10 Great Overlooked Films from 2014

Have you noticed there are more movies than ever coming out each week? There were over 600 major releases that opened last year, and with the ease of digital distribution and streaming network that number is only going to increase. So there's simply no way anybody can catch them all. It's simply not possible.

The "Overlooked" list is always a tough balancing act for me. Last year I left off a criminally underseen indie like Short Term 12 because it ended up at the top of my "Best" chart, and that problem has reared its ugly head again. Why should I put great movies like Frank or God Help the Girl here when I have them so high elsewhere? And as is the case every single year, there are more than enough films deserving of your attention that sadly got lost in the tidal wave of big-budget sequels and franchises. So here are just 10 of them you may have missed that are definitely worth your time.

The One I Love (review here)
Director: Charlie McDowell
Cast: Mark Duplass, Elisabeth Moss, Ted Danson


Film Clip: 'The One I Love' by WSJ Live

The Skeleton Twins (review here)
Director: Craig Johnson
Cast: Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Luke Wilson, Ty Burrell


Kristen Wiig is Mad at Bill Hader in THE SKELETON TWINS Clip ('Wow') by The Seven Sees

Enemy (review here)
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Sarah Gadon, Melanie Laurent, Isabella Rossellini


Enemy - Clip 2 by Flixgr

Joe (review here)
Director: David Gordon Green
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Tye Sheridan


Joe Movie CLIP - Trouble (2014) - Nicolas Cage, Tye Sheridan Drama HD by Trailer 2014

Cold in July (review here)
Director: Jim Mickle
Cast: Michael C. Hall, Sam Shepard, Don Johnson, Vinessa Shaw


Cold In July - Clip: Beat Down by Dread Central

Fort Bliss (review here)
Claudia Myers
Cast: Michelle Monaghan, Ron Livingston

Keep On Keepin' On
Director: Alan Hicks
Cast: Clark Terry, Justin Kauflin


Film Clip: 'Keep on Keepin' On' by WSJ Live

Force Majeure
Director: Ruben Ostlund
Cast: Johannes Kuhnke, Lisa Loven Kongsli


Film Clip: 'Force Majeure' by WSJ Live

The Babadook (review here)
Director: Jennifer Kent
Cast: Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman

THE BABADOOK Movie CLIP - The Book (2014) - Horror Movie HD by Horror Movie Trailers

The Book of Life (review here)
Director: Jorge Gutierrez
Cast: Channing Tatum, Zoe Saldana, Diego Luna, Ron Perlman, Ice Cube, Kate del Castillo


The Book Of Life - Clip - Land Of The Remembered by MyMovies_International

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Review: 'The One I Love' Starring Mark Duplass and Elisabeth Moss

NOTE: This is a reprint of my review from the Sundance Film Festival.

If one were to simply judge The One I Love based on trailers, cast, and even the film's title, it would probably look like the just another small budget dramedy built for the festival circuit. And that would be a fair guess; Elisabeth Moss and Mark Duplass have made their share of such films and its position as a Sundance favorite seemed like a natural for the genre. But they say never to judge a book by its cover, and quickly into The One I Love it becomes clear there is so much more here than meets the eye.

Indeed, this is a film that explores a crumbling relationship between Ethan (Duplass) and Sophie (Moss), their marriage having reached the point where one barely recognizes the other. We learn early on that Ethan betrayed Sophie's trust and things have never been the same since, and at the suggestion of their therapist (Ted Danson) they head out to a country retreat of his choosing. It's only for a weekend but supposedly that is all most couples have ever needed there, and for a time it seems to be working. In such a beautiful, idyllic landscape it's easy to tap into that youthful energy and passion again. But a night of romantic bliss turns out to be more tangible for one that it is for the other, and it's just the start of a series of really strange occurrences that put their love to the test.

This is one of those cases where you don't want to have anything spoiled because, all evidence to the contrary, this is a film that combines paranormal, sci-fi, and mystery elements to a masterful degree. Director Charlie McDowell (the son of Malcolm McDowell) and writer Justin Lader use these elements plus a healthy dose of comedy to look at how people change over the course of a relationship, and how that often can drive a wedge between them. But more than that, it's about the common desire to change our significant others into our idea of perfection. Would that necessarily be a good thing, though? Or are the little imperfections what cause people to fall in love to begin with? Typically attempts to mold a significant other end in disaster, don’t they? In the most positive sense, The One I Love is like a cousin to the metaphysical rom-com Ruby Sparks, and asks many of the same questions about individuality. Can love withstand the natural changes all people go through over time? It feels like something that might've sprung from the headspace of Spike Jonze, and should put McDowell on the map as a filmmaker to watch.

With only Moss and Duplass occupying the vast majority of screen time in basically one location the film could have become stuffy or repetitive. But as McDowell explores the nuances of Ethan and Sophie's marriage, in particular the little meaningless arguments that are causing an outsized rift, we never get tired of learning more about these people. That's a credit to the subtle performances of the cast which requires them to do basically everything under the sun. The movie is funny but in a knowing sort of way, and it can also get very dark at times. Suffice it to say, those who have been in a long-term coupling will probably see some things that strike a painful nerve. The One I Love uses the fantastical to strike at something truthful about matters of the heart, and there aren't many films that have done it quite so well.

The One I Love is available now On Demand. 

 Rating: 4 out of 5

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First Trailer for Metaphysical Rom-Com 'The One I Love' Starring Mark Duplass and Elisabeth Moss

Marriage is tough, and Hollywood has made a ton of movies about couples who have "lost that lovin' feeling". This weekend you can catch Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel as they struggle with marital malaise in the broad R-rated comedy, Sex Tape, but if you're looking for a film that deals with a similar scenario with considerably more skill  and a touch of the paranormal, then The One I Love is for you.

Starring Mark Duplass (Your Sister's Sister) and Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men), the film centers on a couple who decide to rekindle their relationship by embarking on a weekend getaway at the urging of their marriage counselor (Ted Danson). What begins as a successful excursion quickly takes a turn for the weird and confusing when perfected versions of themselves start showing up. The One I Love shares a lot in common with Ruby Sparks in terms of relationship outlook, especially our need to "perfect" our loved ones. Easily one of my favorite films at Sundance (review to come next week, so sue me for being behind) I can't wait for others to check it out.

Directed by Charlie McDowell, The One I Love hits VOD on August 1st and theaters August 22nd.


The One I Love Official Trailer #1 (2014) - Elizabeth Moss, Mark Duplass Romantic Comedy HD by Old television

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