Top Ten Films 2015

Honorable Mentions
The Gift - A Hitchcockian thriller with a gut punch of an ending that will leave you thinking months later.
Inside Out - A hilarious and truly heartwarming/breaking tale of the way joy and sadness go hand in hand.
Amy - A documentary about the short life of Amy Winehouse who was crazy talented and lost too soon.

10. Creed - Sometimes nostalgia goes a long way, but you need more than just fond memories and an iconic character to make a story that truly matters. And Creed, the tale of the son of Adonis Creed training with his old frenemy Rocky Balboa, is more than just feel good nostalgia. It's a truly great movie, the tale of fathers and sons, underdogs, the love of a good woman, and the family we create for ourselves.

09. Mad Max: Fury Road - You won't find a more action packed movie anywhere this year, and you won't find a movie that is this fucking cool either. Sure, the plot is pretty stupid, but when the women are this bad ass,  the visuals this mind blowing and the creativity so off the charts cool, a silly thing like plot could fall to the way side.

08. Straight Outta Compton - This biopic traces the roots of the groundbreaking rap group N.W.A. From their rough teenage years, to their rise to fame, to the way jealousy and backstabbing tore them apart, this is the finest biopic in years. From the music, to the fantastic performances from a cast that is virtually unknown, Straight Outta Compton is not to be missed.

07. Steve Jobs - Sometimes making good movies is simple. Take a visionary director (Danny Boyle), add a thought provoking and perfect script (by Aaron Sorkin), mix in two Oscar worthy performances (Michael Fassbender and Kate Winslet) with a whole bunch of great supporting players and you've got yourself a damn good movie.

06. Spotlight - The true story of the group of journalists who broke the priest molestation scandal doesn't necessarily seem like a movie you will want to rush out and see. But it's a great film, filled with great performances and a great story that is as smart and interesting as it is disturbing.

05. Star Wars: The Force Awakens - It's fitting that Star Wars came out near Christmas this year since it had the ability to reduce adults to feeling like kids on Christmas morning. Episode 7 manages to feel fresh and nostalgic all at once with bad ass new heroines, charming rogue pilots, complex bad guys, and tons of familiar - and greatly missed - faces. Star Wars is epic and crowd pleasing, but more importantly, it's fun.

04. The Revenant - Yes, it's too long. Yes, the Native American spiritual aspect is a little much. But this is, technically, the best movie I saw in 2015. Director Alejandro Innaritu has made an epic, gorgeous revenge film, shot entirely with natural lighting. From the opening violent attack scene to the brutal, bloody finale, this movie which should FINALLY get Leo that Oscar, is a must see.

03. The Big Short - The smartest, funniest, weirdest movie of the year which also includes quotes from Mark Twain and pop star Selena Gomez explaining advanced economic principals, The Big Short is a rollicking, highly entertaining take on the mortgage crash of 2008. Featuring the years most stellar collective cast and a dazzling script, The Big Short is a surprising, complex masterpiece.

02. Ex Machina - Ex Machina is the smart, sexy Sci Fi movie you didn't know you needed in your life. Featuring a trio of top notch performances by a crazy talented cast who was EVERYWHERE this year, Ex Machina is a powerful, unforgettable experience. Come for the delightful mind games, stay for the random Oscar Isaac dance sequence.

01. Brooklyn - A profoundly special film, beautifully filmed with moving performances, Brooklyn is a perfect meditation on the notion of home and belonging. As heart-breakingly sad as it is joyously entertaining, Brooklyn is the rare movie with an epic, continent spanning scope that still manages to feel intimate.