So without further ramblings here we go:
1. Bullet to the Head After watching their respective partners die, a New Orleans hitman and a Washington D.C. detective form an alliance in order to bring down their common enemy. While this is rather a bog standard action film I really don’t know how this was the first film I saw this year.
2. Dying of the Light When a devastating illness threatens to end Evan Lake’s career in the C.I.A., he goes rogue to hunt down a terrorist who tortured him during a mission gone awry years ago. I really didn’t start with the best films did I? I did like the way Nicolas Cage’s character went in this film though.
3. Deliver Us From Evil New York police officer Ralph Sarchie investigates a series of crimes. He joins forces with an unconventional priest, schooled in the rites of exorcism, to combat the possessions that are terrorizing their city. I was a fan of this one because we get to see how the supernatural can be proven wrong but it also accepts that it could be real.
4. The Book Thief While subjected to the horrors of World War II Germany, young Liesel finds solace by stealing books and sharing them with others. In the basement of her home, a Jewish refugee is being sheltered by her adoptive parents. A very touching and tragic story of the war time experiences for a young girl.
5. Before I Go To Sleep A woman wakes up every day, remembering nothing as a result of a traumatic accident in her past. One day, new terrifying truths emerge that force her to question everyone around her. This thriller tries it’s hardest to keep you guessing but never really gives you enough options and fails with its attempted twist.
6. Right At Your Door A dirty bomb goes off in Los Angeles, jamming freeways and spreading a toxic cloud. This is easily one of the best films of this selection, a thriller that keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
7. Dead Snow 2 Still on the run from a group of Nazi zombies, a man seeks the aid of a group of American zombie enthusiasts, and discovers new techniques for fighting the zombies. This fun filled zombie comedy really ups the level of the genre to give us one of the best zombie comedies of the year.
8. 300 King Leonidas and a force of 300 men fight the Persians at Thermopylae in 480 B.C. This was a masterpiece in the new technology being used in film, this is one that will be remembered for the six packs and non stop over the top action sequences.
9. Executive Decision When terrorists seize control of an airliner, an intelligence analyst accompanies a commando unit for a midair boarding operation. This is the famous film where Steven Seagal finally dies and he hated, the action thriller works really well and could easily be a cult classic.
10. Whiplash A promising young drummer enrolls at a cut-throat music conservatory where his dreams of greatness are mentored by an instructor who will stop at nothing to realize a student’s potential. Simply Brilliant is all I can say.
The Best – Whiplash – This was my film of 2014 how can it not be my favorite on the small list I have created, it tackles a subject that on paper sounds so boring but is one of the most engaging films you will ever see, with two heavyweight performances from Miles Teller and Oscar winner J.K. Simmons.
The Worst – Dying of the Light
