I’m a nerd
who loves lists. As usual, here are my top ten films, television shows and
songs of the year. The films have links to my previous posts to avoid
repetitiveness. Enjoy.
TOP TEN
FILMS OF 2014
1. THE LEGO MOVIE
I
would have to say this film is like Toy
Story on Red Bull. Great nostalgia and clever jokes mixed with crazy fast
action and meta-humour. Brilliant.
2. BIRDMAN
One
of the coolest things about this film (among many other cool things) is that it
seems like the entire movie was done in one shot.
LINK: http://popculturepusher.blogspot.ca/2014/11/film-birdman.html
LINK: http://popculturepusher.blogspot.ca/2014/11/film-birdman.html
3. GUARDIANS
OF THE GALAXY
Talk about fun. This film was mighty entertaining. Chris Pratt is perfectly cast as the sarcastic Han Solo-esque Peter Quill.
Talk about fun. This film was mighty entertaining. Chris Pratt is perfectly cast as the sarcastic Han Solo-esque Peter Quill.
4. THE
IMITATION GAME
What
a fascinating story! I was engrossed the entire time. I didn’t know about this
part of history; it was eye-opening.
5. THE
GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
This film has all the
same bells and whistles of a Wes Anderson flick but it is the most action packed of all his filmography.
Very fun stuff.
6. BOYHOOD
The
idea of shooting this film over 12 years is brilliant.
There’s a naturalness that can only be captured by watching the characters mature
slowly.
7. GONE
GIRL
I
was riveted the entire time. Fincher is meticulous in his direction and it
shows. This is a perfectly crafted film.
8. CAPTAIN
AMERICA: WINTER SOLDIER
A
great action movie. Of the post-Avenger
films, I found this
one to be the best sequel. Great hand-to-hand combat and nice car chase sequences.
9. INTERSTELLAR
This
movie seems like an amalgamation of 2001: A Space Odyssey,
Gravity and Sunshine. Some pretty good company to be in.
10. HUNGER
GAMES: MOCKINGJAY, PART I
I
appreciated the set design, especially District 13. It looked a lot cooler than
I pictured in my head while reading it.
TOP TEN
TELEVISION SHOWS OF 2014
1. GAME OF THRONES (HBO)
Why: Season
4 was full of great moments of justice and injustice.
Favourite Character: Tyrion (Peter Dinklage)
Best Episode of 2014: The Lion and the Rose (S04E02)
There
were lots of episodes to choose from including Tyrion’s wonderful courtroom
speech, but the ending of this ghastly wedding was truly magnificent. I smiled
really big at the end of it.
2. MARVEL’S
AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC)
Why: It
is now becoming everything I wanted it to be. God bless the Whedons.
Favourite Character: Coulson (Clark Gregg)
Best Episode of 2014: Turn, Turn, Turn (S01E17)
This
is the episode when the momentum shifted. Connecting to Captain America: Winter
Soldier, it is now a whole new ballgame as the crew tries to stay alive while
there is a traitor within their ranks.
3. BROOKLYN
NINE-NINE (FOX)
Why: It’s
all about Holt and Jake and their awesome interactions
Favourite Character: Captain Holt (Andre Braugher)
Best Episode of 2014: The Party (S01E16)
The
gang makes a terrible first impression on Holt’s husband. It is always fun
seeing Holt out of the office and living his ‘normal’ life.
4. HOMELAND (SHOWTIME)
Why: Talk
about a comeback. The last half of the season was riveting
Favourite Character: Quinn (Rupert Friend)
Best Episode of 2014: There’s Something Else Going On (S04E09)
A
very tense hostage exchange is the centerpiece of this ramped up episode. The
episodes just before and the ones after are all fantastically action-packed and
full of brilliant moments.
5. FARGO (FX)
Why: Same
tone and dark humour as the movie, but longer story
Favourite Character: Malvo (Billy Bob Thorton)
Best Episode of 2014: A Fox, a Rabbit and a Cabbage (S01E09)
Just
when it looks like Martin Freeman’s character has things looking up for him, he
does something stupid like interfere with Malvo’s business.
6. THE
NEWSROOM (HBO)
Why: I
will miss this series and its idealistic rants about media
Favourite Character: Will McAvoy (Jeff Daniels)
Best Episode of 2014: What Kind of Day Has It Been (S03E06)
As
the series concludes with a funeral, we are treated with all the machinations
that went into turning their news program around in the first place. I love
origin stories.
7. PARENTHOOD (NBC)
Why: No
other series makes me root for both sides of family issues
Favourite Character: Max (Max Burkholder)
Best Episode of 2014: Aaron Brownstein Must Be Stopped (S06E08)
A
truly heartbreaking episode where Max sees his crush kissing another guy and
doesn’t know how to deal with it. and his Asbergers isn’t helping.
8. THE
AFFAIR (SHOWTIME)
Why: Very
interesting he said/she said storyline keeps you guessing
Favourite Character: Noah (Dominic West)
Best Episode of 2014: 9 (S01E09)
The
affair continues which leads to eventual confrontation and closure in relationships.
There is also a pregnancy test that affects both parties
9. SILICON
VALLEY (HBO)
Why: It’s
fun watching nerds navigate the real world
Favourite Character: Dinesh (Kumail Nanjiani)
Best Episode of 2014: Optimal Tip-to-Tip Efficiency (S01E08)
Who
would have thought a rude dick joke theory would end up saving these
programmers and their company at a big convention.
10. THE
WALKING DEAD (AMC)
Why: It’s
heart stopping watching these character fight for their life
Favourite Character: Daryl (Norman Reedus)
Best Episode of 2014: No Sanctuary (S05E01)
Forget
the walkers that are all around, how about the scary group of human cannibals
who have Rick and his crew captured. Talk about an intense hour of television.
If this was a Top 20
List:
11.Sherlock 12.About a Boy 13.House of Cards 14.The Big Bang Theory 15.New Girl
16.True Detective 17.The
Knick 18.The Mindy Project 19.Parks & Recreation 20.Orphan Black
TOP FIVE REALITY/LIVE
SHOWS OF 2014
1. THE
TONIGHT SHOW STARRRING JIMMY FALLON (NBC)
Why: While
Jimmy might gush over guests, the games are always a treat
2. LAST
WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER (HBO)
Why: It’s
like Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert with less commitment
3. MASTERCHEF
JUNIOR (FOX)
Why: Very
fun, even though these kids shame me with their culinary skills
4. NATHAN
FOR YOU (COMEDY NETWORK)
Why: The
deapan delivery and out-of-the-box marketing is genius.
5. COMEDIANS
IN CARS GETTING COFFEE (WEB)
Why: I
love hearing what makes comedians tick.
TOP TEN
SONGS OF 2014
1. KONGOS – COME WITH ME NOW
Why: Nothing
like some rockin’ accordion and a driving beat
Album: Lunatic
2. BLEACHERS
– I WANNA GET BETTER
Why: Great
message, great group sing-a-long
Album: Strange Desire
3. TAYLOR
SWIFT – SHAKE IT OFF
Why: Darn
this infectious song. The rap portion is awful though.
Album: 1989
4. AMERICAN
AUTHORS – BEST DAY OF MY LIFE
Why: Such
a fun, lift me up kind of song.
Album: Oh What a Life
5. SWITCHFOOT
– LET IT OUT
Why: I
like it when Switchfoot yells it out a little more
Album: Fading West
6. U.S.S.
– YIN YANG
Why: The
background vocals are weird but the song has a fun beat
Album: Advanced Basics
7. FITZ
AND THE TANTRUMS – THE WALKER
Why: Love
the whistling and carefree sound.
Album: More Than Just a Dream
8. ED
SHEERAN - SING
Why: Love
the different singing tempos, though a little Hammertime-ish
Album: X
9. THE
PRETTY RECKLESS - HEAVEN KNOWS
Why: Not
too many call-response songs out there; fun to sing with
Album: Going to Hell
10. ARIANA
GRANDE - PROBLEM
Why: Ariana
and Iggy double-shot, just a great catchy tune
Album: My Everything
So those are my
lists. What were your favourite things in 2014?
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