Tuesday, January 6, 2015

2014 Films with Aging Themes


Photo by Fernando Standkuns.
2014 is "in the can."  Looking back, here are several films released in 2014 that had strong themes about aging or featured mature actors.

Listed chronologically by release date.

On My Way. Catherine Deneuve plays a woman in midlife still trying to put down roots.  Released in the US March 6, 2014 (2013 French film)

The Trip to Bountiful. Cicely Tyson plays an older woman seeking to return to her childhood home. Air date March 8, 2014 Lifetime Television.

Le Week-End.  A long-time married husband and wife from Britain vacation in Paris. Released March 14, 2014

Bicycling with Molière.  Two mature actors rehearse The Misanthrope together. Released in the US April 6, 2014 (2013 French film)

Advanced Style.  A documentary about seven fashionable New York women who are 60 plus. Released May 3, 2014

Still Mine.  A couple entering their 80s insist on staying independent.  Released May 6, 2014.



Cyber Seniors. A documentary about teens teaching older adults about the internet. Released May 9, 2014

A Short History of Decay.  A man struggling to establish his own life visits his ailing parents. Released May 16, 2014

Chef.   A chef in midlife is fed up with working for someone else, so he quits his job to start his own business. He drives a food truck from state to state, developing his menu, staff, and equipment and working on some damaged relationships.  Released May 30, 2014

Just a Sigh. At midlife, a man and a woman meet on a train and embark on a love affair. Released in the US June 10, 2014 (2013 French film)

Lullaby.  A young man, alienated from his parents, returns home when his cancer-stricken father decides to go off life support. Released June 13, 2014

And So It Goes. A fiercely independent real estate agent must learn how to care for a grandchild, and a mature neighbor helps him. Released July 10, 2014

Land Ho. Two older men seek to rejuvenate their lives with a trip across Iceland. Released July 11, 2014

Alive Inside. A documentary about the power of music to enliven people living with dementia. Released July 18, 2014

Hamlet & Hutch. A retired Broadway star with Alzheimer's moves to the South to live with distant relatives. Released to video August 1, 2014

Hundred Foot Journey. An established French restaurant owner gets ruffled when a widowed man from India opens his restaurant across the road from hers. Released August 8, 2014

Love Is Strange. An older gay couple lose their jobs and housing and have to find a way through this crisis. Released August 22, 2014

My Old Lady. A man inherits an apartment in Paris only to discover an older woman still living there. Released September 10, 2014

St. Vincent. A cranky, vice-ridden older man serves as a babysitter to a neighbor boy. Released October 10, 2014

The Judge. An attorney (Robert Downey, Jr.) with ample personal problems must face self-scrutiny when he travels home for his mother's funeral and faces his father (Robert Duvall), a small-town judge.  Released October 10, 2014

Dying of the Light. Nicolas Cage plays Evan Lake, a CIA agent in midlife, who develops fronto-temporal dementia (FTD), which complicates his efforts settle an old score. Released December 5, 2014.

Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks. An older woman invites chaos to her life when she hires a young gay man to serve as her dance instructor.  Released December 12, 2014

I've seen fewer than half of these so far, so nudge me in the comments if you particularly enjoyed seeing any of the above.

Related:

Advanced Style: Film Review
Alive Inside: Film Review
Still Mine: Film Review
Working Actors, 90 Plus

18 comments:

  1. I totally appreciate the thumbnail summary, as I don't always like films with an aging theme. Some here I definitely will see, thanks!

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    1. Some of these really expand the category "aging film," which is really exciting.

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  2. There are so many on here that I would like to see. I can't remember the last movie I went to probably Harry Potter with the kids. I'm making it a mission to watch more this year and this is a great list to work off of!

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    1. Kid films have some great intergenerational appeal, but sometimes it's nice to see a movie for grown ups. All my best for finding some time to see a good film.

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  3. And this will fit in nicely with my goal to watch more movies this year. Thanks!

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  4. I haven't seen many on this list, but I really enjoyed HUNDRED FOOT JOURNEY, STILL MINE and LULLABY. Le Weekend was okay. Thank you for the list. I'll check out those I've not seen.

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    1. I, too, wasn't very thrilled with Le Week-end. Too dark.

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  5. I haven't heard of most of these. Thank you! I will check them out.

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  6. And why haven't I heard of most of these? Some do sound interesting; might be worth a viewing!

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    1. I think a lot of advertising dollars goes to the 15 to 35 set. However, even some of these "aging" films really are about families with 2 or 3 generations well represented. Thanks for commenting.

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  7. So many great movies here! I'm making a list of the ones I haven't seen yet, thanks!

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    1. I hope you get a chance to see one of these. Some are worth two viewings in my opinion.

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  8. Oh my gosh I haven't seen most of these. I will have to add them to my list! Thanks much!

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  9. Your post makes me realize I am hopelessly behind in my film watching. But that is motivation. Bookmarking this and sharing!

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    1. Never enough time. They're making them faster than I can watch them. All my best to you in your movie viewing selection. (So agonizing.)

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