Calvary

When "Calvary" opens, Father James Alvery (the great Brendan Gleeson) sits in a confessional booth and receives a death threat from an anonymous man. "I'm going to kill you, Father... I'm going to kill you because you've done nothing wrong. There's no point in killing a bad priest, but killing a good one, that'd be a shock."

Based on this first scene, the film initially sets itself up as a 'whodunit,' but as Gleeson's priest interacts with the eclectic ensemble of characters within his small Irish town, guessing who the potential killer may be becomes far less significant than soaking in the powerful themes that explore the significance of life, love and redemption.

"Calvary" emits a dark, ominous tone throughout the course of its runtime, and frequently delves into disturbing material as its protagonist endures several painful endeavors. Yet, it miraculously manages to be one of the most enlightening cinematic experiences of the year, due to its surprisingly hopeful examination on the nature of humanity and the importance of forgiveness even during a lifetime of sin.

The movie is told entirely through the perspective of Father James; Gleeson inhabits nearly every scene of the film, and his phenomenal, heartfelt performance not only anchors the mosaic of poignant spiritual ideologies conveyed throughout the plot, but also deserves serious awards consideration for his complex portrayal of a man who's on the verge of losing his faith as the world around him begins to crumble.

In addition to Gleeson's masterful portrayal of a priest led astray, he's accompanied by an equally impressive supporting cast, including the underrated Kelly Reilly ("Flight") as his clinically depressed daughter, Fiona, who recently attempted suicide, Chris O'Dowd ("The IT Crowd") as a snarky local butcher, and Aiden Gillen ("Game of Thrones") as a pessimistically outspoken doctor. These individuals only begin to scrape the surface amongst an assortment of other colorfully offbeat individuals that epitomize the various theses at the core of the film, all of which are empathetically expressed through the film's non-biased perceptions on what it means to be vulnerable and human.

Masterfully written and directed by John Michael McDonagh ("The Guard"), this black dramedy may play out as episodic to some, but its nonconventional narrative transports the viewer through the eyes of Father James in such a compassionate manner that its offbeat pacing makes the experience all the more authentic. McDonagh's brilliant screenplay drives the plot forward through a series of bittersweet exchanges that are gorgeously shot either within minimalistic sets or expansive Irish landscapes embellished with grey, foreboding clouds.

Layered with complex motifs that empathetically explore feelings of detachment within modern day society, the film is not only a riveting character study, but also an emotionally charged outlook on the importance of faith, even during the darkest of times. "I think there's too much about sins, and not enough about virtues," Father James states in one scene.

"Calvary" may be instilled with heartbreak and tragedy, but what makes it one of the best films of 2014 are its small glimmers of hope that outshine even the most devastating circumstances, just as they should in everyday life.