Emma Donoghue's fantastic novel is one of my favorite books I've read in recent memory, so my expectations for the film adaption were fairly high. Luckily, director Lenny Abrahamson delivers one of the most thought-provoking and hopeful films of the year. The main character, Jack, is portrayed by Jacob Tremblay, a true revelation of the year without question because of his nuanced and effective performance as this innocent boy who's not quite sure what to make of this big world we live in. Brie Larson is perfectly cast as Ma. She was everything I expected her and wanted her to be upon reading the book. Every word and she utters and every mannerism she chooses adds another layer to this superb character. Never has a film been more full of hope in the face of obvious adversity and hardship. Even given the extreme premise of a child along with his mother being kidnapped and thrown in a room for years, Room instills hope again and again. This is one of those films that is life-affirming as you leave the theater ready to explore and conquer the world like never before.
9. The Big Short
Mortgages, loans, the housing market, Wall Street creed and corruption...these are all topics that simply don't interest me that much, but coincidentally, all of those topics along with many more are the crux of The Big Short. So why did I: 1) see this movie to begin with? and 2) rank it number nine on my list of my top ten movies of 2015? To answer question number one, I saw it because I had heard so many great things about it from the Oscar buzz to the high praises being heaped upon it by critics across the country. Plus, the cast looked top-notch as Steve Carell, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, and Brad Pitt headline this all-star bunch. Then, to answer question number two, The Big Short most certainly deserves all the praise it has garnered and the cast is simply perfect. Director Adam McKay, who is best known for directing Will Ferrell in some of his most famous films like Anchorman and The Other Guys, is the real star of this film as he pulled off a miracle by making me genuinely care about economics for nearly two hours. He was born to direct The Big Short. This film is one that is pure exhilaration while also producing rage among anyone with a brain and a soul as the story of the collapse of the housing market in 2008 is unmasked. I left the theater thoroughly entertained and thoroughly enraged, a testament to some excellent film-making on display.8. The Martian
Similar to Room, I read Andy Weir's masterpiece novel The Martian before seeing the film, so my expectations were relatively sky-high for Ridley Scott's newest project. Scott delivers his best film since Gladiator in 2000 as The Martian more than deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Alien and Blade Runner as the best of Scott's career. Matt Damon as Mark Watney was a casting move that creates legends. Damon is acting so natural in this movie that I had to constantly remind myself the he is actually acting. His charisma has never been higher in what may just be Damon's career best performance thus far. The supporting cast led by Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels, Chiwetal Ejiofor, Kate Mara, and many more are stellar as well, perfectly supporting Damon and Scott's vision. The story itself is so unique and brilliant while Drew Goddard's screenplay is one of the best scripts in science fiction history, deftly combining sly comedy with genuine drama. Endlessly quotable and entertaining to the max, The Martian is an instant classic.
7. Bridge of Spies
Anytime Steven Spielberg is making a movie, I have just become to expect nothing short of greatness. Time and time again, Spielberg redefines an entire genre on his way to making another gem for the ages. With Bridge of Spies, Spielberg expertly crafts a superb Cold War thriller with an abundance of emotion and excellent characterization. His loyal partner, Tom Hanks, my favorite actor of all-time, turns in, as always, a spectacular performance filled with subtlety and nuance. Hanks, like Damon in The Martian, effortlessly brings James Donovan to life, so much so that I don't think people realized just how great he really was in this film. Supporting Hanks, Mark Rylance is the standout of the film in a performance understated in nature and without the aid of lengthy screen time. When Rylance graces the screen with his presence, he captivates the audience with every word. This is business as usual for Spielberg and Hanks, and business as usual for Spielberg and Hanks equals classic film-making.6. Creed
If we were all honest with ourselves, a vast majority of us were not really expecting much from this latest Rocky installment. First of all, none of us were really asking for it in the first place, and secondly, Rocky Balboa wasn't even going to be the main character anymore. I must admit that I had those exact thoughts going into Creed, but on occasion, I can swallow my pride and proudly admit that I was dead wrong about this one. Creed is the movie nobody really wanted but everyone really needed. Successfully and flawlessly handing the torch to a brand new generation of filmmakers, Creed is a knockout. Michael B. Jordan as Apollo Creed's son, Adonis, proves to be one of the true sensational talents of this generation. The physicality of this role coupled with the raw emotion he brings to every scene is truly special. Sylvester Stallone tops his initial turn as Rocky Balboa on his way to the best performance of his career without question in my opinion. The real star of Creed is director Ryan Coogler who not only breaths new life into this once tired franchise, but sets up future installments to go in brand new and exciting directions while also not forgetting to make this installment extremely memorable. The previous generation had Rocky; this generation has Creed.5. Steve Jobs
I have always been fascinated by the life of legendary innovator Steve Jobs. He truly is one of the greatest minds of the modern era, so I wanted a movie that did him justice while also displaying his many flaws to go along with his brilliance (no, I do not count Ashton Kutcher's Jobs as a worthy memorial). With Steve Jobs, director Danny Boyle gave me everything I wanted in a movie like this and infinitely more. Jobs is portrayed like never before: an extraordinary human being with extraordinary flaws. The man responsible for paying homage to Jobs is Michael Fassbender, and Fassbender delivers a remarkable performance for the ages. He is truly phenomenal, effortlessly combining dry humor with the expertise one might expect from Jobs himself. Aaron Sorkin's screenplay is the stuff legends are made of, but it's not something everyone can grasp and then perform at a high level. Fassbender is on every page of Sorkin's 180 plus script, and his on screen presence and ferocity leads to a classical performance the real life Apple icon deserves. The supporting cast, especially Kate Winslet, Seth Rogen, and Jeff Daniels, have never been better, going toe to toe with Fassbender and never backing down. This is a film that demands your attention for the entirety of its runtime, and if you can make it to the end, you'll discover this movie is just like its inspiration: legendary.4. Spotlight
I have never been more floored by a movie's message and story than I was with Spotlight. Recounting the investigating that went into the award-winning Boston Globe article uncovering the brutal truth about sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in recent decades, director Tom McCarthy has crafted a uniquely powerful and heartbreaking film. Every audience member will leave the theater fully knowing they just watched a powerhouse cinematic experience, but simultaneously, many will leave infuriated at the fact these events actually took place and nobody did anything to stop them. Sticking to the film's merits strictly from a cinematic experience, if you look up the term "cast ensemble" in the dictionary, a picture of Spotlight's spotless cast will appear featuring Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, John Slattery, Brian d'Arcy James, and Stanley Tucci. Neither actor upstages the others as they all work seamlessly together, realizing that story trumps all in the case of this film. Everything about this film is simply flawless. Sure to go down as one of the great films of this generation, I believe Spotlight will quickly become a must see for movie lovers from all walks of life.
3. The Revenant
2. Inside Out
The art of animation has always held a special place in my heart. What these incredible artists are able to create literally from scratch is astonishing to me, and the kings of animation are all employed by Pixar Animation Studios, who in 2015 crafted one of the greatest animated films of all-time in Inside Out. With a beyond brilliant story beaming with originality and wit, Pixar continues to entertain and challenge audiences with their signature charm and emotion. With Inside Out, Pixar not only cracks us up as they always do (I still have that wonderful Triple Dent Gum song in my head to this day), but as is the Pixar way, they also turn us into puddles of our own tears by the movie's end. Director Pete Docter has given the world a supremely exuberant film while also being extraordinarily necessary in society today. The idea that sadness is to be embraced just as much as joy in our everyday lives is a message that takes guts to bring to the screen in a movie geared first and foremost for children and their families, but I wholeheartedly applaud Pixar for going out once again on the proverbial limb and creating a film that defines what it means to truly live. The voice talent in Inside Out is some of the best you will ever see in animation. All five main emotions are perfectly cast, highlighted by the dynamic duo of Amy Poehler as Joy and Phyllis Smith as Sadness. Pixar raises the bar every time they make a movie, and with Inside Out, the bar has reached a level where only Pixar can compete with itself.1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
I will unashamedly admit that this pick for my number one film of 2015 has absolutely no objectivity involved in it whatsoever because my heart will forever belong to that galaxy far, far away. JJ Abrams and company gave us a movie that Star Wars fans like me around the world never truly deserved but are ever so grateful for its existence. One of the countless great things about The Force Awakens is that leaving the theater after every show, the conversations I had and heard were not about lightsaber duels or X-Wing flights (although those are incredible); instead, we were all amazed at the awesomeness that was this new cast of characters. It was surreal and beyond incredible to see Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Chewbacca, C3PO, and R2-D2 back on the big screen, but the new kids on the block stole the show from beginning to end. Adam Driver and Oscar Isaac are gifts from above and the Star Wars universe is so fortunate to have them. I would be remiss not to mention everyone's new favorite droid, BB-8, a scene stealer through and through. John Boyega is a gem that provides the perfect amount of comedy with rock solid action. His character arc is something never before seen in this franchise, and I am extremely anxious to see where the next episodes take him. Finally, the genuine superstar of the show is Daisy Ridley. Her character, Rey, is an instant movie icon, and that is all because of Ridley. With just this one film, this has become Ridley's world and we're all just living in it. Abrams directed the fool out of this one, having so much fun doing in it as evidenced by the classic tone and nerd-worthy references. To bring a franchise like Star Wars to unprecedented heights never before seen in Hollywood is truly something special. There will never be another film quite like The Force Awakens.Honorable Mentions:
- Beasts of No Nation: Netflix's first original movie will rock you to the core. Newcomer Abraham Attah is a star in the making and Idris Elba commands every scene like never before.
- Sicario: Director Denis Villeneuve crafts one of the tensest thrillers of the modern era with two powerhouse performances from Emily Blunt and Benicio Del Toro.
- Concussion: As a football fanatic, I needed to see this film. Will Smith's performance is one of his best.
- Black Mass: This one will stick with you for quite some time. Johnny Depp has never been better.
- Avengers: Age of Ultron: You know my love for all things Marvel. Joss Whedon's sequel is superb.
Good luck topping that, 2016!
-Cody Fleenor
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