Top 12 Movies of 2015
12: STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON
Looking back at this movie, I realized I might have overpraised this movie. It’s not by all means bad (Why would I put this on my list?), but the celebrity pandering during the second half sort of distracted me. Outside of that, the movie still stands to be the best of its kind. Recalling the events leading up to the rise and fall of the rap group NWA, STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON manages to be complex, personal, and damn-near accurate in almost every way while also commenting on racism, teamwork, and corrupt business practices without sounding too preachy. And hopefully we might give this year's Oscar to Jason Mitchell as Eazy E!
12: STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON
Looking back at this movie, I realized I might have overpraised this movie. It’s not by all means bad (Why would I put this on my list?), but the celebrity pandering during the second half sort of distracted me. Outside of that, the movie still stands to be the best of its kind. Recalling the events leading up to the rise and fall of the rap group NWA, STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON manages to be complex, personal, and damn-near accurate in almost every way while also commenting on racism, teamwork, and corrupt business practices without sounding too preachy. And hopefully we might give this year's Oscar to Jason Mitchell as Eazy E!
11: BEAST OF NO NATION
I’ll be honest, when I heard Netflix is marketing their own movies and TV shows, I really thought it wouldn’t work. But as time goes on, I’m suddenly surprised by how they could make great material out of edgy subject matters. And BEAST OF NO NATION is no exception. In telling a story of an African child forced into refugee by a conflicting army force, the film holds no punches in its suggestive themes, while also telling a complex narrative that targets the grey line of morality and motivation of what is otherwise cruel and nasty. It's basically BLOOD DIAMOND but on one perspective and is buoyed by a great performance by Idris Elba that DOESN’T come off as over-the-top!
I’ll be honest, when I heard Netflix is marketing their own movies and TV shows, I really thought it wouldn’t work. But as time goes on, I’m suddenly surprised by how they could make great material out of edgy subject matters. And BEAST OF NO NATION is no exception. In telling a story of an African child forced into refugee by a conflicting army force, the film holds no punches in its suggestive themes, while also telling a complex narrative that targets the grey line of morality and motivation of what is otherwise cruel and nasty. It's basically BLOOD DIAMOND but on one perspective and is buoyed by a great performance by Idris Elba that DOESN’T come off as over-the-top!
10: INSIDE OUT
Well, it is about time, Pixar! After three years of obvious cash-ins and well-intentioned failures, here’s a film that finally gives us what we wanted from the powerhouse of children animation. In telling of a coming-of-age story about a girl trying to cope with a new life in San Francisco, this movie explores fun ways of both her and our feelings and emotional psyche while also gives dramatic depth to its premise that challenges both children and adults alike. It’s a film that teaches us about emotional balances, growing up, and have us learn that no emotion is either the best nor the worst for us, and all that matters is balance. Oh, and that ending KILLS!
Well, it is about time, Pixar! After three years of obvious cash-ins and well-intentioned failures, here’s a film that finally gives us what we wanted from the powerhouse of children animation. In telling of a coming-of-age story about a girl trying to cope with a new life in San Francisco, this movie explores fun ways of both her and our feelings and emotional psyche while also gives dramatic depth to its premise that challenges both children and adults alike. It’s a film that teaches us about emotional balances, growing up, and have us learn that no emotion is either the best nor the worst for us, and all that matters is balance. Oh, and that ending KILLS!
9: BRIDGE OF SPIES
Steven Spielberg once again claims his title to be the best in the business of how to do historical pieces right! Teaming up with the Coen brothers, it depicts an ordinary banker played by Tom Hanks who gets involved in secret spy work during the Cold War. Along the way, much like LINCOLN back in 2012, he goes through desperate measures, some that challenge their moral center, and still manages to endure and as a result embody as the hero of our time; All of this neatly wrapped with a great performance by Hank, great writing from the Coen Brothers, and the authentic directing by Spielberg. What more is to be asked? Don’t miss it.
Steven Spielberg once again claims his title to be the best in the business of how to do historical pieces right! Teaming up with the Coen brothers, it depicts an ordinary banker played by Tom Hanks who gets involved in secret spy work during the Cold War. Along the way, much like LINCOLN back in 2012, he goes through desperate measures, some that challenge their moral center, and still manages to endure and as a result embody as the hero of our time; All of this neatly wrapped with a great performance by Hank, great writing from the Coen Brothers, and the authentic directing by Spielberg. What more is to be asked? Don’t miss it.
8: STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS
Yes, it is basically a blatant remake of A NEW HOPE. Yes, some plot points are barely explained. Yes, some of the characters are way too overhyped. But… It works! Of all that could go wrong with another STAR WARS movie, THE FORCE AWAKENS manages to stay true to what made the original trilogy memorable, while also coming up with new elements, however few, that still makes it stand out. The characters, both old and new, are fun and complex, the new breed actors nail their roles, the action screams classic, and for all of his portentous storytelling skills over the years, you can tell that director JJ Abrams was born to make this movie! It’s as if this movie was made so that fans torn by prequel disappointed could finally feel hope for the future, and it was worth the wait…
Yes, it is basically a blatant remake of A NEW HOPE. Yes, some plot points are barely explained. Yes, some of the characters are way too overhyped. But… It works! Of all that could go wrong with another STAR WARS movie, THE FORCE AWAKENS manages to stay true to what made the original trilogy memorable, while also coming up with new elements, however few, that still makes it stand out. The characters, both old and new, are fun and complex, the new breed actors nail their roles, the action screams classic, and for all of his portentous storytelling skills over the years, you can tell that director JJ Abrams was born to make this movie! It’s as if this movie was made so that fans torn by prequel disappointed could finally feel hope for the future, and it was worth the wait…
7: MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
...But let’s face it! We never knew THIS would surprise us! With apologies to STAR WARS, this may still be the return to a once troubled franchise that still brought us a lot more than what we bargained for! The cinematography is artistically appealing, the car battles are fun as hell, and beneath all the hardcore, testosterone-filled roller coaster of a film is a shockingly engaging narrative that empowers a group of women to overthrow a man-controlled hierarchy. Hell, this movie is so damn good, you don’t even bother to notice that Mad Max is barely the main character in this movie!
6: THE HATEFUL EIGHT
When I was little, I always thought that Quentin Tarantino movies were just R-rated splatter fests without acknowledging the clever storytelling and talent. Movies like Django and Inglourious Bastards, along with being both bloody and gritty, are also subtextual, holding some meaning to them. And with HATEFUL EIGHT, we see Tarantino pull it off once again! The premise: Eight dispicable a-holes in one house! So it is all just witty dialogue, insightful commentary, and growing tension, all of which ads up to one hell of a splatterfest! It may not be for everyone, but it is worth a try.
5: CREED
Yet another example of movies out of old franchises that still can hold onto its own. CREED tells the story of Apollo Creeds son as he tries to compete in boxing to bring back his father's legacy, and only by training with his old rival will get him there. It’s just downright admirable by how campy yet heartfelt and inspirational the old Rocky movies were, and this film embraces it in full, while both updating the circumstances of the present day and giving a great performance by Michael B Jordan and a welcome back by Sylvester Stallone.
4: SICARIO
A war movie with a lead troubled with her moral code and the harsh events and poignant subject matter of that war with a fleshed out narrative and great directing? This is what I really wanted to see in AMERICAN SNIPER last year! Well it was well worth the wait! This movie is smart, well acted, and builds up to a great finish, getting better every minute! Don’t miss this!
...But let’s face it! We never knew THIS would surprise us! With apologies to STAR WARS, this may still be the return to a once troubled franchise that still brought us a lot more than what we bargained for! The cinematography is artistically appealing, the car battles are fun as hell, and beneath all the hardcore, testosterone-filled roller coaster of a film is a shockingly engaging narrative that empowers a group of women to overthrow a man-controlled hierarchy. Hell, this movie is so damn good, you don’t even bother to notice that Mad Max is barely the main character in this movie!6: THE HATEFUL EIGHT
5: CREED
4: SICARIO
A war movie with a lead troubled with her moral code and the harsh events and poignant subject matter of that war with a fleshed out narrative and great directing? This is what I really wanted to see in AMERICAN SNIPER last year! Well it was well worth the wait! This movie is smart, well acted, and builds up to a great finish, getting better every minute! Don’t miss this!3: THE MARTIAN
2: ANOMALISA
1: THE REVENANT
But honestly, this is my favorite of 2015! Out of all the movies Alejandro G. Iñárritu made, like the satirically brilliant BIRDMAN last year, this movie takes his artistic prowess both to the next level and in the open frontier as he depicts the brutal, deadly, compelling, and at times overlong, side of it. The movie centers around Leonardo DiCaprio as a frontiersman who, after a vicious bear attack, was left for dead by his own peers, while also killing his adopted Native son. What follows is events that both depict Bear Grylls style survival through dangerous mother nature and delves into the mas psychological trauma throughout his journey. Both main leads do their part with stride, but the real meat is the crippling depiction of a mans journey of wrath through the worst of nature. This is NOT the one to miss!
Great points!
ReplyDelete