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.
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