The last time Errol Morris interviewed a former Secretary of State it was Robert McNamara in Fog of War: Eleven Lessons From the Life of Robert S. McNamara. The McNamara that Morris showed us was a man who was trying to make sense of his past actions; a man trying, not to atone, but to make sense of what happened with the foreign policy decisions that not only brought the United States and the Soviet Union to the brink of nuclear war, but would also drive the United States into the Vietnam War.
As serious, and even prophetic, as Fog of War may be, The Unknown Known is a far more comical. But I place the majority of the blame on Morris’s subject, than Morris himself. The title itself, "The Unknown Known", is an invention of Rumsfeld. As articulate as a man Rumsfeld is, he gives entirely drawn out explanations to the questions he is asked; which is no accident. The guilt in the self analysis that McNamara gives in Fog of War is lost on Rumsfeld in The Unknown Known. Rumsfeld shows no remorse over his actions, leaving posterity to judge rather if the war in Iraq was justified or not.
9.) Predestination
I love both the simplicity and the complexity of Predestination. Its sets, effects, and sequences are fairly simple, but its story is anything but. Predestination is a slow burn sci-fi movie that relies on dialog, story, and an amazing performance from Sarah Snook rather than action sequences and computer effects.
8.) A Most Wanted Man
The same could be said for A Most Wanted Man, which is a slow burn espionage film about post 9/11 spycraft. While not as accomplished as other John Le Carre adaptations, like The Spy Who Came In From the Cold (1965) and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (2011), the performances of both Philip Seymour Hoffman and Willem Dafoe make this one of the better movies of the year.
7.) Kill the Messenger
Kill the Messenger isn't the best film of the year, but it’s definitely the film of the year that everyone should see. Kill the Messenger is the story of journalist Gary Webb (Jeremy Renner) who pursued allegations that the CIA was involved with drug smuggling. The film feels like a lighter toned Alan J. Pakula movie, channeling some of the 70’s Washington paranoia from The Parallax View (1974) and All the President’s Men (1976).
6.) The Rover
While The Rover isn't on the same level as David Michod’s amazing feature film debut Animal Kingdom (2010), it’s still a solid film. An irate Guy Pearce navigates a post-apocalyptic Australian Outback, while Robert Patterson does his best southern drawl.
5.) Gone Girl
I divide David Fincher’s filmmaking career into two time periods: Before Zodiac (BZ) and After Zodiac (AZ). Zodiac (2008), easily Fincher’s best film, was completely ignored the year it came out. Because of that, for me, every AZ film that Fincher will make will always be compared to Zodiac. Even Fincher’s latest film Gone Girl. Is it good? Yes. But is it as good as Zodiac? No.
4.) The Drop
I couldn't think of a role more fitting for James Gandolfini to go out on. Playing a washed up, low level, Tony Soprano-esque character, Gandolfini’s portrayal of Cousin Marv in The Drop is the centerpiece of the film.
3.) Guardians of the Galaxy
People may whine that Interstellar wasn't on this list, and should actually be placed where Guardian of the Galaxy is. But if I’m being honest with myself, I enjoyed Guardians of the Galaxy a hell of a lot more than I did Interstellar. I’m not a militant comic book fan, so I have no loyalty towards Marvel; Guardians was just a better experience.
While I thought Michael Keaton’s comeback role was CIA counterintelligence chief James Angleton in The Company (2007), I’m glad to see him come back to the big screen with Birdman.
1.) A Most Violent Year
One of the biggest crimes of the Oscars was ignoring this film. Despite A Most Violent Year being one of the most original "gangster" movies in the last ten years; zero nominations.
