The Best Movies of 2014

30. Fruitvale Station

The TF Verdict: Michael B Jordan stars in Ryan Cooglers version of the shooting of an African- American man by a white cop. Together, they bring a raw, ragged humanity to the gut-punching tragedy that was also a hard-hitting festival favourite that won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance.

29. The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies

The TF Verdict: Bilbo and co. fight Smaug and just about everyone else in Middle-earth. Peter Jackson completes his six-film Middle-earth cycle without dropping the ball: one of the great cinematic achievements and its ENORMOUS.

28. The Raid 2

The TF Verdict: Intrigue. FIGHT! Car chase. FIGHT! Shoot-out. FIGHT! Gareth Evans re-staked his claim as the master of mayhem in this bigger, bolder follow-up to his seminal 2011 actioner. Fight aficionados should brace themselves for a bruising, blistering ride.

27. Inside Llewyn Davis

The TF Verdict: The Coens ballad of a 60s folkie presents another of their seriously flawed men. Oscar Isaac is pitch-perfect in a winning tale of an incorrigible loser, blending mirth, music, moggies and melancholy. It hits the right note on every level, from period vibe to performance (human and feline).

26. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

The TF Verdict: Out of the frying pan of the arena, into the fire of all-out war: its the beginning of the end. With measure and muscle, Lawrences Jennifer and Francis nail the job of selling the long, twisting road towards revolution.

25. Blue Ruin

The TF Verdict: Jeremy Saulniers Cannes-lauded tale sees a homeless man out for vengeance. The old-school indie thriller carves out tension with precision, bearing comparison to the Coen brothers Blood Simple. Its also an impossible-to-ignore calling from writer/director Saulnier. Hollywood awaits.

24. How To Train Your Dragon 2

The TF Verdict: Hiccup, Toothless and friends face a dragon gods army in the franchise that stays airborne. With miraculous creatures, engaged voice-work and emotion-seared twists, cross your talons that another instalment will breathe fire into our screens soon.

23. The Imitation Game

The TF Verdict: Morten Tyldums thriller cracks open WW2 codebuster Alan Turings secrets and allows Benedict Cumberbatch to ace another genius. Together, the direction and taut script meet Turings magnetic precision head-on.

22. Dallas Buyers Club

The TF Verdict: A homophobic rodeo star turns AIDS victim turns self-medicating Mother Theresa. Oscar winners Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto dazzle in a true story thatll make you burn with anger.

21. What We Do In The Shadows

The TF Verdict: The Flight Of The Conchords team prove to be New Zealands answer to Edgar Wright as they serve up a mockumentary about three vampire flatmates. Sharp as fangs, warm as fresh blood, this could be the funniest movie of the year.