Geekscape’s Favorite Things Of 2015: Movies
Can you believe that 2015 is coming to a close? In just a couple of days, we’ll abolish that dreaded five for ten more years, and a cool, clean, sexy six will take its place.
2015 has been an incredible year for all forms of media, so as always, we rounded up our ever-growing pool of writers to share their favorite things of 2015. Yesterday, we published the list of our favourite video games of 2015, and next up, Movies!
Take a look at everyone’s top 10, top 5, or favourite film altogether, and be sure to let us know yours in the comment section below!
David Traverso
#1. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
Typically we have to wait until November and December to catch the best films the cinematic year has to offer. Yet, 2015’s finest entry, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, came straight out of the Sundance Film Festival in January and reached theaters nationwide by summertime. The emotional coming-of-age story follows a high school loner (Thomas Mann) who forms an unlikely bond with a female classmate (Olivia Cooke) recently diagnosed with cancer. Superb performances, well-timed humor and excellent direction each help in transcending the film far beyond its all too familiar premise.
#2. Room
Lenny Abrahamson’s unforgettable drama is one that will stick with you long after the credits roll. Brie Larson has emerged as the Oscar frontrunner in the Best Actress category for her soulful performance as a young female sex slave being held captive in a 10 foot by 10 foot room. After years of abuse she finally gives birth to her captor’s son (Jacob Tremblay), and she must raise him in this sheltered environment where “room” becomes the only world he’s ever known. Room is a thought provoking and emotional roller coaster that consumes your attention from start to finish.
https://youtu.be/mQpnyb3k3Eg
During my film-watching journey at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, while everyone clamored for the Best Picture nominee, Whiplash, I threw my support into a much different corner. Infinitely Polar Bear tells a more light-hearted side of a bi-polar father, Cam Stuart (Mark Ruffalo), who’s struggling to keep both his employment and his family. After separating from his wife (Zoe Saldana), a rare opportunity allows her to venture from Boston to New York in order to attend graduate school. In the meantime, an unstable Cam is left to care for their two young daughters. This Mr. Mom comedy is a heartfelt and hilarious film that recently shocked the industry after Ruffalo landed an unexpected Golden Globe nomination for his impressive onscreen work.
#4. Spotlight
Although it’s been a tempered cinematic year, Tom McCarthy’s gripping true story drama, Spotlight, has solidified itself as a Best Picture juggernaut. Set during the early 2000s, the film follows The Boston Globe’s investigative reporting team (known as “Spotlight”) and its diligent efforts to expose the Catholic church’s massive child abuse scandal and cover-up. There are a plethora of strong characters and fine performances scattered throughout the film’s lengthy unveiling of the truth. Any other year Spotlight may feel like a watered down choice for Best Picture, but it’s one of the 2015’s finest offerings.
#5. The Revenant
With all eyes on Leonardo DiCaprio’s desperate quest for Oscar immortality, The Revenant has evolved into the year’s most mysterious selection. Thankfully, I was able to catch a screening early in December and can confirm that it’s an impressive feat of filmmaking. Oscar winning director, Alejandro G. Inarritu, does a remarkable job of placing you into the time and setting of 1820s frontier life where Leo stars as famed explorer, Hugh Glass, who is left for dead by a member of his expedition team (Tom Hardy) after a violent grisly attack. Yet, rather than die peacefully, Glass fights to survive harsh winter conditions until he regains enough strength to seek vengeance on his nemesis. It’s a lengthy and brutally violent affair, but certainly worth the investment.
#6. Brooklyn
It may be hard to believe, but behind this macho exterior is a big softy. Therefore, you shouldn’t be surprised to see John Crowley’s charming love story, Brooklyn, nestled comfortably on my top 10 list. Saoirse Ronan will almost assuredly find her way into the Best Actress race for her portrayal of Eilis, a young Irish immigrant who leaves her mother and sister behind as she ventures to the U.S. during the 1950s in hopes of a better life. Homesickness becomes nearly unbearable for her until she meets an Italian plumber named Tony (Emory Cohen). But despite their natural chemistry and affection for one another, their relationship is put to the test when Eilis unexpectedly must return to Ireland. There’s no shortage of laughs in this otherwise crowd-pleasing romantic drama.
#7. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Anticipation was certainly high for J.J. Abrams’ first shot at the iconic Star Wars franchise. The Force Awakens didn’t disappoint as the 500+ day countdown until Episode VIII is already in motion. Yes, there were a large number of similarities between A New Hope and the latest entry, but Abrams does a spectacular job of using this familiarity to his advantage all while branding a fresh new set of characters to take over the saga. The Force Awakens is a wonderful transitional film that sets up its next installment very well. Now, if only Abrams would climb back into the director’s chair for another go-around, all fears would easily subside.
There’s something profound and existential about James Ponsoldt’s masterful 2015 work, The End of the Tour. As a fan or his entire filmography, this title manages to elevate the collection even further. The film centers around Rolling Stone Magazine interviewer, David Lipsky (Jesse Eisenberg), on a five-day road trip with American author, David Foster Wallace (Jason Segel), during the closing parts of his book tour for the acclaimed novel, “Infinite Jest”. This dialogue-heavy journey forms a very personal and insightful connection with the viewer, clearly labeling The End of the Tour as a thinking man’s movie. Jason Segel’s turn is the finest work of his career and a performance that has been unjustly omitted from the awards season discussion.
Despite my minimal interest in seeing the film, I was pleasantly surprised to discover one of the year’s most entertaining movie experiences. Set during the height of the 1960s Cold War with Russia, news of a criminal organization with plans of mass producing nuclear weapons forms the unlikeliest of duos comprised of American CIA agent, Napolean Solo (Henry Cavill), and a Russian KGB operative (Armie Hammer). Supporting star, Alicia Vikander, has had herself quite a year with other major releases, The Danish Girl and Ex-Machina, to add to her profile of work. Together, this trio of stars lead an action-packed and fun-filled secret mission that plays wonderfully as both a spy film and a comedy wrapped beautifully into one magnificent package.
#10. The Hateful Eight
When it comes to unique storytelling and dialogue unlike any other, Quentin Tarantino is your guy. Those shining attributes continue to exist in his latest Western, The Hateful Eight. I’ve always been a fan of plays and Tarantino stages his film in such a framework. This long-winded three hour affair is separated by a perfectly-timed intermission that also serves as a sturdy divide between the film’s vastly different halves. A wordy introduction to a collection of untrustworthy characters snowed in together during a blizzard, eventually culminates in typical Tarantino fashion as a visceral and bloody showdown that refuses to hold back. Although I would still admit a preference to Django Unchained, The Hateful Eight is a very strong and worthy film in its own right.
https://youtu.be/gnRbXn4-Yis
Honorable Mentions: The Gift, The Martian, 99 Homes and Kilo Two Bravo
Jonathan London
Looking back at my past years’ selections for Favorite Movies of the year and comparing it to 2015, this is for sure my most Geekscape-friendly year of all. Almost every title on the list is a sci-fi, superhero or genre picture! But still, looking at the list, I’ll argue that there’s a good range of differences between them, from Documentary to Animation to Sports to Live Action Thriller. And of course, you’ve got the Star Wars. Thanks for coming back to us, Star Wars!
10. The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Did any of you even see this movie? If not, you absolutely missed out as it was some of the most fun that I had in the theater in 2015. This is one of my favorite Guy Ritchie movies and he nails the pop-energy, dialogue, wit and charm of the 1960s spy film while cranking the whole genre to 11. From the opening sequence in East Berlin to the multiple twists and turns of the character and plot machinations, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. was a complete surprise. It’s a shame that audiences didn’t turn out for it as it not only set up for a sequel but promised to take things to a whole new level with it. This is going to be a fun movie to re-watch (second only to the energy of Mad Max: Fury Road on the Zip Pop Editing And Crazy Camera Moves Scale) and it also contains my favorite interrogation scene in recent memory (you’ll know it when you see it… and you will laugh your ass off, you twisted, twisted puppy, you).
9…? – The Death of Superman Lives: What Happened? / The Toy Masters
Hmm… two genre fan documentaries made out of sheer love and ceaseless curiosity… and I have them TIED FOR 9TH. No… maybe one of these is 9th and one of these is 10th. I just can’t decide which because they both do an incredible job of answering questions about topics I love that I never knew that my fandom was even asking! Jon Schnepp’s The Death of Superman Lives: What Happened? is fantastic… potentially the best fan documentary I’ve ever seen. The interviews and revelations in this film about Tim Burton’s deceased late-90s Superman movie are equal measures damning and illuminating. Even as you see the events that lead to its slow and ultimate destruction you’ll be beside yourself wishing that you could watch even 10 seconds of it on screen. This is the closest you are ever going to get and it is more satisfying than you’d ever imagined. The Toy Masters hit me right out of left field. This chronicling of the creation, success and legacy of the He-Man toy and cartoon property might be the most fascinating movie that I saw this year. It focuses on the men, corporations and ideas that gave birth to basically our entire childhood. As a study on ego and delusion, some of the moments within are hard to watch, as several creators vie for authorship of the popular toy character. As a celebration of everything that we loved as kids it exceeds in large amounts, blasting a light on the process of creation on a corporate level and how art, commerce and imagination sometimes meet at just the right time to catch lightning in a bottle… But when the bottle is mishandled the things that spill out of it can shape people’s lives for decades. Very, very amazing documentary storytelling.
https://youtu.be/_5Q1j0XJQPI
8. Inside Out
So Bing Bong might be the single best characters introduced on film in the last 10 years. Yes, Inside Out is a very, very good movie, but it didn’t totally rank as one of my favorite Pixar films. Is it very impressive? Of course! These guys are at the top of their game! The story is tight, the performances and animation are top notch. Really, Inside Out deserves to be on this list just for the continued achievement that it is, maintaining the Pixar standard of quality storytelling! But that character Bing Bong, at one moment making me cry from laughter and the next putting a pin to the balloon of my emotions… Wow. What an incredibly dynamic and amazing creation. Congrats, Pixar, on another trophy from the fans to you!
7. Tomorrowland
Guys, I loved it. From opening scene to the final, rapid action sequence, I fell hard for Brad Bird’s Ode to Positive Thinking. I found it beautiful and flawed in a way that some might have found it preachy and clunky… because the hooks were already in me from the get go. I wanted to love this movie and I did. It’s fun, has a message that we obviously have not heard enough of (even if you thought it beaned you over the head with it… um, that means it hasn’t worked on you yet) and the journey of George Clooney’s Frank Walker might be my favorite character progression of the year. If there’s any flaw in Tomorrowland’s construction, it’s that the protagonist Casey Newton is the same go-for-broke optimist and positive instigator on upon meeting her that she is when the end credits hit. She’s a singular force pointed forward throughout the film. Frank, on the other hand, goes from child to adult and takes us on an incredible voyage of heart break and redemption along the way. If I’m in the minority on this one then I am okay with it. I’ll have the ride all to myself!
6. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Um… after The Prequels I never thought this movie was going to happen. And then it did. And despite all of the smug reservations about plot similarities and cow-towing to fan service, it was awesome. And it was undeniably Star Wars in a way that we hadn’t seen since Return of the Jedi.. You want more thoughts? Here’s an hours worth between Ian Kerner and I on the podcast.
5. Ant-Man
Hell yes! Keep it weird, Marvel! And keep it funny! If there’s a positive side to the complaint that Marvel’s tent-pole films are getting bigger and more laborious (Avenger: Age of Ultron wasn’t exactly met with the same level of adulation that the first Avengers film was) it’s that Kevin Feige and company can take more risks… or at least what everyone else thinks of as risks! Fun, poppy movies like Guardians of the Galaxy and Ant-Man that explore the wider canvas of the Marvel mythos are what us hardcore, 4-color fans have been waiting for since the first Iron Man knocked it out of the park! And Ant-Man was not only Marvel’s funniest film yet but maybe its most surprising. Equal parts heart, humor and action, I’ve already got a place for it on my Blu-Ray shelf.
4. Sicario
This movie took me by surprise in the best way. I thought I’d seen all I could see with Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin playing gritty sides of the law in movies like Traffic, Savages and No Country For Old Men. But not only did they exceed all of those expectations but they did a fantastic supporting job in supporting Emily Blunt to the best role of her career. Denis Villeneuve gave me one of my favorite movies of 2013 with Prisoners and this study of the complexities of the U.S. Mexico border war gives him a much bigger canvas in which to tell a story (ie. some fantastic action sequences and thought provoking views of the U.S. military). But it never loses the personal feeling of loss and disorientation in our main character that made Prisoners so engaging.
3. Mad Max: Fury Road
The year of revisitations (and at it’s worst “regurgitations”) continues and until Creed entered the ring I didn’t think any movie was going to do it at the level that George Miller delivered with Mad Max: Fury Road. It’s a completely high-octane, breakneck thrill ride and it’s simple story leaves tons of room for Miller to go nuts with his 2000 A.D. style characters, insane action sequences and bold visual designs. This was the movie that really kickstarted the Summer and when the dust settled in August it had left all of the other movies way behind.
2. Creed
Wow. Ryan Coogler’s sophomore film packs more punch than the last few Rocky films combined! From the incredibly shot One Take Masters that bring you right into the ring to the dialogue to the respectfully disciplined and well written homages to the original Rocky films, this movie is above and beyond what any other franchise reinvigorating addition has to offer. Sylvester Stallone’s performance alone is enough to remind everybody that he came of age as an actor alongside the likes of Pacino and DeNiro and deserves to be thought of in the same way. Had he not gone all 80’s Action Hero and Expendable, whose to say what incredible performances we would have witnessed? I’m thankful to have gotten this one and can’t wait to see it again.
1. Ex Machina
As the months went on, Alex Garland’s sci-fi masterpiece about the dangers of A.I. stuck with me. Incredibly well written, directed and put together, there are so many pieces to it that struck a chord and kept me engaged. Oscar Isaac and Domhnall Gleeson have rarely been better but newcomer Alicia Vikander owns every frame she’s in as the robotic experiment that wants to be more than just the sum of her parts. This movie is as thought provoking and horrifying as it is entertaining.
Daniel Campozano
5. Beasts Of No Nation
Netflix’s first forray into original films started off on the right foot. Following the story of a child, forced to join a rebel force after his family and village is decimated caused by a civil war. The film has already garnered Idres Elba a Golden Globe nomination for his role as the Commandant.
4. Mad Max: Fury Road
TONIGHT WE DINE IN THE HALLS OF VALHALLA! The film that wasnt really on my radar. I went on a whim with my brother in law to a midnight showing and boy was i pleasantly surprised at how awesome this film was. Furiosa portrayed by Charlize Theron stole the film as the strong female lead. Tom Hardy was almost secondary to her as they battled Immortan, racing to the green lands.
3. Inside Out
A film that has you running through a gamut of emtions. I sat there reflecting on myself as young child and that of my daughters. Questioning my response to whenever my daughter over reacted to simple situations. Bing Bong. Bing Bong.
2. Ant-Man
This movie was so much fun and and had so much heart that it easily became one of my favorites of the MCU. The highlight of the film was definetly Michael Peña he lieterally stole any scene he was in. I was glad to see that Marvel had invested in a sequel and integrating Ant-Man into the rest of the MCU starting with the upcoming Captain America: Civil War.
1. Star Wars The Force Awakens
This movie accomplished something that most films can’t and that’s live up to the massive hype. The casting was spot on the actors really knocked out of the park. Oscar Isaac as Poe was easily my favorite character he just oozing with charisma. It’s a fantastic start for the trilogy to come.
Gabriel von Grünbaum
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Well, duh! Such an excellent return to form for the franchise. With so much at stake, J.J. Abrams managed to balance every element needed to make the film work while comfortably laying the groundwork and set up for all the expansion of the galaxy far far away to come. Combined with solid writing, performances and production across the board—everything that went into the film so wonderfully well is as awesome as the story itself.
Krampus
This freakin’ movie comes up out of nowhere and runs off with my heart! Rarely have I felt so charmed by a movie. This exists in the rarefied air of the “delightful horror” movie—that it’s Christmas themed makes it all the more effective. Really, the closest comparison that could be made is Gremlins, another delightful horror that takes place at Christmas. Who knew there could be two distinctly wonderful treats made with so many of the same ingredients?—and then one is gingerbread and the other is chocolate chip! What I’m trying to say is, gobble up Krampus as soon as you can, it satisfies a hunger you may not even realize you have.
Mad Max: Fury Road
A balls to the wall action poem! A diesel fueled opera explosion of fire and survival. If you have yet to shove this deep into your eye sockets you need to reevaluate your life choices. It’s not unlike what NASCAR might be if there was no track to circle, the object was to blow up the competition and all the drivers were from Cirque du Soleil with a death wish.
The Martian
I love the whole story of this story: guy self-publishes his novel, novel sells so well that it gets picked up by a big publishing house, film rights end up in the hands of Ridley-Freakin’-Scott, who goes on to make a fantastic Oscar-worthy film with a top notch cast! Amazing! It’s funny. It’s moving. It’s thrilling. “Get your ass to Mars” for this winner, if you haven’t already.
Jurassic World / Ant-Man and Avengers: Age of Ultron
I’m going to give these a three-way tie for the final spot on this list. This is not a bad thing. I think these films were very successfully in different aspects respectively. Jurassic World was a visual feast! Ant-Man was amusing and accessible! Age of Ultron kept all the various threads of Marvel’s Cinematic Universe connected while dishing up the action! I think I was just hoping to feel and connect a bit more with these than I did—maybe that’s on me? Bottom line, each one is a shouldn’t miss.
Also…
Whereas, I missed a lot in theaters this year so I’m still hoping to enjoy Ex Machina, What We Do in the Shadows, Kingsman: The Secret Service, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl and Age of Adaline. In the next few weeks I’m pretty sure that I’ll be adding Joy and The Hateful Eight to my favorites list.
Derek Kraneveldt
Room
I don’t really have words to describe just how Room made me feel.
I went into the film as a Brie Larson fan with limited knowledge of the feature, aside from the universal acclaim that the film had been receiving since its TIFF debut.
Really, I don’t want to get into it. This is an unbelievably powerful film, and said power was amplified by the fact that I had no idea what was coming. This was a career-defining performance for Larson, and I really cannot wait to see the opportunities that appear for her from this point forward. Don’t even get me started on little Jacob Tremblay. That kid is AAA star material, no freaking doubt. I absolutely could not believe the incredible range of emotion coming from such a tiny human.
Room is one of the most emotional, affecting films that I’ve seen in my 25 years on this Earth, and if I have just one tip for potential viewers, it’s to not have anything fun planned after you see this movie, because it’s going to shatter your whole heart.
I’m tearing up just thinking about it. What a freaking film.
Crimson Peak
If we had a list for ‘most breathtakingly gorgeous films of 2015’, there’s no doubt in my mind that Crimson Peak would find itself the winner of that category.
Crimson Peak is an impressive tale of gothic romance that was far too overlooked by moviegoing crowds this Fall. Sure, it fared okay at the box office, but due to a disappointing marketing machine and trailers that made it look more like a B-grade horror flick than anything that would bear Del Toro’s celebrated name, this film did not get the recognition that it deserved. It’s almost as though general audiences took the ‘Beware of Crimson Peak’ mantra to heart, and simply avoided this incredible feature.
From the moment that I met with Del Toro a couple of years back at SDCC, and had him explain to me the intricate beauty of the house (right down to the hidden messages in its wallpaper, and the haunting shape of its ceilings), its characters, and more, I knew that I was in for a treat. Then I waited for what felt like forever, and I was not disappointed with the outcome.
Mia Wasikowska was an absolute standout of this star-studded cast, and I cannot wait to see where Hollywood takes her next. Hopefully Crimson Peak gets the viewership that it’s meant for when its feature-laden Blu-Ray drops in February. I implore you to give this one a shot (or ten).
Mad Max: Fury Road
Yep, the above film (Crimson Peak) was the most beautiful film that I saw in 2015, but Mad Max: Fury Road wasn’t far from it. The conversation-worthy practical effects and incredibly realized world had my jaw on the floor throughout Fury Road‘s not-long-enough 2 hour runtime (I was absolutely desperate for more as soon as the credits began to roll).
Seriously, it’s not often that a film comes around that reminds us what movies used to look like (Evil Dead is the last one that I can recall), and Mad Max: Fury Road is an absolute assault on all of your senses (in a good way). Every beautifully photographed and coloured action scene in the film is infinitely rewatchable, and the movie slows down at just the right moments, and just long enough for you to catch your breath.
This was the most technically impressive movie that I saw this year, and it was also one of the best. George Miller, please, please don’t make us wait so long for a sequel (and please give us more Furiosa).
Inside Out
Pixar knows, better than any other studio, how to make a grown man cry. That said, I don’t know if I’ve every cried during a film as much as I have in Inside Out. They’ve absolutely perfected the tear-inducing formula, and now I’m completely terrified to see what they do next.
You’re watching a little girl grow up, and her confused, changing emotions figure out how to balance themselves, and it’s absolutely impossible not to reflect on your own adolescence and relationships.
Learning to adapt, to let go, and to remember what’s important. It’s all in here, and offers one of the most important messages that Pixar has ever made us adults think about. Inside Out is truly Pixar at its best, even though I don’t think that Riley is old enough to be dating just yet.
I’m getting all tingly just *thinking about the film. It’s that powerful.
https://youtu.be/zkBSRadEv8A
Ex Machina
What an incredibly impressive directorial debut.
It’s difficult to speak about Ex Machina without potentially ruining some of the intense edge-of-your-seat questions that you’ll constantly and consistently ask through its duration.
Oscar Isaac’s (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) Nathan hires Domhnall Gleeson’s (yep, also from The Force Awakens) Caleb to perform a Turing test on a new model of AI he’s developed, Alicia Vikander’s Ava. Nathan’s mysterious as hell, and it’s not long before Caleb begins to question everything. Although they also have a fantastic bromance to start.
It’s the most though-provoking sci-fi film that I’ve seen in as long as I can remember, and Ex Machina has begun a myriad of intense conversations between my fiance and myself since we first saw the film back in April.
Garland has crafted a gorgeous, smart, and terrifying film that feels a little too real for comfort, and paired with its phenomenal performances, Ex Machina has skyrocketed to become one of my favourite films of all time.
Run and see it, now, and then keep running, because something like this is probably going to happen for real (if it hasn’t already).
Honorable Mentions: It Follows, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Creed
Karson Braaten
When it comes to movies, this year was strange for me. Movies that I looked forward to like The Peanuts Movie and Sinister 2 let me down more than I could imagine. Then highly anticipated summer blockbusters like Jurassic World and Mad Max: Fury Road I have yet to see. Then just like every year, movies that are on my best of year radar like The Hateful Eight and Creed I haven’t had an opportunity to watch. That said, I have been able to come up with five movies that, in no particular order, I can proudly (well mostly) call my top five movies of 2015! … I’d like to replace one of the horror movies with Creed and maybe even Me And Earl And The Dying Girl but, hey, I haven’t seen them yet. So without further ado, my top five-ish movies of 2015!
It Follows
After hearing the premise of It Follows, I was sold on it. Basically, there is a curse going around where if you sleep with someone who is infected you end up getting stalked by a scary-ass demon that slowly walks, and only walks, towards you. If it ever gets to you, it kills you. It can take the form of a scary old people, someone, you know, a child, anything. This movie builds tension throughout and has a few nice jump scares as well. It takes a bit of a tumble near the end when things start playing out differently than I had hoped.
The Babadook
Speaking of movies whose ending didn’t live up to their beginnings, The Babadook was shaping up to be my new favorite horror movie of all time until it took a turn right around the third act that didn’t work for me. I understand the reasoning for it but what The Babadook went on to explore was something I wish would have happened in a different movie. The first half of it had me squirming in my seat more than any other movie this year or maybe even in my life, but the last half fell flat.
The Visit
Alright, I admit, this list is a little horror heavy but like I said I haven’t had a chance to see a lot of my “Best of…” contenders! Perhaps it’s lazy, but I think I judge M. Night Shyamalan’s movies on the quality of their twist; the twist is good, the movie usually is too, and damn did I love the twist in this movie! Along with the twist came great tension building, creepy ass dialogue, and plenty of jump scares! I know Shyamalan’s is a whole lot of miss and not a lot of hits, but he has himself a home run here!
Inside Out
I’m one of those guys who holds all Pixar movies near and dear to his heart, and Inside Out became one of my favorites. I had no idea how a movie that takes place inside the mind was going to work, but it exceeded all my expectations. I was thinking about this movie long after I finished watching it. The character development and writing was unreal! How sweet was Bing Bong!? Everything about it hit the mark for me. Perhaps my only complaint is that LAVA, the short that play in front of it, wasn’t their best offering.
https://youtu.be/7ZLOYXKmIkw
Meru
If you like your movie filled with “oh fuck” moments then Meru is for you. A documentary about a group of climbers who take on the challenge of climbing the technically challenging and dangerous mountain that makes climbing Everest seem like a breeze. The scenery shots in this are gorgeous. Not only does it do a great job of capturing all the majestic landscapes, but it also manages to capture some incredible and subtle character moments too. The characters face a handful of setbacks and have to battle many personal demons throughout the movie, many of which will leave your jaw on the floor. I cringed, I cried and left feeling uplifted and inspired. I can’t recommend this movie enough.
Natalie Kipper
Two things. One: I did not step into a movie theater once in 2015. I tend to prefer to watch movies in the comfort of my own home and if that means that I have to wait longer to view them, so be it. Two: I am not that big on movies in general. I am incredibly picky with what I will watch and it eventually leads to me re-watching older films that I know I like over and over.
I did eventually get a chance to view Disney-Pixar’s Inside Out and I must say, it was genuinely moving. The animation was beautiful as one would expect from the studios involved. The graphics weren’t what kept me watching however; it was the smart script. The writers did such a moving job of making each of the emotions’ actions and dialogue fit them. Their individual effects on Riley during the course of the girl’s life just seemed so real and relatable. It was brilliant. And can we talk about Bing Bong for a moment? Riley’s childhood imaginary friend was far and away my favorite character in the film. His design just spoke of youthful innocence and curiosity and I loved him for it. That is where Inside Out shines: the movie’s universe is at once realistic and fanciful.
Inside Out may have been the only movie I saw this year but I am glad I chose it over countless others. Disney and Pixar succeeded in making the film accessible to every age, with so many layers that every group got something slightly different out of viewing it.
Adam Lemuz
Best Movie of 2015: The Peanuts Movie
In today’s day and age of botched and unfaithful movie adaptions of licensed properties, it’s a pleasure and relief when something like The Peanuts Movie comes along. Released by Blue Sky Studios, the movie follows the life of Charlie Brown as he desperately tries to become a winner in order to impress the little red haired girl. While the movie at times can seem a bit simpler than some of the other Peanuts films, that doesn’t stop the movie from having an uplifting message as well as some beautiful backdrops and animation. If you’ve already filled your quota of watching Star Wars 7, then buy a ticket to The Peanuts Movie and give it a watch. I guarantee that you won’t be disappointed with it.
What was your favourite film of 2015? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!
