It’s getting closer to the end of the year and I’m gearing up for a house full of crazies, I mean family. As it is custom; Here’s the list. Sorry there is much of an intro but it’s the Best and Worst of 2015 list. You know what to expect, yeesh.
The Worst of the Year;
10. Our Brand Is Crisis
Just because we watch political campaigns so we know who to vote for does not mean we enjoy watching the behind the scenes nonsense, especially if it’s for somewhere else in the world.
09. Paper Towns
You know how to follow up a successful adaptation of a popular young adult novel? Obviously, the makers of this film didn’t know how to either. Watch The Fault in Our Stars instead.
08. We Are Your Friends
It is never enjoyable to watch entitled college age people make something of themselves so they can keep on being self-entitled and partying.
07. The Seventh Son
Take an average fantasy YA novel, cast Oscar winning actors who forget that it’s their profession, add a heap of poorly made CGI effects and stir till it’s incomprehensible.
06. Secrets in Their Eyes
Marketed as a thriller starring Julia Roberts, this movie has her for only 20 minutes. And it’s not a thriller, just a boring movie that explains the events of 13 years previously.
5. Mortdecai
Not everything that’s funny in Britain is funny in America. For every Kingsman there is one of these, a terrible premise with jokes that don’t play to the audience it was made for.
04. Pan
Poor Peter has become a supporting player to his own story. Focused more on the bad guy and inevitable bad guy to come, this gem also includes Indians portrayed by Caucasians.
03.Fant4tic
I know that’s not how you spell fantastic but the studio thinks differently. They also feel like we want terrible acting, effects and disregard for the subject matter we’re paying money to see.
02. Jupiter Ascending
The Wachowskis once again reuse everything from The Matrix. Instead of the sci-fi epic of the year what we get is a reason to go watch Cloud Atlas.
01. Jem and the Holograms
Based on a much loved 80s cartoon, in name only. This cookie cutter, “believe in yourself and you’ll make it,” film is not the girl empowering movie it could have been.
The Best of the Year;
10. Ant-Man
The Marvel movie everyone expected to fail became a surprisingly funny heist film that is a much needed break in between Age of Ultron and Civil War.
09. Mad Max: Fury Road
Older franchises can be given new life as long as they’re in the hands of a talented director. Giving us awesome action sequences that are being taught in film school now.
08. What We Do in the Shadows
An excellent mockumentary that chronicles the struggles of vampires in contemporary times. Who knew immortals had problems just like the rest of us?
07. Room
Led by the brilliant performance of Brie Larson, this complex story of a mother and son trapped in a room for years is why we go to movies in the first place.
06. Sicario
An FBI agent joins a taskforce to prevent the trafficking of drugs across the US/Mexico border. The action and drama come together in such a way that brings to mind Soderbergh’s Traffic.
05. Trainwreck
Amy Schumer breaks out in the R-Rated comedy. From a script that she wrote herself, Amy carries the film as a woman who doesn’t believe in monogamy. Get down with your bad self.
04. It Follows
An original horror premise about a spirit which stalks and kills its victims unless they pass it along by having unprotected sex. Shot very stylishly with equally great chills.
03. The Gift
A very effective thriller from writer/director/star Joel Edgerton. It brings on the suspense in a true Hitchcock like fashion. The twist ending here deserves not to be repeated.
02. Brooklyn
Saoirse Ronan turns in another strong performance as a young woman who tries to make a new life while still being loyal to her family. She deserves an Oscar someday.
01. Spotlight
A brilliantly orchestrated movie with an ensemble cast that brings their A game. This is a thoroughly engrossing movie.
The Movie Pit 