By Michael Dunaway(http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2014/07/the-25-best-movies-of-2014-so-far.html)
We’re halfway through the year, and it’s time to take a snapshot of the best movies that 2014 has to offer so far. As these films sit with us and more of our critics see them all, the order may change by the time December rolls around. But for now, these are the movies that have had the biggest impact on us in 2014. As usual, there are documentaries and quiet indie fare mixed with action blockbusters and even a couple of “kids” movies. It’s looking to be a great year for cinema, no matter your tastes. Here are the best movies of 2014:
25. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Perhaps more than any other superhero in the Marvel Universe, Captain America is meant to be appealing. He’s meant to be the inspiring, human ideal to which, in turn, each of us aspires. It’s one of the things that sets the feel of his comics apart from those of Thor, the Hulk, Spider-Man, etc., and the creative team behind part 2.3 of Marvel’s grand cinematic plan nails it. Yes, Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a great action movie—an immensely enjoyable spy-thriller-flavored film with Bond-worthy flair (and orchestral flourishes). But first and foremost, it’s also a great Captain America film. As long as Disney/Marvel’s approach to their films keeps such priorities in mind, the box office action that comes along with it will continue to be out of this world.—Michael Burgin
24. Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon
23. Mistaken for Strangers
22. Only Lovers Left Alive
21. Locke
Whether or not you buy into Locke—an 85-minute movie in which Tom Hardy spends 99% of the time driving and talking on the phone—as a thrilling and daring cinematic experience will depend greatly on how much you’re able to invest in the character of Locke himself.
20. Cold in July
Where at first Richard proves to be an engaging protagonist—an ordinary man trapped in an increasingly harrowing situation and then things go wrong