I’ve been doing movie top tens since I was in 7th or 8th grade. They’ve always been an opportunity for reflection in the moment and then a second opportunity to look back and realize I was the only person that saw or remembered that there’s a Billy Bob Thorton/Bruce Willis caper comedy called “Bandits.” They both fall for Cate Blanchett, things happen, it gets messy. But who remembers all that drama? Not everything, in the movies or real life, stands the test of time. But I’m certain much about 2015, from the job that brought me together with the other fellows of TWWN to the movie we talk about most, The Force Awakens, will be with us for the ages. Now without further fluff my top ten, so at least in another ten years I can say “Sicario… what was that again?”
10. The Hateful Eight – More of a Tarantino B-Side to his own, and superior, “Django Unchained” (and not as ripe to revisit) the Hateful ones nevertheless impressed me for their ability to keep my attention and tension piqued. The Roadshow Attraction angle (which was the way I saw it) was in some ways ado about nothing but was a successful showcase of how film used to, could be done, of a pacing that no longer really exists, of character, performance, mood and the long take over whiz-bang-yeehaw. And although I still err more toward whiz-bang-yeehaw this movie does have the unique distinction of answering the question “What would happen if Terry Gross and Sam Peckinpah had a movie baby?” Lots and lots of talk. Lots and lots of blood. And some cool shots of snowy mountains because who knows where kids get this stuff.
9. Straight Outta Compton – “Hey! Let’s make a black “Avengers” movie.” “That sounds like a fantastic idea.” “Also it’s a true story.” “What? That’s amazing! That couldn’t be.” “It is, from the headphones you’re wearing to how funny you thought ‘Ride Along’ was to that one time you had to explain to your Mom why hip hop was art and she couldn’t throw away “Chronic 2001″ to that Kendrick Lamar playlist you just made. Also Suge Knight is Thanos.” “Wow, that’s crazy. And even though The Avengers comparison is apt because these characters are so unique and awesome on their own is ‘our generation’s Beatles’ better? I mean, I just didn’t even realize these guys had so much impact on the culture, it feels like they were marginalized or vilified over time for almost no reason.” “Yeah, welcome to the black experience.” “Whoa — that movie made me aware of that too?” “Yup.” “Damn.” “Damn.”
8. The Big Short – I still think the best movie about the financial crisis that almost kicked us all out of the restaurant that is the world economy for ordering too much and then having our credit card declined was actually the closing credits of Adam McKay’s own “The Other Guys.” But for that reason it only makes sense that he would take arguably the most important but definitely the most dense issue of our time and make it not only palatable but entertaining and ultimately enraging as the whole (official lingo) clusterf*ck ought to be. Perhaps the most dynamic and rule breaking movie of the year. And I’m going to revel in the fact that the man that gave us “Step Brothers” is now officially Oscar nominated both as a director and screenwriter. There’s hope for the nerds, the goofs, the righteously pissed.
7. Kingsman: The Secret Service: This is the only movie of the year where Iggy Izalea’s head (offscreen) explodes into a powder rainbow and Sam Jackson offers Colin Firth a Big Mac. Coincidentally it’s brilliant, hilarious, ingenious, exhilarating, fun as a California summertime and the best Bond movie in years. Mark Hamill and hot assassin lady with sword legs bonus points. And plenty of on screen exploding rainbows too. And the Big Mac thing still. Basically it had to be on the list.
6. The Martian: A slide in a PowerPoint presentation about all around good movies. Very good movies even. Great actually. I can’t deny that but I’m hard pressed to feel more viscerally about it, I only know intellectually that it’s fantastic, scientifically speaking of course.
5. Inside Out: The 11 year old girl that is my inner-self could not deny this delightful, funny, moving and original all time keeper about an 11 year old girl’s inner self. As I mentioned in the podcast, jokes about my id aside, I’m less likely to revisit it than others in the Pixar cannon but damned if it wasn’t all the feels in all the ways with plenty to say about not just life as kid but to remind people carrying out life as adults. Bing Bong lives.
4. Creed: You know what pizza is. You’ve had it a million times. Even from this specific pizza joint. What are the new fixins gonna do that could possibly surprise you? But you cry anyway. You cheer. You bawl your eyes out. You applaud. Man pizza is great. But pizza should have been nominated for even more Oscars. Especially … the black pizza? I’ve lost the metaphor, but the hunger is real.
3. Sicario: Sicario rules. Amplify whatever tension I talked about in Hateful Eight and make it and more immediate, applicable. This movie should have a loud shouting voice in the Oscar and best movies of the year conversation but maybe it’s too much of an action thriller. But it’s not even that. It’s a wolf and it’s going to devour you. But like, a wolf that’s really pretty to look at with great performances and illuminating things to say about the modern war on drugs. I mean, that’s a pretty cool wolf, no? I mean many wolves are you going to find with Emily Blunt and Benicio Del Toro duking it out inside of them. Didn’t think so.
2. Star Wars: The Force Awakens: This is how the force works. And we’re home indeed. No movie’s ever been made with more weight of expectation and no movie has ever more met or exceeded the expectation set for it. The prequels are a silly thing we did drunk in college that we don’t have to talk about anymore. Two billion dollars later and I’m still smiling and I believe in the fantastic far far away and the binding force that propels us there at light speed all over again.
1. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl: I’m convinced scientists and artists joined together in an epic and ultimately pretty silly experiment, “Let’s see if we can make a movie perfectly calibrated for Josh Moorhead in all it’s tones, themes, tricks, characters, dialogue, humor, plot twists, color and life as only film can do, for all he loves it for.” And wouldn’t you know the bastards did it. They really did it. I may have never so totally felt in a theater before. There’s plenty I could and should say about this movie, it’s such a call to joy and life and friendship and love at it it’s purest but I’ll keep it to a word. This movie is perfect.
It’s true….
