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The 14 Best Things I Watched On My Couch In 2014

2014…what a year, amirite? During each of the final 14 days of the year, the Decider staff will be counting down our favorite and most memorable moments of 2014. If you happen to miss an installment along the way, don’t fret! You can follow all the action on our official Best 14 Of ’14 hub page.

Being a new parent has always been hard, but being a new parent these days seems to have one major advantage over any other time in history thanks to one thing: OTT content.

“What in the samhell is OTT?”, you ask. Well, that acronym is short for over-the-top, which is the fancy term that industry analysts use to describe the likes of Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Instant Video, HBO Go and any other streaming service you can think of. Essentially, it’s all the stuff you can watch on your laptop, mobile phone and tablet, which are three devices that I tend to use in increments equal to the time I spend watching the flatscreen that hangs on my living room wall.

Since my wife and I no longer have the luxury of going out to the movies (or to concerts or dinner or bars or anywhere, really), we spend more time at night on the couch than we ever have before. Between movies and television series (and, well, my job here at Decider.com), I have spent thousands of hours watching content throughout the year 2014. Some of it has been brand new, and some of it has been decades old; that’s the beauty of these services. And honestly, I don’t know how parents who raised their children in a pre-streaming era did it; major props to all of you out there for not going insane!

If you’re on the lookout for something amazing to watch at home on your couch tonight, whether or not you have a small child at home or no children anywhere in your immediate vicinity, here’s hoping that one of these 14 fanfuckingtastic programs that I MYSELF watched on MY couch this year will be something that sparks your interest. Now, without further ado…

1

'Cocaine: One Man's Seduction'

Cocaine One Man's Seduction

This TV movie originally aired on NBC way back in February of 1983, back in the days when the media became infatuated with cocaine’s (supposed?) grip on the middle class. You can either watch it as a cautionary tale (which is boring), or watch it as a cheesy, Eigthtiestastic comedy (which is preferable). It stars Dennis Weaver as a square, middle-aged, past-his-prime real estate agent who life is passing by. That is, until he tries cocaine for the first time… at age 47, no less! Then his life gets WAY better in an instant. His son (James Spader) stops nagging him, he trades in his dowdy wife for a hottie co-worker with kickass wall-to-wall white carpeting, he buys a Cadillac and some tinted aviators, he starts hanging out in marinas, and turns his professional life around by finally scoring some clients with big bankrolls. Oh, and did we mention it also co-stars a young Jeffrey Tambor? BEST! So what if it’s patently clear that he’s quickly evolving from a “casual tooter” into an addict? Just turn off the movie with about 10 minutes left and you won’t ever get to the truly sad stuff. [Where to stream Cocaine: One Man’s Addiction]

2

'Under The Skin'

scarjo-undertheskin-bra

Fascinating yet frustrating. Gorgeous yet glum. Poignant yet perplexing. It’s been a long while since a film has inspired so many conflicting feelings in me, which is why I become more and more fond of the film with each viewing. (Plus, ScarJo is easy on the eyes, so hey…) [Watch Under The Skin on Amazon Prime.]

3

'True Detective'

True Detective - Most Bingeable Of 2014
Sceencap: HBO Go

For my money, this was THE entertainment experience of the year. More than any other film or television program, it was able to successfully play in all four quadrants of New York’s famed Approval Matrix, and inspired many of us rabid devotees to go down the Internet rabbit hole (Reddit, YouTube, Wikipedia). Plus, Reggie LeDoux still gives us nightmares. [Watch True Detective on HBO Go.]

4

'Fargo'

fargo-not-on-fx
Photo: FX/Everett Collection

Neck and neck with True Detective as the best show of the year, our own Olivia Armstrong recently wrote a great piece about how she felt that the $25.99 she spent to buy a season pass of the show was one of the best investments she made all year. And Olivia watches WAY more TV than most of us, so you should definitely take her word for it. Two words for you: Lorne Malvo. [Watch Fargo on Amazon Instant Video.]

5

'Only Lovers Left Alive'

only-lovers-left-alive
Photo: Everett Collection

By far the druggiest take on the vampire genre since Nadja, director Jim Jarmusch’s narcotic film stars Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton as a pair of eternally cool and borderline strung-out modern day bloodsuckers. The pair’s love affair has been on-again and off-again for centuries, but this story focuses primarily on Hiddleston, a resident of the desolate outskirts of Detroit, as he tries to maintain his privacy while his popularity as an underground (coffin pun intended) musician soars. It’s more of a psychological exploration on the existential plight of vampires than a “horror movie;” if you’re the squeamish type, fear not, as there are no moments of abject violence included within. Both the visuals and the soundtrack are utterly hypnotizing. [Where to stream Only Lovers Left Alive]

6

'The Raid 2'

The Raid 2
Photo: Everett Collection

Want to know what the best action scene is in any movie from the year 2014? Well, if you watch The Raid 2—trust us, you don’t need to watch its prequel to understand what’s going on—you’ll see at least four or five scenes that are all tied for being the best not only of this year, but of the decade so far. [Buy The Raid 2 on Amazon Instant Video]

7

'Boyhood'

boyhood-vod-1

We really, really, really hope Boyhood can maintain its momentum for another 2 months because if it does, it will be our favorite Best Picture winner of the last 10 years. Maybe even the last 20. [Rent Boyhood on Amazon Instant Video]

8

'The Interview'

the-interview
Photo: Columbia Pictures

The pair of Seth Rogen and James Franco is commonly referred to as being “bromantic,” but we’re of the opinion that that particular dismissive term seriously undersells the on-screen chemistry they share. Whether it’s in Pineapple Express or This Is The End or here in The Interview, these two always seem to generate more actual Laugh Out Loud moments than any other comedic duo actively working in film these days. Having to only pay $5.99 to see this quite well-made movie has been one of this holiday season’s best treats. [Where to stream The Interview]

9

'The Immigrant'

immigrant-vod

We’re not usually the type of site that points fingers, but SOMEONE really botched the release of this truly spectacular movie from director James Gray. Oscar winner Marion Cotillaird stars as a Polish immigrant who travels to New York City in 1921, where she meets the seemingly well-intentioned (at first) Joaquin Phoenix. Cinema does not get much more powerful than this. [Watch The Immigrant on Netflix.]

10

'Joe'

Joe Nicolas Cage
Photo: Everett Collection

Nearly everyone has written off Nicolas Cage by now, which is why this David Gordon Green directed film was such a revelation. Cage gives his best performance of the new millenium in this film as the titular Joe, an ex-con who befriends a 15-year-old boy in need of some serious guidance. In a perfect world, Cage would score a nomination for Best Actor at this year’s Oscars for his work here, as would the late Gary Poulter for his nightmarishly menacing performance as G Daawg. [Buy Joe on Amazon Instant Video]

11

'The Trip To Italy'

the-trip-to-italy

This film is worth watching for the Michael Caine impressions alone, but The Trip To Italy has so much more than that going for it. Far superior to its predecessor, 2010’s The Trip, Steve Coogan (L, above) and Rob Brydon (R) head to Italia this time around on a boondoggle of sorts, eating incredible food, drinking some of the world’s finest wine, and engaging in conversations that alternate between being intellectually stimulating and gut-bustingly hilarious. [Watch The Trip To Italy on Netflix]

12

'The Sacrament'

the-sacrament-stream-this-week

Cults are my greatest fear, so this fictionalized, found footage treatment of a Jonestown-like setting is gripping in a way that few other films of the last few years have managed to achieve. If there were any justice in Hollywood, Gene Jones would get an Oscar nomination for his frightening portrayal of the cult’s leader, Father. [Watch The Sacrament on Netflix.]

13

'Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy'

Never Sleep Again

With a running time of 3 hours and 58 minutes (!!!), Never Sleep Again is best watched in small doses. I did that very thing over the course of about three weeks this summer, watching 20 minutes or so at a time when I was up in the middle of the night taking care of my toddler. The vibe of the doc alternates between reverent and campy, and almost all of the major players from the Nightmare saga—save for Johnny Depp and Patricia Arquette—are featured here. [Watch Never Sleep Again on Netflix]

14

'30 For 30: Bad Boys'

30 For 30 Bad Boys
Photo: ESPN

I grew up in Detroit as a diehard Pistons fan, so this documentary holds a special place in my heart that I don’t expect it to hold for you. That said, I watched this doc with my wife, who grew up in the suburbs of New York City and holds no real interest in either Detroit or the sport of basketball and she LOVED IT. If you have a soft spot in your heart for scrappy underdog tales, this is the film for you, my friend. [Watch 30 For 30: Bad Boys on Netflix]