Victoria was one of the year's most unique films but did it land on my Top 10?
List time part 2!!! After sifting through what felt a seismic
ton of films to get here (I had quite the busy year so Fred’s Top 10 film catch
up binge was a little longer this year) it’s finally time to count them down. I
tried to resist it for a while but I will no more, 2015 was a good year for
film. While it did not have the “awards depth” of previous years, 2015 was a
year that if you looked, even for just a second you would unearth quite a
number of unique and fascinating films. The theme of the films on this list is
diversity, in all aspects. This list features both a film that was shot on
super 70mm and one that was shot using an IPhone. It features many a film that
was shot using frenetic cuts and one that featured no cuts at all. 2015 was a
year with protagonists of all shapes and sizes, not only throughout its smaller
samplings, but within its two best blockbusters as well. Even with its slow
start and sparse awards bait, 2015 had a celebrated film for almost everyone,
and it was a difficult task picking its ten best films.
The usual caveat applies: I have (despite no lack of trying)
not seen every film in 2015 including a few that have snuck into others top 10s
the biggest of which being The Revenant which does not screen in Vancouver
until early January. Now that everything is out of the way lets get down to
business! I present to you my picks for the very best films of 2015:
Honorable Mentions:
Steve Jobs, The Martian, Brooklyn, Amy, It Follows, Wild
Tales, Chi-Raq, Sicario
The List:
10. Tangerine
Who could have imagined that the most kinetic film of 2015
would be shot on an IPhone? Yet Tangerine, a film about the wild adventures of
two transgendered prostitutes, pulled it off in the most fascinating fashion
imaginable. Tangerine felt so uniquely personal and moved with an energy that
was like nothing else in 2015. The film never held back in its portrait of its
main characters and created many beautiful, flawed, and energetic figures whose
personalities and dilemmas lit up the screen. It also brought forth a unique
perspective to the silver screen, giving voice to a group within the
Transgendered community whose stories are never told, let alone with such
energy or detail. When talking about the film year of 2015 its hard to ignore
the beautifully vibrant Tangerine.
9. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
While not a masterpiece, Star Wars: The Force Awakens hit
all the right notes for the fans of the original Star Wars films. The Force
Awakens was unafraid just to be a big, nostalgic, unsubtle space opera. It felt
as if the filmmakers understood exactly what made the original trilogy so
special. The Force Awakens also provided a wonderful set up for future films in
the franchise using the old characters and set pieces to set up new and lovable
characters for the future of the franchise. Overall though what made The Force
Awakens such a delight was just how enthralling of a viewing experience it was
from beginning to finish. I had more fun in Star Wars The Force Awakens then
any other film viewing experience I’ve seen this year and that is worth more to
me then any minor quibble I may have.
8. Victoria
There have been a few films recently that have simulated
being a shot in a single take, but Victoria is the only film to actually pull
it off for real. I am a huge sucker for tracking shots to begin with and
Victoria uses its style to extraordinary effect. Once the introductions are
through Victoria is one of the most thrilling films to come out in 2015. The
dynamic and somewhat restricting nature of the tracking shot made for one of
the most exciting experiences of the year. Victoria is film that used its
camera work the most to its advantage creating one of the most extraordinary
film experiences in 2015.
7. Carol
The most beautiful love story of 2015 was Todd Haynes’
Carol. Gorgeously shot, and beautifully sensual the romance between Carol and
Therese felt so sweet and real. Both Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara shine
bright here acting the hell out of both the pleasures and the pains of their
secret relationship. The film overall strikes the perfect balance of a slow
build romance and a stark melancholy when facing the realities of a lesbian
relationship in the 50s. Oh and did I
mention how pretty it is? Haynes relishes in every frame, making even the most
melancholic sequences absolutely stunning. Carol is just a beautiful film in
every aspect, a timeless yet complicated love story and one of the best films
of 2015.
6. Inside Out
Pixar is back! Not only did Inside Out represent Pixar’s
return to quality it was one of the studio’s most stunning efforts to date.
Strikingly emotional and wonderfully funny Pixar’s take on the emotions of a
little girl going through a tough growth period was beautiful and fascinating.
It’s one of Pixar’s most adult films to date, grown me and women (myself
included) were weeping throughout many of the films best emotional moments.
It’s great to see Pixar to use its best traits, specifically their originality
and emotional sensibility, to create something truly stunning again.
5. Ex Machina
The annual small but great Sci-Fi film, Ex Machina was as
smart as any film to come out over the last several years. A film about the
love, fear, and misunderstanding of a man made AI who starts to gain her own
conscious, Ex Machina explored both the consequences and responsibilities of
creating a new conscious. It also introduced me Alicia Vikander who delivered
one of the single best performances of the year as the AI Ava, creating one of
the more fascinating characters to pop off the screen in 2015. Thrilling and
surprisingly poignant Ex Machina was yet another example of how great smart
Sci-Fi can be.
4. Creed
If you had told me around this time last year that a Rocky
sequel/spinoff would be the film in 2015 that would make me cry the most I may
have called insane; but thanks to the power of Ryan Coogler and Michael B.
Jordan that ended up being the case. Creed was a Rocky film through and
through, but by switching the perspective and focusing more on its characters
Creed transformed into something truly special. Coogler also found a new and
unique way to shoot the fights themselves giving all of them a vibrancy that
had been missing in the past. I would be remiss not to mention the performance
of Sylvester Stallone who after all these years proved that when asked to do so
he could deliver a great performance. All of those elements manage to blend
perfectly enough to actually bring me to tears when the perfectly timed Rocky
theme kicked in for the first time. Creed is the kick that the Rocky franchise
needed, and the first of the sequels to strike the same balance that made the
original such a success.
3. Spotlight
The best journalism film since All the President’s Men
Spotlight was an exhilarating examination of the investigation of the Catholic
Priests in Boston in the early 2000s. Perfectly paced, Spotlight kept the focus
on the Boston Globe for the better creating a lean film that never wore out its
welcome and never felt like it was using its source material to manipulate its
audience. It also helps that Spotlight has an extraordinary ensemble cast all
of whom deliver subtle, naturalistic performances (well maybe save for Ruffalo
who is a little showier) that elevates the film to a whole new level. Spotlight
is jut a great film in all aspects, a super energetic drama, and one of the
best films of 2015.
2. Mad Max Fury Road
A marvel of imaginative action filmmaking Mad Max Fury Road
was film that wowed me in 2015. Fury Road stomped on the gas pedal and never
let go creating one of the most adrenaline fueled, edge of your seat action
films of all time. But with Fury Road George Miller did not just create great
action but a deep and complete world as well. With Fury Road Miller has
mastered how to create a deep world and deep characters without having to pause.
He almost entirely used backgrounds, expressions and actions to develop the
proceedings with truly stunning results. All those elements along with some
truly great performances made Mad Max Fury Road not only one of 2015’s best
films but one of the all time greatest action films as well.
1. The Hateful Eight
When Tarantino is at his very best there are few filmmakers
that are better. While both Spotlight and Fury Road are great films for me The
Hateful Eight was just on another level. The Hateful Eight was a filmmaker at
the height of his powers. The Hateful Eight itself is a masterwork of sheer
confidence. The film is just a brilliant thriller its dialogue sparkles, its
tension is off the charts, and the explosion of action near its end is
brilliantly executed. But more then anything else The Hateful Eight is 2015’s
most challenging film. It reverses the western genre to create a claustrophobic
atmosphere and creates a discomfort in the way it plays with social conventions
and ideas. Tarantino does not let the audience fully sit back and enjoy the
chaos ensuing (although it can be very enjoyable) making some of the
proceedings deeply uncomfortable and thought provoking. Overall what puts The
Hateful Eight over the top is just how much I am still thinking about it. This
is a film I can’t wait to see again and again (which sounds morbid I know). The
Hateful Eight is another Tarantino masterpiece and is the best film of 2015.
That’s just me though. What did everyone else think?
