For previous Rath Awards, please click the year which you would like to view: 2013, 2012, and 2011.
So without further adieu, let's get the party started!
Best R&B Album
Jessie Ware - Tough Love
Chris Brown - X
Winner: Jessie Ware - Tough Love
Runner-up: Chris Brown - X
Easily the lamest award for the entire Rath Awards post this year, we have a genre that I almost debated cancelling out since there was such a lack of strong R&B (unlike last year). But Jessie Ware's album is still worthy of an award as she brings a fresh breath to the genre with some haunting but catchy melodies.
Best Alternative Album
Foster the People - Supermodel
Cherub - Year of the Caprese
Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence
Broods - Evergreen
Winner: Cherub - Year of the Caprese
Runner-up: Broods - Evergreen
This was a bit of a disappointing year for the genre. There were many solid albums released, but few that really "wowed". That is, except for Cherub's very-near-perfect Year of the Caprese album. It's an album that does so many things different, all while being rooted in the sounds of funk, disco, and more modern alternative that it's hard to stop listening to it. It's far and away the best alternative album of the year and also one of the best of the year period.
Best Rap/Hip-hop Album
Young Money - Rise of an Empire
Rick Ross - Mastermind
G-Eazy - These Things Happen
Logic - Under Pressure
J. Cole - 2014 Forest Hills Drive
Winner: Logic - Under Pressure
Runner-up: J. Cole - 2014 Forest Hills Drive
In all fairness, I haven't listened to J. Cole's album nearly as much as I have Logic's mainly because it just released, but it's a solid follow-up to last year's Born Sinner (although I would argue slightly inferior to it). Logic is an artist that I discovered in a rather slow year for this genre. Notice that there aren't many big names up there other than J. Cole because a lot of the bigger players skipped out on a 2014 album release. That shouldn't diminish Logic's album in the slightest because it's got smart lyrics and a level of craftsmanship that many artists in this industry don't care to achieve. Definitely a rap album worthy of your time.
Best Pop Album
Lea Michele - Louder
Jason Derulo - Talk Dirty
Iggy Azalea - The New Classic
Jesse McCartney - In Technicolor
Ariana Grande - My Everything
Maroon 5 - V
Taylor Swift - 1989
Winner: Jesse McCartney - In Technicolor
Runner-up: Ariana Grande - My Everything
Ariana's album might have produced the largest number of hits this year (although Swift's, Derulo's and Azalea's are right behind her), but it was McCartney's "comeback" album that I thought was the most solid "Pop" album of the year. You might be one of those foolish people who wrote him off years ago, but the truth is that In Technicolor is the best Justin Timberlake album we've gotten in some time and it's not even JT himself. McCartney has a much wider vocal range these days and although the album is rather short, each song is catchy as all hell and impressive. If he fell off your radar, maybe it's time to familiarize yourself with him again and In Technicolor is a great place to start.
Best Hit Song
"Fancy" by Iggy Azalea feat. Charlie XCX
"Problem" by Ariana Grande feat. Iggy Azalea
"Break Free" by Ariana Grande feat. Zedd
"Turn Down for What" by DJ Snake and Lil' John
"Trumpets" by Jason Derulo
"Rude" by Magic!
"Latch" by Disclosure feat. Sam Smith
"Shake it Off" by Taylor Swift
"Blank Space" by Taylor Swift
Winner: "Blank Space" by Taylor Swift
Runner-up: "Fancy" by Iggy Azalea feat. Charlie XCX
There were some gigantic hits this year that had people humming, tapping their feet, and eventually trying to claw the melodies out of their head. That list up there is insanely impressive given how each of those hits has had its time to shine. "Fancy" by Iggy had this award all but locked up as it was an incredible "debut" single that landed Iggy on the map with style. Then T-Swift had to go and make 1989 which gave us "Blank Space" and became that song that everyone was running through their heads. The melody is catchy and mildly epic even, giving the song a driving force forward that not many can match. Not to mention it's T-Swift's way of giving a big F-U to anyone who thinks she's crazy.
Artist of the Year
Iggy Azalea
Sam Smith
Ariana Grande
Jason Derulo
Taylor Swift
Winner: Iggy Azalea
Runner-up: Ariana Grande
This is a new award this year and my main criteria for it is a combination of quality and quantity of music. To put it simpler: which artist could listeners not get enough of this year? While Ariana Grande had a great year with a lot of big hits, it was I-G-G-Y who not only broke onto the scene, immediately established her "brand", and released a killer hit single, but who kept releasing hit after hit after hit. She was guest appearing on what seemed like every other song, she did a collaboration with J-Lo for "Booty" that probably helped a lot of young boys get through puberty, and it just seems like she can't be stopped. 2014 was most definitely Iggy's year and no one is asking "Who dat? Who dat?" any longer.
Top 5 Albums of the Year
5) Iggy Azalea - The New Classic
4) Jesse McCartney - In Technicolor
3) G-Eazy - These Things Happen
2) Cherub - Year of the Caprese
1) Taylor Swift - 1989
In the wake of TV losing one of its best (Breaking Bad) it was still an impressive year as many shows fought to fill that void while others continued to improve. All in all it was another fantastic year for a medium that is truly going through a "golden age" of sorts as it continues to be redefined by the likes of Netflix and singular, but repeating series like Fargo and True Detective.
Best Newcomer
True Detective
Fargo
The Leftovers
Gotham
The Flash
Winner: Fargo
Runner-up: True Detective
How much fun was Fargo to watch? Not only was it darkly humorous with a fantastic cast, it told an intense, gripping tale of a man's decent into violence, among other things. It was expertly crafted, acted, and filmed, much like the runner up, True Detective. As far as "newcomer" seasons are concerned, this was about as strong as it gets.
Most Anticipated
Hannibal Season 3
True Detective Season 2
Game of Thrones Season 5
House of Cards Season 3
The Flash Season 1B
Arrow Season 3B
The Walking Dead Season 5B
Fargo Season 2
Community Season 6
Winner: Hannibal Season 3
Runner-up: House of Cards Season 3
It seems as if "3" is the magic number. House of Cards very nearly won this category simply from how much potential there is from where it left at the end of last season. Ultimately though, Hannibal's very-near-perfect concluding episodes set the stage for an almost entirely new show and one that seems to have a strong direction. I'm very eager to see where they go next.
Best Superhero Show
Gotham
Arrow
The Flash
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Winner: Arrow
Runner-up: The Flash
I started this category with the hopes that next year there would be some stiffer competition with all the Marvel Netflix series that are on their way. This year however? There really isn't much. Gotham has been pretty disappointing and is struggling to find itself, and although Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has improved drastically it still lags behind the magic that the CW has with Arrow and Flash. Flash was immediately impressive and has hardly let up since its premiere while Arrow continues to establish itself not just as the best superhero show on TV, but one of the best shows on TV period.
Best Actress
Robin Wright - Claire Underwood in House of Cards
Melissa McBride - Carol Peletier in The Walking Dead
Tatiana Maslany - various characters in Orphan Black
Taylor Schilling - Piper Chapman in Orange is the New Black
Uzo Aduba - Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" in Orange is the New Black
Winner: Tatiana Maslany - various characters in Orphan Black
Runner-up: Uzo Aduba - Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" in Orange is the New Black
The fact that Maslany is overlooked constantly by awards committees disgusts me and it further increases my disbelief that "professional" critics get paid. She carries the show as strong as any leading man in TV and she does so as several different characters, all with different personalities, accents, quirks, etc. Her performance every episode is nothing short of amazing, even while the show sometimes is not.
Best Actor
Kevin Spacey - Frank Underwood in House of Cards
Woody Harrelson - Martin Hart in True Detective
Matthew McConaughey - Rust Cohle in True Detective
Benedict Cumberbatch - Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock
Hugh Dancy - Will Graham in Hannibal
Mads Mikkelsen - Hannibal Lector in Hannibal
Stephen Amell - Oliver Queen in Arrow
Winner: Matthew McConaughey - Rust Cohle in True Detective
Runner-up: Mads Mikkelsen - Hannibal Lector in Hannibal
This was an extremely close battle and honestly it could have gone to either of those actors. Ultimately though, it was McConaughey's performance as a deeply troubled detective over a period of time that haunted me the most throughout the year. Whereas Mads is expertly redefining the character of Hannibal, Matthew took an original character and made it his complete own to give one the best performances of his career, across any medium.
Best Episode
"Chapter 14" - House of Cards
"Who Goes There" - True Detective
"The Grove" The Walking Dead
"The Sign of Three" - Sherlock
"His Last Vow" - Sherlock
"Mizumono" - Hannibal
"The Children" - Game of Thrones
"The Man in the Yellow Suit" - The Flash
Winner: "Mizumono" - Hannibal
Runner-up: "The Sign of Three" - Sherlock
There was really no competition to "Mizumono" this year as it was a masterpiece from start to finish and easily one of the best hours of television I have ever seen. It capped off an amazing season for the show and served as a truly iconic finale with so much intensity, it's a wonder that I didn't die from lack of breathing. If you need to catch up with show, consider this episode the dessert and reward for doing so. Absolutely breathtaking.
Best Comedy
Community
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Orange is the New Black
New Girl
Parks and Recreation
Winner: Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Runner-up: Community
Despite the return of Dan Harmon to Community, it wasn't enough to overcome the hilarity that ensues on Brooklyn Nine-Nine. It's consistently funny from beginning to end on most episodes and the cast of characters are well defined, each hilarious in their own right, and instantly memorable. The show is only in its sophomore season, but it's playing in the big leagues of laughs.
Best Drama
House of Cards
True Detective
Hannibal
Sherlock
Fargo
Game of Thrones
Arrow
The Flash
Winner: Hannibal
Runner-up: Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones did have an impressive fourth season, although I would argue that they did too much, especially considering how dull Martin's fourth and most of the fifth book are. Either way though, this season was it's strongest yet and a thrill to watch. Hannibal however, only in its second season, continued to be one of the most well written and beautifully filmed shows in recent memory. At times it feels like you are watching a painting in motion, and it captures horror in a real way, making you truly afraid for characters and of characters. It may be a retelling of a previously created story, but it's one of the most original things on TV right now. If you aren't watching Hannibal, you need to be. If you can stomach it...
I'll be honest. This was one of the more disappointing years for gaming in a good long while. Several highly anticipated titles weren't as impressive as they promised, others were moved into 2015, and it seemed like many studios were releasing broken and buggy games (why you might notice there is no "Best Studio" award this year). Despite the sour taste that has been left in gamers' mouths from this year, that isn't to say that there weren't some great titles hidden throughout. You may notice that some of the year's biggest games are not nominated for anything below (Halo: The Master Chief Collection and The Last of Us Remastered). That was because I made the executive decision to not include them seeing as how they are re-releases of older games. Also, I should note that I purchased an Xbox One late in the year so, while I may not have reviews out for games yet, I have played them. Let's take a look. *Please note that you can now click on most winners' to be taken directly to that review!*
Biggest Disappointment
Watch Dogs
Destiny
Assassin's Creed Unity
Winner: Assassin's Creed Unity
Runner-up: Destiny
In all fairness to Destiny, it was still a great game, but coming from Activision and Bungie it just didn't live up to the hype or expectations. Assassin's Creed Unity on the other hand took a series which seemed to be on the path towards redemption (from last year's awesome Black Flag) and brought it back several paces. Portions of the game don't work, players experienced bugginess left and right, and ultimately, other than the graphics and attention to detail, there was nothing "next gen" about it. Even as a previous generation game it would have been not acceptable by this series' standards.
Most Anticipated
Arkham Knight
Halo 5
Uncharted 4
The Witcher 3
Bloodborne
Quantum Break
Winner: Uncharted 4
Runner-up: Arkham Knight
Please note that these are only for games confirmed to release in 2015 (unless they experience additional delays). Truthfully, Akrham Knight has this award locked down until about a month ago when the first Uncharted 4 gameplay released. Uncharted is one of my favorite series in gaming and as someone who has played and played and played the previous titles, I have to say that this one looks iconic. The graphics are astonishing and the fluidity of gameplay looks like a dream. Make no mistake, I'll be taking off work to play this one when it releases.
Most Fun
Titanfall
infamous Second Son
Watch Dogs
Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor
Forza Horizon 2
Far Cry 4
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Winner: Far Cry 4
Runner-up: Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor
This was another close award simply because Mordor was basically the game that every Lord of the Rings fan has ever wanted and somehow decapitating orcs never got old. But Far Cry 4, much like its predecessor, just has so many gameplay moments where you just can't help but laugh, shake your head, and say, "Only in Far Cry". Like when you're riding an elephant with a grenade launcher and receive assistance in fighting enemies from a wild rhino who then attacks you once you get off the elephant and whom you decide to destroy with C4 right before you jump off a cliff and wingsuit towards a new enemy outpost. Get the picture?
Best Soundtrack/Original Score
Watch Dogs
The Walking Dead: Season 2
Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor
Far Cry 4
Forza Horizon 2
Winner: Far Cry 4
Runner-up: Forza Horizon 2
While Forza Horizon 2 had a fantastic soundtrack that perfectly matched it's Italian countryside location, it was Cliff Martinez's Far Cry 4 score that elevated its game more so than the competition. Martinez, also known for his outstanding work on the film, Drive, is able to capture the spirit of the Asian nation where the game takes place and infuses it with his typical, driving, synthesized beats. It's one of the few game soundtracks I've heard that rivals film quality, and perhaps even surpass it.
Most Unique Multiplayer
Watch Dogs
Forza Horizon 2
Far Cry 4
Winner: Watch Dogs
Runner-up: Forza Horizon 2
Watch Dogs disappointed in several regards, but I wouldn't count its multiplayer as one of them and its lasting impression on me has really helped the game's overall image improve in my mind. Throughout this year of gaming, there were hardly any more exciting moments than the announcement that you were being hacked in Watch Dogs and the cat-and-mouse style frantic gameplay that ensued led to some tense, hilarious, and incredibly fun moments.
Best Multiplayer
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Watch Dogs
Titanfall
Destiny
Far Cry 4
Winner: Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Runner-up: Watch Dogs
As awesome as Watch Dogs' multiplayer was, it was really the next-gen, enhanced gameplay of classic Call of Duty that won me over. Advanced Warfare launched with fantastic maps, the ability to use bots, co-op missions, all on top of an incredible robust online multiplayer option that was the fastest and most hectic the twitch-based shooter has ever been.
Best Graphics
inFamous Second Son
Forza Horizon 2
Far Cry 4
Destiny
Winner: Forza Horizon 2
Runner-up: inFamous Second Son
While Second Son had some gorgeous effects (that neon running is still the prettiest thing I've seen on my next gen systems), as a complete package, Forza Horizon 2 is outstanding. I'm not sure how much better driving games can get visually, and what's even better about FH2 is that the game is smooth, despite its cutting edge graphics. Hauling ass through an Italian lavender field in a Lamborghini has never looked so damn good or realistic.
Best Story
inFamous Second Son
The Walking Dead: Season 2
Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Assassin's Creed Unity
Winner: Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor
Runner-up: The Walking Dead: Season 2
Some might not agree with this decision but I thought that Mordor's story was not only genius with how they fit it in to the overall universe, but very compelling throughout. It had some really fun characters and the larger implications to the overall plot of Lord of the Rings gave the game much more weight than I anticipated it to have.
Top 5 Games of the Year
5) (TIE) inFamous Second Son
The Walking Dead: Season 2
4) Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
3) Forza Horizon 2
2) Far Cry 4
If you were to ask me which game I liked the most, it would probably be Far Cry 4, and it was truly difficult for me to not award that game the coveted GOTY title. So let me explain my choice...Shadow of Mordor didn't have much going for it when it first released and it seemed to have the world against it. It was a licensed game, which often don't turn out well, and it released in a year where it flew under the radar. I gave it top honors because it was fan service at its finest form. The Mature-rated game allowed players to destroy orcs in gory ways and the swordplay and combat catapulted it to the front of the pack. On top of that, it had a great story that fit into the larger world and it was one of the only games this year to introduce a truly next gen idea with the genius "Nemesis System". I might, deep down, like Far Cry 4 a little bit more, but Shadow of Mordor came out of nowhere and delivered a knockout game that was fun, innovative, good looking, and fluid. It's a treasure and a surprise gem in a year where a lot of bigger titles failed to deliver more.
What an interesting year for movies it ended up being. If you looked back all the way to January, 2014 wasn't looking like that promising of a movie year, all things considered. It was hard to spot a mega-hit blockbuster on the horizon, which ultimately this year went without. Then we got into summer and it seemed like every weekend there was something coming out that was worthwhile and before you knew it, it was a busy movie year. Some films came out of nowhere to take audiences by surprise, others lived up to their hype, and some seemed to disappoint. 2014 was not predictable, that's for sure, but maybe before a year set to give us some of the largest movies ever, a little unpredictability is exactly what audiences needed. I now present to you, the crux of these Awards, the film Rath Awards for 2014. Enjoy! *Note that in this section you may also click winners' titles for their Rath's Review!*
Best Retro Reviewed Film
Pulp Fiction
How to Train Your Dragon
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Drive
Se7en
Blade Runner
The Dark Knight
Winner: Drive
Runner-up: (TIE) The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly and The Dark Knight
By now, you should all know how much I love Drive. It's one of the coolest films ever made and from the soundtrack to the cinematography to the acting to the surprise violence, it truly is a masterpiece. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is one of the few films I've Retro Reviewed that lives up to the hype and The Dark Knight is, well, The Dark Knight, but Drive was SUCH a treat to watch again. Just like the first 10 times!
Best Month
(based on average Rath's Review Score)
May -- average RRS of 8.6
June -- average RRS of 8.0
July -- average RRS of 8.0
October -- average RRS of 8.6
December -- average RRS of 8.3
December -- average RRS of 8.3
Winner: October
Runner-up: May
While May did see a higher individual score (9.5) and was packed full of blockbusters, it was really October that was the most epic month at the movies for me this year. When Birdman is my lowest scoring film of the month, you know it was a strong time at the movies (although I admit, I never really jumped on the Birdman train, even after seeing it). I may have overrated Fury a tad, but when you consider that I probably underrated Gone Girl, Whiplash, and Nightcrawler, all three of which grew on me far after I left the theater, the potential for the score to have gone up is there. Even still, historically speaking, an average of 8.6 is still pretty incredible, suggesting that most of the films during this month were at least "great".
Best Season
(based on average Rath's Review Score)
Winter (Dec 2013 - Feb 2014) -- average RRS of 7.90
Spring (March - May 2014) -- average RRS of 8.07
Summer (June - August 2014) -- average RRS of 7.72
Fall (September - November 2014) -- average RRS of 7.75
Winner: Spring
Runner-up: Winter
I won't even get into The Amazing Spider-Man 2 other than to say that I may have overrated it by a point or so, but I'm still confident that I have no idea what movie people were watching when they say it was one of the "worst of the year". It was not. Outside of that conversation however, it's very clear as to why Spring was so dominant this year, with the second highest season average ever (since 2012). All of these films were superb examples of their genre and represent some of the very best times that I had at the theater this year!
Best Film I Didn't See
Chef
Under the Skin
Calvary
The Theory of Everything
Unbroken
Winner: Chef
Runner-up: Calvary
Please note that films such as Selma, American Sniper, and Inherent Vice I plan on seeing, they just have very limited releases at the moment. Because of their "limited screenings" they will be punished by officially being in my 2015 films. I've truly heard nothing but good things about Chef and it seems to be making appearances on many Top 10 lists. Calvary was always a film I was personally interested in, but I'm not sure it ever made it to Denver. Either way, Chef is the film that I regret missing the most and one that I will catch up on the quickest.
Rath's Wrath
(aka "Worst Movie")
Brick Mansions
Transcendence
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Dumb and Dumber To
Winner: Dumb and Dumber To
Runner-up: Brick Mansions
Granted we didn't have a film nearly as bad as Movie 43 this year *shudders*, but there were still some real doozies. It's just unfortunate that one of the films I was looking forward to the most, ended up being the worst of the year. Dumb and Dumber To is really nothing like its predecessor and it's one of the worst sequels to ever be made. That face of the guy in the middle of the photo above? That was me the entire film. Sheer horror.
Movie I Most Overrated
Noah
Transcendence
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
The Expendables 3
The Equalizer
The Interview
Winner: Transcendence
Runner-up: Noah
You might have been asking on the previous award (assuming you have photographic memory), "But Jordan, I thought you gave Transcendence a 7.0?". I like this award because it allows me to go back and call myself out on what I believe is my biggest fault: overrating films, or being "too nice" to them. The score and review I gave Transcendence was exactly that and the film itself was truly a missed opportunity encapsulated inside a snooze-fest. I expected much, much better and if I could go back and adjust the score, it would probably sit around a 4.5.
Movie I Most Underrated
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Gone Girl
Birdman
Boyhood
Whiplash
Nightcrawler
Interstellar
Winner: Gone Girl
Runner-up: Whiplash
This is always a hard award to pick nominees for but usually I ask myself "What films have stayed with me this year, more than I anticipated them to?" I gave both Whiplash and Gone Girl a 9/10...which is an amazing score, for two amazing films. Over time, Gone Girl has left a serious impression on me as it's one of my fondest movie memories of the year, while Whiplash has done essentially the same. If I were to adjust Gone Girl's score, it would be a 9.5 and the argument could even be made for a 10/10. It's just that good.
Biggest Disappointment
Transcendence
300: Rise of an Empire
Transformers: Age of Extinction
The Expendables 3
Dumb and Dumber To
The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies
Winner: Dumb and Dumber To
Runner-up: The Expendables 3
These are the films that bummed me out a little bit this year in one way or another. Dumb and Dumber To easily takes the cake just based on the simple difference in score from its predecessor (I haven't Retro Reviewed it but rest assured it would get at least a 9) to this crummy sequel. I walked out of the theater disappointed, having not laughed, and mildly pissed off. Thanks a lot Harry and Lloyd!
Biggest Surprise
The LEGO Movie
The Raid 2
Edge of Tomorrow
Snowpiercer
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Guardians of the Galaxy
The Maze Runner
Winner: The LEGO Movie
Runner-up: Edge of Tomorrow
While Edge of Tomorrow might top other people's "Most Surprising" list, I've always had faith in Tom Cruise. I generally like his films, as can be seen of my love for last year's Oblivion. I give this award to The LEGO Movie because of really all it had going against it. Sure kids love LEGOs, but it really had to establish itself and break out of the mold of crappy toy-based animated films that look to sell their product as much as they are there to make a movie. Not only did LEGO Movie shatter that stereotype, it was far more witty than many would have imagined, featured gorgeous animation, and ended up being one of the most critically and commercially successful films of the year. If you had told me a few years ago that a LEGO-based film would be Oscar nominated in 2014 I would have laughed, but not only will it get nominated, I'd also argue that its the frontrunner in the Best Animated Movie category.
Best 3D
The LEGO Movie
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Godzilla
Transformers: Age of Extinction
Guardians of the Galaxy
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Winner: The LEGO Movie
Runner-up: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
This was a hard award to decide this year as there wasn't truly a standout masterpiece in the 3D realm. So in order to pick a winner I chose by which film that the 3D format helped the most. All of the films above have great 3D effects, but it was really The LEGO Movie that gained the most from its third dimension usage as it really made the beautiful animation pop and come to life.
Most Original
Her
The LEGO Movie
Transcendence
Edge of Tomorrow
Snowpiercer
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Whiplash
Interstellar
Nightcrawler
Winner: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Runner-up: (TIE) Nightcrawler and Interstellar
This award is a hard one to explain. Some of the films in that list are based off comics, and I feel like that's a bit unfair, although I try to judge them strictly on the medium of film. The Grand Budapest Hotel really felt like a breath of fresh air when I saw it earlier in the year and although it doesn't give us crazy sci-fi inventions, it does give us an original cast of characters that are hilarious. Nearly equally as impressive is Nightcrawler's story of the dark side of Los Angeles news capture and Interstellar's trip to another galaxy (and beyond). All three films represented times this year where I came out of the theater feeling as if I had never seen anything quite like that before.
Best Sound/Sound Editing
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Godzilla
Edge of Tomorrow
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Transformers: Age of Extinction
Guardians of the Galaxy
Fury
Big Hero 6
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Winner: Fury
Runner-up: Transformers: Age of Extinction
This is another one of those awards where I think Fury gained the most from some strong sound and sound editing. The complexity of the noises in a tank battle are immense, but Fury managed to use sound, among other things, to create gripping and intense scenes of war.
Best Action
Need for Speed
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
The Raid 2
Snowpiercer
Guardians of the Galaxy
John Wick
Winner: The Raid 2
Runner-up: John Wick
I feel bad for John Wick because, man, that was some awesome gunplay in that film. But there was no way that any film other than The Raid 2 could win this award. The film was action scene after action scene and almost every one was more memorable than the last. It all resulted in one of the most violent movies I've ever seen and one where you're left scratching your head as to how long it took someone to come up with all this choreography. The muddy prison brawl (seen above) is nothing short of iconic.
Best Special Effects
300: Rise of an Empire
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Godzilla
Transformers: Age of Extinction
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Guardians of the Galaxy
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
Interstellar
The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies
Winner: Interstellar
Runner-up: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
This was a hard one to decide as Apes really upped the bar for motion capture technology and arguably had more special effects throughout its runtime. Recently though, I've read The Science of Interstellar by Kip Thorne, who was the leading scientist on the film. The amount of science, mathematics, and computation that went into the wormhole image (and the rest of the film's effects) you see above is mind blowing. Interstellar put in the extra effort for scientific accuracy and it's something that I'm showing appreciation for with this award.
Best Soundtrack
Neighbors
The Fault in Our Stars
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Guardians of the Galaxy
Get on Up
John Wick
Wild
Winner: Guardians of the Galaxy
Runner-up: (TIE) Wild and John Wick
This was a pretty easy award to hand out and I'd bet you would be hard pressed to find anyone that disagrees. While Wild and John Wick both gained a lot from their soundtracks, it was Guardians of the Galaxy that almost seemed to be crafted around its "Awesome Mix Vol. 1". Not only was it a plot device, but a fantastic way to infuse good music into Marvel's uber successful experiment.
Best Original Score
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Raid 2
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Gone Girl
Whiplash
Interstellar
Wild
The Imitation Game
Winner: Interstellar
Runner-up: Gone Girl
Gone Girl truly had this locked down for a long period of time in an award that is near and dear to my heart. The film's original score added SO much to the environment and feeling of discomfort throughout the film. I so loved that original score that I almost made this a tie win. At the end of the day though, its hard to argue with how empowering and inspiring Hans Zimmer's Interstellar score is (I would place it behind Inception as his second best, ever). I listen to it in my free time quite a bit and in a film where not quite everything was perfect, Zimmer's score was about as perfect as you can get. It still sends chills up my spine.
Best Cinematography
Her
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Raid 2
Guardians of the Galaxy
Gone Girl
Whiplash
Interstellar
Foxcatcher
Wild
Winner: Gone Girl
Runner-up: Whiplash
Gone Girl truly haunted audiences this year, including myself, and a large reason of that was the careful thought that went behind every frame in the film. Just as I mentioned that the original score helped with the theme of discomfort throughout the film, so to did the cinematography, possibly even more so. It a gorgeous film from start to finish, frame by frame.
Best Ensemble Cast
The LEGO Movie
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
X-Men: Days of Future Past
Guardians of the Galaxy
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
Gone Girl
Interstellar
Birdman
Foxcatcher
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Winner: Guardians of the Galaxy
Runner-up: Birdman
Yeah, sure Birdman's cast might has given us better performances, but how much fun did audiences have with a surgically enhanced alien, a raccoon, a bad boy, a freaking tree, and a dull soldier this year? In a stroke of casting brilliance, Marvel nailed every aspect of Guardians of the Galaxy and gave us a space group so heart warming, funny, and fun that many were asking "Han and Chewie who?" (Ok...maybe not to that extreme, but you get the picture).
Biggest Year (Actor)
Chris Pratt
Chris Evans
Miles Teller
Channing Tatum
Winner: Channing Tatum
Runner-up: Chris Evans
Chris Evans was in two of the year's best films and was a large part to both The Winter Soldier and Snowpiercer's success. However, Tatum was outstanding in two of the year's best comedies, The LEGO Movie and 22 Jump Street, and I would say that his performance (although some would argue with me) was the strongest of the three main actors featured in Foxcatcher. When you factor in the blockbuster-that-could-have-been, Jupiter Ascending (which was wisely moved to a less crowded February 2015), Tatum seemed to be everywhere in 2014.
Biggest Year (Actress)
Scarlett Johansson
Eva Green
Jessica Chastain
Reese Witherspoon
Emily Blunt
Winner: Reese Witherspoon
Runner-up: Eva Green
Eva Green sure helped a lot of young boys go through puberty this year as she bared it all on several occasions and was easily the best aspect to some disappointing sequels (300 and Sin City). Years down the road however, I think 2014 will be the year that belongs to Reese as her career saw a revival. She was in several smaller films that gave audiences a chance to remember her acting range, and she owned the screen in Wild. I predict that we will be seeing a lot more of her in the years to come.
Best Villain
Eva Green as Artemisia in 300: Rise of an Empire and the Dame in Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
Sebastian Stan as The Winter Soldier in Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Zac Efron as Teddy in Neighbors
Toby Kebbell as Koba in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Lee Pace as Ronan in Guardians of the Galaxy
J.K. Simmons as Fletcher in Whiplash
Steve Carell as John du pont in Foxcatcher
Runner-up: J.K. Simmons as Fletcher in Whiplash
The only reason I didn't give this award to J.K. is because the lines of his villainy are somewhat blurred. Out of all the blockbusters this season, most failed to give us the super-iconic villain we were hoping for. Most except for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes that is. Using some amazing motion capture, Kebbell was able to create a manipulative, vicious, and violent enemy in Koba and he genuinely terrified audiences.
Best Hero
Chris Evans as Captain America in Captain America: The Winter Solider
Iko Uwais as Rama in The Raid 2
Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man in The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Godzilla in Godzilla
Jay Baruchel as Hiccup in How to Train Your Dragon 2
Andy Serkis as Caesar in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Matthew McConaughey as Cooper in Interstellar
Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen in Mockingjay Part I
Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies
Runner-up: Chris Evans as Captain America in Captain America: The Winter Solider
I wanted to give this to Cap, as he really made a strong case for himself this year with a film that had his morals, wisdom, and beliefs on full display. As I started to think about it more however, it was really Cooper who made the most sacrifice. He went literally where no man has ever gone before into the fourth and fifth dimensions, and in a matter of years he sacrificed an entire lifetime with his children...all so mankind could survive. That's selfless people.
Best Actress
Scarlett Johansson as Samantha in Her
Shailene Woodley as Hazel Grace in The Fault in Our Stars
Rosamund Pike as Amy Dunne in Gone Girl
Patricia Arquette as Mom in Boyhood
Emma Stone in Birdman
Reese Witherspoon as Cheryl Strayed in Wild
Winner: (TIE) Rosamund Pike as Amy Dunne in Gone Girl and
Runner-up: Patricia Arquette as Mom in Boyhood
A copout? Perhaps. But I sincerely couldn't decide between the two performances. Pike has haunted me ever since I saw the film and was able to play to that character's tendencies effortlessly. It was truly scary at how I knew she was lying but I still almost believed her every time. On the other hand, Witherspoon carries Wild and perfectly portrays Strayed through the painful background she has as well as the arduous journey that she is on.
Best Actor
Joaquin Phoenix as Theodore Twombly in Her
Chris Evans as Curtis in Snowpiercer
Andy Serkis as Caesar in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Ralph Fiennes as M. Gustav in The Grand Budapest Hotel
Chadwick Boseman as James Brown in Get on Up
Ben Affleck as Nick Dunne in Gone Girl
Miles Teller as Andrew in Whiplash
J.K. Simmons as Fletcher in Whiplash
Jake Gyllenhaal as Louis Bloom in Nightcrawler
Michael Keaton as Riggan in Birdman
Channing Tatum as Mark Schultz in Foxcatcher
Benedict Cumberbatch as Alan Turing in The Imitation Game
Runner-up: Michael Keaton as Riggan in Birdman
Gyllenhaal went all out for Nightcrawler and it shows, not to mention, the movie owes a lot to his mesmerizing performance. Keaton definitely gave it his all in Birdman and it resulted in a phenomenal performance, even if the movie wasn't my cup of tea. Jake's performance is what stayed with me throughout the year as it was an odd combination of sympathy for an awkward character that later turned into disgust at his insane lack of morality. One of the finest of the year indeed.
Most Anticipated
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Jurassic World
Fast and Furious 7
Mad Max: Fury Road
Assassin's Creed
Mockingjay Part II
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Winner: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Runner-up: Avengers: Age of Ultron
Did you expect anything else? It has the potential to be the biggest film opening of all time and so far, Abrams and Co. have been doing everything right. Little teasers here and there, great fan service moments, a cryptic but exciting trailer...it's all here and the hype train is running at full steam. Let's just hope that Episode VII gets anywhere close to the expectations.
Top 15 Scenes of the Year
15) Kim Jong Un's "Fireworks": All the controversy and all the attention surrounding The Interview boiled down to this hilarious and gory assassination scene that acted as a strong middle finger to one of the world's most evil dictators.
14) "Oh. Yeahhhhh.": Guardians of the Galaxy started off a little rough. Not very, but it still hadn't come into its own. For me, it was this scene that was the absolute turning point of the film, the one where I knew I loved it. Equal parts hilarious and badass, kind of like the film as a whole.
13) Schmidt Did Who's Daughter?!: 22 Jump Street was pretty hilarious from start to finish but it was this reveal that had me almost peeing my pants. Hill's shame, Tatum's hilarious discovery, and Ice Cube's "Ima kill you" face were all priceless.
12) Hydra Reveal: "Hail Hydra" may have become a hilarious meme, but the twist in The Winter Soldier was really anything but and the fallout of it not only changed the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but also their TV universe, making Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. a much more compelling show. To date, it's probably one of the largest events to happen in the MCU.
11) Comedic Ski Chase: The Grand Budapest Hotel was a total delight but the ski chase was really the highlight as it captured the quirky style of Wes Anderson perfectly and culminated in a hilarious moment.
10) So Close, but Yet So Far: Say what you will about The Amazing Spider-Man 2. It had its issues sure, but it was faithful to the comics in style and spirit and gave us one of the more genuine heartfelt moments in recent superhero-film history. Unfortunately Sony telegraphed the big death from a mile away with their trailers, but it still didn't make it any less painful to see just how close Spider-Man was to saving her.
9) HALO Jump and MUTO Massacres: Many complained about Godzilla taking too long to get started with the action. Rest assured that once it began they were not. The eerie HALO jump was filmed beautifully and Godzilla's final death blows to the other monsters were iconic. Truly an exciting segment of cinema!
8) Time as a Fourth Dimension: We all knew that there would be some twist in Interstellar, and while some may have predicted that it was Cooper the whole time, I don't think anyone expected it to look quite like it did. Nolan proceeded to bend time and space (as well as our minds) in one of the most confusing but brilliant and face melting moments at the movies recently.
7) Girl "Escapes": Gone Girl was really a collection of great scenes, but it was Amy's murder of Desi that was possibly the most disturbing from the setup, to the sex before, the murder, and then the lies that followed, it truly solidified her as the villain if she hadn't been before. Not to mention the original score was 100% on point in this scene.
6) The Truth: Snowpiercer's revelation was one of those rare instances where I actually completely agreed with the villain, despite the brutality of the outcome. The truth of everything that comes out in Snowpiercer's final scenes are heartbreaking and they make a fantastic cap on one of the best sci-fi films of the year.
5) The Sweaty Finale: Whiplash was one hell of a ride and a tale of dedication. It was in that final scene that you truly grasped just how much dedication Andrew had to the art of drumming as he sweated profusely, bled from his hands, and stole the show. It was filmed beautifully and was a scene that stuck with me throughout the year.
4) Quciksilver Ownage: Days of Future Past was a return to form for the X-Men and it's most widely criticized character, Quicksilver, ended up being the highlight with a fantastic slow-motion scene in which he takes out a room full of guards in hilarious ways. One of the most fun scenes of the year.
3) Bullets, Bathhouses, and Bodies: I admit, this is probably my most personal choice, but I absolutely loved this entire scene from John Wick. Keanu Reeves, tons of headshots, some gorgeous choreography and cinematography, and a perfectly fit tune "Think" made this a damn beautiful action sequence.
2) Prison Yard Mud Brawl: As you're watching The Raid 2, you can tell something big is about to happen while the men are sitting out in the Prison Yard, but you would never guess that it would result in a huge 40+ person brawl in thick mud with some of the most insane martial arts choreography ever. I don't watch many martial arts films, but I have to imagine that this scene is an iconic one in that genre.
1) Dancing Groot: It was the perfect end to what was basically a perfect time at the movies. How could you not have a smile on your face watching tiny Groot get his groove on to the Jackson 5? Part of me wanted to get up and dance with him!
Best Director
Spike Jonze - Her
Gareth Evans - The Raid 2
Phil Lord and Chris Miller - The LEGO Movie and 22 Jump Street
Wes Anderson - The Grand Budapest Hotel
James Gunn - Guardians of the Galaxy
David Fincher - Gone Girl
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu - Birdman
Christopher Nolan - Interstellar
Christopher Nolan - Interstellar
Dan Gilroy - Nightcrawler
Winner: Phil Lord and Chris Miller - The LEGO Movie and 22 Jump Street
Runner-up: Wes Anderson - The Grand Budapest Hotel
Most people always say, "quality over quantity". So what happens when you have quality and quantity? You win a Rath Award that's what. While I admire Anderson for his fascinating and well put together vision on Grand Budapest, it's hard to deny the roll that these two guys are on right now. In a year they were able to give us two of the funniest films of 2014 and one of the best animated films of the year, both with franchises that, all things considered, shouldn't have worked. But with their cunning wit and great eye/ear for humor, they hit two home runs this year.
Funniest Movie
The LEGO Movie
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Neighbors
22 Jump Street
Guardians of the Galaxy
Birdman
The Interview
Winner: 22 Jump Street
Runner-up: The LEGO Movie
The LEGO Movie might have covered a wider range of audience and it very nearly caused a tie for this category. 22 Jump Street just should NOT have worked though as it was an unnecessary sequel to an unnecessary franchise. It was hilarious from start to finish and features some great one-liners, physical comedy, and situational comedy, not to mention an acute self-awareness of how repetitive sequels (including this one) can be. Long story short, this is the way comedy sequels should be made.
Best Non-Blockbuster
Her
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Snowpiercer
Boyhood
Whiplash
Birdman
Nightcrawler
Foxcatcher
Wild
The Imitation Game
Winner: Whiplash
Runner-up: (TIE) Nightcrawler and Wild and Snowpiercer
Honestly, this could easily be a four-way tie for the winning position here as all four films are phenomenal and really stuck with me after their viewings. Whiplash is something special though and as a former "band geek" it holds a bit of a special place in my heart, although I admit I never had a conductor anything like Fletcher. Both Simmons and Teller are at the top of their game in this one and show massive dedication to the role, making the movie that much more exciting, heartbreaking, and ultimately triumphant. It was a true delight to watch.
Best Animated Movie
The LEGO Movie
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Big Hero 6
Winner: The LEGO Movie
Runner-up: How to Train Your Dragon 2
I feel bad leaving Big Hero 6 out because it was a ton of fun and I think that you could interchange it with How to Train Your Dragon 2 and I wouldn't argue. Both films however, pale in comparison (ever so slightly) to the smart, gorgeous, hilarious, not to mention nostalgia-inducing The LEGO Movie. In an extremely impressive year for animation, even with Pixar sitting out, The LEGO Movie was one of the most memorable, re-watchable, and fun films of the bunch.
Best Blockbuster
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Godzilla
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Guardians of the Galaxy
Interstellar
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part I
The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies
Winner: Interstellar
Runner-up: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
I strive to give this award to the most ambitious and smart blockbusters of the year...ones that challenge the status quo. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes was far better than many expected and had much more characterization than many of the other films listed. Interstellar took us to the stars and beyond however and challenged us to think deeper and harder about everything we know: time, love, dimensions, gravity, and many others. It had some issues, yes, but it was wildly original and smart.
Top 10 Films of 2014 (User Choice)
First off, let me explain the low percentages...in the survey I conducted, each participant chose their Top 3 films of the year, resulting in 3 votes per person, meaning that there was 300% total (don't worry I double checked this to add it up). So to get the correct percentages for each, I had to divide by 3. Next, let me say that this is a VERY interesting Top 10 and is scary close to mine as far as movies included is concerned (although my placement of some is a bit different). I always trust my readers to vote well and I gotta say that this is a DAMN good Top 10. Great job guys! Let's run through the films real quick!
Both movies are great for separate reasons and I think audiences were pleasantly surprised by both!
Sometimes you can't deny the allure of Middle-Earth and I'm glad to see that a lot of people enjoyed the film a tad more than I did. I think we can all agree that it's really sad that it's all over now.
My experienced readers have seen far more Wes Anderson films than I, so it's comforting to see that my love for the film wasn't misplaced in the slightest. One of the most enjoyable films of the year for sure.
7) Interstellar
Again, my readers are a bit smarter than myself and they were able to recognize this film for the genius it was on the first viewing. It may have taken me a second viewing and reading a book about it to catch up, but I definitely get it now.
It is one of Marvel's best films and it felt incredibly fresh as it focused less on the superpowers and more on the spy agency vs. spy agency secrets.
The X-Men came back in a big way this year with a phenomenal outing and a gigantic cast. There was finally some great action and character development in a series that has struggled with it ever since its inception.
4) Snowpiercer
It delights me to see this small film on here because it definitely deserves a spot. It was a great film and one that really made you think even after the credits rolled.
3) Birdman
I'm glad that my readers enjoyed this film more than I did as I am definitely in the minority of people who merely "liked" it. Perhaps that means I need to view it a second time?
2) Gone Girl
It was one of the most talked about films of the year and also one the most well-crafted. Attention was given to all aspects and it resulted in a haunting, amazing film. Great selection voters!
You guys are awesome and so is Guardians of the Galaxy! It truly was a film that will be remembered long after 2014 and it was one of the most solid, good times at the theater that most of us had all year. It's a film that deserves the #1 position you voted it into, no matter how forgotten it may be come awards season.
Top 10 Films of 2014
Before I get started discussing why my Top 10 Film list is the way it is, I'd like to call out some honorable mentions. Some of these were great films that were never going to make the list and some were ones that narrowly missed it. Either way, there were some great films in 2014 outside of this list and they are (in no particular order): Wild, 22 Jump Street, Big Hero 6, X-Men: Days of Future Past, Neighbors, Godzilla, The Amazing Spider Man 2, Boyhood, Birdman, The Fault in Our Stars, Edge of Tomorrow, How to Train Your Dragon 2, Fury, John Wick, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part I, Foxcatcher, The Interview, The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies, and The Imitation Game.I'd also like to note that the films that made it in my Top 10 are not necessarily reflective of their original Rath's Review Score. My goal when I make this list is to ask myself, 10 years from now, which films will I remember most fondly from 2014? In other words, which films were my favorite? Enjoy!
Marvel had its best year yet in 2014 and it all started with the exciting second film for the often-overlooked Avenger, Captain America. Almost more a spy thriller than a superhero film, it worked on so many levels and truly altered the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
9) The Raid 2
A mightily impressive film in more than one regard. It expanded on the first film greatly with a far more complex plot and storyline resulting in me dubbing it "The Dark Knight" of the martial arts genre. Almost every fight is more impressive than the last and the crime family drama is enthralling.
8) Nightcrawler
This is the film that took a lot of audiences by surprise -- surprise by just how good it was, but also how uncomfortable it made them. It features the best male performance of the year and gives an interesting, but despicable inside look at the underground world of LA news. The result was a highly entertaining and dark film.
7) Whiplash
I absolutely loved this film and it really has stuck with me throughout the last few months of the year. It was crafted beautifully, and was funny, heartbreaking, but also inspiring. Career-best performances by Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons don't hurt either.
6) Snowpiercer
Much like the train it was set on, this was the "little blockbuster that could". Featuring Captain America, Chris Evans, himself, it was an amazing sci-fi, dystopian film that had some awesome action to go along with its strong pacing, performances, and logic. A very unique and thought-provoking film.
I had never seen a Wes Anderson film before this one, and I'm glad that I chose this film as my first. It was a quirky film with a very strict and straightforward vision, which is captured in every scene of its brisk 90-minute-ish runtime. It never lets up, is always fun, and often funny...it's a film that won't make you regret your stay!
The best animated film of the year is also one of the best movies of the year. It was wildly imaginative, like the toys it is based on, and impressed audiences of all ages and backgrounds with it's humor, characters, animation, and fun. Everything was and still is very awesome.
3) Interstellar
Never has a second viewing helped a film so much in my life. I don't concede that Interstellar has it's issues because it does, but after reading The Science of Interstellar (which I highly recommend) and giving my hype/anticipation some time to die down, I found that Christopher Nolan had crafted an amazing film here and it truly was a very different experience my second time around. Maybe not a masterpiece from a strict filmmaking standpoint, but from the mind of a true thinker (Nolan, not me), explorer of ideas, and genius, Interstellar is nothing short of incredible. The moment you start really thinking about our universe and how truly little we know about it, Interstellar becomes an outlet of imagination, and "what ifs?" that are so grandiose and strongly based in science that you can't help but get emotional about it. I'm very glad I saw this one again before making this list.
2) Gone Girl
Gone Girl represents a film that is not only well made from every single aspect, it's one that has that certain "movie magic" that tends to stay with you outside of the theater. It was a phenomenal adaptation, directed and created with care, with strong performances, one of the year's best original scores, and a twisting, turning plot that will keep you on your toes. It gets under your skin and stays there and I wouldn't have it any other way.
My favorite film of the year was also one of the biggest risks of the year. Would audiences and critics accept and adore a really random group of heroes? Turns out that they would, and then some. It may be easily and tragically forgotten during awards seasons (which, for the life of me, I will never understand), but this isn't your typical up-tight awards ceremony. Guardians of the Galaxy was the most fun many of us had at the theaters this year, and was an expert blend of humor, action, character development, and heart. It's arguably Marvel's best film yet, and given their strong track record, that's saying something. Sometimes it doesn't take amazing performances, perfect filmmaking, or a deeper meaning for me to dub a film the "best". Sometimes all it takes is a well crafted, damn good time with a classic group of characters and that's exactly what you'll find with Guardians.
And with that, the 2014 Rath Awards are a wrap!
It was a great year in many different ways and I had far too much fun creating these lists, nominees, and awards over the last 365 days. It's truly a treasure to write this post every year and I appreciate anyone who took the time to read it, even if it was just a small portion. Thank you to all my loyal readers and fans and here's looking forward to an amazing 2015!
I'm terrible at putting together list, needless to say I'm incredibly impressed at how expansive and all encompassing your year end list is!
ReplyDeleteThanks Daniel! This is always my favorite post of the year so I put quite a bit of time into it!
DeleteWOW you did a great job this year, your awards are amazing (one of the things I like best about you review site). I hope that next year is just as good for films. and thanks for putting the time in for this its nice to be able stand back and look at this years good and bad
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Daniel! I appreciate it so much. It does take a lot of time, but it's also one of my most favorite aspects/posts that I do on this site. Im really glad that you enjoyed it!
DeleteThanks again for the praise! It made my day :-)