Period of eligibility (January 1, 2014 - July 25, 2014)
1.
Under the Skin
Director: Jonathan Glazer
Starring: Scarlett Johansson
COMMENT: One of the most intriguing cinematic experiences ever, Glazer proves he's one of the most interesting directors working today. Beautiful and strange visuals, one of the best recent cinematography works and a score that elevates the most thrilling moments in the way you can only hold your breath. And then, we have Scarlett Johansson delivering what might be her most impressive performance: she's exceptional in a very physical and wordless acting turn with a lot of subtle details as a non-human being. The performance alone is amazing, but it only works so beautifully thanks to the movie's tone: Under the Skin is all about its director and leading actress in perfect synchronicity.
2.
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, F. Murray Abraham, Mathieu Amalric, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jude Law, Edward Norton, Saoirse Ronan, Jason Schwartzman and Tony Revolori
COMMENT: Everything is so colorful, the production design work is beautiful, the tone is light but really heartfelt at the same time... Wes Anderson's latest is another cinematic gem. With an all-star cast who knows what to do with their parts without entering in a fight for the spolight, Budapest Hotel is a delight to watch. Ralph Fiennes shines in a part so different from his previous turns that you ask yourself who the hell would cast him as Monsieur Gustave, but once you finish the movie you realise there's no other actor working today who would be able to play that man so well. And then we also have Tony Revolori, who shines in what we can consider a breakthrough performance, more than holding himself alongside Fiennes and the other elements of the cast. After The Royal Tenenbaums and Moonrise Kingdom, Anderson keeps proving he's more than just an independent auteur, he's one of the best directors working today. The Grand Budapest Hotel is a perfect little gem and everything in this movie screams "Wes Anderson style".
3.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Starring: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Samuel L. Jackson, Cobie Smulders and Robert Redford
COMMENT: An inspiring movie. Captain America's sequel is a study about the American values without being an entertaining movie. Well, in fact this one is much more than "entertaining": it is a very good thriller, with solid action scenes, with mysterious and tense moments. Elevated by Russo brothers serious directing, good performances from almost every element of the cast (specially from Evans and Johansson, who both command the screen with their charismatic presences and chemistry), a script that goes deep in its characters' pasts and the spectacular final scenes (featuring "OMG! visual effects"), The Winter Soldier rises the bar for all the upcoming Marvel productions and superheroes flicks in general.
4.
Boyhood
Starring: Ellar Coltrane, Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke
COMMENT: A movie like I've never seen before, Boyhood goes against the conventional process of movie making and the result is what I would call the most soulful cinematic narrative in years. Linklater makes everything so authentic and the acting is so genuine you ask yourself if they were really acting... Even with some problems and imperfections (I mean, it's normal, considering Linklater filmed the movie for years), Boyhood stands out of all the other movies of the year for being a brave directorial effort and one of the most genuine and deep movies ever about growing up and what it means to be someone.
5.
22 Jump Street
Starring: Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum
COMMENT: It doesn't bring a fresh story to us, but 22 Jump Street has all of the key factors that made its predecessor so good and adds sharper and funnier comedic moments. It is a movie that mocks with itself, which could be a disaster, but, in this case, it works surprisingly well! Hill and Tatum's chemistry reaches higher levels in this one, turning 22 Jump Street into more than just a comedic movie with some action scenes. In reality, this one is nothing special, it is simply funny, but maybe that's why I consider it one of the best movies of 2014 so far: it's a bromance story full of laughs and maybe knowing how to use a formula this simple is really what it takes to make something great.
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