2015 Films, Ranked.

10/10

I have seen thousands of films and this is the first to cause tears to run down my cheeks. This is a stunning, unforgettable story that will never leave you. It is intelligently-written and authentic. The score is wonderful but never cheap. It doesn't instigate emotion, but rather enhances the heartbreaking story and incredible acting. Bravo.

10/10

What a way to kick off 2015. This was a wonderful experience from beginning to end. The animation is realistic enough that it pulls you into the story but cartoon-y enough to still give off a fun and wondrous ambiance. The story is hilarious. The film is directed to perfection. I would call it a mixture between an early Tim Burton look and Wes Anderson camerawork. It's heartwarming, and Kidman plays a fantastic villain. If there ever was such a thing as a perfect movie, Paddington is it.

9/10

A stunning masterpiece. A post-Holocaust story that shows very little but speaks volumes. It is a slow-burn noir thriller with substance to back up its style. The acting is marvelous, especially from Nina Hoss who has a mesmerizing facial expression throughout the film (at times reminiscent of Maria Falconetti) . The ending packs the biggest punch you'll feel all year.

9/10

The best directed film of the year. The cinematography is beautiful and has a filmic quality to it. The acting is tremendous, with Cate Blanchett giving her best performance since Blue Jasmine (her performance is somewhat similar in both films) and Rooney Mara, who I hope wins an Oscar for this, gives her best performance to date. I loved the story, which took surprising turns throughout the film that increasingly became more fascinating. I hope one day this film will be studied in film schools all around the world. I can't wait to see it again.

9/10

This film really spoke to me similar to how Taxi Driver did. In many ways these films are very similar; seeing the world from one man's point of view and wondering what the point of it all is. Kaufman is truly a genius in the way he prioritizes his vision. His attention to detail in the storytelling is breathtaking, and his lack of attention to areas that don't necessary matter actually enhances my appreciation for Anomalisa. He understands people in different [income] classes and it never feels cliche. This is a powerful, true film, but is unlike anything else out there and it demands to be seen. It is the best adult animation since Mary and Max.

9/10

The most calm, soothing and simplistic Pixar film to date. It delivers on all fronts. Is it at times cliche? Sure. Are there a couple of things I would change? Yes. But to say this film is anything but breathtaking would be an understatement.

The animation is stunning, at times photo-realistic, and is by far the most beautiful 3D animation to date. The story feels like a classic in the making, unlike Inside Out, where everything is explained in fine detail so children can understand. This also increases its' rewatchability. The characters are memorable and the story will make you laugh and cry. The direction surprised me, and it appears that Sohn had full control and I appreciated his vision. The score was unique and wonderful. See it.

8/10

A film like this is every filmmaker's dream. It feels like nothing was cut short. What the writer and director envisioned, they managed to pull off. Any task that seemed impossible to nearly all filmmakers, where they would have to cut short their vision, didn't apply here. The story is very much the classic revenge story bit. The acting is immaculate, and will earn Dicaprio an Oscar or there is something seriously wrong. The score is effective but also subdued; it doesn't get loud for the sake of an action scene. It has flow and continuity. The camera work and cinematography are brilliant. It's the kind of epic that you will want to revisit again and again, and that is something truly rare.

My only gripes are the subtitles and dub work seemed a little off. Another thing that I do not like, which was also in Birdman, are the obvious cuts in scenes meant to be long takes. In Birdman they were hidden quite well, but in here they are very apparent and it feels like a lie to the audience more than anything. They are unnecessary and disrupt the flow of the film. With that said, there are various true long takes throughout the film that must be seen to be believed. And that pretty much sums up The Revenant, which to me is clearly a required viewing.

9/10

By far the best M:I yet. While I enjoyed Ghost Protocol, I felt the story was lacking, the villain was sub-par and the pacing was way off. It was a bunch of cool action scenes strung together by a weak story. Rogue Nation is nearly flawless and I was quite surprised. The action is amazingly well-done, and makes you think how other films can get it so wrong when Rogue Nation gets it so right. At times it reminded me of old-school 007. The score fits perfectly with the action and enhances the experience. The story is well-written (and attune with our times) and the villain is memorable. The action, while not as "showy" as Ghost Protocol, was still well-executed and directed with care. Finally, there are moments of Hitchcockian intensity that rival anything the series has had to offer and it's also the funniest M:I film to date.

Like all great adventures, you can't wait until the next one. That is exactly what Rogue Nation made me feel. Bring on M:I 6.

9/10

Action blockbusters don't get much better than this. The story, though imaginative and serviceable, takes a sidestep for the action and characters. What makes the action so beautiful is the fact that it's not ridden with CGI. Everything here is practical, with some CGI used only to enhance it. The acting is on-par with what you'd expect from the series, but Tom Hardy is no Mel Gibson. To me it didn't feel like both actors played the same character. That is not to bring down Hardy's performance. In fact, no one wants a Mel Gibson impersonation. Regardless, it never took away from the experience. It was also interesting to see how Miller's direction has changed 30 years later. In the original trilogy he liked showing more of a full view of the action, where in Fury Road I felt he used close ups way more often. They both paint the same picture, but at the same time it definitely felt different.

The score for Fury Road was brilliant (and unlike some people, I don't use that word often), and it had many winks and nods to the original trilogy (mainly from the use of reoccurring actors or similar characters). My only gripe is that there was one piece that I could swear came straight from one of The Dark Knight movies (Rises, I believe). It fit the film perfectly, but it was too similar.

As a whole I would put this slightly above the first Mad Max film, and right alongside The Road Warrior, which says a lot because I love those movies. The action here is certainly better than those two films, but I felt the first two had better pacing and an overall better story. Fury Road was also, well, more badass, and I enjoyed the use of a strong female protagonist. The series has had strong female characters before, but it's more at the forefront in Fury Road.

No, it's not perfect, and it's likely to be called "overrated" once the hype dies down (and geniuses start watching the film on their cell phones, thinking they'd get the same experience). But whatever failures Fury Road encompasses, you'll likely ignore them because the action is too jaw-droppingly spectacular to care. It's obvious George Miller has put a lot of sweat and effort into making this masterpiece of action and it's only fair to acknowledge that. Hats off.

8/10

An acting masterclass by Charlotte Rampling. It's a story of what happens when you place an idea into someone's head and the effects it can have, in this case, on a 45 year marriage. I loved the reoccurring long takes that show authentic emotion. It's slow and mysterious, but with scenes that are very well directed and a payoff worth waiting for.

8/10

Just as good as the first two Star Wars films, and that's the biggest compliment I can give. It's the perfect mix of old and new. Everyone delivers. I loved that the direction stayed true to the series. I don't know many directors that would take on both Star Trek and Star Wars but JJ Abrams delivers and then some. It can be a bit predictable, but it's insanely fun, surprisingly emotional and one of the fastest two hours of my life. I can't wait to watch it again.

7/10

A very important film that truly feels like a Spike Lee joint. It's basically Do the Right Thing, one of my favorite films, but with black-on-black crime instead of black-on-white crime. It's less polished, has less of that "timeless" quality, and not nearly as brilliant, from a director that has nothing left to prove. It shows.

Teyonah Parris should get a nomination for best actress for her screen presence alone. The story can be a little silly and overly-preachy, but I thought it worked and sent a message to its' target audience. The pop culture references, the music, the acting, and the direction are on-point because for this film's message to spread, you need the audience to feel everyone that worked on the film gets the struggle, gets "it". This is why I particularly loved this film, because it just perpetuates Spike Lee's genius as a filmmaker, particularly with films dealing with race and societal issues.

It's highly entertaining, hilarious throughout, but also emotional at times where it needed to be, and above all, unique as hell. Chi-Raq will obviously divide audiences, but if you enjoy some of Lee's early work, this is a must watch.

8/10

The film delivers on all fronts. You can see Eli Roth's maturation as a filmmaker. First off, the pacing is beautiful. It takes its time to tell the story and doesn't force action right as it starts. This helps the characterization, which is a major reason why I loved this movie. Sure, some can say these are typical horror characters, but I would disagree. They are more memorable, and don't feel like punching bags. You really care for, and detest, some of them.

I'm amazed at the realism they were able to pull off on such a small budget (by today's standards, anyways). The film has great comic relief at times where it really needs it. And yes, the gore is there, the "look away from the screen kind", and it's wonderful. It's not perfect, and there were a few editing mistakes, but overall this is the best horror film of the year.

PS: There are a lot of Eli Roth haters out there, so please judge for yourself. If you liked Cabin Fever, an equally underrated horror film, you may also enjoy this one. Give it a chance and don't go into it with a negative attitude or skepticism because of the overall negative reception.

8/10

A highly-entertaining, violent affair that's quite simply unforgettable. If you love films like Stand By Me, and recently Mud, where kids get themselves into deep trouble, then you will love this. Throughout the film you will question who the real villain is, which puts the viewer closer to the action and makes every decision these kids make more suspenseful. The direction is fine, the acting was good enough to pull me in (and that's saying something, considering these are unknown child actors), the story is original and the score is fantastic.

8/10

A wonderful film in all aspects. The animation is vibrant and resembles classic Pixar. The voice cast was spot-on and delivered. The way the story is told is also admirable. It really does a wonderful job at introducing you to this family, similar to how UP introduced us to Carl & Ellie (albeit not as impactful as that). The story brilliantly takes you on an emotional roller-coaster, which is fitting for a film about emotion. Most people will share a personal connection to this story, comparing it to events that happened in their own lives.

My only gripe is that the middle drags on a bit, similar to the second half of UP or the majority of Wreck-it-Ralph, where it becomes too childlish for my liking. I understand that it's a film made for kids (with certain aspects for adults), but at times I just wanted to leave "Imagination Land" and go back to the real world to see what the family was going through. Fortunately, unlike the two films mentioned, Inside Out manages to have a worthy climax and an emotional end. It's an intelligent film (it actually does a great job at teaching children the concepts of physiology) and a worthy one to add to Pixar's fine lineup of interesting stories.

7/10

I've always felt this was the most under-utilized form of storytelling in film. Wild Tales combines a few unrelated short stories of revenge/anger. Imagine watching the climax of six different movies, having the story make sense without having seen the rest. It's just fun to watch and highly entertaining. Some stories are better than others, but it's all unique and highly original. I enjoyed the score, the acting was top-notch, and there were a few unforgettable scenes. Seeing people in these types of situations never gets old, and I didn't want it to end. There were only two stories I didn't care about, but it's an overall fantastic movie.

8/10

This has "classic" written all over it. It's a movie that'll stick with you long after the credits roll. It has one of the least "Hollywood" endings you'll probably see all year. The story is really interesting. The performances are top-notch, and the special effects will make you curious as to how they pulled it off. There is literally not a single wrong note in this film.

What amazes me is that this was a directorial debut. It takes true talent to take on such a genre and keep the atmosphere so riveting throughout the entire run time without explosions and a "look what I can do" mentality. Ex Machina is a thinking man's sci-fi film that expects a certain level of thought from the audience while still delivering suspense.

7/10

A great ensemble piece. The direction is on-point, the acting is terrific by the entire cast, the story is interesting and needed to be told with this film. The dialogue is great enough to sustain the entire two hour run time, which is saying something. A realistic look at journalism in this time period. Makes you really feel like you're in Boston.

7/10

This film got better as it went along. I liked the story, though it feels a bit too "put together" at times which hurt the flow of the film. The acting is wonderful from the entire cast. It has a very glamorous look to it, which I thought fit for the time period in Brooklyn. I wasn't too crazy about the direction, which mostly played it safe and never really had cohesiveness. Overall, it's a very well-made, clean film with a great and truthful story, that might have benefited from a longer running time.

8/10

A very touching story with a fantastic performance from Olivia Cooke, who seems to be getting typecast for sick girl roles. The direction is extremely influenced by Wes Anderson. The writing is slick and realistic, almost as if a high school student wrote the script. There were a couple instances of a lack of attention to detail, but overall there are not many negatives to note. See it.

8/10

At first I was unsure about this one. The story takes about an hour to really get interesting, but the third act made me a believer. This goes right alongside Vaughn's Kick-Ass, both adaptations of lesser-known (cult) comics and both sprinkled with moments of sheer brilliance. The story starts out cliche, but as the film goes on it gets increasingly original. The villain, his plot, and his side kick are not something you will ever forget. The action is top-notch, the use of music, for the most part, is utilized to perfection, and the acting fits the campy atmosphere of the movie. The best word to describe Kingsman is 'fun', coupled with a surprising amount of depth.

7/10

Science fiction without the fiction. One of the rare space films where everything seems plausible, unlike the recent Interstellar or Gravity. The acting is marvelous and Damon should get award consideration. The music is a little weird and cheesy, where they match the lyrics to whats occurring on screen, but it works as a reoccurring joke.

The film has its moments, and a couple of memorable scenes, but overall it's a rather safe space film. And that's perfectly fine. Very entertaining and enjoyable.

7/10

I absolutely loved the first half of this film. Reminded me of classic Black comedies like Friday. The music throughout is enjoyable. The story takes a darker and more serious tone at the halfway point which I did not enjoy as much as the first half. I wasn't sold by the change in the main character at the end of the film, and I didn't believe that he would be proud of himself. Major gripe aside, this is a terrific film with many great ideas implemented in an entertaining manner. Highly enjoyed this one.

7/10

What really sets this apart are the memorable characters and wonderful acting. The rest didn't do much for me personally. The story doesn't feel fresh or brand new, the direction is clean and serviceable, the cinematography is pretty much what you've come to expect from Deakins. I did love the ending, which to me saved the film, but Sicario is mostly a well-made "been there, done that" drug thriller.

7/10

A total nostalgia trip. I used to watch DBZ as a kid and this was a really unique theater experience. It does a great job of being accessible to fans and newcomers alike. The plot is simple and not much backstory is needed to enjoy the story, which is at times too simplistic and needed more complexity. The story is also a bit predictable, making the serious circumstances these characters face less impactful. I never once thought any of the characters were in any serious danger. The amount of exposition is ridiculous, even for the series, and the characters' need to explain every reason behind their actions gets redundant.

The animation is fast and fluid, with bright and vibrant colors, but at times I felt a little more detail would have been nice. Finally, my biggest gripe is that they made a mockery of Frieza. My favorite DBZ villain is Cell, but Frieza is an iconic villain and I don't believe the writers did him any justice. Especially for someone like me who hasn't seen a DBZ episode since I was a kid, it was a little disappointing not to see the same menacing villain that I remember from the show. Maybe my memory deceives me.

It's obvious this film is far from perfect. With all that said, I had an amazing time seeing these characters again. This is a must-watch for any DBZ fan, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't a bit disappointed on what could have been.

7/10

A fairly original vampire story. Its originality comes from the design choices the director makes, all of which hit a home run. The film is breathtakingly beautiful yet still maintains a simple and elegant look. It has some very memorable moments, which are unfortunately mostly in the first thirty minutes. There's not much going on after that, when the story becomes somewhat repetitive and uneventful. It has some creepy imagery but it's not scary. Overall, although I must say I am a bit disappointed, this is an absolute must see because not only is it the rare vampire film that brings something new to the table, but the score and cinematography are beautiful.

7/10

A highly entertaining and disturbing thrill ride. What amazed me is how by the end, you don't know who was in the wrong. It makes you question your beliefs more than any other movie from 2015, believe it or not. The acting was pretty atrocious, except for Lorenza Izzo, who gives another fantastic performance. She and another actor were also in The Green Inferno.

The only thing that irked me is that there was something in the film that didn't make much sense, but it's not a big deal. Like nearly all of Eli Roth's films, if you read the plot description and are into it, then chances are you will end up enjoying the film. If not, then don't bother.

7/10

This is quite the follow-up for David Robert Mitchell, and a sizable departure from his debut film. I thought this movie did a lot of things well. It has an original and interesting premise, the score is superb and adds tension, and it has a very unique atmosphere that is extremely difficult to pull off. It's not necessarily scary; it's filled with many chase sequences with a few jump scares mixed in. In that regard it's more of a thriller, but the story is certainly in the vain of horror. I haven't cared for a character in a horror film this much since the original Nightmare on Elm Street, because the circumstances are truly out of the characters control. This is the biggest complement I can give a horror picture.

My biggest problem with this film is that the elements don't mesh together well. It became a very glaring and noticeable problem. The story and characters feel modern, while the setting and look of the film remind me of 90s horror, and the score is reminiscent of 70s horror (Argento, Bava, etc). It became too noticeable, as if the director could not make up his mind or was trying too hard to make it all one style but failed. Take House of the Devil, a superb homage of 80s horror that never strays from its vision. It Follows felt all over the place. That never once left my thoughts throughout the entire 100 minutes, which is truly a shame because [separately] these elements were masterfully executed.

8/10

Surprisingly hilarious. Mia Wasikowska's acting and screen presence really elevates this film. The story is a parody of Hollywood (the ultimate "first world problems" story) and, while it's over-the-top and not very realistic, it's never-the-less interesting. There are a couple of very powerful scenes. The acting is all over the place; a mesh between realistic acting and over-acting (which I'm sure was intended). Satirical, funny and disturbing. Highly recommended.

6/10

Tarantino should've kept his decision to not film this one. The Hateful Eight is an overindulging mess. It feels as though Tarantino rushed through it. It lacks attention to detail and the refinement in story and dialogue I have come to expect from Tarantino.

First off, the first half of this film is unbelievably monotonous. The dialogue is mostly pointless and exposition-heavy. The characters feel like cartoons, and for the first time in a Tarantino film, actually took me out of the story. Their names are dumb cliches and feel too "thought out". Overall, most of the characters are uninteresting, so when the dialogue delves into their pasts, the film becomes boring.

The Morricone score is a gimmick. This is one of his lesser efforts, easily his most forgettable Western score, and the film is actually still inconsistent (like Django Unchained) because Tarantino still felt the need to fill the movie with songs that just don't fit. If you are expecting Morricone to compose the entire film, you will be sadly disappointed. Rather, he has one (maybe two) compositions that aren't anything special.

The acting was fairly good overall, with SLJ and Jennifer Jason Leigh putting the story on their shoulders and making it somewhat enjoyable. I thought Walton Goggins was annoying and miscast, and his constant use of the word "bitch" was just poor, terribly unfunny dialogue. One of the characters felt written for Christoph Waltz. In fact, I am certain it was. It gives the film an incomplete feeling.

I don't mean to be overly negative, but this was a big disappointment. I'm a huge Tarantino fan, and it was difficult to see him go down this path. He seems lost in his own hype. His voice over came out of left-field and made no sense whatsoever, the constant Inglourious Basterds references were off-putting (my favorite Tarantino film, but you don't pay homage to your own movies..), and the implausibility of the story suggests a rushed product.

I enjoyed the second half for what it was, and it had a memorable story with a few great scenes. But don't expect anything as refined as his previous efforts, the dialogue to be up to par, and above all, don't expect The Hateful Eight to be a Western that people will remember.

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After 70mm Roadshow viewing:

7/10

Everything seemed a tad bit better the second time around. It helps seeing it with other people, because it becomes more enjoyable and less serious. Don't go into the film expecting a serious western, but rather a slapstick mystery that just happens to look like a western. One thing I noticed is the wonderful acting from Leigh, which I found to be better the second time around. I also noticed a couple of long takes that made me appreciate her acting more. I found Goggins to be more tolerable, but I still felt he couldn't draw the line between a comedic character and generic hillbilly. His constant head movements during dialogue were still noticeable over time.

I enjoyed the score a bit more but still found it underwhelming. It's simple, it works, and it is what it is. The overture helped incorporate a little more of it. The 70mm also disappointed me because, although it does give the film a grander atmosphere and larger scope, rarely are all the characters in one shot in the haberdashery. Also, one of the staples of the mystery genre is seeing how characters react on a second viewing to see if there were any hints left from the director. I did not find any here (although I supposed I may have missed it), which was unfortunate.

Surprisingly, although for me this is his Tarantino's weakest film thus far, I do believe it'll be one of his most re-watchable. This is due to its simplicity and structure, and characters that you'll want to revisit. I feel I was overly harsh on H8ful Eight, particularly because it did not meet my expectations of a serious western with extraordinary dialogue. It can drag on, the dialogue is a little suspect, and the story isn't as refined as one might expect, but this is still an enjoyable film with high entertainment value.

7/10

Let's be honest, most people won't give this film the respect it deserves because of its target audience and story. It's a horror film (surprisingly rated R) that takes place entirely as a screen-cap of someone's computer and deals with high school drama. I was actually in awe of it, and how they were able to pull off something like this. The choreography must have taken some real skill and the acting was great. It has some really tense moments, and some intentionally funny scenes as well. The story is entertaining and the characters are memorable. It's very detailed, and it's quite evident that the director put a lot of care into making it as realistic as possible (although a few things still made little sense). Watch it, you'll be shocked to find out that it's a quality film.