My Top 25 of 2015
by witster18 | created - 08 Oct 2015 | updated - 6 months ago | PublicAs with these lists I do every year... there's a lag-time... I'll only start listing films I think MAY have a chance onto a spot.. in reality the last 5-10 films here could end up getting shifted out of the top 25 as I continue to hash-out my watchlist . Even as lag-time's go.. this year has been particularly slow in terms of worthy films... really puts a strong 2014 in perspective...
hERE'S SOME OF THE FILMS STILL ON THE WATCHLIST(NOT ALL AND WILL REMOVE AS i WATCH THEM):
Anomalisa, 45 Years, 99 Homes, Mr.Holmes, The Assassin, Spotlight, Mr. Turner, Amy, Listen to Me Marlon, Iris, Call Me Lucky , Heaven Knows What, Carol, Selma, Tangerine...to name a few...
Total # of 2015(u.s. release) films seen to date - 90
Just missed:26.wildlike . End of the Tour 27.Just Before I Go 28.Steve Jobs 29.Phoenix 30.Cold in July 31.Black Mass 32.It Follows 32.Burnt 32.straight Outta Compton 33.Brooklyn 34.Bridge of Spies 35.Suicide Theory 36.Hateful Eight 37.Focus 38.The Overnight 39.No Escape 40.Tomorrowland 41.Age of Adaline
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1. Meru (2015)
R | 90 min | Documentary, Sport
Three elite climbers struggle to find their way through obsession and loss as they attempt to climb Mount Meru, one of the most coveted prizes in the high stakes game of Himalayan big wall climbing.
Directors: Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi | Stars: Conrad Anker, Grace Chin, Jimmy Chin, Amee Hinkley
Votes: 19,058 | Gross: $2.33M
2. The Revenant (I) (2015)
R | 156 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
A frontiersman on a fur trading expedition in the 1820s fights for survival after being mauled by a bear and left for dead by members of his own hunting team.
Director: Alejandro G. Iñárritu | Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Will Poulter, Domhnall Gleeson
Votes: 874,511 | Gross: $183.64M
3. Wild Tales (2014)
R | 122 min | Comedy, Drama, Thriller
Six short stories that explore the extremities of human behavior involving people in distress.
Director: Damián Szifron | Stars: Darío Grandinetti, María Marull, Mónica Villa, Diego Starosta
Votes: 216,349 | Gross: $3.11M
'15 U.S. release. 1-2-3-4 here are neck-and-neck.
4. Ex Machina (2014)
R | 108 min | Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
A 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.
Director: Alex Garland | Stars: Alicia Vikander, Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, Sonoya Mizuno
Votes: 589,741 | Gross: $25.44M
Ex Machina was initially rated an 8/10, but a re-watch raised it. That, and starting to line-it-up against some of the other strong Sci-Fi's of 2015. It's plot is fresher than Martian or TFA, the acting is fantastic. THe film's 'horror' aspect and ending really give it some juice in the race. 9/10
5. Victoria (II) (2015)
Not Rated | 138 min | Crime, Drama, Romance
A young Spanish woman who has recently moved to Berlin finds her flirtation with a local guy turn potentially deadly as their night out with his friends reveals a dangerous secret.
Director: Sebastian Schipper | Stars: Laia Costa, Frederick Lau, Franz Rogowski, Burak Yigit
Votes: 63,148
6. Sicario (2015)
R | 121 min | Action, Crime, Drama
An 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.
Director: Denis Villeneuve | Stars: Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, Benicio Del Toro, Jon Bernthal
Votes: 476,852 | Gross: $46.89M
7. The Big Short (2015)
R | 130 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama
In 2006-2007 a group of investors bet against the United States mortgage market. In their research, they discover how flawed and corrupt the market is.
Director: Adam McKay | Stars: Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt
Votes: 484,721 | Gross: $70.26M
I don't know that it helps very much explain some very complicated financial-district concepts, but it sure has one hell of a cast in their Sundays best. Bale is great as usual.
8. Mississippi Grind (2015)
R | 108 min | Comedy, Drama
Down on his luck and facing financial hardship, Gerry teams up with younger charismatic poker player, Curtis, in an attempt to change his luck. The two set off on a road trip through the South with visions of winning back what's been lost.
Directors: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck | Stars: Ben Mendelsohn, Ryan Reynolds, Yvonne Landry, Anthony Howard
Votes: 26,012 | Gross: $0.13M
FOr the most part, a very realistic character study of two gambling addicts. Mendelsohn's performance, imo, is oscar worthy. 8/10
9. The Martian (2015)
PG-13 | 144 min | Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi
An 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.
Director: Ridley Scott | Stars: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Kate Mara
Votes: 925,571 | Gross: $228.43M
A return to form for Ridley Scott. A sprawling, epic sci-fi adventure/drama that was just a couple of small misses from being 10/10. Packing a 3 hr movie into 2:20, and the whole canopy idea at the end could have been ideas that were re-thought. Still amazing. Truly great movie. my rating 8/10 I do think that the 3-D version was one of the best 3-D's that I've ever seen. Really effective. After seeing the 2D - big, big difference. The 3D was just incredible. Deftly handled on the big screen.
10. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
R | 120 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
In 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.
Director: George Miller | Stars: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Zoë Kravitz
Votes: 1,086,547 | Gross: $154.06M
Visually amazing. I think a little more dialog and plot would have gone a long, long way.
11. Creed (II) (2015)
PG-13 | 133 min | Action, Drama, Sport
The former World Heavyweight Champion Rocky Balboa serves as a trainer and mentor to Adonis Johnson, the son of his late friend and former rival Apollo Creed.
Director: Ryan Coogler | Stars: Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad
Votes: 310,912 | Gross: $109.77M
just compare it to TFA... 7th film in historic series. High expectations. Both critically acclaimed. Creed is the better film. Period.
12. Dope (2015)
R | 103 min | Adventure, Comedy, Crime
Life changes for Malcolm, a geek who's surviving life in a tough neighborhood, after a chance invitation to an underground party leads him and his friends into a Los Angeles adventure.
Director: Rick Famuyiwa | Stars: Shameik Moore, Tony Revolori, Kiersey Clemons, Kimberly Elise
Votes: 89,317 | Gross: $17.51M
Dope could be even higher without the preachy, sometimes off-subject speech at the end, but it's too much fun to ding-it too hard for that quip. Music.. color splash.. goodfellas/BOyzIntheHood-esque story-telling, and that's good.. make that seriously awesome company.
13. Southpaw (2015)
R | 124 min | Action, Drama, Sport
After a fatal incident sends him on a rampant path of destruction, a champion boxer fights to get custody of his daughter and revive his professional career.
Director: Antoine Fuqua | Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rachel McAdams, Oona Laurence, Forest Whitaker
Votes: 258,420 | Gross: $52.42M
If not for the trailer - It might have made the top-15. I mean really - just tell us every single aspect of the plot before it starts why don't you. Ridiculous. Late edit: a couple re-views have up'd this from #17 to #11 here.. just a solid movie bolstered by a fantastic lead performance. Jake G is one of the best in the business rt now.
14. Inside Out (I) (2015)
PG | 95 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
After 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.
Directors: Pete Docter, Ronnie Del Carmen | Stars: Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling
Votes: 785,596 | Gross: $356.46M
15. Room (I) (2015)
R | 118 min | Drama, Thriller
A little boy is held captive in a room with his mother since his birth, so he has never known the world outside.
Director: Lenny Abrahamson | Stars: Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, Sean Bridgers, Wendy Crewson
Votes: 450,598 | Gross: $14.68M
16. Eddie - Strongman (2015)
TV-14 | 98 min | Documentary
Truck mechanic, husband and father of two, Eddie Hall wants to be the World's Strongest Man. This feature documentary vividly illustrates the sacrifices that this extremely driven man must ... See full summary »
Director: Matt Bell | Stars: Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, Colin Bryce, Geoff Capes, Alex Curletto
Votes: 1,219
17. Chappie (2015)
R | 120 min | Action, Crime, Drama
In the near future, crime is patrolled by a mechanized police force. When one police droid, Chappie, is stolen and given new programming, he becomes the first robot with the ability to think and feel for himself.
Director: Neill Blomkamp | Stars: Sharlto Copley, Dev Patel, Hugh Jackman, Sigourney Weaver
Votes: 269,718 | Gross: $31.57M
18. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015)
PG-13 | 105 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
High 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.
Director: Alfonso Gomez-Rejon | Stars: Thomas Mann, RJ Cyler, Olivia Cooke, Nick Offerman
Votes: 138,302 | Gross: $6.74M
19. Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
PG-13 | 138 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
As a new threat to the galaxy rises, Rey, a desert scavenger, and Finn, an ex-stormtrooper, must join Han Solo and Chewbacca to search for the one hope of restoring peace.
Director: J.J. Abrams | Stars: Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson
Votes: 973,823 | Gross: $936.66M
AS for sheer entertainment value... it's ACES... like Two Towers/RogueNation/Avengers entertainment, as-in it has glaring issues but is still damn entertaining. Storyline just TOOO familiar. Don't like the way they handled Han or Luke.. in the end anyway.
20. Aloha (I) (2015)
PG-13 | 105 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A celebrated military contractor returns to the site of his greatest career triumphs and reconnects with a long-ago love while unexpectedly falling for the hard-charging Air Force watchdog assigned to him.
Director: Cameron Crowe | Stars: Bradley Cooper, Rachel McAdams, Emma Stone, Alec Baldwin
Votes: 71,069 | Gross: $20.99M
Severly underrated on this website. Sometimes happens to dram-coms and rom-coms(this is dram-com - difference being more drama than comedy). Great cast, charming little movie. Could have been even better, but as weak as this year has been so far, it's surprisingly in the top10.. thrown on last years list... it probably would be in the just-missed 25-30 range. Still might be here... I hope it ends up there because that would mean a strong push and a lot of good films to come, and soon. Marginal 7/10.
21. Finders Keepers (I) (2015)
R | 82 min | Documentary
A story about fame, addiction and a custody battle over a man's leg.
Directors: Bryan Carberry, Clay Tweel | Stars: John Wood, Shannon Whisnant, Mark Hamilton, Lisa Whisnant
Votes: 2,799 | Gross: $0.04M
22. Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015)
PG-13 | 131 min | Action, Adventure, Thriller
Ethan 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.
Director: Christopher McQuarrie | Stars: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg
Votes: 411,010 | Gross: $195.04M
Hopefully they'll not make any more and go out while the burner is hot, but that never happens does it? The motorcycle chase-scene is a big part of why this sleeper(in terms of top25) is holding onto this spot. I would be surprised though if this holds onto a top 10-15 spot by the time this lists nears it's conclusion in spring of 2016. 7/10
23. Ant-Man (2015)
PG-13 | 117 min | Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Armed with a super-suit with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, cat burglar Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, pull off a plan that will save the world.
Director: Peyton Reed | Stars: Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Corey Stoll, Evangeline Lilly
Votes: 722,232 | Gross: $180.20M
Sliding a bit.
24. The Gift (VI) (2015)
R | 108 min | Drama, Mystery, Thriller
A married couple, Simon and Robyn, run into Gordo, an old classmate. Things take a turn when Gordo begins to drop in unannounced at their house and inundates them with mysterious gifts.
Director: Joel Edgerton | Stars: Jason Bateman, Rebecca Hall, Joel Edgerton, Allison Tolman
Votes: 172,139 | Gross: $43.77M
Sliding a bit.
25. Before We Go (I) (2014)
PG-13 | 95 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Two strangers stuck in Manhattan for the night grow into each other's most trusted confidants when an evening of unexpected adventure forces them to confront their fears and take control of their lives.
Director: Chris Evans | Stars: Chris Evans, Alice Eve, Emma Fitzpatrick, John Cullum
Votes: 63,709 | Gross: $0.04M
Nice to see a realistic dram-com instead of a cliche'-ridden rom-com. Chris Evans does an admirable job directing. Both lead performances are dead-tap-center.
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