20 BEST Movies of 2014!

It's here, it's here, it's finally here! After much deliberation, BigJ and I have *finally* narrowed down our top 20 favorite films of 2014. This was tough undertaking since we saw almost 150 movies this year.

Obviously, we cannot count the movies that we did not see, not matter how good or critically acclaimed they are. These are our picks and as always, we welcome discussion, debate and disagreement, just do so respectfully, please! Each film is linked with our original review.
Please enjoy! :)
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20) "Chef" (8.5/10, collectively): One of the biggest surprises of the year, Jon Favreau's "Chef" made us fall in love with the prospect of food all over again. Who knew food could be so pretty and filmable? Go on an empty stomach and then go eat an amazing meal after you watch this fun movie.

19) "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" (8.5/10): Contributing a lot to the overall Marvel Cinematic Universe, but also being a dazzling stand-alone film, "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" touches upon some current hot-button issues like the NSA spying on its citizens and "Big Brother" watching us at every turn. Boasting new additions to the franchise plus lots of our old Marvel favorites, this is not just another great comic book movie, but a great movie period.

18) "The Grand Budapest Hotel" (8.5/10): This year's Golden Globe winner for Best Comedy or Musical movie, "The Grand Budapest Hotel" "is eccentric, vibrant, and hilarious" with a spectacular cast. Overall, it's so very Wes Anderson, and we loved every minute of it.

17) "Big Hero 6" (8.75/10, collectively): "Big Hero 6" is touching, funny, action-packed and still finds a way to deal with grief in an honest and frank manner that people of all ages will understand. Baymax, the movie's lovable, marshmallow-y robot hero with a knack for the literal, is a showstopper and helps the movie on a mischievous and adorable ride.

16) "22 Jump Street" (8.75/10, collectively): "Much of the hilarity of this movie comes from the fact that it doesn't shy away from telling audiences that it knows it is repeating the same damn story." Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum are the definition of "bromance" and their chemistry is off the charts. Just as funny as the original, "22 Jump Street" is easily the best and funniest comedy of 2014.

15) "The Lego Movie" (8.5/10, collectively): EVERYTHING IS AWESOME!!! "The Lego Movie" was another surprise of the year and becomes a fun ride because of its excellent voice-overs, inventive and creative plot and action, and because "it enforces the need for creativity in young kids, and that people of all ages should challenge the norm with their imaginations."

14) "Big Eyes" (9/10): Featuring a dynamic on-screen duo of Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz, who are both tremendous in this film, "Big Eyes" tells the bizarre true story of Margaret and Walter Keane and her paintings of the Big Eyed children. Charming and weird, Adams and Waltz make it together and the fruits of their labor, along with refreshed director Tim Burton, produce a wonderful little movie.

13) "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" (10/10): Though it definitely has its faults and flaws, we'd be remiss if we didn't acknowledge how much we loved "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies." With the series coming to an end, the battles in this movies were awesome, the heart it contains is sweet, plus, KILIFILI!!!!!!!

12) "Calvary" (9/10): Also barely missing our top 10, "Calvary" was a surprise to us, mainly because we didn't know much about it going into it. Brendan Gleeson is magnificent, and the movie as a whole "is an extremely dark mix of profound spiritual awakening, condemnation of society and its actions, misplaced intensity, and witty humor that we will not soon forget."

11) "Edge of Tomorrow" (9/10): Just barely missing the top 10, "Edge of Tomorrow", or "Live. Die. Repeat." or whatever we're calling it these days, was one of, if not the most creative, sci-fi movies of 2014. This movie is inventive, filled with tremendous CGI and features an awesome cast and premise. Still, there's something so satisfying about watching Tom Cruise bite the bullet over and over again.

10) "Nightcrawler" (8.75/10, collectively): Jake Gyllenhaal, completely insane and transformed for his role as Louis Bloom, produces an unsettling and insightful look at our 24/7 "if it bleeds, it leads" news culture. It will shake you to the core!

9) "How to Train Your Dragon 2" (9/10): 2014 was the year of worthy sequels! Picking up where the first installment left off, "How to Train Your Dragon 2" is just as good, if not better than the original. Sweet, exciting and a little sad, this will definitely be a movie not just your kids will love.

8) "Fury" (9.5/10, collectively): A gritty, raw film that in no way exalts the glories of war, "Fury" is an intense and honest portrayal of the true brutality that happens on the battlefield. "Wait until you see what a man can do to another man" is the theme of not just this film, but of wars in general. Stark and vivid!

7) "Gone Girl" (9/10): This is NOT a good first date movie, please heed this advice. Rosamund Pike is incredible, dramatic and psychotic in "Gone Girl," a film with fantastic directing by the ever-talented David Fincher, a brilliant, eerie soundtrack by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross and an ending that will make you both amazed and pissed off. Dark, engrossing, gripping and maddening, this is an amazing film!

6) "Whiplash" (9.25/10, collectively): "This movie is the literal definition of blood, sweat and tears, along with the drive, motivation, passion, pain, tension, anger and frustration that comes from wanting to be the best." "Whiplash" manages to make something that isn't all that interesting to everyone, drumming, and turn it into one of the most intense, compelling, edge-of-your-seat dramas in years. Golden Globe winner for best supporting actor in this film J.K. Simmons is commanding, intimidating and drill sergeant-like as he rips into Miles Teller time and time again. Absolutely brilliant.

5) "Selma" (10/10): One of the very final movies that we saw in order to make our top 20 list is also one of the highest ranking films of 2014, in our opinions. David Oyelowo's powerhouse performance as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is important, brilliant and tremendously moving. The movie as a whole is completely gripping and is a must see for every single person ever.

4) "The Imitation Game" (10/10): Able to accomplish what "Unbroken" couldn't, the way Benedict Cumberbatch portrays Alan Turing in "The Imitation Game" is heart-wrenching, flawless and compelling in a way that only Cumberbatch could. It connects us emotionally to Turing and his plight, and we as "the audience understand its protagonist as a person. We're not just witnessing Turing's actions, we are seeing a full person." Outstanding and a must see, even for non-history buffs.

3) "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" (10/10): Okay, who cares about a bunch of monkeys taking over San Francisco and possibly the world? Uhh, we do, okay!? This movie ROCKED, and not just because apes ride on horses and carry huge ass guns, but because of Andy Serkis. Andy Serkis NEEDS to and DESERVES to get nominated for a Best Actor award for his portrayal as Caesar. He is able to capture more emotion with just his mo-capped eyes than some actual human beings and their useless existence in 2014. Come on, Academy, wake up! This guy deserves it! This movie is the whole package, complete with bitchin' action, an engaging story, and wonderful and crisp CGI.

2) "Guardians of the Galaxy" (10/10): You know a movie is good when you're willing to pay for it in the theater. Twice. While many other movie reviewers opted to choose "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" over "Guardians," we cannot help but love this film for exactly what it is: a fun, heartfelt and unexpected comic book adaptation with compelling characters, a great plot and a fantastic soundtrack. What could be better!?

1) "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)" (10/10): The trailers did not disappoint when it comes to "Birdman." This movie, while both technically brilliant, flawlessly directed and fabulously acted, is also well scripted and written. Michael Keaton is tremendous, as is the rest of the cast. This is one of those movies that you will still be thinking about days after you watch it!
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Do you agree or disagree with our list? What were your favorite movies from 2014! Please let us know in the comments section!