[6.25/10] Laggies (2014)

Laggies (2014)

Quick Review: Giving yet another alluring performance just as good as her American accent in the film, Keira Knightley leads "Laggies" with confidence and glamour, supported brilliantly by Moretz and Rockwell. Lynn Shelton's subtle direction and the film's toned-down visuals blend well with the sort of 'away with the fairies' concept and the wise, yet amusing child/adulthood story about life's unpredictability that teaches us never to judge people for mistakes we can make ourselves.

[7.50/10] Whiplash (2014)

Whiplash (2014)

Quick Review: Telling an inspiring story about a young man's ambition for an excellence in jazz drumming, "Whiplash" is all about dedication, but at the price of repression as well physical and mental bullying... and it's utterly electrifying to watch, if not always as engrossing as it could be. One of the most promising actors working today, Miles Teller, and J.K. Simmons both do an impressive job outwitting one another, and playing dirty games in their student-teacher bond that drives the film.

[6.00/10] Force Majeure (2014)

Force Majeure (2014)

Quick Review: Can a lazy, limiting camera work and random editing work in a movie's favor? In case of "Force Majeure" it can, because it matches the tone of the emotionally resonant, satirical story it portrays. Both, Ruben Östlund's minimalistic direction and the snowy setting, that works as a blank canvas, allow the characters and their truly awkward dynamics take center stage, and the end result is a tad trying, yet oddly absorbing Swedish drama that you'll either appreciate or not.

[6.75/10] The Drop (2014)

The Drop (2014)

Quick Review: Its climax aside, it will hardly surprise you with anything unseen, but that doesn't mean that its screenplay is not cleverly-written, because it is. Frankly, the suspense could have been heightened, and the story tauter, but the atmospheric "The Drop" is still naturally gripping, without trying too hard to make an impression. Hardy and Rapace are excellently-cast, and they both turn in superb performances, building an on-screen relationship that is just as powerful as it is gentle.

[5.00/10] Cuban Fury (2014)

Cuban Fury (2014)

Quick Review: You can't help but being entertained by the naturally funny Nick Frost, who brings a smile to everyone's face every time he shows up on screen and C. O'Dowd does a convincing job playing his irritating character, but sadly, this good tandem is not good enough to cover up the script's shortcomings, such as painful predictability, sappy sentimentality, and lack of laughs. That said, the salsa-spiced "Cuban Fury" has some charm and fire to it when there is dancing.

[7.00/10] The Boxtrolls (2014)

The Boxtrolls (2014)

Quick Review: In comparison with Laika's splendid previous films, this one is neither as visually marvelous, nor as conceptually unique, and for those reasons it will hardly turn into a classic, but it still possesses some quirky originality, and the animation is crafted with rich imagination and flair for the extraordinary. Along with the grimly beautiful graphics, "The Boxtrolls" manages to stand out with a memorable villain and sympathetic characters that get more likable as the moral story unfolds.

[6.00/10] Magic in the Moonlight (2014)

Magic in the Moonlight (2014)

Quick Review: A sophisticatedly charming oddball romance, proving the old theory that opposites attract, "Magic in the Moonlight" might be a bit too cheesy and straightforward in comparison to Allen's previous work, but it's still pleasant and amusing to watch, and also exquisite to look at, due to the fuzzy, yet vibrant visuals it arrests the eye with. Luckily for us, Stone's magically likeable character easily makes up for the big dryness and stiffness of Firth's.

[4.50/10] Iceman (2014)

Iceman (2014) 

Quick Review: Being directed by the meticulous Donnie Yen himself, the action is pretty entertaining to say the least, thanks some decent choreography and great wire work, but that aside, "Iceman" is a lame and messy action comedy, riddled with such goofiness it's more often than not embarrassing to watch and not particularly amusing either. Not to mention the surprisingly cheesy made-for-3D special effects, which look awful in 2D and Yen's complete lack of comedic abilities.

[6.50/10] The Judge (2014)

The Judge (2014)

Quick Review: It's hard not to be engaged by a movie with the two great Roberts (Downey Jr. & Duvall) in the lead, and even though "The Judge" tends to be a bit sappy and melodramatic at times, that doesn't soften its sharpness too much. The script, while bright and intelligent is far from original, and although easy to predict, the story is still riveting in its own way, largely thanks to the strong screen presence all around. The film's polished cinematography also deserves a praise.

[4.00/10] Dumb and Dumber To (2014)

Dumb and Dumber To (2014)

Quick Review: Probably, watching two total morons saying and doing outrageously stupid stuff was kinda funny two decades ago, but in 2014 nothing about that feels refreshing. It would be a lie to say there are no decent moments in this plain dumb sequel, but those are very few and far between, and it's pretty obvious that "Dumb and Dumber To" relies on success of the original to cause interest. Carrey & Daniels got older, and so did all the jokes.

[6.75/10] Men, Women & Children (2014)

Men, Women & Children (2014)

Quick Review: It not only depicts the real-life problems of our modern society pretty accurately, but "Men, Women & Children" frankly shows our dependency on the internet and technology in general, and how they can be both a blessing and a curse, metaphorically. The exquisite score exudes calmness that contrasts with the issues the story focuses on, the ensemble cast delivers big time, but the documentar-ish narration is off- putting, and distracting.

[7.00/10] Kung Fu Jungle (2014)

Kung Fu Jungle (2014) 

Quick Review: While, sadly, not as accomplished story-wise as Teddy Chan's previous effort, "Bodyguards & Assassins", "Kung Fu Jungle" is definitely on par with it in terms of action, boasting top-notch wire work & choreography, sharp editing, and cutting-edge camera work, with the 'weapon master' swordplay and the final fight both deserving a special mention. Donnie Yen is in top form and carries the movie with ease and Wang Baoqiang rules as the vicious killer, causing the chaos.

[5.75/10] Fury (2014)

Fury (2014)

Quick Review: Ironically enough, there's barely anything that furious about it, especially during the first half of its way overlong 134-minutes running time, which mostly consists of random dialogues, and a couple of unimpressive combat scenes. It does get better, grittier, and more dramatic and action-packed towards the end, but overall "Fury" fails to entirely live up to its title, despite its strong cast and production values, mainly due to David Ayer's sloppy and incoherent direction.

[6.50/10] Pride (2014)

Pride (2014)

Quick Review: The interactions between the gays and the miners are awkwardly hilarious, the visuals have that vintage-y feel that fits the 80s era it is set in, and the film itself is every bit as colorful as its quirky characters but "Pride" is less funnier than expected, as it also deals with some dramatic subjects that lower the fun. But it wouldn't be a proper queer flick if it didn't, would it? Ben Schnetzer's character is obnoxious, but all the other actors deliver, with Staunton being the best.

[6.25/10] Foxcatcher (2014)

Foxcatcher (2014)

Quick Review: The washed-out color palette of the cinematography creates a specific mood, and gives the visuals a proper late 80s vibe, and the plot, that is based on actual events, is quietly engrossing for the most part, but truth to be told, if it wasn't for the superb performances from Channing Tatum, Steve Carell, and Mark Ruffalo, who all are at the top of their game, this sports drama would have been a total misfire, for the reason that the unextraordinary "Foxcatcher" lacks drive.

[5.50/10] The Captive (2014)

The Captive (2014)

Quick Review: The snowy setting matches well with the cold mood of the film, and gives the visuals an appropriate bleak feel, that also fits the pretty dramatic kidnapping story it tells, and Ryan Raynolds turns in one of the better performances of his career as the desperate father, blamed and suspected for the odd vanishing of his daughter, but "The Captive"'s choppy, back-and-forth plot structure and lack of thrills take away big time from its potential and lead to a disappointment.

[8.25/10] The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies [3D] (2014)

Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies [3D] (2014)

Quick Review: It feels like director Jackson has made the previous two movies just to get to this one, where he can truly showcases us what he's capable of -- from the fiery mayhem that the opening scene stuns with to the grand battles and thrilling one- on-one fights the last hour provides, this is a pure spectacle with some of the best 3D & CGI work you will ever see, that excites, compels, and even touches at times, the latter thanks to its emotional characters.

[4.75/10] Starry Eyes (2014)

Starry Eyes (2014)

Quick Review: It promises to be something different, trying to breath new life into the horror genre with its peculiarly nasty story that takes way too long to warm up, without actually culminating into something special, "Starry Eyes" should be considered a missed opportunity, as not only it fails to deliver, but does not answer the many questions it sets, leaving the viewer confused. And not even Alexandra Essoe's attempt to carry the entire movie single-handedly is that successful, or good.