***Antsmarching.org’s Top Films of 2014***

[clayj41]

Although I created this thread much later last year, December 20 is the date I created it each of the two years preceding that. So that's a thing now.

Like always though, the deadline for Ants' annual film submissions is delayed until the weekend of the Academy Awards in February so as to give users much needed time to catch up on all of the stuff they’ve been meaning to watch.

In the meantime, feel free to use this thread to discuss what you liked, what you didn’t like, what you’re most looking forward to seeing, etc.

1) Final submissions are due by noon EST on Friday, February 20, 2015. Results will be announced before the Academy Awards broadcast on February 22, 2015.

2) Votes should be PMed to me here on Ants. Please remember to number your lists in order to simplify things.

3) Lists are capped at 50, with a minimum of 10 entries necessary to be scored.

4) As a general rule of thumb, a theatrical release is eligible if it was designated as a limited release in 2014. For example, Selma doesn’t get a wide release until January 9, 2015 and Still Alice won't be out until January 16, 2015 . For our purposes, however (and those of Oscar eligibility), a limited release in December means they count. Films that only had festival screenings and no accompanying theatrical release are not similarly eligible.

Documentary features are eligible, as are HBO Original Films (e.g. The Normal Heart). Miniseries are not.

5) Since final submissions are not due for two months, a “secret ballot” rule is almost unenforceable. I love the spirit behind it though and would ask that as the deadline gets closer, people use their best judgment and stop posting preliminary lists. We don’t want to needlessly ruin the suspense of the final results. I won’t bring this up again unless I see it being a problem in the few weeks leading up to the deadline.

As a frame of reference, here are the top 10 lists for the last five years:

2009
2010
2011
2012
2013

[clayj41]

And just like the last two years, we'll also be polling Favorite Male Performance (Lead AND Supporting), Favorite Female Performance (Lead AND Supporting), Favorite Director, and Favorite Screenplay (Adapted OR Original).

Anyone interested should submit a list of their top 3 to 5 in each category, and then I'll reveal the winners contemporaneously with the Oscars broadcast.

Previous winners:

http://ants2012awards.blogspot.com/
http://ants2013awards.blogspot.com/

[dmbetc]

Excellent! Stickied.

[clayj41]

Originally Posted by dmbetc

Excellent! Stickied.

Thanks for that! I look forward to your second year of participating.

[jrod41]

My favorite time of the year (on the site at least).

[ExistenceNow]

Yay! My favorite time of year!

[clayj41]

Originally Posted by jrod41

My favorite time of the year (on the site at least).

Originally Posted by ExistenceNow

Yay! My favorite time of year!

Happy to hear it! I enjoy it more every year, but it will be hard to top last year. Not only was it the closest vote we've ever had, but outside of some re-ordering, Ants got the top 5 absolutely right.

[haybale97]

. Love this.


I haven't seen nearly as many films as I did last year but I will most definitely be participating again this year.

[clayj41]

With only a two day work week because of Christmas, I intend to knock out the following:

Big Hero 6
Foxcatcher
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
The Imitation Game
Into the Woods
Unbroken

I may also get around to watching Big Eyes and The Skeleton Twins. Looks like I'll have to wait on the wide releases of Selma and American Sniper.

[bartender_man]

Love this thread! Look forward to the results!

[bartender_man]

Originally Posted by clayj41

With only a two day work week because of Christmas, I intend to knock out the following:

Big Hero 6
Foxcatcher
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
The Imitation Game
Into the Woods
Unbroken

I may also get around to watching Big Eyes and The Skeleton Twins. Looks like I'll have to wait on the wide releases of Selma and American Sniper.

Need to see most of those as well. Don't bother with the Hobbit tho, it's god awful

[BotheLaneFan]

Shall I stump for my favorite in here or the movie thread? I've been able to successfully Rock the Vote! for three of five winners and I'd like to keep it going.

[hailtopitt]

Originally Posted by clayj41

As a frame of reference, here are the top 10 lists for the last five years:

2009
2010
2011
2012
2013

wow 2010 was a great fucking year for movies

[clayj41]

Originally Posted by bartender_man

Need to see most of those as well. Don't bother with the Hobbit tho, it's god awful

I have to see it. And I legitimately enjoyed the first two.


Off to watch a double screening of Foxcatcher and The Imitation Game in about an hour.

Originally Posted by BotheBOFan

Shall I stump for my favorite in here or the movie thread? I've been able to successfully Rock the Vote! for three of five winners and I'd like to keep it going.

Isn't your favorite The Interview at this point? I don't see it having much of an impact.

[BotheLaneFan]

Originally Posted by clayj41

I have to see it. And I legitimately enjoyed the first two.


Off to watch a double screening of Foxcatcher and The Imitation Game in about an hour.



Isn't your favorite The Interview at this point? I don't see it having much of an impact.

I'm probably going Guardians of the Galaxy this year, but I'm not 100%.

This year SUCKED so hard.

[clayj41]

Originally Posted by BotheBOFan

I'm probably going Guardians of the Galaxy this year, but I'm not 100%.

This year SUCKED so hard.

That's my #1.

And yeah, this year has been pretty awful. I've got a lot to watch yet, but I don't hold out much hope.

[BotheLaneFan]

Originally Posted by clayj41

That's my #1.

And yeah, this year has been pretty awful. I've got a lot to watch yet, but I don't hold out much hope.

Big Hero 6 - Fucking awesome.
Foxcatcher - Ok I guess.
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies - No desire, probably sucks.
The Imitation Game - Haven't seen.
Into the Woods - I h8 Meryl Streep.
Unbroken - AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH women can't do nothin wright.

[clayj41]

I actually snuck in Big Hero 6 on Christmas Eve. It was aight.

[bartender_man]

Originally Posted by BotheBOFan

I'm probably going Guardians of the Galaxy this year, but I'm not 100%.

This year SUCKED so hard.

Guardians was great! Normally I don't like those kind of movies but that one was awesome

[Lee3691]

I've see enough of the films (with time to catch up) that I'll try & participate this year too

[clayj41]

Originally Posted by Lee3691

I've see enough of the films (with time to catch up) that I'll try & participate this year too

The more the merrier!

I'm at 32 presently. I'll probably get my list up to around 50 before our voting cutoff, but there's real only about 5 or 6 that I consider "must see" at this point.

[thebestauntie]

I'm at 9 movies so far for 2014, I should be able to get at least 15 by February 20th and actually participate this year. I hated that I didn't participate last year.

[thebridge15]

probably not gonna stan for anything this year, maybe grand budapest

[clayj41]

Originally Posted by thebridge15

probably not gonna stan for anything this year, maybe grand budapest

I re-watched it again on New Year's Day, and it just doesn't do it for me. I LOVE Wes Anderson, but it's probably my least favorite of his directorial efforts.

[bartender_man]

Just checked the list for last year and there was some really awesome movies on that list. I don't think this past year has been as good.

[clayj41]

Originally Posted by bartender_man

Just checked the list for last year and there was some really awesome movies on that list. I don't think this past year has been as good.

2014 was a dud.

[AlpineValley804]

I guess it was due time for a "4" year to suck.

1954 - Awesome.
1964 - Don't know of many 64 movies, but it has Strangelove.
1974 - Epically amazing year.
1984 - Fantastic
1994 - Epically amazing year
2004 - Very strong year
2014 - Poop

[clayj41]

Originally Posted by AlpineValley804

I guess it was due time for a "4" year to suck.

1954 - Awesome.
1964 - Don't know of many 64 movies, but it has Strangelove.
1974 - Epically amazing year.
1984 - Fantastic
1994 - Epically amazing year
2004 - Very strong year
2014 - Poop

Interesting trend. Outside of you identifying that 1964 saw the release of the greatest film ever, it appears to have been somewhat of a down year itself. At the same time, Goldfinger, A Hard Day's Night, and Mary Poppins were released. A Fistful of Dollars also came out in Italy that year.

I'm also not the biggest fan of 1984, but there's no denying its impact on pop culture.

[clayj41]

Just a reminder, lists are due one month from today. Happy watching!

[clayj41]

For whatever reason, multiple lists trickled in today.


REMINDER: Final submissions are due by noon EST on Friday, February 20, 2015.