I must note that I have not seen every movie released in 2015, nor have I seen all the movies released last year that I intend to. Once I do get the chance to see the last minute, limited release films that will be receiving a wider released in January, I will update this list as I see fit.
But without further ado, here are my top 10 movies of 2015.
10. Creed
photo fair use from screenrant.com
Not many people were expecting Creed to be good, let alone great. What writer and director Ryan Coogler gave viewers is a movie that puts the relationships between its characters at its center instead of boxing. That is why the original Rocky, and other fighting movies such as Warrior, received so much acclaim.
photo fair use from fandango.com
After multiple duds in a row, it's nice to see Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade Runner) back on his feet. His adaptation of Andy Weir's The Martian was funny, suspenseful, and entertaining. Matt Damon and the terrific supporting cast that includes Jeff Daniels, Jessica Chastain, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and many others, helped make this movie a blast to watch.
photo fair use from collider.com
While I do not think Spotlight is a film that is superb on every level (just very good), the story of child molestation by Catholic priests is one that needs to be told. Spotlight tells this story with great success. While its certainly not the most enjoyable film on my list, it's one that I felt like I needed to watch, and one that everybody should.
photo fair use from comicmix.com
Kingsman: The Secret Service is an extremely entertaining film. Its jokes are hilarious, its action is intense and well directed, and it's so much better than the average spy genre parody. There's no hidden meaning here, and there doesn't need to be one. Sometimes, you just want to have a great time at the movies, and Kingsman is just that.
photo fair use from geeksofdoom.com
For a movie that is nothing but dialogue scenes for two hours, Steve Jobs manages to still be wildly fun and entertaining because Aaron Sorkin’s screenplay never wastes a second of the film’s run time. Steve Jobs is always moving, and with the addition of Michael Fassbender’s spectacular performance as Jobs, it is an absolutely terrific movie.
photo fair use from slashfilm.com
Pixar hasn’t been on top of their game since 2010’s Toy Story 3. Thankfully, Inside Out shows the studio can still make terrific, imaginative movies. Inside Out is colorful, creative, hilarious, clever, and emotional. It’s a prime piece of animation that might actually entertain adults even more than children.
photo fair use from youtube.com
Of all the movies on this list, Mad Max: Fury Road is the most technically sublime. George Miller’s post-apocalyptic action film is a feast for the eyes and ears. Magnificent on nearly every level, Fury Road is pure, overwhelming spectacle, and has some of the most well crafted action sequences of any film this century. There's a reason the film will almost certainly obtain an Oscar nomination for Best Picture: it's just that good at what it does.
photo fair use from scpr.org
I tend to bestow the term "genuine" to one or two movies every year for being exceptionally heartfelt and realistic on a human level. In 2014 it was Boyhood and in 2013 it was Her and Blue is the Warmest Color. In 2015, Room was, without a doubt, the most genuine film that I had the pleasure of watching. Room is so real and poignant that I couldn’t stop thinking about it after I walked out of the theater. It strikes the perfect balance between tense thriller and life affirming drama. It’s a very, very special movie.
I would like to note that I had an extremely difficult time deciding between my number one and number two choices. Each of them are tremendous achievements in their own right. In the end, I decided to choose the movie that meant more to me on a personal level.
photo fair use from geekandsundry.com
Ex Machina is not a movie with new ideas (you've seen these concepts in other science fiction films). Instead, Ex Machina is a movie that takes the idea of artificial intelligence and presents it in an extraordinary way.
Alex Garland's screenplay is significantly smarter than most in the genre. It presents three characters and leaves you questioning who you should like, who you should dislike, and who you should trust. It brings up questions about the nature of artificial intelligence and the possible effects that it would have on our world. The three terrific performances from Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, and (especially) Alicia Vikander are just icing on the cake.
photo fair use from thedailybeast.com
I grew up with Star Wars. I watched the movies over and over again, played with the action figures, built the Lego sets, pretended I was a Jedi, etc, etc. So when a movie like The Force Awakens comes around and perfectly reimagines the galaxy far, far away that I fell in love with as a child, I can't help but to recognize it as my favorite movie of 2015.
The Force Awakens brings back the magic that the Star Wars franchise lacked in the prequels. It's the same kind of movie that I fell in love with. The kind of movie that got me to love movies. It’s teeming with imagination, excellent characters, exciting action, and most importantly, heart.
J. J. Abrams understood what made this franchise great and he was able to achieve something truly special: a film that respects and pays homage to the best entries of the series while beginning to head in a bold new direction. Star Wars: The Force Awakens bring new life into the cultural phenomenon that is so close to my heart, and it will also inspire a new generation of Star Wars fans and movie lovers alike. If that’s not something worth celebrating, I don’t know what is.
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