As always, it seems strange to say so, but year is rapidly coming to a close.

While some of us get ready for the deluge of year-end offerings, there are many critics who have already seen all that they need to see and are ready to close the book on the year of the horse. I often wonder what that’s like – to have that onslaught arrive four weeks early and play out the garbage minutes. Perhaps one day soon, I’ll find out for myself.

In the meantime, I look to a fine man who I probably annoyed the hell out of at TIFF with how often I ran into him, David Ehrlic of Little White Lies. Ehrlic’s year-end video essays have quickly become one of those things I most look forward to every December…like the arrival of Christmas cards, or that short window of time when The maple Leafs ice a winning squad.

Perhaps I enjoy it because it reminds me that no matter how many great films I’ve seen, there are still so many to catch up with before the ball drops (eleven at press time).

So settle in for both the montage and the countdown, and revel in the glow of the year that was…

THE 25 BEST FILMS OF 2014: A VIDEO COUNTDOWN from david Ehrlich on Vimeo.