The new year is upon us, which means we get one more chance to look back at the year that was. Of course, time stops for no one, not even moviegoers, so we are forced to recognize what we have missed this year. The movie gods are benevolent, though: they give us January and February to catch up on those movies. Here are a few you should consider catching up on this year.
Life Itself
The Roger Ebert documentary from director Steve James (who previously did “Hoop Dreams,” thought by many to be the greatest documentary ever) delves deep into the end of Ebert’s life, with almost unfettered access to what his life was like post-cancer–there’s a particularly uncomfortable moment where doctors suction out Ebert’s throat that is horrifying to watch. But James also delves into Ebert’s professional life, and we get a look both at things we didn’t know about the world’s most famous movie critic, and a nice stroll down memory lane that shows us just how good (or bad) of frenemies Siskel and Ebert were.
Begin Again
You saw “Once,” right? Director John Carney makes another movie about a platonic romance between musicians–or more accurately, a musician (Keira Knightley) and a beaten-down music exec (Mark Ruffalo), who skirt the label system to make their own album. Along the way they fall in friendship and get perspective on their relationships–she with her partner, who just hit it big (Adam Levine), and he with his wife (Catherine Keener) and daughter (Hailee Steinfeld). Wonderful music, great acting, and just an all around pleasant film to watch.
Get On Up
Speaking of music, you missed the James Brown biopic, didn’t you? It’s okay…most people did: it opened the same weekend that “Guardians of the Galaxy” did. Make up for your oversight by checking out Chadwick Boseman inhabiting the persona of a music legend better than anyone since Joaquin did Johnny Cash. This is one of those movies that doesn’t do a whole lot you haven’t seen before, but does it so well you don’t care.
Oculus
Talk about under the radar, this little horror gem was produced by WWE Studios (yes, the studio that brought you “The Marine 3” and “See No Evil”). But this (literally) haunting tale of a brother and sister out to destroy the possessed mirror that destroyed their family is a great cat-and-mouse game between the mirror and the duo trying to outwit it. “Oculus” features good scares, plenty of real emotion, and an ending you won’t see coming.
Boyhood
Forget about the gimmicky making-of (fascinating though it may be; director Richard Linklater made the film over 10 years as he waited for his lead to grow up, filming a small amount each year); this is a movie that doesn’t fall into melodrama (save once, and you’ll know what I’m talking about when you see it). But the story of a boy growing from 8 to 18 from a broken family hits all the sweet spots: bad step-parents, friends coming in and out of their lives (including one heartbreaking moment where young Mason isn’t able to say goodbye to a friend, but sees him as he’s leaving), and ultimately learning to make your own way in the world, is fantastic. A totally honest film, Linklater may have made his masterpiece.
