AFI top films of 2014 includes ‘Interstellar’, ‘Birdman’

AFI top films of 2014 includes ‘Interstellar’, ‘Birdman’

'Birdman' is having quite the year, already gaining award nominations at the Spirit Awards as well as from Boston critics

As the end of the year draws near, it is time again for the American Film Institute (AFI) to reveal their choices for the best films of the year. Among them are a coming-of-age boyhood tale, a space journey through a black hole and the story of an unbroken spirit, among others.

One of the most beloved films of the year, Boyhood, easily took a predominant spot on the list. The film has become somewhat of a classic due to its elegant storytelling as well as the fact that the film took twelve years to film. The film stars Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette as parents of a young boy trying to find his way in the world while learning about himself.

The Christopher Nolan film, Interstellar, which stars Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain, also found a spot on the list. The movie follows a group of astronauts who must travel to the farthest reaches of the galaxy in order to find a new home for the people of Earth. In addition to being a critical success, the film has also been a financial win, taking in over $592 million worldwide.

Another big success is the smaller film, Birdman, which stars Michael Keaton in a comeback role of sorts as an aging actor trying to find another success before his career comes to an end. Birdman is having quite the year, already gaining award nominations at the Spirit Awards as well as from Boston critics. The film also features great performances from Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton and Emma Stone among others.

Another film that caught the AFI’s attention is the yet to be released, war drama, Unbroken. Directed by actress Angelina Jolie, the film follows war hero Louie Zamperini who, along with being held in a Japanese prison camp, also spent time as an Olympic track star. The film will be released in December and stars young actors, Jack O’Connell, Finn Wittrock and Jai Courney. The film is also expected to be an Oscar contender.

Another film that made the list despite the fact that it has yet to be released to audiences is the musical-fantasy film, Into the Woods. Directed by Rob Marshall and featuring an ensemble cast including Meryl Streep, Chris Pine, Johnny Depp and Emily Blunt, the film is actually an adaptation of the Tony Award winning play. The musical is set to be released on Christmas day when it will likely become a financial success.

Another film of note on the AFI list is the wrestling drama, Foxcatcher. This film has been highly reviewed, thanks in part to comedic actor Steve Carell’s dramatic turn as paranoid-schizophrenic, John du Pont. The film has gained universal acclaim from critics worldwide and will probably be a big contender at this year’s Oscars.

Other films included in AFI’s top films of 2014 include the military drama, American Sniper, the civil rights film, Selma, the drummer drama, Whiplash, the dark photography drama, Nightcrawler, and the Benedict Cumberbatch film, The Intimidation Film.

Be social, please share!

Facebooktwittergoogle_plusredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmail

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *