/15

142. Office Space – Rating: 8/10 – 9/26

143. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – Rating: 9/10 – 9/27

144. *Gone Girl – Rating: 8.5/10 – 10/2

145. The 40-Year Old Virgin – Rating: 8/10 – 10/10

146. Shallow Hal – Rating: 6.5/10 – 10/10

147. Good Morning, Vietnam – Rating: 8/10 – 10/11

148. The Sandlot – Rating: 9/10 – 10/13

149. Eyes Wide Shut – Rating: 8.5/10 – 10/14

150. Boyz N the Hood – Rating: 7/10 – 10/17

151. *Cabin Fever: Patient Zero – Rating: 1/10 – 10/18

152. Funny People – Rating: 7.5/10 – 10/24

153. Billy Madison – Rating: 6.5/10 – 10/24

154. *Boyhood – Rating: 9/10 – 10/25

155. *Maps to the Stars – Rating: 7.5/10 – 10/25

156. *Divergent – Rating: 6/10 – 10/25

157. Sinister – Rating: 6/10 – 10/26

158. The ABC’s of Death – Rating: 5/10 – 10/28

159. You’re Next – Rating: 6.5/10 – 10/31

160. Kill List – Rating: 8/10 – 11/2

161. The Omen – Rating: 7/10 – 11/4

162. *Frank – Rating: 8/10 – 11/11

163. Food, Inc. – Rating: 7.5/10 – 11/12

164. *Blue Ruin – Rating: 8/10 – 11/15

165. Jumanji – Rating: 7/10 – 11/18

166. Kingpin – Rating: 6.5/10 – 11/20

167. Little Manhattan – Rating: 6/10 – 11/23

168. World’s Greatest Dad – Rating: 6.5/10 – 11/24

169. The Birds – Rating: 6.5/10 – 11/24

170. Kramer vs. Kramer – Rating: 8.5/10 – 11/24

171. Zelig – Rating: 7.5/10 – 11/25

172. Sweet Smell of Success – Rating: 8.5/10 – 11/25

173. Amarcord – Rating: 8.5/10 – 11/26

174. Modern Times – Rating: 7.5/10 – 11/26

175. Spirited Away – Rating: 9/10 – 11/26

176. Talk to Her – Rating: 9/10 – 11/26

177. A Separation – Rating: 8.5/10 – 11/28

178. Hoop Dreams – Rating: 8/10 – 11/28

179. The 400 Blows – Rating: 8/10 – 11/30

180. Scrooged – Rating: 8/10 – 12/4

181. Almost Famous – Rating: 7.5/10 – 12/5

182. Do the Right Thing – Rating: 9/10 – 12/6

183. Hard Eight – Rating: 6/10 – 12/7

184. Boogie Nights – Rating: 10/10 – 12/7

185. Magnolia – Rating: 9/10 – 12/8

186. *Nightcrawler – Rating: 8.5/10 – 12/9

187. Punch-Drunk Love – Rating: 9/10 – 12/9

188. There Will Be Blood – Rating: 9.5/10 – 12/11

189. The Master – Rating: 9.5/10 – 12/11

190. *Inherent Vice – Rating: 9.5/10 – 12/12

191. Inside Llewyn Davis – Rating: 9/10 – 12/14

192. Shame – Rating: 8.5/10 – 12/15

193. 30 for 30: The U – Rating: 7/10 – 12/17

194. 30 for 30: Survive and Advance – Rating: 8.5/10 – 12/18

195. *Dawn of the Planet of the Apes – Rating: 8/10 – 12/19

196. *The Skeleton Twins – Rating: 6/10 - 12/20

197. *The Babadook – Rating: 8/10 – 12/20

198. *Ida – Rating: 7/10 – 12/21

199. *Listen Up Philip – Rating: 7/10 – 12/21

200. *Obvious Child – Rating: 8.5/10 – 12/22

201. *Two Days, One Night – Rating: 7.5/10 – 12/22

202. Panic Room – Rating: 7/10 – 12/23

203. *Mr. Turner – Rating: 7.5/10 – 12/23

204. It’s A Wonderful Life – Rating: 8.5/10 – 12/23

205. *Still Alice – Rating: 8/10 – 12/23

206. Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom – Rating: 4/10 – 12/24

207. Home Alone – Rating: 8/10 – 12/24

208. *The Rover – Rating: 7.5/10 – 12/24

209. *Divergent – Rating: 6.5/10 – 12/25

210. Paths of Glory – Rating: 8.5/10 – 12/27

211. *Foxcatcher – Rating: 8/10 – 12/28

212. *Interstellar – Rating: 7.5/10 – 12/30

213. *Winter Sleep – Rating: 7/10 – 12/30

214. Sweet Smell of Success – Rating: 9/10 – 12/31

214 total movies watched this year. 201 of them are different, which means 13 of these films were repeated viewings of a movie in this same year.  For example, I watched Inside Llewyn Davis 3 times this year, which means the 2nd and 3rd time watching it counts towards the 13 repeated viewings.

Let me know if you have any gripes with my ratings, did I rate something too well or too poorly?  And please let me know what you think of any of these films if you wind up watching them after reading this.

Click here for last year's list.

-Ryan Moncrief

Review: Inherent Vice

Paul Thomas Anderson adapted the novel 'Inherent Vice' by Thomas Pynchon, which I read.  I read the book over the summer in preparation for this movie.  Once I found out Paul Thomas Anderson was adapting this novel, I immediately bought and read it.  Due to the fact that I read this book, I can make comparisons between this book that I read and the movie that was written based on the novel 'Inherent Vice' (which I read).  While I was reading this novel I thought about how the characters would be portrayed in the movie, and then when I was watching the movie I thought back to when I read 'Inherent Vice' and thought, "I remember these characters from when I was reading this book."  I read this book.  I read.

In All Seriousness:

Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson

Written by: Paul Thomas Anderson

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Katherine Waterston, Josh Brolin, Owen Wilson, Benicio Del Toro, Reese Witherspoon, Martin Short, Joanna Newsom, Jena Malone, Eric Roberts, Sasha Pieterse, Peter McRobbie

As I said repeatedly before the break, I did read the novel 'Inherent Vice' once I found out PTA would be adapting it for his seventh feature film.  I don't want to make this review about the book though, so all I will say about it is that I loved it, the movie cast the actors very similarly to how I imagined the characters while reading it, and the movie stayed very faithful to it.  As much as I love Paul Thomas Anderson's original screenplays, it was nice to see him tackle a complete adaptation for once (he loosely adapted his 2007 film There Will Be Blood from Upton Sinclair's book 'Oil!', for which he received an Academy Award nomination).

Inherent Vice centers around Larry 'Doc' Sportello, who is played hilariously by Joaquin Phoenix.  The stoner investigator that Phoenix plays here is a drastic change from his animalistic role in Anderson's last film The Master.  During last year's Golden Globe Awards, Leonardo DiCaprio joked after winning Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical, that he was surprised to win in that category.  He also thanked his fellow "comedians", which included Joaquin Phoenix for his performance in the wonderful film Her.  Although DiCaprio sarcastically called Phoenix a comedian last year, this year it wouldn't seem so odd as he does some of the best comedic work of 2014 here.

Except for maybe There Will Be Blood, all of Paul Thomas Anderson's films can be really funny at times.  Whether it's John C. Reilly making margaritas in Boogie Nights, or Joaquin Phoenix farting in The Master, or just all of Punch-Drunk Love, PTA is constantly slipping comedic moments into his films.  Vice's main source of comedy comes from the brilliantly acted dynamic between Phoenix's Doc Sportello and Josh Brolin's tough guy cop, Bigfoot Bjornsen.  The two share a handful of scenes together, and every single time it is magic.  Josh Brolin is someone I would love to see PTA add to his arsenal of frequent collaborators, like he has done now with Joaquin Phoenix.  Other actors in Vice, whom I would love to see work with Anderson again are: Martin Short, who steals the two scenes he is in as a coked-up, womanizing dentist; Benicio Del Toro, who is great in his few scenes; and Katherine Waterston, who provides the bulk of the great dramatic work in the film.

Anderson and cinematographer Robert Elswit (working with Anderson for the 6th time on this film) collaborate successfully again here, with the constant moving shots, the lingering shots, and the grainy 1970's-look that made the film look authentic to the time period being portrayed.  One reason why so many actors have been nominated and/or won awards for acting in PTA's films is because he gives his actors the opportunity to do great work.  He'll stage scenes where two actors will perform for minutes and he won't cut at all, forcing these talented actors to give their very best performance each time.  It shows the trust he has in them, and it works.

Inherent Vice is the film I've been waiting for all year.  It gave me everything I wanted in a PTA film, hilarious awkwardness, insane characters, witty dialogue, and a constantly moving camera.  It has to be hard for Paul Thomas Anderson to continuously live up to the hype that an acclaimed filmmaker like himself has set for them, but for me at least, he meets or exceeds these expectations with every film he has made since I discovered his work.

Rating: 9.5/10

-Ryan Moncrief