The Best Movies of 2015 (with reviews + scores)

I'm struggling to think of words to accurately describe how I feel about this movie.

I honestly have no idea what to say. The writing was absolutely impeccable. The performances were beyond comprehensive magnificence. The editing, direction, and score were perfect.

The opening thirty minutes to this film is perhaps the best thirty opening minutes to any film I've ever seen. Not only is each and every line beautifully constructed and written with meaning but the way the lines themselves are delivered is jaw dropping. It's astonishing how intense, how brisk, how emotional every little detail is. I couldn't believe my eyes.

The film has one fault however. The ending. I'm not so sure what it was trying to say. It felt almost contradictory, but maybe that was the point. The ending was satisfying for me but it's definitely the weakest point of the movie.

9.0/10

Let me put this as bluntly as I can: Mad Max: Fury Road is the best action film ever made in the history of cinema.

Forget that the action is all done with mind-blowing practical effects (my friend couldn't even believe me when I told him that after the film was over) but the actual storytelling was excellent! The plot was simple but it's the way that it was told that made it so amazing. Even the characters themselves have a lot of subtle and great development that bring a human touch to a world so full of insanity.

Regarding the action scenes, one review put it perfectly: "The first car chase in MM: FR is the best in movie history but the worst one of the film." That pretty much sums up the rest of the movie.

The opening shot to the film is the best opening shot to a movie this year, without question. It isn't grandiose like the Avenger's opening tracking shot but it's so gorgeous too look at I wanted to pause it in the theater just to admire it. George Miller knows how to frame a shot.

9.0/10

Action movies are slowly making a come back...first the Raid films, then John Wick and Kingsman, and now this. Please keep it up Hollywood! No more CGI fests like F7!

If I were to describe Creed in one word it would be 'beautiful.' I can not express how impressed I was with every aspect of this movie. The first thing to know, however, is that this is NOT a boxing or sports movie. It's a movie about two people and their fight to do what they think is right. I really can't find any flaws other than occasional boxing cliches that in the end don't even matter because of how well the story is told; even the audience members in the theater clapped, cheered and gasped throughout the film

The cinematography and sound editing blew me away. There is a particular shot about half way through the film that is still making me think about how they pulled it off. This film definitely deserves multiple technical nominations this year.

9.0/10

The is the best shot film I have ever laid my eyes on. Every -- Single -- Shot is gorgeous beyond words. It gets to the point where it is distracting. There are multiple long takes throughout the film and every time I thought for sure they wouldn't be able to top themselves with each one but they did. I truly can not fathom how this film was shot in all natural lighting; the shots are so complex and detailed it boggles the mind.

Going into film, the less you know the better. The plot is very simple and even knowing a little could spoil a lot. However, a simple plot does not equal and thin or bad plot. Similar to Mad Max: Fury Road, the Revenant successfully manages to tell a layered and emotional story through its masterful visuals and breathtaking music. The achievement is absolutely astounding and should not be missed by anyone who enjoys movies.

There is one scene near the beginning of the film that had me gaping stupidly in awe at the screen. I won't spoil what happens, but there's a long take that lasts about 5 minutes and before today, I thought it to be impossible what they managed to pull off.

9.0/10

This is one of those films that won't become appreciated for a few years. There is nothing Hollywood about this movie. It's void of most cliches, is engrossing, and incredibly suspenseful. This is true horror and never relies on violence or gore for shock effect. Joel Edgerton's screenplay and direction are fantastic right from the opening frames of the movie.

DO NOT read or watch anything regarding the plot to this movie. The trailer actually did a good job in telling nothing about the movie at all and really only showed scenes from the beginning.

8.5/10

The first two words that came out of my mouth after finishing *Faults* was "holy *beep*" The film is expertly crafted with complex visuals and excellent performances. The dialogue is razor sharp and features psychological and philosophical debates that are easy to get interested in without feeling forced. The screenplay is a little all over the place, at times being a slightly unfocused, but it all builds toward an incredibly suspenseful finale after a plot of twists and turns that some may find predictable (I didn't) albeit a worthwhile journey that you won't stop thinking about.

8.5/10.

Perhaps this film's biggest issue is its pacing and length at two hours and 17 minutes. A film's length must be justified in the content shown but unfortunately this feels more like a director's cut rather than 'theatrical cut.' But maybe that's the point, considering it's a Netflix exclusive with minimal theater release.

First off, the film is shot *gorgeously* with a lot of experimenting done with the saturation and hues of the colors. There are also multiple "hidden" long takes that are nearly as impressive as the one in the first season of True Detective, also directed by Fukunaga.

Idris Elba gives a great and subtle performance as usual but the real star here is Abraham Attah doing unbelievable work not just for child actors but actors in general. The amount of pain he's effortlessly able to express with only his eyes is astounding. Overall, the acting throughout the movie from everyone almost makes this feel more like a documentary due to how real everything feels. This is exemplified by the sets and battle sequences that use minimal special effects to create an environment that feels real and tangible.

As for the story it really isn't anything we haven't seen before in film, especially if you've seen City of God. Take note, City of God and Beasts of No Nation may be similar in theme and story, but the tones and style are completely different with each one being unique in its own way (I greatly prefer the deep emotional connection I got from Agu in Beasts over the distracting shaky cam in City).

Overall, Beasts of No Nation is an excellent film that at times can be hard to watch (in a good way?). It isn't overly gory and bloody but its subject theme is highly disturbing and the development of Agu slowing becoming accustomed to war is truly riveting and emotional. The final ten minutes completely relies on Abraham Attah's performance and he makes it some of the best film making of the year.

8.5/10

Huh. And I thought John Wick was going to be the best Hollywood action movie for at least a few more years. Kingsman was hilarious, although not in a typical manner. Its dark comedy and satire makes it stand apart from other typical action films (and just films in general) to release in past years. That being said, the actual action does not disappoint. It's both creative and genius while being thoroughly entertaining. The now infamous church scene tops anything in John Wick (trust me, that is saying an awful lot) and is so over the top awesome you'll be smiling the whole time, as you probably will throughout the entire movie.

8.0/10

A familiar plot but with hilarious characters and an emotionally touching story about teen life and the confusion that comes with it. The cinematography and soundtrack are also excellent and add a nice feeling and look to the film.

8.0/10

After a slow and overly long beginning, the Hateful Eight kicks into sixth gear by the second act and doesn't let up. The final hour of this movie is pure Tarantino -- and it is glorious. The less you know about this movie, the better. The acting is expectedly spectacular with each performer giving some of the best work in their careers. The stand out for me was Jennifer Jason-Leigh. My god what a performance.

8.5/10

If I had only one word to describe this film it would be 'unnerving.' The entire movie has this certain eeriness and tense foreboding that makes you uncomfortable. The acting all around is pretty good but it's Alicia Vikander who is truly remarkable as Ava, the AI robot. First time director Alex Garland makes it look effortless and his script is just as good. This is hard science-fiction and it really makes you think. It doesn't delve into familiar territory like you'd expect but instead takes you down an unfamiliar path that keeps you guessing.

The only downfall of the film, in my opinion, is the ending which feels unsatisfying. There's probably a lot who disagree with me and it was by no means bad it was just, by comparison to everything that came before it, underwhelming.

The film also features some great cinematography and set design, contrasting the sleek, modern, and high tech house with the green and calm of nature. It's very well done.

8.0/10

I don't remember a time when a movie was able to "blow my mind" in the way Predestination has. In fact, I don't think I've ever been this dumbfounded from any narrative in any form of storytelling. The plot is so incredibly unconventional in almost every way and kept me riveted the entire time, my eyes glued to the screen.

The acting is very good all around with Ethan Hawke delivering yet another great performance but the real star is Sarah Snook who gives such a varied and rounded performance it could've been Oscar worthy (oh well). The direction is extremely tight as is the screenplay. The score and cinematography shine as well and enhance every shot.

8.0/10

Denis Villeneuve has more than proved himself a capable filmmaker with his work on Incendies, Prisoners, and Enemy. Sicario, his fourth film, is admittedly his weakest and most flawed but at the same time his most beautiful. The film is shot gorgeously -- best cinematography this year will be between this and the Revenant. This is Roger Deakin's best work since No Country For Old Men.

Villeneuve's films always explore dark places of humanity and the corners of right and wrong and Sicario takes that to extremes with brutal imagery and realistic and honest violence supported by marvelous performances by Emily Blunt and Benicio del Toro.

The opening and ending to this film are great and very intense. The middle of the film is very slow, however, and I feel that the script could've been edited down to keep the plot moving. It's not that it was bad it's just that it seemed as though Villeneuve wanted to show things that weren't really that important to the characters or the plot. The film could've been 15 minutes shorter in my opinion.

8.0/10

My first viewing of Star Wars on Thursday night in a jam packed IMAX theater left me a bit disappointed. Yes, the cinematography, editing, and special effects are all masterclass and left me gaping at the screen multiple times however, the plot was seemingly boring and very unnecessary. I kept wondering why this movie was even made. Nothing really happened that we hadn't seen before.

But the more I thought about it the more I appreciated the story and characters. The more I realized that Star Wars was never really about intricate plots and deep storytelling (save for Episode 5) but was more about creating a window to a universe so full of creativity and bursting with imagination. On my second viewing I loved the film. It is the definition of movie magic. You feel like a little kid watching this movie, staring up at the screen in awe and wonder about how they did that or what's going to happen next or cheering the characters on or laughing and crying with them.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens may not be the storytelling marvel I was hoping it would be, but it is the reason movies are made: to create an escape from out own boring lives to something far more interesting that we all live in and share together.

8.0/10

The End of the Tour is not a movie for everyone. Not only is it dialogue driven and very slow paced (which is intentional) but it discusses topics of interest that I believe many to find uncomfortable. The script attempts to examine the way we live in a technology driven society and how that affects our capability to tell the difference between when something is real and when something is false. The script is fantastic and allows Jessie Eisenberg and Jason Segel to give fantastic performances under focused direction by James Ponsoldt, director of the Spectacular Now.

My main issue with this movie is in the set design. The film takes place in the 90s yet there's 2015 models of cars littering parking lots and streets. It's a small issue, yes, but it detracts from the atmosphere of the story.

Overall, if you enjoy philosophical driven dialogue between two people then you'll enjoy this film.

8.0/10.

I'm torn between which M:I film is my favorite. I like them all equally (the second one doesn't exist in my mind, sorry). The stunts in this film are made excellent due to the simple fact that Cruise himself is doing all the work without stuntman. The man in a daredevil.

I will say that while M:I3 and Ghost Protocol were huge in scale this was much more held back and personal. The finale isn't what you'd expect which isn't a bad thing. Just don't expect "hats off action" like the last two films and it's a breath of fresh air!

8.0/10

Highly original, highly entertaining, and overall just a lot of fun to watch. Visually, the movie was spectacular and extremely creative. The CGI was very well implemented with the sets and the acting was great as well!

8.0/10

There really isn't anything negative to say about this movie. There isn't one boring moment and the plot explodes at rapid fire without letting up. The special effects are gleefully over the top and genuinely both hilarious and awesome at once. You could sense the great pride and attention that went into making this film! Can't wait for the sequel!

8.0/10

I was weary going into this film. There was next to no info about it online and was only available on Netflix (as far as I was aware anyway) so I was hesitant to watch it. I kept my expectations in check and expected cringe dialogue and acting with some interesting ideas. However, while some of the acting could be better and there are some lines of dialogue that are lame but overall the film is excellent and features an incredibly interesting examination of human nature. I highly recommend putting this film in your watchlist.

8.0/10

A great little film with a running time for an hour and sixteen minutes that manages to tell a simple story about some interesting characters in situations we've seen before. While the overall story is slightly cliched, the rest of the film makes up for it. The acting is great all around and I really enjoyed the color palette used.

Overall, I'd say it's definitely something I'd recommend but it's easily understandable why someone might not enjoy it.

8.0/10

7.5/10

7.5/10

Weak and uninspired writing has absolutely no effect on Gyllenhaal's fantastic and emotionally draining performance. The man is one of the best working actors today; from Zodiac to Source Code and Prisoners to Nightcrawler, Gyllenhaal is building an incredibly resume of films and performances.

Aside from the writing, the movie holds up very well. The characters are brought to life by great acting from all around and the boxing scenes feel very immersive and brutal, bringing an intensity to heighten the stakes for the characters. The cinematography is pretty good and James Horner's final score is great; word has it he composed it for free. RIP.

Despite the weak writing the film is emotionally draining and Gyllenhaal's performance is downright crushing. Definitely worth a watch but don't pay full price for the ticket.

7.5/10

I saw this Thursday night before May 1st in a jam packed IMAX theater with some of my friends and, to be honest, I had a spectacular time. That being said, the film itself has essentially the same overall plot as the first film (and basically every MCU film thus far) but what we got was entertaining. The action itself was very well done and the cinematography is up there with the Dark Knight films and Man of Steel (those having the cinematography out of the superhero films, in my opinion). Even if the script was dull, the dialogue was perfect and really encompassed who these characters are at heart.

Where this film really faults is in its very thin narrative and all-over-the-place pacing. The nearly two and a half hour film flies by without notice BUT there are many subplots that aren't fully developed. The film almost feels incomplete.

Overall, while extremely enjoyable, the film suffers from the same exact problems the first film had. You know exactly how it will end and the narrative really just isn't that interesting.

That opening tracking shot though...it was just plain awesome and looked straight out of a comic book page!

7.5/10

This is classic horror film making. There were multiple times throughout the story that I felt legitimately uncomfortable and nervous. The characters are fun to watch and the setting/time period are very ambiguous, giving the film a sort of timeless feel. The third act of the film does lose a lot of steam, however, and I found myself getting slightly bored. The ending also didn't make any sense to me but I think I just need to rewatch it.

Also, a shout out to the fantastic score. Without it, the movie does not work.

7.5/10

It's too bad that the second half of this movie becomes a dull and predictable mess because the first half is genuinely great, filled with unique style that doesn't get old. Overall, the film definitely is worth the watch because even while the ending feels silly the journey is mostly exciting.

7.0/10

It's fun. It's got great action. It's funny and cool. It's smart, although maybe too smart for its own good. But what else could you ask for from a spy movie? While it doesn't bring anything new to the table it's definitely something easily watchable and enjoyable.

7.0/10

Victoria was a disappointing film for me. Yes, it does feature the astronomically difficult accomplishment of using one take (that lasts for nearly two and a half hours) and pulling it off. However, despite how impressive the film is from a technical standpoint, the plot is very boring and I found myself not really caring about any of the characters or what was happening. The first hour of the film is borderline dreadful. It felt more like a few drunk people decided to film themselves one night and never bothered to edit out the 'boring' bits. I'd say a third of this film consists of the camera operator following people to the next location of the film, aka the parts directors don't normally film because it's worthless information that isn't necessary. There was only one time throughout the whole film where the use of a one take shot was used excellently and that was about midway through.

Unfortunately, this film didn't live up to my moderately high expectations. But, I can't bring myself to give this movie less than a seven out of ten just because of how utterly impressive it is. Watch it for the cinematography but don't expect too much from the plot or story/characters.

7.0/10

The animation is what I've come to expect from Pixar. It isn't photo-realistic by any means but the attention to detail is astounding and gorgeous to look at. That being said, it doesn't entirely save this movie. While the main idea is far from original, the movie's plot is pretty entertaining (albeit being stupidly predictable) and the characters are fun to watch. But the whole message behind the film is kind of troubling, especially for young kids who believe anything they're told. The movie suggests that you're never in control of your own emotions and that you're never responsible for your actions.

I still enjoyed the movie, even if the so called emotional scenes had little effect on me due to the fact that I've seen the same thing countless times in other films and TV shows.

7.0/10

If you saw the trailer you saw the whole movie. The entire plot was stupidly predictable with boring characters and mediocre acting from everyone other than the leads. This wasn't a Jurassic Park movie; it was a monster movie -- and at that it worked pretty well. As much as the plot didn't make sense the dinosaur "villain" was actually pretty scary and made for some excellent action scenes. There's also about a 90 second tracking shot that makes use of a stationary camera that simply follows the action around.

Overall I enjoyed it and met my very low expectations.

6.5/10

It's curious to me how both M:I5 and Spectre have nearly the same plot, but whatever.

Casino Royale clearly still stands as the best Bond film. Spectre is all about spectacle and very little about narrative, which is fine, except when it's the last film in this chapter of the Bond continuation. The story here has a lot of potential -- so much so that you think there's no way the narrative could be boring. The film's script isn't bad, per say, but it's quite predictable. It's a shame, especially with how brilliant the movie is from a technical standpoint. The practical effects and stunts are phenomenal and easily rival M:I5 (which is high praise). The acting is also fantastic, especially Christoph Waltz who is absolutely marvelous (despite his incredibly weak character).

Overall, Spectre is very well worth seeing. Just don't expect anything particularity special from the story or characters.

6.5/10