After having seen all eight Best Picture nominees, here's my ranking

[Everlong]

This is the first year in quite a while where I've managed to see all eight nominees for the Best Picture award. I've watched them over the course of the past month or so. Gotta say, it was one heck of a year for movies, especially considering I feel there were three or four more that could have easily made this list.

Here's how I'd rank them:

8. American Sniper
There's been a whole lot of media hooplah over this film, specifically over the issue of whether Chris Kyle was whitewashed as a protagonist. I can't really speak to that as I haven't done a whole lot of research into what the guy was actually like, but judging the film for itself, it didn't seem anything more than an average war movie to me. It was enjoyable enough and had some tense moments, but it didn't really do anything new and it's not a movie that's going to stay with me, really.

7. The Imitation Game
With some stronger writing, this movie probably would be higher up my list. The story of breaking the Enigma code is fascinating, and Turing is a really interesting character study. Plus, it had a fantastic score. But there were some really awful moments of cliche and predictable plot devices used throughout this movie that kept it from being an excellent movie and limited it it to being "good."

6. The Theory of Everything
Here I feel like the source material isn't as interesting as The Imitation Game, but it was done in a slightly higher-quality fashion. Better writing really made the acting performances shine through here, and you have to admire the physical commitment it takes for Eddie Redmayne to pull this role off.

5. Selma
The last of the four biopics on this list, this is the one that definitely formed the best emotional connection, I think. The interactions between MLK and LBJ in this movie were especially excellent, and David Oyelowo turned in a performance that was better than at least two of the people that were actually nominated for Best Actor, it's a shame he hasn't gotten more recognition. The final scene of the movie in which he gives his speech in Montgomery was absolutely outstanding.

4. The Grand Budapest Hotel
One of the most charming movies I've seen in quite some time, and again, it's ridiculous that Ralph Fiennes wasn't nominated for his role in this movie... he was fantastic. Brilliant writing, gorgeous sets and shooting and colors, just a pleasure to watch. In other years this could easily prove to be my choice for Best Picture, but this was a particularly strong year at the top.

3. Whiplash
If I were to choose a movie to watch again out of these eight right now, it'd be Whiplash in a heartbeat. There are some portions where it gets a little too unrealistic for me (car crash scene comes to mind), but the pacing and shooting in this is outstanding, and J.K. Simmons turns in what is in my opinion the most unforgettable acting performance of the year. Incredibly intense and great movie.

2. Birdman
This is the most original movie I've seen in quite some time. The single-shot approach to the movie makes you really feel like it's live theater, and gives the movie a pace that never lets up. Fantastic acting performances all around, and quite possibly the best directing job of the year. It also portrays the struggle of actors to balance art and success better than any book or movie I've ever read/seen. Finally, the magical realism element of the movie is a breath of fresh air... you don't get that kind of thing a whole lot in American cinema.

1. Boyhood
I think this movie will stick with me the longest out of all the ones I saw this year. Not only is the scope of the filmmaking process immense (12 years of planning and filming! holy shit), but the simplistic nature of the story and shooting really gives the movie a life of its own and lets it speak for itself without having to be too heavy-handed with the script. This is living, breathing art at its best, and for my money, the best coming of age story I've ever seen on screen.


Agree? Disagree?

[The Legend]

I haven't seen a single one of these films yet. I hope to see most of them soon.

[Hanley!]

Personally, I'd swap Birdman and Boyhood. I loved both, but Birdman edges it for me. Just on the strength of the idea itself along with the fantastic script. But I wouldn't argue about it, because both films are fantastic. I'm hoping both do really well at the Academy Awards.

Your list seems pretty spot on in general.

[prophet]

I haven't seen Selma but here's the rest of my list!

1. The Grand Budapest Hotel
2. Birdman
3. Whiplash
4. American Sniper
5. The Imitation Game
6. Boyhood
7. The Theory of Everything

I don't know whether it's controversial of me to have Boyhood so low considering how acclaimed it is both critically and on the forum but yeah, that's how I rank them in terms of how much I enjoyed them.

[SortaCreative]

1. Birdman

Wonderful film. Refreshing in the current Hollywood scene.

2. Theory of Everything

As much as Eddie Redmayne deserves accolades for his performance, so does Felicty Jones, who I think steals the entire film. Fascinating watch.

3. The Imitation Game

I've been interested in Alan Turing for a long time, so this was a treat for me. I'm probably ranking this higher than it needs to be.

4. Whiplash

Almost solely on the performance of J.K Simmons who is fantastic. You can't keep your eyes off him. Pretty much tied for third.

5. The Grand Budapest Hotel

I'm not really a fan of Wes Anderson but I can't really pin point why. I just never seem to fully enjoy his work. I'm not really a fan of The Royal Tenenbaums or Moonrise Kingdom. I felt similar with The Grand Budapest Hotel but I enjoyed it more than his previous works.

I've not seen the others yet.

[UTK]

The only one I've seen is Grand Budapest, but I've seen it three times and it's by far my favorite movie of 2014 (out of the ones I saw.)