2015 was a fantastic year for movies. In one year, we got a competent Jurassic Park sequel, a brand new Star Wars trilogy, a explosion of Marvel and DC movies, and so much more. But if you missed some of the big names, and you're trying to catch up, where do you start? Well, I'm going to do my best at a reliable list of the top 5 must-see movies of 2015. 5: Ex machinaThe only films on this list that come from an original idea, with no hint of a sequel, AND from an unknown director, Ex Machina is an original take at science fiction, and the concept of AI. If you're looking for convincing performances, and a gripping story line, look no further: this film features breathtaking performances from Oscar Issac, Domhnall Gleeson, and Alicia Vikander, in a provoking exploration of what it means to be human. A computer programmer (Gleeson), is hired by a Frankenstein-like scientist (Issac) to discover whether he has created AI, or only a super advanced robot. As the revelations pile up and the screws tighten and you start to sense that terror and violence are inevitable, the movie never loses grip on what it's about. This is a rare commercial film in which every scene, sequence, composition and line deepens the screenplay's themes, which means that when the bloody ending arrives, it seems not predictable, but inevitable. 4: The hateful 8The Hateful 8 is a murder mystery combined with a western in a style that only Tarantino can pull off. This film builds up tension throughout, until finally releasing in a bloody, thrilling mess. Like any Tarantino film, The Hateful 8 is sustained through its 2.5 hour run time by pure charisma and dialogue. You'll be trying to guess who's lying, while the characters play a game of wit. Of course, this film is a character piece more than anything else. A special shutout to Walton Goggins, playing Sheriff Chris Mannix, who in my view had the best performance of the year. Mannix is presented as a suspicious fool, but Goggins soon reveals a layered aspect to his character that will keep your attention, and eventually earn your respect. Other phenomenal performances include Samuel L. Jackson, a killer bounty hunter, Kurt Russel, a bounty hunter who always hangs his mark, Jennifer Jason Leigh, a criminal who got caught by Russel, Demian Bichir, Tim Roth, and Michael Madsen, whose characters are more than meets the eye. John Ruth (Russel), transporting his bounty (Leigh) and accompanied by another bounty hunter named Major Marquis Warren (Jackson), and the new sheriff (Goggins), are trapped in an inn by a blizzard. But all is not as it seems. Warren knows the proprietor of this inn, and although the unfamiliar barkeep assures him that she is on a trip, Warren is suspicious. Ruth thinks someone wants to steal his bounty, and a race to find out who's trustworthy, and who isn't, begins. Not Tarantino's greatest film, but certainly one that left its impact on 2015, The Hateful 8 is well worth the watch. 3: Mad Max: Fury RoadWhat a day! What a lovely day! Mad Max: Fury Road is best described as pure chaos. As one Rolling Stones critic said, "Mad Max kicked my *ss, it'll kick yours." An overreaching remake of the 1979 classic, Mad Max follows Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) as he fights his way through a dry, brutal dystopian future where no civilization remains. Jam packed with violence, savagery, and special, this film also retains a poetic, even artistic quality. Max has been captured and is being brought to the Citadel as a slave. He escapes with Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron), but incurs the wrath of Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne), the leader of the Citadel. Immortan Joe and a posse of warriors are sent out to bring back Max and Furiosa, which begins arguably the most thrilling, dramatic chase of the year. Mad Max features a fantastic cast, a thrilling plot, and stunning effects. I am confident in saying that it is the best action movie of the year. 2: RevenantRevenant was the most intense experience I've ever been given by a movie. As perhaps his last chance for an Oscar, Leonardo DiCaprio put his heart and soul into the story of fronteersman Hugh Glass, and his dedication to the film was more than apparent for the entire movie. Due to his injuries, Glass was unable to speak for much of the run time, and this forced DiCaprio to act through facial expressions of emotion and guttural sounds, until you can't help but feel the pain that Glass went through. Tom Hardy's performance cannot be understated either: Hardy once again produced an original, fully fleshed character for me to get lost in. Domhnall Gleeson (who had a great year) also appeared as Captain Andrew Henry. The Revenant may be DiCaprio's best work, and is without a doubt a must see for 2015. 1: Star Wars: the force awakensThe most anticipated movie in living memory, Star Wars Episode VII smashed box office records, bringing in 822 million dollars domestically, in what was without a doubt the biggest event movie ever.
J.J. Abrams had a lot riding on this movie, and he pulled it off in a big way. Through use of practical effects, Abrams captured the spirit of the originally trilogy while at the same time adding the same modern touch he gave to Star Trek. The Force Unleashed a whole new cast of characters I can get behind (Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, Daisy Ridely as Rey, Oscar Issac as Po Dameron, and Domhnall Gleeson as General Hux), reintroduced the old cast (Mark Hamill, Carry Fisher, Harrison Ford), and set up a new trilogy that I, and the rest of the world, am looking forward to.
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AuthorLuke Kelly is a senior at Wamogo Regional High School. He created his first blog when he found out it would be a graded assignment in his Journalism class, and he doesn't know why he bothered with an "about me" section. Archives
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