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Empire's 50 Best Films of 2014

  • 19-12-2014 9:38am
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,356 ✭✭✭


    Empire magazine has published its list of the 50 best films released in the UK/Ireland in 2014.

    Any surprising entries or glaring omissions? Personally I think this has been a pretty underwhelming year for cinema.

    *Note: Please don't spam this thread with "Empire magazine is sh-te! Why would you read it?" style posts.

    1. Boyhood
    2. Nightcrawler
    3. The Wolf of Wall Street
    4. Inside Llewyn Davis
    5 Guardians of the Galaxy
    6. Edge of Tomorrow
    7. The Grand Budapest Hotel
    8. What We Do in the Shadows
    9. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
    10. Her
    11. Mr. Turner
    12. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
    13. X-Men: Days of Future Past
    14. Gone Girl
    15. Interstellar
    16. Calvary
    17. The Lego Movie
    18. The Guest
    19. Under the Skin
    20. 12 Years a Slave
    21. Locke
    22. Blue Ruin
    23. The Imitation Game
    24. Pride
    25. ’71
    26. Godzilla
    27. Dallas Buyers Club
    28. 22 Jump Street
    29. Only Lovers Left Alive
    30. Starred Up
    31. Paddington
    32. The Raid 2
    33. Leviathan
    34. Frank
    35. Tim’s Vermeer
    36. How to Train Your Dragon 2
    37. Obvious Child
    38. The Babadook
    39. Cold in July
    40. Fruitvale Station
    41. Chef
    42. Next Goal Wins
    43. 20 Feet from Stardom
    44. Two Days, One Night
    45. The Two Faces of January
    46. Maps to the Stars
    47. Winter Sleep
    48. American Hustle
    49. Of Horses and Men
    50. Human Capital


«1

Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,065 ✭✭✭crazygeryy


    22 Jump Street? Really?


  • Registered Users Posts: 52 ✭✭Bluftoni


    Heartening to see Nightcrawler getting the affection it deserves.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 200 ✭✭Granolite


    Bit of a populist shuffle really (is this a reader's poll?)..surely 'Leviathan' deserves to be much higher up the list. Film of 2014 for me.

    5.6kWp - SW (220 degrees) - North Sligo



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,468 ✭✭✭✭lawred2


    Empire magazine is sh-te! Why would you read it?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,207 ✭✭✭maximoose


    I enjoyed Nightcrawler, but really surprised it's that high.

    Locke :mad:


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  • Registered Users Posts: 34 tomatofruit


    few surprises going down through the list, then i got to 15 & 16, had to shut off my computer and go for a walk, not really, but no way should they be beside each other on any list


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,019 ✭✭✭ct5amr2ig1nfhp


    The Wolf of Wall Street... seriously?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11,348 ✭✭✭✭ricero


    I really dont get the love for wolf of wall street. I found it far too long and wanted it to end which is never a good sign. It was an okay to good movie. I thought the best movies I saw this year was cap america 2, dawn of the apes, guardians of galaxy and interstellar. Also enjoyed american hustle and 12 years a slave which really should be higher up the list. Surprised to see edge of tomorrow so far up there. I really enjoyed that movie but found the ending to be very clichéd


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,584 ✭✭✭Frank O. Pinion


    I know it says "released in the UK/Ireland in 2014", but a lot of those films are really 2013 films, not 2014. The Wolf of Wall Street, Inside Llewyn Davis, Her, 12 Years A Slave, etc.

    I've seen 60 films from 2014. The Grand Budapest Hotel is #1 for me.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,357 ✭✭✭Beano


    Dawn of the planet of the apes at 9? really? very disappointing film.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 8,868 ✭✭✭Andersonisgod


    The Wolf of Wall Street above Her? What is this madness?


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,315 ✭✭✭Frankie5Angels


    Please tell me that's not in order of the best from 1-50? Calvary was pure and utter drivelly sh1te, dunno how it made top 50 let alone 16 on that list. Was very disappointed with the Winter Soldier and X-men as well. Some far better films down the list (if, indeed, it is ordered).


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,464 ✭✭✭e_e


    Funny that Nightcrawler and The Wolf of Wall Street are side by side in the list, because the former succeeded for me everywhere that the latter completely failed.

    Very meh list though. Stinks of "let's just chuck in a few generic blockbusters to not put people off too much!"

    My top 50 so you all can take my opinion with a grain of salt. :P


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,516 ✭✭✭Outkast_IRE


    Lot of blockbusters there that to be honest, are only there so they could make up the list to 50 films.

    But there is a lot of titles there that i am glad so see, especially grand budapest hotel, calvary, her & nightcrawler


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 39,603 CMod ✭✭✭✭ancapailldorcha


    Before I clicked on this thread, I thought to myself, "Have we even had 50 good films this year?" It's been a great year IMO with some real crackers.

    The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

    Leviticus 19:34



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,586 ✭✭✭✭Dont be at yourself


    Removing films I haven't seen:
    1. Boyhood
    3. The Wolf of Wall Street
    5 Guardians of the Galaxy
    6. Edge of Tomorrow
    12. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
    13. X-Men: Days of Future Past
    15. Interstellar
    17. The Lego Movie
    18. The Guest
    20. 12 Years a Slave
    26. Godzilla
    27. Dallas Buyers Club
    41. Chef
    48. American Hustle

    I don't actually have too many problems with the above ranking. I'd have The Guest much higher and Captain America + X-Men much lower, but otherwise not a million miles off where I'd be thinking.

    I listen to the podcast quite a bit, and they seem to dovetail quite a bit with my own opinions.


  • Registered Users Posts: 829 ✭✭✭OldeCinemaSoz


    How can anyone take seriously a BEST OF THE YEAR LIST
    with the MARVEL MUCK on it?!?!?!

    Speaks VOLUMES.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11,835 ✭✭✭✭cloud493


    Decent list. Is it in order or just random?


  • Registered Users Posts: 829 ✭✭✭OldeCinemaSoz


    RANDOM considering THE SHYTE.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 157 ✭✭NoMore MrNiceGuy


    Guardians was atrocious.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11,835 ✭✭✭✭cloud493


    Just cos you don't like the marvel movies doesn't make them **** lads :rolleyes:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 157 ✭✭NoMore MrNiceGuy


    cloud493 wrote: »
    Just cos you don't like the marvel movies doesn't make them **** lads :rolleyes:

    Well they're basically movies for kids. Which is fine if they are good. Guardians wasn't good.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11,835 ✭✭✭✭cloud493


    .... No not really. Kinda backwards thinking there. Nothing wrong with superhero movies that are fun, and know how to have a good time, and not be angsty grumpy sods.


  • Registered Users Posts: 829 ✭✭✭OldeCinemaSoz


    Well they're basically movies for kids. Which is fine if they are good. Guardians wasn't good.

    8 year olds and 30 somethings who never grew up MAY I SAY.

    guardians is actually on my TO VIEW LIST.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11,835 ✭✭✭✭cloud493


    So not only have you condemned the audience of these movies, you haven't actually seen the movies in question?

    :rolleyes:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,787 ✭✭✭✭Charlie19


    Nice to see FruitVale Station making the list.


  • Registered Users Posts: 829 ✭✭✭OldeCinemaSoz


    cloud493 wrote: »
    So not only have you condemned the audience of these movies, you haven't actually seen the movies in question?

    :rolleyes:

    Never, son. I would NEVER CONDEMN.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,464 ✭✭✭e_e


    cloud493 wrote: »
    Just cos you don't like the marvel movies doesn't make them **** lads :rolleyes:
    On the contrary, just because people like them doesn't make them good. ;)

    Marvel are fast becoming the cinematic equivalent to Call of Duty to me. Only very very superficial differences between them with the same story telling formulas and generic direction. The samey action climaxes of Captain America and Guardians nearly put me to sleep.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,681 ✭✭✭ziggy


    This post has been deleted.


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  • Posts: 8,647 [Deleted User]


    Empire magazine has published its list of the 50 best films released in the UK/Ireland in 2014.

    Any surprising entries or glaring omissions? Personally I think this has been a pretty underwhelming year for cinema.

    *Note: Please don't spam this thread with "Empire magazine is sh-te! Why would you read it?" style posts.

    1. Boyhood
    2. Nightcrawler
    3. The Wolf of Wall Street
    4. Inside Llewyn Davis
    5 Guardians of the Galaxy
    6. Edge of Tomorrow
    7. The Grand Budapest Hotel
    8. What We Do in the Shadows
    9. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
    10. Her
    11. Mr. Turner
    12. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
    13. X-Men: Days of Future Past
    14. Gone Girl
    15. Interstellar
    16. Calvary
    17. The Lego Movie
    18. The Guest
    19. Under the Skin
    20. 12 Years a Slave
    21. Locke
    22. Blue Ruin
    23. The Imitation Game
    24. Pride
    25. ’71
    26. Godzilla
    27. Dallas Buyers Club
    28. 22 Jump Street
    29. Only Lovers Left Alive
    30. Starred Up
    31. Paddington
    32. The Raid 2
    33. Leviathan
    34. Frank
    35. Tim’s Vermeer
    36. How to Train Your Dragon 2
    37. Obvious Child
    38. The Babadook
    39. Cold in July
    40. Fruitvale Station
    41. Chef
    42. Next Goal Wins
    43. 20 Feet from Stardom
    44. Two Days, One Night
    45. The Two Faces of January
    46. Maps to the Stars
    47. Winter Sleep
    48. American Hustle
    49. Of Horses and Men
    50. Human Capital
    I thought Llewn davis was very overrated. Although the clancy brothers part was cool.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,690 ✭✭✭✭Skylinehead


    26. Godzilla
    27. Dallas Buyers Club

    That's enough for me to back away.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,533 ✭✭✭don ramo


    e_e wrote: »
    On the contrary, just because people like them doesn't make them good. ;)

    Marvel are fast becoming the cinematic equivalent to Call of Duty to me. Only very very superficial differences between them with the same story telling formulas and generic direction. The samey action climaxes of Captain America and Guardians nearly put me to sleep.
    when was the last truly great 100% original film released, ive seen well over 1000 films in my life probably more than 2000 really but i never kept count (who would ;)) but i find every film you watch can always draw a comparison or two to another film, in one way or another, originality is dead,

    marvel is generic, in a very obvious way, but they have a certain audience that they play to and they know it, thats why its a multi billion dollar franchise, most film makers cater to their audiences, people Tarantino and Wes Anderson have their audiences that they make their films for, their films can draw massive comparisons when put side by side to each of their previous films, but still manage to keep things fresh over a 20 year period, marvel is just a bigger organisation than a single director, simple as,


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 234 ✭✭Dirty Steve


    16. Calvary
    19. Under the Skin
    21. Locke
    26. Godzilla
    28. 22 Jump Street
    30. Starred Up
    34. Frank

    These films are standard fare at best (and Calvary was just bad, very, very, bad). Was it that bad of a year for films?
    Empire is trash anyway, but it's a fairly mediocre list.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11,835 ✭✭✭✭cloud493


    I thought it was a great year for film personally.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,464 ✭✭✭e_e


    don ramo wrote: »
    when was the last truly great 100% original film released, ive seen well over 1000 films in my life probably more than 2000 really but i never kept count (who would ;)) but i find every film you watch can always draw a comparison or two to another film, in one way or another, originality is dead,

    marvel is generic, in a very obvious way, but they have a certain audience that they play to and they know it, thats why its a multi billion dollar franchise, most film makers cater to their audiences, people Tarantino and Wes Anderson have their audiences that they make their films for, their films can draw massive comparisons when put side by side to each of their previous films, but still manage to keep things fresh over a 20 year period, marvel is just a bigger organisation than a single director, simple as,
    I'm not asking for 100% originality, I'm asking for something genuine that doesn't feel like it's just an overly box ticking exercise for the fans. I've seen close to 2000 films now and I am often finding new experiences and fresh voices despite there being a bare minimum of stories out there. With Guardians it had so much potential to break out of the mold that Marvel has set but it's just the same old BS in a new coat really. Part of me would have preferred if Guardians of the Galaxy was an out and out disaster instead of the boringly acceptable film that it is.

    I'd point to Edge of Tomorrow as a film with a unique premise (in the action sci-fi genre at least) that that was directed with a real wit and sense of fun.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,464 ✭✭✭e_e


    19. Under the Skin

    standard fare at best
    hmmmmmmmm


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,556 ✭✭✭the_monkey


    Beano wrote: »
    Dawn of the planet of the apes at 9? really? very disappointing film.

    Good film, but how it beats Interstellar is absolute madness ...

    Interstellar #1 for me ..


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,584 ✭✭✭Frank O. Pinion


    don ramo wrote: »
    ive seen well over 1000 films in my life probably more than 2000 really but i never kept count (who would ;))
    I do. I've seen 2,439 films.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,533 ✭✭✭don ramo


    e_e wrote: »
    I'm not asking for 100% originality, I'm asking for something genuine that doesn't feel like it's just an overly box ticking exercise for the fans. I've seen close to 2000 films now and I am often finding new experiences and fresh voices despite there being a bare minimum of stories out there. With Guardians it had so much potential to break out of the mold that Marvel has set but it's just the same old BS in a new coat really. Part of me would have preferred if Guardians of the Galaxy was an out and out disaster instead of the boringly acceptable film that it is.

    I'd point to Edge of Tomorrow as a film with a unique premise (in the action sci-fi genre at least) that that was directed with a real wit and sense of fun.

    yeah true it was a box ticking exercise, but there's also originality in each film, these are stories that have been around for decades, so they already come in a fairly tight universe to begins with, GOTG i thought was so fun cause ive never heard of them before, i never read comics i watched mainly the DC and Marvel cartoons as a kid, so Guardians was completely new to me, and being honest now that ive seen it 3-4 times i do see the similarities it has to other marvel films, but so what, its not really that surprising, all these characters are going to have to co-exist in the same universe, one created by a group of probably 10-20 people nearly 60 years ago, so originality is gonna be sparse,



    even as good as EOT was its still not original, its adapted from comics just like GOTG, its 3-4 different ideas tied into one, it was extremely enjoyable and very well made and acted film, but still it 3-4 different ideas stitched together very well,

    im surprised you liked this and not GOTG, id probably say i loved both equally, both were funny and witty in places, and serious when the need came, the only difference is that EOT has no lead in films that it can draw comparison to, and as similar as GOTG is to other marvel films, if it was **** people wouldn't just flock to see it,

    it was a very well received film, i dont recall any scathing reviews towards it, it ranks high on critical and public rating sites, even higher that captain america 2, which i thought was a better film,


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,065 ✭✭✭crazygeryy


    I do. I've seen 2,439 films.

    Jeez id love to know how many ive seen.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11,835 ✭✭✭✭cloud493


    Thats what letterboxd is for :p


  • Registered Users Posts: 829 ✭✭✭OldeCinemaSoz


    cloud493 wrote: »
    I thought it was a great year for film personally.

    Maybe not great but not too bad at all.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11,835 ✭✭✭✭cloud493


    Well, not my favourite movie year of my life, but pretty great.


  • Registered Users Posts: 829 ✭✭✭OldeCinemaSoz


    cloud493 wrote: »
    Well, not my favourite movie year of my life, but pretty great.

    Nice one, son. Happy CHRISTMAS. :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,295 ✭✭✭✭MisterAnarchy


    16. Calvary
    19. Under the Skin
    21. Locke
    26. Godzilla
    28. 22 Jump Street
    30. Starred Up
    34. Frank

    These films are standard fare at best (and Calvary was just bad, very, very, bad). Was it that bad of a year for films?

    It was a pretty bad year quality wise .
    I watch a lot of movies and after a very good start to the year there was a massive drought of quality for the rest of the year .
    I have started to watch more tv series and foreign films instead.
    Its just getting too frustrating trying to dig out good films among the dross.

    Are there any decent thrillers being made anymore ?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11,835 ✭✭✭✭cloud493


    71 and nightcrawler?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,464 ✭✭✭e_e


    don ramo wrote: »
    yeah true it was a box ticking exercise, but there's also originality in each film, these are stories that have been around for decades, so they already come in a fairly tight universe to begins with, GOTG i thought was so fun cause ive never heard of them before, i never read comics i watched mainly the DC and Marvel cartoons as a kid, so Guardians was completely new to me, and being honest now that ive seen it 3-4 times i do see the similarities it has to other marvel films, but so what, its not really that surprising, all these characters are going to have to co-exist in the same universe, one created by a group of probably 10-20 people nearly 60 years ago, so originality is gonna be sparse,



    even as good as EOT was its still not original, its adapted from comics just like GOTG, its 3-4 different ideas tied into one, it was extremely enjoyable and very well made and acted film, but still it 3-4 different ideas stitched together very well,

    im surprised you liked this and not GOTG, id probably say i loved both equally, both were funny and witty in places, and serious when the need came, the only difference is that EOT has no lead in films that it can draw comparison to, and as similar as GOTG is to other marvel films, if it was **** people wouldn't just flock to see it,

    it was a very well received film, i dont recall any scathing reviews towards it, it ranks high on critical and public rating sites, even higher that captain america 2, which i thought was a better film,
    Funny you brought up them all trying to exist in the same universe and that's one of my big issues. There doesn't seem to be a great standalone movie yet for me because they all have to answer for and set up each other. There's something very labored and contrived about it all, as if it's done with release dates in mind to secure box office and nothing else. Rocket and Groot were the highlights of the film for me but I found Pratt and Saldana kind of dull tbh.

    I'm not trying to claim that Edge of Tomorrow is the best that the cinema has to offer but that it has just enough freshness to stand apart from the blockbuster crowd. I love how the plot, character development and action direction are completely in sync with each other, doesn't feel like it's been directed by committee at all.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,464 ✭✭✭e_e


    I've said it before and I'll say it again. Anybody who thinks it's been a bad year just hasn't been watching the right movies, and for feck sake don't take Empire as the authority on film. :pac:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,815 ✭✭✭Burgo


    Considering the amount of films that could be considered 2013 releases on that list I have to say I'm probably most disappointed that Ida doesn't feature at all, easily one of my favourite films (that I have watched) this year.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,533 ✭✭✭don ramo


    e_e wrote: »
    Funny you brought up them all trying to exist in the same universe and that's one of my big issues. There doesn't seem to be a great standalone movie yet for me because they all have to answer for and set up each other. There's something very labored and contrived about it all, as if it's done with release dates in mind to secure box office and nothing else. Rocket and Groot were the highlights of the film for me but I found Pratt and Saldana kind of dull tbh.

    I'm not trying to claim that Edge of Tomorrow is the best that the cinema has to offer but that it has just enough freshness to stand apart from the blockbuster crowd. I love how the plot, character development and action direction are completely in sync with each other, doesn't feel like it's been directed by committee at all.

    yeah with the big intertwined universe things do get complicated, why didn't Thor call SHIELD for help in Thor 2, where were the other avengers to help out in Captain America 2, but unfortunately this is just something that is just gonna have to be accepted going forward, and if you cant sell yourself on that then you wont enjoy the movies as much as they expect you too, ive no doubt ill reach that point at some stage over the next few years myself, :(

    funny that you say EOT wasnt directed by commitee, cause thats what producers do, they tell everyone what to do, they control how the movie is made, how it plays out, the director and writers adapt to their view, and EOT had 15 producers, compared to GOTGs 10 producers,

    but yeah even though both are equally entertaining for what they are, EOT did come across as the fresher feeling film, like i said GOTG did start to feel more similar to it sister films after 4 or so viewings, i havent watch EOT that many times, but i cant see it happening for it, but thats what you get with franchises, but the franchise will keep us entertained for years to come, maybe they might surprise us less if they dont adapt, but if the gravy train starts to dry up theyll have to do something,


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