Amidst a string of reboots of classic franchises and multitude of blockbusters, some of which were quite good, 2015 was also a year for auteur filmmakers to deliver some of their finest works to date. Alejandro G. Innaritu, Danny Boyle, Ridley Scott, George Miller and the up-and-coming Alex Garland each made movies which moved, captivated and struck viewers with powerful storytelling and stirring cinematic techniques.
From Westerns, to biopics to authentic science fiction, the best movies of 2015 managed to tackle a diverse range of stories and deliver them in an imaginative way. The following are my top-five films of 2015, along with a few honorable mentions.
5. ‘Spotlight’
In “Spotlight,” director Tom McCarthy tells the true story of the Boston Globe team that uncovered the massive child molestation scandal within the local Catholic Archdiocese, an investigation which dates back to the 1970s and resurfaced in the early 2000s. Starring Mark Ruffalo in a role reminiscent of his work in the 2007 David Fincher thriller “Zodiac,” the film also boasts a stellar supporting cast of Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber and John Slattery.
Like his other films, such as “The Station Agent” and “Win-Win,” McCarthy tells a genuine human story in “Spotlight,” zeroing in on the extreme lengths these men and women went to, to discover the truth. Driven by fantastic ensemble acting, a sharply written script by McCarthy and Josh Singer, as well as an authentic look into the world of investigative journalism, “Spotlight” is a remarkable human drama worthy of comparison to its 1976 predecessor “All the President’s Men.”
4. ‘The Revenant’
The latest film from Academy Award-winning director Alejandro G. Innarritu may indeed win megastar Leonardo DiCaprio his first Oscar, and rightfully so. Set in the early 1800s in the Dakota Mountains, this action-propelled Western is a stirring portrait of human survival, betrayal and vengeance and is also one of the most beautifully shot mainstream films in years. Based somewhat on true events, the film tells the story of the American frontiersman Hugh Glass (DiCaprio) and his rivalry with one of his companions John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy), a man who left him for dead after a bear mauling.
Coming off the 2014 Best Picture winner “Birdman,” Inarritu delivers another unforgettable cinematic experience and powerful human story. DiCaprio and Hardy both give some of the best performances of their careers, along with supporting actor Domhnall Gleeson, who seems to have appeared in every other movie in 2015. Using natural lighting instead of artificial to shoot this film, Inarritu and master cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki provide some of the most gorgeous imagery and eye-popping scenery in years. Though not quite as emotionally gripping as “Birdman,” “The Revenant” showcases both the depths of DiCaprio’s talent as well as the versatility of Inarritu as one of the great modern filmmakers.
3. ‘Steve Jobs’
Despite it performing miserably at the box office, which is likely the result of there being an excess of movies made about its subject, director Danny Boyle’s portrayal of the iconic Apple co-founder is the Steve Jobs biopic we’ve been waiting for. Split into three acts, which each focus on the buildup to the unveiling of three of Jobs’ most famous products, a choice made by the film’s screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, “Steve Jobs” is a stunning culmination of writing, directing and acting.
Starring Michael Fassbender in the titular role and Seth Rogen as Jobs’ longtime business partner Steve Wozniak, both deliver some of their finest performances yet in a drama, which feels Shakespearean in its execution, thanks to Sorkin’s relentless dialogue. That said, this film is a more-than-worthy follow-up to the other Sorkin-scripted biopic, “The Social Network.”
2. ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’
It says a lot about a movie when a blockbuster reboot of a classic action flick franchise receives as much praise from critics as the more “traditional” Oscar-bait films. Since its release last summer, “Mad Max: Fury Road” has garnered massive amounts of praise from critics and mainstream audiences alike. Australian filmmaker George Miller breathes new life into his iconic dystopian sci-fi series while maintaining the use of practical special effects over the more traditional CGI methods, a rarity in today’s Hollywood.
Featuring one of the better action movie female leads in the form of Charlize Theron’s Imperator Furiosa, “Fury Road” also has another spot-on casting with Tom Hardy playing the titular hero, a role previously held in the original trilogy by Mel Gibson. Though destined to be ripped off in who knows how many movies in the future, “Fury Road” is evidence of the potential of blockbuster action movies when they’re done right.
1. ‘The Big Short’
Just as some of the funniest actors get automatically typecast in comedies, comedic filmmakers are also expected to work strictly in this genre. No one imagined that Adam McKay, the writer-director of “Anchorman” and “Talladega Nights” would deliver one of the best American dramas in recent years. Though filled with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, “The Big Short” is both riveting and shocking. Telling the story of four financial executives who predicted the economic crash of the mid-2000s, McKay’s film is a true triumph from start to finish. Between its stellar writing and breaking the fourth wall, eclectic filmmaking and standout performances from Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt, “The Big Short” stands as the most crisp and memorable film of 2015.
Honorable mentions
Honorable mentions include veteran writer Alex Garland’s directorial debut “Ex Machina” and Ridley Scott’s “The Martian” for proving that real science-fiction films still exist, “Inside Out” for being one of Pixar’s best movies to date and “Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens” for returning the iconic franchise to its roots. Hopefully 2016 will be a year moviegoers can remember as well.
"The Revenant"
