IN's Most Anticipated Films of 2014: Movies You Need to See – PART I 

It’s the beginning of the New Year, and you know what that means for us Down Underners (yeah, you heard me. It’ll catch on, mark my words): It’s going to be hot. Like, sweltering, dead-bats-raining hot. Thankfully, it also means one other thing: Movies. It is the time when a slew of independent, Oscar-contending films of last year finally reach our eagerly anticipating shores, no longer being the ever-distant horizon that eludes our grasps. 

“But there are so many movies, Howie. Which ones should we see?”

Why, all of them, of course! But just in case you are forced to narrow down your choices (because you know, you have a life), we’ve got you covered. 

Here are some of the films we’re looking forward to the most, in chronological order: 

Stories We Tell

 If there’s one documentary you’re going watch this year (although you should probably watch more), it should be this one. In her quest to discover the truth about her deceased mother, Canadian director Sarah Polley (Take This Waltz) conducts a series of interviews – or “interrogations”, as she puts it – with her family and friends, only to uncover a shocking family secret. Introspective, poignant and funny, Stories We Tell is a cleverly-crafted and multi-layered documentary that not only looks at how the truth is often elusive and subject to the fragility nature of our memories, but also explores the power of narrative, and how we tell the stories of our lives.  

There is a trailer available for this documentary, but having seen it, I think you’ll get optimum enjoyment of the film if you go in blind. I suggest that you don’t watch the trailer or read anything more about it beyond this little blurb.  Trust me, it’s worth it. Follow my advice, and I eagerly await your thank you letters. 

THE DEETS: Showings will be held from 6 to 19 of January at the Somerville and the Joondalup Pines outdoor theatres as part of the Perth International Arts Festival. Click here for more information on tickets etc.

 Her

Now this trailer I can show you. From Spike Jonze, director of mind- and genre- bending films such as Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, and Where The Wild Things Are, comes a mind- and genre- bending sci-fi/romance that takes place in the plausibly near future. Her follows the story of Joaquin Phoenix’s (The Master) Theodore Twombly, an introverted man who falls in love with Samantha, an AI operating system (think of her as a super-advanced Siri), voiced by the charming Scarlett Johansson (Lost In Translation). The rest of the cast includes the great Amy Adams (American Hustle), the funny Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation), and Rooney Mara (Ain’t Them Bodies Saints).                                  

Yes, I know, it sounds like a wacky premise, but go in with an open mind, and let the film do the convincing for you. A few minutes in and you’ll be completely engulfed in Jonze’s world and realise that it’s not such a crazy idea at all. And besides, you thought Gravity had a bizzaro premise, and look how that turned out?

THE DEETS: Advance screenings are being held at Luna Leederville right now, but the film will be shown in theatres near you from the 14th of January. 

Inside Llewyn Davis

The Coen Brothers. Folk Music. Marcus Mumford of Mumford and Sons. That guy you may recognize from Drive. Carey Mulligan. Justin Timberlake. John Goodman. Need I say more? 

Okay fine. Set in the early 60s, the film follows a week in the life of the titular Llewyn Davis (played by Oscar “your employeeeeeer!” Isaac, in a career-best performance), a young folk singer who has to seek shelter from friends and strangers as he struggles to make it in the New York folk music scene. 

THE DEETS: In theatres now. Click here for showtimes in Perth. 

Nebraska

A follow up to his Golden Globe-winning (and one of my personal favourites) picture The Descendants (2011), director Alexander Payne brings us another family-centric comedy-drama (dramedy?), this time shot in black-and-white. It’ll be interesting to see SNL-alum Will Forte (MacGruber) in his most dramatic role yet, and Bruce Dern (The Cowboys; After Dark, My Sweet; Thumb Tripping) to finally play a character that is not a psychopathic villain for once. 

THE DEETS: The film opens on the 20th of February, but advance screenings will be held at Camelot Outdoor theatre from the January 23 to January 25.

As indicated in the title, this is only part one of many follow-up suggestions to come, which will be posted some time in the near future, as we get closer to the films’ release dates. Meanwhile, please check out the movies above, and let us know which one you’re excited about in the comments section below!

p/s: Honorary mentions include the perfectly mediocre The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (in theatres now), and the purposefully sentimental Saving Mr. Banks  (also in theatres now).