It’s time for our annual year review post. We will give you a summary and review of Rachel and her career in 2014. Rachel only promoted one film: Anton Corbijn’s “A Most Wanted Man” but it has been an exciting year with the announcement of exciting project and Rachel’s appearance alongside her sister Kayleen on TLC’s Who Do You Think You Are to name a few highlights.
Read our full review after the jump/inside.
2014 began with Rachel’s red carpet debut during the Sundance Film Festival. “A Most Wanted Man” premiered during the festival (out of competition) as part of the Premiere section. Rachel had a busy day promoting the movie on January 19 by attending various portrait sessions, the Sundance Variety studio, and the red carpet premiere alongside director Anton Corbijn and co-stars Grigoriy Dobrygin, Willem Dafoe, and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Late 2013 it was announced that Rachel was in talks for “Passengers” and it was reported that the movie would start filming in April 2014. Rachel dropped out of the movie in March of this year and The Weinstein Company also dropped the movie. Rachel signed to WME early February after leaving UTA in April of last year. She remains to be managed by Shelley Browning at Magnolia Entertainment.
The Wim Wenders’ directed feature 3D film “Every Thing Will Be Fine” officially wrapped up filming in February. The movie previously filmed the summer scenes in August 2013. March brought us the first official look of Rachel in the still Untitled Cameron Crowe/Hawaii Project. It was first announced that the movie would get a Christmas 2014 release but the date was pushed back to May 29, 2015 a few months later.
“Mean Girls” celebrated it’s 10 year anniversary this year. The movie was released on April 30, 2004. Itunes celebrated the anniversary by releasing the HD edition. The New York Times published an anniversary special and talked to part of the cast including Rachel. Rachel, Amanda Seyfried, Lacey Chabert, Lindsay Lohan, and Tina Fey were also part of Entertainment Weekly’s Annual Reunion Issue in November with a reunion photoshoot that took place in New York and Toronto. 2014 brought us a second 10 year anniversary: The fan favorite film “The Notebook” celebrated it’s anniversary because it was released on June 25, 2004.
Rachel made her MET Gala debut in May and brought her sister and make-up artist Kayleen as her red carpet date. Rachel wore a Ralph Lauren Collection dress and Fred Leighton jewelry. The MET Gala was co-hosted by her “Wedding Crashers” and Untitled Cameron Crowe/Hawaii Project co-star Bradley Cooper.
It was also reported in May that Rachel was the top choice for the female lead in “Southpaw“. Rachel joined co-stars Jake Gyllenhaal and 50 Cent and director Antoine Fuqua at the Miguel Cotto Vs. Sergio Martinez Fight at Madison Square Garden in New York in June as part of their pre-production for the movie. The movie filmed in the summer in Pittsburgh and New York and wrapped up filming in August.
Rachel had a busy month in July promoting “A Most Wanted Man” in the US. The movie had a limited release on July 25. Rachel graced the cover of Allure Magazine to promote the movie. She also made an appearance on the Today Show and joined director Anton Corbijn and co-star Robin Wright at the New York premiere and after party for the movie. The movie had a strong limited opening weekend and expanded wide a week after it’s limited release. It received critical acclaim and currently holds a 91% rating at Rotten Tomatoes which makes it Rachel’s second highest rated movie (after “Midnight in Paris“) and it’s currently ranked #44 at Rotten Tomatoes Top 100 Movies of 2014 with 151 reviews.
Rachel and her sister Kayleen made an appearance on TLC’s Who Do You Think You Are? and their episode aired in August. Rachel and her sister travelled to the UK, New York, and Canada for the segments of the episode and to find out more about their mother’s ancestors. Rachel and her friend/fellow York alumni Zoie Palmer accepted the ALC Ice Bucket challenge in August.
The second half of 2014 was an exciting time because of the announcement of two new projects. It was first announced in August that Rachel joined the “Spotlight” cast. The movie follows the Pulitzer Prize-winning Boston Globe journalists who exposed the Catholic Church’s decades-long cover-up of child molestation in Massachusetts and Rachel will star alongside Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton and Stanley Tucci. The movie filmed for about two months – starting late September – in Boston and Toronto and wrapped up filming late November.
The second project announcement this year was “True Detective“. Rachel was first linked to the project earlier September. HBO finally confirmed Rachel’s casting – after many reports, speculation, and rumors – last month. She officially joined Colin Farrell, Vince Vaughn, Taylor Kitsch, and Kelly Reilly in the anticipated second season. Production began early November as well. She debuted her new hair style earlier this month while arriving at LAX and it seems likely she changed her hair for the series.
Rachel attended the 2014 Canada Walk Of Fame Induction Ceremony in October because she was among the inductees. She received her Canada Walk Of Fame star during the show and her parents and brother (with his wife) came out to support her. The broadcast of the show aired last week at Global. Rachel’s Untitled Hawaii co-star Jay Baruchel presented her award and introduced her tribute video. Fun fact: Rachel had to be on set the very next day to continue to film “Spotlight” with a 5 A.M. call time.
We have a lot of projects to look forward to in 2015. Director Wim Wenders reveals that he expects to finish post-production on “Every Thing Will Be Fine” in March/April of next year. The first trailer for Rachel’s first animation movie was also released this month. Rachel is part of the original English voice-cast and will voice ‘The Mother’ in “The Little Prince” feature animation film. “Southpaw” and “Spotlight” are also expected to be released in 2015. The second season of “True Detective” is aiming for a Summer 2015 air date.
We can not write this year in review without mentioning the passing of Rachel’s “A Most Wanted Man” co-star Philip Seymour Hoffman. He is and will be missed. RIP Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Favorites of 2014
Here are our favorites of this year, do you agree with them or not? If you have other favorite or additions be sure to comment below.
Best Red Carpet Look
Rob Zangardi and Mariel Haenn continue to create amazing red carpet looks for Rachel. Our favorite look is her Canada Walk Of Fame Induction Ceremony one.
Best News
The best news has to be HBO confirming Rachel’s casting as the female lead of “True Detective” season 2, especially after the many reports of a possible scheduling conflict for Rachel. It’s almost a tie with announcement of Rachel receiving her very own star at the Canada Walk Of Fame.
Photoshoot
While 2014 was a good photoshoot year – with the Sundance portraits and “Mean Girls” reunion shoot – we are picking Rachel’s Allure Cover photoshoot as our favorite.
Best Interview(s)
With only 1 film being released in 2014 we didn’t get that many interviews but we still enjoyed every single one of them. We want to spotlight two: her 2014 CWOF backstage interview and her Today show interview. Both of the interviews show one of the many reasons to love her: her lovely, sweet and humble personality.
Best Quote
One of our favorite quotes has to be from her Allure cover interview in which she talks about what kind of roles and career she likes to have:
“I’m hoping it’s going to be complicated and have lots of dead ends and corners and sharp turns. I hope it can’t be summed up too easily when I’m done.”
-Rachel McAdams, Allure
Best Quote on Rachel
One of our favorite parts of following Rachel’s career is getting quotes on Rachel from people she has worked with or who want to work with her. Writer/director Cameron Crowe paid a beautiful tribute to her during her Canada Walk Of Fame Tribute with the following words:
“To anybody lucky enough to have been able to work with her; She gives you everything. Every layer, every color. Every light, and every piece of darkness. She gives you a full span of emotions.”
-Cameron Crowe, Rachel’s 2014 CWOF Tribute
Best Project
Rachel only had one movie coming out this year: “A Most Wanted Man” but we think it’s one of her best films in general. Rachel gives a strong performance as Annabel and it’s amazing to see her part of such a brilliant ensemble cast lead by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman.
If you want to (re)read our previous Year in Reviews be sure to check them out: 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010*. We also want to give a shout-out and thank you to our friends Frederik and Jess for inspiring us to start the ‘A Year in Review’ in the first place. We would also give a special thank you to our friends Luciana, Claudia, Nicole, Amanda, and Haylie for all their donations this past year (and previous years!).
* = We apologize for the errors with our image previews/thumbnails but we are still working on moving our gallery.
I would just like to thank everyone who cooperate with the page ! I’m always here and am very grateful to be able to thus somehow be closest to Rachel and your life! You just make a happier heart somehow! A big kiss in the heart of all of you !
I am a huge slobberer when the subject is Rachel McAdams. But only with her and no one else in the whole world. I never read a sentence so close from what I figure out she looks like: [There are] “many reasons to love her: her lovely, sweet and humble personality.”. I never had the privilege but I dare to guess what people surrounding her in a same room likely would feel. Her presence and appealling smile convey a heartfelt gratitude and welcoming attitude that just there is no way not feeling touched and comfortably attracted to her in a magnetic and magical way. I just love her… badly.
Hello!
I recently had the pleasure of meeting Ms. McAdams and her Parents. They visited the Restaurant where I work on New Years Day and I was lucky enough to be their Server. Outta respect for their privacy, I won’t say where. No less, I didn’t realize at first it was her till I asked them about a pre-meal drink. We when started talking about a few different Reds, it dawned on me that it may very well be her. She was wearing a Black Toque at the time, so it was a little hard to tell. A little later during their meal, I went back to check on things and to see if they would like another round. By this time, she had taken off her hat. She looked up at me, smiled and said she was ok. It was then I realized it was absolutely her. My heart literally jumped out of my chest! She is as Beautiful in Person as she is on screen. Still feeling compelled to make sure I wasn’t crazy, I asked her if it was her when the time came to pay the bill. I was so nervous. She answered yes, indeed it was. Wow! My heart rate went thru the roof! I introduced myself to her, and to her Parents as well. They in turn did the same. They were all super nice, polite and very friendly. And considering her status as an Actress, they were all very accommodating as well. We chatted for a few minutes and exchanged pleasantries. It was a wonderful moment and an experience I’ll never forget. I always wondered what it would be like to meet her. And now I know. She is as delightful a person as as she is a beautiful woman. I’m not sure any other day in 2015 will be able to top this. But man, no matter what a start to the New Year!!!
Thank you for your time.
Cheers!
Mikey :)
Thank you everyone for all your lovely comments. All of the put a smile on my face :-)
@ Mike – Thank you for sharing your fan encounter with us! It’s so amazing to read you have such a wonderful experience meeting Rachel.
Hi Lindsey!
As Owner of this site, I appreciate you taking the time to not only read my post, but post up about it as well. Thank you.
What can I say? Wonderful x whatever! So…..EVERYTHING!!! Like meeting the Girl of your Dreams! Plus Infinity!
Needless to say, I’m still rather Happy about it. Lol! :)
Wishing you continued success with your Website.
Happy New Year!
Mikey :)