by lelibertaire

I thought 2014 was a good year in film, but 2015 could definitely stand up to it in a fight.

Whether major blockbusters or smaller art films, there was a plethora of films that have stuck with me this year. And since it's the new year and I'm bored, I decided to write up a little list of my favorite films from 2015 (that I got around to seeing). Probably going to write this over a few days and just publish when I'm finished as I have a couple films I'm going to watch in the meantime.

Hopefully, I can steer you guys in the direction of some stuff you haven't seen yet, and maybe we can get some discussion going around your favorite ones from last year.

Anyway, to the list! I've arranged it so that it goes from least favorite to most favorite to build up the suspense. Also some of these films might technically be 2014 films, but I had no way to see them until 2015 so they're 2015 movies to me.

Avengers: Age of Ultron - That trailer got me really hyped for this film, and I had a lot of fun watching this with my siblings and friends in theaters. it was the quintessential summer super hero blockbuster -- explosions, CGI, heroes, villains, and set pieces. Nothing was really bad, and I never got bored. But it was the quintessential summer super hero blockbuster. I liked it, had a good time, but I've never had a desire to go back to it. It's a good popcorn movie, but it's also the film that made me decide I'm over the MCU (and most comic-based movies). Marvel movies are just starting to feel very similar and, thus, bland to me. Guardians is likely my favorite, and it's not really a super film. I'm starting to wonder whether a Marvel/Disney movie can reach a higher tier, a tier reached by at least The Dark Knight and other classic blockbusters.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl - This film is a funny little teenage dramatic comedy that is very well shot and touting pretty good writing. It's a bit of your typical Fox Searchlight fare and comes off as a Wes Anderson-lite film at times, but It's executed well and that's what mostly matters. The cinematographer, mostly known for his work on Oldboy, did a great job with this film. Its camerawork is really the standout element with humor as a strong second. With major themes of friendship, isolation, and loneliness, it's not a bad movie to check out at all.

Straight Outta Compton - It's a solid biopic on N.W.A. that was mostly engaging and fun to watch. The actors do a really good job of capturing these artists and making you believe they are who they are playing. Overall, it was just a really fun movie that I had a good time with. It wasn't really special in any way, just solid. There are some moments that came off a bit cheesy and a little off-putting. The "origin" scene of "Bye, Felicia", the scene after the tense moment with police where Ice Cube pens Fuck Tha Police, and the scene where Dre and Snoop Dogg create Nuthin' But A G Thang were a tad hammy in that "Look at this historic moment occurring before your very eyes!" way. Also, while the pacing was great throughout most the movie, I did find that the movie started to lose me toward the end. Yet, it's still a good flick so watch it if it strikes your fancy!

Steve Jobs - Steve Jobs was a strange film for me. With a Sorkin script and the drama of Jobs' life, I expected something really compelling. I mean I liked this film. It was very well shot, it had the typical fast-paced dialogue of a Sorkin script, the performances were great, and the editing was solid as well. However, the decision to frame the film around three of his conferences was interesting but held the film back. It was almost seeing the same characters having similar conversations three times in a row, just looking a little different. And unfortunately, Sorkin's script was more Newsroom-Sorkin than West Wing/Social Network-Sorkin. However, the second act has really phenomenal performances and editing, which pushed this film a few spots up for me.

Creed - When I first heard of Creed, I thought, "What the hell!? They made another Rocky sequel? Ugh. We really need to get over nostalgia in Hollywood." Here's a movie I suspected to be just another cash-in, just another film that references a classic but can't stand alone. Well, I was wrong. Sure, Creed is not really exceptional. It is riddled with a few cliches and some awkward dialogue, and it doesn't exactly reinvent the boxing film genre. However, Creed's highs are exceptionally high, especially when it comes to the direction of fight scenes. Michael B. Jordan puts in a good performance, and Sylvester Stallone is actually good when I feared he could pull the film down. It's a very enjoyable movie that any Rocky fan can enjoy, and when it's really good, it's really good.

Inside Out - The concept is great. Anthropomorphized emotions that are in our heads controlling how we react to changes in our lives!? Just reading that sounds like the best Pixar film ever concocted. And it was a great, emotional ride. I was not expecting such a touching dive into depression and psychology in a children's movie, but Inside Out did a great job at exploring the importance and nuance of emotions for children. However, Pixar films are essentially cursed for me in that I will always compare them to Wall-E, which I still love most. I liked Inside Out, but for me, it still doesn't stack up to the best of Pixar's filmography. Still a very good animated film that anyone (especially those who enjoys Pixar movies) should watch.

Spotlight - Yeah. Might be surprising for some to see this film here. Spotlight is getting rave reviews and is probably my favorite for the Best Picture award at the Oscars. It has seriously great performances (especially from Mark Ruffalo, Micharl Keaton, and Liev Schreiber), a great, important story, solid editing, and strong pacing. It will deserve many of the awards it will get in the future, and I won't be mad if it wins Best Picture (I mean, hey, I'm predicting it). However, Spotlight disappointed me. Visually, I found it to be extremely bland, and unfortunately, I just never really got sucked into the film as emotionally as I would have hoped. Basically, I see Spotlight as All The President's Men 2: Catholic Scandal Boogaloo. However, see it for yourself. It really is a great film, and others might like it a lot more. I was just expecting a film to breach my top 5 of the year, and that's my own fault.

World of Tomorrow - Don Hertzfeldt is becoming one of the most acclaimed animators out there, and his works are all based around stick figures. His film It's Such a Beautiful Day was a deeply emotional and existential film about death and mental illness, told with with quirky, yet beautiful style and humor. World of Tomorrow is a short film that continues on those themes with a similar style and humor. I can't really say much without giving a lot away and since it's only 16 minutes long, I'll just say to check it out if you have seen It's Such a Beautiful Day and enjoyed it.

Victoria - Victoria is the first of many films on this list that is essentially built around a "gimmick." While the word "gimmick" has a negative connotation, sometimes these ideas are executed well enough so that they strengthen films instead of seeming only like a cheap trick. Victoria is special because it was shot as one long shot in one take. I know. Russian Ark did it before. Birdman copied the style. But Victoria works because of and in spite of this decision. The single take makes you feel like you're on this journey experiencing these two hours with these characters. It helps elevate the tension, suspense, stress, joy, surprise, etc. in many of the scenes. There are moments when I start noticing the single take, but there are plenty of times where I found myself forgetting about it and being simply engrossed in the movie. And the level of effort and planning that went into making this movie, which follows a young woman and a group of men through the streets of Berlin, must have been incredible. And for that, it's worth a watch and some respect.

It Follows - it seems like once a year a horror film comes out that is supposed to be the next truly great horror film. Last year we had the Babadook, which I enjoyed but did not love. Thankfully, It Follows was a much better film for me. The cinematography and concept really pulled me into this movie and gave me much more entertainment than what Babadook did for me. The movie is built around a curse that is passed from one person to another through sex -- basically's it an STD from hell. When infected, a person will be forever followed by a walking, shape-shifting force. It's a really interesting idea for a horror film. Well directed, well acted, and with a strong concept, It Follows was an enjoyable entry in what is probably my least favorite genre.

Sicario - Denis Villeneuve is becoming a pretty popular name among film lovers on the Internet. He's received high acclaim for his previous films Incendies, Prisoners, and Enemy, and his partnership with Roger Deakins has ensured that his films are delightful to watch. Sicario is no different. Beautifully directed, Sicario is a gripping, suspenseful look into the Drug War in Central America, specifically the Mexican cartels. I've seen it described as basically Zero Dark Thirty and Traffic having a baby. However, I enjoyed it much more than both. Emily Blunt really is becoming one of my favorite actresses, and she puts in a great performance here. Bernicio Del Toro is also quite brilliant in his role. Best of all, the film is not built around patriotic, jingoistic, military/law-enforcement-worshipping fellatio, which is what I feared at the start, especially with its feeling so similar to ZDT. However, the film does get a little hammy at moments with heavy-handedness. One character says way too much during a trip into Juarez and takes me out the film. Like I get it, bad shit happens in this place. I also found the ending to be similarly hammy. But as a whole, Sicario is a great film. Watch it, especially if you enjoyed the director's other work.

Phoenix - When I was first watching this German film, it felt basically like Spotlight for me (but much better shot). It had some great performances, a very interesting, emotional story, good editing, and, even better, it was nice to look at. However, it didn't seem like it would end up as one of my top favorites of the year. Like Spotlight, it was just a very well done film for me, albeit one that I enjoyed to watch more thanks to better cinematography and a story I didn't know already. Then the ending came. Seriously, if you watch this film, stick with it until the end because it is my favorite ending to a film since last year's Whiplash. Wow. Even reflecting on it now, I'm at a loss for words.

Ex Machina - /r/movies has been really excited about this film since it released. Unfortunately, that made me apprehensive. I've found that I don't like some movies nearly as much as others on that sub do (looking at you, Dredd/Kingsman) so I've taught myself to lower my expectations for these kind of flicks. Thankfully, I was dead wrong! Ex Machine ended up being one of my favorite films of the year. It has beautiful cinematography, great performances, engaging, minimalist art direction, and a subtle social commentary. This is a film that knows how to use a camera and immerse you in a believable sci-fi narrative. It's not a brilliant new story, but it tells its story masterfully, and it has some great performances from Oscar Isaac and Alicia Vikander. Also, that disco scene :D. I do think Gleeson's performance wasn't too great, though, and the final act is the weakest for me, but all in all, it's a great film. One of the year's best.

Tangerine - I originally only knew this film as "that movie that was made with an iPhone." Thankfully, Tangerine is also more than its gimmick. At first, I was put off by the inexperienced transgender actresses that make up the two lead characters. It was too easy to tell that they hadn't worked on a major film before. However, the actresses really grew into it as the film went on, and Tangerine ended up being a hilarious yet emotional look into a side of Los Angeles that isn't shown to a mass audience. It feels extremely authentic and true to its location and the culture of the area. The film really is laugh-out-loud funny, and it moves at a frantic pace. It's almost like Slacker on meth if slacker was about transgender prostitutes and only followed a few characters. The fact that it was filmed with an iPhone just makes it more impressive, and it should serve as an inspiration to those who are looking at create movies on a tiny budget. Bravo.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens - It's likely going to be the highest grossing movie ever, it has a growing amount of fans and detractors, and everything that could be said about it has already likely been said. I've already put out some thoughts on this site about this film. However, after watching it a 3rd time with most my family after Christmas, I really can now solidly say that I loved this movie. Yeah, some movies I listed already are probably better crafted films with better original narratives. However, the reverence TFA gives to ANH and other plot points from the OT doesn't bother me anymore. It's simply one of the best experiences I've had in theaters this year for me. It's simply the best shot Star Wars when it comes to camerawork in my eyes. The score has gotten better with each viewing for me (though it's still not on par with the others'). I love the characters. I'm intrigued for Kylo Ren's development. I loved the costume and art design (especially for Rey). I loved the jokes. It's a Disney blockbuster, but it's a great Disney blockbuster, one that I enjoy more than any of the Marvel films now (just a smidgen more than Guardians). I'm going to expect a lot more when its comes to risks and originality for the next episodes and I'm wary of Star Wars burning me out like Marvel has, but I loved TFA. I do hate those damn Rathtars though.

Jafar Panahi's Taxi - To really appreciate this film, you have to know that Jafar Panahi is a celebrated Iranian director who has come into conflict with the Iranian government many times. In 2010, he was arrested and issued a 20-year ban on making films. Yet, that has obviously not stopped him. Filmed as a "docufiction," Taxi is basically Panahi driving around Tehran in, you guessed it, a taxi, picking up random passersby, family, and friends and having interesting discussions with them. it's a political, social, emotional work of the highest order heightened not only by its interesting discussion but also by the historical context of its creation. And best of all? It's only 80 minutes long.

The Lobster - The Lobster is a strange, dystopian sci-fi film about relationships, societal expectations and rules, and love, and it surprised me to become one of my favorite films of the year. It's a dark satire with a very original, if strange, story that is led by good performances from Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz. It's also wonderfully shot with beautiful framing. I don't really want to say much about the plot because it's a film that I think might be better without knowing anything beforehand. It really is interesting though, and it got points over Ex Machina for me thanks to its originality. I do have some issues, like the use of narration at parts which I felt was unnecessary. However, I need to check to see if that's part of the satire that I'm not getting. Either way, it's an enjoyable movie with great directing, an interesting world and narrative, good performances, funny satire, and some social commentary. I definitely recommend it.

Girlhood - I didn't think I'd like Girlhood as much as I did. I heard it was a really good movie, but I figured I might not take to it too much since, well, I'm a guy. Yet, Girlhood ended up being one of the best films I've seen all year. With brilliant performances from the young actresses, brilliant directing and cinematography, and fantastic editing, it delved into how environmental factors can affect impoverished and struggling youth. Some scenes in this film are some of the most memorable of the year for me, including one featuring Rihanna's Shine Bright Like a Diamond and another showing a pan of the young gang of girls. Girlhood is a wonderful French film that forces you to think about the circumstances affecting some unluckier people in society without being at all preachy. Its technical strengths and strong performances just make it even better. Truly one of the best from last year.

Mommy - Mommy is a French-Canadian film that contains the best use of aspect ratio that I've ever seen in a movie before. Another one of the "gimmick" movies I previously mentioned, Mommy is mostly filmed in 1:1, resembling portrait filming on an iPhone. However, director Xavier Dolan uses this to great effect. For one, he composes scenes brilliantly to fit the screen. While you might think 1:1 is far too claustrophobic to capture multiple characters and environmental shots, Dolan manages to find a way which really helped me appreciate his craft in some scenes. Secondly, the ratio really puts singular characters in focus. The film is often cutting between very close shots of one character's face or upper torso, which allows the actors and actresses to give great, nuanced performances with their expressions and body language. Thirdly, the decision with the aspect ratio serves an important function for the film that I will not spoil here. If you watch this film, you will know what I mean, and it really is a brilliant use of film as a medium to communicate ideas and emotions. And this isn't even mentioning the magnificent performances by the three main actors and actresses and the great editing. This is truly a wonderful film.

The Assassin - At first, I didn't think I liked this movie very much. At times I was yelling at it in my head to advance from a scene. My first watch only got halfway through before I decided I was too tired to give it a proper chance. My second watch made it twenty minutes. But on my third watch, when I ensured I was ready to give the film my full attention, I was sucked in for the entire hour and forty-five minutes. The cinematography in this film is breathtaking. It really is one of, if not the, most beautiful films released in 2015, and maybe that's what stuck with me most. Let me warn you now. This film is slooooooooooooooooow. The plotting can also get confusing sometimes though, in general, it's not a complicated plot at all. In fact, while you might not understand the underlying politics going on, you might wind up thinking the plot is a little too simple and minimalist. However, after my third watch, I couldn't shake the fact that I was still thinking of this film days after release, that I was still seeing its imagery in my head, that I was still recalling the brief, but intense action sequences. Something about this movie sunk its hooks into my head, and I realized it was actually one of my very favorite films from last year. It's not the easiest to watch if you're not in the right mood. But I think it deserves the praise it has received.

Room - Do not watch the trailers for this film and only read the blandest synopsis available if you have to. If you think you can trust my tastes, then figure out when this is coming out near you and make plans to watch it. I really don't want to give anything away about it. At most I'll only diverge that it is about a mother and her son as they try to live in the only world the boy has ever known -- a 10x10 room. Additionally, I'll only say that it contains one of the best on-screen relationships between a mother and her young son in film, that it has what I think is the best adapted screenplay this year (of what I've seen), that it is strengthened by superb performances from Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay, that it has some of the most realistic and engaging character development and psychology, that it has great, fitting cinematography as well, and that it hooked me from the very beginning and never let me go. Seriously, this is a must watch for me.

Kumiko: The Treasure Hunter - Of all the films from 2015, Kumiko contains my favorite editing and framing. This is seriously one of the best shot movies of last year no matter what one thinks of its story. Luckily, it also contains one of the most emotional and haunting looks at social isolation, anxiety, mental illness, obsession, individuality, social pressures, etc. that I've ever seen. The story's themes are at once in your face, yet surprisingly subtle. There are parts where what the director is trying to say is easy to pick out, and there are parts where it requires a bit more effort and nuance to see what the message really is. And while I enjoyed the story for what it was, it's really the cinematography, use of color, and editing that steal the show in Kumiko (as well as a great performance by Rinko Kikuchi). I loved this film, and in some ways, it hit home. I really can't wait to watch it again.

The Look of Silence - If you haven't, you should probably watch The Act of Killing before watching this. The Look of Silence at its best is a companion piece to Joshua Oppenheimer's previous film, and the two make up one of the best documentary series ever created. When I first watched The Act of Killing, it blew me away. Having brutal leaders of death squads in Indonesia reenact the executions of communists in the country was a chilling way to uncover truth. Yet even with suceeding such an historic and groundbreaking film, The Look of Silence easily floored me. The film turns its predecessor on its head, this time filming the brother of a man who was mercilessly executed as he watches footage of death squad leaders reenacting his brother's death and as he eventually meets them. This movie more than any other showcases the banality of evil, and it should mean even more to Americans, as the film does well to call out how American culture and leadership at the time played a role in these actions. These movies are unforgettable and will be remembered as two of the greatest documentaries ever produced.

Mad Max: Fury Road - What can be said about Fury Road that hasn't already been said? Yes, its plot is extremely simple, its dialogue is minimal, and its characters are not explored very deeply. However, it doesn't need any of that. If I did need that, I'd read a book. Because what makes Fury Road my favorite movie of 2015 and one of the greatest action films ever created is that its strength is based around that essential strength of cinema: visual storytelling. Fury Road is without a doubt one of the prettiest, most well shot summer action blockbusters to ever exist. The camerawork is absolutely phenomenal. And it's this camerawork that helps me invest in the brilliant practical action stunts and effects, which is just more to love on this already delicious dish. Then there's the minimal world building and storytelling, told through sparse dialogue, wonderful art direction, and background details. Plus, there's also the great performances from Charlize Theron, Tom Hardy, and Nicholas Hoult. I saw this film over and over again in theaters, and when I got it later, I still found myself willing and wanting to watching over and over again some more. It has the simplicity, art direction, world building, and spectacle of Star Wars: ANH with the added bonus of truly visionary camerawork. A modern classic.

Well that's how I'd rank what I watched this year, but I still have sooooo many damn movies that I either haven't been able to see yet or haven't released near me including: Carol, The Revenant, The Hateful Eight, The Big Short, No Home Movie, Son of Saul, Anomalisa, Mustang, Brooklyn, Bridge of Spies, Chi-Raq, 45 Years, Joy, The Danish Girl, James White, Eden, Amy, Goodnight Mommy, and others. And these could likely all end up making this list too.

What a phenomenal year in film!

But anyway. What were your favorites? Or what did you think of some the films I listed? Discuss if you'd like! But don't forget to spoiler tag if you decide to get specific.