The Witch (****1/2)

The Witch (VVitch) is one goddamned scary movie, and it's not because of cheap thrills and jump-cuts galore. This is a movie that buries itself deep into your psyche, slowly builds up as a monster movie as well as something along the lines of a psychological thriller. In an era when it seems like horror has little more to contribute, here comes a movie that packs a punch comparable to great modern films like The Babadook.

It's an undated time when America is barely colonized. A small family is banished from the city for religious betrayal or some such thing. It's hard to know for sure especially as the opening shot is of the magistrates of the town sentencing the family to leave at once. We see the reactions of the father's children. They are young, confused, willing to follow their parents and yet unsure of what the implications are. With little more than a wagon loaded, the family departs and sets up a small farm on the edge of a dark forest. Al is well.

If you have seen the trailer, you know the general feel of the film. What surprised me was how quickly the film jumped into the thick of the terror, as the infant baby is kidnapped before their oldest daughter's eyes. Perhaps it was a wolf, and through frantic searches, they give up hope as the baby is known to be dead by either animals or hunger. The next-youngest, a set of twins who playfully run throughout the farm, claim to know stories of 'the witch of the wood.' It's laughed off.

When I recall to mind great horror movies, I think of moments that catch you off guard, where you as an audience member are generally frightened for what is about to happen. These movies follow no cliched plotlines nor are they predictable by any means. In The Witch, I was led on a journey that was so terrifying if only because the audience knows something that the family does not: there is a witch, indeed.

Our first introduction to her is a scene so disturbing and eerie that my mouth hung open the entire scene. It's not long after the baby goes missing. There are a few shots as we see the witch mostly in shadows, as she goes about business that takes fear to a new level. The imagery coupled with some extremely Kubrick-ian music (think 2001: A Space Odyssey), this becomes a film so drenched with tone and darkness that it draws your attention even in the quietest of scenes.

I really don't want to say too much more about the story, except that the family grows to suspect the eldest daughter for a variety of coincidental reasons. Though we know there is a satanic force lurking in the trees, the majority of the films turns inward as we watch a family devoted to God unravel with suspicion and fear. It's a believable family, with the father a kind and compassionate man, his wife God-fearing and unhinged, and children that are raised to know little more than good versus evil and His Holy Word.

Robert Eggers directed and wrote the film in an astonishing debut as a filmmaker. There is a confidence in his style that already feels like it comes from a master. The performances he draws out of his small cast (especially the children) are remarkable, and at times this feels like a movie that is already a classic in the horror genre. My sole concerns (and deductions in the rating) come from the film's ending, one that feels cheap and unneeded for a movie so layered with style. It's a film that uses no special effects until the very last moments, and even then, was it really necessary? The final moments also contain a reveal that shows the truth hidden throughout the entire film, and even then, perhaps a bit of ambiguity wouldn't have hurt.

The Babadook. It Follows. The Witch. Year after year we have seen a select group of films that simply redefine psychological horror, and they are few and far between. The trailers beforehand included two or three movies billed as being scary yet appear to be little more than slasher films with buckets of gore and fake blood. When will filmmakers learn that it isn't blood that frightens an audience, it is the unknown. Do not miss this movie.

Deadpool (*1/2)

Deadpool comes from a place rooted in Marvel-mania and geekdom. The entire premise seems like one born from the want of fans to have it so, and in fact much of the content of the movie suggests it by winking at the camera at every possible opportunity. It has already been a massive box office success, and as of February 17^th it has nearly a 9.0 on imdb. I didn’t enter the film with high expectations (similar to my feelings about Guardians of the Galaxy) so I can’t say I was surprised to realize the film is an utter let-down.

It seems like Marvel is making a new movie every few months or so, and it seems like an easy chore for them to dish out a movie, throw in a couple recognizable characters, and watch the cash come rolling in. The wackier the story, the ‘bigger chance’ it was to make, but have they ever had a true flop? The comic book world has impregnated our psyche, whether you have read them or not. Everyone wants to be in the ‘know.’

Deadpool seems to be a response to Guardians, following an unlikely ‘superhero’ (Ryan Reynolds) as he casually jokes through a plot that would otherwise be full of immense peril. When Chris Pratt challenged the evil galaxy-ruler guy to a dance off at the climax of Guardians, it felt funny and fresh. When Deadpool stops in a battle to look at the camera and mention a joke about Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, I just sighed. There’s a self-awareness throughout the film that simply removed me from the movie. At one point, Reynolds remarks “don’t make my costume CGI” as he begins his superhero transformation (a painful reference to his Green Lantern stint). This is like a grown-up Airplane parody, where characters know they are acting and the good guy never misses his target no matter how far away he is with the gun. Most people I have talked to describe this movie as a fresh comedy. I saw it as a parody a bit too on-the-nose.

Knowing nothing about Deadpool/Wade going in, of course we had to trudge through a backstory filled with sex and jokes and throwaway characters that all culminate in the creation of his costume, stitched at home of course (red hides the blood better). We learn that though he fell in love, Deadpool was diagnosed with cancer and left the woman he loved in order to find a cure. What he found as well was a new power of rejuvenation, strength, and witty one-liners.

Let’s be honest: Ryan Reynolds is an attractive guy. Ladies love him and guys want to be him. Besides this, his role in this film just falls flat. Through narration, breaking the 4^th wall, voice-over, and cutaways, all I wanted was for him to shut up. Sometimes, a simple action scene is cool in itself without being littered with gags and humor and comedy, oh my! Playing the comedian, of course the rest of the cast (a couple of X-Men I have never heard of that were apparently the only ones available for the shoot) plays it straight, gawking at the absurdity of Deadpool’s light-heartedness and trying to convince him to just shut up and focus on the task at hand. The task at hand (defeating the villain – what else?) is a cookie-cutter plot that is as predictable as we would expect. I mentioned he is aided by some of the X-Men, so it should come as no surprise that Deadpool comments on the fact that studios couldn’t afford more recognizable actors for some quick cameos…

You can tell the filmmakers were trying to be original (an opening credits scene that is nothing but puns and in-jokes: “directed by someone who was paid too much,” “starring the sexist man in America,” etc. If that’s comedy, then I’m sorry I didn’t laugh. If the fanboys are happy with the film, then I’m sure the Marvel Studio is pleased. Perhaps in a year or two when they release Deadpool II, they can work out the kinks that weighted this film down. For a movie so highly regarded as a hip romantic comedy, boy was I bored.

Final Oscar Predictions (in ALL 24 categories)

Since beginning of this site over 5 years ago, it is safe to say that there has been no more unpredictable year than this one! Prior to this weekend's BAFTA's (and even still considering that they failed to predict last year's Birdman victory), the race was wide open, with any of 3-4 films completely viable choices. With the recent surge amongst the guilds, we had no single film emerge as a front-runner (DGA, PGA, SAG.... though we will admit that both Spotlight and Big Short also won the WGA awards), it's a year unlike most in recent history. Who will win? Let's go down the list...

BEST PICTURE

The last year the big guild awards were evenly split between 3 films was 2004, when Million Dollar Baby won the DGA, Sideways won the SAG, and The Aviator won PGA. (In 2013 there was a split 3-ways between Gravity, American Hustle, and 12 Years a Slave, though the PGA tied between Slave and Gravity). Who's the front-runner? Logic says The Big Short, as the PGA has been right the past 8 years and uses the same voting system as the academy, and the political tone is perfect during the election year. Logic also says The Revenant, which won the DGA (but think of all that's going against it: the director just won last year, it's missing a screenplay nomination, and it's extremely brutal). Besides Brokeback Mountain, no film in recent history has LOST Best Picture after winning both that coveted BAFTA and DGA award. General support with 12 nominations is a good sign as well. This will truly be a photo finish.

1. The Revenant

2. The Big Short

3. Spotlight

4. Mad Max: Fury Road

5. Room

6. The Martian

7. Brooklyn

8. Bridge of Spies

BEST ACTOR

The narrative in this category has shifted dramatically this season, going from a near-lock for Michael Fassbender to a 100% lock for Leonardo DiCaprio. We can attribute this shift to a) the box office failures of Steve Jobs, b) the critical success of The Revenant, and perhaps most importantly, c) the surge in support for Leo to finally win his Oscar. It helps his case that the Revenant is the only Best Picture nominee in the bunch (does The Martian really count?), and it helps that he has swept all the major acting awards up until this point. Who's to say it's the 'better' performance, but it's clear that people feel his time has come. 

1. Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant)

2. Michael Fassbender (Steve Jobs)

3. Bryan Cranston (Trumbo)

4. Eddie Redmayne (The Danish Girl)

5. Matt Damon (The Martian)

BEST ACTRESS

It's a bit upsetting seeing the complete sweep for Brie Larson in Room. This is not to say she isn't a fantastic actress, but her success led to a performance like Saoirse Ronan in Brooklyn to go nearly unnoticed all season. Where Larson was missing in the last half of her film, Ronan carried her film strongly from start to finish and (in both Maureen and John's humble opinions) gave the year's best female performance. It would make for a show-stopping upset, but it's unrealistic to predict anyone except Larson at this point. 

1. Brie Larson (Room)

2. Saoirse Ronan (Brooklyn)

3. Cate Blanchett (Carol)

4. Charlotte Rampling (45 Years)

5. Jennifer Lawrence (Joy)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

This is the most unconventional category of the year. Stallone won the Globe to rapturous applause, and yet he was snubbed by both SAG and BAFTA (where Idris Elba and Mark Rylance won, respectively). It is possible that #OscarsSoWhite helped Elba win his prize while becoming the first SAG winner not nominated for an Oscar. Rylance gives a heartfelt though muted performance, albeit in a Best Picture nominee, and Christian Bale is on the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of boisterousness. It's hard to comprehend, but Stallone has the support, and seems virtually unstoppable. An upset is possible (and would make sense), but perhaps here, like with DiCaprio, the passion vote will win in the end. 

1. Sylvester Stallone (Creed)

2. Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies)

3. Christian Bale (The Big Short)

4. Mark Ruffalo (Spotlight)

5. Tom Hardy (The Revenant)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Alicia v. Kate. Kate v. Alicia... It's true they have both split the prizes this year (Winslet winning Globe and BAFTA, Alicia winning SAG). With the shuffling of Alicia from supporting to lead, it's been a rare occasion for the two women to actually come head-to-head. The one match-up they had (at the SAG Awards) was when we saw Alicia pull through victorious, hence our belief that she is the stronger candidate. Seeing Kate and Leo win Oscars on the same night seems nearly too delicious a concept to imagine, but we have to stick with our boring front-runner (a virtual copy of Jennifer Connelly's performance in A Beautiful Mind) and cross fingers for a potential upset!

1. Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl)

2. Kate Winslet (Steve Jobs)

3. Rooney Mara (Carol)

4. Rachel McAdams (Spotlight)

5. Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight)

BEST DIRECTOR

The race has been all over the place, but let's repeat a tried and true statement: it is simply FOOLISH to bet against the DGA. This year, they awarded Alejandro Inarritu for a record back-to-back win. That's the end of that race folks, and as this award historically is nearly a perfect barometer for Director and Picture, you can understand our confidence in this historic soon-to-be victory. 

1. Alejandro G Inarritu (The Revenant)

2. George Miller (Mad Max: Fury Road)

3. Adam McKay (The Big Short)

4. Tom McCarthy (Spotlight)

5. Lenny Abrahamson (Room)

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Our front-runners for most of the season were Spotlight and The Big Short, two films that (as we see it) will have to settle for one award each: screenplay. Luckily they don't compete in the same category. With The Big Short, Adam McKay's zany directorial achievement was also one of the year's best written films, and he will receive his consolation prize in this category.

*Side note, assuming Revenant wins, it will be only the third film in history to win Best Picture while being snubbed in the writing categories (The Sound of Music in 1965 and Titanic were the first two)

1. The Big Short (Adam McKay & Charles Randolph)

2. Room (Emma Donague)

3. The Martian (Drew Goddard)

4. Carol (Phillys Nagy)

5. Brooklyn (Nick Hornby)

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

... likewise in Original Screenplay, the only realistic winner is Tom McCarthy's screenplay (and don't forget he directed it, too). This will be his consolation prize and likely the only Oscar for one of the year's very best films. It's too bad that the Spotlight will be largely forgotten come Oscar night, but it will be a richly deserved win for the film in this category. 

1. Spotlight (Tom McCarthy & Josh Singer)

2. Bridge of Spies (Matt Charman, Joel Coen, and Ethan Coen)

3. Inside Out (Pete Docter, Meg LeFauve, Josh Cooley, and Ronnie del Carmen)

4. Ex Machina (Alex Garland)

5. Straight Outta Compton (Jonathan Herman, Andrea Berloff, S. Leigh)

BEST EDITING

Had Big Short retained more momentum following it's PGA win (it still has a very good chance to win Best Picture mind you), this would be an easy winner (especially considering a Best Picture needs three total wins, just because that's what always happens). With Revenant moving to the spotlight (no pun intended) over Short, it seems like an easier vote for Mad Max's relentless action and pace. Just to clarify: Mad Max is the front-runner because it's the most heavily-edited film and Big Short is no longer a presumed Best Picture winner. If you see The Big Short win this category, you better believe it's about to win Best Picture. This is the category to watch. 

1. Mad Max: Fury Road

2. The Big Short

3. The Revenant

4. Star Wars: The Force Awakens

5. Spotlight

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

BAFTA went with Mad Max's minimal wardrobes (half the people are barely wearing pants). Cinderella is on everyone's radar for having the flashiest costumes. Carol is nominated just because it's a period piece. The Revenant used that bear skin effectively and the costumes had so many layers (a *lot* of costume is all you need, right?). I have a hunch that The Danish Girl's memorable pieces could serve as an upset to Cinderella, simply because a film rarely wins costumes when it's the sole nomination. If people are just checking off everything for Max, then maybe that will win? Or The Revenant? Maybe even Carol? Someone help.

1. Cinderella

2. The Danish Girl

3. Mad Max: Fury Road

4. The Revenant

5. Carol

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

The second I saw the massive spinning wheels in the Citadel, I knew Mad Max had this award in the bag. This was also the nomination that showed such wide support for The Revenant (the only real constructed set was a small army post seen for 1/4th of the film's run time) and was an early indicator it could win Best Picture. The Martian probably has the best shot at a victory in this category, with it's vaguely-futuristic sets both on Earth and in space, but for us, Max has little competition.

1. Mad Max: Fury Road

2. The Martian

3. The Revenant

4. Bridge of Spies

5. The Danish Girl

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

It's a difficult choice between the two leaders of the pack (did we mention that both Mad Max & Revenant received nominations in EVERY technical category, a feat only achieved by 5 other films in Oscar history?). On one hand, Max was filmed as a colorful and bleak world. Revenant was simply otherworldly. We have been wrong about Lubezki winning in the past (Tree of Life, don't remind us), but now that he has finally broken the losing curse and won (the past 2 consecutive years, no less), he's an easy prediction for what audiences generally agree is the most incredible aspect of the film. Mad Max serves as a very real spoiler regardless of Revenant winning the guild, and of course, poor Roger Deakins will have to wait at least one more year.

1. The Revenant

2. Mad Max: Fury Road

3. Sicario

4. Carol

5. The Hateful Eight

BEST MAKEUP & HAIRSTYLING

While drafting this list, it seemed best to start with the 'easy' categories, but even with makeup, we have the difficult choice between Revenant's gory bear wounds and just about everything else in Mad Max. When in doubt, go for the grander scale (and note that Revenant was snubbed by the according guild). 

1. Mad Max: Fury Road

2. The Revenant

3. The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Earlier in the year Anomalisa seemed like it could be a spoiler and become the first 'adult' themed film to win this category. Nonsense. Pixar's best film in years will be duly rewarded. (Also note it's screenplay nomination... there's widespread love for this film.)

1. Inside Out

2. Anomalisa

3. When Marnie Was There

4. Boy & the World

5. Shaun the Sheep Movie

BEST ANIMATED SHORT

Pixar has won this category in the past, and Sanjay's Super Team was hailed as one of the better short films in recent years. For voters, the simple act of sitting down and watching these films will cement the winner as Don Hertzfeldt's World of Tomorrow, a tragic and dark film that strikes all the right tones. 

1. World of Tomorrow

2. Sanjay's Super Team

3. We Can't Live Without the Cosmos

4. Bear Story

5. Prologue

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

Aside from a few notable snubs (Inside Out, Room, Steve Jobs), this is a solid lineup excluding John William's recycled Star Wars score - love for the film will likely earn him votes regardless. As Roger Deakins is for cinematography (13 losses after this year), Thomas Newman is the perennial loser for music (this would also be his 13th loss). He has his best shot in years, having composed the music for Bridge of Spies: the rare Spielberg film lacking John William's work. It a boisterous, haunting score that will bode well with voters, but Ennio Morricone has the momentum from his Golden Globe/BAFTA win to earn a lifetime achievement award on his first nomination (cue "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" theme here). 

1. The Hateful Eight (Ennio Morricone)

2. Bridge of Spies (Thomas Newman)

3. Star Wars : The Force Awakens (John Williams)

4. Carol (Carter Burwell)

5. Sicario (Johann Johannsson)

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

A complete tossup. The most notable films in contention is 50 Shades of Grey, and there are 2 little-seen documentaries in the group. Yikes. Bond won the Globe, but it fails to measure up to a song like Skyfall. Simple Song #3 is the rare classical nominee (has a song like this ever been nominated??). It's unprecedented, so perhaps there's a chance. Our bets, however, are on Lady Gaga's work for The Hunting Ground. She performed at last year's Oscars to a standing ovation, and it feels like the Academy would be welcome in adding her name to their roster of musical winners. She is having quite the year already - it wouldn't surprise us if Oscar jumps on the bandwagon.

1. 'Til It Happens To You' (The Hunting Ground)

2. 'Simple Song #3' (Youth)

3. 'Writings on the Wall' (Spectre)

4. 'Manta Ray' (Racing Extinction)

5. 'Earned It' (50 Shades of Grey)

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

Holocaust? Check. Are we missing anything?

1. Son of Saul

2. Embrace the Serpent

3. Mustang

4. A War

5. Theeb

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Here's where that Revenant/Mad Max face off gets a bit more complicated. The rule of thumb in this category is: Best Picture nominee? Winner. There has yet to be a year in which TWO go head to head, and there is merit in both films (that incredible bear scene and Mad Max's dust storm come to mind). While Revenant wins simply on the "how did they do that?" vote, Mad Max has overall received more support from guilds (where Revenant was oftentimes snubbed altogether). 

1. Mad Max: Fury Road

2. The Revenant

3. Star Wars: The Force Awakens

4. Ex Machina

5. The Martian

BEST SOUND MIXING

Of the two sound awards, this is the trickier pick, since there is precedence for the categories splitting. The Revenant owes so much of it's power to the layered soundtrack of ghostly voices and deep brooding music, HOWEVER.... Mad Max has been cited as one of the best action films ever made, and when there are loud explosions and bangs and whatnot, that's typically where you should be putting your money. Our gut feeling is that the categories will split between the two popular nominees, with Revenant winning but Max serving as a very real spoiler. (Can there please be a tie...?)

1. The Revenant

2. Mad Max: Fury Road

3. Star Wars: The Force Awakens

4. The Martian

5. Bridge of Spies

BEST SOUND EDITING

Unlike mixing, Editing seems like a locked decision for all of Max's explosions, engines, and silences. Revenant comes in dead last due to the category's time-honored tradition to pick loud action over birds and bees. This is one of the few categories where quality filmmaking comes second, and they will sooner pick a bad movie with good sound over a good movie with okay sound (Pearl Harbor has won this award, for example...).

1. Mad Max: Fury Road

2. Star Wars: The Force Awakens

3. The Martian

4. Sicario

5. The Revenant

BEST DOCUMENTARY

Musical documentaries have had recent success, and more recently we have seen an influx of 'uplifting' films winning over darker fare. While Amy seems like a viable front-runner, there is competition from The Look of Silence, a sequel of sorts to The Act of Killing (the documentary we had predicted to win just 3 years ago). General consensus goes with the popular vote, so Amy it is. 

1. Amy

2. The Look of Silence

3. What Happened, Miss Simone?

4. Cartel Land

5. Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT

The Last Day of Freedom is actually an animated short film in the style of a documentary (nonfiction, of course), but given it's context surrounding racism (especially in a year when the Oscars have a hashtag called #OscarsSoWhite) it seems like an easy victory for the Academy to bestow in an attempt to deal with the controversy. 

1. Last Day of Freedom

2. A Girl in the River: The Price of Freedom

3. Body Team 12

4. Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah

5. Chau, Beyond the Lines

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT

Ave Maria has the appeal of a comedy that balances religion with timely issues. While this category tends to go towards more heavy-handed options, it's a charmer (from what I hear) that should pick up lots of votes just for being the odd one in the bunch. 

1. Ave Maria

2. Day One

3. Everything Will Be Okay

4. Stutterer

5. Shok

Final Predicted tallies:

Mad Max: 5

The Revenant: 5

*assuming we are correct, this could be the first year since 1996 where only 2 films win multiple awards!!

John's Top 10 Movies of 2015

In response to Maureen's top 10, let me post my own (and if you noticed, slight changes and variations from my initial list posted on Facebook weeks back). I think 2015 has some very great films, some very unique films. Big films, small films, and everything in between, it was a tough list to assemble and if I could have a few more in that #1 spot, I would. Starting at ten:

10. EX MACHINA

As good as anything Hitchcock ever made, Ex Machina was a surprising debut for director Alex Garland. Starring a claustrophobic cast and set entirely in one secluded house, this was a film of suspense and pure creativity. Artificial intelligence has been explored in the movies before (need I name them?), but never before has it felt so genuinely inventive. 

9. SPOTLIGHT

The Screen Actor's Guild aptly named this the best ensemble cast of the year (and please excuse our less than stellar predictions there). It has been compared positively to All The President's Men as one of the best 'journalism' films ever made, and it's difficult to argue against that. Through dense plot and scene after scene of nothing but reading and sitting, Spotlight succeeds as one of the year's best thrillers; a retelling of the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal and the team that brought it to the attention of the world. 

8. SICARIO

I was utterly surprised by the power of Sicario, a film about the drug cartel near the border of US and Mexico. Full of mystery and assured directing, the story goes from something fairly predictable to a plot of redemption and moral corruption. I think perhaps I am ranking this too low on my list, as it called to mind one of my favorite all-time movies: No Country For Old Men. No, it isn't a better movie, but to tread on similar ground is an achievement in itself. 

7. VICTORIA

The poster described the movie as "One city, one night, one take," as if describing the astounding process of filming it as the only thing to brag about. In fact, Victoria is an assured film with power and beauty. The story of a lonely girl who befriends a group of city boys, it leads to an odyssey of destruction and loss. Yes, it is filmed without a single cut (all the while the sun is seen rising in the background), but the movie itself is a dream that I still relive vividly months later. 

6. ROOM

I ended up seeing many of these films more than once before making this list, and Room stood up to the test of repeated watches brilliantly. Brie Larson is getting all the Oscar buzz for her supporting role (I said it), but Jacob Tremblay (as the lead) just knocks it out of the ballpark as the best child performance we have seen in such a long time. The story is in may ways a fairy tale, and following Jack as he comes to realize the world is so much more than he knew absolutely breaks your heart in more ways than one. 

5. WORLD OF TOMORROW

I haven't followed the world of short films to be quite honest, but the 16-minute World of Tomorrow blew me away and is not my #1 of the year simply because I can't justify putting a movie the length of your typical shower atop a list of feature length films. Take a minute and watch it on Netflix while it is available. The story is of a clone (named Emily) coming back in time to visit her "prime" being, a little girl named Emily. Describing the future as incredibly bleak and full of sorrow, the contrast with the optimism of young Emily to that of her cloned self presents a story of incredible humor and deep self-reflection. A flawless movie. 

4. MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

Many critics put this as the best movie of the year, and with it's 10 Oscar nominations (the second-most of the year), it's really not hard to see why. Kinetic and full of originality at every level of filmmaking, George Miller's epic is the best action movie yet made and proof that the Hollywood industry doesn't have to be driven by sequels and reboots (and yes, ironically, this could be considered a sequel. How odd). 

3. THE BIG SHORT

In terms of second viewings, The Big Short was even better, and I strongly considered this as the best movie of the year. Retelling the story of the 2008 Housing Market Collapse, it uses humor, fast edits, and celebrity cameos to create a movie that is literally unlike anything I have seen before. The movie is a comedy until it is simply not, and the ending is a somber reflection on today's world economy. Steve Carell was snubbed of an Oscar for one of the year's absolutely finest performances. 

2. INSIDE OUT

Let's be honest: this is maybe the best film yet made by Pixar (#2 if you're like me and still have Wall-E in your heart). It's a complex movie that juggles two stories of a little girl and her emotions. It's very much an adult movie, with complex ideas and heavy moments of true consequence. I don't think there was a more emotional film made this year, and even though it came out earlier this summer, Inside Out was a movie I never forgot. 

1. THE REVENANT

I saw The Revenant 3 times, and even though it lost much of its power from the initial viewing, I still think this is the best movie of the year. The story of a man trudging through the woods to find his revenge is brilliantly filmed by Alejandro Inarritu (last year's Oscar winner for Birdman). It's extremely beautiful even in the most brutal moments, and so many scenes had me floored with the simple question of "how did they do that??" Grim and violent, but very much deserving of being the year's best. 

Maureen's Top 10 of 2015

Maureen piping in here with a top 10 list pre-Oscars. My favorite, and some of the best, movies of 2015. Stay tuned for official Oscar predictions coming soon!

Honorable Mentions:
Star Wars: The Force Awakens - Fun, fresh, and well-cast; a delightful throwback to the originals.
The Martian - Matt Damon being his charismatic self on Mars. What's not to like?
Bridge of Spies - Thanks to Steven Spielberg for reminding us what classic filmmaking is all about.

Disclaimer: I have not yet seen several films - Creed, The Danish Girl, Carol, Trumbo, Straight Outta Compton, Beasts of No Nation, Joy, Sicario, Victoria, and Macbeth are high on my to-do list!


10. Steve Jobs

Held up by incredible performances by Michael Fassbender and Kate Winslet (who do a tremendous job with Aaron Sorkin's dense script), Steve Jobs is an impressive demonstration of classic stage-type acting and a meaningful representation of a very interesting man's life.


9. The Hateful Eight

As a Tarantino fan, I was thoroughly looking forward to seeing his interpretation of a classic western. It's a bit too long and a bit too violent, but amazingly beautiful and with an unrivaled screenplay (though of course un-nominated because, Tarantino). Not one of his best, but still an excellent film to add to his body of work.


8. The Big Short

Creative, fast-moving, unique, informative, and with an incredible cast of talented actors, The Big Short succeeds on almost every level. Steve Carell gives one of the more impressive and underrated performances of the year, and the screenplay handles a complicated topic with ease.


7. Ex Machina

Despite its early-year release, this is a film that still sticks with me. Strong performances by Alicia Vikander, Domhnall Gleeson, and the almost unrecognizable Oscaar Isaac bring this futuristic film to life. One of the better sci-fi films in recent memory and one of the more visually impressive films of the year.


6. Room

Now we're starting to get into the really excellent films this year... Room is an emotional rollercoaster with riveting performances by tormented mother Brie Larson and her son, played by Jacob Tremblay in one of the most amazing child performances I've yet seen. You feel every emotion from the two leads and experience the claustrophobia right alongside them - a truly immersive experience that will wrack your emotions from start to finish.


5. Spotlight

Spotlight is literally a perfect example of how to write an effective screenplay and perfectly cast a successful film. The understated yet incredibly believable performances of the entire cast are what carries this important film about sex abuse in the Church. Ensemble acting is at its finest here.


4. Inside Out

I can hardly believe that this delightful film is only #4 on my list - one of Pixar's best to date and you'll have a hard time finding anything more creative. Beautifully animated and voice-acted to boot, this cute-yet-meaningful film has something for everyone and will be an animated classic for years.


3. Mad Max: Fury Road

This early heavy-hitter thought big and succeeded in an equally-big way. One of the most epic, visceral, surprising, and visually stunning movies made perhaps in history. George Miller was finally able to realize his post-apocalyptic vision in an expansive, impressive way that leaves you wanting more.


2. Brooklyn

I only saw this film recently and it still edged in at #2. On the surface, Brooklyn appears to be a straightforward love story; in reality it is so, so much more than that. Nick Hornby's adaptation makes you fall in love with the characters within the first 5 minutes of meeting them, and the performances brought me to tears about 5 minutes after that. Saoirse Ronan gives the year's best performance - understated, nuanced, and emotional (and she's only 21!!). The film artfully weaves a beautiful love story with themes of longing for home, family, loss, and coming-of-age, and it's set in a gorgeous 1950s backdrop to boot. A movie for both the head and the heart, and a demonstration of classical filmmaking at its finest.


1. The Revenant

I was incredibly excited and nervous to see The Revenant initially - would DiCaprio be good enough to finally win him the Oscar? Would Iñárritu succeed again on the heels of Birdman with another well-received film? The answer to both is unquestionably, yes. Like Mad Max, The Revenant is beautiful and visceral, yet so profoundly different. The Terrence Malick-like cinematography is sure to win Emmanul Lubezki his 3rd Oscar, and the visual effects are truly an unparalleled masterpiece. Leonardo DiCaprio is the physical and emotional centerpiece, and he is utterly captivating - it's hard to imagine anyone else committing to a role as he does here. Additionally, Tom Hardy supports in one of the most impressive roles of his career. This film deserves, and has deserved, every single accolade that it receives this year.