Well, another year has passed and people have been asking me what my favorite films of the year were! Now, please note there are always the big Oscar-nominated films that come out as a limited release around the holidays (i.e., The Revenant), but I do NOT count those films as being released in 2015 as they were not given a wide release (i.e., released in all states), in which case limited release films like The Revenant will not be eligible until next year's 2016 list. So, without any further ado, here they are (in alphabetical order):
American Ultra
Directed by Nima Nourizadeh
Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Topher Grace, Walton Goggins, Connie Britton, Tony Hale, John Leguizamo, and Bill Pullman
What was advertised as some stoner flick akin to Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure or Half-Baked, actually turned out to be a surprisingly-decent action film! Written by Max Landis, the story isn't merely some stoner (Eisenberg) who is a CIA sleeper agent. There's a bit more going on in the story and I'm almost thankful the trailer and ads made the movie out to be what they did, because if you only give this one a try, you might be pleasantly surprised. It's an enjoyable action popcorn flick! There's laughs and violence, but there's also plenty of serious moments and some surprising twists and turns in plot! And, for once, Stewart actually wasn't her usual grating self nor did she rely solely upon her "annoyed-look acting!" For plenty of action, laughs and plot twists, check this one out!
Amy
Directed by Asif Kapadia
I'll never forget how I felt when I first listened to Amy Winehouse's hit album, Back to Black. It was the kind of album I had been hoping for from a contemporary soul singer for a long time! Winehouse, whose debut album, Frank, was more jazz and torch singer, decided to release a collection of songs in the vein of the classic 1960s girl groups and raw garage bands. Winehouse's voice was truly unique and her songwriting talent led the way for a cache of artists who have brought back the classic soul sound she so beautifully made her own. There are moments in the film when she sings -- without music -- the background vocals for "Back to Black" and you can tell she is a superb, talented singer to whom most singers today don't even come close to matching. This documentary follows Winehouse from her childhood days singing with friends to signing her first record contract to her untimely death at the age of 27. Featuring interviews with Winehouse's family, friends and business partners, Amy is an intimate look into a woman who went from a Grammy-winning artist to a laughing stock while showing her vulnerable side. In fact, after watching this doc, you become easily disgusted by all of the negative comments and jokes made at her expense. Winehouse was a true talent and this doc only poignantly showcases that.
Ant-Man
Directed by Peyton Reed
Starring Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lilly, Corey Stoll, Michael Pena, Bobby Cannavale, and Judy Greer
I almost liked this better than Avengers: Age of Ultron! Sure, Marvel Comics' films are the lighter side of the comic book adaptation genre (compared to DC Comics' darker films), but the great thing about it is they're films I can take my young daughters to see. In fact, after watching Ant-Man, and seeing Evangeline Lilly's portrayal of Hope van Dyne, I couldn't wait to take a second trip to my local cinema to show them this film! Most people were worried when hearing that mostly-comedic director Peyton Reed was going to take the directing reins from cult favorite Edgar Wright, as well as the casting of mostly-comedic actor Paul Rudd as the lead. But Disney and Marvel prove once again that they know what they're doing! The comedy is there without drowning out the seriousness of the story, and Rudd and cast pull off everything just right. Corey Stoll portrays a sympathetic villain who most could probably relate to when it comes to his skewed view of his life and the world. What I'm most looking forward to, though, will be Ant-Man's overall contribution to the Avengers -- especially since the Civil War is the next big storyline. For now, though, this film is a nice, fun action adventure for audiences of all ages!
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Directed by Joss Whedon
Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, James Spader, Elizabeth Olsen, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Paul Bettany, and Samuel L. Jackson
As far as big-budget popcorn flicks go, this one probably takes the cake this past year! Of course, I'm not sure if the Avengers franchise would be good unless Joss Whedon was directing (I guess we'll see in two years when the Russo Brothers take the directing duties over for the Infinity War saga when its first part hits theaters). That said, the second Avengers film is a good film -- although sometimes it feels like the whole "dysfunctional family" theme is wearing out its welcome. But it's a necessary theme seeing how this film foreshadows the upcoming Civil War storyline with which Iron Man and Captain America differ on their ideas of freedom and what is best for the general public. The film does showcase one of my biggest pet peeves with Marvel movies (the fact that there is no actual threat because everyone innocent conveniently gets out of harm's way, which I call "coincidence catastrophe"), so, unlike when everyone raised hell because Man of Steel featured so much destruction of Metropolis, there was nothing mentioned when this film lifted an entire city into the air and destroyed it. After all, who cares since that's not a U.S. city? But I digress. Whedon's latest contribution to the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a noteworthy one and very entertaining!
Best of Enemies
Directed by Robert Gordon and Morgan Neville
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Directors Robert Gordon and Morgan Neville take a bipartisan, no-holds-barred look at two of the most outspoken political speakers of all time: liberal Gore Vidal and conservative William F. Buckley, who first began debating one another on ABC TV at the 1968 Republican National Convention, followed by the Democratic National Convention. Their vitriol for one another is well-documented here and one cannot help but see these two as having an unspoken respect for one another, although they'd never admit to it, and their words exchanged comes out as diplomatic -- sometimes passive-aggressive -- dislike, but during a time when one had to argue in a more civilized manner. What is most noticeable about this documentary is that these debates between the two are in many ways the beginning of the talking head political debate opinion shows which now litter (yes, LITTER) today's cable news TV channels. The dislike these two have for one another soon explodes into -- what, at that time, was -- an extremely unprofessional and completely distasteful moment televised for millions of people to see (a moment so disgusting that even Buckley, who made the comment, hoped it had been forever deleted). My favorite moment of the this film, though, was at the end when an insightful Vidal voices his opinion of ultimate dislike for the kinds of opinionated, bitter debates between Buckley and him -- all while his voice is run over video footage of today's talking heads on FOX News, CNN, MSNBC, etc. Best of Enemies is one of the best documentaries to look into an era when the two big political parties obviously began their dangerous, populace-splitting rift.
The Big Short
Directed by Adam McKay
Starring Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, John Magaro, Finn Wittrock, Jeremy Strong, Hamish Linklater, Rafe Spall, Brad Pitt, and Marisa Tomei
Based on the nonfiction novel documenting the housing crash of 2008, The Big Short centers on four groups of outcasts who discover the housing and banking business is just a big bubble bound to inevitably pop. Told with all the right comedic timing and housing lending language put into layman's terms, the film is ride which, when it's over, makes you feel like you had fun but also sort of angers you. It's a gambling film in the sense that these outcasts are placing a big, long gamble on whether the housing bubble will pop in a time when it was at an all-time high. However, it's not just money this ragtag group is looking to win. If they win, the end result will be evictions, foreclosure, job terminations in the thousands. Sadly, we know the end result. But what most don't know -- or may not want to admit -- is how the crash was caused ... and this film beautifully displays it. The fact that fraud was the modus operandi not just by the big banks but also by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and several acclaimed financial services such as Standard & Poor's. What is most maddening, however, is the end result, which starts off with a joke that the big bank bosses who committed such fraud were found guilty, when actually it is admitted that nothing happened. There were no consequences. Even though it was briefly mentioned, I wish the film had spent just a little more time on the fact that Henry Paulson, the former Goldman Sachs CEO, basically bought -- more like bribed -- his way into the job as U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, when he was basically a part of the reason why the economic crash happened in the first place. Politics aside, the film is entertaining, engrossing, informative, and American. In a year full of notable films with protagonists taking on the establishment (Concussion; Spotlight; Freeheld; Mad Max: Fury Road), The Big Short is one of the best and one of the most important to U.S. history.
Bone Tomahawk
Directed by S. Craig Zahler
Starring Kurt Russell, Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox, Richard Jenkins, Lili Simmons, and David Arquette
Watching this film, I couldn't help but think, and be reminded, of my favorite John Wayne film, The Searchers. Sure, the 1956 Wayne film and this film both deal with kidnappings of a pretty white girl by savages. However, their endings are much different! Whereas The Searchers had an underlying message of cultural understanding, Bone Tomahawk is purely a brutal action/suspense rescue mission film. And while this film has its traditional western film scenery and cowboy talk, this is not your father's western! Zahler's script is not only full of well-shot scary, chilling moments, but also does not hold back on talk of cannibalism and the gruesome splitting of a man's body right down the center. Like the end of Wayne's film, there's not much of a Hollywood happy ending to this one, but Bone Tomahawk is still one of the best of the year!
Bridge of Spies
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Starring Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Alan Alda, Amy Ryan, and Dakin Matthews
Steven Spielberg proves once again that he is one of the best directors ever with his latest release, based on the true story of insurance attorney James B. Donovan (Tom Hanks) who is tasked with representing a supposed Russian spy names Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance) during the true height of the Cold War in 1957. While everyone Donovan comes into contact with (including his own wife and children) believes the accused to be guilty and they question Donovan why he would represent such a man, Donovan gives the man the best representation he can, which soon catapults him into an international spy plot when, in 1960, Francis Gary Powers is shot down in his U-2 spy plane over Russia. This leads Donovan down the dangerous path of trying to negotiate an exchange of the accused Russian for Powers. What I loved most about this film is most likely what will enrage those who believe in Donald Trump's -- and some GOP's -- message today. The film shows not only what makes our country so great -- as embodied in the character of Donovan -- but also points out the hypocrisy of people who are so quick to turn to anger and judgement, and how they all of a sudden change their tune when what you do or say turns to their favor. Because of all of this, Bridge of Spies is an extremely important and relevant movie for today's times ... especially in the approach to an election year.
Cop Car
Directed by Jon Watts
Starring Kevin Bacon, James Freedson-Jackson, Hays Wellford, and Camryn Manheim
Cop Car falls into that straight-up independent film when the genre first hit its stride in the 1990s. The story is simple on its face but is shot so wonderfully. The film has no real background and just picks up in the middle of the story as two boys (James Freedson-Jackson and Hays Wellford) run across a seemingly abandoned police car and decide to take the car for a joyride. Little do they know that inside the car hides a crucial key to corruption the boys didn't count on, and what starts as a funny, coming-of-age-type film soon drastically turns more sinister. Bacon, as usual, does his best as a desperate cop who's not all he's cracked up to be, in pursuit of the boys. This film doesn't carry the wham-bam action of a usual big budget production, but the emotion it evokes is better than most of those big budget films attempt to reach. Cop Car is a taut, suspenseful ride that leaves you on the edge of your seat, watching two kids trying to overcome an insurmountable foe.
Dope
Directed by Rick Famuyiwa
Starring Shameik Moore, Tony Revolori, Kiersey Clemons, Zoe Kravitz, Chanel Iman, Kimberly Elise, Tyga, Blake Anderson, and A$AP Rocky
Dope is in a category rarely seen nowadays. Let's be honest. There aren't many movies about black geeks nowadays (except for that embarrassing Can't Buy Me Love remake, Love Don't Cost a Thing), and it was honestly refreshing to see such a film as this ... even though the story is loosely similar to Risky Business. Nevertheless, Dope contains masterful storytelling from a underrated writer/director Rick Famuyiwa, who has been around since 1999's The Wood, and it's nice to see a director who's mostly known for romantic comedy/dramas to take on such a story as this one. Newcomer Shameik Moore (as the lead Malcolm) is a revelation and the story is well-written, the film well-edited, making the viewer on the edge of their seat for what comes next. Dope returns me to the glory days of early John Singleton and Spike Lee. I only hope Famuyiwa brings more than romantic comedies now that he's brought us this gem.
Everly
Directed by Joe Lynch
Starring Salma Hayek, Akie Kotabe, Laura Cepeda, Hiroyuki Watanabe, and Jennifer Blanc
Back in 2007, I enjoyed Joe Carnahan's Smokin' Aces, mostly because it was an awesome concept -- despite its B-movie qualities. This film follows in the same vein of a B-movie action shoot-em-up film. The story starts right in the middle of the action, with Everly (Salma Hayek), a prostitute, waking up in an apartment only to receive a phone call from her former boss, a mob boss named Taiko (Hiroyuki Watanabe), who she has betrayed and he announces he has put a bounty on her head and there are innumerable killers coming to collect. What ensues is Everly having to fight her way out as she takes on all kinds of killers, just so she can get her mother and child to safety. Sure, there's violence and gunplay, but Everly is one kick-ass heroine and for anyone who likes Smokin' Aces and Die Hard, this is a must-see.
The Final Girls
Directed by Todd Strauss-Schulson
Starring Malin Akerman, Taissa Farmiga, Alexander Ludwig, Alia Shawkat, Nina Dobrev, Adam DeVine, Thomas Middleditch, and Angela Trimbur
The Final Girls is one of those clever ideas for a film that I'm honestly surprised was not pitched sooner. The idea of a group of young adults going into a classic 1980s slasher flick (a la Friday the 13th) is just the kind of nostalgic trapping for which most cinephiles like myself easily take the bait! In the comedy-horror film, Max (Taissa Farmiga) is still haunted by the sudden, untimely death of her mother, Amanda (Malin Akerman), in a car accident. While she longs to see her mother again, she is not too excited when she is invited by her friends (Alia Shawkat, Thomas Middleditch, and Alexander Ludwig) and frenemy (Nina Dobrev) to go see the 1980s slasher movie, Camp Bloodbath, which made her mom a member of the "scream queen" fame. During the viewing, an accident happens, bringing Max and her friends into the Camp Bloodbath movie, interacting with the characters and coming face-to-face with the crazed, masked killer himself. There are plenty of funny moments but also lots of scary moments which any fan of 1980s slasher flicks will recognize -- the creepy synthesizer music score, the stereotype characters, the '80s lingo, the gratuitous sex (although there is no nudity in this film), and the plot device which most 80s horror films followed. But beneath all of that is an overall lesson which Max must come to grips with. If you're looking for the perfect blend of comedy and horror, The Final Girls is what you're looking for!
Freaks of Nature
Directed by Robbie Pickering
Starring Nicholas Braun, Mackenzie Davis, Josh Fadem, Vanessa Hudgens, Ed Westwick, and Denis Leary
Imagine if John Hughes made a horror comedy! Then you might come close to this B-movie-style flick about three unpopular teens who find themselves living in a world where humans mixing with zombies and vampires is normal. Dag (Nicholas Braun) is an awkward teen who pines after the beautiful stoner girl-next-door, Lorelei (Vanessa Hudgens), who only thinks of him as a friend; Petra (Mackenzie Davis) is the shy girl who falls in love with vampire Milan (Ed Westwick) and will do anything to make him love her; and Ned (Josh Fadem) is the smart geek who no one seems to like and is tired of being and feeling ignored and pressured. Once all friends but now torn apart by the machinations of high school, the three live their different lives until an unexpected chain of events in the form of an alien invasion causes them to band together, as they work through their issues and hopefully save their town. The storylines may be recycled or cliché, but the film works. It's action-packed, smart, and witty, making it a fun watch! The individual storylines and transformations of the characters are perfect metaphors for their personalities and the normal troubles most teens go through during their formative years (just like what Joss Whedon did with his TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, particularly seasons 1 and 2). I was not a fan of Leary's part in the film (his acting was ... something), and the alien storyline was a bit far-fetched, but it was one of the most entertaining films I've seen this year. It's definitely a rental but one I'd most likely rent again and again.
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief
Directed by Alex Gibney
This documentary is definitely one of the best I've seen this past year. Based on the book by Lawrence Wright, Going Clear shows the history of Scientology and its creator, L. Ron Hubbard. For those who don't know, Scientology is the scientific religion which has millions of followers -- including famous actors such as Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, Juliette Lewis, Giovanni Ribisi, and Laura Prepon -- that stems from his book, Dianetics, and its science of mental health. Of course, what scientologists don't tell you until you're way in deep in their organization is the actual belief behind the "religion": that 75 million years ago, a humanoid-looking alien named Xenu brought billions of people to Earth, only to stack them around volcanoes, and, well, the rest is just plain crazy. Albeit, some may say it's no crazier than believing humans were created by a giant man spirit in the heavens. Anyways, this film documents the shady underbelly of the organization, its twisting of truths to receive its religious tax exemption from the U.S. federal government, and Hubbard's (a man who had written approximately 140 fictional stories) shady past (which includes kidnapping), as well as the underhanded mission he oversaw to plant scientologists in the federal government and his evading the law by living in hiding. The film has interviews featuring former scientologists, including a few of the higher echelon, who expose the corrupt organization for what it truly is: a cult. It is difficult to watch this film and not get angered and shocked that such a cult can have these practices and still get a religious title to it with tax exemption, as well as so many people showing such undying love for it. Shortly after the film's premiere on HBO, actors Cruise and Travolta spoke out publicly only saying they would not watch the documentary. Of course, what else would one expect from people who so willingly want to be blind? Either way, this jaw-dropping doc is a must see, and I promise it's one of the best you've seen in a very long time!
Goosebumps
Directed by Rob Letterman
Starring Jack Black, Dylan Minnette, Odeya Rush, Ryan Lee, Amy Ryan, Halston Sage, and Jillian Bell
Sure, it's a kids movie! But Goosebumps is one of the most entertaining this year -- even for adults! Like most of the films on this list so far, this one was fun. It's not going to win any serious, major awards, but it's entertaining. Besides, I'm a big fan of those "all-the-villains-converge-in-one-story" type stories. The film follows teen Zach (Dylan Minnette), who moves with his mom (Amy Ryan) to the (fictional) town of Madison, Delaware, and next door to a beautiful girl his age named Hannah (Odeya Rush). The two quickly hit if off but her father is very protective of her, and Zach soon finds out her father is none other than the famous R.L. Stine (Jack Black), author of the Goosebumps books. With Zach's new friend, Champ (Ryan Lee), in tow, the two set out to free Hannah from her seemingly abusive father, only to find a bookcase full of every single one of Stine's original Goosebumps manuscripts. They're horrified to discover that when a book is opened, the main horror creature escapes into the real world. All seems well until Stine's most conniving character, the ventriloquist dummy Slappy, escapes and lets out all of the other horrors, hellbent on taking over the world. Goosebumps is just the right kind of scary for kids (although, all kids are different and parental discretion is still advised) and it has plenty of laughs and heart. This was a nice surprise for the year.
He Named Me Malala
Directed by Davis Guggenheim
This documentary follows Malala Yousafzai, who, at the age of 15, was shot by the Taliban for continuing with her education. She was shot once, hitting her in the head, neck and shoulder. Fortunately, she survived. Rather than what most might do -- which is be intimidated and hide out from those who would conspire to kill her -- Malala's voice only grew louder and she has become a Pakistani activist for female education, and is the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate. With touching human moments and inspiration, Malala is a wonderful, entertaining watch! She proves that there are truly great, courageous, kind people in the world and no matter what happens in life, you can use your pain or good fortune to help out people in this world. An inspiring documentary like no other this year!
In the Heart of the Sea
Directed by Ron Howard
Starring Chris Hemsworth, Benjamin Walker, Cillian Murphy, Brendan Gleeson, Ben Whishaw, Tom Holland, Michelle Fairley, and Frank Dillane
Based on the true life event which inspired Herman Melville's literary masterpiece, Moby Dick, In the Heart of the Sea (based on the non-fiction book by Nathaniel Philbrick) follows First Mate Owen Chase (Chris Hemsworth) and cabin boy Thomas Nickerson (Tom Holland) in 1820 as they take the fateful voyage on the Essex, a whaling ship captained by George Pollard Jr. (Benjamin Walker). The voyage starts off slow but soon comes into peril when confronted by a malicious sperm whale, which attacks and capsizes their ship. The crew finds itself in a fight for survival as they must overcome multiple hazards. Most people may describe this as "the whale version of Jaws," except that this story happened in real life and the story deals more with survival rather than taking down the animal. Ron Howard has had a few releases in the few years since his last widescreen release, 2009's Angels & Demons, but this film is a welcome return for the director, showcasing his talent. The tale may be one of pure survival but it's intense and captivating!
Inside Out
Directed by Pete Docter & Ronnie del Carmen
Starring Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Phyllis Smith, Richard Kind, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling, Kaitlyn Dias, Diane Lane, and Kyle MacLachlan
My absolute favorite film of the year has to be Pixar's Inside Out! People can say all they want about Mad Max or Star Wars or any other dramatic film, but it's this animated film which has so much originality, philosophical meaning, heart, and laughs that I'm blown away every time I watch it! The story of preteen Riley (Kaitlyn Dias) and her emotions -- Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), and Disgust (Mindy Kaling) -- is heartwarming, poignant and, at times, heartwrenching! Truly one of Pixar's saddest films in terms of the loss of childhood and growing older but told with care, humor and warmth, I fall in love with this film all over again -- and even more so -- every time I watch it. The story is not so much Riley's struggle of moving to a new state and leaving her friends or Joy's and Sadness' journey to make it back to their home as it is the emotional struggle we all go through internally. With inside jokes only most adults or movie fans would notice, Inside Out has so much to deliver to audiences of all ages! And if you're not touched by Bing Bong's (Richard Kind) sacrifice, I don't know if I wanna know you.
Just Before I Go
Directed by Courteney Cox
Starring Seann William Scott, Olivia Thirlby, Garret Dillahunt, Kate Walsh, Kyle Gallner, Rob Riggle, Missi Pyle, Connie Stevens, and Clancy Brown
One of the sleeper hits of the year, in my opinion, is this direct-to-video black comedy film by Friends alumni Courteney Cox, about an everyman named Ted Morgan (Seann William Scott) who decides to commit suicide due to his crappy life; however, before he does the deed, he returns to his hometown to settle some scores. What starts as a pretty basic straightforward mission for Ted soon becomes increasingly more difficult as life happens to Ted with many new and familiar faces forcing their way into Ted's new life. The film mostly got panned by critics but I enjoyed it. For the first time I was able to look at Scott without thinking of him as Stifler (from the American Pie movie series). It may not be some Academy Award winner but it is original, entertaining and leaves a bit of itself in your mind to absorb.
Mad Max: Fury Road
Directed by George Miller
Starring Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Zoe Kravitz, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Riley Keough, Abbey Lee, and Courtney Eaton
First, I will say I thoroughly enjoyed this film! However, was it worth all of the Academy Award attention it's received? No. Don't get me wrong. In terms of a film -- particularly an action film -- Mad Mad: Fury Road is a raucous, raw adrenaline rush of a movie! I especially liked the feminist themes throughout -- Charlize Theron proves once again she is a force to be reckoned with! And director George Miller returns to the formula which made the original Road Warrior and Mad Max such hits, channeling the classic antihero cowboy into the rough-and-tumble Max (Tom Hardy) -- a role which requires next to no dialogue. But the newest Max doesn't quite hit that Academy Award mark for me. In this film, the treacherous Wild Boys and their leader Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne) could easily be a cinematic representation of Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden, with an overzealous leader and his followers who believe in the promises of a glorious afterlife -- represented here as Valhalla. Nevertheless, if you're looking for an action film, Fury Road is the quintessential action film of 2015!
The Martian
Directed by Ridley Scott
Starring Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kristen Wiig, Sean Bean, Michael Pena, Kate Mara, Sebastian Stan, Mackenzie Davis, Benedict Wong, and Donald Glover
Most thought this film was a bit too boring, but I absolutely loved this film! First all, though, let it be known that even though I loved this film, I do NOT think it deserved its Golden Globe win for Best Picture as it was for the comedy category and this film is NOT a comedy; sure, it has comedic moments, but it is not a comedy and is merely one of the foreign press' stupid loopholes to give an award to a movie they just wanted to give it to, even though it didn't fit in said category. Anyways, moving on. The Martian proves even more why we need space exploration, making NASA one of the most important organizations in this country! Matt Damon plays botanist extraordinaire and astronaut Mark Watney who accidentally gets stranded on Mars after the rest of his crew believes him to have perished. Rather than wallow in misery, Watney uses his MacGyver-like skills to survive ("I'm gonna have to science the shit out of this."). What is once an exploratory mission for the rest of his crew turns into a rescue mission, and becomes a showcase for the type of ingenuity of which NASA is known. I don't know if the science behind the story is real or even plausible, but it's pretty damn believable. While watching this film I couldn't help but be overwhelmed by this feeling of how crucial space exploration is to the human race as well as our planet. Space exploration will continue to be one of the most important things we can do and I believe will become essential to mankind's survival in the future. Its importance is exemplified in this film, proving that mankind, in the long run, will do what it takes to help one another, and persevere when the most difficult of times comes upon us.
Room
Directed by Lenny Abrahamson
Starring Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, Joan Allen, and William H. Macy
One of the best films of the year by far has to be this emotional powerhouse about mothers and sons, based on the book by Emma Donoghue. The film doesn't focus so much on the horrific kidnapping on the woman, Ma (Brie Larson), but rather between her and her 5-year-old son, Jack, played by the amazing newcomer Jacob Tremblay. Larson has captured my eye as an actress since 2010's Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, and her acting escalated most remarkably with 2013's Short Term 12, a film which should have garnered much more Academy Award attention. She continues to be one of the best contemporary actresses and I know each film she takes the lead in is going to be noteworthy. Room captures many moments on film which are too emotional and breathtaking for words, but should simply be viewed and felt. Room should be the film to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards!
Southpaw
Directed by Antoine Fuqua
Starring Jake Gyllenhall, Forest Whitaker, Oona Laurence, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Rachel McAdams, and Naomie Harris
Antoine Fuqua's boxing film has more story than some of the ones I've raved about in the past. Hothead boxing champ Billy Hope (Jake Gyllenhall) has it all in the form of his beautiful, supporting wife (Rachel McAdams) and young daughter (Oona Laurence). But when a tragedy rips his family apart, he must fight to get back on his feet, under the tutelage of his new coach (Forest Whitaker). What I liked particularly about this film was the relationship between Hope and his daughter, as well as how his daughter was masterfully portrayed -- by Laurence -- and written -- by Kurt Sutter (yes, that's right, the Sons of Anarchy Sutter)! Another brilliant performance by Gyllenhall and an impressive debut for Laurence!
Spotlight
Directed by Tom McCarthy
Starring Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, John Slattery, Stanley Tucci, Jamey Sheridan, and Billy Crudup
As a former journalism major, there have been many real-life reasons since I graduated in 1997 to both love and hate the profession -- especially the latter since cable news networks have come into popularity. And while journalism in America has greatly suffered since 9/11/2001, there have been some cases of brilliance in journalism. This story is one of them. In early 2001, investigative journalists from the Boston Globe discovered the huge scandal of a priest sexually abusing children of his congregation, which soon turns into a story about many priests in Massachusetts doing the heinous acts, and the Catholic Church covering it all up. This was one of those major stories which needed to be exposed, but the team of reporters found legal threats as well as intimidation from the church. This story is important not just to prevent future heinous acts from occurring but also because it truly teaches that just because one small group of one religion does something completely horrific and disgusting doesn't mean the entire religion should be held accountable for their actions.
Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Directed by J.J. Abrams
Starring Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Harrison Ford, Peter Mayhew, Oscar Isaacs, Domhnall Gleeson, Carrie Fisher, Lupita Nyong'o, Gwendoline Christie, Anthony Daniels, and Mark Hamill
First off, let me say, I will not be giving any spoilers in this review. And that is a difficult thing to do because my enthusiasm for this film is so immense that I simply want to gush about all of my favorite parts! That being said, I will say Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens is what us fans have been waiting for ever since that screen went black on our favorite original heroes, giving way to the blue end credits back in 1983.
I will honestly say there is a certain familiarity to The Force Awakens. Its overall blueprint somewhat correlates with the original Star Wars (A New Hope). Now, before any of you diehards roll your eyes out of annoyance, hear me out. There are three or four particular plot points which us fans have seen before, but these points are in no way annoying, unimaginative, or not fun! I have to say that I honestly mapped – and figured – out some of the major plot twists and intricacies soon after Harrison Ford’s Han Solo graced the screen, but it stole no enjoyment from me for this film (Jay and I will have to a have a spoiler-full discussion once he’s seen it)!
So, the film starts off with Resistance fighter Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) gaining the final piece of a map to find a legendary, mythic-like person. When the town he is visiting gets attacked by the villainous First Order, he stows the map away in his trusty android, BB-8, and sends him away. Sound familiar? If you think about it, it will. But that’s OK. Especially since what follows is a fun, adventurous, exciting, edge-of-your-seat film! No longer are moviegoers given long-winded discussions about trade federations, midi-chlorians (WTF?), or having to see Jar Jar Binks inadvertently sell the Senate – and freedom – away! The Force Awakens returns us to the action, fun, swashbuckling adventure we all got from the original but also has one hell of an emotional punch!
As for the new cast, they all do well. I have to admit I was a little wary of Isaac’s Poe at first, but he grew on me. John Boyega’s Finn is a great everyman, who is our guide through this chapter. And Daisy Ridley’s Rey is EVERYthing I’d hope she’d be! The way her journey is written and portrayed is so damn cool! Twenty minutes from the end of the film, I was hoping it would just go on and on all the way through to the end of the new trilogy. I just wanted it to keep going and going. The script by J.J. Abrams, Lawrence Kasdan (who originally wrote The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi), and Michael Arndt, seems to lay out a bit of its twists up front, but I have a feeling we’re in for much more in the next film (I’ve already made my guess!). Abrams’ directing is finely crafted and the film shows off that sometimes having a superfan direct can be a very good thing. John Williams’ score is still on-point and helps enhance all of the emotion and action us fans have come to expect and love (side note: it’s SO odd to not hear the classic 20th Century Fox Fanfare before the blasting Star Wars theme). One of the best potentials of the film, though, is Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, who is not merely some basic, seemingly one-dimensional bad guy like how Darth Vader was first portrayed in Hope. Ren has layers of complexity and Driver does well with the character. One of my favorite scenes in the film is a confrontation between him and Rey, which has minimal dialogue.
Is The Force Awakens one of the best Star Wars films? I almost hate to answer that question without having seen Episodes 8 or 9 yet. But, if I had to rank my favorites, so far, from best to least, it would have to be this:
1. The Empire Strikes Back
2. The Force Awakens
3. A New Hope
4. Return of the Jedi
5. Revenge of the Sith
6. Attack of the Clones
7. The Phantom Menace
If the number two slot seems like a high spot to place it – and somewhat premature – I’d argue that it is also the exciting anticipation of the new trilogy which places it at such a spot. Calm down, you purists! Don’t get me wrong, Hope is still great – after all, it’s the original! But, let's be honest, Force has so much more going on (in a good way) in its story! Also, if some of you are wondering if this is OK for kids to watch, there’s definitely battles, non-bloody deaths (i.e., troopers getting shot and killed), and thrills, so I would say most kids 9 or older could be good with it. Or, if your kid(s) can watch A New Hope and be OK with it, then they'll be OK with The Force Awakens.
I will say The Force Awakens is easily one of the best films of the year! Its ending wraps up the main story but introduces a new edge-of-your-seat plotline, which, sadly, we have to wait until late May 2017 to see! I most likely will be seeing this film at least two more times before it leaves theaters. So, go! Enjoy! May the force be with you as you cherish the holidays by going to a galaxy far, far away. For this fan, it’s been well worth the wait!
Tomorrowland
Directed by Brad Bird
Starring Britt Robertson, George Clooney, Raffey Cassidy, Hugh Laurie, Pierce Gagnon, and Tim McGraw
As I went to the local theater with my wife and two young daughters to go see Disney’s Tomorrowland (loosely based on its theme park), we awaited the start of the film with the usual trailers for upcoming film releases. One of them was a disaster film called San Andreas, starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, about the destruction of California due to a major earthquake along the San Andreas faultline. As we watched that trailer, set to a haunting, slow Sia cover of The Mamas & The Papas' "California Dreamin'," I could see the awe and dread in my daughters’ eyes and, for the first time, thought the trailer alone was pretty intense and gratuitous. Even the end of the trailer has a public service announcement/advertisement stating: "You never know when disaster may strike. Be prepared. Visit _____." This summer’s film release schedule appears mostly full of death, destruction and havoc – and don’t get me wrong, I love plenty of those films – but, from time to time, it’s great to see something inspiring, something full of hope, and something magical … but without causing me to roll my eyes!
Thankfully, Tomorrowland – by director Brad Bird (The Incredibles, The Iron Giant, Mission:Impossible – Ghost Protocol) and screenwriter Damon Lindelof (ABC’s Lost), with an assist from former Entertainment Weekly Online columnist Jeff Jensen – has delivered all of those things! The story starts with boy genius inventor Frank Walker (Thomas Robinson, later George Clooney) who, in 1965, invents a jet pack and is given a secret “key,” in the shape of a lapel pin, to a world in another dimension where all of this world’s inventors, musicians, scientists, writers, mathematicians, engineers, and other creators are brought to make a better world. Flashforward to the present time as we are introduced to Casey Newton (Britt Robertson), an optimistic, curious teenager who “just knows how things work” and is given the same “key” by Athena (an impressive Raffey Cassidy), the same unaged little girl who invited Frank when he was a boy. What sounds like a regular ragtag buddy road movie soon takes a serious turn as a group of overly-polite cyborgs are sent after Frank and Casey to kill them.
I won’t say anymore than that as Disney was right to show mostly teaser trailers before this film’s release, but what follows is an action film with plenty of exposition but not too much of either. The film reminds me of two things. The first is one of my most favorite Disney animated movies: 2007’s Meet the Robinsons – a movie about time travel and setting your own course when it comes to your future. The second is a clip of filmmaker Kevin Smith speaking a few years ago, talking about the death of his father. It’s a touching, poignant story he tells and Smith goes on to say how there are too many people who are “Why? People”: people who always ask why. Smith goes on to say we should be “Why not? People”: people who are up for trying anything creative and productive to society. He says there are a lot of cynical people out there and we should surround ourselves with the “Why not? People.” This same message exudes from the overall message of Tomorrowland. Athena says, “Dreamers need to stick together.” And this is the film in which will bring said dreamers out of the woodwork!
There is a nice twist of a villainous plot – no matter how gratuitous – and the reasoning for the plot involves the reason for the cynicism pushed so frequently nowadays. Some may find the villain’s overall motivation a bit preachy – and if you do a Google search, you’ll find those reviews – but I found it all a clever spin on how hate and destruction begets hate and destruction … no matter how good the intentions … of anyone. There is a definite connection between this concept and all of the cable news channels today – especially when it comes to the “news” stories of which these networks choose to report on. One scene sees Casey in school, listening to teachers give a barrage of all that is wrong with the world -- or will be wrong -- but Casey brings up the quintessential question that no cable news or even politicians can answer (even though they pretend as if they can): How do we fix it? In fact, the film gives great social commentary by making brief mentions of real-life issues such as the decreased numbers of NASA manned space exploration missions, climate change, 9/11, cable news reporting via pushing a political agenda, and being yourself in an age of conformity.
One of the breakout stars of this film is Raffey Cassidy, who joins the ranks of her co-star Britt Robertson, as well as Interstellar’s Mackenzie Foy, as one of the great, promising young actresses out there right now. A lot of the emotional resonance of the story rides on her character and she pulls it off effortlessly. She, along with Robertson, also contribute a growing list of brilliant young female characters in today’s films – something which I only hope continues on to become normal in cinematic storytelling. Clooney does a good job, bringing on the cool-yet-grumpy tones to the character, but where he really shines are in the highly emotional scenes – one being near the end of the film, focusing on the loss of childhood friendship. Cinematographer Claudio Miranda is not quite the household name amongst cinephiles yet, but with this film – along with The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Tron: Legacy, Life of Pi, and Oblivion – under his belt, he soon will be! He plays a major role in taking us from the modern world to this classic 1950s world of sci-fi that most of us born before 1985 all grew up believing. One of my favorite early moments in the film is when the boy Frank Walker is asked why he invented the jet pack. He says something to the effect of, “Can’t an invention just be … fun? … This jet pack will make people believe in a better world. Believe that a better world is possible.” That is the child-like fun and simple genius of Tomorrowland.
I wouldn’t say Tomorrowland is flawless, and some may not agree with my praise of it. I can say there are predictable reveals for a seasoned filmgoer such as myself; however, unlike most films, the predictability here is very much welcomed and nice to see play out. Some may think the optimism too sappy or pretentious, but the same could be said for classics such as It’s a Wonderful Life, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, or any other feel-good movie. Nevertheless, Tomorrowland works! It takes me back to being a kid, going to the movies to see films like Back to the Future, Jaws, Star Wars, E.T., The Goonies, and not only feeling the unabashed joy, hope, sadness, and terror myself … but also seeing it (and hearing it) from the people around me.
In the end, Tomorrowland is easily one of the best all-around films I’ve seen in a long time … and, so far, it’s a heavy contender to be my pick for best film of 2015. It’s a fun ride the entire family will enjoy and also one of the very few films I can’t wait to see again simply because there is so much to take in and love. It’s everything a truly good film should be: fun, entertaining, emotional, thrilling. Also, the hope and inspiration Tomorrowland instills by the time the end credits roll is what Disney has always been about! And in an age with mostly realistic, gritty drama, it’s a welcome sight to behold!
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT OF 2015
Fantastic Four
Directed by Josh Trank
Starring Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Bell, Toby Kebbell, Reg E. Cathey, and Tim Blake Nelson
I guess it should be no surprise by now seeing how this franchise has the worst luck in the comic book film franchise industry. But I had hoped with the masterful director of 2012's Chronicle, Josh Trank, as well as with acting powerhouses Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, and Kate Mara, the film might have some success. Sadly, it has gone the way of the previous attempts to bring Marvel Comics' first family to cinematic screen: a complete disaster with a boring story. Like The Punisher, Marvel's attempts to showcase one of its biggest issue sellers goes down in flames and no superhero can save this one. The urgency to focus on the team's origin story has become as tired and played-out as the Punisher's and Spider-Man's has become on film. Even though I'm not crazy about the Fantastic Four, I think this film could've been done so much better. Sadly, its poor legacy remains.
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