This year was incredible for film. Early releases showed promise, artsy and strange films became the blockbusters, and there hasn’t been a distinct type of movie to come out; they’re all different, weird, provocative, and incredible (excluding Transformers 4). The only thing left is to look at the best of the best of this awesome year.

10: The Lego Movie

Starting at number ten with a film that could’ve failed terribly, the second animated effort by the two directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller is the best example to come out this year of the possibility of how much fun can be had in film. The mostly CGI animated film, of which takes a look of a movie made using stop motion, real legos, and small pieces of things found around your garage, except with the voices of greats like Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, Alison Brie, Morgan Freeman and many more.

9: Interstellar

One of the most anticipated films of this year, the new Christopher Nolan movie came out as not only an interesting piece of sci-fi, but a movie in the forefront of attempting to bring celluloid film as a way to capture and project images. With incredible performances from Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway in space to Jessica Chastain and Michael Caine back on earth, the films incredible scope and spectacle makes this an incredible big budget action film.

8: Guardians of the Galaxy

Comparable to the previous film, we have another big space epic with Guardians of the Galaxy. Marvel’s underdog story was not only heartwarming in its approach to the characters who fit that tone, but was an unexpected hit as the second highest grossing film of this year. Coming from writer/director James Gunn who was known for his equally odd ball and cult films previous, this will be remembered as a film that has a cult following and a box office of over $700 million.

7: Foxcatcher

A quiet yet very heavy and hard hitting film, Foxcatcher is one that shows the power of how incredible performances can drive a film to the extent that Foxcatcher does. Director Bennett Miller helps showcase the talent of the unexpected comedic actors Steve Carell and Channing Tatum, reminds everyone how good Mark Ruffalo is, and creates an incredible character study matched with great and twisted American ideals.

6: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Wes Anderson has gone as far as he has with his incredibly unique style, with this decade spanning and aspect ratio changing masterpiece of comedy. Everything works perfectly to the amazingly timed and lavish score by Alexandre Desplat, and the awesome performances from every one of the actors in the ensemble cast place into the perfect colorful storybook looking world. The constantly hilarious, constantly heartwarming and incredibly clever and meticulously produced film might possibly be Wes Anderson’s best.

5: Birdman

A film that celebrates and destroys actors and their talent, Birdman takes a whole group of great movie stars to criticize and satirize their position in the world and their ego. All shot to look like a continuous never ending take, director Alejandro G. Inarritu and cinematographer lets actors Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, Nicole Kidman and more drive the film like a play, similar to the play of which the protagonist is attempting and almost miserably failing to achieve.

4: Inherent Vice

The first film to be adapted from famed novelist Thomas Pynchon, the story and itself couldn’t be described in an easy sentence, as its perfectly incoherent and understandable at the same time. The hilarious drug motivated movie takes you on this confusing and wild ride involving Aryan Brotherhood, a Hippie P.I., a mysterious dentist syndicate with a similar name to a boat and gang, and an actor turned famed police officer, the 70’s set film is crazy weird, but awesome.

3: Under The Skin

The slow paced, exposition lacking adaptation of the novel of the same name, Jonathan Glazer’s film about an alien played by Scarlett Johansson who comes down to earth to feast on the men of Scotland takes an approach similar to 2001: A Space Odyssey in its style and storytelling, but is still a reasonably small and personal story. The film which blends perfectly framed and practiced shots and scenes of which Johansson is interacting with real life people on the street without them knowing they’re in the film, this movie is a mind boggling and incredible film that will be one that will be remembered for its technique and craft.

2: Boyhood

To talk about film craft, this one will go down in the history books for its approach at filming. With it being shot over 12 years, its story is small and incredibly realistic. The dialogue is too real it seems like its mostly improvised, the acting is natural and the cinematography is plain and captures every moment amazingly. This Richard Linklater film will go down like some of his previous work with Dazed and Confused and The ‘Before’ Series as being able to capture life and the behavior of reality so perfectly its too hard to believe. This doesn’t just act as a film, it acts as you’re living real life.

1: Whiplash

This film was one of the most surprising hits this year. It didn’t ever look bad, but viewing of the trailer one would think its really cool. JK Simmons shouting, Miles Teller drumming, and the cinematography looking great, everything will be ok with this. Except once you see this sophomore effort by Damien Chazelle, you’re floored with its pace, power, style, and shock thrown throughout. JK Simmons performance might not only be the best this year, but can go down as one of the best performances in the past decade or more. It can be terrifying, funny, and warm all at the same time, and you can somehow never leave his side morally. Miles Teller equally incredible, and breaks the mold as the regular partying young kid he’s been playing recently. There are too many good things to write about Chazelle’s film, his talent, the talent of the actors, the talent of the musicians, and the talent of everyone involved. Its close to perfect, and the best film to come out this year.