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Hooked On A Feeling: Matt Donato’s Top 20 Films Of 2014

They say the way into a man's heart is through his stomach, and while there's nothing more soothing than a home-cooked meal and a crisp, hoppy IPA, I challenge that there's another way into a man's heart - nay, soul - and that's through his eyes. Food unlocks pleasures attained by few other experiences, but movies can pack an even weightier punch when dealing with raw emotions, self-reflection, and fantastical worlds beyond our wildest imagination. Movies are but keys unlocking cerebral dimensions that speak louder than words, which is exemplified by the best of the best once each cinematic year comes to a close.

16) Boyhood

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It wouldn’t be a year-end list without talking about Richard Linklater’s Boyhood, a cinematic accomplishment filmed over a child’s lifetime. Ellar Coltrane stars as Mason, a role that he played on and off from the ages of 5 to 18 – a boy’s special maturation period that permits children the ability to discover themselves, comprehend the world, and shape themselves for the adventures to come.

Instead of using multiple actors, Linklater thought it smarter to actually watch a child actor grow up before our eyes, and the choice absolutely opens a world of realism that you just don’t see from typical Hollywood dramas. The connection to Mason’s pubescent evolution is so much easier when investing in one single actor, and by the end, we feel like we’ve just spent years with Coltrane – because we ACTUALLY have.

15) Wild

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It’s so nice to throw around Reese Witherspoon’s name during awards season, as her turn in Wild provides one of the strongest, most uplifting female characters of 2014. Wild is undoubtedly a redemption story, but Witherspoon is allowed to embrace her vulnerabilities, acknowledge her emptiness, and accept her worst moments as stepping stones towards a bright future. She doesn’t cry and sulk in the face of depression and self-depreciation, and exhibits a tremendous amount of strength as she traverses the Pacific Coast Trail, finding a parallel with nature every step of the way.

Jean-Marc Vallée captures the scenic beauty of snowy valleys and rock mountains as Witherspoon (playing Cheryl Strayed) connects with the isolation inside herself, and thanks to Vallée’s fearless lead actress, the journey ends up being inspirational, enlightening, and painstakingly heartfelt.

Wild is about simultaneously connecting with the universe and our inner souls, reminding us that no matter how dark times may get, we always have the chance to embrace change for the better.