2015 My top 20 of the year at the cinema
The best films IMO that I saw at the cinema (2015 UK release dates) from 132 films seen. Check out some of my other lists too.
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- DirectorGeorge MillerStarsTom HardyCharlize TheronNicholas HoultIn a post-apocalyptic wasteland, a woman rebels against a tyrannical ruler in search for her homeland with the aid of a group of female prisoners, a psychotic worshiper and a drifter named Max.With a budget of nearly £100,000,000 (or should I say nearly £100,000,000 more than the original 1979 Mad Max) you would expect this to be pretty good ?! so just as well its absolutely fantastically brilliant (and barking mad) then. Tom Hardy is becoming one of my favourite actors, he is so versatile. Charlize Theron is brilliant as usual! Nicholas Hoult (yes you might say I recognise him from something) shows he has come a long way since About A Boy and there's a great bunch of baddies. The assortment of vehicles are the real stars though, they have taken the cut and shunt to a whole new level ! wacky racers look like normal cars in comparison !. I think the 3D effects were pretty good too, not overdone and well worth seeing in this format. Doesn't really compare to the first Mad Max which looks quite dated and cheap now but does resemble the better MM Road Warrior. So if you looking for nearly 2 hours of action packed fun set in a deserted dystopian future you must go see this. Defo one for the Blu Ray list this crimbo. My new favourite of the year so far.
Update - So good in fact that I have now seen it 3 times already and enjoyed it more the second time, 3rd time in 2D not so much so if you get a chance to see it in 3D go for it !!
Further update since getting the 3D blu ray for Christmas (thanks mum, couldn't wait opened it early) it is still brilliant on the small screen at home ! - DirectorRidley ScottStarsMatt DamonJessica ChastainKristen WiigAn astronaut becomes stranded on Mars after his team assume him dead, and must rely on his ingenuity to find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive and can survive until a potential rescue.It was good to see Matt Damon in a space suit again , he was so good in Interstellar ! and here again he delivers another stunning performance. It's also nice to see that Ridley Scott has is mojo back, maybe he should stick to Sci-Fi more often. The film is full of stunning scenery , Mars looks so believable and in 3D you feel as if you are there. Matt's character Watney is very likeable due to the fact that he has great humour in spite of the fact he has been abandoned alone on Mars. Being an astronaut / botanist turns out to be his good fortune and helps him to survive longer than expected millions of miles away from earth. The rescue mission team played out by some great supporting acts including Jeff Daniels , Kristen Wiig and Sean Bean even just adds to the overall strength of this movie. The special effects team did a brilliant job too, although I can't believe the budget was just over $100 000 000, surely this cost a lot more than that !? The story is of course the heart of this movie , human beings will always try to save / rescue their fellow man, (with my cynical head on I doubt this to be true when it costs billions of dollars.) but putting that to one side will make this movie experience all the more enjoyable. This is great sci-fi adventure with laughs, so the fact that it is 135 minutes long will go unnoticed. Another must see (again) and hopefully the BluRay release will give us lots of extras. OK I've pre-ordered the BluRay something I rarely do. Just for good measure I went to see this again in January 2016 and enjoyed it so much that I promoted it to my second favourite film of 2015.
- DirectorAlex GarlandStarsAlicia VikanderDomhnall GleesonOscar IsaacA young programmer is selected to participate in a ground-breaking experiment in synthetic intelligence by evaluating the human qualities of a highly advanced humanoid A.I.Nice to see a good Sci-fi again, makes a change from all the recent (good) biographies. Ava the AI robot is excellently played by Alicia Vikander who recently also did a good job in Testament of Youth, so a rising star to watch out for. The film has a good pace and subtle background music. The story plays out like a classic suspenseful and atmospheric thriller. Although some aspects are predictable , well it's about AI so you will expect / guess a few intelligent twists here and there, but the end was more unpredictable, which helped make this my favourite film of the year so far. I enjoyed this just as much on the second viewing too.
- DirectorAlejandro G. IñárrituStarsMichael KeatonZach GalifianakisEdward NortonA washed-up superhero actor attempts to revive his fading career by writing, directing, and starring in a Broadway production.Fantastic. A film that lives up to the hype. Keaton is truly brilliant and Norton and Stone put in great performances too, in fact its a great ensemble cast of top talent. The tension exudes from Keaton's tormented character. A film that delivers on so many levels it is a must see for this new year. Hopefully I will get to see this again if it actually is shown at my local cinema. It wasn't shown at my local so I had to travel further for the worthwhile second viewing.
- DirectorMatthew VaughnStarsColin FirthTaron EgertonSamuel L. JacksonA spy organisation recruits a promising street kid into the agency's training program, while a global threat emerges from a twisted tech genius.A modern classic ? an action spy thriller with comedy attitude. Colin Firth is so unlikely as an action man that it helps make this pulp fiction/bond like movie mash-up work so well, of course he plays the gent well but a lethal killing machine ? fantastic ! Some great baddies and bloody marvellous kill scenes. In fact there are so many good parts to this it is a must see. And yes, it was good enough to see a second tine as well.
- DirectorAlan TaylorStarsArnold SchwarzeneggerJason ClarkeEmilia ClarkeWhen John Connor, leader of the human resistance, sends Sgt. Kyle Reese back to 1984 to protect Sarah Connor and safeguard the future, an unexpected turn of events creates a fractured timeline.Bare in mind I am a little bit biased, being a big ; Terminator , Arnie and SciFi Fan. So with 3 ticks before the start it can only get better right ?! too right, ok its sort of a reboot rather than a sequel/prequel or straight update copy of the original but there are a few early sequences that add nostalgia from the first films just to fool you. From then on there are more twists than a scrap yard. Arnie shows up in several incarnations and is at he's best yet with a new word and smile that just cracked me up, he was definitely back !! Sarah Connor is played by the lovely Emilia Clarke who is new to me and does a much better job than the original Linda Hamilton as far as I am concerned anyway. Jai Courtney is also a much better Kyle Reese. So with all the upgrades in acting performances and 3D special effects it is as good as T2 if not better ?! There is a bit of a brain bender in all of the time travel concepts but I think its best not to dwell on that too much and just accept this Science FICTION element will always be hard to believe and is pointless trying to unravel it as a plot hole or 2. Just go with it and it is a very entertaining action packed movie.
- DirectorDamien ChazelleStarsMiles TellerJ.K. SimmonsMelissa BenoistA promising young drummer enrolls at a cut-throat music conservatory where his dreams of greatness are mentored by an instructor who will stop at nothing to realize a student's potential.An amazing film about extreme dedication to a goal, the blood sweat and tears!! I am not a big fan of jazz music but this movie may have started a conversion. The lead performances are as good if not better than as you may of heard. Although I wouldn't put this at the top of my list for best film awards only because I preferred Birdman and Gone Girl. However Miles Teller is definitely one to watch for the future. I didn't get a chance to see this again because once again it wasn't shown at my local cinema.
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsTom HanksMark RylanceAlan AldaDuring the Cold War, an American lawyer is recruited to defend an arrested Soviet spy in court, and then help the CIA facilitate an exchange of the spy for the Soviet captured American U2 spy plane pilot, Francis Gary Powers.Due to the lack of new releases this January I thought I would make the most of the last opportunity to see some of the really good films of 2015 again. Tom Hanks is at his best in this film based on true events during the cold war years. Mark Rylance gives Hanks a great support too. Surprisingly this movie of those very serious years during the cold war also has room for some great humour, Donavon (Hanks) and Abel (Rylance) both have a good share of almost catch phrases , Hanks is always talking about my guy and your guy and Rylance asking would it help. The film is well balanced in other ways too in the first half Abel seems to have a constant cold and in the second half Donavon has a cold, was these simply a reference to the cold war having 2 sides? . You can't help but like these 2 leading characters and dislike the CIA characters, which shows how well made this film is because it makes you care, it has an effect on you. There is a very poignant end which affected me a bit, you know that lump in the throat and tear in the eye, which is something I really like in a film. Spielberg rarely disappoints and this will be one of my favourites of his. If Tom Hanks and Mark Rylance are not in line for awards there is something wrong ! Great film all round as far as I am concerned, glad I went to see it again.
- DirectorBill CondonStarsIan McKellenLaura LinneyHiroyuki SanadaAn aged, retired Sherlock Holmes deals with dementia, as he tries to remember his final case, and a mysterious woman, whose memory haunts him. He also befriends a fan, the young son of his housekeeper, who wants him to work again.As Sherlock Holmes films go this will stand out as the most original.
Rather than another demonstration of the master of perception we have a charming portrait of an aged Holmes suffering from memory problems. Holmes is trying to write up his last case of 35 years earlier and we get flashbacks rather than a complete mystery solved. Ian McKellen is outstanding as Holmes in both ages, he is so brilliant at performing with his whole body and is so convincing with the little twitch here and stumble there. This is truly an Oscar nomination performance for Ian and maybe 3rd time lucky for a win this time ? Mr Holmes shares the screen with a boy called Roger a marvellous young actor in Milo Parker (reminded me of a young Thomas Brodie-Sangster) another rising star ? Other great supporting roles / performances from Laura Linney and Hiroyuki Sanada go towards making this a must see film for the summer. - DirectorPete DocterRonnie Del CarmenStarsAmy PoehlerBill HaderLewis BlackAfter young Riley is uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San Francisco, her emotions - Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness - conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house, and school.Ok , I finally got round to seeing the latest Pixar movie and so glad I did too. I thought it might be just for kids, forgetting momentarily it was Pixar so obviously would work on many levels. To be honest I don't think very young children will understand it, I mean this is a psychology lesson for us all and should probably be added to the school curriculum ?!. As you would expect from a Pixar film a lot of effort went into getting the characters just right and easy to relate to. The quality of the animation is as ever second to none. The humour was as I said biased towards older viewers ( i'm talking 10+ ?)although I suppose there are plenty of visual images to keep the yougsters amused too. The level of detail in the facial expressions really stood out to me with subtle changes giving so much reality to the emotions. The voice actors all do a brilliant job of bringing their characters or emotions to life, again Pixar always seem to get this just right. It's a shame that my kids feel too old to go and see a movie like this with their dad and will probably not even want to put it on their crimbo DVD list, never mind I will just have to buy it for myself so that I can watch it again. Probably the best kids? film for a while. Definitely a must see even if you don't like educational films.
- DirectorChristopher McQuarrieStarsTom CruiseRebecca FergusonJeremy RennerEthan and his team take on their most impossible mission yet when they have to eradicate an international rogue organization as highly skilled as they are and committed to destroying the IMF.Ok you pretty much know what you are going to get from a mission impossible film by now ! but actually this is a bit different, some people might suggest it is too hard to get anything original into a 5th movie but I think this is probably the best Mission Impossible outing so far. The chemistry between the characters/actors is quite evident, they are enjoying this !! There are a few touches from previous films but rather than just doing them more, bigger and louder, they are more subtle (less is more ?) sort of gestalt theory, the whole is greater than sum of the parts. The performances from the lead actors are all top notch and I hope they can come back for a 6th instalment because I think this is a rare franchise that improves each time out. A must see for action fans.
- DirectorBill PohladStarsJohn CusackPaul DanoElizabeth BanksIn the 60s, Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson struggles with emerging psychosis as he attempts to craft his avant-garde pop masterpiece. In the 80s, he's a broken, confused man under the 24-hour watch of shady therapist, Dr. Eugene Landy.I must admit I only went to see this film because I had seen everything else released in the last week (you don't get a lot of choice this time of the year!). I knew little about the Beach Boys but did grow up in the 1960-70s so had heard their pop songs quite a lot.
This biographical film is mostly set in 2 eras of Brian Wilson's life , the mid 1960s and late 1980s, in a series of back and forth flashbacks. In the early years Brian Wilson is brilliantly played by Paul Dano (a future Oscar winner for sure) where we see how the Beach Boy's hits were constructed by Wilson and how this genius was troubled with mental health issues and exacerbated by illegal drug use. For music lovers , this is a great insight into how Brian broke new ground in music production to the point of obsessive compulsion for perfection. We don't see anything from the 1970s although they are mentioned occasionally to back up the fact that Brian went to a very bad place mentally. Jump to the late 1980s and Brian (now played by John Cusack) is under the control of Psychotherapist Eugene Landy who is played by Paul Giamatti you might think over the top but apparently Landy really was an excessive abusive control freak milking Brian Wilson of his fortune. Whilst out under supervision Brian meets Melinda Ledbetter very well played by Elizabeth Banks (Hunger Games) and they start a relationship much to the disapproval of Landy. Cusack is at his best for a long while as the troubled Wilson which was nice to see. The songs of the Beach Boys are very much in the background so don't expect wall to wall sounds of summer. This is one of the best biographies of the year and a must see even if you don't know of the Beach Boys, the main character performances are really good with the actors at the top of their game. This film inspired me to read up on the history of this fascinating story of Brian Wilson, which I think is a good measure of biographical movies. Go see it, its not all Good Vibrations but God only knows ? (sorry couldn't resist it) - DirectorClint EastwoodStarsBradley CooperSienna MillerKyle GallnerNavy S.E.A.L. sniper Chris Kyle's pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield and turns him into a legend. Back home with his family after four tours of duty, however, Chris finds that it is the war he can't leave behind.Bradley Cooper is amazing in this (Iraq war) biography and is an obvious Oscar contender. The film is a bit slow to start but gets going once the tours of duty start. This doesn't glorify the war or the killing that occurs but shows there is more psychology involved, it can't be easy to kill someone and not be affected in some way. This film left me with a lump in my throat. Well worth going to see but not for the faint hearted due to some graphic bloodshed. I was surprised how much the ending affected me even on the second viewing.
- DirectorGuy RitchieStarsHenry CavillArmie HammerAlicia VikanderIn the early 1960s, CIA agent Napoleon Solo and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin participate in a joint mission against a mysterious criminal organization, which is working to proliferate nuclear weapons.It's a Guy Ritchie film , alright !? Great fun, great action and a great cast with a superb script. This is so slick, so amusing and so good I can't understand why it has had such a short run at my local Cinema, I would have liked to see it again but circumstances didn't allow unfortunately ! If you are old enough to remember the original Man from UNCLE you wont be disappointed with this much needed reboot.
It has plenty of everything and easily competes with Bond or Mission Impossible. In fact I like Henry Cavill in this role, why the doubters ? and of course I am a big fan of Alicia Vikander who shines again, i'm not too familiar with Armie Hammer but he bounced off Henry really well so in hope there's going to be a sequel ! Another must see.!! - DirectorBennett MillerStarsSteve CarellChanning TatumMark RuffaloU.S. Olympic wrestling champions and brothers Mark Schultz and Dave Schultz join "Team Foxcatcher", led by eccentric multi-millionaire John du Pont, as they train for the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea, but John's self-destructive behavior threatens to consume them all.Biographies are popular at the moment !? this one is about wrestling, not the silly WWF but the Olympic sport. I am not a fan of sport movies in general but this one is quite astonishing in many ways; for a starter we see Steve Carell in a serious role as the eccentric / psychotic millionaire John DU Pont and what a revelation he is, a truly Oscar nomination performance. Along side the scary Carell , we also have great performances from Mark Ruffalo and Channing Tatum as the wrestling Schultz brothers, who would have thought that they could be a winning team ? amazing stuff. Ok the historical facts seem to have been played with to keep it short, which is a shame, I would have liked another 30 mins of Carell as Du Pont. Well worth going to see. Great performance were well worth seeing on second viewing.
- DirectorRobert ZemeckisStarsJoseph Gordon-LevittCharlotte Le BonBen KingsleyIn 1974, high-wire artist Philippe Petit recruits a team of people to help him realize his dream: to walk the immense void between the World Trade Center towers.I heard it was good in 3D, so caught the last afternoon showing at my second nearest cinema, once again my local Cineworld didn't bother to show it at all ! another case of them missing out on a brilliant movie experience. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is superb as the Frenchman Philippe Petit and is fast becoming one of my favourite actors, he even narrates the story from the top of the statue of Liberty. The film is 2 hours long but is so well paced and so gripping you wouldn't notice. There is a good buildup and background on the early days of Philippe and his exploits as a street performer and learning the high wire secrets from a master wireman (Ben Kingsley) in the circus.The tension is heightened to an ever increasing level when the action gets to New York, you are not just on the edge of your seat , you are on the edge of the world trade centre ! and yes the 3D effects are well worthwhile ! Another outstanding biopic, with some great performances from accomplices. Catch it while you can it is a must see in 3D in my book.
- DirectorDanny BoyleStarsMichael FassbenderKate WinsletSeth RogenSteve Jobs takes us behind the scenes of the digital revolution, to paint a portrait of the man at its epicenter. The story unfolds backstage at three iconic product launches, ending in 1998 with the unveiling of the iMac.It's been a good year for biographies and this is amongst the best of them. I can't comment on the accuracy because I know next to nothing about Steve Jobs or the evolution of computers but Michael Fassbender puts in a great performance of a man struggling with internal demons and an intense drive to get things done , no matter what the cost to his persona. If Steve Jobs was an *beep* which is my interpretation from seeing this movie it was very convincing. Maybe only getting a 15 year window didn't do Jobs any favours, maybe it did , I just don't know ? after all this was really about his rise and fall to success not how he took Apple into the 21st century as one of the most dominant global companies. The film shows a man who didn't know how to be nice to people even to his own daughter, ok it turns out he wasn't a complete bastard after all, maybe? The performance from Kate Winslet once again shows why she has been nominated for 6 Oscars and 6 BAFTAs amongst over 100 other awards, she is simply brilliant and no doubt in line for more nominations. It doesn't matter if you're not interested in computers to enjoy this, I mean I didn't use a computer until 1988 and only bought one in 1999 so I don't qualify as a geek as for Apple products I think they are overpriced, people are paying a heavy premium for that apple logo!, no wonder the founders are billionaires, none of this comes out in the film of course ! but if you like stunning performances from some great actors this might push the right buttons for you as it did me.
- DirectorJames MarshStarsEddie RedmayneFelicity JonesTom PriorStephen Hawking gets unprecedented success in the field of physics despite being diagnosed with motor neuron disease at the age of 21. He defeats awful odds as his first wife Jane aids him loyally.As biography movies go this will be up there with the best of them, mainly because of the outstanding performance from Eddie Redmayne and excellent co-star Felicity Jones. Redmayne's portrayal of Stephen Hawking is so impressive he is an obvious Oscar contender. A truly remarkable story of an extraordinary mans life, without getting bogged down with the detail of his scientific accomplishments. Well worth going to see if you like life affirming and moving true life dramas.
- DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsEmily BluntJosh BrolinBenicio Del ToroAn idealistic FBI agent is enlisted by a government task force to aid in the escalating war against drugs at the border area between the U.S. and Mexico.If you are looking for a tense dark thriller, then look no further. This film is full of tension doesn't pull any punches with its hard hitting drama. Benicio Del Toro is the Sicario (Hitman Alajendro) working with a covert task force enpowered to do what it takes to tackle the drug trafficking blood letting on the US Mexican border led by Josh Brolin (Matt Graver) who gives his best performance I can remember, they enlist a FBI agent Kate (Emily Blunt) who has just had a taste of the drugs war where some of her team were killed and wants in on the action to make a difference. These 3 characters are completely different, Kate is the do it by the book element Matt is lets get it done whatever it takes and Alajendro is the dark mysterious hitman out for revenge. The tension between them and the shared enemy will have you on the edge of your seat for the full 2 hours, although you are in constant anticipation of what's coming next it still comes as a surprise, you just cant predict what will happen next. All of this is set with a backdrop of some great aerial footage and dark and moody music just to add to the tension.
Great performance from all 3 although maybe Blunt had a tough job keeping up with the other 2. Possibly the best cop/ drug war thriller of the year, well worth going to see. - DirectorAlfonso Gomez-RejonStarsThomas MannRJ CylerOlivia CookeHigh schooler Greg, who spends most of his time making parodies of classic movies with his co-worker Earl, finds his outlook forever altered after befriending a classmate who has just been diagnosed with cancer.Ok, obviously this will be compared to The Fault in Our Stars and although it is about someone with a terminal illness there the similarity ends. There is a lot of clever humour here and ok they may have borrowed the dodgy movie making idea from a few places the way it is done is really cool. Don't get me wrong its not just funny it does have a serious side and will make you fill up in places (unless you have a heart of stone) so be prepared for mixed emotions. The 3 lead actors are really brilliant and relatively unknown to me so it was refreshing to see this young talent for a change. I can't say too much about the story without spoilers so I suggest you go see it for yourself, another must see for this year.