The (Official) Top 15 of 2015

I owe my return to full-on cinephilia to my wife, Amanda. She encourages my movie-watching, plans dates for us to go to the movies, inspired me to start up this blog. Save one or two this year, she is at my side for every single movie I see, at least at the movie theater. And, this year, 2015, is the year we've been able to see the most.


If you're a regular reader of mine, then you know I don't often get too cynical. I have something in me that makes me agreeable with almost any movie. I don't like to bash movies. Unless a movie just plain bores me or treats me as if I'm stupid, my reaction will most likely be positive. I'd say this lack of cynicism comes from one simple truth: I love movies. The escape is what I love. I romanticize them. I'm not really interested in making them myself and simply remain as a child in awe of this huge amazing thing. I don't get to see that many, especially in comparison to a real movie critic, who may see hundreds of movies each year.

Of all the films released in 2015, I've seen a mere 58. There are plenty more to see, but I only have a few regrets as I go ahead and do this list. After all, it's the movies I see in the theater with my wife that truly stick.

I ordered these films based on how I "feel" about them, or how they made me "feel." They all received four star reviews. I asked myself: Which ones stuck with me the longest? Which ones will I want to watch again? 

I'm sure my wife feels the same. Well, let's just see what she has to say:

I got really excited when Kevin first asked me to guest spot on his blog talking about my top 15 favorite movies of the year. That excitement quickly waned to apprehension as I remembered that I have never written about movies before. 

Anyway, I stuck with it, and I hope you enjoy it. For those who are regulars at reading Kevin's blog, know that Kevin and I don't always see eye to eye on movies. A few examples:  While viewing The Tree of Life a few years ago, I audibly sighed because I was bored out of my mind. Kevin, on the other hand, is blown away by the mystical aura that is Terrence Malick. 

The same is true as when he got chills during a preview for Malick's next film before viewing Anomalisa. I felt nothing. 

Last year, I thought Eddie Redmayne deserved the Oscar. Not that I thought the movie was fantastic, but I thought he really pulled off Stephen Hawking. I actually thought he was really cute in Les Mis. Kevin hates Eddie Redmayne. We did agree, though, in 2013 that Nebraska was a marvelous film, so unique and real. And then, this year, there's that time I looked at him during Creed and said, "I am glad I forgot to put on mascara because I wasn't expecting this." Now, I think you get where I'm coming from. 

Here we go (both of us, Kevin and Amanda):

Fifteen

It Follows

David Robert Mitchell's sophomore effort is the best-looking horror film I've ever seen. Plus, it scared the hell out of me...for days. And that Disasterpeace though!

McFarland USA

I am sucker for sports movies simply because I love sports. This movie had me rooting for everyone the whole time, and some of the shots were amazing. 

Fourteen

Spotlight

The now Best Picture winner is a masterclass in procedural storytelling, finding itself among the ranks of All The President's Men. It is also highly important, fully engaging, perfectly acted by the best ensemble of the year.

The Walk

Confession: I have had a crush on JGL (yeah, I know you know who that is) since his 3rd Rock From the Sun days, but that aside, I have never felt more suspense (I was gripping my chair and sweating!) like I did in this movie.

Thirteen

Carol

Todd Haynes makes a 1950s romance better than they did in the 1950s. Powered by two perfect performances, shot with pure style, scored by a master, the feels are real with this one.

This was a beautiful movie. I loved the storytelling, and how it completely took me by surprise. The acting was superb as well.

Twelve

What We Do in the Shadows

There was not a better comedy in 2015...period. I literally never stopped laughing. Now, I'm gonna go "have some pasghetti."

Mad Max: Fury Road

What an adrenaline rush! I was in awe of this movie in the theater and later watching it again. The effects are amazing, especially how much the filmmakers were able to accomplish without CGI. It was a fun movie for me.

Eleven

Ex Machina

A movie of big ideas and conversation about science and attraction and betrayal and manipulation made of a genius screenplay and the most perfect visual effects of the year.

Room

The emotion in this movie is so real. I wasn't even sure I wanted to see this movie, but I was glad I did because of how incredible the acting was and how much it made me think about the emotional trauma someone might go through in this situation.

Ten

Sicario

As with all of Denis Villeneuve's films, it starts out as one thing and ends as another entirely. This is the best film he's made, a story of the lengths government agencies will go to change almost nothing, featuring top-notch everything, including a performance from Benicio Del Toro that is as shifty and menacing as the man himself.

Spotlight

The way this touchy subject was portrayed was fantastic, serious yet not demeaning. The acting was world class.

Nine

Mississippi Grind

Ben Mendolsohn gave the most perfectly understated performance of the year in this calm throwback to a sort of '70s road picture. His work is matched, unexpectedly, by Ryan Reynolds. It is an assured movie, made by Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden with an obvious care for character that we don't often find in movies anymore.

Son of Saul

A little background on me, I am reading, watching, etc. everything about the Holocaust at the moment. This movie is like nothing I have ever seen about the Holocaust or otherwise. It is also.a unique story about such a devastating time that is often not told.

Eight

The End of the Tour

Consider this a pairing with my previous pick, The End of the Tour finds two very different men on the road, a book tour through the midwest. This time, though, it's a famous writer and his not so famous interviewer. Jason Segel is another unsung revelation of last year here as David Foster Wallace in a performance riddled with humor, insecurity, and confidence all at the same time.

Bridge of Spies

Again, I love history, and this is a time period I don’t know as much about even though my mom was born in Germany literally days before these events took place. The time period is captured perfectly, and the tenseness people felt during that time truly comes across through the lighting, acting, and music.

Seven

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

In all honesty, we're starting to get to the point where any of the movies going forward on this list could be number one. I was high as a kite when I left this movie. It is the most fun I had all year. Homage, tribute, original work all rolled into one. Getting to see the familiar characters with the new in a story that is as good as any of the previous films, if not better....well, there's almost nothing better.

Brooklyn

From the first moment I saw this trailer, I knew I wanted to see this film. The simplicity of love and the immigrant experience is well portrayed and beautifully told.

Six

The Revenant

My theater experience with this film is one I will never forget. Hundreds of people in a huge RPX theater, silent except when gasping for breath, hanging on every single minute of the epic runtime, enraptured by the sheer brilliance and dedication of all involved. Some may have hated it. They didn't show it in the room.

Creed

I only saw Rocky for the first time right before seeing this. I felt a whole range of emotions when watching this movie. It was entertaining, nostalgic, and brought Rocky to a new generation of moviegoers.

Five

Bridge of Spies

The most solidly well-told story of 2015...bar none. It is brave in its sentimentality, fully developing a character we believe and trust, matching him with a character we also believe in and trust, pitting him against characters we believe in and trust. The final scene of this movie, on a bridge, is the best thing put on film all last year.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

You have no idea how pumped I was to see this movie! I made sure Kevin watched all of the six previous movies, despite some of their faults, before this came out to make sure he was ready. I thought this movie did the franchise justice, and I can’t wait for the next installments.

Four

Creed

I knew this was a great movie from the start, but there's one moment that cemented it as best of the year material. An aging fighter in the corner of a young man makes a statement that makes you want to stand and cheer. It has nothing to do with winning and everything to do with it at the same time. It is something Rocky Balboa would say, and, thanks to Ryan Coogler, did say. Then, that music kicks in...

The Big Short

The previews for this were totally misleading in a good way. I loved the “breaking the forth wall” and cut aways to explain things. This movie was smart and unique.

Three

Brooklyn

Like my previous two picks, here is a film that does nothing wrong in telling a story about decent people. There is not a shred of cynicism or negativity anywhere near this movie. It is about a two loves within two loves, over the course of a year in the 1950s. It is about internal conflict drawn out by external, all so perfectly played by the Best Actress of the Year...Saoirse Ronan.

The Martian

This movie was just exciting, and how can not root for Matt Damon!  I laughed, I held my breath, and I had times where I wanted to cry for his situation.  This movie to me was one of the most entertaining movies I saw this year.

Two

Inside Out

What does it mean to grow up? We've all felt it, but, to watch Pete Docter and Pixar's latest masterpiece, is to not question anything at all. This is a movie in which you learn who you are and why you are and how you got to be you. It is rare achievement, one of incredible beauty and craft, filled with amazing performances of voice, a story that will never die or even get old because it is made from pure timeless truth.

The Revenant

Again, going back to my history roots, my students know how much I love a survival story, so this was in my wheel house! The landscape, natural-lighting, the sets, and acting were all incredible. Some of the scenes were mind-boggling. 

One

The Big Short

The importance of offering the truth about the 2008 financial meltdown in America has never been more evident than as offered in The Big Short. A comedy writer and director, Adam McKay has made the coolest film of the year, the cleverest, wittiest film of the year, the most important film of the year, the most perfectly cast film of the year. It makes you laugh at your own anger that you may not have known you had, and it makes you crazy in your own laughter that you sat back, defenseless, as you allowed this travesty to happen in your country. Now, since it's Super Tuesday in Tennessee, I'm gonna go vote for the only candidate willing to take on the crooks who did this to us. I hope you will do the same, wherever and whenever your primary takes place.

Inside Out

This is my top pick for several reasons. First, I can still remember watching the trailer for the first time. We were over at a couple's house who have small kids. Amy, Kevin's best-friend-from-birth's wife, said to me, "I can't wait for the new Pixar movie to come out." I was shocked I had no idea what she was talking about, so she gave me a brief description and found the trailer on YouTube. I got teary-eyed. I knew I had to see it when it came out. As we began to see it during movie previews, I made this known to Kevin. 

Fast forward to the summer, and Kevin and I decide to go after our morning routine of playing tennis. No shower. No change of clothes. Just straight to the first showing that day. We head in, and I strategically grab a handful of napkins on the way in. It was packed. Full of SAHMs and kids ... And us. Where to sit? Ah, the perfect spot, next to the only other person without a kid. 

Then comes Lava. (I am starting to sing the song now.) At the end of the short, I looked at Kevin and said, "I knew I would cry, but I wasn't planning on crying before the movie starting," quickly going through my napkins. 

Then the movie started, and I laughed, cried, and understood, having experienced this with many students as a middle school teacher. I loved seeing it with kids to hear their reactions. I have since watched it with kids at school and our cousins, and each time, it is great to experience all of the emotions with them. The movie itself is incredibly creative and clever, which makes me love it even more. And I believe it's message of how sadness can allow you to be joyful again. If you don't believe me, watch the Disney short, "The Ballad of Nessie," which is on Netflix streaming, because sometimes through tears we find a better way.

In wrapping this up, it's safe to say that Inside Out was our favorite film of the year, the true Best Picture. I like Amanda's picks. I couldn't bite the bullet on adding Son of Saul. It is a miraculous film that may find its way on this list at a later date, but it's still working on me right now. We also recently saw Andrew Haigh's film 45 Years. I didn't (or don't think I) love it as much as everybody else, though it may have the most powerful final shot of any film last year, and there's no denying how good Charlotte Rampling is in that film.

Here are the rest of the 2015 Movies we've seen (in order from best to worst, according to me):

Cinderella

Tomorrowland

Me and Earl and The Dying Girl

Spectre

Love & Mercy

Tangerine

Bone Tomahawk

Queen of Earth

Dope

The DUFF

Jurassic World

Steve Jobs

Pitch Perfect 2

Sisters

Ant-Man

Ted 2

Anomalisa

Irrational Man

The Gift

Southpaw

Avengers: The Age of Ultron

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2

The Hateful Eight

Buzzard

Dark Places

American Ultra

Joy

Mistress America 

Minions

Burnt

Hot Tub Time Machine 2

Aloha

Entourage

Vacation

Get Hard

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials

Let me know what we've missed. I know there are a lot, and, like all of us, we never stop.