Krampus- Michael Dougherty's follow-up to Trick r' Treat is very fun, but is hurt a good deal by it having a PG-13 rating forced on it. Luckily the ending is different and dark (VERY dark), and the practical effects and creature designs are superb and chilling. If you want a different kind of Christmas film (one with horror influences), Krampus is definitely the way to go.
Tomorrowland- The rare original film in a time where copy-and-paste is the norm. Not only that, but it also offers us a look at a utopian future that COULD BE.....if we have the strength to feed the right wolf (optimism for the win!). Yes, some elements could have fleshed out or explained better, and what we find once we finally get to Tomorrowland (The film is more of a different kind of road trip film for most of its run time) is kind of disappointing. That said, I love the film's hopeful message and the cast assembled all do a great job. Tomorrowland is a fun little diversion (I also finally got one of those pins).
Star Wars: The Force Awakens- Oh, I can already hear the angry BOOS. Yes, yes, shame on me for not putting this film on the best of the year list. Well, it's a real sign of a quality year when a film that's this good had to be reluctantly left on the side because there just wasn't enough room for it. Yes, this film is great. It's also very fun. I agree that a lot here does feel VERY familiar, but that doesn't change the fact that this is still a highly entertaining and nostalgic outing (that brings us a new kick-ass villain).
And now.....THE LIST
15. DOPE- FINALLY, a film that lives up to it's title. Dope is indeed very dope! Shameik Moore (as Malcolm, our lead) is a superstar, Blake Anderson (from Workaholics, he plays Will) is fantastic as well, and Chanel Iman (as Lily) has a very nice body. The film itself manages to take viewers on a hectic, fun, and cool ride. I like that its main character is a geek who's goals are to go to Harvard, avoid gangs, stay out of trouble and start his own band. The film also celebrates people's individuality and how those who don't fit in may have a foot above the others. Dope is sure to leave you feeling high.
14. THE GIFT- Not your ordinary thriller. This is a DARK film, that goes to some pretty dark and surprising places at times. It's also tense and suspenseful as hell. I would equate this to the experience I had reading Gone Girl. The Gift is a film that enjoys teasing, taunting, and playing with viewers. All the actors do fantastic jobs, and Joel Edgarton should be commended for pulling off what must have been a difficult balancing act writing, directing, and acting in this film. If you like thrillers, I'd say you'll likely love this film.
13. JURASSIC WORLD- I know there's a faction of people out there that REALLY did not enjoy this film. I am not one of them. It's not a perfect film, and there are definitely some flaws here....but they managed to create a Jurassic World that felt real and lived in. I honestly forget that these are sets I'm watching. I've waited for 22 LONG years for a good Jurassic Park sequel, and for my money Jurassic World more than fits the bill. It pays homage and respect to the original classic, staying true to the main themes of Jurassic Park while still managing to find ways to have tons of fun on it's own. I've seen Jurassic World numerous times, and it still feels like I'm going home whenever I watch it. I love this film, and have absolutely no qualms putting it on my best of list.
12. KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE- A highly enjoyable ride. The film has some of the best scenes of the year, and the best Sam Jackson performance of the year as well (That's right, I said it. I think he's better here than he was in Hateful Eight). Great performances, great fun, and useful tips about what it takes to be a gentleman. Kingsman is definitely a memorable time. If you haven't seen it yet, stop what you're doing and check it out. It's worth it.
11. THE NIGHT BEFORE- Who would have ever guessed that the best comedy of this year would be a christmas film. Not only did this film have a fantastic message about friendship, it was also more fun than you could shake several sticks at. I saw it twice in theaters, and both times were some of the most memorable theatrical experiences I've had. What else can I say except The Night Before is definitely one film you would do well to add to your stocking (Plus, who doesn't love JGL playing a regular schmoe or Seth Rogen doing his best performance in years?).
10. SICARIO- A bleak, pitch dark, hopeless, disturbing, and violent movie. It is filled with an unrelenting tension and suspense, and aided by top notch performances from its cast (Del Toro was most certainly robbed at The Oscars this year, he deserved at least a nomination. Blunt was pitch perfect as well.). The cinematography by Roger Deacons is also superb. Sicario is almost a dark horror film, and it's definitely a tough watch, but I applaud it for handling it's subject matter in a mature, adult way. This is without a doubt Denis Villeneuve's best film.
9. MAD MAX: FURY ROAD- George Miller is 70 years old, but he can still direct a film like it's nobodies business as can be sampled with his latest outing. Mad Max: Fury Road is a return to form not just for Miller, but for the action/post-apocalyptic genre as well. There isn't much plot here (Never before has a trailer so accurately depicted what a film is....A big, long, crazy chase scene), but the action and characters speak for themselves. The cinematography by John Heale is superb and breathtaking (he also worked on Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone, Dead Poets Society, and Rain Man just to name a few). The world that George Miller and crew created here is gorgeous and just about fully realized ( a real achievement). Overall, Mad Max: Fury Road is a beautiful, delightfully insane film that is definitely worth checking out.
8. THE MARTIAN- I'm so happy that there is finally a film that makes science, space, NASA, and Mars cool again. The script sizzles (Thank you Drew Goddard), the acting is great all around (with the standouts being Matt Damon and Chiwetel Ejiofor), and the soundtrack is tops. Despite some real serious subject material (We're dealing with a man's struggle to survive despite almost insurmountable odds), The Martian manages to be a very funny and fun film. It's thoroughly enjoyable. It's also a notable film because we get to watch Ridley Scott rise like a Phoenix from the ashes. Could this be a new start for the once great director? Only time will tell, I suppose. The Martian is a phenomenal, moving, and touching film that is one of the ultimate tales of man vs. nature (Yupp, I'm gonna say this one is WAY better than The Revenant). It's handled like it's telling a true story, and indeed it does feel real. Not only will you laugh, you'll also find yourself on the edge of your seat, and heck, you may even shed a few tears. SCIENCE!
7. STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON- Straight Outta Compton is a biopic about NWA, and therefore we get the life stories (more or less) of Eazy E, Ice Cube, and Dr. Dre (It's almost like 4 bio pics rolled into one.....how cool is that?). O'Shea Jackson Junior plays Ice Cube, Corey Hawkins is Dr. Dre, and Jason Mitchell is Eazy E. All three are phenomenal in their roles and are real discoveries. Paul Giamatti is stellar as NWA's good hearted but somewhat shady manager Jerry Heller. We also get cool supporting performances from Keith Stanfield as Snoop Dogg and Marc Rose as Tupac. I will say the film is 2 hours and 31 minutes, and it does feel pretty long but it's all in the service of one of the finest, most powerful, moving and informative films of 2015 (I know I definitely learned some stuff I never knew before, and I'm all the better for it. You want to know how the phrase 'Bye Felicia' came about? You'll learn that and a whole lot more in this film). Some of the best scenes in film in 2015 are in Straight Outta Compton, as well as some of the best performances of 2015 as well. It's a damn shame that the film was basically robbed at the Oscars (It was only nominated for Best Original Screenplay when it should have popped up in several categories IMO). Straight Outta Compton is sure to please any music lover, lover of bio pics, or lovers of great films in general. It's one of the ultimate underdog stories.
6. THE HATEFUL EIGHT- Or, as I like to call it, H8ful. I am so glad I got to see this in 70 mm (complete with an overture, an intermission, and a take home program), and I would gladly see it again in this format. The Hateful Eight is a film about eight hateful people (in that they are fairly easy to dislike/hate) holed up in a general store together during a harsh winter. One or more are not who they say they are, and have murder and betrayal on their minds. That's all I'll say for the plot. The first act is a bit slow, and very dialogue heavy (I definitely noticed this more here than I have in other Tarantino films, characters also use the N word WAY TOO MUCH), but luckily the second act is superb, and shows Tarantino back in old form. All the characters are great, and some of the dialogue is strong. It's also shot and scored to perfection. The setting of Minnie's Haberdashery is a perfect one (possibly the best setting in a Tarantino film), what I wouldn't give for someone to re-create it so I could journey inside. The standouts for me acting wise were Walton Goggins (I consider him to be the best part of the film), Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tim Roth, Kurt Russell, Samuel L. Jackson, and Channing Tatum. I'd say that Hateful Eight was on the same level for me as Inglourious Basterds, maybe a bit better (H8ful was definitely tighter than Basterds was.). It's no surprise that this is a superb film, and marks the best we've seen Tarantino at in a while.
5. ROOM- There isn't much action in the film, and the first part (which all takes place in the room) is pretty hard to watch. However, once we enter the world, things get significantly better. In Room, Ma (Brie Larson) and her 5 year old son Jack (Jacob Tremblay) escape from a room where they had been held captive for a long time (Jack for his whole life and Ma for seven years). We follow them as Jack discovers, explores, and has to adapt to a world he didn't even know existed till now, and Ma struggles with her increasingly fragile mental state. Brie Larson does a great job, Joan Allen as her mother was fantastic, but Jacob Tremblay easily steals the entire show. I'd go so far as to say he was the best performance I've seen this year (It's a joy to watch him discover this new world for the first time). We also spend the most time with Jack as he is our eyes and ears into the movie, and he is the main character here. Room is a gentle, loving, sad, and life affirming film.
4. IT FOLLOWS- Without a doubt, this is the best American horror film I have seen in quite some time. It Follows crafts an simple, original, unique, and absolutely terrifying horror tale that comes with it's own unspoken mythology. Not only is it a sexual parable of sorts, it's also very much about the fear of growing older and death. It Follows is a film of slow, atmospheric terror that will crawl under your skin and stay there. This one will stick with you (I still always look behind me whenever I'm walking somewhere because of this film).
3. EX MACHINA- The best sci-fi film in years. Ex Machina stars three supremely talented indviduals (Alicia Vikander is super sexy, sympathetic, and mysterious; Domhnall Gleeson is fantastic, but it's Oscar Isaac's goofy but super cool performance that just about steals the show). The great Alex Garland writes and directs here, and he proves he is a force to be reckoned with. Ex Machina is a smart, scary, sexy thrill ride that will have you thinking and chewing on your fingernails from beginning to end.
2. SPOTLIGHT- A hard-hitting, factual, and emotional ride that doubles as a look into how the field of investigative journalism for print used to work. Some of the imagery is a bit haunting (plenty of shots of Catholic churches that loom over both our heroes and suburban houses), and there are a surprising amount of moments where the floor drops out from under you as the true scope and extent of the damage is revealed (A great example is the closing text crawl that left my jaw dropped in horror). Spotlight sheds light on one of the most important news stories of the past several decades, and it is to be commended for tackling it's subject material with passion while still remaining faithful to the truth of the story. Simply put: Spotlight is an incredible film. It's enough to make you mourn the death of print journalism. I'd say this is the highest quality film of 2015.
1. THE BIG SHORT- The Big Short was my favorite film of 2015, and what I consider to be the best. Not only does it tell an important story, it's also knows how to have some serious fun. Adam McKay proves he is a more than competent director here, he managed to craft a highly creative, intelligent and fun film (I'd say he deserves Best Director this year). All the actors do fantastic jobs, but it's Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling who just about steal the show as two very different people. Gosling is slimy but super cool, and Carell plays righteous indignation and outrage absolutely perfectly. I love that The Big Short made me feel involved in the proceedings, like I was a part of the film (helps that characters break the fourth wall a good deal). I had a blast with this and highly enjoyed it's unique visual style, but still walked away downright pissed about what occurred in '08 and how none of the guilty party was properly reprimanded. While it may be a bit messy and hectic, it's precisely because The Big Short so expertly manages to be both informative and entertaining that it ranks in at the top spot this year for me.
So, there you have it folks. 2015 was a damn good year for film, let's hope 2016 can match if not best it. Till next time, Stay classy and I'll see YOU at The Oscars!
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