“The idea behind each one was we took a film that we like and made the title stupider. And then made a new film to reflect the new stupid title. It’s a formula that only produces horrible films, but for some reason we kept using it.” ~Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl.
The 2015 year in film has finally been put to rest and I say that as the calendar turns into late February. As one of the many lessons that the film industry gave me this year it was the fact that it has become increasingly harder to watch 2015 movies in 2015. In the calendar year I watched a total of 33 new movies (including Star Wars five times), but in the last 45 days, I’ve needed to watch another 35 films just to catch up. This leaves me both tired and irritated. In the past, I would’ve loved a bingefest movie marathon, but if the last few months have taught me anything they have taught me to enjoy experiences, which makes it difficult to relish a film when you have four more to go in a day. I have found that the movie going experience is equally as important as the movie itself and I prefer to watch any movie, every movie on the big screen. I think in 2016, the number of films I will watch will significantly decline. Quality up, quantity down.
That being said, 2015 was a marvelous year in the movie business. By November, I thought I would be writing a much different kind of year in review, but then in the past three months all the good films have come out of the woodworks. Either that is because this year the industry rewarded more innovation or because my taste in film has become much more select. I was surprised when I finished the list to find that only three of my top 12 were nominated for Best Picture. In either case, I am happy once again to give my list of the Best Films of 2015. In previous blog posts I have droned on endlessly on these films to, at best, a very small audience. Another lesson I’ve learned as of late: brevity helps everything (feel free to skip over the longer reviews). Also my new movie podcast, “I Challenge You!” due out later this month is much more detail oriented. With that in mind I give you my list: The Top Films of 2015.
Two Caveats: One, I didn’t see Brooklyn (due to time), didn’t see any foreign films, other than docs (It’s hard in Iowa), and wasn’t a huge fan of The Danish Girl and Ex Machina (like so many of my friends). The second is that I have never been a big fan of animated movies. I believe Inside Out was a good film, just not my cup of tea.
THE TOP FILMS OF 2015
25. Furious 7 24. Ex Machina 23. Tig 22. The Big Short 21. Inside Out.
20. The Martian - Fun film with great work from Matt Damon, but not the hilarious comedy the Globes claimed or the Ridley Scott Masterpiece the Academy claimed it to be.
19. Black Mass - Understandably a problematic film (Cumberbatch’s laughable Boston Accent), but a great performance from Johnny Depp made this a really fun film to watch.
18. Bridge of Spies - Solid Spielberg/Hanks Combo film. A slow burn Cold War Spy movie that proves the Coen Brothers can write about pretty much any topic.
17. What We Do in the Shadows - A New Zealand made mockumentary about a house of vampires from the people behind Flight of the Concords. Very funny, very well put together.
16. Mistress America - Not a fan of the Baumbach/Gerwig combo? Then you’ll hate this movie. With a good performance from relatively newcomer Lola Kirke this was a great fast talking comedy that made the 80 minute run time fly by.
15. Spy - Surprised even myself that this McCarthy vehicle was funny, but it has some truly hilarious beats and should’ve taken home the Globe for Best Comedy of the year. (Thanks Brandon for forcing me to watch this film).
14. Beasts of No Nation - Don’t let the Netflix brand fool you, this is a hard hitting looking at child soldiers in the Congo. With an Oscar worthy performance by Idris Elba, it is worth a watch even though it is incredibly depressing.
13. Steve Jobs - I love Aaron Sorkin and walk and talks. Don’t listen to the controversy around the film, although Jobs is not portrayed as a hero, it would be wrong to say he comes off as a villain. If you love the West Wing, then you are going to love this movie.
12. The Revenant - A good film that let a little too much directing get in the way from it being great. DiCaprio is brilliant and will win an Oscar for it (deservedly so) and the first ten minutes of the movie might be the best opening of a film that I’ve ever seen.
11. Room - Deeply disturbing and almost ruined by the trailers, this is a tense, claustrophobic film that takes the viewer to a place that is unfathomable to imagine. Bolstered by an Academy worthy performance from my favorite young actress, Brie Larson, and a remarkable performance by nine year old Jacob Tremblay, this is an indie film that needs a viewing.
TOP TEN
10. Trumbo - Stars Bryan Cranston, Diane Lane, & Michael Stuhlbarg
I’m shocked by how much I liked this movie. When my friend Amy came home from Thanksgiving, she told me that this was a must watch film. I laughed and figured that Cranston was good, but the film was mediocre. Perhaps in reality, the film really is mediocre, but it struck a chord in me and had me riveted even through a slow paced biography. Cranston is sublime, capturing the almost Capra-esque features of Dalton Trumbo. In a year where Adam McKay is getting all the coverage for a comedy director taking on a much larger film, I credit Jay Roach (and the next director on my list) for subtly choosing topics with less buzz, but more nuance. This may not be a film for the ages, but I appreciate the telling of a story that is much needed in our current climate.
9. Grandma - Stars Lily Tomlin
Simply put: if you like Lily Tomlin then you are going to love this film. Not a single frame is wasted in its 80 minute run time. Written/Directed by Paul Weitz, this movie is a character study of an aging lesbian who doesn’t give two shits for the hypocrisy she sees left in the world. People who liked Obvious Child will enjoy this dramedy centering around a bull-shit free view of “a reasonably priced abortion.” A very funny drive along film with surprisingly deep and sobering moments like the scene between Sam Elliott (doing his best work in years) and Tomlin. For the young at heart in all of us, Tomlin at 75 proved there is always plenty left in the tank.
8. Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom
When it comes to Oscar Documentaries most people are clambering towards Amy about Amy Winehouse (which I saw and liked), but they are missing out if they haven’t seen Netflix’s Winter on Fire. Other than a brief introduction in English, this is a foreign language film and it had me riveted the entire way through. Other than Son of Saul (which I admit I haven’t seen), this is perhaps the most important movie to see this year. It unfolds like a real-life Les Miserables following the student led rebellion leading up to the Ukrainian Revolution. Director Evgeny Afineevsky doesn’t sugar coat anything and doesn’t tell you how to feel, rather he allows the bloodshed to unfold of its own accord. A truly brilliant, important film that will make you think twice about situations such as Crimea.
7. Straight Outta Compton - Stars: Corey Hawkins, O’Shea Jackson Jr, Jason Mitchell
Among the many outrageous snubs from this year’s white Oscars was the film Straight Outta Compton. While it isn’t an unbiased film (since Ice Cube, Easy-E’s widow, and Dr. Dre helped produce it), it does give a relatively accurate depiction of the events surrounding the creation of N.W.A. and the subsequent years of the group members. Although the film could have used some editing for length, I found it to be an engrossing look at a part of history that many white people, myself included, know very little about. Combined with a great screenplay and fantastic casting (Ice Cube’s son looks just like young Ice Cube) this biographical film is another example of a must watch in our current social and political climate.
6. Creed - Stars - Michael B Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, and a whole lot of boxing.
The fact that Director Ryan Coogler wasn’t nominated for this film is a mystery to me. One of the best shot films of the year and by far the best shot boxing movie every made, Creed proves that you can reinvent a movie franchise without losing its original heart (take notes Jurassic World). Michael B Jordan proves that Fantastic Four had nothing to do with him and Stallone gives his best performance, aside from Rocky I, or his life.
5. Star Wars: The Force Awakens - Stars - Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Harrison Ford, Adam Driver.
Do I really need to write anything? The movie has made over 2 billion dollars worldwide. Although in many ways it is a remake composite of the original trilogy it manages to do something very few blockbusters ever do, which is to create complete character arcs for all four main characters. For the kid inside of me, for the Return of the Jedi lunchbox on my shelf, and for the force, which calls to all of us, thank you JJ Abrams for making us proud to be Star Wars fans again.
4. Predestination - Stars - Ethan Hawke and Sarah Snook
In the US, Star Wars has made nearly a billion dollars, Predestination has made $68,000. Based on the 1958 Robert A, Heinlein short Story, All You Zombies, Predestination is a time-travel movie that gets right everything, I think, Interstellar gets wrong. Rarely can a movie surprise me, but I was so shocked by the twist that I never even imagined the second twist coming. For those who haven’t seen it (It should still be in a redbox), I won’t say anything about the film other than it is about time travel and that Sarah Snook gives a career defining performance. I loved this movie.
3. Carol - Stars - Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett
As we come down to the final three, any one of these films could’ve taken the number one slot. The first film is Carol about a 1950’s lesbian love affair. For some, I’m sure this was a boring movie, because very little actually happens. Much like last year’s Boyhood, if you were captured by its charm then it’s a masterpiece, but if you weren’t, it sucked. I was enthralled, Directed brilliantly by Todd Haynes, who rightfully decided to shoot this on film, the tension of the film kept me on the edge of my seat, breath caught in my throat, for the entire two hours. Just give Rooney Mara the Oscar now and Cate Blanchett proves that Meryl Streep better move over because there’s a new sheriff in town.
2. Mad Max: Fury Road - Stars - Charlize Theron, Tom Hardy, and iOta aka the Guitarist.
“Oh what a day, what a lovely day.” Fury Road is a goddamn Masterpiece. George Miller proves that 70 is the new 30, when it comes to the vision of a director. If there is a film God, Miller should win an Oscar for his directorial vision. Over 80% of the film is all practical, which only enhances its brilliance. This was the most fun I’ve had at the theater in over a decade (I can really only compare it to how I felt about Independence Day and when I first saw Star Wars). To describe this film in one sentence: A gasoline-guzzling heroin trip that will leave you shaking from excitement. Forget the fact that it’s called Mad Max but really about Charlize Theron, forget the fact that the plot consists of a gigantic chase, forget the fact that there are probably a hundred lines of dialogue throughout the film, this is what innovation looks like. As an artist, Fury Road is what we should all aspire to be.
1. Spotlight - Stars - Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, and a whole lot more.
It would take something pretty extraordinary to beat Mad Max. For years the gold standard in journalism based film was All the President’s Men, about the Watergate scandal. That standard has now changed. Spotlight is a masterpiece. It is a sobering look at power in Religious America. It has the best cast (with a remarkable performance by Mark Ruffalo), one of the best directors (second to George Miller), a terrific screenplay, and tells a very important story. I was raised on the morality of print media journalism. My mother worked for the local town newspaper, I worked for the local town newspaper, and now one of my best friend’s is a member of the Print media (he and I saw this film together). If you like print media, then this is the film for you. If you like uncovering the truth, then this is a movie for you. If you like movies, then this is a movie for you. I applaud director Tom McCarthy’s levelheaded vision and egoless style allowing actors to just act. This is a film for the ages.