Here we go with Pt 2!
30) LEGEND – What’s better than one Tom Hardy performance? Two Mother F’ing Tom Hardy performances and in a gangster movie no less! Ah, I only wish the movie was better around these 2 Toms. Still worth a watch because he really is so good at what he does.
GRADE: B
29) STEVE JOBS – There is something that separates the greats and the legendary. The greats are just as talented as the legendary, but legends elevate those around them. Kate Winslet said as much when she won her latest Golden Globe. She was talking about and to Michael Fassbender. He does carry this movie but not in the negative sense. Kate doesn’t really need any help because she is legend as well, but Seth Rogen who is a very talented man steps up his game here. Sorkin and Boyle do what they do and I don’t think it’s eithers best, it’s still pretty F’ing good. But Fassbender, damn he is good. Kyle Bown mentioned on TWWN Episode 8 our Top Ten/Oscar Pod, that he doesn’t necessarily become Steve Jobs but he is still great in the role.
GRADE: B
28A CAROL – I didn’t really understand why this movie was nominated for it’s cinematography until about 20 or so minutes in and I started to feel like I was watching a flick from the era in which I was watching. It felt like a 50s movie while dealing with a subject matter no movie in the 50s would touch. Cate Blanchett is amazing as ever.
GRADE: B
28) CONCUSSION – Will Smith gives an Oscar worthy performance, as he washes off the stink of After Earth and the Meh that was Focus. Doesn’t really tell us anything new that any doc or article hasn’t divulged regarding head injuries and football. The movie is still very intriguing and very good.
GRADE: B
27C) THE DUFF – Doesn’t reinvent the teen comedy by Mae Whitman is more than your average teen movie lead and Robbie Amnell is just so darn charming, even when he is being an asshole joke with a secret heart of gold. Will definitely be apart of a teen movie night and will fit in comfortably with Clueless, Fast Times and so many other classic teen flicks.
GRADE: B
27B) THE NIGHT BEFORE 3 Friends who like to get really high and drunk the night before Christmas, so hilarity will ensue. And course it did because Seth Rogen is one of the friends and the other two are Joseph Gordon Levitt and Anthony Mackie are the other two. May not become one of my Christmas staples but I wouldn’t rule it out every other year or so.
GRADE: B
27A) PADDINGTON – Very cute and heartwarming. Paddington is book series I remember somewhat vaguely from my childhood. I was more a Bernstein Bears and Corduroy type of kid. But if those two can get a adaption like this one, I will be one happy baby bear.
GRADE: B+
27) THE BIG SHORT – So many great actors in a film about the 2000’s housing crash co-written and directed by Will Ferrell cohort and comedy maestro Adam Mckay. Breaks the fourth wall and does housing crash for dummies with Margot Robbie in a bath tub. Fast paced and exciting, I like this movie the more and more I think about it. Hell yeah, Adam Mckay.
GRADE: B+
26) DRAGON BALL Z: RESURRECTION F – Dragon Ball has always been more fun than it has any right to be. Especially after 3 series and nearly 500 episodes and about 20 or so movies. This is the first DB movie I have seen in theater and I really hope they release more. So hard not to put this as my favorite cartoon this year. Since it’s my 3rd cartoon of the year, shows you how strong #1 & 2 are.
GRADE: A-
25) MR. HOLMES – Ian Mckellen is an international treasure. While he will forever be Gandalf/Magneto, his other performances are just as captivating. There is something so tragic and moving about one of fiction’s greatest minds slowly succumbing to dementia that only Sir Ian could bring it this well. Even if the movie is slow at times, his performance will make you cry.
GRADE: A-
24) BROOKLYN Such a beautiful looking movie with a star who captivates from start to finish. Saoirse Ronan plays an Irish girl who comes to America to discover herself and live her dreams outside her little Irish town. She falls in love with two men, An Italian from Brooklyn and an Irish gentlemen from her home town. In the early half of the last century, Italians and Irish didn’t like each other much, especially in bigger cities, in this case New York. I really want my grandparents to see this movie because my grandmother’s story is similar. Their story is in San Francisco. My Grandma’s mom, my great-grandmother, was a proud Irish woman who married an Italian man. However, when my grandma became engaged to her Italian boyfriend, my grandfather, Great Grandma Nora locked herself in her room for a while. The irony. Anyhoo, great movie.
GRADE: A-
23) THE GIFT – Jason Bateman once again stars in an indie gem but this time it’s not so funny. Joel Edgerton wrote, directed and co-stars a Simon’s(Bateman) former high school classmate who seems to be stalking him and his young wife. However it turns out Simon may have damaged this man’s life in a very nefarious manner when they were teens. A fascinating thriller that leaves it very gray, who the victim is. At least for 3/4 of the movie.
GRADE: A-
22A) SHAUN THE SHEEP – An incredibly adorable, moving and absolutely hilarious. I laughed and aww’d so much in during this sweet little movie, it is very had for me to put Peanuts and Inside Out ahead it. If you are a fan of Chicken Run and Wallace & Gromit or not, if you are a human or a sheep, you will love this movie.
GRADE: A-
22) PEANUTS MOVIE – Nostalgia is bursting at the seams here as they recreate some of Charlie Brown and Co. funniest and best moments, updated with modern niceties but still maintains it’s timeless quality. The 3D animation never make made me feel I wasn’t watching the Peanuts of my childhood. I hope they make many more because this new generation deserves Charles Shulz’s take on life as kid. Also, so maybe we can get an original Peanuts story.
GRADE: A-
21) TOMORROWLAND – By far the most underrated movie of the year and maybe in many years, at least in the realm of science fiction. A movie I promise will be much more appreciated years from now. It’s message is clear and true even if we don’t want to hear it. We as a people do not what to dream of making the world a better place, we just want to sit here and wait for the eventual apocalypse. We celebrate it’s coming with movies and television shows. But when a movie points that out, we laugh it off as overly sentimental. Great performances by the young cast and George Clooney make this one of my favorite movies of the year. Brad Bird is a freaking genius.
GRADE: A-
20) SPECTRE – Not as good as Casino Royal or Skyfall but better than Quantum of Solace, which I also like. If Daniel Craig is indeed done with 007, and sounds pretty certain he is, this was the strongest 4 movie run in the role since Connery. All 4 were great movies, even QOS, and I will miss DC. But I really hope they keep Christoph Waltz’s Blofeld around for the next James Bond(IDRIS ELBA!!!!!!) and beyond. Sam Smith’s Written on the Wall is now my favorite Bond song of all time. Love it so much.
GRADE: A-
19) INISDE OUT – Damn you Pixar! Stop making us cry over our lost childhoods. Bless you Pixar! For allowing us to relive some of the best moments of our long past childhoods. Either one of those works. I like to think the second one more. You know what else you can do Pixar? Make kids and adults love it equally even if it’s for different reasons. Done and done. What a wonderful movie. I can see this being Pixar’s next film to spawn multiple just as strong if not better sequels a la Toy Story. Come on, tell me each one of those didn’t get progressively better.
GRADE: A-
18) MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: ROUGE NATION – I still love the 1st Mission Impossible because it was an event movie. So much so, I posted the fake police tape they put had on the line queue from opening night on my first 3 college apt walls. But since number 2, the sequels have be getting better and better. OG is still my favorite but hot damn these last 3 trips have been invigorating and this franchise doesn’t seem to be slowing down.
GRADE: A-
17) FURIOUS 7 – Just like M.I. the Fast and the Furious movies have gotten better with age. However, unlike Ethan Hunt, Dom and Brian’s journey was on life support when only Vin Diesel appeared in a cameo in the least successful in the whole series, Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift. Diesel and Paul Walker reunited in the 4th entry and they haven’t looked back since. Fast Five, is still the benchmark in my opinion. At that point the franchise shifted gears from street racing to heist movies. But 6 and now 7 are absolutely tits. Sadly, this is where Brian’s journey ends as we lost Walker in midst of filming this latest installment. And while the franchise will go on, it will never feel complete. Diesel my be the soul of this franchise but Walker was it’s heart and while I eagerly await 8 Fast 8 Furious, I know I will miss him. Paul/Brian easily receives the greatest onscreen sendoff of anyone, ever. It is so bittersweet but it could not have been done better. I will miss you Paul Walker and I’ll tell you all about it, when I see you again.
GRADE: A-
16) MAD MAX: FURY ROAD – I know many think I should have this higher, seeing as I do love the entire franchise, even Thunderdome. 2 MEN ENTER, 1 MAN LEAVES! So this visual masterpiece should be at the top of my last, right? Well… It is a technical achievement for sure from picture to sound to performance, all great. But there’s no story. It’s the greatest chase movie ever, but I could care less about any of the heroes including Max. Like I said that takes nothing from the performers but if it deserves Best Pic consideration so does Creed, Straight Outta Compton and Star Wars. I guess it changed some people’s lives but I have to wonder if that’s a good thing or bad thing. For them I mean. Sorry folks, Road Warrior is still the best Max.
GRADE: A-
15) JURASSIC WORLD – A much more satisfying sequel to Jurassic Park and also one that makes more sense as a follow up to the 1993 Classic. Chris Pratt can do no wrong right now. From Owen the Raptor Whisperer to Star Lord To his small but understated role in Her, I am all in with Andy Dwyer. Colin Trevorrow was given the teeth to kingdom and he put together a rollicking good time. Most people complaints are annoying little nit picks but that’s ok, I really only care if I enjoy a movie. And enjoy I did. Seeing The Original T-Rex in all her glory kicks some serious ass next Owen’s Raptor, Blue. YOU’RE MY DINO BLUE!!! Running in high heels, that’s your complaint!? In a movie they brought dinosaurs back to life!? Why don’t you one those, you know, lives.
GRADE: A
14) ANT-MAN – No they did not. They did not just make a financially successful and GREAT movie based on the Ant-Man comic book. Doing it without even introducing him in The Avengers. Don’t get me wrong, Hank Pym(OG Ant) and Scott Lang(Current Man) deserve big screen treatment especially in since Pym is an original Avenger in the comics. Michael Douglas and Paul Rudd are perfect in their roles and Peyton Reed, Adam Mckay and Paul Rudd kept some of Edgar Wright’s humor when the latter departed due to creative differences with the studio. This after almost a decade of work. One of things Wright did was create the role of Scott’s best friend played by Michael Pena who almost steals the whole movie. Evangeline Lily is teased here to eventually don the mantle of the Wasp like her mother the late possibly not so late Janet Van Dyne-Pym, also a founding member of the Avengers alongside her husband. It is very exciting that Lily’s character is getting equal billing in the sequel, Ant-Man and The Wasp.
GRADE: A
13) BLACK MASS – Johnny Depp is back! Although I did like the Lone Ranger, but other than that people were getting tired of his schtick since it seemed to be a variation on the same character. James ‘Whitey’ Bulger is one scary dude. I’m talking Freddy Krueger in Nightmare 1 scary. At that is apt comparison seeing as the director at certain points treats Whitey as such. All I can say is, doorknob. Loved this movie.
GRADE: A
12) AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON – The more and more I watch this movie, the more I like it. Maybe people were having Marvel fatigue because their very minor quibbles gave volume to the few bloggers and critics that didn’t like it. It’s ok if it made slightly less than it’s predecessor. The Avengers was an event! There was so much to it that was great!! The banter, the splash page opening scene where we got to see them all jump into action at once. Watching James Spader do an amazing Tony Stark/RDJ impression while making Ultron all his own. And we get the VISION!!! So what if there was scenes that won’t pay off until future movies. Have any of you complaining about that been paying attention to what Marvel has been doing the last decade?! We watching Episodic Cinema and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
GRADE: A
11) KINGSMAN: SECRET SERVICE – Mark Millar you are comic book writing god! I know you write cinematically you wily little minx you. This one translated very, very well. Who knew Colin Firth could kick so much ass!?!?! I love Samuel L. as a bad guy, especially when he is allowed to ham it up. Taren Edgerton is a f’ing star and he’s going to get a Marvel/DC/Star Wars or all of the above. Can’t wait for sequel.
GRADE: A
10) THE REVENANT – Beautiful, visceral, raw, violent, uncomfortable. All of these and more in Alejandro Inurratu’s follow-up to the excellent Birdman. Leondaro DiCaprio should definitely win the Oscar this year. He won’t, but he should. I know most people point to his grunting and dragging himself across the ground cursing the men who did this to him as reasons for his stunning performance, but I have a different reason for loving him in this. His scenes with his onscreen son feel so real and so touching I forgot Leo has never been a father. Best bit of acting he has ever done.
GRADE: A+
9) BRIDGE OF SPIES – I’m the first in line to see any flick involving the Cohen Bros, Hanks and Spielberg, separately! Throw them together, this should’ve been a bigger event. But that’s ok, it was rightfully nominated for an Oscar and though I am rooting for Sly, I am so happy that Mark Rylance got nominated and would not be sad if he won. His quiet dignity as Rudolf Abel stole a movie involving 4 of the biggest names in Hollywood. I applaud you, Mr. Ryalnce.
GRADE: A+
8A) ROOM – A beautifully shot, expertly paced and well written piece of filmmaking and starring two incredible actors just beginning to tap what makes them special. Brie Larson earned every bit of that Oscar as a young woman in quite possibly the worst situation a young woman could be in. Kidnapped and imprisoned for years as a sex slave, she finds hope in the only thing she can. Her son. Jack may have a monster for a father but he is the exact opposite. A soul that knows nothing but Room and to be the amazing hopeful little boy he is truly special. Jack Trembly plays the role with such innocence, yet displays such a grasp of his craft at such a young age, one has to marvel at what’s to come with a little more experience. Room has a constant dreamlike feel, a dream that can sometimes turn nightmarish, but even once they leave Room, that feel is still there. It’s a dream I wouldn’t mind having a game.
GRADE: A+
8) EX-MACHINA – I was looking forward to Man From Uncle because of the teaming of Superman and the Lone Ranger. Then I saw this amazing little sci-fi insta-classic. Alicia Vikander is a talent explosion that will be heavily nominated in the years to come. Two of the reasons I believe Star Wars is in very good hands for the next few years show up here. Domhall Gleeson and the climbing my actor charts faster than his X-Wing zipped through Nine Tie Fighters Oscar Isaac. This dude couldn’t be bad if he tried. Actually maybe he could, but he’d be the best at it there ever was!
GRADE: A+
7) HATEFUL EIGHT – This is about as Tarantino as you can Quentin can get. A bunch of absolute bad ass actors chewing scenery and spewing Tarantino’isms with wild abandon. The way this man can create tension with words, tension that builds with each syllable, is mind boggling. Seeing it in 70MM is a must but will still be quite effective on a big ass screen. It’s so pretty. And that music! 87 year Ennio Morricone can’t stop being amazing. His music is so iconic, it could span a week long symphonic performance.
GRADE: A+
6) THE MARTIAN – Matt Damon should be Leo to Ridley Scott’s Marty. These two have never been better and they have both been awesome! I mean come on, one did Alien, Blade Runner and Gladiator. The other wrote and was Good Will Hunting and is Jason F’ing Bourne. Golden Globes could’ve nominated this for Best Pic Drama and no one would’ve batted an eyelash. Instead they threw it in the Comedy/Musical best pic category. Well, Matt Damon was a hilarious one man show but humor is probably the only way to stay sane in the incredible situation he found himself in. Yeah, they may have stretched the science a little bit but that’s because this is a human story with science fiction backdrop. I can’t say enough about this movie, so I will stop.
5) ME, EARL, AND THE DYING GIRL – Made me laugh so hard. Made me cry even harder. Made me so mad at fucking cancer. Then gave me hope when it could’ve crushed it. When I was told about this wonderful little movie by director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, I did not think it would sneak into to my top ten let alone my TOP FIVE!!! Get AGR a comic book or Star Wars movie NOW! Thomas Mann needs to be Han Solo and RJ Cyler needs to be Lando Calrissian and you need to make a Star Wars Buddy Scoundrel Trilogy. That’s what AGR needs to direct! Olivia Cooke made me fall in love with her in Bates Motel, so how the hell did she make fall even deeper here? With relative ease. She is amazing.
GRADE: A+
4) STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON – No movie was more snubbed this flick at the Academy Awards. Oh don’t worry they nominated the white people who wrote the script, but let’s leave the tight direction by F. Gary Gray the man behind the Friday comedy trilogy. And no way do Corey Hawkins, O’Shea Jackson Jr., and Jason Mitchell deserve any recognition for transporting us back to the 80s, back to a time when this music opened many of ours to a world so foreign yet right in our backyard. This music changed my life and this movie helped remind me, how much. I love this movie so much.
GRADE: A+
3) SICARIO – This movie is so beautiful and Del Toro delivers a beautiful, Oscar nominat… oh, no Latinos either? Cool. Anyway, this movie left me breathless with a climatic scene that needs to be felt to be believed. Such a great damn movie.
GRADE: A+
2) CREED – Sylvester Stallone has played this role 7 times. Let me say that again, 7 times. And on the 7th try, he brought a tenderness and vulnerability Rocky has never had. No brainer, nominating him for everything! Ryan Coogler and Michael B Jordan(seriously, can we cast him as everything?!) help craft a movie that felt like the 1976’s Best Picture winner yet still feel fresh. There is scene in which Adonis projects a Youtube video Creed/Balboa II on his wall. It is footage from Rocky II, which makes that much cooler but what makes it so tear and goose bump inducing is when son begins to shadowbox with dad. I love this movie way too much.
GRADE: A+
1) STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS – Harrison Ford deserved an Oscar nom. This movie deserves best picture. It was everything it needed to be and more. This must be what a heroin injection feels like.
GRADE: A+
And there it is, every 2015 release I saw. This list will be in flux, I highly doubt the top ten will change but here are the 70 or so releases I wanted to see and didn’t! So come on back periodically to see if anything can at least crack the top 20.
| 50 Shades of Gray
99 Homes The Age of Adaline Alvin and the Chipmunks 4 American Heist
Beasts of No Nation Before We Go
Black Sea Cake
Chi-Raq Child-44 Clouds of Sils Maria The Danish Girl Danny Collins Dope Dragon Blade
Everest Get Hard The Gunman Home |
Hotel Transylvania 2
Hot Tub Time Machine 2 Joy Krampus Last Knights Last Witch Hunter Lost River Maggie Maps To The Stars Maze Runner 2 Max McFarland USA Mortdecai
Our Brand is in Crisis
Pawn Sacrifice Pitch Perfect 2 Pixels |
Predestination
Rikki and the Flash
Scout’s Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse Seventh Son Second Exotic Marigold Hotel
Sleeping With Others Sponge Bob Suffragette Taken 3 Trainwreck Unfinished Business Vacation The Visit The Walk The Woman In Gold Woodlawn Z For Zachariah |