2015 is coming to an end, but films will live on for the end of time. Or until Skynet comes back and wipes us all out.
If there’s one thing 2015 will be known for, it’ll be the revival of many loved film franchises. While Star Wars is currently the big talk right now, the summer was all about Jurassic World. And there’s also Mad Max which was criminally underseen. Don’t forget the Rocky franchise as well There was also an attempt at Terminator…but that’s not something we talk about. For every big revival, we were introduced to something original, something new and fresh. This truly was a special year for film, and that’s what makes choosing a top 10 all the more difficult. So, in no particular order (except for #1), here are the top movies of 2015, as well as a few that just missed the cut. Just a warning: there will be snubs. There’s no way to make a top list without snubs. Just no that if it pains you to see a favorite movie of yours missing, that it pains me even more to know I left it off the list. This really was an incredible year for film, but just no way to include everything.
Honorable Mentions
Trumbo: A true story led by the always impressive Bryan Cranston, it doesn’t quite make it’s mark against the industry that it could’ve but it’s worth the watch for the acting alone.
Beasts of No Nation: If you didn’t catch this in theaters…well that’s fine. Catch it on Netflix. A harrowing tale of a civil war ravaging an African town, a boy is taken and raised by a warlord. Idris Elba goes all out here and Abraham Attah will be a force if he continues a career in acting.
The Hateful Eight: Yes, this was one of my favorite Tarantino films. It’s full of wit, action, gore, sometimes it’s excessive but nevertheless it’s a good time. 2015 was just too good of a year for film and there’s just no place to put this in the top 10. Expect Jennifer Jason-Leigh to be given a whole lot of awards throughout the season.
Creed: Same as The Hateful Eight, 2015 was just really good for film. The Rocky franchise appears to be back, and Michael B. Jordan was the perfect choice to play the role of Adonis in the revival. But if anyone deserves some love, it’s Sylvester Stallone who gives the best performance of his career by far.
Ex Machina: People will point to The Danish Girl for Alicia Vikander’s nomination for Best Supporting Actor. That should not be the case. Ex Machina is one of the most underrated films of 2015 with amazing performances from the trio of Vikander, Oscar Isaac, and Domhnall Gleeson. As a whole, the movie should be recognized for many awards but its best chance is for Vikander, who is both stunning and terrifying.
