Top 25 Films of the Decade So Far

As a currently jobless college student on winter break, I have basically no real responsibilities at the moment other than the usual shower daily, make sure the dogs don't pee in the house, and don't starve.  And even those responsibilities I put off every now and again.  My point is, I currently have the time to do silly things like list and write about my 25 favorite films of the decade we're in so far.  So if you happen to be reading this, I appreciate the time you are taking away from actual responsibilities like school, work, a social life, to read the things I have to say about movies.  But if you don't feel like reading I made a video montage listing the movies below.  The video has music and a lot fewer words.  Either way I hope you enjoy.

In All Seriousness:

25. 127 Hours (2010)
Director: Danny Boyle

It's tough to make a film that for the most part takes place in one area, but Danny Boyle really makes it work.  He uses great editing, along with flashbacks, dream sequences, and interesting cinematography to keep the story gripping.  James Franco gives the best performance of his career (at least so far), and he along with Danny Boyle make this film that can be funny, sad, and hard to watch all at the same time, what it is.

24. Moneyball (2011)
Director: Bennett Miller

Aaron Sorkin (the screenwriter) has a writing style that I think viewers will either love or hate.  His heavy dialogue, and sarcastic, witty characters is something that just really works for me.  The writing is what I really appreciate about the film, but I'm also a fan of Bennett Miller's ability to direct the film in a way that baseball fans AND non-baseball fans can enjoy the film.  It's not as much about baseball as it is about one guy trying to prove wrong everyone who is against him.  Also Jonah Hill gives his first proof of some dramatic chops.

23. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
Director: Wes Anderson

You can now see my thoughts on this film in my review for the film, my top 20 films of 2014 post, and now here.  There isn't much more I can say about it the film.  But I will point out that this movie could move forwards or backwards on this list after a re-watch, because the film isn't as fresh in my mind since seeing it in early 2014.  This movie's ensemble is also the sole reason why I decided not to list actors for each film on this list.  There are so many damn people in this movie, but all of them are cast well and nice to see in a Wes Anderson film.

22. Frances Ha (2013)
Director: Noah Baumbach

A screenwriting professor I had last year described this film as, "About nothing, but also about so much."  And that description really stuck with me because it's true.  Frances Ha is about a girl living in New York, and there isn't much to the story other than look at this quirky girl who is hanging out with her best friend, trying to follow her dreams, and living in New York City.  But that's all it really has to be for me, because the realism in Greta Gerwig's portrayal of this type of character is what made me really enjoy this film as much as I did.  I also really love the script that Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig co-wrote together, and the beautiful black and white cinematography.

21. Gone Girl (2014)
Director: David Fincher

I could slip in Gone Girl as sort of a third part to a trilogy of modern mystery films from David Fincher (along with Zodiac and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo).  All 3 are similar, but not identical in style and the way they unfold the main mystery in their stories.  Gone Girl does a great job of carefully revealing each twist, and Rosamund Pike gives a career-making performance as Amy.

20. Short Term 12 (2013)
Director: Destin Daniel Cretton

Short Term 12 hits you on an emotional level without the conventions of a Hollywood drama or romance.  This is thanks to Cretton's subtle directing, and his ability to make you feel something with an act as simple as having a character tell a story.  But even more so thanks to the wonderful lead performances from Brie Larson and John Gallagher Jr.  Their dynamic as a couple working at a foster home as well as dealing with their own problems are beautifully shown here.


19. Boyhood (2014)
Director: Richard Linklater

It's really good.  Read any of the other countless reviews praising this film.

18. 12 Years a Slave (2013)
Director: Steve McQueen

Last year's Oscar awards was the first year in a little while where I wasn't mad about the Best Picture winner.  Steve McQueen is a filmmaker I really admire.  I've enjoyed all 3 films he has made so far, and 12 Years a Slave is probably his best.  He pulls off long takes like a master, and allows his actors to give excellent performances.  This movie had one of my favorite shots of 2013, but I won't describe it as to not give away spoilers.  All I'll say is it lingers on for a long time, even longer than you'd expect or even be comfortable with, but it works perfectly.

17. Exit Through the Gift Shop (2012)
Director: Banksy

Banksy makes a one-of-a-kind documentary, which is at first about graffiti art, but then becomes something completely different later on.  It's interesting, it's intense (specifically the part at Disneyland), and it's an extremely creative way to make a film.  As of now this film is my favorite documentary.

16. Holy Motors (2012)
Director: Leos Carax

I don't even know how to describe this film.  I guess my best attempt would be to say that it's about the day in a life of many characters, but also only one character at the same time.  Holy Motors can be challenging, many will call it weird.  But this film is like nothing I've ever seen before.  It's a film watching experience that true fans of film should at the very least give a shot.  It's on Netflix.

15.  A Separation (2011)
Director: Asghar Farhadi

In 2011, this is one of the films that I really meant to see before making my annual best films of the year list, but somehow I didn't manage to see it until about a month ago.  This Iranian drama is tense from the very first second, and doesn't let you feel safe for a second until the film ends.  I'm not going to get into the ending, but I really loved the way they did it.

14. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Director: Martin Scorsese

Wild, fun, excessive.  Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street is his closest film in terms of style to his 1990 film Goodfellas, which is my favorite of his.  If anyone can have us rooting for a unbelievably awful person like Jordan Belfort for or a gangster like Henry Hill, it's Scorsese.  3 hours long, but it feels like 2.  It never gets boring, and makes me excited that Marty is still pumping out good films this late into his career.

13. Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
Director: Wes Anderson

Wes Anderson is one of the directors for me who has yet to do me wrong.  Of the films of his I've seen, there hasn't been one that I didn't at least like.  And to say I love Moonrise Kingdom, yet it's only my third favorite of his says a lot.  I think Moonrise is his best example of the classic Wes Anderson trait of the kids in the film being adult-like, and the adults in the film acting childish.  Also the back and forth letter writing scene between the boy and girl in this film is one of my favorite Wes Anderson film scenes ever.

12. Blue is the Warmest Color (2013)
Director: Abdellatif Kechiche

Despite the controversy surrounding the film regarding the explicit sex scenes and the supposedly exhausting working environment for the actresses, Kechiche and these actresses made a masterpiece.  This is a film I've been wanting to revisit since I saw it, the 3 hour running time has me delaying that, but the first time I saw it, it was a 3 hours well spent.  Adele Exarchopolous is amazing as this young woman discovering her sexuality, and Lea Seydoux is just as great as her love interest.  Expect to see these two a lost more in the future.

11. Drive (2011)
Director: Nicolas Winding Refn

Drive is a movie I am really happy wasn't like the trailer.  The trailer made it seem like it would be a mindless action film.  What it turned out to be was a visually pleasing thriller with great action and great acting from it's cast.  Albert Brooks, who gave my favorite performance of 2011, is particularly good as the main antagonist of the film.

10. Whiplash (2014)
Director: Damien Chazelle

My 2nd favorite film of this past film.  These kind of musician trying to make it big can fall into so many cliches and stereotypes that Whiplash never falls into.  Miles Teller brings a drive to the character of Andrew and J.K. Simmons gives an intensity to the character of Mr. Fletcher, and together they make magic.  Between this chemistry, and the editing, and the finale, this film is something really special.

9. Django Unchained (2012)
Director: Quentin Tarantino

I might not always be a fan of Tarantino's personality, but his films are right up my alley.  Django is towards the top of his filmography for me.  His writing here is great as always, and he creates some of his most memorable characters here.  Everyone plays their part perfectly, and does a great job of getting through Tarantino's paragraphs of dialogue.  It's probably partly my love for Westerns that makes me appreciate this film so much, but I just love it.

8. Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)
Director: Benh Zeitlin

A brilliant debut film from Benh Zeitlin who also wrote and scored the film in addition to directing.  The score is something that really makes the emotions hit harder than they would without it. Quvenzhane Wallis as this 6-year old girl in the south before, during, and after a Katrina-like storm, is great.  And hopefully she remains successful despite how that new Annie movie looks.

7. Inherent Vice (2014)
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

Taking huge inspiration from film noir, the 70's, and it's source material's author Thomas Pynchon's style, PTA hits another home run with this hilarious noir-esque film.  Joaquin Phoenix leads an ensemble cast that all are perfect for the roles they were cast in.  This is the perfect kind of movie for my taste, and I can only see this movie getting better with more views.

6. Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)
Director: Joel and Ethan Coen

The Coen Brothers do it again with a wonderful film about a folk musician trying to find success.  It would make a good companion piece to Whiplash, although this one is a little more depressing with it's muted color cinematography and storyline.  And really just the general sadness in folk music rather than jazz.  Oscar Isaac is heartbreakingly good, and surely deserved a his first name nomination last year.

5. Black Swan (2010)
Director: Darren Aronofsky

Natalie Portman's Nina Sayers is one of the best performances of the decade so far.  Her dedication to the performance is evident in the dance sequences.  You'd suspect that she's been training for years, when in fact it was only months.  Darren Aronofsky's cerebral drama Black Swan can be horrifying and beautiful at the same time.  It was my second favorite film of a very strong year in film.

4. The Master (2012)
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

Paul Thomas Anderson's first film since 2007's There Will Be Blood is the nearly as well-crafted The Master.  Paul Thomas directs his three main actors to Oscar nominated performances.  His cinematographer shoots beautiful images, and the score from Radiohead guitarist Johnny Greenwood is engaging just as it was in There Will Be Blood.  The Master says a lot about faith and obedience, and allows for different things to be seen upon each viewing.

3. The Tree of Life (2011)
Director: Terrence Malick

Speaking of needing multiples viewings, Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life.  One of the most beautiful films I've ever seen, as is probably evident from the screenshot I chose above.  I still haven't fully grasped everything the film is trying to say, but that's why I love it so much.  It's never the same experience watching this film again and again, which makes this film something that will hold up for a long time.

2. Her (2013)
Director: Spike Jonze

Her is a one-of-a-kind, film about love.  It's odd, I know people who were weirded out by it.  But I think this portrayal of someone feeling love is as real as any other film I've seen.  It can be funny, sweet, and then really punch you right in the heard with spiked brass knuckles.  I think this film is incredible, it made me feel things that not many other films have before.

1. The Social Network (2010)
Director: David Fincher

I might be in the minority, but I truly believe that this film is the masterpiece of the 21st century.  Every aspect of filmmaking is in prime form here, from Fincher's directing, to Aaron Sorkin's excellent screenplay, to the acting, to the perfect score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, and the great cinematography from Fincher's go-to guy Jeff Cronenweth.  It's a film that deals with a problem and an event that has a lot to do with our lives in this decade.  With the film industry constantly going deep into history with their films, even though it's nice to see those events in film, it was refreshing to see a newer event in history captured so well.

-Ryan Moncrief

Top 20 Films of 2014

Another year, another end of the year list showing you all what my 20 favorite films from the previous year are.  It was a solid year in film, I didn't do as much film watching as I did last year, and that might be because I wasn't interested in as many films this year as I was last year.  But nonetheless I was able to watch a decent amount of films released in 2014, and I whittled the list down to 20.  Before I reveal the ordered list however, I'd like to give out a few awards like I did last year.

The Worst Movie to Watch With Your Grandma Award: Nymphomaniac pt. 1 and 2
The Child from Hell Award: Noah Wiseman in The Babadook
The Funniest Use of a Banana Award: Inherent Vice
The Only Ever Use of the Pearl the Landlord Video in Cinema Award: Boyhood
The This is Why I Don't Go Hiking Award: Wild

The John Stamos Best Hair Award: Oscar Isaac in A Most Violent Year

In All Seriousness:

20. Wild (Directed by Jean-Marc Vallee)

Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Thomas Sadoski, Gaby Hoffman

Reese Witherspoon leads this based-on-a-true-story drama, about a woman who goes on an 1,100 mile hike after a tragic event effects her life.  Witherspoon's portrayal of this damaged woman is the highlight of the film.  Laura Dern's performance is also wonderful.  The scenes of her on the hike were my favorites of the film. They show the struggle and emotion that make Witherspoon's performance memorable.  The flashback scenes seemed more Hollywood and less real, which is why they felt weaker to me.  Overall a solid, entertaining film.

19. Selma (Directed by Ava Duvernay)
Starring: David Oyelowo, Carmen Ejogo, Tom Wilkinson, Tim Roth, Oprah Winfrey

Biopics and historical true story films can be very bland and play as a sort of just a retelling of a famous person's life or an event.  On the other hand, they can also be very interesting, cinematic takes on someone's life or an event.  Selma I would put closer to the latter half.  David Oyelowo seems to really embody the look and sound of Martin Luther King Jr.  He shows a great, complex personality to a person who I've really only seen in his famous "I Have A Dream" speech.  I'd also like to point out my admiration for the editing and filming of the first scene on the bridge.

18. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (Directed by Matt Reeves)
Starring: Jason Clarke, Keri Russell, Gary Oldman, Andy Serkis, Kodi Smit-Mcphee

I love it when films like this can prove to me that there are still summer blockbusters that are still really well made and entertaining as hell.  Rise of the Planet of the Apes, which came out a few years ago was decent.  I didn't love it, but it interested me enough to be excited for this sequel.  Dawn is a great addition to this franchise which has had some hits and some serious misses since the original Planet of the Apes in 1968.  The acting is fine, but the cinematography and blocking of the action scenes are what make this film really great.

17. The Imitation Game (Directed by Morten Tyldum)
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Mark Strong, Charles Dance

Like Selma, The Imitation Game is more towards the interesting side of the Biopic genre.  It doesn't break any ground in the genre, it kind of just hit all of the marks that you find in a movie like this, but this movie really connected with me for some reason.  I think this is because the story is something I really admired, and Cumberbatch's performance is great.  It's one of the films that I don't necessarily want to win the Oscar categories it'll inevitably be nominated in, but I wouldn't be annoyed if it does win.

16. Blue Ruin (Directed by Jeremy Saulnier)
Starring: Macon Blair, Devin Ratray, Amy Hargreaves

Blue Ruin was a wonderful surprise.  You might have passed over this film several times on Netflix Instant, well it's time to finally hit play on it.  Blue Ruin is a great revenge film, about a homeless man who decides to avenge his parents by hunting down their murder.  This starts a huge conflict with the family of the murderer.  The film is a short and sweet 90 minutes, and has a great leading performance from Macon Blair, an actor who I hope to see a lot more of in the future.

15. The Babadook (Directed by Jennifer Kent)
Starring: Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman, Daniel Henshall

The Babadook is a film I've been recommending to all of my friends who are into the horror genre.  It's a truly horrifying film, and the first film in a while that has genuinely scared me.  Essie Davis and Noah Wiseman work really well together as the mother and son combo.  The film does a great job of displaying the difficulties of motherhood, and struggle of being a single parent.  Horrific in a real sense as well as an otherworldly sense.

14. Birdman (Directed by Alejandro G. Inarritu)
Starring: Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, Zach Galifanakis, Naomi Watts, Amy Ryan

Birdman is a great cinematic achievement.  The cinematography from the always incredible Emmanuel Lubezki, does a great job of filming Birdman in a way that matches the chaos of the story. The long-shots are mapped out very well, and the cast does a fantastic job of plowing through the pages of dialogue in each long scene.  Birdman is a movie filled with great moments.  I wouldn't be upset to see Michael Keaton take home some Oscar gold.

13. Nymphomaniac pt. 1 and 2 (Directed by Lars Von Trier)
Starring: Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stellan Skaarsgard, Stacy Martin, Shia LaBeouf, Christian Slater, Uma Thurman, Jamie Bell, Willem Dafoe

I included both parts of this 4-hour long (as a whole), explicitly sexual and violent story of Joe, a self-proclaimed nymphomaniac's sexual history leading up to being beaten in an alley and taken care of by a man, Seligman, for this list.  While being a very dangerous and at times hard to watch film, Nymphomaniac displays great performances and storytelling.  For several days after watching it I found myself thinking about it.  Not for everyone, but if you're looking for a unique cinematic experience, give it a try.  Also for the record I liked Pt. 1 slightly more than Pt. 2.

12. Force Majeure (Directed by Ruben Ostlund)
Starring: Johannes Kuhnke, Lisa Loven Kongsli

Unfortunately this is the only foreign film on my list this year, and one of maybe only 4 or 5 foreign films that I managed to see from 2014.  Usually I like to get more foreign films onto the list so I can make known some that I'd like other people to see, but none were as good as this Swedish film from director Ruben Ostlund.  The family dynamic is great, and the cinematography of the snowy locations are awesome to look at.  This film can be really funny at times, but also super intense.  Which is kind of strange for a family drama, but it works.

11. Life Itself (Directed by Steve James)
Starring: Roger Ebert, Chaz Ebert

For anyone who doesn't know, this is the Roger Ebert documentary that came out this past year.  It shows the last few months of Ebert's life, as well as a portrait of Ebert's long career and life.  Any film fan who has read reviews of his or at least heard of him should really enjoy this.  In a movie that is obviously filled with sadness, it's really nice to see how many people really loved him, including the filmmakers who's films he has reviewed (both positively and negatively).

10. Obvious Child (Directed by Gillian Robespierre)
Starring: Jenny Slate, Jake Lacy, Gaby Hoffman, Richard Kind, Polly Draper

Obvious Child is up there with Blue Ruin as one of my favorite surprises of the past year.  I had heard some good things, but didn't expect much from an abortion comedy starring Jean-Ralphio's sister.  Well it turned out that Obvious Child is both a touching story, and very hilarious.  Jenny Slate made my Top Performances of the year, so definitely don't miss out on this one.

9. Guardians of the Galaxy (Directed by James Gunn)
Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel

From the first trailer I knew Guardians of the Galaxy was going to be a movie I'd be into.  The cast, the 70's soundtrack, the goofy and comedic elements, in a Marvel film.  It took the reasons why I loved the first Iron Man film, and really built on it, and made it my favorite Marvel Universe film to date so far.  Hopefully the Marvel directors take a note and work off of the success of GotG's positives traits.

8. Nightcrawler (Directed by Dan Gilroy)
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton, Riz Ahmed

Dan Gilroy's directorial debut is the awesome Nightcrawler.  It takes shots at the media and news outlets that stop at nothing to to cover the most horrible things that happen to people in everyday life. The brilliant Robert Elswit's nighttime photography is beautiful, and Gyllenhaal's performance as the creepy Lou Bloom is probably among his Top 5 performances so far.

7. A Most Violent Year (Directed by J.C. Chandor)
Starring: Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chastain, Albert Brooks, David Oyelowo

Chandor's last film All Is Lost didn't really do it for me.  His follow up to that, A Most Violent Year, is a great crime drama set in one of the most violent years in New York's history.  The cast is filled with rising stars Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chastain, and David Oyelowo, all of which give performances unlike most of their other work.  The interesting script and intense pacing of the film makes it one of the best dramas of the year in my opinion.

6. The Lego Movie (Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller)
Starring: Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Alison Brie, Morgan Freeman, Will Ferrell

In my opinion, the best animated films are the ones that kids will like a lot, but the adults that watch it can also really appreciate it.  The Lego Movie is just that, a film that is cute and childish enough for kids to eat it up, but also filled with adult humor.  The Lego Movie includes great vocal performances from Christ Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, and Will Arnett who does excellent work as Batman.

5. Boyhood (Directed by Richard Linklater)
Starring: Ellar Coltrane, Lorelei Linklater, Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke

Earlier I said Birdman was a great cinematic achievement.  Boyhood is an even greater cinematic achievement.  Linklater's exploration of a boy going through life from age 5 to age 18 is a wonderful film to experience.  Arquette and Hawke give especially good performances as the separated parents of the boy.  There really isn't anything I can say about this film that hasn't already been said by so many other people who are smarter than me, so just watch it when you get the chance.

4. The Grand Budapest Hotel (Directed by Wes Anderson)
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori F. Murray Abraham, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Bill Murray, and every other actor or actress ever.

This film is probably the most Wes Anderson that a Wes Anderson film has been.  As a big fan of him however, that's not a bad thing at all.  I think this is Anderson's most clever script, being the film of his that I laughed out loud at the most.  Ralph Fiennes is hilarious and completely becomes his role.  To read more thoughts about this film you can read my review of it here.

3. Gone Girl (Directed by David Fincher)
Starring: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, Carrie Coon, Kim Dickens

A really great adaptation of a book I enjoyed quite a bit.  Gone Girl still works really well despite knowing all of it's twists and turns, I think it would have been cool to see it without knowing everything.  But despite that it was a great experience, Fincher's third collaboration in a row with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross delivers another score that works perfectly with the film.  Ben Affleck is good, so are Tyler Perry and Carrie Coon, NPH seems a little out of his element, but it's Rosamund Pike (#2 in my Top 20 performances list) who gives the best performance of the film, and my favorite female performance of the year.

2. Whiplash (Directed by Damien Chazelle)
Starring: Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, Melissa Benoist, Paul Reiser

Whiplash really blew my mind when I saw it.  It was one of those film-watching moments where I finished it and immediately wanted to watch it again.  This would be a good double feature with my #2 film of 2013, Inside Llewyn Davis.  Both films I loved, and both are about musicians trying to make a name for themselves.  Despite similar ideas, they are both so different in so many ways.  As an aspiring artist, films like this really connect with me, as they most likely would with other artists trying to find success.  Lastly if you want to hear my thoughts on Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons's great performances, you can check out my Top 20 performances post that I made a few days ago.

1. Inherent Vice (Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson)
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Josh Brolin, Katherine Waterston, Owen Wilson, Joanna Newsom, Martin Short, and a bunch of other people.

A lead performance from Joaquin Phoenix is the way to my heart apparently, with this being the third film in a row starring Phoenix to make my number 1 spot of the year, (also The Master and Her in the past 2 years).  Vice is funny, complex, and warrants several viewings.  It did help to understand the complicated story, having read the book.  But you don't really need to understand the story to appreciate the films wonderfully adapted characters, and hilarious moments.  It was extremely likely that Vice would be my number 1, considering my favorite director wrote and directed it.  I'm glad it didn't disappoint, and in fact exceeded my expectations.  For more in depth thoughts on this film check out my full review here.

-Ryan Moncrief

Top 15 Acting Performances of 2014

I find it weird that people rank actors' performances.  Whether they're Oscar voters, website or blog writers, pretentious film majors arguing at a diner, we list which actors did a better job pretending to be someone else.  It's weird because how can you rank performances that aren't based on actual people with ones that are.  If someone plays an actual person, you can compare them to the real thing, and say, 'Yeah, that's how that person acted, and sounded.' or 'That is nothing like the real person.'  But when you bring fictional characters into play, performances portraying people who don't or never have existed in real life, how can you judge these performances on the same level?

I think it's pointless to decide which performances are better, it's really all just a subjective thing, like all art is.  Of course there are performances that are almost unanimously praised or ones that are almost unanimously criticized, but when it comes to ordering them into lists like me and my fellow film-obsessed fanatics love to do, it really just comes down to the performances that mean the most to the person who is making the list.  I might not have loved any of the performances in the film from Cabin Fever: Patient Zero from this past year, but someone else might connect with a character on a level that I would never even be able to comprehend.  And I might think that person doesn't know what they are talking about, but neither do I.  So with that I will tell you which actors this past year did the best at their job.

In All Seriousness:

15. Lisa Loven Kongsli - Force Majeure

Emotion and subtlety are two things that LLK (what I will be calling her to save time) brings to the table in this wonderful Swedish film about a marriage that gets tested during a skiing vacation in the French Alps.  LLK plays a mother and a wife that takes charge.  If there is something bothering her, she's not afraid to stand up and do something as is evident in a scene towards the end of the film.  Her ability to slowly change emotions during a monologue or a long take in which she has to react to something off screen is spectacular.  She is a foreign actress that I'll be sure to look out for in the future.

14. Reese Witherspoon - Wild

Ever since seeing Reese Witherspoon wonderfully play June Carter in Walk the Line, I have been waiting for another big performance from her.  This is that performance.  At times heartbreaking and other times very uplifting, Wild is a film that is heavily reliant on the main performance for it's success.  Reese drives this film from the start, and forces the audience to feel what her character is feeling.

13. Essie Davis - The Babadook

The Babadook is an excellent Australian horror film that genuinely scared me, which is rare for any horror film.  Essie Davis plays a single mother, who has to deal with an unbearably destructive son, as well as a presence in her house after reading the book The Babadook to her son.  The struggles of motherhood (I'm guessing, I've never been a mother) are portrayed brilliantly.  It's almost exhausting watching Davis trudge through all of the troubles she faces throughout the film, but it is definitely worth the watch.

12. Mark Ruffalo - Foxcatcher

The movie Foxcatcher was a bit of a disappointment to me.  I liked it, but it just didn't really connect with me like I wish it would have.  Especially considering how fond I am of director Bennett Miller's previous two films, Capote and Moneyball.  Additionally, Steve Carell's performance is getting a lot of praise, and while I did like it, like the film it didn't connect with me enough.  Mark Ruffalo on the other hand, was the bright star in this dim sky.  He worked great as a family man and as a macho wrestler.  All of his scenes with Channing Tatum (who is also very good in this film) were the highlights of the movie as a whole.

11. Jenny Slate - Obvious Child

This was probably the biggest surprise of the year for me.  Jenny Slate, who many people probably know from her one season on SNL or her role as Jean-Ralphio's sister in Parks and Recreation, really kills it in this film.  She's hilarious when she needs to be, but also proves that she brings dramatic chops to her acting arsenal.  If you haven't seen her in Obvious Child yet, and you're a fan of her other work, make this a priority.

10. Patricia Arquette - Boyhood

The magic of the film Boyhood is the fact that it tells a 12-year story, that was shot over the span of 12 years in such a fluid way.  The directing and editing are definitely a huge part of that.  But the fact that Patricia Arquette (like the other actors in the film), plays the same character for more than a decade and makes it flow so nicely throughout the years is amazing.  I've admired her work for a while now, so I'm happy to see her getting some great recognition for a role that she performed very well in.

9. Miles Teller - Whiplash

Miles Teller is a rising star.  He's being cast in successful franchises like the Divergent series, and the upcoming Fantastic Four reboot.  So if he's not a big name now, he will be very soon.  If you want to hop on the bandwagon now before he becomes too famous, watch him in the incredible debut film from Damien Chazelle, Whiplash.  He does his own drumming in the film, and delivers a performance filled with emotion and motivation that builds at a steady pace throughout the film.

8. Julianne Moore - Still Alice

Julianne Moore has been giving great performances since before I was even a thought in anyone's mind.  She's still giving great performances, and this one is among the best of her career.  Although the film itself didn't resonate with me too strongly, her performance is very effective.  She gives a near-perfect portrayal of a woman with early signs of Alzheimer's disease, and I'm hoping for Moore to potentially get some Oscar love this year.

7a and 7b. Michael Keaton and Edward Norton

Birdman had one of the best ensemble casts of the year.  The two top performers however were Keaton and Norton (who I grouped together because I couldn't decide which I liked more, and to be able to fit my girl LLK on the list).  Keaton and Norton bring an animosity to their characters, both playing actors who bare striking resemblances to aspects of their real life personas.  So maybe it wasn't that hard to play these kinds of characters, but I do imagine getting through the mountains of dialogue during the endless takes was a real challenge.  And for that alone they both deserve a lot of recognition.

6. Jake Gyllenhaal - Nightcrawler

Gyllenhaal is extremely creepy as Lou Bloom in the wonderful Nightcrawler.  Bloom is a wide-eyed, never-blinking, obsessed guy who will do anything to make sure he is successful in what he does.  He does some very immoral things in this movie, but allows us to still be interested in him as a protagonist.  The comparison I thought of while watching the film was Norman Bates from the film Psycho.

5. Ralph Fiennes - The Grand Budapest Hotel

Ralph Fiennes is a wonderful actor and a perfect fit for a Wes Anderson film.  His quick way with words and mannerisms match perfectly with Anderson's dialogue and direction.  This is one of the funnier performances of the year.  Hopefully this movie doesn't get overlooked in the end of the year awards due to it's very early in the year release date.

4. Josh Brolin - Inherent Vice

From one Anderson to another.  Paul Thomas Anderson's Inherent Vice is a film with a huge cast and a huge story.  Some people might get confused during it (especially if they haven't read the book), but one thing that is easy to understand is Josh Brolin is hilarious in this movie.  He delivers his lines perfectly, but his physical comedy is also incredible.  Keep an eye out for any of the scenes in which he is eating anything (not always food), those are all gold.

3. J.K. Simmons - Whiplash

J.K. Simmons is an actor who you've absolutely seen before.  He's one of the best character actors, and has been for a while.  His supporting role in Whiplash as the conductor/music teacher who can go from calm to explosive in seconds is the best thing I've seen him done.  His character is terrifying, to the point where I get nervous when things seem to be going fine, because I know there are obscenities and insults right around the corner, waiting to be shouted into the face of a hopeful musician.  He's my pick to win best supporting actor.

2. Rosamund Pike - Gone Girl

Having read the book Gone Girl, I knew that Amy was a complicated character.  I was a little worried when David Fincher cast someone who I've never seen in anything before.  Well, my worries vanished after seeing the film, and Rosamund Pike is now on my radar.  It's hard to say anything about this film, or even the performances in it without giving away even tiny spoilers, so just trust me when I say that she's very good.  

1. Joaquin Phoenix - Inherent Vice

We meet again Mr. Phoenix.  For the 3rd year in a row, Joaquin Phoenix has topped my list of favorite performances (The Master in 2012, Her in 2013).  It looks like he doesn't have much coming out in 2015, so it's really anyone's spot to take this year.  Joaquin Phoenix gives the funniest performance of the year, in a film filled with hilarious performances.  His facial expressions and mumble lines made me laugh throughout the entire film.  This character is a nice middle ground between the macho Freddie Quell from PTA's The Master, and the sensitive and nerdy Theodore from Spike Jonze's Her.  Phoenix has incredible range and it shows with another masterful performance.

Honorable Mentions: Katherine Waterston - Inherent Vice, Martin Short - Inherent Vice, Eddie Redmayne - The Theory of Everything, Emma Stone - Birdman, Ethan Hawke - Boyhood, Agata Kulesza - Ida, David Oyelowo - Selma, Steve Carell - Foxcatcher, Marion Cotillard - Two Days, One Night, Anne Hathaway - Interstellar

Let me know what your thoughts are on my list, and if you have any rankings of your own put them in the comments below.

-Ryan Moncrief