Mallard's Top 10 of 2015
1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens- I know that I'm biased because I'm a huge Star Wars fan, but the most amazing thing to me about The Force Awakens is that in every conceivable way, it lives up to the hype. The wet blankets and killjoys of the world will say that it's nothing more than a glorified retread of A New Hope, and that it doesn't capture the magic of the originals. Don't listen to them. Not only is this a great Star Wars movie; it's a great movie, period.
2. The Revenant- A bloody and vicious ride, which doesn't let up until the final frame. It's a simple story, enhanced by sweepingly beautiful cinematography, incredible performances, and of course, some seriously brutal gore. Leo is desrvedly getting all the hype for Best Actor, but I'm also rooting for Tom Hardy to win Best Supporting.
3. The Wolfpack- A documentary which follows a group of kids raised in isolation in an apartment in New York City. They have essentially zero contact with the outside world, so their entire social outlet is obsessing over movies with each other. A really bizarre story but for whatever reason, completely spellbinding.
4. Steve Jobs- Fassbender kills it in the role of Steve Jobs, and Aaron Sorkin was robbed of a screenplay nomination at the Academy Awards. A three act piece which captures Jobs and those closest to him (including an excellent Kate Winslet) at three different product launches, and pivotal moments in his personal life. Seen here is Jobs threatening an employee, a far cry from Kutcher's laughably ridiculous performance.
5. Spotlight- There's something refreshingly old school about seeing a group of investigative journalists with the sole purpose, as the saying goes, to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. Corruption, complicity, and conspiracy are rampant throughout, and it's equal parts fascinating, infuriating, and tragic. Acting and directing are top notch.
6. Mad Max: Fury Road- A visual spectacle which could stand toe-to-toe with any action movie ever made. George Miller was directing post-apocalyptic movies before it was an industry go-to, and now he's breathed new life into his decades-old franchise with this pulse-pounding epic. It's also a whole lot of fun.
7. Inside Out- Pixar once again proves that it is the industry benchmark for emotionally rich, beautifully animated, and brilliantly inventive stories for all audiences. This one follows the emotional journey of an 11-year old girl as she moves with her family to San Francisco. It doesn't sound like a thrill ride on paper, but on screen it is a dazzling achievement that could move even the stoniest of viewers.
8. Room- Driven by two powerhouse performances, Room is the haunting story of a woman forced to raise her five-year-old son inside a small wooden shed with only rudimentary necessities. Part thriller, part drama, this film does not shy away from its dark and difficult subject matter.
9. Ex Machina- An intelligently crafted sci-fi thriller from Alex Garland, writer of 28 Days Later, Sunshine, and the underrated Never Let Me Go. This claustrophobic, eerie, and mind-bending movie about a beta version of an advanced artificial intelligence will keep you on the edge of your seat, and constantly questioning the motives and sincerity of its characters. Here's hoping we see more from Alex Garland in the future.
10. Kingsman: The Secret Service- This one's up there for most entertaining movie of the year. It's the story of a troubled inner city British youth (think Attack the Block) who is unwittingly inducted into a top secret and adamantly stylish spy organization called "Kingsman." It's a hilarious, surprisingly ingenious movie which never sacrifices playfulness for grittiness. Colin Firth is excellent, but watch out for an understated but highly effective comedic performance from Mark Strong as well.
...And in no particular order, here's ten more from 2015 that I really enjoyed!
2. The Revenant- A bloody and vicious ride, which doesn't let up until the final frame. It's a simple story, enhanced by sweepingly beautiful cinematography, incredible performances, and of course, some seriously brutal gore. Leo is desrvedly getting all the hype for Best Actor, but I'm also rooting for Tom Hardy to win Best Supporting.
3. The Wolfpack- A documentary which follows a group of kids raised in isolation in an apartment in New York City. They have essentially zero contact with the outside world, so their entire social outlet is obsessing over movies with each other. A really bizarre story but for whatever reason, completely spellbinding.
4. Steve Jobs- Fassbender kills it in the role of Steve Jobs, and Aaron Sorkin was robbed of a screenplay nomination at the Academy Awards. A three act piece which captures Jobs and those closest to him (including an excellent Kate Winslet) at three different product launches, and pivotal moments in his personal life. Seen here is Jobs threatening an employee, a far cry from Kutcher's laughably ridiculous performance.
5. Spotlight- There's something refreshingly old school about seeing a group of investigative journalists with the sole purpose, as the saying goes, to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. Corruption, complicity, and conspiracy are rampant throughout, and it's equal parts fascinating, infuriating, and tragic. Acting and directing are top notch.
6. Mad Max: Fury Road- A visual spectacle which could stand toe-to-toe with any action movie ever made. George Miller was directing post-apocalyptic movies before it was an industry go-to, and now he's breathed new life into his decades-old franchise with this pulse-pounding epic. It's also a whole lot of fun.
7. Inside Out- Pixar once again proves that it is the industry benchmark for emotionally rich, beautifully animated, and brilliantly inventive stories for all audiences. This one follows the emotional journey of an 11-year old girl as she moves with her family to San Francisco. It doesn't sound like a thrill ride on paper, but on screen it is a dazzling achievement that could move even the stoniest of viewers.
8. Room- Driven by two powerhouse performances, Room is the haunting story of a woman forced to raise her five-year-old son inside a small wooden shed with only rudimentary necessities. Part thriller, part drama, this film does not shy away from its dark and difficult subject matter.
9. Ex Machina- An intelligently crafted sci-fi thriller from Alex Garland, writer of 28 Days Later, Sunshine, and the underrated Never Let Me Go. This claustrophobic, eerie, and mind-bending movie about a beta version of an advanced artificial intelligence will keep you on the edge of your seat, and constantly questioning the motives and sincerity of its characters. Here's hoping we see more from Alex Garland in the future.
10. Kingsman: The Secret Service- This one's up there for most entertaining movie of the year. It's the story of a troubled inner city British youth (think Attack the Block) who is unwittingly inducted into a top secret and adamantly stylish spy organization called "Kingsman." It's a hilarious, surprisingly ingenious movie which never sacrifices playfulness for grittiness. Colin Firth is excellent, but watch out for an understated but highly effective comedic performance from Mark Strong as well.
...And in no particular order, here's ten more from 2015 that I really enjoyed!
Comments
Post a Comment