Honorable Mentions aka the films I wish I didn't have to leave off this list
Ant-Man
One of Marvel's latest easily could've turned out to be a disaster, but instead is one of the studio's best efforts yet and definitely one of the more entertaining movies of 2015.
The Gift
What looked like yet another run of the mill, uninspiring creepy stalker flick, turned out to be one of the best directorial debuts in years from director/actor, Joel Edgerton. Suspenseful from beginning to end with a brilliant twist, and three outstanding lead performances.
The Big Short
One of the best ensemble cast of any movie in 2015, and known comedy director, Adam McKay, takes the story of the horrifying Wall-Street Stock Market, and makes for one of the more enthralling, entertaining films of 2015.Now for the ones that really pained me to leave off the Top 10
Straight Outta Compton
One of the best Biopics in recent memory, this story of NWA got it right in everything from the casting choices, music, and a powerful emotional core.
The Hateful Eight
Quentin Tarantino is one of my favorite directors of today, so leaving this off was pretty tough. With that being said, despite a few minor issues I had, QT puts his signature style all over this flick, and as a fan, it makes for one of the most entertaining movies of the year.
Kingsman: The Secret Service
Darn me for having to leave off, Matthew Vaughn's over the top, stylish, balls out to the wall insane, and ultra fun spy flick with a terrific group of characters and a great cast.
Steve Jobs
I was honestly fighting back and forth between this and my #10 pick, but anyway, I found Danny Boyle's unconventional bio pic of Steve Jobs himself, riveting, brilliantly written by Aaron Sorkin, and Michael Fassbender gives arguably the best performance of the year as the man himself.Alright, sorry now here's the meaty Top 10 list.
10. Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
After Brad Bird's adrenaline rushing, and impeccably fun, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, it seemed nearly impossible for this Spy series to out do itself, but in my opinion, Christopher McQuarrie manages to do that with a pulse pounding, skillfully crafted, funny and ridiculously entertaining Rogue Nation. Tom Cruise, already in his 50s, does his own incredible stunt work practically unlike any other actor I've ever seen do, and Rogue Nation not only serves up a solid story, but also good amount of suspense and tension when these jaw dropping set pieces occur, one in particular set in a Opera House being maybe my favorite from any action movie of this year. The entire cast, returning members and new members are all great, but the real star of the show, is a breakout star in newcomer, Rebecca Ferguson as the mysterious, and ultra kick-ass, Ilsa Faust. I'm excited to see Ferguson, not only hopefully return in this particular franchise, but in many more movies in the future, and I'm excited for more Mission Impossible movies.
9. Room
A movie literally feel like it's punching me in the gut (for good reasons), is a rare achievement, but Lenny Abrahamson's chilling, and powerful human drama did just that. A film with a gut-wreching story, of how difficult it is for a mother and son to adapt to the real world, after their world for 7 years, just consisted of one entrapped room, manages to feel horrifyingly real, and that is in no short a huge credit to the moving performances of Brie Larson, and Jacob Trembly. Larson, showcasing once again to be one of the best Young Actresses of today, should be a front runner for Best Actress come Oscar time, and Trembly in particular, gives one of the most remarkable child performances, I've ever seen. This movie really wouldn't work or leave the emotional effect it displays on you, if the mother-son chemistry between this two actors don't work, but it does, it's hard to believe Larson and Trembly aren't really mother and son in real life, the on-screen paring of these two is so genuine. Oscars should be all over this one.
8. Spotlight
Another film expected to be a big player during Awards season, and that left me rather emotionally drained, is Tom McCarthy's Spotlight, centered around the Boston Globe's reporting of the Catholic Church scandals. This is a film that takes its contervisonal subject matter, and does not in the slightest shy away from the horrifying truths that were discovered. McCarthy takes what could've been a rather boring film about journalists, and makes it one riveting film from beginning to end about what it takes to discover the truth. We also get arguably the best ensemble cast of the year, with Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, John Slattery, and Stanley Tucci all delivering outstanding work. This just gets more and more fascinating as it moves along, and I felt certainly unsettled leaving the theater.
7. Sicario
Denis Villeneuve's bleak, riveting, and disturbing take on the drug traffic war, was honestly the most intense film I saw all year. I was gripping (literally) on the edge of my seat, during this film's entire run time, director Villeneuve, really knows how to create and build up to real suspense, and there was never a moment during this movie I didn't feel unsettled by the events that unfold throughout this compelling story. Cinematographer, Roger Deakins, is at it yet again with some truly remarkable work, the scenery in this film is just beautiful stuff, and there are many unexpected twist and turns throughout, with one breathtaking climax. This thriller is only elevated by a A-game cast, with Emily Blunt, one of my favorite actresses working today, and Josh Brolin, delivering terrific work, but the particular standout is Benicio Del Toro, as the mysterious and fascinating Alejandro. Del Toro should be much more in the discussion for Best Supporting Actor for Oscar season than he appears to be right now.
6. The Martian
Space + Ridley Scott, is normally right up my ally, but Mr. Scott lately in the recent years has delivered some really unfortunate misfires (ahem, The Counselor). However, "The Martian" puts the legendary director right back on track, as this was just one emotional journey and thrill ride from beginning to end. With a smart, exceptionally funny, and touching screenplay, written by Drew Goddard, "The Martian", takes a mostly basic story of a man left for dead on Mars all alone, and gives us a tale of human survivor, and how people coming together for team work + problem solving, can save one man's life. That might sound kind of corny, but I was swept up by The Martian, and Scott's confident, briskly moving direction behind the camera, makes this one of the most emotionally moving films of the year along with a outstanding, Oscar worthy performance from Matt Damon, as our main hero stranded alone on Mars. Damon is backed up by a remarkable supporting cast (Jessica Chastain, Chiewtel Ejofer, Jeff Daniels just to name a few), and some of the best use of CGI all year.
5. Ex Machina
It's remarkable that a movie that primarily centers around just three characters, can have me as glued to the screen as any other movie in 2015 did, but "Ex Machina" certainly did it. A.I. movies are starting to perhaps feel a bit over done, but director Alex Garland's directorial debut, takes a more original spin on the genre, and even offers, interesting subtle messages on the concepts of A.I.s. One of the most visually stunning movies of the year, with a seamless blend of practical + CGI mix in together, it's shocking the level of craftsmanship Garland is able to pull off as a first time director, and also writes a terrific screenplay. The dialogue, the dynamics that unfold between these three centric character really make for an endlessly thrilling watch, one where there's really no black and white, clear cut villains. And, this really works, because you get three outstanding performances, from Domhnall Gleeson, a mysterious Oscar Isaacs, and remarkable emerging star, Alicia Vikander. Vikander, in particular had herself a heck of a year in 2015, and she gives a remarkably sympathetic performance as a A.I., something that has got to be hard to pull off. Look for her name to pop up like everywhere within the next few years, as well as director, Alex Garland, I can't wait for his next film. PLEASE, check out Ex Machina if you haven't yet. If you like a good Sc-fi, but one that also feels personal and small scale, you won't be disappointed.
4. Inside Out
The best Animation studio there is, that being Pixar, has been on a little bit of a downslide in the last few years, but Inside Out reminded me why I fell in love with so many of this studio's films in the first play. It shows the studio is truly at its best, when taking an original concept, and make for a relatable moving story with complex themes that can appeal to both kids, and the older adult audiences. That's exactly what makes Inside Out, work as expertly well as it does, tackling on mature messages, and exploring the depths of emotions in a very emotionally moving, and touching manner. It's not only got a great big fat heart, underath the surface of it all, and made me honestly tear up a few times, but is also very funny with great humor for both young and older audiences, sincere, and uplifting without ever feeling manipulative in getting its messages across. The voice cast is terrific, the characters are wonderfully charming & memorable (Bing Bong FTW), and the ending for me was one of the most emotionally satisfying endings all year. This should not only be a front runner for Best Animation, but imo also deserves a nod for Best Picture as well.
3. Creed
Even as a fan of most of the previous Rocky films, it was hard not to be just a little skeptical of this spinoff/reboot/sequel of sorts that felt like was beginning to run out of some gas, being the 7th installment of the legend franchise. But, Ryan Coogler's Creed, is not only arguably the best of all Rocky sequels, I would easily put it through the ringer, and let it stand head to head in a face off with the 1976 original, because it's just that damn good. Very much like another movie, you might see on my list, it pays very much so as a homage to the very first film, but does so in a way that it still manages to feel very fresh, and really capture the spirit and heart that has made this franchise so iconic. Ryan Coogler's direction, I feel is honestly worthy of a Best Director nod, the way he films these boxing matches feel so brutal, gritty, and heart pounding, that make these sequences so tense to see unfold, and on the edge of your seat, with one amazing sequence in particular all being shot in just one take. But, this movie doesn't work without, the electric and emotional chemistry we get between, Michael B. Jordan, and Sylvester Stallone. These two just play off each other so well, you feel that like father and son bond that forms between them, and both Jordan, and Stallone truly excel in these roles. Jordan proves to be a young emerging star in the making, and Stallone in particular delivers maybe his best performance of his entire career. Seriously, Stallone moving me to near tears in a handful of scenes is something I never even thought he was capable of, and I'll be rooting for him to take home a Best Supporting Actor statue come Oscar season. Tessa Thompson is also terrific as Creed's love interest. I was floored from beginning to end, and look forward for more boxing matches with Adonis Creed, and Rocky Baloba in future installments.
2. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Come on, you knew this would make its way on the list. Having seen The Force Awakens at least twice already (and at the very moment, I just want to go back and back for more viewings), I can absolutely say it delivered on all fronts I wanted it to as a huge fan of this saga, and is the most fun, emotionally satisfying experience I had at the Cinemas in all of 2015. Is it without some minor issues? No. Does it follow similar beats to the originals, particularly the first? Yes sure. But, those small nit-picks, especially when going on repeated viewings where anything that maybe bothered me on my first viewing just about vanish, mean almost nothing, compared to the feelings of joy, satisfaction, and energy, I felt witnessing what JJ Abrams manages to create with this film. The balance of both the old returning cast members (Harrison Ford in particular is the best he's been in years, in his return as Han Solo), and the new cast members, I thought couldn't have been handled more perfectly, Daisy Ridley & John Boyega both particularly show to be two emerging shining stars, as well as also great performances from Oscars Isaacs, and Adam Driver as maybe Star Wars most complex villain yet, Kylo Ren. From the first moment that opening crawl sequence hits, I felt welcomed back in this universe, and that feeling for me never left this movie, because Abrams, really does a great job in capturing that spirit, and the sense of an adventure that made this franchise so iconic in the first place. Like "Creed" does for the original "Rocky", The Force Awakens follows in a similar path as the first "Star Wars", but does so with style, taking it in a direction that still manages to feel fresh, and leaving much room for exciting stories to tell in the future. I was on board with this movie from start to finish, and I fell back in love with not only the returning characters, but all of the new characters as well. I know I've seen a really great movie not only when I'm craving to go back to see it in theaters again, but when it also only gets better upon new viewings.
And, now for my #1 movie of 2015, the one that struck me unlike any other movie this entire year
1. Mad Max: Fury Road
George Miller's masterclass work in the action genre, is not only my favorite movie of the year, but even upon walking out of seeing it just for the first time ever, I think literally said to myself, "One of the best Action films I've probably ever seen". And, that only rings even more true to me, upon the more and more I watch it, which up to this point has been a lot. George Miller's return to this franchise for the first time in 30 years, is the most perfectly executed 2 hour long chase sequence, we'll probably ever get, and I just adored every single of this movie. Every single frame Miller shoots this thing just looks beautiful, the use of practical effects mix in with very little amount of CGI is seamless, every single action set-piece is more exhilarating and ridiculously crazier than the previous one, the Oscar level Cinematography work from John Seale, Junkie XL's musical score, the scenery, just everything about this movie especially on a technical level, fired on all cylinders for me. But, on the top of the amazing filmmaking achievements this film accomplishes, Miller still manages to create a really original and surprisingly compelling story, through a lot of unique storytelling techniques, and impressive world building. A lot of people have complained about there not being a whole lot of substance, and sure I can agree with that to a certain extent, but I thought there definitely was a good enough story here to chew on, and get behind, not to mention a handful of memorable characters. Tom Hardy, while given a rather limited amount of dialogue, makes for a awesome Max, making the role into his own character instead of mimicking what Mel Gibson did in the role, and Nicholas Hoult is a blast as Nux. But, besides George Miller himself, Charlize Theron is the true front and center star of this vehicle, and delivers a incredible performance, as Imperator Furiosa, a memorable heroine for the ages, and probably my favorite character from any movie in 2015. I can not wait to see what the future of this series has in store, hopefully it doesn't take Mr. Miller another 30 years to make another one.
There you have it, my Top 10 of 2015, and overall since it was hard to make a firm Top 10, I'm pleased with the way 2015 turned out. Remember, this is just my list, and I didn't get a chance to see every single movie that came out in 2015, I'm sure, I'll end up seeing a few films, and thinking to myself, "Why didn't I wait to make my Top 10?". But, until then, this is my list.
