Movie
1 The Grand Budapest Hotel
2 Imitation Game
3 Saint Vincent
4 The Hobbit
5 Hercules
6 How to Train Your Dragon 2
7 Cantiflas
8 Her
9 Saving Mr. Banks

Of the 54 movies I reviewed in 2014 this list represents the ones I liked the best. If you don’t see all of them, at least go to the top three. “Did he just throw my cat out the window?”

Must Go

Please look after this bear, Thank you

That is how a Peruvian Bear is found in the London Underground. Paddington is an English fixture with his red hat and blue coat. This movie is a wonderful story that appeals to all ages. It really is hilarious. Paddington’s search of the explorers club is classic.
Go, you will be happy that you did.

Go
A sheep, a wolf and a sheep dog walk into a bar. This is a biographical war drama about a sheep dog. Chris Kyle, the Legend, who had 160 confirmed sniper kills and 255 unofficial kills. You won’t recognize a beefed up Bradley Cooper who plays him to perfection. The story is about the personal cost of war. Four tours into the war zone by this top notch SEAL (always capitalized) are offset with the tours home. You can see the gradual change to his personality. Lucky for him, he has a loving wife, (Taya Kyle played by Sienna Miller), who ultimately anchors his transition back to a normal life.
She Who Must Be Obeyed really liked this movie too! even the tragic ending. Go, you won’t be disappointed.

Maybe Go
Charming, but uneven, entertaining yet unsatisfying, “Big Eyes” definitely does not come into the category of great or important true story movies. However it does have Amy Adams. I liked seeing Christoph Waltz last remembered from Inglorous Basterds as Col Hans Lande and Krysten Ritter last remembered as Jesse’s dead girlfriend in Breaking Bad.
My dad had two Keane’s in his house that he bought for $5.00 in San Francisco. He gave them to a plumber that admired them the year he died without knowing they had increased in value to about $5,000 each. O well there went my inheritance.
Walter Keane was a hell of a salesman and without him none of Margret’s pictures would have ever sold. I think he should have received better treatment in this movie.

Go
“If you can take it, you can make it.”
This is the true story of an American hero. Louis Zamperini, a modern Job. Every time things couldn’t get worse, they do. From crashing in the Pacific Ocean and surviving for 47 days in a leaky raft, to being “saved” by the Japanese Navy, to being in a POW camp ruled by a sadistic bully who is promoted to a different camp and then being re-assigned to his camp. Louis had a non-stop string of bad days. Yet he remained Unbroken.
All the critics are blasting this movie because it does not go into his actual redemption at a Billy Graham rally where he learned that forgiveness will save him. It cured his incredible PTSD nightmares and he became an inspirational speaker and the critics seem to hate Angelina Jolie. O well haters got to hate.
If you want the whole story – read the book! If you want inspiration go to this movie.
I did have to look up the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Zamperini came in 8th in the 5000 meter run but he posted the fastest last lap for a record that stood for years, 56 seconds. “Ah, you’re the boy with the fast finish!” Adolph Hitler.

Maybe Go
The acting is incredible. You won’t believe Steve Carell. Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffelo also turn in Oscar worthy performances.
The trouble is there is no real conflict in the story and the pacing is painful to endure.
Save your money.