We're half way through 2014 and it's time for my quarter end review. (And it's also a good time to refresh your memory on the films of the first quarter of 2014.)
Below is a summary of my grades for the 95 films I saw released in the second quarter of 2014. Many of these (including four of my top 6) are available right now on Video on Demand, so be sure to check out my What to See on VOD post for some lazy days of quality movie watching at home.
As usual, there weren't many wide release movies worth seeing this quarter, but there were certainly a few that got overlooked. Edge of Tomorrow is easily the best big budget film of 2014 so far. But it seems people REALLY don't like Tom Cruise anymore, nor are they interested in taking a chance on an unknown non-franchise. It's a shame, because they are missing out. A Million Ways to Die in the West is easily the funniest movie of the year so far (despite what other people may say.) Yet Seth MacFarlane was given the cold shoudler, as audiences seem to prefer the same old shenanigans from Seth Rogen, Will Ferrell, and Adam Sandler. Million Dollar Arm and Draft Day were two pleasant sports dramedy surprises. And probably the biggest surprise to me was how entertaining Captain America: The Winter Soldier was, being better than its predecessor, and than most Marvel films to date.
When it comes to limited theatrical releases, Chef is definitely the feel good crowd-pleaser of the year so far. The Immigrant is the first film that feels like it could be considered for an Oscar, though it won't be as many others didn't feel the same, and it was released way too early in the year. In addition, The Grand Seduction is a great date movie, Dom Hemingway features a terrific performance by Jude Law, and The Double is just plain bizarre, but in a good way.
If foreign films are your thing, Young & Beautiful, Chinese Puzzle, and Borgman are all totally different and all worth your time.
In the documentary category, Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago and The Unknown Known were my two favorites this quarter.
And, as with the first quarter, many of my favorite films were finds on Video On Demand before their very limited (if any) theatrical releases. Trust Me, Anna, Lucky Them, Blue Ruin, Cold in July, Whitewash, Bachelor Weekend, and The Sacrament were all really enjoyable indie fare.
But my favorite movie of the quarter, and of the year so far, is Rob the Mob, a terrific mafia crime drama with a great cast. Unfortunately no one saw it in theaters, but you can see it now at home on VOD. You're welcome.
- Rob the Mob Grade: A+
- Edge of Tomorrow Grade: A+
- Trust Me Grade: A
- Chef Grade: A
- Anna Grade: A
- Lucky Them Grade: A
- A Million Ways to Die in the West Grade: A
- The Immigrant Grade: A
- Finding Vivian Maier Grade: A
- Cold in July Grade: A
- Blue Ruin Grade: A
- Million Dollar Arm Grade: A
- Draft Day Grade: A
- The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz Grade: A
- Whitewash Grade: A
- Young & Beautiful Grade: A-
- Chinese Puzzle Grade: A-
- The Grand Seduction Grade: A-
- Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago Grade: A-
- Bachelor Weekend Grade: A-
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier Grade: A-
- The Sacrament Grade: B+
- Dom Hemingway Grade: B+
- The Unknown Known Grade: B+
- Borgman Grade: B+
- The Double Grade B+
- Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon Grade: B+
- X-Men: Days of Future Past Grade: B+
- Bright Days Ahead Grade: B+
- NOW: In the WIngs on a World Stage Grade: B+
- A Long Way Down Grade: B+
- Oculus Grade: B+
- Proxy Grade: B+
- Ivory Tower Grade: B+
- Dancing in Jaffa Grade: B+
- The Fault in Our Stars Grade: B+
- The Rover Grade: B
- The Big Ask Grade: B
- Whitey: United States of America v. James J. Bulger Grade: B
- Korengal Grade: B
- Joe Grade: B
- Decoding Annie Parker Grade: B
- Devil's Knot Grade: B
- Goodbye World Grade: B
- God's Pocket Grade: B
- Burt's Buzz Grade: B
- The Final Member Grade: B
- Sounding the Alarm Grade: B
- Witching and Bitching Grade: B
- Obvious Child Grade: B
- Mobius Grade: B
- Hellion Grade: B
- Lullaby Grade: B
- The Discoverers Grade: B-
- Jersey Boys Grade: B-
- Cuban Fury Grade: B-
- The Quiet Ones Grade: B-
- Normal Heart Grade: B-
- Filth Grade: B-
- Breathe In Grade: B-
- How to Train Your Dragon 2 Grade: B-
- 22 Jump Street Grade: B-
- The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Grade: B-
- Neighbors Grade: C+
- Godzilla Grade: C+
- Locke Grade: C+
- All Cheerleaders Die Grade: C+
- Under the Skin Grade: C+
- Gambit Grade: C+
- Fading Gigolo Grade: C+
- The Railway Man Grade: C+
- Tasting Menu Grade: C+
- Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia Grade: C+
- Palo Alto Grade: C+
- Only Lovers Left Alive Grade: C+
- Touch of Sin Grade: C+
- Transcendence Grade: C
- Afflicted Grade: C
- Walk of Shame Grade: C
- The Signal Grade: C-
- Way of the Wicked Grade: C-
- The Angriest Man in Brooklyn Grade: C-
- Venus in Fur Grade: C-
- Mr. Jones Grade: D+
- Stage Fright Grade: D+
- Hateship Loveship Grade: D+
- Belle Grade: D+
- A Night in Old Mexico Grade: D
- We Are the Best! Grade: D
- For No Good Reason Grade: D
- Ping Pong Summer Grade: D
- Words and Pictures Grade: D
- I'll Follow You Down Grade: D
- Garnet's Gold Grade: D-
- Ida Grade: D-
Films Not Reviewed:
Bears
Blended
Brick Mansions
Child's Pose
A Coffee in Berlin
The Dance of Reality
Fed Up
Frankie & Alice
The Galapagos Affair: Satan Came to Eden
A Haunted House 2
Heaven is for Real
Island of Lemurs: Madagascar
Jinn
Jodorowsky's Dune
La Bare
Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return
Make Your Move
Maleficent
The Missing Picture
Mom's Night Out
On My Way
The Other Woman
The Raid 2: Berandal
Rio 2
Teenage
Think Like a Man Too
Transformers: Age of Extinction
Walking with the Enemy
Wolf Creek 2
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