We’re already halfway through 2014, so that means it’s time to take a look back over the last 6 months and see what’s stood out. As a preview for our staff list of the 15 best films of 2014 so far, a few of us will be pairing up and going through our top five films of the year.

Welcome to the second installment of a three part Hangout series of our Best Films of 2014 (So Far). In this video, Ananda and I talk each talk about our Top 5 films of 2014. Watch our Hangout to see where we agreed and disagreed on each other’s list! We also discuss a couple honorable mentions that didn’t quite make our list.

Be sure to check out our Part 1 of this series and look out for the final Part 3 of our Best of 2014 (So Far) Hangouts, where our Midwest writers Dustin Jansick and Blake Ginithan discuss their picks.

Bernard’s Top 5

#1  Under The Skin (review)

#2  The Grand Budapest Hotel (review)

#3  The Raid 2 (review)

#4  Locke (review)

#5  Tim’s Vermeer (review)

Ananda’s Top 5

#1  The LEGO Movie

#2  Snowpiercer (review)

#3  The Grand Budapest Hotel (review)

#4  Only Lovers Left Alive (review)

#5  Frank

Hangout Timestamps

0:00 – 2:20 – Intro
2:21 – 7:30 – Honorable Mentions
7:31 – 10:00 – Ananda’s #5
10:01 – 13:13 – Bernard’s #5
13:14 – 18:25 – Ananda’s #4
18:26 – 21:49 – Bernard’s #4
21:50 – 27:30 – Ananda’s #3
27:31 – 31:00 – Bernard’s #3
31:01 – 35:35 – Ananda’s #2
35:36 – 38:00 – Bernard’s #2
38:01 – 47:05 – Ananda’s #1
47:06 – 53:15 – Bernard’s #1
53:16 – 54:10 – Recap of lists
54:11 – 60:00 – Looking ahead

We’re already halfway through 2014, so that means it’s time to take a look back over the last 6 months and see what’s stood out. As a preview for our staff list of the 15 best films of 2014 so far, a few of us will be pairing up and going through our top five films of the year.

This is the first of three Hangouts we’ll be doing. I’ve teamed up with fellow Way Too Indie reviewer Nikola Grozdanovic, and we’ll both be going through our respective picks for best of the year. Watch our Hangout below, and take a peek at our Top 5’s as well if the anticipation is killing you. In our Hangout we also discuss a few honorable mentions, the films we wish we could have seen, and we end things by looking at what’s to come in the second half of the year.

Be sure to look out for Part 2 of our Best of 2014 (So Far) Hangouts, where our West Coast writers Ananda Dillon and Bernard Boo will discuss their picks.

CJ’s Top 5

#1  Only Lovers Left Alive (review)

#2  A Spell To Ward off the Darkness (review)

#3  The LEGO Movie

#4  Vic + Flo Saw A Bear (review)

#5  Omar (review)

Nik’s Top 5

#1  Nymphomaniac (Volume I & Volume II)

#2  Only Lovers Left Alive (review)

#3  The Immigrant

#4  Ida (review)

#5  The LEGO Movie

Hangout Timestamps

0:00 – 3:49 – Intro
3:50 – 12:59 – Honorable Mentions
13:00 – 17:56 – Films we wish we could have seen in time
17:57 – 27:11 – CJ’s #5
27:12 – 35:00 – Nik’s #5
35:01 – 48:03 Nik’s #4
48:04 – 57:50 CJ’s #4
57:51 – 1:09:42 – Nik’s #3
1:09:43 – 1:10:25 – CJ’s #3
1:10:26 – 1:22:05 – CJ’s #2
1:22:06 – 1:33:17 – Nik’s #2/CJ’s #1
1:33:18 – 1:48:47 – Nik’s #1
1:48:48 – 1:59:30 – Looking ahead
1:59:31 – 2:03:00 – Outro

I wanted to start this by asking if you remembered those college days, and then I realized that I’m in no position to ask that since I’m still in those college days. Taking classes all day every week doesn’t leave much time for anything else, especially not finishing an entire EP. But somehow, Colorado-based singer/songwriter Nate Jarrett has done just that.

Nate’s début EP, “Wandering” is a 4-track introduction to this upcoming artist whose name has landed on my “ones to watch” list. The EP, made in between breaks from his classes and travels, attempts “to catch a glimpse of what 365 days can hold: change and adventure, heartbreak and hope, setbacks and victories”. In my opinion, it’s not only accomplished that, but also introduced us to the strengths of his songwriting. The first track is a prelude that starts with sounds of waves hitting the shore and goes into a mix of gentle guitar/drum sounds that keeping going to the end of the track. It’s uplifting and energetic yet calming at the same time with a feeling of complete belonging. The next three tracks introduce us to Nate’s voice, which has a feeling of strength that is hard to miss. I often mention how artists have a sense of depth to their souls because of their voices. Nate has a depth that I haven’t heard in younger artists. Lyrically speaking the tracks are meaningful not just to him, but to will be to anyone that listens because we can relate to stories they tell. Nate is currently working on another album and is hoping to play local shows in Colorado in between his studies and other activities.

Nate’s Facebook
Wandering on Noisetrade

P.S. I still have no clue how he managed to get this all done–superpowers haven’t been ruled out. You can watch the entire chat I had with him below, pay attention to the number of siblings he has–further proof that he had to have superpowers to finish this EP. Or, more likely, a lot of talent.