The Best Movies of 2015

With the Oscars just around the corner, I thought I would share what I believed were the best (and most disappointing) movies of 2015.

The Best Movies of the Year

1. Inside Out: A masterpiece in every sense of the word, and definitely one of the best movies Pixar has ever made. Inside Out is a film that grows on you with every viewing (note that I have seen this movie three times already!). In addition to the beautiful animation and superb script, what may be Inside Out’s greatest achievement is how the creators managed to portray abstract concepts of human psychology through a story that is sweet, funny and most importantly, identifiable to everyone who has experienced the pains and joys of growing up. Inside Out is for me, the best film of 2015 and one of the best films of all time.

2. The Big Short: Who could’ve thought that the complex series of events (involving financial concepts that befuddle the average person) leading up to the disastrous 2008 financial crisis can be told in such a witty and blazingly original way? An all-star cast, including career best turns from Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling, graces this superb film about the far-reaching effects of the Great Recession.

3. Carol: A tale of forbidden love in 1950s Americana that reaches far beyond the average period piece drama and becomes a engrossing exploration of the human condition. Carol is a beautiful movie, imbued with lush cinematography, an emotionally resonant score and impeccable performances from Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara and the vastly underrated Kyle Chandler.

4. Ex Machina: This compelling and bone-chilling film leaves viewers pondering over profound questions about what exactly makes us humans. The claustrophobic artificiality of the eerie set pieces envelops our senses and the special effects are equally impressive. This movie is destined to become a sci-fi classic.

5. Mad Max: Fury Road: A big, badass of a movie with spectacular visual effects that make your eyes pop out of their sockets in amazement, all tied to a surprisingly moving story of redemption. My money is on George Miller winning the Best Director Oscar.

6. Star Wars: The Force Awakens: I know, I know, its script is filled with plot holes the size of a galaxy, and it is basically a remake of A New Hope (even the baddies’ weapon is the same, albeit bigger and badder?). However, I haven’t felt so much sheer joy in a movie since….oh a long time ago, and that’s really all I needed: to be taken back to the first time I experienced the universe of Star Wars, which this movie did in every respect.

7. Room: Ever since she starred in the masterpiece indie drama Short Term 12, I have believed Brie Larson had that magical je ne sais quoi to become a star. With Room, Brie Larson has cemented that status. Her young co-star Jacob Tremblay gives a star-making performance as the 5 year old who experiences the world for the first time. The first half of Room is some of the most exhilarating, emotionally powerful drama I have seen in years.

8. Creed: What seemed like an obvious cash-in of a franchise that has lost its steam turned out instead to be a glorious franchise revival and one of the best movies of the year. We have seen this kind of story before, but the brilliant direction along with soulful performances from Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone in the role that made him a star catapults Creed to the cinema hall of fame. And to fans of the original Rocky, that final scene was just perfection.

9. Son of Saul: Many movies have been made about the Holocaust, but few are as visceral and terrifying as Son of Saul, a movie that envelops viewers in the unimaginable horrors of the death camps. The opening scene depicting the death gasps and cries of the prisoners as they are gassed is possibly one of the most disturbing scenes ever made.

10. Beasts of No Nation: This remarkable film on the devastating cost and consequences of war belongs to the incredible performance by Abraham Attah as a child soldier who first loses his family, and then slowly his soul. Both the film and Mr. Attah deserved to be nominated for Oscars.

11. Anomalisa: The eccentric genius of Charlie Kaufman is alive and breathing again in this stop-motion animated movie that renders so palpably real the existential ennui of the 21st century. Regardless of how you interpret the plot, Anomalisa will leave an indelible mark on your soul.

12. The Revenant: The countless Internet memes of Leo getting attacked by a CGI bear and him finally winning an overdue Oscar really detracts from the sheer cinematic power of this stunning film. Leonardo Dicaprio must have went through hell and back to put this performance on film. The stark beauty of the cinematography, the brilliant craft of the direction and an almost elemental story of loss and retribution, to experience a movie like The Revenant is the reason why we go to see movies in the first place.

13. Straight Outta Compton: Straight Outta Compton is at its heart a movie about the trials and tribulations of creating art and the clash of talents that is so inextricably tied to that process. This amazing film so authentically captures the mood and feel of a critical moment in modern American history that unfortunately seems all too real today.

14. Spotlight: A scathing indictment of the extensive sexual abuse of children committed by Catholic Church members, Spotlight is a movie that explores and celebrates the hard work and integrity of the journalists whose pursuit of the truth keeps our democracies alive and functioning.

15. It Follows: A simmering pot of dread imbues this modern parable of teenage self-discovery and the inevitable fate that awaits us all. This is a horror film for the ages.

The Best Blockbusters of the Year

Ant-Man: The best superhero movie of the year, with a wittiness and self-referential humour that was sorely lacking in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Eager for more adventures of this little known Marvel character.

Trainwreck: This sweet and hilarious comedy contained some of the funniest scenes of the year and to my amazement, shows some real comedic acting chops from sports superstars Lebron James and John Cena.Most

Disappointing Movie of the Year

Spectre: This was one of the most anticipated movies of the year for me being a mega Bond fan. With a spectacular opening scene in Mexico City, the film rolls downhill from there like an inexperienced skier on a black diamond ski path. If you have seen the movie (spoiler alert!), you will know that the villain’s raison d’etre was so silly I almost thought I was watching a Bond parody. Mr. Craig, I can see why you want to quit being Bond now.