Top Movies of 2015
Before I present to you the read my top movies of the year, I must qualify that this is a list based on how much I enjoyed these films, not how good they are and certainly not how well I or anyone else rated them. These are the films of 2015 that I simply had a great time watching. They are fun and funny, action packed and explosive, or human and heartfelt, but all of them stuck a chord with me, your reviewer.
#5: Mission Impossible 5: Rogue Nation
The fifth best movie of 2015 is the fifth entry into the Mission Impossible series. This is the first time I will go on record saying that M:I has surpassed the venerable James Bond. The muddled, messy and boring “Spectre” is no match for the pacing, music and visceral action of “Rogue Nation”. The great chemistry between Pegg and Cruise pushes M:I 5 to even greater heights, rolling out the best spy thriller since “Skyfall”. When James Bond 25 comes out I will be comparing it to “Rogue Nation” and not the other way around.
#4: Sicario
Unlike the other films on this list, “Sicario” is not a happy movie. Grim, dark and heavy on the heart, “Sicario” sat unhappily within me for several weeks. However I can say with authority that “Sicario” is a great film. Del Toro’s dazzling and terrifying performance carries the film into its darkest moments, ones I will not soon forget.
#3: The Martian
My third best film of the year is “The Martian”. As a film “The Martian” really touched the science lover in me. It was nice to have a film that not only showed science in a positive light, but portrayed it without pretension or technobabble. Throw in Matt Damon’s human and light hearted acting and characterization, an exceptionally rendered Mars and the race against the clock race to “bring him home” “The Martian” is a real winner.
#2: Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens
“Star Wars: Episode VII” is my runner up for 2015. Relieved from the hands of George Lucas Star Wars shines to a degree it has not since The Empire Strikes back. Action packed, serious and light hearted, with fantastic characters, the movie is a down right great and joyous film for everyone to see. The film’s only major flaw is its similarity to A New Hope, which many will not see as a flaw at all.
#1: Macbeth
Justin Kurzel’s “Macbeth” is my top movie of 2015. “Macbeth” is a beautiful and bloody war drama and a near perfect adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy. On top of this it is impeccably acted, with Sean Harris, Marion Cotillard and Michael Fassbender all punching in stellar performances. Throw in the smoky, haunting and stunning cinematography and the lavish staging and battles, “Macbeth” is the single best adaptation of Shakespeare in film and one of the best showings of his work in years. I came out of “Macbeth” riveted and shaking and I recommend that you reader watch the film when it hits streaming services.
