Everything’s up for negotiation in Nightcrawler, and there’s no one better at it than Louis Bloom. Combining Patrick Bateman’s misanthropy with Jordan Belfort’s ability to spin B.S. into gold, Lou is a hypnotizing character throughout the film. Powered by an outstanding performance by Jake Gyllenhaal, Bloom creeps under your skin from the start and leaves you feeling uneasy and on edge right up until the final frame.
When Bryan Singer first announced that he’d be bringing Quicksilver into X-Men: Days of Future Past, many thought it was a blatant slap in the face of Joss Whedon, who’s bringing the same character into the Avengers lineup with Age of Ultron. Yet, with only a few minutes of actual screentime, Quicksilver stole the show in DOFP and gave us one of the most memorable and creative film sequences in the history of the superhero genre.
If you had told me last year that a sentient talking tree who only spoke three words and was voiced by Vin Diesel would be one of the most memorable film characters of 2014, I doubt I’d have believed you. Yet, here we are and people from around the world have embraced Rocket Raccoon’s dancing sidekick. That’s because he’s funny, lovable, beautifully brought to life on screen, and totally embodies all of the quirky weirdness that makes Guardians of the Galaxy so great. We are Groot, indeed.
Meet M. Gustave H. He’s composed, he’s charismatic, and he’s at the center of the Grand Budapest Hotel, both the film and the place. Played by Ralph Fiennes, Gustave is very reminiscent of other Wes Anderson characters, but he’s also very much his own man. He’s described in the screenplay as “tranquil, perfectly composed and waiting. He is wearing the faintest hint of mascara.” War can be very hard for such a well-regarded man in the hospitality industry, but throughout all his escapades with Zero, he remains as cool and calm as he is when he’s sleeping with women who are 84. After all, he’s had older.
With his endearing robotic voice and bulbous white belly, it was hard to resist the biggest hero from Disney’s Big Hero 6. The selfless “health care companion” gives the film its biggest laughs and a few moments of cuddly tenderness as he comforts grieving teen Hiro.
Terence Fletcher is a music teacher at an elite New York conservatory who craves harmony and perfection from his students. If the sound is not quite in his tempo, Fletcher unleashes a volcanic tirade of profanity. The unorthodox ways he pushes his pupils are shocking and relentless. However, J.K. Simmons, on his way to an Oscar nomination, humanizes Fletcher in unexpected ways, resulting in an absolutely unforgettable character.
