As 2015 has came and went, it is once again that time of the year to reflect on the best that film offered us this year. Every year I compile a list of the TOP 10 best films. There were so many films that I wish I could reward or make room. Movies like: Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, or the Tom Hanks cold-war epic Bridge Of Spies, even Creed did not make my list despite being terrific movies. Others include: The Danish Girl, Joy, Sicario, The Martian, The Hateful Eight, Brooklyn, Trumbo, The Big Short..none of which made my list. Every time I sit down to do this it seems to always get harder.  

So without further ado .. here are my TOP 10 Best Films of 2015 (with the next 5 honorable mentions)  

10. The End Of The Tour

Talk about one of the most underrated films of the year. Jason Siegel is a marvel as David Foster Wallace the writer of ‘Infinite Jest’ and is equal parts matched by Jesse Eisenberg playing Rolling Stone reporter David Lipsky – the man hired to follow Wallace on his final book tour. This is a terrific little indie film that saw hardly any acclaim. What’s worse is no Oscar voter is going to recognize the transformation of Siegel from strong comedic actor .. to serious dramatic one. The film has been out on DVD for quite some time now, I suggest on your next stop at Redbox you give this one a look..even though it’s worth is valued more than $1, at this point I just want people to see it.

9. Star Wars: The Force Awakens

How could I not acknowledge the biggest movie of the year? a film that, YES, I saw three times in the course of two days. JJ Abrams set out to make the biggest movie of his career, and a movie that fans would cling to like glue. Thankfully, he created one of the more memorbale expierences of the year. A film that feels so friggn’ perfect that Harrison Ford smirking as he say’s “Chewie we’re home” strikes all the right cords. The Force Awakens has set an unprecedented new bar for the next generation. Episode 8 better watch out.

8. Ex Machina

I’m not usually much for SCI-FI but I can’t not accload Alex Garland’s entrpid masterpiece, Ex Machina. Alicia Vikander (who had a great year at the movies) is strikingly beautiful playing a seductive cyborg named AVA. Who, through the course of the film, we see the movie unreavel through her perspetive. Its a necessary and unforgettable movie, that I think has the potential to garner a legion of fans and become a classic.

7. Me And Earl And The Dying Girl

I saw this movie back in May and I still think about how well it resonates with it’s core audience. Again, here is a film that actually got a semi-moderate release, and GAVE the opportunity for people to witness it, only to die a painful death at the box office. Thomas Mann, does such a wonderful job making our narrator Greg, so relatable. While Olivia Cook playing Rachel or “The Dying Girl” is heartbreaking. But, it’s the comedic/dramatic turn of RJ Cyler playing ‘Earl’ that propels the movie above normalcy. It’s clear all these fine young actors have a terrific future ahead of them. Emotional, Compelling and hilarious..Me and Earl is a little film that has a big message about life.

6. The Stanford Prison Experiment

The true story of one of the most notorious studies in US history gets a very gritty/dark and sadistic adaptation from director Kyle Patrick Alvarez who, with a slew of very up and coming actors, delivers one of the most thrilling two hours of the year. The film unravels slowly through the minds of these ‘prisoners’ as we watch young kids torment others through strong brutality. Billy Crudup shines as Dr. Philip Zimbardo (the ringleader behind the investigation), in a role that could easily deserve him an Oscar nomination, but once again will be overlooked by studios that can afford to campaign their big budget flicks. Regardless, THIS is a very scarring look at an experiment that changed the world.

5. Straight Outta Compton

To say this film could not have came at perfect time is an understatment. In a country where censorship is being heightened, and police brutality is very specific. Straight Outta Compton is a top notch bio-pic of the one of the most popular rap groups of all time, N.W.A. F Gary Gray’s harrowing drama is casted so perfectly you actually think Ice Cube was playing himself (really it was his son O Shea Jackson Jr). The music is slick, the performances are sizzling and this film EASILY earns a spot in my top 5.

4. Goodnight Mommy

I did not know what to expect heading into the Austrian foreign language horror thriller Goodnight Mommy, I didn’t expect to have my jaw drop…five times. THIS film is such a terrifying endevour, I was shaking as we watch two young kids question weather their mom is who she says she is. What follows is not for the faint of heart..In my screening back in October I literally watched a lady walk out because she could not handle it anymore. That perfectly sets up the uneasy feeling you will have watching Goodnight Mommy.

3. Spotlight

If you would have told me that Todd McCarthy, the man who directed Adam Sandler in the awful ‘The Cobbler’, would be helming one of my top 3 movies of the year, while in the process completely reinventing the newsroom drama for this era..I would have laughed, and yet here we are. Spotlight is the frontrunner this year for Best Picture at the Oscars, as it should. Michael Keaton, Mark Rufflo, Rachel McAdams, and Stanley Tucci are powerhouses in this darkly engaging look at a group of investigative journalists that saught to inform the world of what was happening right in front of them. At times, Spotlight is a tough pill to swallow (it does no favors for people of Cathloic religion) – but is respectful to the subject matter and in the process just might be the most talked about movie of the year.

2. Room

Brie Larson SHOULD win Best Actress this year for her emotionally compelling performance in Lenny Abrahamson’s Room. The film which follows Ma (Larson) with her young five year old son Jack – (Jacob Tremblay – who, being five years old SHOULD also win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor) – are held in captivity. This was one of the hardest movies I’ve had to sit through..ever. That is mainly due to the one-two punch of Larson and Tremblay..who together make this one of the most unforgettable movie going experiences of my life.

1. Inside Out

If there was one decision that was easy .. it would be Inside Out being the best movie of 2015. PIXAR are masters in how they tell stories, and I could argue Inside Out is their best since Toy Story 3 back in 2010. I have been making the statement that I hope Oscar voters will shed some light in the Best Picture category at this year’s ceremony (it will MOST surely win Best Animated Feature). Pete Doctor has created such a beautiful canvas for the human mind by showcasing our emotions in full force. Not only that but making us fall in love with a half-elephant, half dolphin critter named Bing-Bong.  

Amy Poheler is perfect as Joy..but really the movie sort of belongs to Phyliss Smith as Sadness, as she teaches children across the world that sometimes we need a little sadness in our lives in order to be happy. Perfect? I know. Inside Out is so original, so funny, so terrific that my words here can’t do the justice it deserves. While the film is targeted at those young kiddies in your household..don’t look too close but there is plenty here for the grown-ups to take away too. PIXAR is at the top of their game once again … and the first time in about six years that I had an Animated feature take the crown as the BEST MOVIE OF THE YEAR.

Honorable Mentions: (The Next Best Five Movies of 2015)

1. Meru: An awesome National Geographic documentary about one of the most daring mountain climbing exipdetitions in history.
2. Mad Max: Fury Road: An andrelenine fueled action packed extrgravanza that is getting some much needed Oscar buzz with Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron in the driver seats
3. Steve Jobs: A film that missed at the box office – but hit with Michael Fassbender as the legendary tycoon under the direction of Danny Boyle that is as stylish as it is important.
4. It Follows: An originally devilish horror film that asks the question what if you we were being followed every second of everyday.
5. Kingsman: The Secret Service: A fun action ride that boasts Colin Firth kicking major ass while watching young Brit actor Taron Edgerton stealing some key moments

AND……

The Worst:

1. Fantastic Four: An attempted reboot by Marvel that failed on all cylinders, a chaotic mess that never felt like a full movie.
2. Unfinished Buisness:  A low brow comedy that continues the strings of recent misses by Vince Vaughn .. only this time it drags Tom Wilkinson and Dave Franco down with him.
3. Vacation: A severely unfunny, idotic and immature dibaocle that is so bad I heard a women say that this movie was, and I quote, “worse than cancer” – pretty much sums it up.
4. San Andreas: Here we have the Rock supposdely being a rescue pilot in the middle of a huge earthquake .. thing is he is only keen on saving his family. If ONLY he could have saved me from this terribly stupid two hour movie.
5. Minions:  Finally on my list of worst movies of the year..is a film that had all of sorts of potential, but it’s clear the Minions should have stayed supporting characters. With only the ability to make your toddler laugh, it will make YOU head to the medicine cabinet grabbing an asprin.

 

RECAP:

The Best Movies of 2015:

1. Inside Out
2. Room
3. Spotlight
4. Goodnight Mommy
5. Straight Outta Compton
6. The Stanford Prison Experiment
7. Me And Earl And The Dying Girl
8. Ex Machina
9. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
10. The End Of The Tour

HONORABLE MENTIONS OF 2015:

1. Meru
2. Mad Max: Fury Road
3. Steve Jobs
4. It Follows
5. Kingsman: The Secret Service

THE WORST MOVIES OF 2015

1. Fantastic Four
2. Unfinished Business
3. Vacation
4. San Andreas
5. Minions

Until next year..