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

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

10 Rap Albums You Should Listen To

It's been a while since I've made a blog post, so while I have no homework I'll return to my blogging with a post about rap albums.  Hey! This is what I looked like in 8th grade:

I'm the human in the back of this picture, not the pug (I was only a pug from 4th-6th grade).  Anyway, despite slightly less pale skin and a haircut, I still look pretty similar to the way I did in this picture.  The only reason I bring this up is so you know what this guy who's about to talk about rap looks like.  If you see this picture and immediately want to close out of this blog and never return, I totally understand.  But I encourage you to read on, and hopefully enjoy my thoughts on these albums.  Regardless of the way I look, I'm actually a decently big rap fan.  I think it's neat!  So hopefully if you don't know much about rap, you'll learn a little something here.  If you know more about rap than me, please feel free to let me know.  Give me some suggestions, I'm always looking for new albums to get into.

In All Seriousness:

Transitions are awkward.  So here's a little intro as to how I went about picking these albums.  I gave myself a rule that I could only pick one album per artist.  So artists like Kanye West and Outkast, who I like a lot, would probably have multiple albums on this list.  But I wanted to be able to recommend more artists, so they only get one.  Also, you've probably heard of most of/all of these albums.  This post is targeted at the more casual rap fan who hasn't heard much and is looking to discover something good.  So hopefully I don't get too much flak for recommending pretty popular albums.  Also these are in no particular order, they're just 10 albums I like a lot.

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Kanye West

Track Listing

1. Dark Fantasy

2. Gorgeous

3. Power

4. All of the Lights (Interlude)

5. All of the Lights

6. Monster

7. So Apalled

8. Devil in a New Dress

9. Runaway

10. Hell of a Life

11. Blame Game

12. Lost in the World

13. Who Will Survive in America

Favorite Song: Blame Game

When I say they are in no particular order I kind of lied, because I'm starting with my two favorite rap albums.  MBDTF is my favorite Kanye West album.  It's my favorite rap album.  It's my third favorite album of any genre.  It could potentially be the album I've listed to the most ever.  Kanye does the best production of his career here, in my opinion.  The orchestral sound of All of the Lights, the simplistic, soothing piano of Blame Game and Runaway.  It's all great.  Despite not always being a huge fan of Kanye's lyrics, they are strong on this album.  MBDTF is filled with brilliant guest appearances from Pusha T, Raekwon, Bon Iver, Nicki Minaj's best work ever in Monster, and everyone who's ever done music in All of the Lights.  Top to bottom it's my idea of a perfect album.

Stankonia - Outkast

Track Listing

1. Intro

2. Gasoline Dreams

3. I'm Cool (Interlude)

4. So Fresh, So Clean

5. Ms. Jackson

6. Snappin' and Trappin'

7. D.F. (Interlude)

8. Spaghetti Junction

9. Kim & Cookie (Interlude)

10. I'll Call Before I Come

11. B.O.B.

12. Xplosion

13. Good Hair (Interlude)

14. We Luv Deez Hoez

15. Humble Mumble

16. Drinkin' Again (Interlude)

17. ?

18. Red Velvet

19. Cruisin' in the ATL (Interlude)

20. Gangsta Sh*t

21. Toilet Tisha

22. Slum Beautiful

23. Pre-Nump

24. Stankonia (Stanklove)

Favorite Song: B.O.B.

Here is my second favorite rap album of all-time.  Something that strongly determines whether I like a rapper/rap group or not is whether I like the rapper's voice or not.  A lot of people like Lil Wayne, but I think he has the most annoying voice in music.  On the contrary, Andre 3000 of Outkast has probably the coolest voice in music.  All of the choruses on this album sound great sung with his smooth, southern voice.  And his and Big Boi's verses in songs like B.O.B. and Ms. Jackson are some of the best in rap.  Now that's a pretty bold statement.  But I'm a bold guy, and I haven't listened to THAT much rap.  Just enough to make this post and not feel guilty.

Old - Danny Brown

Track Listing

1. Side A (Old)

2. The Return

3. 25 Bucks

4. Wonderbread

5. Gremlins

6. Dope Fiend Rental

7. Torture

8. Lonely

9. Clean Up

10. Red 2 Go

11. Side B (Dope Song)

12. Dubstep

13. Dip

14. Smokin' and Drinkin'

15. Break It (Go)

16. Handstand

17. Way Up Here

18. Kush Coma

19. Float On

Favorite Song: Side A (Old)

Danny Brown has a voice that you'll either really enjoy or not like at all.  I used to not really like Danny Brown when I first heard him on Childish Gambino's song Toxic.  After a few more listens of that song he grew on me.  So with Danny Brown I suggest giving him multiple chances, because he's one of my favorite rappers currently working now.  The beats on Old are insanely good, and you get the sense of that with the very first song.  Danny is putting out a lot of good original stuff, and I'm looking forward to anything he does in the future.

Liquid Swords - GZA

Track Listing

1. Liquid Swords

2. Duel of the Iron Mic

3. Living in the World Today

4. Gold

5. Cold World

6. Labels

7. 4th Chamber

8. Shadowboxin'

9. Hell's Wind Staff/Killah Hills 10304

10. Investigative Reports

11. Swordsman

12. I Gotcha Back

13. B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)

Favorite Song: 4th Chamber

Like all of the Wu-Tang Clan, GZA likes to use samples from kung-fu movies.  The intro to Liquid Swords, a monologue from a kid in the movie Shogun Assassin is chilling, and one of the coolest intros to an album.  Liquid Swords is my favorite solo album from a member of the Wu-Tang, and GZA is a close second only to RZA as my favorite Wu-Tang Member.  Great beats, great lyrics, great artwork, it's a great album.

good kid, m.A.A.d city

Track Listing

1. Sherane a.k.a. Master Splinter's Daughter

2. B*tch Don't Kill My Vibe

3. Backseat Freestyle

4. The Art of Peer Pressure

5. Money Trees

6. Poetic Justice

7. good kid

8. m.A.A.d city

9. Swimming Pools (Drank)

10. Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst

11. Real

12. Compton

Favorite Song: m.A.A.d city

Kendrick Lamar makes me more excited for the future of rap than any other rapper working today.  I've loved all of the stuff he's done so far, especially this album.  He's got great personal lyrics and songs that flow so well together.  This album is best listened to in order (most albums are, this is a waste of a sentence).  If Kendrick keeps consistently making good music he could easily find himself towards the top of my favorite rappers list (which is an honor greater than any award or number of album sales).

Madvillainy - Madvillain

Track Listing

1. The Illest Villains

2. Accordion

3. Meat Grinder

4. Bistro

5. Raid

6. America's Most Blunted

7. Sickfit

8. Rainbows

9. Curls

10. Do Not Fire!

11. Moneyfolder

12. Shadows of Tomorrow

13. Operation Lifesaver aka Mint Test

14. Figaro

15. Hardcore Hustle

16. Strange Ways

17. Fancy Clown

18. Eye

19. Supervillain Theme

20. All Caps

21. Great Day

22. Rhinestone Cowboy

Favorite Song: All Caps

This joining together of the extremely talented MF Doom and Madlib created one of the best rap albums of all-time.  Doom and Madlib's production on this album is among the best you'll ever see.  The beats are perfect.  The use of samples are great.  The songs are all just long enough; the album's pacing is very good.  It's a great intro for anyone trying to get into early-2000s alternative rap.

MM...FOOD - MF Doom

Track Listing

1. Beef Rapp

2. Hoe Cakes

3. Potholderz

4. One Beer

5. Deep Fried Frenz

6. Poo-Putt Platter

7. Fillet-O-Rapper

8. Gumbo

9. Fig Leaf Bi-Carbonate

10. Kon Karne

11. Guinnesses

12. Kon Queso

13. Rap Snitch Knishes

14. Vomitspit

15. Kookies

Favorite Song: Beef Rap

I'm kind of cheating here, because MF Doom is part of Madvillain.  But who cares, this album is so good I couldn't leave it off the list.  MF Doom might be my favorite rapper when it comes to the use of spoken word samples.  Also an album based on food is just REALLY down my alley.  This album's beats are very relaxing to me.  If I had to pick one rap album to listen to whenever laying down at night, it would definitely be this one.

EP - Childish Gambino

Track Listing

1. Be Alone

2. Freaks and Geeks

3. My Shine

4. Light Turned On

5. Not Going Back

Favorite Song: Freaks and Geeks

I'm kind of cheating again here because this isn't an album, it's an EP.  As a pretty big fan of Gambino, I've heard all of his albums several times.  But in my opinion this is the best thing Childish Gambino has ever put out.  It's 5 songs, but they are among his best.  They have some of his funny, and most personal lyrics.  All of the beats are great, especially on Freaks and Geeks, which is one of my favorite songs of all-time.

Black on Both Sides - Mos Def

Track Listing

1. Fear Not of Man

2. Hip Hop

3. Love

4. Ms. Fat Booty

5. Speed Law

6. Do It Now

7. Got

8. Umi Says

9. New World Water

10. Rock N Roll

11. Know That

12. Climb

13. Brooklyn

14. Habitat

15. Mr. Ni**a

16. Mathematics

17. May-December

Favorite Song: Mathematics

Too often when I ask people if they've listened to Mos Def, they tell me they've never heard of him.  This shocks me every time.  Mos Def, in my opinion, is one of the smartest rappers working still.  Black on Both Sides is by far his best album, and one of the essential albums of the 90s.  I wish he made more music, and spent less time in movies.  Also, Mathematics is probably my favorite rap song of all-time.

The Marshall Mathers LP - Eminem

Track Listing

1. Public Service Announcement 2000
2. Kill You
3. Stan
4. Paul (skit)
5. Who Knew
6. Steve Berman (skit)
7. The Way I Am
8. The Real Slim Shady
9. Remember Me?
10. I'm Back
11. Marshall Mathers
12. Ken Kaniff (skit)
13. Drug Ballad
14. Amityville
15. B*tch Please II
16. Kim
17. Under the Influence
18. Criminal

Favorite Song: Stan

Controversial, lyrics that cut like knives, and controversial lyrics about knives.  Eminem in his prime was hard to top.  There is a reason why this album sold a ridiculous amount of copies.  The year was 2000, rebelling against your parents was cool, and there was nothing more rebellious than listening to Eminem (except for maybe like lighting stuff on fire and worshipping the Devil).  The MMLP holds up today as a terrific rap album, and is cited by a lot of modern rappers as a big influence on them.  It's hard to imagine a rap world with Kendrick Lamar and Danny Brown without Eminem paving the way for controversial rappers.