When it comes to movies, I’ve watched a lot of films from some of the best. I’ve seen a good amount of Christopher Nolan movies (even though I just watched Interstellar for the first time), I’ve seen all of Martin Scorsese’s films, and have watched every single M. Night Shyamalan horror/thriller that he has put out, for better or worse. But, one director I hadn't seen every single film for was Wes Anderson. 

Granted, I had seen plenty of them before. Fantastic Mr. Fox, Moonrise Kingdom, and The Grand Budapest Hotel were some of my favorite films back when I was a teenager and they still stand out as awesome picks. Because I’ve been trying to rejuvenate my life with some amazing movies, though, I decided to watch every single Anderson movie so far – and I had some thoughts. 

In celebration of Asteroid City releasing, here is what I thought of every Wes Anderson movie – starting from the very beginning. 

To Be Honest, Bottle Rocket And Rushmore Were Forgettable In Comparison To Anderson’s Later Films

Yeah, these two didn’t stand out to me as much, if we’re being honest. 

Bottle Rocket was based on a short that Anderson did two years prior, and while the introduction of the Wilson brothers was great for Hollywood, I genuinely, for the life of me, don’t understand why this was the feature that made Wes Anderson famous. 

It’s a very simple movie on the surface level, and for a feature directorial debut, it’s great, but it pales in comparison to many of his other films that he directed later on. 

The same goes for Rushmore. While it was also a great introduction to Jason Schwartzman and the beginning of Bill Murray appearing in many Anderson movies, nothing about it really stood out to me. The performances were great, and the cinematography was always fantastic, but other than that, I won’t be re-watching it. 

But The Royal Tenenbaums Was The First One That Stood Out To Me

I had never seen The Royal Tenenbaums until recently, and I regret it! This movie is a ton of fun and I can understand why many people consider it one of Anderson’s best so far. The story, written by both Anderson and Owen Wilson, is hilarious, and I look at this movie sort of as the beginning of Anderson starting to play with colors and cinematography a lot more than his previous two. 

This film is where we really start to see the “Anderson touch,” as I call it, where you just know it’s directed by him from only a trailer. You don’t even need to be told. And with a cast that features the brilliant talents of actors such as Danny Glover, Gene Hackman, Angelica Huston, and more? It’s a recipe for success. 

The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou Deserved More Love At The Box Office

To be honest, The Life Aquatic of Steve Zissou is such an underrated gem. Bill Murray stars in this film, alongside a stellar cast of Owen Wilson, Angelica Huston, Jeff Goldblum – even the talented Cate Blanchett. 

I can’t understand why this film didn’t do well at the box office, because it has all the makings of a true original – but at least it has become a cult classic years later. Maybe it's because it was competing with other big films at the time, like Meet the Fockers or Ocean’s Twelve, but this should have gotten so much more love. 

The Brothers Of The Darjeeling Limited Were The Best Part Of The Movie

The Darjeeling Limited was one of my least favorites, and to be honest, that’s mainly because I personally didn’t connect with the story. The cinematography was outstanding, as per Wes Anderon’s shots, as he always seems to have the best ones in the game of filmmaking. But, the story…it was just sort of “meh,” to me. 

However, what I will say is that The Darjeeling Limited did an excellent job with its main three actors, Jason Schwartzman, Adrien Brody, and Owen Wilson. These three as the brothers was top-ten casting for all the dramedies out there, because they made it look so natural, as if they really were related. Their chemistry was some of the best I’ve seen in an Anderson film, and I would gladly view all three together in another movie at some point. 

I’ve Seen Fantastic Mr. Fox Before – And It’s Truly The Best Stop-Motion Animated Film Out There

I could go on for hours about how much I love Fantastic Mr. Fox. I’ve already talked about it in my best stop-motion animation list because it’s genuinely one of the most beautiful stop-motion movies ever. 

Man, this movie never gets old. There’s something new that you discover about it every time you watch. The voice-acting was done exceptionally well, and every frame had a purpose and a meeting. Animation isn’t just a genre – it’s art form, and this is a beautiful example of that. Truly, one of the best stop-motion movies. 

Moonrise Kingdom Is Just As Delightful As It Was When I First Watched It

I adore this movie. Moonrise Kingdom is one of those films that you watch when you’re having a bad day and you need something to make you smile. At its core, it’s a sweet love story that incorporates aspects of childhood fantasies, such as running away and looking for a new life. 

What really makes it such a great movie is the two child actors who carry this film – Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward. Yes, the cast is full of talented actors and actresses, but these two were the heart of the movie and were the reasons I watched it as a thirteen-year-old – and now, they're the reasons I watched it as a 24 year old. 

The Grand Budapest Hotel Is A Lot Funnier Than I Remember It Being

This movie had no business being this funny. 

I saw The Grand Budapest Hotel in a theater with my dad, and I don’t know if it’s the fact that I’ve grown up since seeing it, or my sense of humor has matured, but this movie was so freaking funny. 

Specifically, the main star of the film, Ralph Fiennes, and Tony Revolori, were two of the best parts. Their scenes in the film made me laugh my butt off and their comedic timing was on point. They really did make it that much more entertaining. 

Isle Of Dogs Isn’t As Great As Mr. Fox – But There’s A Lot To Love About It

Isle of Dogs is Anderson’s second stop-motion film – and I’ll be honest and say I don’t enjoy it nearly as much as I did Fantastic Mr. Fox. I think it’s really because the movie felt as if it was trying to draw inspiration from one of my favorite directors of all time, Hayao Miyazaki, with its themes, but it didn’t quite pin it down story-wise. 

However, there’s still a lot to love about it. The voice cast is outstanding, with actors that I’m sure everyone has heard of and will adore hearing in this movie, like Bryan Cranston, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Murray (of course) and way more. The animation is a heck of a lot of fun – maybe not as whimsical and enjoyable as Mr. Fox, but there’s still plenty to enjoy. 

The French Dispatch Almost Fit Too Much Into Its Near Two Hour Time-Frame

I wanted to adore The French Dispatch so badly. Don’t get me wrong, the movie itself has a lot going for it, including the amazing French Dispatch cast, as well as its incredible score, but there's so much in this story that it’s sort of hard to follow. 

It was difficult to keep up with the insane number of names, storylines, and so much more that this movie had to offer. I think it would have been better if the film was just a tad longer, but within this timeframe there was enough space to enjoy everything.

I’m Excited To Finally Get To See Asteroid City

That being said, after this binge of Anderson movies, I can say I’m looking forward to Asteroid City. The movie, again, has a star-studded cast, with a story that is genuinely interesting, so I’m eager to see where it goes. 

What do you love the most about the director? Now all I need to do is get on TikTok and hop on that Wes Anderson trend before it goes out of style. 

More so than with any other living filmmaker, you immediately know when you are watching Wes Anderson movies. The auteur has developed a trademark style, color palette, cinematography, and tone for his various movies over the years. This unique form of visual storytelling has led to some of the most inventive and iconic shots in modern cinema

As part of our partnership with AMC Theatres, which selected Asteroid City as an Artisan film, and where you can now purchase tickets to see the film on the big screen, we’ve decided to go back through his first 10 movies and pick out the shots that best represent the director’s iconic style. Many planning sessions, dance parties, and melodramatic moments went into the making of this list, so please enjoy. 

Bottle Rocket (1996) - Planning The Robbery

Though he had not yet fully developed the style for which he is now known, you can see traces of what was to come in Wes Anderson’s 1996 crime comedy, Bottle Rocket, which he wrote alongside Owen Wilson, one of his most prolific collaborators. This is best illustrated in the scene in which Dignan (Wilson), Anthony Adams (Luke Wilson), and Bob Mapplethorpe (Robert Musgrave) are planning the film’s robbery.

Planning sequences would go on to become a major component of Anderson’s work in the years to come, so it’s fun to see the genesis of this element in his debut film.

Rushmore (1998) - The Revenge Montage

Anderson continued to evolve his style with his 1998 sophomore effort, Rushmore, a movie about an eccentric teenager named Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) who goes to war with his mentor, Herman Blume (Bill Murray), after they both fall in love with the same woman, played by Olivia Williams.

The director has long used non-orchestral songs in some of his biggest scenes, and that’s the case in the “Revenge Montage” in Rushmore, where Max gets back at Herman in their petty feud. The entire sequence, which is set to The Who’s “A Quick One While He’s Away,” is worth a watch, but the shot of the teenager walking in slow motion out of an elevator after carrying out his revenge is classic.

The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) - Window Scene In Prologue

The Royal Tenenbaums, released in 2001, feels like the beginning of the style we now most associate with Wes Anderson. The distinct color palettes, the multitude of symmetrical shots, and the quirky tone are all on full display in this movie about an estranged father (Gene Hackman) attempting to reconnect with his family.

There’s a moment in which the younger versions of Margot and Chas Tenenbaum look out windows at their father down below. The contrast of red bricks, gray stone, pink walls, and white art on the walls sets a visual tone that is carried throughout the rest of the movie.

The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2004) - In Awe Of The Jaguar Shark

In The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Anderson takes the visual toolbox he constructed in his three previous films to create a career-defining experience, one that tells the story of an oceanographer (Bill Murray) searching for the “Jaguar Shark” that ate his best friend, but the underwater encounter with the fabled beast is the best.

There’s a moment in which Zissou, who is in the center of the frame, is being embraced by everyone in a cramped submarine as they find the elusive Jaguar Shark. Both triumphant and melancholic, the sequence, thanks in part to Sigur Ros’ beautiful “Staralfur,” creates an unforgettable moment.

The Darjeeling Limited (2007) - The Funeral Scene

His fifth movie, 2007’s The Darjeeling Limited, takes audiences along with three brothers – Peter (Adrien Brody), Francis (Owen Wilson), and Jack (Jason Schwartzman) as they go on a spiritual journey through India.

There’s a shot part way through the movie where the brothers leave a funeral for a young boy in one of the most impressive tracking shots of Anderson’s career. But the moment gets even better when the trio get into a car and the movie immediately cuts to a flashback from their father’s funeral a year earlier. Not only does the cut show how far they’ve come, it also creates a dizzying visual experience.

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) - Mr. Fox Meets The Wolf

The filmmaker’s 2009 stop-motion adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr. Fox is a true delight and one of his best achievements. The animated movie, with its warm colors, outstanding cinematography, and tremendous story, gives plenty of reasons to be so well remembered.

The moment that always comes back is the scene in which Mr. Fox (George Clooney) has a near-religious experience when he meets a wolf in the wild. It’s a short scene, but a powerful one nonetheless, and is capped off with a shot of both the wild wolf and not-so-wild fox sharing a moment of solidarity with their paws raised towards the heavens.

Moonrise Kingdom (2012) - The Treehouse

Released in 2012, Moonrise Kingdom tells the story of a young boy and girl who run away together to an isolated beach in an attempt to escape their guardians and peers. The central coming-of-age story is a grand exploration of young love, rebellion, and freedom, but there are a lot of secondary characters that lead to some signature Wes Anderson moments.

One of the quirkiest of these shots shows a treehouse built by a group of Khaki Scouts at the top of the tallest tree you’ve ever seen. Scout Master Randy Ward (Edward Norton) is not amused or excited about the dangerous shelter several stories in the sky, but for the viewer it creates an unforgettable moment.

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) - Jail Escape

Some would argue that The Grand Budapest Hotel is the most Wes Anderson movie of his career, and there’s a case to be made for that. The movie, which centers on the famed concierge, Monsieur Gustave H. (Ralph Feinnes), of a mountainside resort, is full of great miniatures, tracking shots, a great deal of symmetry, and a great score.

We could talk about a number of scenes, however, the one that sticks out the most is the jailbreak scene in which Gustave and his fellow prisoners attempt to escape. It’s cartoonish, meticulous, and incredibly charming, which are probably the best ways to describe Anderson’s work.

Isle Of Dogs (2018) - The Sushi Scene

In 2018, Anderson released his second stop-motion animated movie, Isle of Dogs, in which the mayor of a Japanese town banned all dogs and sent them to a remote island. We could go on about all the gorgeous shots and sequences throughout this charming movie, but the sushi scene is the scène du jour.

Though the sequence does end with someone eating a poisoned piece of sushi, the events that precede it are beautifully crafted and animated. The combination of violence and artistry creates this very Wes Anderson experience, one that is so precise and well-crafted.

The French Dispatch (2021) - The Sentence Diagram

Anderson’s 2021 anthology film, The French Dispatch, brings to life three stories from the final issue of the French foreign bureau of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun newspaper. Each of the main segments are full of wonderful moments, but the most Wes Anderson shot of the whole film takes place in one of the portions following the staff of the newspaper.

The moment in question shows Alumna (Elisabeth Moss), the French Dispatch’s copy editor, working on what could be the most impressive sentence diagram the world has ever seen. It’s unnecessarily complicated, but that has sort of become Anderson’s charm in recent years. 

We can’t wait to see what Wes Anderson has in store for us with Asteroid City, whether it’s crafting wonderfully composed shots of characters in symmetrical settings, wonderful musical numbers, or anything else we covered. If you’re just as intrigued and excited, you’ll probably want to go ahead and purchase your tickets before you’re out of time.

Asteroid City opens in theaters on June 23, 2023.  

Chances are if you don’t recognize Ralph Fiennes' name, you have likely seen at least one of his movies. The acclaimed British actor has almost 100 credits to his name, and he has worked across all genres. From massive franchises, like Harry Potter and James Bond, to Oscar favorites, like The English Patient and Conclave, to fun genre work like The Menu, he’s done a bit of everything, and a lot of it is worth seeking out and watching. So, for the actor who has seemingly done it all, we’ve compiled a list of his best films.

The Harry Potter Movies (2005 - 2011)

Ralph Fiennes almost turned down the role of Voldemort, and thank goodness he didn’t, because he went on to bring one of the most infamous villains in history to life. From 2005 to 2011, the actor portrayed Lord Voldemort in four of the Harry Potter movies (Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix and Deathly Hallows Parts One and Two), with a sinister and snake-like quality. He was truly terrifying and unrecognizable in the role, and to this day, I’m still terrified of Voldemort because of the actor’s haunting performance.

The Harry Potter series remains one of the most beloved and formative stories of modern times with one of the greatest casts, and Fiennes helped shape that by playing he-who-shall-not-be-named.

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Conclave (2024)

Deemed one of the best movies of 2024, Conclave is a cinematically gorgeous movie from Edward Berger about choosing a new pope. Ralph Fiennes leads the stacked cast as Cardinal Lawrence, the man tasked with overseeing the conclave. What follows is a pulpy and intense thriller of sorts about these men trying to choose the new leader of the Catholic church, and it’s irresistible and wickedly entertaining.

As our perfect review of Conclave and Ralph Fiennes 2025 Oscar nomination proves, this film 100% belongs on his list of best work.

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The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) 

The Grand Budapest Hotel is one of Wes Anderson’s best movies, and at the center of this candy-colored symmetrical world is Fiennes's charismatic M. Gustave, the concierge of the hotel. The film follows Gustave and his lobby boy Zero as they embark on an epic, hilarious and beautiful adventure because of a painting called “Boy with Apple.”

In true Wes Anderson fashion, Fiennes is joined by an epic ensemble cast that includes Tony Revolori, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Jude Law, Saoirse Ronan, Tilda Swinton, Owen Wilson and more. It’s truly a lovely movie with a stellar cast that is led by Fiennes’ unforgettable performance.

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Schindler’s List (1993) 

This film follows Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) a businessman who runs a factory that is staffed by Jews. When World War II begins, and the Nazis begin exterminating Jewish people, he starts protecting them, and ends up saving the lives of many. Fiennes plays Amon Goeth in the film, a Nazi work camp commandant. This film was one of the actor’s first roles, and it’s still remembered as one of his best films to this day.

In 1993, Schindler’s List won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Steven Spielberg; it was also nominated for 12 Oscars total. These nominations included nods in the acting categories for both Fiennes and Neeson. Fiennes also won a BAFTA for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his work in this extremely impactful film.

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The Menu (2022)

As our review of The Menu states in its headline, this movie is a “bold and delicious class warfare satire” in the form of a horror movie. Led by Anya Taylor Joy, Nicholas Hoult and Ralph Fiennes, the story follows a couple (Joy and Hoult) as they venture to an island to visit the restaurant of an acclaimed chef (Fiennes).

Speaking specifically about Fiennes, his character Julian Slowik is quietly powerful in a horrifying way, and that’s in great part because of the actor's performance. And seeing him verbally spar with Joy’s character as she uncovers the horrors of this exclusive restaurant is remarkable.

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Coriolanus (2011) 

Fiennes made his directorial debut and starred in the modern adaptation of William Shakespeare’s play Coriolanus. The story is based on the Roman leader Caius Marcius Coriolanus, who is banished from Rome and teams up with his enemy to plot revenge on the city. Gerard Butler and Brian Cox also joined Fiennes in the film playing Tullus Aufidius and Menenius, respectively.

The director and star of this film also has a rich history with Shakespeare. On Broadway, he starred in Hamlet and Faith Healer. He’s also been in productions of The Tempest, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Richard II, and Julius Caesar, among others.

After directing Coriolanus Fiennes went on to direct two other films. In 2013 he released The Invisible Woman, and in 2018 he directed The White Crow.

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The English Patient (1996)  

The English Patient is a sweeping story told between two times connected by Fiennes' character Almásy. We meet his character toward the end of World War II, however, he’s almost unrecognizable because he was badly burned in a plane crash. The story then flashes back to before the crash, and we see Almásy in an intense affair with Katharine Clifton. Starring alongside Fiennes is Willem Dafoe, Kristin Scott Thomas, Juliette Binoche and Colin Firth.

The film won Best Picture along with nine other Academy Awards in 1997. Fiennes was also nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role. The English Patient is definitely a big sweeping epic, and it makes sense why it’s one of the roles Fiennes is well-known for.

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In Bruges (2008)  

Fiennes joins Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson in Martin McDonagh’s dark comedy about two hitmen who are stuck in Bruges. Farrell and Gleeson play the two hitmen. Fiennes plays Harry, their very, very angry boss who ends up going to meet the two because they aren’t listening to his directions. This film marked McDonagh’s first feature film as a writer and director. He has since gone on to make the critically acclaimed films Seven Psychopaths, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and The Banshees of Inisherin.

In Bruges is simultaneously hilarious and bleak, a signature tone for McDonagh films, with quippy fast dialogue and epic action, and it’s all held together by outstanding performances from Fiennes, Farrell and Gleeson.

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The End Of The Affair (1999)  

This film tells the story of a long affair and the mystery as to why Sarah Miles suddenly ended it. The story is told from the perspective of her lover Maurice Bendrix (Ralph Fiennes), and he begins the film saying “This is a diary of hate,” which I think sets the scene appropriately. Throughout the film, Bendrix works to solve the mystery of why Sarah left him.

Joining Fiennes is Julianne Moore as Sarah and Stephen Rea as her husband Henry Miles. The story is based on the 1951 novel of the same name by Graham Greene and was praised for its performances, specifically by Moore and Fiennes.

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The Constant Gardener (2005) 

Following the murder of Tessa Quayle, her husband Justin Quayle goes on an odyssey to figure out who did it. The story takes Justin across three continents and reveals many secrets, and he’ll do everything he can to uncover what happened to his wife.

The film was directed by Fernando Meirelles and starred Fiennes as Justin, and Rachel Weisz as Tessa. The Constant Gardener was also critically acclaimed earning three Academy Award nominations, and an Oscar for Rachel Weisz.

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James Bond Movies: Skyfall, Spectre, And No Time To Die (2012-2021)

Ralph Fiennes took over the moniker of M from Judi Dench in Skyfall, and ran MI6 through the end of Daniel Craig’s tenure as 007 in the James Bond movies. The actor behind M saw Craig’s Bond all the way to the end, and said he thought the No Time To Die ending was a “bold and strong decision.”

Much like 007, there have been many actors to play M, including Bernard Lee, Robert Brown and Dame Judi Dench. A fun fact about this character: Fiennes' M is the first head of MI6 whom we also know the name of, Gareth Mallory.

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Red Dragon (2002)  

Fiennes took on a darker role as the serial killer Francis Dolarhyde in the prequel to the critically acclaimed film The Silence of the Lambs. The story follows Will Graham as he tries to solve a murder by going to the notorious serial killer Hannibal Lecter for help.

Along with Fiennes as the terrifying Tooth Fairy, Anthony Hopkins returned as Hannibal Lecter, and the two were joined by Edward Norton, Harvey Keitel, Mary-Louise Parker, and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

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The Lego Batman Movie (2017) 

Although Voldemort is in The Lego Batman Movie, Ralph Fiennes does not reprise his role as the dark lord, he instead plays Batman’s butler and right-hand man, Alfred Pennyworth. He brings his suave voice to the iconic character that helps Batman get over his teenage angst, and makes sure he gets some sun every now and again. This movie is a hilarious and heartfelt take on the character of Batman, and tells the story of Bruce Wayne on a journey to find friends.

Joining Fiennes is an epic ensemble cast that includes Will Arnett as Batman, Michael Cera as Robin, Rosario Dawson as Batgirl, Zach Galifianakis as the Joker, and a slew of other famous funny people making up the massive group of villains trying to defeat Batman.

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Quiz Show (1994) 

Directed and produced by Robert Redford, Quiz Show tells the story of the Twenty-One quiz show scandals from the 1950s. The film follows Fiennes’ character Charles Van Doren, a contestant on the show who fell from grace after fixing a loss.

The film was nominated for four Academy Awards, including best supporting actor for Paul Scofield. Along with Fiennes and Scofield, John Turturro, Rob Morrow and Hank Azaria also starred in the film.

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Ralph Fiennes's career truly is long and legendary, and he’s not slowing down. With a filmography that spans nearly four decades and features massive IP projects and smaller prestige films, he’s proven time and time again that he’s a staple of the film industry, and he continues to do that with the projects he takes on.

Wes Anderson spent decades developing a signature style. It’s easy to recognize his movies by their color schemes, costumes, and tone. His collection of movies are all artistically astounding and narratively fascinating, and the best Anderson movies have just as much substance as style, while a lot of them also have a whimsical nature, especially when it comes to the purity of love and the joy and heartbreak of life. 

These films touch the heart and excite the eyes and mind. They’re truly artistic in a way so synonymous with the filmmaker, because everyone connects with his films in a different way. His best movies are subjective, but I ranked these based on their style, story, and general ability to incite delight. 

Let’s look at the best Wes Anderson movies. 

11. The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

Jason Schwartzman, Owen Wilson, and Adrien Brody play estranged brothers who reunite on The Darjeeling Limited train. Their father died about a year ago but his baggage and belongings remain with them. Secretly, Francis (Owen Wilson) plots to force a reunion between them and their mother (Anjelica Huston).

The Darjeeling Limited deals with a grieving family who can’t let the past go. The movie contains most of Anderson’s trademark themes, cinematography, and cast. It’s entertaining, imaginative, and beautifully designed, as expected from a Wes Anderson movie, but it just doesn’t have the same inventive, dreamlike quality as some of his other films. 

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10. The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2004)

Bill Murray plays Steve Zissou in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. The film gives tribute to French oceanographer Jacques Cousteau while also respectfully parodying him. It features an all-star cast that includes Cate Blanchett, Anjelica Huston, Owen Wilson, and Jeff Goldblum, and Anderson co-wrote this one with Noah Baumbach. Steve Zissou plans to document his hunt for a jaguar shark that ate his friend, and the crew along for Zissou’s journey includes a man claiming to be his son, Ned (Owen Wilson), and a pregnant reporter, Jane (Cate Blanchett).

Often, the director blurs the line between fable and reality, and this movie fits right into that fantastic realm. It’s outlandish, fun, and bizarre—which is kind of expected with a movie about an oceanographer and his crew. The only issue I have with it is that it doesn’t pack a big emotional punch like some of Anderson’s other films. 

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9. Isle Of Dogs (2018)

Isle of Dogs is a stop motion animated film featuring an amazing cast that includes the voices of Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Bob Balaban, and Greta Gerwig, with Courtney B. Vance acting as the narrator. In a futuristic Japan, Mayor Kobayashi (Kunichi Nomura) and his followers have had a long hatred for dogs. Therefore, when a canine disease infects the animals, he jumps at the opportunity to isolate them on a trash-filled island. 

The first one sent there is Spot (Liev Schreiber), the dog of Kobayashi’s ward and nephew Atari (Koyu Rankin). Six months later, Atari hijacks a plane and goes to this trash island, now called Isle of Dogs, to find Spot. He’s joined on his search by Chief (Bryan Cranston), Rex (Edward Norton), and their crew.

This is Anderson’s second animated production; his first was Fantastic Mr. Fox. He and his crew create an insanely inventive world, both through visuals and storytelling, and this even comes across beautifully in the trailer. Cranston’s ability to add an edge with his voice made him the perfect choice for a tough, stray dog. Isle of Dog is wonderful, and it might have ranked higher on the list if it had a more exciting resolution. Everything got resolved a little too quickly, without much build up or explanation. 

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8. Bottle Rocket (1996)

Bottle Rocket is Anderson’s first feature film, based on his short film of the same name, which started his long partnership with Owen and Luke Wilson. Anthony (Luke Wilson) has just checked himself out of a voluntary mental hospital, and his friend Dignan (Owen Wilson) wants them to go on a crime spree. However, they don’t know much about being real criminals.

This is his first film, so of course it’s far from perfect. However, it highlights his film evolution, especially in terms of his visual and writing style. Bottle Rocket very much has some signature Anderson elements, but in a different package from his current aesthetic, and without a Bill Murray cameo. 

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7. The French Dispatch (2021)

The French Dispatch is a collection of short articles that appear in the magazine of the same name. The film has another fantastic cast, which includes Timothée Chalamet, Bill Murray, Léa Seydoux, Frances McDormand, Benicio Del Toro, and Jeffrey Wright. 

Each of the magazine’s stories discuss some topic important to the issue’s subject, but they also reveal the writers’ hearts and souls. This film says a lot about its subject matter and some of it’s very profound, such as a story's ability to transform not only the readers but the writers. Whereas many of Anderson’s movies have a universal appeal, The French Dispatch feels very specific to a certain type of film audience. This isn’t necessarily a fault of the film, but it may cause a disconnect between a general audience and the movie. 

6. Asteroid City (2023)

Asteroid City tells two stories: the one within the play shown in the film, and one about the making of the play. It’s another Anderson film distinct to his aesthetic, and features some of his films’ common themes, such as loss, first love, loneliness, creation, and young geniuses. The movie includes many of his regular collaborators--Edward Norton, Jason Schwartzman, Adrien Brody, and Willem Dafoe. The film also has new actresses and actors to his movies, including Scarlett Johansson, Maya Hawke, and Tom Hanks.

This is a playful film that’s not afraid of some fun, but outlandish, twists. It’s unique and features some of the best acting in one of his movies. Schwartzman may be at his best here. The costumes and cinematography are beautiful with this clear style.  There’s a lot to admire,  but it’s just not as emotionally riveting and entertaining as some of his other films. 

Rent or buy Asteroid City on Amazon.

5. The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

In The Royal Tenenbaums, Richie (Luke Wilson), Chas (Ben Stiller), and Margot (Gwyneth Patrow) are genius siblings raised by equally extraordinary parents, Royal (Gene Hackman) and Etheline (Anjelica Huston). Royal has created disdain and distance between him, his children, and his ex-wife through being a generally bad father and husband. After Royal learns that Etheline plans to remarry her accountant, Henry (Danny Glover), he hatches a plan to get back in her and the children’s lives.

This tale includes Anderson’s usual collaborators: Anjelica Huston, Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson, Billy Murray, and more, but with the added star power of Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Stiller, and Gene Hackman. The new blood takes his usual dysfunctional family, whimsicalness, cinematography, and colorful costumes to the next level. It’s a superbly written and acted movie. 

Rent or buy The Royal Tenenbaum on Amazon. 

4. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

The Grand Budapest Hotel involves the adventures of concierge M. Gustave (Ralph Fiennes), bellhop Zero (Tony Revolori), Zero’s girlfriend Agatha (Saoirse Ronan), and an inherited painting. Throughout their adventures, the three try to escape one of M. Gustavo’s dead former lover’s family, controlled by Dmitri (Adrien Brody) and hired assassin Jopling (Willem Dafoe).

Fiennes is the perfect choice for the quick witted, charming, and bit of an opportunist M. Gustavo. Revolori is equally delightful as his sidekick and protégé, and Saoirse Ronan adds her natural talent for playing brave and resourceful women. Wes Anderson and team clearly had a lot of fun making The Grand Budapest Hotel, and it comes across in the humor and tone of this film. It’s also one of his most successful movies.

Rent or buy The Grand Budapest Hotel on Amazon Prime.

3. Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

Fantastic Mr. Fox is a stop-motion animation movie with voice work by George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, and Willem Dafoe. Mr. Fox ( Clooney) makes a vow to his wife ( Streep) that, to ensure a safe life for them and their child, he will stop stealing from humans. Twelve fox years later, he has been living a reformed life but he’s unhappy. The temptations of going back to his wild fox ways are too much to deny.

Clooney’s smooth voice adds the perfect slyness to Mr. Fox. Anderson and crew excel in giving their own spin to Roald Dahl’s classic, and the film feels authentic to the director, but with the unique addition of stop-motion animation. The animated details are fascinating to watch; made only better by the enjoyable adventures of Mr. Fox, his family and friends. 

Rent or buy Fantastic Mr. Fox on Amazon. 

2. Rushmore (1998)

Jason Schwartzman made his film debut in Rushmore. Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson co-wrote this film, and it marked the first collaboration between Anderson and Bill Murray. In it, Max (Schwartzman) is an eccentric teen who participates in many extracurricular activities, instead of actually working on his grades, and forms a tight bond and friendship with multimillionaire Herman Blume (Murray). Eventually, both of them fall for elementary school teacher Rosemary (Olivia Williams). Herman begins secretly dating her, and when Max finds out, the two engage in petty revenge battles.

Rushmore is by far Anderson’s funniest film. It is hilarious to watch Max and Herman go head-to-head in very extreme, very funny ways. The whole dynamic between them is comical, but also endearing, because it’s clear why these two have bonded and value their relationship. This is Anderson’s second film, and it does a great job of introducing the world to his distinct voice, which gets stronger with each movie. 

Rent or buy Rushmore on Amazon.

1. Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

Moonrise Kingdom follows children Sam (Jared Gilman) and Suzy (Kara Hayward) as they run away together. Meanwhile, the adults are in hot pursuit as they deal with their own love stories that are falling apart. The cast includes Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, and Frances McDormand.

All the filmmaker’s films have a whimsical quality to them, and there isn’t anything much more whimsical than running away with the person you love. Gilman and Hayward bring a maturity to Sam and Suzy that makes their romance and love story feel just as compelling as any on-screen romance. Moonrise Kingdom is Wes Anderson at his best: a bit wacky, surreal, bold, witty, and aesthetically pleasing. 

Rent or buy Moonrise Kingdom on Amazon. 

It’s not easy picking one Wes Anderson movie that you believe is the best, because they’re all unique and represent a different strength of the filmmaker. However, each one of the top five films on this list showcases his distinct style, masterful storytelling, and a sense of wonder, even through melancholy. They all encompass many of Anderson’s best qualities as a filmmaker. 

Saoirse Ronan is one of the most critically acclaimed young actresses of the last decade or so, and she is only 25 years old. In 2020, Saoirse Ronan earned her fourth Oscar nomination for her role as Jo March in Little Women. Three of those Oscar nominations have been for Best Actress in a Lead Role. Ronan is only the second youngest actress to receive two nominations by 21, and three by 24. With so many accolades at such a young age, it’s clear that Saoirse Ronan has a major career in movies ahead.

Ronan began acting in 2003. Her first acting gig was on an Irish medical drama called The Clinic. However, it wasn’t until 2007’s Atonement that Hollywood and the British Academy started to take notice of this star in the making. She earned her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Role in Atonement, and her career just escalated since then.

Saoirse Ronan easily balances appearing in indie movies, big blockbusters, and passion projects. No matter what type of project Ronan decides to undertake, she excels with her exquisite execution. If you’re new to the brilliantly acted world of Saoirse Ronan, here are a few of her projects to check out.

Little Women

Little Women follows the March sisters Amy, Meg, Jo, and Beth as they deal with the Civil War and becoming young women. Greta Gerwig directed the latest adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved classic. Saoirse Ronan takes on the role of Jo March, the aspiring novelist who wants to make her own way in the world, without the confinement of marriage. Little Women’s cast includes Emma Watson, Eliza Scanlen, Timothee Chalamet, Laura Dern, Meryl Streep, and rising star Florence Pugh.

Saoirse Ronan gives Jo all the spunk, determination, and vulnerability that makes her such a beloved literary figure. Many have played Jo on the big screen prior to Ronan, but this is one of the best screen versions of Jo because of Ronan’s ability to communicate the barriers still faced by women. Little Women is currently still playing in theaters. It’ll be part of many theater’s Oscar Best Picture showcase on Feb 8. Little Women will likely be available to purchase digitally in March 2020.

Brooklyn

Brooklyn is a romantic historical drama about an Irish woman, Ellis (Saoirse Ronan), who moves to Brooklyn for work. While there, she falls in love with her life in America and a New Yorker named Tony (Emory Cohen). This makes Ellis torn between her homeland and her new life in New York. It’s based on Colm Tobin’s novel of the same name.

Saoirse Ronan was born in New York City, but her family moved back to Dublin when she was three, giving her both Irish and American roots. She spoke to Indiewire about relating to her character Ellis’ journey in Brooklyn. Saoirse Ronan often gives her whole heart to roles, but she likely gave even more of it in this relatable role. Brooklyn is a quiet movie with great performances by the entire cast, and especially Ronan. The film earned Ronan her first Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 2016. Brooklyn is available to buy or rent on most VOD services. Rent or purchase it HERE.

Ed Sheeran’s “Galway Girl” Music Video

“Galway Girl” is a song about falling in love with a girl from Galway, Ireland. The entire video acts as a tribute to the spirit of Ireland with Ed Sheeran and Saoirse Ronan pub-crawling through different bars on Grafton Street.

Ed Sheeran’s “Galway Girl” music video takes his perspective, so viewers see everything through his eyes. The video mainly focuses on Sheeran watching Ronan’s character and the spirit she brings to the night. It’s a fun video that shows Ronan in a much more playful role than most of her movie roles. Watch Ed Sheeran’s “Galway Girl” music video HERE.

Lady Bird

Lady Bird is Greta Gerwig, Saoirse Ronan, and Timothee Chalamet’s first film collaboration. Lady Bird follows the turbulent relationship between Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) and her mother Marion McPherson (Laurie Metcalf). Their similarities often put their relationship in a constant combative state. Lady Bird earned both actresses Academy Award nominations for Best Lead and Supporting Actress.

Ronan nails the self-involved but sympathetic teen role in Lady Bird. Both Christine and Marion make you gasp at some of their behavior and words, but you also understand their individual struggles and why it fractures this relationship. Lady Bird also shows how despite the fighting, these two characters really love each other. Saoirse Ronan and Metcalf give splendid performances. Lady Bird is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. Stream it HERE.

Hanna

Eric Bana, Cate Blanchett, and Saoirse Ronan star in Hanna, a movie about a young girl whose father trained her to become an assassin. Hanna is an action adventure movie that Joe Wright directed. In 2019, Amazon Prime Video released a series based on the movie that goes more into the origin of Hanna and her father.

Saoirse Ronan took martial arts classes to do her own stunts. She was a committed actress even as a teen. Along with making Hanna a complete badass, she gave the character some humanity that kept the character from being a soulless killing machine. Hanna is available to stream with a Cinemax subscription. Stream it HERE.

Loving Vincent

Loving Vincent is a completely hand drawn animation about the life and death of Vincent Van Gogh. The drawings of Loving Vincent mimic the famed painter’s actual post-impressionist style. The film is a fictionalized account of Van Gogh’s death told through the journey of Armand Roulin (Douglas Booth). He’s trying to deliver Vincent Van Gogh’s last letter to his brother. Armand’s journey makes him explore if Van Gogh’s death was murder or suicide.

Saoirse Ronan plays Marguerite Gachet, the daughter of Van Gogh’s doctor, Paul Gachet (Jerome Flynn). Marguerite and Van Gogh develop a friendship that makes Dr. Gachet worry about her being a distraction for Van Gogh and his art. Loving Vincent is a gorgeous animation that showcases the uncertainty of Van Gogh’s life and death. Even as an animated version of herself, Ronan gives the character depth. Loving Vincent is available on Hulu. Stream it HERE.

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Wes Anderson directed and wrote The Grand Budapest Hotel. It revolves around the adventures of M. Gustave (Ralph Fiennes) and Zero (Tony Revolori). The Grand Budapest Hotel has an all-star cast that includes Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, and Owen Wilson.

Saoirse Ronan plays Zero’s love interest Agatha in The Grand Budapest Hotel. The pair have a fun dynamic. Ronan also portrays Agatha as someone who is both clever and kind. The Grand Budapest Hotel is a unique, playful movie with beautiful cinematography. It’s available to buy or rent on most major streaming platforms like Amazon Prime.

How I Live Now

How I Live Now is set in an alternative universe where World War III is currently happening. An American named Daisy (Saoirse Ronan) goes to live with her English relatives. She starts to fall in love with her cousin, Edmond (George MacKay), but then their lives are thrown even further for a loop when a nuclear bomb hits. Daisy, Edmond, and her two younger cousins must try to survive in this new dangerous world.

How I Live Now is a bleak movie, but it captivates you from start to finish. This is mainly due to Saoirse Ronan’s lead role. She takes you through Daisy’s journey as a misfit teen to the only hope of survival for her and her cousins. How I Live Now includes a cast of some of the current biggest young stars. Besides Ronan and George MacKay, Tom Holland plays one of Daisy’s young cousins. How I Live Now is available to stream free on Tubi. Stream it HERE.

The Lovely Bones

Peter Jackson directed The Lovely Bones, a film adaptation of Alice Sebold’s bestselling novel of the same name. Saoirse Ronan stars alongside Stanley Tucci, Rachael Weisz, and Mark Wahlberg. Susie Salmon (Ronan) is murdered and her family falls apart. The Lovely Bones is told from Susie’s perspective as she lives in limbo watching her family and friends deal with the aftermath of her death.

Saoirse Ronan expertly breaks your heart in The Lovely Bones. The film is a look at what happens when a life is taken too soon, and the scars that can’t heal. The Lovely Bones really highlights the amazing acting potential that Saoirse Ronan had at such a young age. The movie is available to stream on Hulu. Stream it HERE.

Atonement

Saoirse Ronan plays the child version of Briony in Atonement. Briony is an aspiring writer who witnesses a crime and then accuses the wrong man of it. This tears her sister, Cecilia (Keira Knightley), and the man she loves, Robbie (James McAvoy), apart.

Atonement showcases how the lives of adults can be a confusing and scary place for a child. It also shows how one lie can destroy a life. Saoirse Ronan gives Briony youthful spirit with a touch of determination and cluelessness when it comes to being an adult. There are three different actresses playing Briony in Atonement, but Ronan definitely stands out the most for her unforgettable performance in the film. Atonement is available to stream with a Starz subscription. Stream it HERE.

Hozier’s “Chery Wine” Music Video

“Cherry Wine” is a song about a toxic relationship. It’s told from the perspective of someone who is dealing with an abusive significant other. Saoirse Ronan stars in the “Cherry Wine” video, and she plays a character abused by her male lover. The entire song and video is about domestic abuse.

Saoirse Ronan doesn’t utter one word in “Cherry Wine,” but she makes all her emotions come across in her facial expressions. Hozier and Ronan show how the intoxicating nature of love can keep people in a cycle of abuse. The song is beautiful and powerful, and the video matches it. Watch Hozier’s “Cherry Wine” HERE.

Watch the Academy Awards this Sunday to see if Saoirse Ronan takes home her first Academy Award. Later this year, Ronan will reunite with Wes Anderson in The French Dispatch. She’ll also star opposite Kate Winslet in Ammonite sometime in 2020. Based on solely on Ronan’s acting prowess, we’ll guess that she may earn another Oscar nomination for her performance in one of those films.

Aside from the well-known lead characters that have made him an onscreen icon, Jeff Goldblum also has a reputation for starring in smaller roles that often go overlooked in otherwise classic movies. He is that rare form of “that guy” in which when he surprises you by popping into frame, at least you can identify him.

Today, the lively 67-year-old has been everywhere since joining the MCU, hosting a Disney+ exclusive National Geographic docuseries, and reprising his role as Dr. Ian Malcolm in the second and upcoming third installment of the Jurassic World trilogy, inspiring us to look back on his eclectic, 40-plus-year filmography. With that in mind, we also ask the question, what is the best movie of Jeff Goldblum’s career?

10. Independence Day (1996)

Director Roland Emmerich’s UFO B-movie extravaganza was not the beginning of Jeff Goldblum’s foray into science fiction, but it certainly was for Will Smith. However, Big Willie would have never been able to prove himself as one of Earth’s greatest defenders against otherworldly forces if not for the discovery made by Goldblum’s character.

Independence Day stars Jeff Goldblum as New York satellite technician David Levinson, who discovers an alien plan to attack Earth and eventually joins a young military pilot (Will Smith) in its defense against the enemy. Goldblum would reprise the role in a 2016 sequel that was not as critically or commercially successful, but would not tarnish the legacy of as one of Roland Emmerich’s finest and most fun disaster movies.

9. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

Speaking of Jeff Goldblum and science fiction, the actor’s first encounter with aliens had far fewer explosions or Will Smith. Yet, the 1978 update of Invasion of the Body Snatchers from acclaimed filmmaker Philip Kaufman is considered one of the greatest horror remakes of all time.

Jeff Goldblum stars opposite Donald Sutherland, who plays a public health inspector who discovers that the odd change in behavior among citizens of San Francisco is the result of alien pods replacing human beings one-by-one. A handful of survivors must stay together and stay awake to avoid such a fate in this timeless, horrifying tale known for its powerful social commentary on the devastating effects of delusional paranoia.

8. The Big Chill (1983)

Believe it or not, there is another connection to science fiction with this humorous drama starring Jeff Goldblum. The Big Chill is the second directorial effort of the co-writer of Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, Lawrence Kasdan.

Jeff Goldblum is part of an ensemble cast of then thirty-somethings, including Glenn Close, William Hurt, and Kevin Kline, who play a group of former college friends reuniting after the death of a friend (an edited out, pre-fame Kevin Costner). Nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Picture, The Big Chill is an often tear-jerking story that begs a rewatch as an ‘80s time capsule.

7. The Right Stuff (1983)

You may have heard of The Right Stuff, the adaptation of Tom Wolfe’s book that chronicles the early development of the United States space program, which is apparently getting a reboot on National Geographic. However, you may not have realized that Jeff Goldblum, whose character does not have an official name, was in it.

Jeff Goldblum plays a recruiter tasked with inviting the country’s most skilled pilots to be the first American astronauts. The Right Stuff is Goldblum’s second collaboration with Invasion of the Body Snatchers director Philip Kaufman and his second film in 1983 alone to be nominated for Best Picture.

6. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

Jeff Goldlbum re-teamed with director Wes Anderson a decade after his role in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou for the visual mastery and bizarre storytelling that is The Grand Budapest Hotel. This colorful caper follows the adventures of hotel concierge Gustave (Ralph Fiennes) as told through the eyes of bell boy Zero (Tony Revolori).

As the moustachioed lawyer put in charge of the late Madame D.’s (Tilda Swinton) estate, it is no brainer why an actor with an eccentric personality like Jeff Goldblum would be perfect to star in the aggressively, but rewardingly, eccentric films of Wes Anderson. Fortunately, The Grand Budapest Hotel would not be their last collaboration.

5. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

After all his time spent battling aliens, this MCU adventure saw Jeff Goldblum technically playing one. Of course, while The Grandmaster in Thor: Ragnarok is not the actor’s first time playing an interplanetary being (1988 comedy Earth Girls are Easy), it is one of his most celebrated roles in recent memory.

The Grandmaster is the eccentric ruler of Sakaar who senselessly places random prisoners in deadly battles against his champion gladiator, Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), just as he does with Chris Hemsworth’s Asgardian hero, unaware of their history. Jeff Goldblum’s casting in this refreshing change of pace for Marvel’s Thor series from director Taika Waititi was praised even before Thor: Ragnarok was released, and is still fondly discussed years after.

4. Isle of Dogs (2018)

Like I said, Jeff Goldblum would collaborate with Wes Anderson again. In fact, it would be in the filmmaker’s direct follow-up to The Grand Budapest Hotel, this heartwarming stop-motion film with a homophonic title that sounds similar to the phrase “I love dogs.”

In Wes Anderson’s second animated feature, Isle of Dogs, Jeff Goldblum plays Duke, a motormouth husky banished with to a garbage-ridden island after Japan outlaw dogs. However, a young boy named Atari is dead set on finding his old furry friend Spots, prompting Duke and his friends to help him.

3. Annie Hall (1977)

Early into his career, Jeff Goldblum was already working with some of the most acclaimed filmmakers in Hollywood, including Woody Allen on the iconic comedy Annie Hall. However, this would also go down in history as one of the actor’s more obscure roles.

Despite its acclaim and famous Best Picture at the 1978 Oscars against Star Wars, Annie Hall should barely qualify for this list as Jeff Goldblum’s screen time only lasts a mere six seconds. Yet, his single quote spoken into a phone (“I forgot my mantra”) has upheld an aura of mystery that only makes the actor’s rather brief contribution to this classic all the more intriguing.

2. The Fly (1986)

Director David Cronenberg reimagined the 1958 B-movie of the same name into the body horror masterpiece, The Fly. Starring Jeff Goldblum as Seth Brundle, the inventor of a teleportation device that causes his slow transformation into a half-man/half-insect.

The Fly sees Jeff Goldblum in, arguably, his best performance, opposite his future one-time spouse Geena Davis, with the Oscar-winning makeup is so grotesque, you almost dread the anticipation of his next metamorphosis. It does exactly what a horror film should do: it keeps you afraid. Very afraid.

1. Jurassic Park (1993)

I may have a soft spot for Jeff Goldblum’s performance in The Fly, but in the grand scheme of things, it is not the greatest cinematic achievement in his filmography. That would come seven years later with this masterpiece of suspense and revolutionary technical mastery from director Steven Spielberg.

In Jurassic Park, based on the novel by Michael Crichton, Jeff Goldblum plays Dr. Ian Malcolm, who successfully predicts a theme park featuring real dinosaurs will have deadly consequences after he and a handful of other scientists are invited to preview the attraction. This undisputed classic of popcorn cinema would go on to become the highest grossing film ever for a good period of time and has spawned multiple sequels, a couple of which have seen Dr. Malcom’s welcome return.

Whether he is on screen for six seconds on the phone at a party, nursing his leg back to health while others run for their lives from a T. Rex, or covered in grotesque, insectoid makeup, Jeff Goldblum has made a great impression on Hollywood as one of its most beloved, and unusual, personalities. Wherever he may show up, whether we will expect it or not, we will gladly follow.

If you could visit any fictional location from a movie, what would it be? We recently found out that Tony Stark’s lakeside cabin from Avengers: Endgame is listed on Airbnb, and that got me thinking about all the fictional movie locations we can’t visit, or the ones that in the real world that don’t match their cinematic counterparts. But if you could visit these places, if you could pull them up on Airbnb and book a trip to visit them within the worlds of the movies they’re from, where would you go?

There are likely countless answers to this question, but some places that stand out above the rest. Now, for the purposes of this exercise, we are talking specific locations. Sure we all want to go to the worlds of Middle Earth and Narnia, but where in those worlds would we stay and what sight would be at the top of our ‘to see’ list? You can only pick one location per franchise, although different superheroes we'll count as different franchises.

Also, lest this list be entirely populated by spaceships, no transportation vessels are allowed. So no Enterprise, no Millennium Falcon, no Serenity and sadly, no cruise ship on Fhloston Paradise. In addition, no TV locations, but for the record, the answer is Arnold’s room from Hey Arnold! Anyway, here are 14 fictional movie locations that'd be great to visit.

Golden City, Wakanda – Black Panther

Following the wildly successful release of Black Panther, people were apparently trying to book trips to the fictional African nation of Wakanda from the film. This may have occurred in part because of people’s nonexistent knowledge of world geography, but also because of how appealing the technological utopia immaculately realized in the film was.

The opulence of Golden City is a sight to behold, but unlike the dehumanizing fictional urban centers in movies like Blade Runner or The Hunger Games, this Afrofuturist city is a place you’d actually want to visit. It is rich with culture and history, but does not eschew modern conveniences, like the fantastic public transportation on Maglev trains.

The Toretto House – The Fast And The Furious Franchise

Olive Garden’s slogan may be “When you’re here, you’re family” but that could also be the slogan on the Airbnb page for the Toretto house, because Dom only lets real family crash at his place. This is where the family comes together to have movie nights watching Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story and summer cookouts in the backyard.

It may not be as fancy as some of the other places on this list, but it’s homey and has character that you can’t fake. Plus, you can have any brew you want. I repeat, any brew you want. Folks, that is an incredible value, literally any brew you want… as long as it’s a Corona.

Bag End – The Hobbit/The Lord Of The Rings

This is one of the few places on this list that you can sort of visit. In New Zealand, where The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings movies were filmed, the Hobbiton set is now a tourist attraction. But, while awesome, that’s only a small sampling of the magic of Bag End that you would get in the real Middle Earth.

If you could visit the fictional Shire, you could enjoy the quaint, quiet life of living in a beautiful hole in the ground, surrounded by immaculate gardens and the greenest green you’ve ever seen. Sure, you’d have cousins trying to steal the place and every once in a while you’d be roped into adventures, but you can also throw a killer birthday party and enjoy some pipe-weed with the wizard who comes around and brings fireworks.

The Continental- The John Wick Franchise

There are 5-star hotels and then there is The Continental from the John Wick franchise. The level of service The Continental offers for members of the criminal underworld are beyond compare. Beyond just being a lavish hotel, the concierge offers a wide array of services, including weapons supply, an onsite tailor specializing in bulletproof garments and even medical treatment.

Sure, like all great hotels, The Continental is expensive. You have to pay for your stay in actual gold, but it’s worth it, as long as everyone follows the rules, of course. The world of John Wick is a fascinating one and we’d love to visit one of this establishment’s locations around the world. Oh yeah, and it’s dog friendly!

The Bathhouse-Spirited Away

Hayao Miyazaki’s films are full of fantastical locations we’d love to visit, but perhaps none is more iconic than the Bathhouse from his Oscar-winning 2001 film Spirited Away. The Bathhouse is located in the spirit world that 10-year-old Chihiro finds herself trapped in.

Owned by the witch Yubaba, the Bathhouse has lavish baths and dining areas. Here is where the spirits of the world come to replenish themselves, and it is quite the sight to see. Humans get discriminated against and your parents might turn into pigs, but it is still worth visiting for the people, or more accurately, spirit-watching.

Beast’s Castle – Beauty And The Beast

Whether it's animated or in live-action, this castle from Beauty and the Beast is a gorgeous gothic structure in France that is literally right out of a fairy tale. If you’re a foodie or a reader, this is the fictional movie location that should be at the top of your list to visit.

Rather than sitting on some crowded beach reading, Beast’s incredible library can immerse you in countless incredible stories all from the comfort of a gorgeous castle. Better yet, like a great hotel the service here is incredible. The servants only live to serve, they say so themselves. They’ll give you dinner and a show like you’ve never had or seen before. Try the grey stuff, it’s delicious.

The X-Mansion – The X-Men Franchise

Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters is one of film and fiction’s most iconic learning institutions, and one of those places we wish we could have spent our school years at. The school itself is founded on the idea of being welcoming to all, so you can let your freak flag fly. This mansion in upstate New York is surrounded by gorgeous grounds and there’s plenty to do, including playing a few games on a basketball court.

Also, if you can get access, The Danger Room, while dangerous, would be a great place to get some training in, and if you can keep it on a low setting, it could almost be like a really advanced and fun obstacle course. The X-Mansion is where our favorite mutants in multiple X-Men films discovered who they are and were accepted for it and it would be a blast to visit.

Cloud City – Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back

There are lots of places we’d love to visit in a galaxy far, far away, and to be fair, Tatooine is the most important and storied Star Wars planet. But you wouldn’t really want to stay there; it’s full of sand, which is coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere.

Dagobah is a swamp and Coruscant is too crowded and likely filthy, so it's better to visit Cloud City on Bespin and enjoy the beauty of living in the clouds. Maybe you can rent out at room at the Administrator’s Palace and that magical feeling you get while flying in a plane would be right outside your window in Cloud City.

The Grand Budapest Hotel – The Grand Budapest Hotel

Do you possess an attention to detail and an appreciation for symmetry? Or, in lieu of that, are you a hipster? If you answered yes to any of that, then you definitely want to visit The Grand Budapest Hotel from Wes Anderson’s 2014 film of the same name. Wes Anderson creates incredible quirky and comedic worlds, and the famed Grand Budapest Hotel in the Republic of Zubrowka is one of his most immaculately crafted locations.

It’s an architectural marvel and a feast for the eyes. And like some of the other locations on this list, the service at the Grand Budapest is top notch, as evidenced by the rigorous process it takes for someone to become a Lobby Boy. Just don’t get framed for murder and you’ll have a splendid time.

The Gryffindor Common Room – Harry Potter

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from Harry Potter is obviously a top 5 fictional place to visit, but it’s also a big castle, so where are you staying while studying for potions classes, celebrating Quidditch victories and contemplating the wetness of kisses? Why the Gryffindor dormitories and Common Room, of course.

The Ravenclaw Common Room is posh enough to also be an option, but Slytherin and Hufflepuff? Come on, Slytherin’s is under the lake and is probably riddled with mold and Hufflepuff’s is right next to the kitchens, and thus probably smells like the back of a restaurant. In Gryffindor’s Common Room you can crash in the four-poster bed, relax by the warm fire while surrounded by the glorious scarlet and gold of Gryffindor.

The Lambda Epsilon Omega Fraternity House – Old School

There are some colleges that you go to just to party and there are some fictional movie locations that you visit to do the same exact thing: test your liver’s ability to process alcohol. This location isn’t so much about the building itself, it’s the people that make it special. and the people are open-minded and accepting, no matter who you are.

Concerts from iconic rap artists, legendary parties, hilarious games and likely illegal pledge initiation rituals are just icing on the cake for hanging out with friends and being reminded that we’re all young at heart and it’s the people that make a place special.

The Batcave – The Batman Franchise

In Shazam!, Billy Batson and Freddy Freeman inquire with a real estate agent about acquiring a lair, and if there is one fictional lair we could visit, it is unquestionably the Batcave. The Batcave is an iconic movie location and definitely a must visit if you could. And while it wouldn’t necessarily be the most comfortable place to stay, you’d want to go upstairs to Wayne Manor; it is still an unbelievably cool place seen in many Batman movies.

Here you could check out all of Batman’s clever gadgets, sit in the Batmobile (and maybe take it for a spin,)and try on the many Batsuits, including the iconic Batman & Robin one, of course. Where else can you sit alone, in the dark, spying on the citizens of a city, while still enjoying the benefits of wealth, like having a butler on standby?

The Maitland/Deetz House – Beetlejuice

Who doesn’t want to visit a properly haunted house, right? In Beetlejuice, this Connecticut house originally belonged to Barbara and Adam Maitland. When they died, the insufferable Deetz family purchased it and moved in. That’s the time when we would want to visit it though because the Deetz turn the quaint country home into a modern art piece, and it is wild, absurd and actually really fun.

The real selling point to visiting this house, though, is the opportunity to be haunted by the Maitlands and Betelgeuse who are trying to get you to leave. It might be scary and disturbing, but impromptu performances of Harry Belafonte’s “Banana Boat Song” make it worth the trip. This is a real house, but sans the hauntings it doesn’t seem nearly as appealing.

Hometree – Avatar

There is a reason that audiences experienced what was dubbed Avatar blues or the Avatar depression syndrome after seeing James Cameron’s 2009 box office king. The world of Pandora is an environmental utopia; an Eden teeming with fantastical life and the splendor of natural beauty. You know, like Earth used to be. Pandora – The World of Avatar at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom is cool, but there’s no substitute for the real thing.

If we could escape to Pandora, we’d ideally stay at cinema’s greatest treehouse: Hometree. There aren’t many, if any, cooler, more blissful places to visit and from Hometree you could explore Pandora’s other wonders like the floating mountains and the bioluminescent forest. I don't doubt that the many Avatar sequels will provide even more amazing locations that could take up a few spots on this list.

The beauty of cinema is that the worlds we can visit on the big screen are limited only by the imagination of the filmmakers. This is just a small sampling of the amazing, fantastical locations from our favorite movies that we’d love to visit and no doubt there are a near infinite number of places I left out. Be sure to let us know where you’d like to go in the poll and comments below.

To see what amazing worlds are coming to the big screen this year, Check out our 2019 Release Schedule.

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You’d think that a horror classic about a man dealing homicidal past life issues with his family and a charming period piece comedy about an assiduous hotel concierge and his lobby boy apprentice would have little to nothing in common. However, this amazing mashup of The Shining and The Grand Budapest Hotel flows so smoothly it makes you want to get out your tinfoil hat and ponder if it was too perfect.

A filmmaker named Steve Ramsden pieced together this spectacular cut, The Grand Overlook Hotel, which brilliantly showcases a rather disturbing compatibility between the two seemingly dissimilar dilemmas of the films’ characters. While the clip contains footage from Stanley Kubrick’s tension-teeming horror masterpiece, the power of peppy music and editing has somehow absorbed the late helmer’s work into the folksy, charming stylistics of Wes Anderson. In essence, as the clip’s labeling suggests, this has become The Shinning as it would be translated through the lens of Anderson’s kitschy filmmaking proclivities.

There have been plenty of Wes Anderson-style parody treatments that hilariously showcase how the director’s vintage-store-style of filmmaking translates to genre-inappropriate properties. However, this one in particular unravels in a neatly linear form that seems to surpass the simple notion of parody. For all intents and purposes, 1980’s The Shinning and 2014’s The Grand Budapest Hotel have spawned this hybrid dark comedy piece about a man who interviews for a job at a fancy hotel full of salacious secrets and experiences a mental breakdown and terrorizes the staff and his own family. It makes a surprisingly plausible case for a film in its own right.

Oddly enough, there are some unifying attributes here that may have supplied the success for this synthesis. Besides the glaringly obvious fact that both films take place in a spacious, extravagant hotel, situated in an isolated location, there are also some thematic parallels. As a controlling concierge of the Grand Budapest, Ralph Fiennes’ Gustave, the product of the hotel’s heyday, is the taskmaster of an operation attempting to keep past glory alive that inevitably leads to an ignominiously abandoned end as a desiccated, abandoned property. Likewise, Jack Nicholson’s Jack Torrance, in the ultimate irony, runs from his own personal alcohol-induced demons to the idyllic Overlook Hotel to find peace with his family and write his novel. Instead, it becomes quite apparent that his efforts only landed him face-to-face with an unknown horrific past that he was attempting to avoid.

In essence, both characters tenaciously carry out an elaborate exercise in futility, fighting fate. Thus, the results of this mashup clip seem to mesh well, not only because of the similarities in the setting, but due to a similar levels of defiance in the protagonists against an apparent inevitability. Well, at least, that’s just one theory, anyway.

Well, it’s no X-Men: Apocalypse or Deadpool or Gambit, but this’ll have to do until next year when the X-Men movie universe will give us all three of those films. In the same vein as previous Wes Anderson parody videos, like Andersonian versions of Point Break, The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars: Episode 7, comes a new take on X-Men. What if the director of the Oscar-winning The Grand Budapest Hotel helmed one of these superhero films? It would look pretty much like this.

Patrick Willems filmed and edited a video that sees the Uncanny X-Men through a Wes Anderson filter, and the result is as whimsical as it might sound. The fact that Willems kinda looks like Anderson also doesn’t hurt his efforts.

Telling the tale of Bobby Drake, aka Iceman, receiving his letter of acceptance into the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngster, the video sees him arriving at the doorstep of the illustrious brownstone to hone his mutant abilities and meet some eccentric characters. You might’ve noticed this on first glance, but this is actually the house from Anderson’s The Royal Tenanbaums. As Willems said in the adjoining making-of video, this is the only Wes Anderson parody (that he knows of) to actually include a shot of the house.

Willems’ video follows the crop of characters from the earlier X-Men line-up: Jean Grey, Cyclops, Beast, Iceman, Angel, Storm, Wolverine, Professor X and Magneto. And their costumes are very reminiscent of that, giving nods to the ‘80s X-Factor get-ups and Grant Morrison’s New X-Men comic book run. Though he doesn’t have the big budget worthy of Days of Future Past, he does have an appreciation for the finesses that made this one of the greatest Wes Anderson parodies on the web.

There are plenty of other nods to Anderson’s films and directing style. There’s his favorite font (Font Futura), his unique brand of slapstick, a brilliant use of color (especially pink), a lighthearted and bright instrumental music selection, and at least one slow motion shot. Since The Grand Budapest Hotel is so fresh in our minds, after it took home four Oscars at this year’s Academy Awards, that scuffle between Cyclops and Magneto is very reminiscent of that comedic styling. Check out the behind-the-scenes video to learn more about how Willems and his team put everything together.

As superhero movies are getting more "serious" by the day (we're looking at you Man of Steel), this Anderson/X-Men parody serves as a nice reminder for these filmmakers to embrace some of the comedy. That's partly why so many fell in love with comic books growing...though, we do still wanna see mutantkind battling chaotic forces to save the world.

Wes Anderson has a devout audience. Most casual moviegoers (those who are mainly interested in blockbuster, multiplex fare) admittedly haven’t heard of him, though more passionate cinephiles have watched his career ebb and flow in a beguiling, not always riveting, fashion.

That hasn’t stopped movie hipsters from taking him as their own, though. In fact, they often look to prove that they’re bona-fide experts by holding Anderson up to a ridiculously high level of esteem. More often than not, Anderson has delivered, though. He's done this by not only creating unique but vivid cinematic worlds, but by also evolving as a filmmaker. Plus his pitch-perfect musical choices, and blending of European art-house traits with a stylish, modern viewpoint have helped to set him apart too.

But which Wes Anderson films are as beautiful as a crayon pony fish? And which are as frustrating as the hardest geometry problem in the world? Take a gander at my ranking of every Wes Anderson film below. You can furiously disagree in the comments.

8. Moonrise Kingdom

One of Wes Anderson’s most cherished tales, Moonrise Kingdom has been described as an "eccentric pubescent love story." His seventh film to be released, it possesses most of the hallmarks that we associate with an Anderson picture. There’s a huge ensemble of perfectly cast, quirky but relatable characters, each of which are delightfully driven, triumphantly un-cynical and strive to be stoic in the face of great emotion, while he uses Rhode Island to create a seldom seen but recognizable world.

However, Moonrise Kingdom falters because it lacks the pace or intriguing plot of his other films. Obviously, Moonrise Kingdom was always meant to be a simple love story. But Anderson’s style and characterization doesn’t lend itself to this structure in a compelling fashion. Instead, the film repeatedly stalls. Jokes fall flat, characters seem too outlandish, and Anderson fails to provide his usual exuberant visuals to cover up for its failings. Still, there’s plenty to enjoy about Moonrise Kingdom, and it proves that even a mediocre Wes Anderson film is better than half of the rubbish that Hollywood releases every year.

7. The Life Aquatic

Recognized in some circles as Wes Anderson’s worst film to date, The Life Aquatic eclipses Moonrise Kingdom (in my opinion) because it proudly wears its heart on its sleeve. It features some of the director’s most emotional scenes to date (especially -- SPOILER ALERT -- the death of Owen Wilson’s Ned Zissou and the discovery of the Jaguar Shark) while it also marks the filmmaker’s first foray into stop-motion… something he’d use to extraordinary lengths later in his career. And there is certainly enough humor and quirkiness to please even the most casual of Anderson devotees.

But there’s no denying the fact that its lackadaisical pace, unrealized characters and ponderous plot make it hard to invest fully. Plus, The Life Aquatic isn’t as funny as it thinks it is and, at times, Anderson borders on the self-indulgent.

Still, the film’s unique soundtrack, meandering narrative, and a stand-out performance from Jeff Goldblum still make The Life Aquatic eminently watchable. In fact, if you let your inhibitions go and truly embrace the world, there is plenty to enjoy and be fascinated by.

6. The Darjeeling Limited

Wes Anderson’s love letter to the films of Satyajit Ray. This saw him travel to India (Jodhpur, to be precise) to film The Darjeeling Limited. And by making this excursion, he was truly able to evoke the humidity, confusion and claustrophobia that the country has to offer, and it lends itself delightfully to his approach.

Anderson also juxtaposes film scores from Ray’s films with his usual blend of British guitar rock to create an intriguingly uneven but nevertheless catchy backbone that the film ebbs and flows to. Anderson’s script is packed with wit and intrigue, while Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman and Adrien Brody bounce off of each other with aplomb as the film’s equally flawed by truly caring brothers. The Darjeeling Limited is flawed. It’s self-important, touches upon the same themes and subject matter (sibling relationships, abandonment and the upper class) that Anderson has covered before, regurgitates his style and leaves you feeling empty and a tad unfulfilled.

Despite all of these issues, it’s still oddly beautiful. I’m not really sure why. But that’s part of its beauty.

5. Fantastic Mr. Fox

George Clooney never sounded better as Mr. F.F. Fox, the wonderfully charismatic and ridiculously confident protagonist in Wes Anderson’s stop-motion adaptation of Roald Dahl’s beloved children’s book.

Clooney takes Fantastic Mr. Fox by the scruff of the neck and provides it with a relentless energy and warmth that permeates throughout the entire picture. Of course, the fact that Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe, Owen Wilson and Michael Gambon interject with their voices also helps.

Anderson uses Dahl’s book as a starting point, creating a new beginning and ending for the story, and miraculously creates a wonderfully vibrant world that is still respectful to its source material. The stop-motion sometimes stagnates the film’s pace and energy, but it helps to make the film enticingly scruffy, along with its stale palette of dirt and dying leaves. Anderson’s decision to film audio outside rather than in a studio also provides a real earthiness.

Perhaps a tad uneven, especially when Anderson’s story tries to blend into the novel, Fantastic Mr. Fox is still wonderfully whimsical, universally appealing, wholly satisfying, and the director’s funniest film to date.

4. Bottle Rocket

Danny Boyle has a theory that every director’s first film is their best. Why? Because it features a freshness that they will never replicate. It’s not a theory that I fully endorse. In fact, I think there’s a catalogue of evidence that proves the filmmaker wrong. But with Bottle Rocket, I can start to see where Boyle is coming from.

That’s because Bottle Rocket’s naivety is pretty much plastered on-screen. Anderson, who co-wrote the film with its lead star -- the since seldom heard from Owen Wilson-- has a clear affection for each of his characters that is shown through an un-cynical lens, which you can’t help but connect with. In fact, the film’s trifecta of lead characters (Dignan, Anthony and Bob) and their story of trying to find danger in order to feel alive are so preposterously human that it borders on the un-cinematic.

But while Bottle Rocket lacks the visual flair that would later become a hallmark of Anderson’s career, he packs the film with such rich moments of genuine warmth and simplistic joys that you immediately sympathize with their plight. The fact that Bottle Rocket happens to be genuinely laugh-out-loud funny and packed with heart means that you’re along for every step of the ride with them, too. Don’t believe me? Then just listen to Martin Scorsese then.

3. The Royal Tenenbaums

While Bill Murray is widely regarded as the quintessential Wes Anderson actor, I’d say that Gene Hackman is Anderson’s ideal leading man. Hackman embodies all of the characteristics that the director looks for in this field. He’s terrifyingly fierce, has a magnetic yet mysterious screen presence, and can go from heartfelt to humorous in a heartbeat. In The Royal Tenenbaums, Hackman uses all of these traits to be an all-round bastard, but one you still can’t help but root for. And without him, the film would fail.

The Royal Tenenbaums is Anderson’s attempt to tell the story of a grandiose American family that, despite their genius, is falling apart at the seams. It’s heavily inspired by Orson Welles’ The Magnificent Ambersons, and it is the closest anyone has come in the last two decades to re-creating the Golden Age of Hollywood with a modern sheen.

It’s also perfectly structured and rhythmically paced, rich with emotion, pathos and humor, and awash with stand-out performances. Anderson’s most fully-realized and accomplished, but not yet completely satisfying or original, work.

2. The Grand Budapest Hotel

The Grand Budapest Hotel is Wes Anderson truly having fun with the camera as a director. Sequences are longer than they should be, jokes are more blatant and crude… even each of the performers seems to have been given free reign to be as outlandish as they desire.

You’d have thought his might resulted in a hodge-podge of mediocrity, but these elements gel together perfectly to create a truly evocative, funny and beguiling tale. Is this down to luck or talent? Probably a bit of both.

As per usual, Anderson is typically stylish, but he underlines this with several truly heartbreaking and intimate relationships. There’s an iconoclastic and mythical aura surrounding The Grand Budapest Hotel that you can’t help but get swept up in, while once again his posse of actors each deliver with aplomb when called upon. The Grand Budapest Hotel ferments with vital energy and intrigue throughout, and it suggests that Anderson’s career is about to enter a new, exciting and more playful phase.

1. Rushmore

Bottle Rocketwas adored by everyone who saw it. There was just one problem: hardly anyone actually saw it. Anderson could have easily cowered over this apparent rejection, but instead, the director produced a brazen, pop-music-inspired coming-of-age tale that revolved around young love, friendship and ambition for his follow-up.

Despite the fact that its lead character, Max Fischer, is an utterly detestable loser, there’s something innately hip about Rushmore. Anderson’s impeccable choice of British Invasion music from the 1960s, as well as Fischer’s love of cinema and unrelenting pursuit of love and ambition, each add to this aura. But it’s really the patter between Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman that gives Rushmore an edge.

With a $20 million budget, Anderson truly goes off the edge, deploying a whole host of cinematic tricks that Hollywood studios normal stifle. While Anderson was far from the first to utilize these movements, pans and framing options, no one had done so in such a wonderfully unique and modern setting, which instantly allowed him to become the poster boy for quirky, alternative filmmaking.

There’s a debate to be had as to whether Anderson deserves such acclaim. But in my opinion, there’s no denying the fact that Rushmore is dark, deft, poetic, laugh-out-loud funny and affecting film. It launched Anderson’s cinematic voice, and did so in a fresh and endearingly simple way.

Disagree? Carry on...

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While they have never really been considered favorites in the Best Picture race, Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel and Morten Tyldum’s The Imitation Game both saw their odds at winning the big prize rise in a big way this past weekend. That's because both titles were big winners at the Writers Guild Awards, which were held on Saturday evening.

So what did The Grand Budapest Hotel and The Imitation Game win at the ceremony over the weekend that made their chances suddenly surge? The Grand Budapest Hotel, which was written by Wes Anderson from a story by Hugo Guinness and Wes Anderson, picked up the Best Original Screenplay accolade. Meanwhile The Imitation Game, which was written by Graham Moore, who used Andrew Hodges’ book Alan Turing: The Enigma as source material, collected the Best Adapted Screenplay prize.

The Writers Guild Awards have a history of being held in high esteem partially because they are the last major ceremony before the Oscars. For the uninformed, the 87th Academy Awards will be held this coming Sunday, where they will be hosted by Neil Patrick Harris. The Grand Budapest Hotel and The Imitation Game have both been earning a great deal of praise and awards over the last few months, but these wins are among the most significant that each title has earned.

But does the success of The Imitation Game and The Grand Budapest Hotel mean that either of them could actually topple the likes of American Sniper, Birdman, Boyhood, Selma, The Theory of Everything or Whiplash for the Best Picture Academy Award? It’s hard to tell, but both beat out many of those titles on their way to their big wins at the WGAs. The Grand Budapest Hotel went up against Boyhood (written by Richard Linklater), Foxcatcher (E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman), Nightcrawler (Dan Gilroy) and Whiplash (Damien Chazelle), and while all of those are acclaimed 2014 films, the fact that Wes Anderson’s script was able to beat Boyhood is a huge bonus - suggesting that The Grand Budapest Hotel could be closer than we expected to Oscar glory. However it should also be remembered that Birdman, which was written by Alejandro G. Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr. and Armando Bo, wasn't nominated.

Meanwhile, The Imitation Game claimed the Best Adapted screenplay award over American Sniper (Jason Hall), Gone Girl (Gillian Flynn), Guardians Of The Galaxy (James Gunn and Nicole Perlman), and Wild (Nick Hornby), only one of which is in the Best Picture Oscar category. Still, with the amount of buzz surrounding American Sniper since its wide release in January, it's hard not to see this as a significant victory.

While these wins for The Imitation Game and The Grand Budapest Hotel are huge, though, it's still questionable whether they have what it takes to beat out frontrunners Boyhood and Birdman at the Academy Awards later this week (it’s still a very tight race, but I personally think Boyhood is just in front of Inarritu’s flick). That being said, both The Grand Budapest Hotel and The Imitation Game have now suddenly become the firm favorites for the Best Original Screenplay and Best Adapted Screenplay Oscars, respectively, and we’ll find out on Sunday if they can live up to this expectation.

We’re still a full two weeks away from the Academy Awards, but tonight in London was the biggest in British cinema. The British Academy Film Awards, better known as the BAFTAs, were held this evening - and it will be fascinating to see how it winds up having an effect on the on-going race in Hollywood.

Recently it’s been Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s Birdman that has been sweeping up big awards, winning the Director’s Guild, Producers Guild and Screen Actors Guild prizes, but it was Boyhood that the BAFTAs deemed to be the Best Film of 2014. In addition to winning the big award of the night, the 12-years-in-the-making movie also won Best Director for Richard Linklater amd Best Supporting Actress for Patricia Arquette. The Theory of Everything - the Stephen Hawking biopic – was also a big winner. The drama took the Outstanding British Film title, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Eddie Redmayne beat out the likes of Michael Keaton and Benedict Cumberbatch for Best Actor.

For a full account of the winners and losers, check out the list below!

BEST FILM

Boyhood - Richard Linklater, Cathleen Sutherland - WINNER

Birdman - Alejandro G. Inarritu, John Lesher, James W. Skotchdopole

The Grand Budapest Hotel - Wes Anderson, Scott Rudin, Steven Rales, Jeremy Dawson

The Imitation Game - Nora Grossman, Ido Ostrowsky, Teddy Schwarzman

The Theory of Everything - Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce, Anthony McCarten

OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM

The Theory of Everything - James Marsh, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce, Anthony McCarten - WINNER

’71 - Yann Demange, Angus Lamont, Robin Gutch, Gregory Burke

The Imitation Game - Morten Tyldum, Nora Grossman, Ido Ostrowsky, Teddy Schwarzman, Graham Moore

Paddington - Paul King, David Heyman

Pride - Matthew Warchus, David Livingstone, Stephen Beresford

Under the Skin - Jonathan Glazer, James Wilson, Nick Wechsler, Walter Campbell

BEST DIRECTOR

Boyhood - Richard Linklater - WINNER

Birdman - Alejandro G. Inarritu

The Grand Budapest Hotel - Wes Anderson

The Theory of Everything - James Marsh

Whiplash - Damien Chazelle

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

The Grand Budapest Hotel - Wes Anderson - WINNER

Birdman - Alejandro G. Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris Jr, Armando Bo

Boyhood - Richard Linklater

Nightcrawler - Dan Gilroy

Whiplash - Damien Chazelle

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

The Theory of Everything - Anthony McCarten - WINNER

American Sniper - Jason Hall

Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn

The Imitation Game - Graham Moore

Paddington - Paul King

BEST LEADING ACTOR

Eddie Redmayne - The Theory of Everything - WINNER

Benedict Cumberbatch - The Imitation Game

Jake Gyllenhaal - Nightcrawler

Michael Keaton - Birdman

Ralph Fiennes - The Grand Budapest Hotel

BEST LEADING ACTRESS

Julianne Moore Still Alice - WINNER

Amy Adams - Big Eyes

Felicity Jones T- he Theory of Everything

Reese Witherspoon - Wild

Rosamund Pike - Gone Girl

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

J.K. Simmons - Whiplash - WINNER

Edward Norton - Birdman

Ethan Hawke - Boyhood

Mark Ruffalo - Foxcatcher

Steve Carell - Foxcatcher

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Patricia Arquette - Boyhood - WINNER

Emma Stone - Birdman

Imelda Staunton - Pride

Keira Knightley - The Imitation Game

Rene Russo - Nightcrawler

BEST ANIMATED FILM

The LEGO Movie - Phil Lord, Christopher Miller - WINNER

Big Hero 6 - Don Hall, Chris Williams

The Boxtrolls - Anthony Stacchi, Graham Annable

BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC

The Grand Budapest Hotel - Alexandre Desplat - WINNER

Birdman - Antonio Sanchez

Interstellar - Hans Zimmer

The Theory of Everything - Johann Johannsson

Under the Skin - Mica Levi

BEST DOCUMENTARY

Citizenfour - Laura Poitras - WINNER

20 Feet From Stardom - Morgan Neville, Caitrin Rogers, Gil Friesen

20,000 Days on Earth - Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard

Finding Vivian Maier - John Maloof, Charlie Siskel

Virunga - Orlando von Einsiedel, Joanna Natasegara

BEST MAKE-UP AND HAIR

The Grand Budapest Hotel - Frances Hannon - WINNER

Guardians of the Galaxy - Elizabeth Yianni-Georgiou, David White

Into the Woods - Peter Swords King, J. Roy Helland

Mr. Turner - Christine Blundell, Lesa Warrener

The Theory of Everything - Jan Sewell

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

The Grand Budapest Hotel - Adam Stockhausen, Anna Pinnock - WINNER

Big Eyes - Rick Heinrichs, Shane Vieau

The Imitation Game - Maria Djurkovic, Tatiana MacDonald

Interstellar - Nathan Crowley, Gary Fettis

Mr. Turner - Suzie Davies, Charlotte Watts

BEST BRITISH SHORT FILM

Boogaloo and Graham - Brian J. Falconer, Michael Lennox, Ronan Blaney - WINNER

Emotional Fusebox - Michael Berliner, Rachel Tunnard

The Karman Line - Campbell Beaton, Dawn King, Tiernan Hanby, Oscar Sharp

Slap - Islay Bell-Webb, Michelangelo Fano, Nick Rowland

Three Brothers - Aleem Khan, Matthieu de Braconier, Stephanie Paeplow

BEST BRITISH SHORT ANIMATION

The Bigger Picture - Chris Hees, Daisy Jacobs, Jennifer Majka - WINNER

Monkey Love Experiments - Ainslie Henderson, Cam Fraser, Will Anderson

My Dad - Marcus Armitage

BEST EDITING

Whiplash - Tom Cross - WINNER

Birdman - Douglas Crise, Stephen Mirrione

The Grand Budapest Hotel - Barney Pilling

The Imitation Game - William Goldenberg

Nightcrawler - John Gilroy

The Theory of Everything - Jinx Godfrey

BEST SOUND

Whiplash - Thomas Curley, Ben Wilkins, Craig Mann - WINNER

American Sniper - Walt Martin, John Reitz, Gregg Rudloff, Alan Robert Murray, Bub Asman

Birdman - Thomas Varga, Martin Hernández, Aaron Glascock, Jon Taylor, Frank A. Montaño

The Grand Budapest Hotel - Wayne Lemmer, Christopher Scarabosio, Pawel Wdowczak

The Imitation Game - John Midgley, Lee Walpole, Stuart Hilliker, Martin Jensen

BEST SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS

Interstellar - Paul Franklin, Scott Fisher, Andrew Lockley - WINNER

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes - Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, Erik Winquist, Daniel Barrett

Guardians of the Galaxy - Stephane Ceretti, Paul Corbould, Jonathan Fawkner, Nicolas Aithadi

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies - Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton, R. Christopher White

X-Man: Days of Future Past - Richard Stammers, Anders Langlands, Tim Crosbie, Cameron Waldbauer

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Birdman -Emmanuel Lubezki - WINNER

The Grand Budapest Hotel - Robert Yeoman

Ida - Lukasz Zal, Ryzsard Lenczewski

Interstellar - Hoyte van Hoytema

Mr. Turner - Dick Pope

OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH ACTOR, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER

Stephen Beresford (Writer), David Livingstone (Producer) - Pride - WINNER

Elaine Constantine (Writer/Director) - Northern Soul

Gregory Burke (Writer), Yann Demange (Director) - ’71

Hong Khaou (Writer/Director) - Lilting

Paul Katis (Director/Producer), Andrew de Lotbiniere (Producer) - Kajaki: The True Story

BEST FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Ida - Pawel Pawlikowski, Eric Abraham, Piotr Dzieciol, Ewa Puszczynska - WINNER

Leviathan - Andrey Zvyagintsev, Alexander Rodnyansky, Sergey Melkumov

The Lunchbox - Ritesh Batra, Arun Rangachari, Anurag Kashyap, Guneet Monga

Trash - Stephen Daldry, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Kris Thykier

Two Days, One Night - Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne, Denis Freyd

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

The Grand Budapest Hotel - Milena Canonero - WINNER

The Imitation Game - Sammy Sheldon Differ

Into the Woods - Colleen Atwood

Mr. Turner - Jacqueline Durran

The Theory of Everything - Steven Noble

EE RISING STAR AWARD (voted for by the public)

Jack O’Connell - WINNER

Gugu Mbatha-Raw

Margot Robbie

Miles Teller

Shailene Woodley

This year's list of films nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards is an eclectic one, featuring multiple sharp, powerful dramas, as well as a couple rather darkly funny comedies. But what if you were to splice a bit of adorable into that formula? Well, then you would get this brand new video bluntly titled "KIDS REENACT 2015 OSCAR NOMINEES."

This parody video comes to us courtesy of the folks over at CineFix, and I honestly found myself laughing quite a bit watching the antics. While it definitely helps that the writing is actually rather sharp and and works well with the young voices, I actually have to give a lot of credit to the young stars as well as the costuming/make-up teams who really did an awesome job here.

Seriously, the beard on "young Bradley Cooper" from American Sniper is so comedically perfect that for a half-second I actually thought it was real:

Props are due to those who developed the wig on top of bald cap look in the Birdman parody. That portion of the video is most certainly the most bizarre of any of the segments, but double hair piece makes it.

So, if we were to select a Best Picture based on these clips, who would we choose? I'd personally pick Selma, but that's really just because of this sly, badass smile that creeps across "young David Oyelowo's" face when he realizes that he has "young Tom Wilkinson right where he wants him:

If you had to choose a favorite Best Picture nominee based on these clips, who would it be? Hit the comments section below explain your choice, and be sure to stay tuned to our Oscar coverage in the run-up to the Academy Awards on February 22nd.

Every year, five to ten films are selected by the Academy Of Motion Pictures And Sciences to represent the best of the previous year's crop. These Best Picture nominees can range from wide opening films you've already seen, to independent films you've been dying to see, but didn't want to spend the gas money on. Well, you're in luck, as the best event to celebrate the Best Pictures is rolling into town again; AMC Theaters has announced their ninth annual Best Picture Showcase.

Since 2006, AMC Theaters has been offering audiences the opportunity to indulge in the entire field of nominees for top Oscar honors. As times have changed, and the field of nominees has widened, the program has changed to offer two options for audiences to get their fix of Oscar nominated glory. What doesn't change is the fact that the price for the event is a steal, considering you're paying between $55 to $65 dollars to see the following great films:

• American Sniper
• Birdman
• Boyhood
• The Grand Budapest Hotel
• The Imitation Game
• Selma
• The Theory of Everything
• Whiplash

As we mentioned before, there are two options of Best Picture Showcase enjoyment. The first option is the admittedly more mainstream method, which breaks up this year's eight picture field into two weekends of four films a pop. This option will cost you $55, and is great if you're okay with a typical movie marathon, but don't feel like cramming all of the goodness into one day. However, if you're a daring sort that likes to live on the edge, there's always the more legendary option, which involved all eight films being shown in a 24 hour marathon on the day before the Oscars. That package will set you back $65, and is available in limited markets.

On top of that, this year will also see the debut of a new strategy that AMC Theaters are unrolling thanks to crowdfunding/voting platform Tilt. Much like you can "demand" a movie come to a theater near you, you can reserve a ticket to the Best Picture Showcase 24 Hour Marathon, and if 100 people sign up you'll be charged the $65. If the 100 ticket threshold isn't met though, the event is cancelled and you'll be able to enjoy the standard two day event. Either way, you're only a ticket's purchase away from enjoying an event that has been a staple of AMC Theaters' for almost a decade.

Why should you go to AMC Theaters' Best Picture Showcase? Speaking from experience, it's a fun event that brings together local pockets of the theater geek community. Everyone from internet junkies to people who've been to Sundance show up for two days in the dead of winter to act as a sort of informal film judging committee. On top of the camaraderie, there's also trivia breaks between each film, which offers a chance to net you some sweet swag from the theater's storerooms. Don't worry too much about getting tired or hungry though, as there is a dinner break on the longer day of the showcase, and the shorter day is short enough to let out in time for dinner.

AMC Theaters' Best Picture Showcase takes place on February 14th and 21st for the two day option, with the 24 hour marathon occurring on the 21st. One last suggestion: if your venue is a reserved seating venue, you might want to get your tickets as soon as possible. Reports have been coming in that Fandango sold tickets before they were available on AMC Theaters' website, thus leaving those watching the official channels at a disadvantage.

If you stick with the analogy that The Oscars are like the Super Bowl for movies, then this morning we finally learned which "teams" are playing. Eight movies were nominated for Best Picture, meaning we can actually discuss the potential of the films that will contend for the industry’s top honor: a Best Picture Oscar.

As expected, Richard Linklater’s Boyhood -- the current "frontrunner" in this year’s ongoing race – received one of the eight Best Picture nominations, keeping it in contention. It joins a prestigious field of dramatic and comedic movies, which I’m including below:

Eight films in total. And now, the big question: "Are these the seven movies lining up to lose to Boyhood? Or can one of these movies shift the tide and contend for the Academy’s top prize?"

Let’s talk a bit about how the Academy traditionally operates (which, in turn, will point out a few oddities in this year’s competition). Films that win Best Picture usually take the award for Best Director, as well. This isn’t set in stone, however. Alfonso Cuaron won Best Director last year for Gravity, while Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave won Best Picture. The year before, Ang Lee earned the Best Director Oscar for Life of Pi, while Argo won Best Picture.

Is this a trend? If so, it suggests that the Civil Rights drama Selma has a real shot at upsetting Boyhood, even though director Ava DuVernay wasn’t even nominated in her respective category. Just ask Ben Affleck how that worked out for Argo. In fact, a win for Richard Linklater recognizing his technical achievement, paired with a win for Selma in Best Picture, makes so much sense that you just wish we could hand out those trophies this afternoon and be done with this race.

At the same time, Oscar paired Picture and Director in 2011 (Tom Hooper and The King’s Speech), 2010 (Kathryn Bigelow and The Hurt Locker), 2009 (Danny Boyle and Slumdog Millionaire), 2008 (Joel Coen and No Country for Old Men), 2007 (Martin Scorsese and The Departed)… do you see what I’m getting at? Cuaron and Lee seem to be the exceptions that prove the rule, and I’d be surprised if the Academy split the categories for a third consecutive year.

Birdman and The Grand Budapest Hotel, however, are films that received both Director and Picture, and have good chances of generating momentum in this second half of the Oscar race. Alejandro Inarritu’s film, in particular, has a number of significant X-Factors that can help it on the campaign trail. First and foremost, it is a movie about the industry, focusing on a former superhero star (played by Best Actor nominee Michael Keaton) who is trying to resuscitate his career by writing, directing and starring in a Broadway play. The acting branch of the Academy – still the largest contingent of voters – likely will see a lot of themselves in the characters played by Keaton, Naomi Watts and fellow Oscar nominee Edward Norton. Keaton is even considered the frontrunner for Best Actor in some circles. Could Keaton and a possible Inarritu win power Birdman to the stage on Oscar night?

It’s possible, but improbable. In fact, if I were going to wager on ANY of the other seven Best Picture nominees rising up and stealing the trophy from Boyhood -- because I do believe it is Richard Linklater’s to lose – it’s The Imitation Game. There’s a laundry list of characteristics shared by Morten Tyldum’s movie that ring the Academy’s bell. It’s a period biopic. It’s expertly acted by a team of Brits. It has an element of tragedy, and an element of triumph. It’s this year’s The King’s Speech, and we all know how that race turned out.

Ultimately, I’m not betting against Boyhood. Richard Linklater’s movie has enjoyed Top Dog status for months now, and today’s Oscar nominations did very little to change the film’s status. But Phase Two of the marathon is all about maintaining momentum if you are the leader, and introducing doubt if you are a neighboring competitor. Do you think any film can slow Boyhood’s roll between now and February 22?

Did the Directors Guild of America just solidify the Oscar race, or toss the whole deck of cards up into the air? We’ll know for sure on Thursday when the Academy announces its selections for Best Director (and every other category), but the five men nominated by the DGA have to feel pretty comfortable going into Thursday morning thanks to today’s nods.

The five finalists for this year’s Directors Guild of America’s top prize, revealed via press release, are:

Wes Anderson, for The Grand Budapest Hotel

Clint Eastwood, for American Sniper

Alejandro Inarritu, for Birdman

Richard Linklater, for Boyhood

Morten Tyldum, for The Imitation Game

And now, as we do with any list of this sort, we begin to analyze the people who are NOT included… and worry about their chances of breaking through at the Oscars. The most notable absence has to be Ava DuVernay, whose film Selma is winning over the hearts of critics but can’t catch a break with major awards groups. David Fincher and Angelina Jolie couldn’t crack the DGA for their work on Gone Girl and Unbroken, respectively. And it sounds like it’s officially time to give up hope on candidates like Bennett Miller (Foxcatcher), James Marsh (The Theory of Everything) and even Damien Chazelle (Whiplash).

The candidates that made the cut are deserving, however. Even Eastwood, who will rile up several awards-race trackers, delivered one of his better films in American Sniper (though it’s hard to argue that he belongs on this short list ahead of DuVernay, Miller, Fincher or Chazelle… but I digress). You do get the impression that four of the five candidates are preparing to lose to this season’s clear-cut frontrunner, Richard Linklater, who’ll likely collect all of the awards for Boyhood. As he should.

Are these five DGA nominees locks for Oscar? Not exactly. There have been exceptions over the years, where one or two DGA nominees didn’t carry over to Oscar’s ballot. That could be good news for Selma supporters, or for those hoping that David Fincher would pick up an Academy nod. But if I had to wager, I’d guess that three of these men are locks, and one of the remaining two – either Eastwood or Tyldum – will be disappointed on Thursday morning.

There are many different award shows that pop between the end of any given year and the Academy Awards, but fewer are seen as more significant than the Golden Globes. The winners selected by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association are often considered by analysts to be a strong indicator of what we may see happen come Oscar time, and this year was certainly no different. We saw some big moves and surprises during the 72nd annual show tonight, and it has painted an interesting picture for the 2014 awards season going forward.

Now that the dust has settled and all of the results are in, it’s time to look at the big winners and losers of this year’s Golden Globes. Who or what gained the most momentum? Who or what lost the most? Read on to find out!

Winner: The Grand Budapest Hotel – Best Picture - Comedy/Musical

After missing out on Best Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Actor – Comedy/Musical, things were looking quite bleak for Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel at the Golden Globes tonight – but that all changed when the Best Picture – Comedy/Musical award was announced. Birdman was certainly considered the frontrunner – especially because it had beaten Anderson’s movie in two of the three earlier categories – but in the end it was the quirky European-set dramedy that wound up taking home one of the biggest awards of the night. It’s true that the film still does face incredible competition for Best Picture at the Academy Awards (most notably from Boyhood), but tonight definitely made the picture look like a stronger contender. Will it be able to pull it off? We’ll have to just wait and see.

Loser: Selma – Best Picture - Drama

Ava DuVernay’s Selma was unquestionably one of the most shocking and powerful films to be released in 2014, and it did get one big win at the Golden Globes tonight thanks to its success in the Best Original Song category, but the film took a big hit tonight where the Best Picture race is concerned. Boyhood’s gain is Selma’s loss, and this could wind up being a considerable momentum shifter. It’s tremendously hard to argue with the Martin Luther King Jr. biopic’s case - as it’s not only an amazing movie, but one that is being released at a very important point in time – but at the same time it’s not hard to see the film’s miss tonight as having a possible impact on its Academy Award chances.

Winner: Michael Keaton (Birdman) – Best Actor - Comedy

Because of the way that the Golden Globes categories are laid out, it’s hard to precisely say how Michael Keaton would have done in direct competition with Best Actor – Drama winner Eddie Redmayne, but it’s still practically impossible not to see this Birdman win as a good sign for Keaton’s Oscar chances. There is a certain irresistible comeback nature to the actor’s story, and this Golden Globe win helps him really stay in competition with the big performances in big dramas like The Theory of Everything and The Imitation Game. Keaton is still certainly competing in what can easily be considered 2014’s tightest race, but this win shows that he is still very much in the game. We’re excited to see how it plays out next month.

Loser: Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game) – Best Actor - Drama

In this year’s awards race, there is no category with stiffer competition than Best Actor, and while Michael Keaton and Eddie Redmayne got some big momentum tonight, one can argue that tonight’s events hurt Benedict Cumberbatch’s chances more than anyone else’s. Things certainly don’t look great for Nightcrawler’s Jake Gyllenhaaal or Selma’s David Oyewolo either, but Cumberbatch’s turn in The Imitation Game has been touted as an Oscar frontrunner since the Toronto International Film Festival, and missing out on a Golden Globe is not a good sign for him. Cumberbatch obviously isn’t totally out of the race at this point, as the Academy Awards have a completely different voter pool, but one can argue that his position has been weakened.

Winner: Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything) – Best Actor - Drama

Going into tonight’s Golden Globes ceremony, many saw the key head-to-head matchup being Eddie Redmayne’s The Theory of Everything turn going up against Benedict Cumberbatch’s The Imitation Game performance, and at the end of the event it was Stephen Hawking who found himself victorious over Alan Turing. Redmayne has been getting Oscar buzz ever since The Theory of Everything debuted at 2014’s Toronto International Film Festival, and now that buzz is starting to turn into actual trophies. Academy voters obviously may still look in a different direction when it comes to the Oscars, but the fact that Redmayne got smiles from the HFPA is a feather in his cap and a sign that he could wind up taking the stage and getting handed a gold statue from Cate Blanchett next month.

Loser: The LEGO Movie – Best Animated Feature

Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s The LEGO Movie was one of the most critically-beloved films of the year, but tonight the Hollywood Foreign Press Association showed it no love. Things have looked good awards-wise for the animated film due to the fact that 2014 is a year without an entry for Pixar, but now How To Train Your Dragon 2 has entered the game as a potential spoiler candidate. As I noted in my piece about the loss, it’s very possible that the Golden Globes snub comes as a result of the movie reflects the fact that it didn’t translate well overseas, but ultimately what it really shows is that The LEGO Movie might actually have some stiff competition at the Oscars.

Winner: Amy Adams (Big Eyes) – Best Actress - Comedy

Julianne Moore’s win tonight for her part in Still Alice only further confirms suspicions that she will walk home with the Best Actress Academy Award this year, but in a conversation purely about momentum one has to give attention to Amy Adams. The Big Eyes actress hasn’t gotten a ton of buzz about her role in the Tim Burton film, but this win could suggest that analysts have been undervaluing her. In the past, voters have certainly shown an appreciation for biopics, and despite its Golden Globe categorization the film really does have plenty of drama for Adams to work with. The Best Actress category is perhaps the weakest in this year’s Oscar field, and with the award season power of Harvey and Bob Weinstein behind her, Amy Adams could find herself receiving acting’s highest honor in February.

Loser: The Imitation Game - Best Motion Picture - Drama, Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Score

That’s right: Benedict Cumberbatch’s bad night was only one part of a much worse night for director Morten Tyldum’s The Imitation Game. Including the Best Actor – Drama category, the film was up for five awards this evening and walked away completely empty handed. One could argue that the movie’s strongest category is the Best Actor slot at the Academy Awards, but the big swing and miss tonight sincerely lowers its statistical chances in any other major category as well. It’s true that Oscar voters have a long history of really loving World War II-era period dramas, which means that the film’s aesthetic style could lead to a few technical awards like costumes and production design, but the Alan Turing biopic now looks like a much weaker contender the major categories.

Winner: Boyhood – Best Picture - Drama

It may seem a bit redundant to say that the receiving the Best Picture – Drama award at this year’s Golden Globes was a big win, but in the case of Richard Linklater’s Boyhood that’s certainly worthy of saying. The 11-years-in-the-making movie has been considered an Oscar frontrunner for months now, and this huge win only further confirms its strong standing. The movie is absolutely amazing and awards voters are clearly impressed with the effort that went into making the movie, and that fact is being reflected in numerous big wins. If the Oscars wind up matching the Golden Globes, this may be the first year since 2011 that Best Director and Best Picture go to the same feature. At this point it’s hard to argue against it.

Loser: Foxcatcher – Best Picture – Drama / Best Actor / Best Supporting Actor

It’s true that Bennett Miller’s Foxcatcher never really had very strong odds at being a big player in this year’s Best Picture race at the Oscars, but this was a bad night for the film simply because of how it performed in the acting categories. It was bad enough that Channing Tatum wound up not getting attention for his gripping portrayal of Mark Schultz, but both Mark Ruffalo and Steve Carell getting shut down tonight severely hurts the film’s chances going forward. It appears that J.K. Simmons has things pretty well wrapped up in the Best Supporting Category, and Eddie Redmayne’s win gives him a distinct edge – and that all points towards Foxcatcher missing out on glory at the Academy Awards.

The 2015 BAFTA Nominations were announced this morning and there were some surprising nominations among big time snubs. Among the most surprising, though not entirely unearned, is Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel emerging with the most BAFTA nominations on the list, with a total of 11. But, most shocking of all are major films that have been left out of the mix, including the civil rights drama, Selma, which has been highly praised since its recent release.

It’s unclear why (or how?!) Selma could be left out, but if release date proves anything, The Grand Budapest Hotel was one of the first films released in the award season, as opposed to Selma being one of the last. Could it be that the BAFTAs needed more time to let their opinions settle, even despite the critical acclaim in the past weeks? We can’t be sure, but it definitely is a big miss on their part. Check the entire list out for yourselves below to see whether or not you agree with this year’s nominations.

BEST FILM

Birdman, Alejandro G. Inarritu, John Lesher, James W. Skotchdopole

Boyhood, Richard Linklater, Cathleen Sutherland

The Grand Budapest Hotel, Wes Anderson, Scott Rudin, Steven Rales, Jeremy Dawson

The Imitation Game, Nora Grossman, Ido Ostrowsky, Teddy Schwarzman

The Theory of Everything, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce, Anthony McCarten

OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM

’71, Yann Demange, Angus Lamont, Robin Gutch, Gregory Burke

The Imitation Game, Morten Tyldum, Nora Grossman, Ido Ostrowsky, Teddy Schwarzman, Graham Moore

Paddington, Paul King, David Heyman

Pride, Matthew Warchus, David Livingstone, Stephen Beresford

The Theory of Everything, James Marsh, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce, Anthony McCarten

Under the Skin, Jonathan Glazer, James Wilson, Nick Wechsler, Walter Campbell

ANIMATED FILM

Big Hero 6, Don Hall, Chris Williams

The Boxtrolls, Anthony Stacchi, Graham Annable

The Lego Movie, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller

DIRECTOR

Birdman, Alejandro G. Inarritu

Boyhood, Richard Linklater

The Grand Budapest Hotel, Wes Anderson

The Theory of Everything, James Marsh

Whiplash, Damien Chazelle

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Birdman, Alejandro G. Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris Jr, Armando Bo

Boyhood, Richard Linklater

The Grand Budapest Hotel, Wes Anderson

Nightcrawler, Dan Gilroy

Whiplash, Damien Chazelle

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

American Sniper, Jason Hall

Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn

The Imitation Game, Graham Moore

Paddington, Paul King

The Theory of Everything, Anthony McCarten

LEADING ACTOR

Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game

Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything

Jake Gyllenhaal, Nightcrawler

Michael Keaton, Birdman

Ralph Fiennes, The Grand Budapest Hotel

LEADING ACTRESS

Amy Adams, Big Eyes

Felicity Jones, The Theory of Everything

Julianne Moore, Still Alice

Reese Witherspoon, Wild

Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl

SUPPORTING ACTOR

Edward Norton, Birdman

Ethan Hawke, Boyhood

J.K. Simmons, Whiplash

Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher

Steve Carell, Foxcatcher

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Emma Stone, Birdman

Imelda Staunton, Pride

Keira Knightley, The Imitation Game

Patricia Arquette, Boyhood

Rene Russo, Nightcrawler

ORIGINAL MUSIC

Birdman, Antonio Sanchez

The Grand Budapest Hotel, Alexandre Desplat

Interstellar, Hans Zimmer

The Theory of Everything, Johann Johannsson

Under the Skin, Mica Levi

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Birdman, Emmanuel Lubezki

The Grand Budapest Hotel, Robert Yeoman

Ida, Lukasz Zal, Ryzsard Lenczewski

Interstellar, Hoyte van Hoytema

Mr. Turner, Dick Pope

EDITING

Birdman, Douglas Crise, Stephen Mirrione

The Grand Budapest Hotel, Barney Pilling

The Imitation Game, William Goldenberg

Nightcrawler, John Gilroy

The Theory of Everything, Jinx Godfrey

Whiplash, Tom Cross

OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH ACTOR, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER

Elaine Constantine (Writer/Director,) Northern Soul

Gregory Burke (Writer), Yann Demange (Director), ’71

Hong Khaou (Writer/Director), Lilting

Paul Katis (Director/Producer), Andrew de Lotbiniere (Producer), Kajaki: The True Story

Stephen Beresford (Writer), David Livingstone (Producer), Pride

FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Ida, Pawel Pawlikowski, Eric Abraham, Piotr Dzieciol, Ewa Puszczynska

Leviathan, Andrey Zvyagintsev, Alexander Rodnyansky, Sergey Melkumov

The Lunchbox, Ritesh Batra, Arun Rangachari, Anurag Kashyap, Guneet Monga

Trash, Stephen Daldry, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Kris Thykier

Two Days, One Night, Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne, Denis Freyd

DOCUMENTARY

20 Feet From Stardom, Morgan Neville, Caitrin Rogers, Gil Friesen

20,000 Days on Earth, Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard

Citizenfour, Laura Poitras

Finding Vivian Maier, John Maloof, Charlie Siskel

Virunga, Orlando von Einsiedel, Joanna Natasegara

PRODUCTION DESIGN

Big Eyes, Rick Heinrichs, Shane Vieau

The Grand Budapest Hotel, Adam Stockhausen, Anna Pinnock

The Imitation Game, Maria Djurkovic, Tatiana MacDonald

Interstellar, Nathan Crowley, Gary Fettis

Mr. Turner, Suzie Davies, Charlotte Watts

COSTUME DESIGN

The Grand Budapest Hotel, Milena Canonero

The Imitation Game, Sammy Sheldon Differ

Into the Woods, Colleen Atwood

Mr. Turner, Jacqueline Durran

The Theory of Everything, Steven Noble

MAKE-UP AND HAIR

The Grand Budapest Hotel, Frances Hannon

Guardians of the Galaxy, Elizabeth Yianni-Georgiou, David White

Into the Woods, Peter Swords King, J. Roy Helland

Mr. Turner, Christine Blundell, Lesa Warrener

The Theory of Everything, Jan Sewell

SOUND

American Sniper, Walt Martin, John Reitz, Gregg Rudloff, Alan Robert Murray, Bub Asman

Birdman, Thomas Varga, Martin Hernández, Aaron Glascock, Jon Taylor, Frank A. Montaño

The Grand Budapest Hotel, Wayne Lemmer, Christopher Scarabosio, Pawel Wdowczak

The Imitation Game, John Midgley, Lee Walpole, Stuart Hilliker, Martin Jensen

Whiplash, Thomas Curley, Ben Wilkins, Craig Mann

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, Erik Winquist, Daniel Barrett

Guardians of the Galaxy, Stephane Ceretti, Paul Corbould, Jonathan Fawkner, Nicolas Aithadi

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton, R. Christopher White

Interstellar, Paul Franklin, Scott Fisher, Andrew Lockley

X-Men: Days of Future Past, Richard Stammers, Anders Langlands, Tim Crosbie, Cameron Waldbauer

BRITISH SHORT ANIMATION

The Bigger Picture, Chris Hees, Daisy Jacobs, Jennifer Majka

Monkey Love Experiments, Ainslie Henderson, Cam Fraser, Will Anderson

My Dad, Marcus Armitage

BRITISH SHORT FILM

Boogaloo and Graham, Brian J. Falconer, Michael Lennox, Ronan Blaney

Emotional Fusebox, Michael Berliner, Rachel Tunnard

The Kármán Line, Campbell Beaton, Dawn King, Tiernan Hanby, Oscar Sharp

Slap, Islay Bell-Webb, Michelangelo Fano, Nick Rowland

Three Brothers, Aleem Khan, Matthieu de Braconier, Stephanie Paeplow

EE RISING STAR AWARD (voted for by the public)

Gugu Mbatha-Raw

Jack O’Connell

Margot Robbie

Miles Teller

Shailene Woodley

Comedy was strong this year, and Wes Anderson’s star-studded flick sits atop some other very highly-praised films including Alejandro G Inarritu’s dark comedy, Birdman with 10 nominations and James Marsh’s romantic drama The Theory of Everything which also shows up in 10 categories. There are also, as expected, plenty of nods towards The Imitation Game as well as a best actor nomination for Benedict Cumberbatch and Paddington bear even shows up on the list (even though his film had some terrible buzz for months).

Some other surprises include Steve Carell who turns up in the Supporting Actor category despite talks of contending in the Best Actor category for upcoming Oscar nominations. Also, Amy Adams shows up again at the BAFTAs, this year for her role in Tim Burton’s Big Eyes, as a Lead Actress nomination. We'll see who takes home the prize next month at the BAFTA Awards Ceremony which will take place Sunday, February 8 in London.

If you ask me, no one really likes putting together a "best movies" list. It’s no easy task, and your order is forever changing depending on your mood and environment. So it’s times like this when I enjoy turning the reigns over to outside sources. The community over at Metacritic has put together its annual best-of rankings, including the 20 best movies of 2014.

For the past five years, Metacritic users have participated in surveys to name the best movies, TV shows, games, albums and songs. Before we get into their picks for the best movies (i.e. the good stuff), here’s a nitty gritty detail to keep in mind. The users were asked to rank their five favorite movies: five points for first-place picks, four points for second place, etc. In a wonderful turn of events, the film that most deserved to get the title of best movie of 2014 did. Here’s the full list of films, along with the number of points they racked up.

1. Boyhood (2,827)

2. Interstellar (1,754)

3. The Grand Budapest Hotel (1,742)

4. Birdman (1,478)

5. Gone Girl (1,453)

6. Guardians of the Galaxy (1,401)

7. Whiplash (801)

8. Nightcrawler (793)

9. The LEGO Movie (776)

10. Under the Skin (563)

11. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (470)

12. Snowpiercer (465)

13. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (379)

14. X-Men: Days of Future Past (375)

15. Edge of Tomorrow (305)

16. Inherent Vice (219)

17. Ida (191)

18. Foxcatcher (173)

19. The Babadook (166)

20. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 (165)

I’ve said this time and again, but there’s truly nothing like Boyhood, and that’s all I’ll say on the matter. However, what was surprising is the second-place holder. Interstellar had its fair share of issues, and it didn’t seem like all that many people were into it. Apparently none of us should ever doubt Christopher Nolan’s reach.

Another well-deserved victory was how close Whiplash was ranked to the top. While Miles Teller was showing us a more vulnerable side that we’ve never seen from him before, J.K. Simmons was setting the screen on fire with his performance as the sadistic and abusive jazz conductor. Simmons earned a Golden Globe nomination for it, and the film deserves some attention at the Oscars, too. The fear, however, was that it didn’t resonate with audiences. Though, it’s good to know it has its fans.

As expected, the superhero movie genre turned out in full force. With the exception of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (for obvious reasons), all the Marvel films were included. Guardians of the Galaxy didn’t break into the top five, but it was close enough. Captain America 2, on the other hand, only bested Days of Future Past by one slot. Perhaps the biggest travesty, though, was how far down Edge of Tomorrow dropped. By all accounts, this movie looked like another Tom Cruise disaster movie (and we’re not talking about the natural disaster genre, either) but it proved itself to be one of the funnest times we’ve had in a theater this year. This brings me back to my earlier statement about the difficult determination process behind best-of lists. At least one person will always be let down.

Elsewhere, Metacritic users also named Interstellar, Boyhood, Guardians of the Galaxy, Mockingjay - Part 1 and Birdman as the five most overrated movies of 2014 (in that order). In the TV division, Game of Thrones and True Detective swept the two top spots. At least we know the pollers have good taste.

2014 could very well go down in history as the year of the supercut, simply because there have been so many of them in the past 12 months. A lot of them have even been more exemplary works of editing than some of the films we sat through this year. One such example is this awesome supercut of some of the best moments in cinematography that cinema had to offer in 2014, and it's included for your viewing pleasure below.

Kudos go out to Vimeo user Jacob T. Swinney for his extremely beautiful look at the moments of 2014 that caught our eyes for just a little longer than normal. The flow of the selection of clips is beautifully complimented by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross's track "Sugar Storm," coming from the Gone Girl soundtrack. In fact, if you look close enough, you'll see the scene this song was originally used for in the mix, as well as some gorgeous shots from The Grand Budapest Hotel, Snowpiercer, and Boyhood - just to name a few.

As well represented as the year of 2014 is in this video, only disappointing thing about this montage is that it solely focuses on live-action films. While animation wasn't at its best levels of representation this year, there were some pretty neat shots from The LEGO Movie, How To Train Your Dragon 2, and even Big Hero 6 that could have been represented in this clip fest. It's not a deal breaker, but it's a little upsetting that the major strides in animated cinematography were not represented at all in this otherwise pretty comprehensive reel.

In a year that saw everything from moments of crime to fake movie ads receiving a supercut of their own, Swinney's segment is probably the best one we've seen since Final Cut 2014 landed on our desks. Both are pure examples of editing flourish that link together so many dissimilar films together with the common thread of art, and they both hit the notes of the music just right with the moments that are chosen for exhibition. It's exciting when a supercut like this hits, because in this day and age all it takes is the right person to see this video and Jacob T. Swinney could become one of those editing greats that he is mimicking with his work.

So in the year of supercuts, what's the one supercut that could cap off the year so perfectly? Why, naturally, it'd be a supercut of the best moments from the best trailers that 2015 can offer. While we're mere hours away from the start of 2015, it's not too late to hope that some amateur editor with an eye for action is working away at their computer, putting together the perfect video to ring in a new year of cinema. Here's hoping we find such a supercut to share with all of you out there, and here's hoping 2015 is a year that's good to us all at the movies!

This was an impressive year for film. No matter the genre – from horror to heroes, awards-bait to animation – 2014 offered a buffet of challenging, disturbing, uplifting and rewarding cinematic excursions. This also was a diverse year for cinema. We had iconic storytellers working at the top of their individual games (Wes Anderson, David Fincher and Paul Thomas Anderson come to mind). And we saw relative newcomers like Ava DuVernay, Damien Chazelle and someone named Angelina Jolie announce their presence as directors to which we need to pay close attention. This was the year that the comic-book genre planted its deepest roots, inviting audiences on goofy interstellar adventures and expanding the scope of traditional "super" powers like the X-Men series. And what more can be said about the monumental achievement of Richard Linklater’s 12-year odyssey, Boyhood?

This, then, is my list of the 10 best films of 2014. All lists are subjective, and I’m sure we will disagree on certain selections. But these are the films that moved me most, the ones that either hit with the largest impact or stuck with the greatest intensity. They are the films I have revisited, analyzed, enjoyed and shared with fellow film geeks, and they are the ones I hold closest to the soul. Hit me up in the comments section with your reactions, and help me celebrate what ended up being an incredible year at the movies.

10. Chef

Much like Swingers (which he wrote, but didn’t direct), Jon Favreau’s Chef is a heartfelt, bittersweet and painfully honest story about existing at a certain age. It’s written, directed and acted by a man who actually experienced everything that we’re witnessing on screen – the good and the horrifically bad. Favreau's blood and sweat is in Chef, and I both admire and appreciate the candor he brings to his life, his career and his uncertain future. Try to watch the scene where Favreau’s chef character publically confronts a food critic without imagining the actual director screaming at the movie scribes who took down his Cowboys & Aliens or Iron Man 2. You can’t.

But beyond the Hollywood confessional, Chef also is a fantastic "foodie" movie, brimming with some of the best kitchen and food-prep scenes I’ve seen in years. It’s a tender father-son journey movie that cuts through conventional storytelling methods and finds the beating heart that drives creativity and passion. Chef is this year’s top crowd-pleaser.

9. The Grand Budapest Hotel

God bless Wes Anderson and all of his OCD tics. Only Anderson could create a film as meticulous as The Grand Budapest Hotel, a story-within-a-story-within-a-story comedy that continues to unpack delightful treasures with each viewing. Naturally, your opinion of Anderson’s signature style will dictate how much of Grand Budapest you’re willing to… tolerate? Accept? Adore? Endure? The Grand Budapest Hotel could be considered divisive, for if you reject Wes Anderson’s sprawling dollhouse stagings, you won’t understand what all the fuss is about.

But for those of us who appreciate Anderson’s airtight approach to unusual comedy, Grand Budapest is his most intricate, most calculated, most fascinating and most amusing feature. Ralph Fiennes joins the short list of gifted performers who simply plug into Anderson’s unique vocal cadences (Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman are founding members of Team Wes). And one could spend years exploring the cracks and crevices of the director’s fantastic production design in and around the Grand Budapest universe… and likely will, with glee.

8. Gone Girl

Not that I’d ever want to pigeonhole David Fincher, but the director should be required by law to deliver a moody, murky crime thriller every three to four years, because there’s simply no one better working this genre. Gone Girl pulls off the near-impossible, taking a page-turning story millions already had read and turning it into a breathless study in marital disharmony, a whodunit that is less concerned with guilt or innocence and more focused on how a criminal case is perceived – by the media, by the snooping public, and by the protagonists at the actual scene of the crime.

Gone Girl works like a David Fincher film, drifting in and out of the chilly shadows as the director’s expertly placed camera rides a disconcerting Trent Reznor score. But Fincher rarely gets enough credit for the performances he coaxes out of his cast, and everyone in Gone Girl is outstanding. Tyler Perry, Carrie Coon and Kim Dickens steal scenes as witnesses to the macabre soap opera fueling Fincher’s feature. Ben Affleck gives his best performance by playing a tweaked version of his recognizable, public persona. And the chillingly brilliant Rosamund Pike creates an on-screen villain on par with Norman Bates or Hannibal Lecter. Gone Girl is one for the ages.

7. The LEGO Movie

The funniest movie of 2014, and that’s saying something. In the wrong hands, The LEGO Movie could have become a cheap excuse to peddle toys, a crass advertisement aimed at the wallets of parents who brought their kids to a theater to enjoy something shiny and bright. Co-directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller aren’t interested in that, though. Using an intricate blend of CG and photo-real, stop-motion style, the creative duo behind Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and the Jump Street comedies have crafted a whip-smart, self-referential, pop-culture tornado that has as much intelligent humor as it does sentimental heart.

On a surface level, fans can get off on seeing Batman, Superman, several Star Wars heroes and a spaceship-loving astronaut joining forces to take down a sinister dictator voiced by Will Ferrell. The LEGO Movie makes this list, though, for the larger questions it dares to ask about its audience. Are you a rule-following builder, or an off-the-cuff creator who throws the instructions away? Should LEGOs be used to replicate what’s on the box? Or should you combine all of your pieces into one messy extravaganza and delight with what comes out? And is one way right, while the other is wrong? The third act of the hysterical The LEGO Movie elevates this outstanding comedy, making it an unforgettable feature for the whole family.

6. Force Majeure

What if one decision, made under duress in the heat of difficult conditions, irreversibly changed your life? This is the complicated – and ridiculously compelling – question asked and answered by Ruben Ostlund’s fantastically calculated, subdued "comedy" Force Majeure. While vacationing in the French Alps, a close-knit family finds themselves in the path of a minor avalanche. Instead of staying to protect his clan, though, Tomas (Johannes Bah Kuhnke) grabs his gloves and cell phone and flees for safety… showing his true colors and changing, forever, how his wife (Lisa Loven Kongsli) and children view the man they thought they knew.

Force Majeure skillfully turns the screws on a very believable situation, showing how one impulsive act of cowardice can instantly discredit a previously trustworthy husband and father – then hilariously explores how one uncomfortable truth can spread like a plague through innocent bystanders who happen to know our suffering protagonist. Force Majeure changes gears from darkly funny to crushingly sad, and does it with such grace and such ease that you’ll admire Ostlund’s craft while you are lamenting poor Tomas’ impossible situation.

5. Foxcatcher

I love Bennett Miller’s style. His intense, focused character studies put unique individuals (mostly men) under a microscope to reveal recognizable truths hidden in relatable flaws. And there’s no better director working with actors at the moment. Sure, it’s easy to hand a role like Truman Capote to Philip Seymour Hoffman, then sit back and collect the accolades. But look at what Miller did with Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill in Moneyball, then what he does with Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo and Steve Carell here in Foxcatcher. It’s legitimately brilliant.

Foxcatcher is a dark and disturbing fable about… well, it’s about far too many things to cover in this short blurb, touching on the influence of American wealth, the obsession with being the perceived "best" in your chosen field, the need to please a parent (or surpass a sibling), and the lengths individuals will go to just to be recognized. To be noticed. To be heard. You can – and should – see Foxcatcher to appreciate how this spectacular cast burrows into the psyche of some disturbed men. (Tatum, in particular, shows off a darkness I never believed he had.) But peel back each layer, and you’ll find a harrowing human drama that continues to reward the deeper you are willing to dig.

4. Inherent Vice

I wasn’t sure if I liked Paul Thomas Anderson’s Inherent Vice the first time I watched it. All I knew, with a nagging certainty, is that I needed to revisit its world and plug back into its shaggy, rambling universe as soon as humanly possible. So I did, and ended up watching Vice three times over the course of one week. This is unheard of, particularly during the end-of-year crunch, when critics have piles of unseen screeners to work through. It didn’t matter. I kept gravitating back to Inherent Vice, and Anderson’s mesmerizing, loping, hysterical, trippy and beautiful SoCal noir cast its spell over me time after time.

If you try Inherent Vice and tell me you hate it, I’d completely understand. By adapting a Thomas Pynchon novel, Anderson has crafted a loose narrative around a semi-professional private dick (Joaquin Phoenix, brilliant) whose desperate efforts to protect his lost love (Katherine Waterston) put him in touch with an array of colorful and bizarre characters. But Vice is all about capturing a mood, of plugging in to a hazy moment where the 1960s were resisting the 1970s, and California faced multiple identity crises. I adore the atmosphere created by PTA in Inherent Vice, and I consider this to be his funniest, most clever and engaging film since Boogie Nights. In a perfect world, Phoenix and Anderson would be able to make multiple films based around the misadventures of the loopy Larry "Doc" Sportello, because this is a universe I’d love to revisit time after time after time.

3. Selma

Selma knocked me off my feet. Too many biopics view history from a distance, retelling important stories and spotlighting revolutionary figures through the safety of a invisible, protective glass. Ava DuVernay shatters that barrier to place us in Selma, Alabama during a significant time of racial and political upheaval. She immerses us into the diplomatic fight waged by the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., taking us to the front lines of Alabama as well as to the "battlefield" of the Oval Office, where King feverishly negotiated with President Lyndon B. Johnson (Tom Wilkinson). But most important – and here’s where Selma triumphs – DuVernay humanizes these historical figures, using a combination of filmmaking technique, editing prowess and pure acting ability (on the part of her searing cast) to make the message of Selma digestible and clear.

Even without the current racial troubles tearing at our nation, DuVernay’s Selma would stand out as an important, vital and passionate work of art. Given the time that it’s reaching theaters, though, Selma adopts a larger and more relevant mantle. See it now to know where we have been, to recognize what we went through to get to where we are now, and to understand what we must do to pave the way for future generations.

2. Boyhood

Boyhood shouldn’t exist. The fact that it does is reason enough to celebrate. An experiment in cinema’s possibilities, Boyhood -- as you likely know – chronicles a 12-year span in the life of a typical American family. Not much happens, and yet, everything happens, as director Richard Linklater’s camera captures the trials and tribulations (both large and small) that come with growing up. Is it a stunt? Sure, but it’s a gamble that actually paid off, documenting – in a sort of cinematic time capsule – what it meant to be a child during a particular time, in a particular place. Linklater’s rambling drama is rooted by his two mainstay performers, Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette. They give Boyhood a necessary foundation as the director allows the story of young Mason (Ellar Coltrane) to unfold at the pace of an uncertain documentary.

The movie peaks and it fades. It meanders, and it cuts to the quick. It can be melodramatic, and it can be brutally honest. It’s probably this high on my list because I still can’t believe that Linklater attempted, and completed, this seemingly impossible mission. Because as a snapshot glance of a child’s unpredictable life, Boyhood is unprecedented, and unparalleled.

1. Whiplash

No film hit me harder this year than Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash, my absolute favorite film from 2014. And it’s possible that this film just connected with me on emotional levels that won’t move you quite as much. I know that I rewatched the film with my wife, and she couldn’t embrace Whiplash because it made her upset, agitated, frustrated, nervous and sad. Well, yeah. This is a movie about sacrificing pretty much everything just to obtain one thing. But Whiplash succeeded in changing the way I think, both about my own approach to my chosen craft (writing, as opposed to drumming – as in the movie), as well as to the thoughts I have when it comes to parenting.

For that, I have to thank the relentless JK Simmons, who casts an enormous shadow over Whiplash by raising his clenched fist… and raising his voice. "There are no two words in the English language more harmful than good job," Simmons’ domineering instructor tells Miles Teller’s eager-to-please student. And I believe he’s right. At the risk of offending, though, I have to tell Chazelle, Teller and Simmons that when it comes to creating a blistering, compelling, furiously stimulating masterpiece, they all did a good job.

Tied for 11: Nightcrawler, Under The Skin, The One I Love, X-Men: Days of Future Past and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.

The big groups continue to recognize the same big movies as we run up to next year’s Academy Awards nominations. Following both the SAG and Golden Globes nominations, the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) announced the nominees for its 20th Annual Critics’ Choice Movie Awards. The winners will be revealed at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, which will broadcast live on A&E from the Hollywood Palladium on January 15, at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT – which, coincidentally, is the day the Academy Award nominations are announced.

The CCMAs are selected by critics, and have no direct influence on the Oscars. But as I mentioned in the last episode of Awards Blend (our weekly Oscar podcast), recognition by groups like SAG and the BFCA only help a film’s Oscar campaign, and an omission by a key organization like the BFCA can damage a campaign (or, at the very least, set it back).

Birdman led the overall nominees this morning by collecting 13, including Best Picture, Director, Actor, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress and Ensemble. The Grand Budapest Hotel was right behind Birdman with 11 nominations.

Michael Strahan will host this year’s CCMAs. "The Critics’ Choice Movie Awards show paves the way for the upcoming awards season, and the best part is that the winners are selected by the very people who make a living watching and reviewing films," he said. "It doesn’t get much more competitive than that."

Here are the nominees:

BEST PICTURE

Birdman

Boyhood

Gone Girl

The Grand Budapest Hotel

The Imitation Game

Nightcrawler

Selma

The Theory of Everything

Unbroken

Whiplash

BEST ACTOR

Benedict Cumberbatch – The Imitation Game

Ralph Fiennes – The Grand Budapest Hotel

Jake Gyllenhaal – Nightcrawler

Michael Keaton – Birdman

David Oyelowo – Selma

Eddie Redmayne – The Theory of Everything

BEST ACTRESS

Jennifer Aniston – Cake

Marion Cotillard – Two Days, One Night

Felicity Jones – The Theory of Everything

Julianne Moore – Still Alice

Rosamund Pike – Gone Girl

Reese Witherspoon – Wild

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Josh Brolin – Inherent Vice

Robert Duvall – The Judge

Ethan Hawke – Boyhood

Edward Norton – Birdman

Mark Ruffalo – Foxcatcher

J.K. Simmons – Whiplash

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Patricia Arquette – Boyhood

Jessica Chastain – A Most Violent Year

Keira Knightley – The Imitation Game

Emma Stone – Birdman

Meryl Streep – Into the Woods

Tilda Swinton – Snowpiercer

BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS

Ellar Coltrane – Boyhood

Ansel Elgort – The Fault in Our Stars

Mackenzie Foy – Interstellar

Jaeden Lieberher – St. Vincent

Tony Revolori – The Grand Budapest Hotel

Quvenzhane Wallis – Annie

Noah Wiseman – The Babadook

BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE

Birdman

Boyhood

The Grand Budapest Hotel

The Imitation Game

Into the Woods

Selma

BEST DIRECTOR

Wes Anderson – The Grand Budapest Hotel

Ava DuVernay – Selma

David Fincher – Gone Girl

Alejandro G. Inarritu – Birdman

Angelina Jolie – Unbroken

Richard Linklater – Boyhood

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Birdman – Alejandro G. Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr., Armando Bo

Boyhood – Richard Linklater

The Grand Budapest Hotel – Wes Anderson, Hugo Guinness

Nightcrawler – Dan Gilroy

Whiplash – Damien Chazelle

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Gone Girl – Gillian Flynn

The Imitation Game – Graham Moore

Inherent Vice – Paul Thomas Anderson

The Theory of Everything – Anthony McCarten

Unbroken – Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, Richard LaGravenese, William Nicholson

Wild – Nick Hornby

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Birdman – Emmanuel Lubezki

The Grand Budapest Hotel – Robert Yeoman

Interstellar – Hoyte Van Hoytema

Mr. Turner – Dick Pope

Unbroken – Roger Deakins

BEST ART DIRECTION

Birdman – Kevin Thompson/Production Designer, George DeTitta Jr./Set Decorator

The Grand Budapest Hotel – Adam Stockhausen/Production Designer, Anna Pinnock/Set Decorator

Inherent Vice – David Crank/Production Designer, Amy Wells/Set Decorator

Interstellar – Nathan Crowley/Production Designer, Gary Fettis/Set Decorator

Into the Woods – Dennis Gassner/Production Designer, Anna Pinnock/Set Decorator

Snowpiercer – Ondrej Nekvasil/Production Designer, Beatrice Brentnerova/Set Decorator

BEST EDITING

Birdman – Douglas Crise, Stephen Mirrione

Boyhood – Sandra Adair

Gone Girl – Kirk Baxter

Interstellar – Lee Smith

Whiplash – Tom Cross

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

The Grand Budapest Hotel – Milena Canonero

Inherent Vice – Mark Bridges

Into the Woods – Colleen Atwood

Maleficent – Anna B. Sheppard

Mr. Turner – Jacqueline Durran

BEST HAIR & MAKEUP

Foxcatcher

Guardians of the Galaxy

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Into the Woods

Maleficent

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Edge of Tomorrow

Guardians of the Galaxy

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Interstellar

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Big Hero 6

The Book of Life

The Boxtrolls

How to Train Your Dragon 2

The Lego Movie

BEST ACTION MOVIE

American Sniper

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Edge of Tomorrow

Fury

Guardians of the Galaxy

BEST ACTOR IN AN ACTION MOVIE

Bradley Cooper – American Sniper

Tom Cruise – Edge of Tomorrow

Chris Evans – Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Brad Pitt – Fury

Chris Pratt – Guardians of the Galaxy

BEST ACTRESS IN AN ACTION MOVIE

Emily Blunt – Edge of Tomorrow

Scarlett Johansson – Lucy

Jennifer Lawrence – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

Zoe Saldana – Guardians of the Galaxy

Shailene Woodley – Divergent

BEST COMEDY

Birdman

The Grand Budapest Hotel

St. Vincent

Top Five

22 Jump Street

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY

Jon Favreau – Chef

Ralph Fiennes – The Grand Budapest Hotel

Michael Keaton – Birdman

Bill Murray – St. Vincent

Chris Rock – Top Five

Channing Tatum – 22 Jump Street

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

Rose Byrne – Neighbors

Rosario Dawson – Top Five

Melissa McCarthy – St. Vincent

Jenny Slate – Obvious Child

Kristen Wiig – The Skeleton Twins

BEST SCI-FI/HORROR MOVIE

The Babadook

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Interstellar

Snowpiercer

Under the Skin

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

Force Majeure

Ida

Leviathan

Two Days, One Night

Wild Tales

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Citizenfour

Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me

Jodorowsky’s Dune

Last Days in Vietnam

Life Itself

The Overnighters

BEST SONG

Big Eyes – Lana Del Rey – Big Eyes

Everything Is Awesome – Jo Li and the Lonely Island – The Lego Movie

Glory – Common/John Legend – Selma

Lost Stars – Keira Knightley – Begin Again

Yellow Flicker Beat – Lorde – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

BEST SCORE

Alexandre Desplat – The Imitation Game

Johann Johannsson – The Theory of Everything

Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross – Gone Girl

Antonio Sanchez – Birdman

Hans Zimmer – Interstellar

Tis the season for all things Oscar, as the prestigious era of adult dramas, period biopics and Disney musicals gets under way at neighborhood theaters. True, Dumb and Dumber might be the biggest release offered to audiences this weekend. But if you scour the listings for your closest multiplex, you’ll also see that awards hopefuls like Bennett Miller’s Foxcatcher, Jon Stewart’s Rosewater and Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash are opening in more markets – meaning the push for Oscar glory has begun.

We have been tracking the annual awards race up to this point, commenting on Birdman, Gone Girl and Boyhood -- to name just a few gender-driven titles. But with titles like Wild and The Imitation Game readying for release (and the slew of December titles sure to beef up the standings), this is the first time we’re going on record with official Oscar predictions, breaking films down into Frontrunners, Contenders, Dark Horses and Longshots. We still have a number of films left to screen between now and the end of the year. To date, here’s where I think all of the top films stand:

The initial pass of Best Director candidates lacks massive names like Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese or the Coen brothers. But it is possible that this category could break major ground if two female directors (in Angelina Jolie and Ava DuVernay) are able to land nominations for their pictures Unbroken and Selma. The latter just started to screen. The former hasn’t been shown yet. So yes, a lot of things might change on this list, but here’s where I think we are right now.

Easily the toughest category in this year’s Oscar race. There will be at least five worthy Best Actor candidates who’ll be on the outside looking in on the morning of the Oscar announcements. When picking Frontrunners, I have four who I believe are mortal locks. That means there’s one possible slot open for nearly 20 possible contenders. Who’ll survive the lengthy Opening Stage of the awards campaign?

If the Best Actor is stacked, the Best Actress race is rail thin. A few candidates are emerging late, particularly Julianne Moore in the buzzworthy Still Alice. But I’m hoping Rob Marshall’s Into The Woods delivers a few noteworthy female performances, because right now, it’s looking like Reese Witherspoon’s show.

If I had to place my money on one Best Supporting Actor candidate, it would have to be… too soon to tell. As much as I love JK Simmons in the breathtaking Whiplash, that movie hasn’t been setting the indie box office on fire. A few early critics’ groups could boost the profile of these candidates, but for now, it’s a level playing field.

Much like the Best Picture race, I have one lock (in my mind) for the Supporting Actress race, and it’s tied to Boyhood. Patricia Arquette is the emotional anchor of Richard Linklater’s sprawling, 12-year journey, and her sentimental work should be enough to earn the actress her first Oscar nomination. Who will join her?

As of July 2, the year officially is half over. What kind of a year has it been? The summer blockbuster are struggling to surpass Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s The LEGO Movie on the box office charts (though Captain America: The Winter Soldier rode its late-spring release date to a massive financial win). And early film festivals like Sundance, SXSW, Cannes and Tribeca started introducing a few movies into the awards-contending conversation – but we have plenty of time left to tell which features will earn Oscar’s favor.

We decided that today would be a great day to regroup, reflect and single out the best movies we have seen on screen so far in 2014. The outstanding team of Cinema Blend movie writers have chosen to champion movies both massive and small, passionate and intimate. Even by expanding our list to 10, there are titles we had to leave off of the list. Be sure to tell us your favorite 2014 movie (so far) in the comments section below. For now, these are the best movies we’ve seen this year, starting with…

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Wes Anderson’s crippling OCD finally merges seamlessly with his distinct visual palette for The Grand Budapest Hotel, a dizzying sprint through a meticulously orchestrated murder mystery. This is Anderson perfecting every single one of his trademark quirks, from the lyrical dialogue to the brilliant cast hired to recite phrases that could only come from Anderson’s fountain pen. Appearing in an Anderson film always feels like a badge of honor for gifted character actors, and several familiar faces crowd the screen for The Grand Budapest Hotel. Skilled comedians like Edward Norton and Jason Schwartzman prove they understand the ticking-clock nature of Anderson’s prose, and scenes stealers such as Jeff Goldblum, Harvey Keitel, Tilda Swinton and Adrien Brody make the most out of small cameos.

But in Budapest, Anderson finds yet another exceptional lead performance in Ralph Fiennes, and his dry, condescending portrayal of Gustave places this odd character in the Anderson pantheon alongside Royal Tenenbaum (Gene Hackman) and Herman Blume. The Grand Budapest Hotel instantly becomes a tangible place we’ll want to revisit time and time again. It’s one of the year’s best films.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Most people say that summer started with the release of The Amazing Spider-Man 2, but they seem to forget that Marvel kicked off the party a month earlier with Captain America: The Winter Soldier. The sequel to the best solo Marvel movie since Iron Man, it was a film that showed us how important Steve Rogers is to the modern world. As he's catching up to speed with our modern ways, he's dealing with a threat that's his match in strength and strategy. That threat is, in typical comic book fashion, also his supposedly long dead best friend. Go figure.

So why is Captain America: The Winter Soldier one of the best films of the year so far? Because Christopher Marcus and Stephen McFeely weren't content with just giving us another kick-assed Captain America movie. They also had to give us a Captain America movie that could make us think. With a storyline worthy of a 1970's political potboiler, especially when it's questioning the ethics of illegal surveillance tactics, Captain America: The Winter Soldier mixes two scoops of brain food into our Saturday Morning cereal. Considering the fluff in some comic movies these days, we're all the better for it.

The Fault In Our Stars

The Fault In Our Stars isn’t as sad as it could have been. It’s also not as funny, as triumphant, as depressing or as serious as it could have been either. A lesser movie would have manipulated circumstances in order to create more heroic wins and more crushing losses. But The Fault In Our Stars isn’t interested in anything but honesty. So, it ambles along like real life. It lets its characters smile with their friends, cry with their loved ones, and appreciate the last good day, even if they don’t know it’s all downhill from there.

The Fault In Our Stars works. It’s carefully and cleverly adapted so as to keep the spirit of John Green’s popular book while still streamlining it for a film audience. It’s perfectly cast, with leads who really understood how to humanize their characters, and it’s perfectly bolstered by great supporting players who stole scenes without bowling everyone else over (Laura Dern, especially). With a great self-awareness and wonderful emotional balance, The Fault In Our Stars is at the top of the 2014 pecking order, and it wouldn’t be a shock to watch it stay there.

Under The Skin

You can't watch Under The Skin passively. The movie stalks you, looks over your shoulder, curious and seductive. The alien played by Scarlett Johansson lures helpless Earth men to an endless black hole somewhere in this, or another, dimension. And it's entirely unclear what happens to these men, some floating in the abyss, some dead, some comatose.

Of course, these men are us: experiencing Jonathan Glaser's first movie since 2004's Birth is like slipping into a bottomless hole and hoping to adapt to a brave new environment. Mica Levi's unnerving score adds to the illusion that nothing is right. This is the apocalypse, and other worlds have sent their horseman. Glaser's camera captures sights so pregnant with ideas that they are themselves compelling shorts. A moment at beachside with a young infant is breathtaking in its majesty and matter-of-fact brutality. And a late night rendezvous between Johansson and a young disfigured man gives us a striking moment of kindness, a brief minute where suddenly, across the cosmos, two lifeforms have found something in common. It's the least we could expect from a film, the idea of two people coming together in spite of the obvious camera, changing the rules of existence, providing at once a brief glimpse of the babylon existing well outside of human understanding.

The LEGO Movie

There is a fascinating complexity in LEGO building blocks. Used by kids and adults alike, they are simply toys that, when fit and clicked together in a seemingly infinite number of ways, can be used to express unbridled imagination and originality. Abstract as that sounds, it was filmmakers Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s responsibility to infuse the February-released The LEGO Movie with exactly that idea – and they accomplished this feat in magnificent fashion.

Featuring a voice cast that includes some of the funniest actors working today – from Chris Pratt to Charlie Day to Nick Offerman – The LEGO Movie captures an intense sense of nostalgia, triggering memories of fun playing on your bedroom floor surrounded by plastic pieces. But it also beautifully communicates a valuable message about individuality, conformity, creativity and teamwork. At its core, the plot is simple (an ordinary guy goes on a larger than life hero’s quest), but what Lord and Miller are able to do with it – transporting us to whole new worlds and introducing us to all kinds of wild characters – is nothing short of magic. The LEGO Movie is sweet, hilarious, beautifully animated, and, above all, AWESOME.

Only Lovers Left Alive

His entire career, indie auteur Jim Jarmusch has defiantly and delicately danced to the beat of his own drum. He brought us the unconventional samurai tale Ghost Dog, and the mind-bending Western with Dead Man. With Only Lovers Left Alive, this cerebral filmmaker gives his own spin to the vampire genre, making it richer, funnier, and--can you believe--even sexier.

Only Lovers Left Alive stars Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston, two actors with limbs so lean and long, skin so pale, and sex appeal so aloof that it's shocking they'd not been cast to play vampires sooner. They are Eve and Adam, lovers reunited as Adam falls into despair over humanity's failure to advance. In many respects, Only Lovers Left Alive is a hangout movie. While seeking blood and avoiding detection do factor in, there's no real thrust to its story. But Jarmusch weaves a world so rich with character and detail that we're happy to hang with these blood-swilling vamps for all eternity. Only Lovers Left Alive oozes with sensuality that draws you and makes you want to curl up in its world. But aside from its pitch-perfect performances, impossibly cool soundtrack, and decadent decay, Only Lovers Left Alive shines bright with an insightful humor that makes it a delightful--though dark--escape.

Chef

Even for those of us whose cooking abilities are limited to the instructions on the back of the box, Chef hits home as a story about a man in need of personal re-invention. Movies often tend to focus on a character's rise to the top. But what happens when they reach their goal? Enter Jon Favreau's character, Carl Casper, a successful chef who's oblivious to the drastic life and career shift that's headed his way when one bad review throws everything into orbit. Chef is a story of Casper's efforts to rebuild himself, not from the ground up but from a less stable place, with more to lose but plenty to gain. In its efforts to tell that story, Chef offers an inside look at the culinary arts from one character's perspective, celebrating family and a sampling of American food culture, and emphasizing the necessary nurturing that creativity and passion require.

As writer, director and star, Jon Favreau succeeds in keeping Chef's story simple and entertaining, but also especially meaningful as we see Carl Casper attempt to reinvent himself as a chef and father. Chef also teases and torments us with some of the most delicious looking food to grace the big screen in a long time. See Chef, but don't watch it on an empty stomach!

Boyhood

Boyhood shouldn’t exist. There are too many obstacles – mentally, physically and spiritually – that should prevent a movie like Boyhood from happening. The fact that it’s screening anywhere is a movie-making miracle. And the fact that Boyhood also happens to be amazing is just a gift from the cinematic gods we simply can’t overlook. Filmed once a year over the course of 12 years, Richard Linklater’s experimental Boyhood tracks the progress of a contemporary nuclear family as children Mason (Ellar Coltrane) and Samantha (Lorelei Linklater, the director’s daughter) age from pre-school to young adulthood.

Linklater has created a fictional bunch, though the bumps they encounter along this spectacular journey are incredibly – and painfully – realistic. It’s impossible not to see traces of ourselves, and of people we know and love, in the writing and performances captured by Boyhood. Without having to serve one long, overarching story, Boyhood smartly comments on small, personal milestones in the lives of these characters. And stylistically, Linklater accomplishes a magic trick, circumventing all of the reasons why this project could have stalled out over the years to deliver a panoramic snapshot of a young life, well-lived. Boyhood is a triumph, a breathtaking cinematic achievement that celebrates the timeless value found in art, culture and family. One of the year’s greatest films, Boyhood cannot be missed.

Edge of Tomorrow

Put simply, Edge of Tomorrow delivers. And Doug Liman's film offers a lot more than "just" a big name star and lots of explosions. Set during a world war against an alien invasion, the story has Tom Cruise's William Cage caught in a time-loop where the day resets every time he dies. Cage isn't much of a soldier when he first drops into the battlefield, but give him dozens and dozens of tries at it and, as you might imagine, he starts to figure it out. What works so well about Edge of Tomorrow is that it embraces the humor of the Groundhog Day-like scenario, while also managing to keep the action and suspense rolling as Cruise's character teams with Emily Blunt's Rita Vrataski, a veteran soldier. Cruise not only does well at maintaining his action star status in the movie, but his acting talent is put to good use as we see the once chatty but not very battle-savvy Cage evolve into a full-blown warrior with the assistance of Blunt's tough-as-nails Rita.

Going into 2014, Edge of Tomorrow wasn't exactly high (ok, at all) on our list of anticipated films. But it proved to be a pleasant surprise, not only in being a truly fun summer blockbuster, but also offering a satisfying story, filled with action, laughs and alien mayhem.

Snowpiercer

South Korean director Bong Joon-ho grabbed our attention with his 2006 monster movie The Host. Before we'd got a beat on his style, he doled out 2009's Mother, a crime thriller that's final moments still haunt us for their bloodless monstrosity and simplicity. Now, he's bringing us his English-language debut Snowpiercer, about one train that protects the last of mankind against an unforgiving ice age.

Stuffing his cast with stars from all around the globe (Chris Evans, Song Kang-ho, John Hurt, Octavia Spencer, Tilda Swinton, Ko Ah-Sung), Joon-ho intrigued us in preproduction. Concept art teased a richly detailed world of wonder and brutal class disparity. Before long, our expectations were so great, it seemed no movie could truly meet them. And yet Snowpiercer did. Joon-ho masterfully unfolds his story and its world one train car at a time. Along the way, his impeccable cast sculpts captivating arcs as their characters struggle to survive one bloody battle after another in a merciless class war. It's a thrilling film that demands you attention from its first frames, and rewards its audience with heart-pounding turns, breathtaking action, and thought-provoking subtext.

There are flashier movies out this summer. There are movies with bigger stars. But none of these will chill and thrill you like Snowpiercer.

When The Grand Budapest Hotel broke the limited release record for the highest grossing opening weekend, it was only a sign of things to come. The film has thrilled critics and fans for over a month now, and has made a big enough splash to possibly be remembered come awards season this fall. Much like Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street, The Grand Budapest Hotel now shares the honor of being its auteur’s highest grossing film.

Variety has confirmed that the film has passed the $100 million level, signifying the grandest grossing for an Anderson picture. (The title was previously held by The Royal Tenenbaums, which earned $71 million in its 2001-2002 worldwide release.) A key factor to his film’s success, like any good big budget blockbuster, has been its overseas gross – which is at 62% of the film’s total take. (Which is behind The Darjeeling Limited’s 66% figure.)

So what’s to be learned from this success story? One way to look at it is that Wes Anderson’s long climb to mass appeal has made it to the top, which isn’t too much of a stretch considering how long his films have been around and how good of a reputation they have maintained. (The Darjeeling Limited seems to be the only one anyone seems to have massive criticism for, and that’s pretty much cancelled out by the mass market success of The Fantastic Mr. Fox.) Another angle is that since Anderson opened this film’s scope to include a more international cast and story, the marketing appeal in other countries has been better spread across the world. After all, his previous films did have a mostly "Americana meets European New Wave" feel to them, which only gets you half way to the audiences across the world.

Whichever way you look at it, The Grand Budapest Hotel is a big deal in the world of Wes Anderson. It’s a sign that his unique vision and style have found a successful niche to occupy, and that his style has finally made itself a fully integrated part of the filmmaking landscape of today. No longer is he the outsider at Touchstone who landed a young, untested lead and

[[ ahref http new why-bill-murray-wrote-wes-anderson-25-000-check-help-make-rushmore-40006.html www.cinemablend.com ]] Bill Murray to anchor his first big studio film. This film’s success will either serve to reinforce his current mode of thought or to embolden him to do something even more different and out there. Whatever path he may choose to embark on from this point, you have to admit that the man’s earned it. After all, you know you’ve arrived when SNL launches an effective parody of your style as a gag.

[[ ahref http new why-bill-murray-wrote-wes-anderson-25-000-check-help-make-rushmore-40006.html www.cinemablend.com ]]

The Grand Budapest Hotel is currently playing in theaters near you.

With so many titles to choose from, Netflix Instant's library can be overwhelming. So we bring you this biweekly column as a tool to cut through the clutter by highlighting some now streaming titles that pair well with the latest theatrical releases.

Looking to The Grand Budapest Hotel, Veronica Mars and Grand Piano for inspiration, we've pulled together a selection of crime-centered cinema, from madcap murder mysteries to female-fronted detective tales, and chilling psychological thrillers.

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Wes Anderson's latest centers on the affable and antagonizing Gustave H, the consummate concierge of the titular hotel. When one of his former lovers dies under mysterious circumstances, Gustave calls on the help of his loyal lobby boy Zero to spirit away the inheritance she left him, and then clear his name. Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori, Saorsie Ronan, Willem Dafoe and Jeff Goldblum star; Wes Anderson directs. Read our review here.

Who says murder mysteries need to be dramas? If you want a dash of suspense with a healthy helping of laughs, you'll love these three crime comedies.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988) Inspired by the comedy noirs of Hollywood's Golden Age, this animated (in part) adventure pairs a cantankerous private eye with a cartoon rabbit named Roger, when the latter is suspected of murder and the former is hired to clear him. Combining live-action actors with colorful cartoon characters, this film is an astonishing feast for the eyes and imagination. Plus, it's still a hell of a lot of fun. Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd and Joanna Cassidy star. Charles Fleischer, Lou Hirsch, and Kathleen Turner lend their voices. Robert Zemeckis directs.

Charade (1963) For something more classically old school Hollywood, give this charming and unconventional romance a whirl. Audrey Hepburn stars as a widow whose husband's murder makes her a target for three treasure hunting scoundrels. When a dashing Cary Grant appears and offers to play hero, she's soon swooning. But should she trust him? Walter Matthau, James Coburn, and George Kennedy co-star; Stanley Donan directs.

Clue (1985) This is the movie all movies inspired by board games should aspire to be. You know the characters, Professor Plum, Mrs. Peacock, Mrs. White, Miss Scarlet, Colonel Mustard and Mr. Green. But can you figure out who killed Mr. Body? Played for laughs, this whodunit is stuffed with gags and boasts an incredibly funny cast. Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Martin Mull and Michael McKean star; Jonathan Lyn directs.

Grand Piano

Elijiah Wood stars as a concert pianist who is returning to the spotlight five years after a flubbed performance derailed his career. As if nerves weren't enough to deal with, he takes to the stage only to discover a deranged audience member will kill him if he plays a single wrong note. John Cusack and Kerry Bishé co-star; Eugenio Mira directs. Read our review here.

There's a twisted kind of glee that comes from watching a frightening film that will mess with your mind. Embrace this mind-bending with a self-made marathon that features a DIY dentist, a tormented moviemaker, and one of the most terrifying serial killers to ever grace the silver screen.

Marathon Man (1976) Thomas "Babe" Levy was a mild-mannered New Yorker with an exotic girlfriend, a great education, and a jogging hobby. But when his spy brother rolls into town, Babe is violently thrust into a world of espionage, intrigue, torture and Nazi war criminals. Dustin Hoffman stars. Roy Schneider and Laurence Olivier co-star; John Schlesinger directs.

Berberian Sound Studio (2012) Critically heralded in its illustrious film festival run, this chilling film blurs the line between reality and art by telling the story of a sound designer working on a horror movie in 1970s Italy. While designing a creepy soundscape, his mind wanders to the skeletons in his own closet. Toby Jones, Fatima Mohamed and Cosimo Fusco star; Peter Strickland directs.

The Silence of the Lambs (1991) Few horror movies win the notice of the Academy Awards, but this one won five Oscars for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director and Best Picture. Academy Award-winner Jodie Foster stars as FBI trainee Clarice Starling, who is tasked with interviewing notorious cannibal and master psychiatrist Hannibal Lecter in hopes he might help the authorities track down a deranged killer who skins his victims. Academy Award-winner Anthony Hopkins co-stars; Jonathan Demme directs.

Veronica Mars

Inspired by the beloved TV series, financed by the headline-grabbing Kickstarter campaign, this detective story centers on the eponymous Veronica Mars. Picking up years after the show left off, she's left behind her twisted hometown and her amateur sleuthing. But when an old friend is accused of murder, Veronica is on the case before you can say "We used to be friends." Kristen Bell, Jason Dohring, and Enrico Colantoni star; Rob Thomas directs. Read our review here.

Who needs a dick to be one? A private dick that is! Dive into some delectably dark mysteries with a trio of fearless female sleuths. Whether she's a hacker with an iconic bit of body art, a cop wading through her small town's secrets, or an investigator with a unique insight into the mind of a serial killer, these women are sure to thrill with their tales of murder, mayhem, and madness. And just like the Veronica Mars TV show, each of these offers many hours of entertainment.

Dragon Tattoo Trilogy: Extended Edition (2010) Based on the best-selling Stieg Larsson novels that set the world on fire, this crime trilogy out of Sweden centers on the tattooed hacker Lisbeth Salander and her exploits with journalist Mikael Blomkvist. Netflix offers a special expansion of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest, fleshing out storylines and scenes that were cut for the theatrical releases. Noomi Rapace and Michael Nyqvist star; Niels Arden Oplev and Daniel Alfredson direct.

Top of the Lake (2013) This celebrated mini-series made its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2013, before awing audiences and winning Elisabeth Moss the Golden Globe for Best Actress. Over seven riveting episodes, directors Jane Campion and Gerard Lee weave a rich mystery revolving around a pregnant 12-year-old girl who has gone missing. Moss stars as the detective dedicated to finding her. Thomas M. Wright, Peter Mullan and Holly Hunter co-star.

The Fall (2013) Gillian Anderson fronts this crime-drama mini-series as Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson, a whip smart cop brought in to solve the case of a Belfast serial killer who targets professional young women. This series is deeply chilling and addictive. Don't be surprised if you rip through all five episodes of the first season in one sitting. Jamie Dornan co-stars.

You don't know the name Tony Revolori yet, but that's all about to change. After a string of television roles, the 17-year-old Californian has been plucked from relative obscurity to co-star opposite Ralph Fiennes in Wes Anderson's most ambitious effort yet, The Grand Budapest Hotel.

In the effervescent murder mystery, Revolori plays Zero, an orphan and political refugee who has found a home in the fictional European nation of Zubrowka, and its stunning resort, The Grand Budapest Hotel. As the hotel's new lobby boy, Zero finds a mentor in the eccentric concierge Gustave H (Fiennes), as well as romance with a lovely baker named Agatha, played by Saoirse Ronan. While a horrible war brews in Zubrowka and a murder mystery envelops the Grand Budapest, Zero, Gustave and Agatha team up for an incredible adventure.

After dazzling at the Berlin International Film Festival, The Grand Budapest Hotel is coming to theater in the States. To toast its theatrical debut, several members of its ensemble cast came to a posh hotel in New York to answer questions about this intoxicating Anderson adventure. When I sat down with Revolori and Ronan, I was immediately impressed with how at ease the pair were, not just in front of the camera, but with each other. As you can see in the interview below--where we talk about everything from their first meeting to who Tony might have lost his role to--they share a warm chemistry and sweet camaraderie. It's something that translated beautifully to the movie, and they shared with me why.

Revolori and Ronan agreed that they clicked with each other and with Fiennes. But chemistry is such a key part to the film's success, I was surprised to learn that none of Revolori's auditions involved meeting with Fiennes at all. Instead he'd met his co-star in Berlin, just two weeks before production began. According to Revolori, they hit it off right away. As for Ronan, she didn't cross paths with her onscreen love interest until The Grand Budapest shoot was underway in the little town of Gorlitz, Germany.

In casting the role of Zero, Anderson has admitted he searched far and wide. Initially, he was looking for actors from Lebanon and Israel to play the part of the young man from a fictional Middle Eastern nation. However, his search eventually led to Los Angeles, where Revolori, who has Guatemalan heritage, contended for the role against his own brother. By his second audition, he and his brother Mario Revolori were the finalists for Zero. While this sibling rivalry may have been a tough situation for some brothers, Revolori insists, "He's great. He's talking to me…I love him! He's doing really good--"

Then Ronan cut in with a quip and a cheeky grin, "He doesn't love you anymore."

"No, he doesn't," Revolori joked, "But I love him. You know so much!"

As I gathered my things to leave, I asked for my own curiosity if either of the two got to try the film's fetishized treat, the chocolate courtesan. Ronan nodded happily, telling me she had, and assuring me it was just as delectable as it looked onscreen. But my heart sunk for Revolori when he told me he'd stayed away from the treat because he--poor boy--is allergic to chocolate.

You can see these two in action in the clip below:

The Grand Budapest opens March 7th. Look for more about the film this week, including our spectacular video interview with Willem Dafoe and Jeff Goldblum.

After all the Oscar talk of who won, who lost, who stole the show, and how the show ran, maybe you're exhausted on 12 Years A Slave, Gravity, Her, Dallas Buyers Club, Nebraska, Philomena, American Hustle, The Wolf Of Wall Street and Captain Phillips. So, how about we look ahead to 2015?

Because it's never too soon.

There's a barrage of high-profile projects coming out in the next 10 months that can qualify for the Academy Awards, but which 10 features do we feel are fighting fit for Oscar? Sure, most of these are sight unseen. But after all the award season predictions and Oscar watching, we think we've nailed down 10 films that are ripe for a Best Picture nod next year.

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori, Saoirse Ronan, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Harvey Keitel, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Jude Law and Tilda Swinton.

Director: Wes Anderson

Release Date: March 7th, 2014

Why It Could Win: Anderson has been Academy Awards-nominated three times, twice for Best Original Screenplay (Moonrise Kingdom and The Royal Tenenbaums) and once for Best Animated Feature (Fantastic Mr. Fox). The Grand Budapest Hotel is his most elaborate and ambitious production yet, and we suspect the Academy will take notice and pay tribute. It's got a spectacular and star-stacked cast, an earnest nostalgia for old school Hollywood fare, as well as a whimsical story of romance and regret. What's not to love? Plus, as we've seen with Her's nomination, this Academy is not so stodgy as it once was.

Noah

Cast: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, and Anthony Hopkins

Director: Darren Aronofsky

Release Date: March 28th, 2014

Why It Could Win: On paper this biblical pic is pretty tough to beat. Writer-director Aronofsky has an enviable record with the Academy since 2000, when his second film Requiem for a Dream earned an Oscar nod for Ellen Burstyn. In 2009, The Wrestler wrangled nominations for Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei. Two years later, Natalie Portman won for Black Swan, which also boasted a Best Director and Best Picture nod. Now, I won't go so far as to say Aronofsky's due at this point. But no matter how daring his dramas, he's made the Academy recognize him. A nomination is almost guaranteed. But with a cast of Oscar-winners onboard, Noah could be his big winner.

Devil's Knot

Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Colin Firth, Amy Ryan, Mireille Enos and Alessandro Nivola

Director: Atom Egoyan

Release Date: May 9th, 2014

Why It Could Win: Egoyan has had two previous brushes with Oscar, both in 1997 when he earned nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Director for The Sweet Hereafter. Since then, his brand of sensual crime drama has largely been ignored by the Academy. But this time he's sinking his teeth into a twisted true crime story that has drawn headlines for decades. It's sure to pique Academy members' interest, and with a cast made up of Oscar winners (Witherspoon, Firth and Ryan) as well as actor to watch Dane DeHaan, Devil's Knot could prove darkly enticing enough to get Egoyan a Best Picture nomination at last. At the very least, it should lock down some acting nods.

Million Dollar Arm

Cast: Jon Hamm, Alan Arkin, Lake Bell and Aasif Mandvi

Director: Craig Gillespie

Release Date: May 16th, 2014

Why It Could Win: Often the Oscars have one pick that's decidedly sentimental. Pushing hard to win that spot is this biopic about a sports agent who looks for baseball's next great pitcher in India, testing out cricket players in a game show format. Watching the trailer, it's easy to recall sports dramas like Jerry Maguire and Moneyball, both movies that received multiple Oscar nominations, including nods for Best Picture. Don't get me wrong: this movie from the director of Mr. Woodcock won't win. But it has a good shot at being next year's Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, a movie that's earnest but ultimately unworthy of the company it keeps on Oscar night.

Foxcatcher

Cast: Channing Tatum, Anthony Michael Hall, Steve Carell and Mark Ruffalo

Director: Bennett Miller

Release Date: TBD

Why It Could Win: Speaking of Moneyball, its director is following up on that six-time nominated biopic with another, also focusing on a compelling sports-centered tale. But don't expect statistics or an uplifting narrative of a father rediscovering the importance of family. Foxcatcher will unfold the tragic story of Olympic wrestler Mark Schultz, and how his relationship with John duPont led to unspeakable destruction. Between its premise, the true story angle and the prestige Miller brings, Foxfire looks great on paper. It also offers challenging roles for Tatum and Carell. But will this casting gamble pay off? A shift in release dates --from December 2013 to eventually 2014--has us less certain than we were last fall. But Foxcatcher still looks to be a contender.

Interstellar

Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Michael Caine and John Lithgow

Director: Christopher Nolan

Release Date: November 7th, 2014

Why It Could Win: The Oscars overlooked each Dark Knight as a Best Picture contender, but offered Inception the coveted nod. When it comes to genre movies, the Academy can be pretty pretentious. But this year, they rained seven awards--including Best Director--on Gravity. So another hard-sci-fi thriller from a visionary helmer could be poised to break into Best Picture once more! If anyone can make that happen it'd be Christopher Nolan with Interstellar, a movie inspired by worm hole concepts by theoretical physicist Kip Thorne. And of course a cast this loaded with Oscar winners and nominees won't hurt Nolan's chances.

Fury

Cast: Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Jon Bernthal and Michael Pena

Director: David Ayer

Release Date: November 14th, 2014

Why It Could Win: David Ayer broke onto the scene with his third film End of Watch in 2012. The take-no-prisoners cop thriller was shocking and poignant, offering its writer-director a double dose of stellar opportunities. One is the fierce Arnold Schwarzenegger action flick Sabotage. The other is this World War II drama about a tank crew on a dangerous mission behind enemy lines. The Academy loves a good war movie (Saving Private Ryan, Apocalypse Now, War Horse, Lincoln). Having seen what he brought to the cop-drama genre, I believe Ayer is primed to deliver them one.

Inherent Vice

Cast: Sasha Pieterse, Jena Malone, Joaquin Phoenix, Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, Reese Witherspoon, Owen Wilson and Maya Rudolph

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

Release Date: December 12th, 2014

Why It Could Win: Inspired by Thomas Pynchon's novel of the same name, Inherent Vice is one we've seen nothing of, but expect great things from. Why? Um, did you see it's directed by Paul Thomas Anderson? From Boogie Nights to Magnolia, There Will Be Blood to The Master, his movies have been snatching Oscar nominations for decades. Notably only There Will Be Blood earned a Best Picture nod, but like that drama this one focuses on a man fueled by a relentless tenacity in his quest. Set in 1970s Los Angeles, Inherent Vice's hero is also fueled by drugs. But if it doesn't get too weird, Anderson could be in the sweet seats come Oscar night.

Exodus

Cast: Christian Bale, Joel Edgerton, Aaron Paul, John Turturro, Sigourney Weaver and Ben Kingsley

Director: Ridley Scott

Release Date: December 12th, 2014

Why It Could Win: Sure, the Academy has a snooty bias against genres like horror and science-fiction, but when Scott plays it straight, he tends to get great returns, as proven by Best Director nominations for Thelma & Louise, Gladiator and Black Hawk Down. This time, he's not only going straight drama, he's going full on biblical with the tale of Moses. Tthe Academy has been known to sing the praises of a blockbuster bible tale, giving The Ten Commandments, The Robe and Ben-Hur Best Picture nods. So this period piece could well put the prolific director back in Oscar's good graces.

Into The Woods

Cast: Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, James Corden, Anna Kendrick, Chris Pine and Emily Blunt

Director: Rob Marshall

Release Date: December 25th, 2014

Why It Could Win: You know what Oscar likes? A big showy musical. And who better to give it to them than Rob Marshall, director of the six-time Academy Award winner Chicago. Yup, one of those was Best Picture. And for his return to movie musicals--following the painfully forgettable Nine--Marshall has stuffed his cast to the brim with adored talent, including 18-time Oscar nominee Meryl Streep. The Broadway show from James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim already provides a sensational story. Add the heavy dose of star power and the panache of many, many song numbers, Into The Woods could already be called a frontrunner.

Watching the films of Wes Anderson, its easy to get sucked into their pastel-colored worlds where people are childish yet intellectual. Well, in his latest, The Grand Budapest Hotel, the imaginative writer-director built the entire fictional nation of Zubrowka. There in the titular resort, the taciturn yet tender Gustave H rules, a concierge of great class and crassness who gets entangled in a tale of intrigue when one of his many lovers dies in mysterious circumstances. Under suspicion, he must depend on his ever-faithful lobby boy Zero to aid him in clearing his name.

When Anderson wrote the role of Gustave H, he had only one actor in mind: the internationally acclaimed Ralph Fiennes. The English thespian has earned Oscar nominations for celebrated dramas like Schindler's List and The English Patient. He became an icon as the vicious Lord Voldemort of the Harry Potter movies. Now, for his first endeavor with Anderson, he takes on a character who is full of contradictions, and absolutely affable.

You can get some sense of Gustave in this charming clip from The Grand Budapest:

Last week, I had the good fortune to sit down with Fiennes to discuss his work in Grand Budapest Hotel, and his inspirations for his portrayal of Gustave H. During our talk, Fiennes admitted he'd spent a great deal of time figuring out the untold backstory of this eccentric concierge. And then he delighted me by breaking into the character right before my very eyes!

Watch it all below:

"Comedy is full of contradictions in characters lurching without hardly any space and no obvious psychological coherence from one thing to the next," he told me, "Actually, that's more like life I think. I think sometimes the trick is to just do it. And too much analysis doesn't help you, you just got to go one minute up there, the next minute down there. That contrast has in it potential to be funny."

In working on his character, Fiennes wrote what he called "a little autobiography of Gustave." He'd forgotten some of its details, but smiled at the thought of it. Then we discussed the consummate concierge's bond with his lobby boy, Zero (Tony Revolori). In the film, Zero is a young man with no home or family and an earnest dedication to The Grand Budapest and Gustave. Their relationship is the one that defines the film. Asked what sparks their bond, Fiennes offered:

For my final question, I had to ask if Fiennes has carried away any bit of The Grand Budapest's elaborate world with him. He did. Fiennes kept the little ring that Gustave wears and cherishes, a memento of his time in Zubrowka and its most glamorous resort.

The Grand Budapest opens March 7th. Look for more about the film this week, including our video interviews with Tony Revolori, Saoirse Ronan, Willem Dafoe and Jeff Goldblum.