My Top 15 Favorite Movies of 2015

Article by Gabe Zia
So the time has come to officially wrap things up with 2015. It's been a fantastic year for movie fans, so now I want to talk about some of my favorite movies that came out. But first, I want to establish a few things. Mainly, this list is subjective. If you would rather I put something else as #1, that's fine but it's not going to happen. Also, this list is less a list of the films I considered to be the most well made, but the films I enjoyed watching the most or affected me the most. However, before I get to the top 15, there are a few Honourable mentions that I feel should be addressed first.

Honorable Mentions

The Revenant

An intense, brutal, and beautifully filmed thriller from start to finish.

The Hateful Eight

Tarantino returns to formula with one of his most violent and hilarious films yet.

Ex Machina

A beautifully shot game of cat & mouse, and also one of the most creative movies of the year.

Phoenix

I saw this movie in 2014, so to me it's a 2014 movie, but it still certainly deserves a mention here.

Eden

One of the more inspiring and heartbreakingly real films I saw this year.

#15
So, without further delay, let's get to the list. And kicking off the list is a great comeback for both one of the best directors and one of the best actors in the business, Bridge of Spies.

Bridge of Spies is one of those rare films, the sort of "talky" movie as most call them, where almost 100% of the movie is dialogue, it's conversations, but just because there's little action doesn't mean it's not entertaining. In fact, I found Bridge of Spies to be one of the more engaging movies of the year, despite it being a film without any action. I found it intense, I cared about the story, I cared about the characters in it. And the dialogue in the movie is surprisingly engaging, considering it's not clever or quirky like most dialogue based movies.

#14
This was one of the earlier movies I saw in 2015, and as far as indie/underground movies that just about nobody saw or heard about, this is pretty high up there. However, it's certainly a film that deserves yours and everyones attention, and it's Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter.

Kumiko the Treasure Hunter was a movie that me and some of my friends were initially very excited for based simply on the films premise (we're all Fargo fans), so we found the premise of someone who thinks Fargo is a non-fictional film and goes looking for the bag of cash to be really interesting. And the end result is likewise, this is one of the most interesting and insightful movies I've seen all year, but it's also beautifully shot and features an amazing performance by Rinko Kikuchi. It's also one of the most poignant films I've seen in recent memory, with an ending I can only describe as perfect.

#13
Coming in at number thirteen is a film I really loved, a film that took a beloved franchise from the 70's and revamped it with both new and old cast members, and made one of the better movies of its genre, and one of the best in the series as a whole. Just to clarify, I'm not talking about Star Wars, I'm talking about Creed.

All kidding aside, Creed was one of the more surprising movies of the year, not just in terms of quality, but in where the qualities were. This is more than a boxing movie, if anything, boxing takes a side spot to the relationships and the characters. This is one of those movies that brings to life really convincing, and very real friendships and relationships that are really likeable as well. You like the kind of mentor/surrogate-father relationship between Donny and Rocky, you like the relationship between Donny and Bianca. I went into Creed expecting a good fighter movie, and got a movie with a surprising amount of heart and emotion to it.

#12
Prior to fairly recently, I'm not all that much of a book person. However, in 2015, there was one movie based on a book I had read, specifically because the premise of the movie was so intriguing, and that movie is The Martian.

Book adaptations are difficult, and Hollywood very rarely gets them right. However, The Martian is a perfect example of how to adapt a book to film, this movie hits all the right notes, it has an amazing cast, and it's amazing to see Andy Weirs masterpiece come to life on-screen. What sets The Martian apart from not just survivalist films, but sci-fi in general, is the fairly light nature of the movie. Despite all the obstacles, Mark Watney manages to keep fighting and keep surviving, not just on a physical level, but a psychological level as well. This movie is a breath of fresh air, and I'm glad Ridley Scott managed to make a comeback with this movie.

#11
After what seemed like ages where Pixar would produce films ranging from mediocre or okay (Brave and Monsters University) to downright garbage (Cars 2 & the Planes movies), they finally had an amazing return to formula with Inside Out.

Inside Out does what Pixar used to do best, which is that it takes a concept that at a first glance appears childish, and turns it into something beautiful, and something anyone at any age could enjoy. In fact, I'd say Inside Out was made especially more for the adult audiences than the kids, because it has a message that I think a lot of people (especially now) need to hear. I could talk about the animation, the writing, or the voice work (all of which are great), but what makes Inside Out special is the nature of the movie, and the intelligence of it.

#10
This is another movie that came out this year, that next to nobody either saw or heard about. So much so that I watched this movie during the summer, but it wasn't until recently that I found out this was a 2015 release, which absolutely secured What We Do in the Shadows a spot on this list.

What We Do in the Shadows earned its spot on this list for, simply put, being one the funniest movies I've seen since Shaun of the Dead. What makes it great is the fact that this movie uses absolutely every single aspect of filmmaking to its advantage, more than just the actors and the script. It uses the cinematography, is uses the soundtrack, is uses clever tricks of editing. And the humor is genuinely clever humor, but it's not pretentious humor that only a select few will get, anyone could watch this movie and have a great time.

#9
Okay, so now we're done with comedy. It's time for something completely different, something so dark, gritty, and disturbing that it probably put a lot of people off. I'm of course referring to Sicario.

While I don't quite love Sicario to the same extent as I did the first time I saw it, the film has still left a lasting impression on me with its striking visuals, great performances, and beautifully cinematography. This is one of the most intense movies I've seen in a while, it has you constantly on edge, constantly expecting a gun to fire or a bomb to go off. And what makes Sicario great is that it draws out the suspense for a while, keeping you on edge. This movie's not for everybody, but if you can stomach it, Sicario is well worth checking out.

#8
As both a journalist and someone who tries to be aware of current events as much as possible, Spotlight was one of the more important releases of the year, and I'm glad it turned out as good as it did.

Of the Oscar-type movies this year, this is the one film I've been hoping wins during the awards season. Not only is Spotlight a surprisingly entertaining film - especially surprising considering the films tone, but it's also an incredibly well-made film and should be recognized for that. The acting in this movie is some of the best I've seen all-year, Rachel Mcadams and Mark Ruffalo both giving Oscar-worthy performances, and the direction is simply outstanding. During the Oscars, I hope this movie wins more than a few awards.

#7
After Ashton Kutchers dull biopic Jobs, I kind of thought Hollywood would give up on making a film about the famous Apple co-founder. And after years of delays, re-writes, and recasts, I thought Aaron Sorkins movie would never come out. However, finally, we got Steve Jobs, and it was fantastic.

Not only is Steve Jobs one of the most consistently entertaining biographical films I've seen in a while, it's also a very unique film in terms of the story. Instead of following a normal biopic type of linear storytelling, Steve Jobs tells its story by using three important press conferences Steve Jobs did, and used the behind-the-scenes of those conferences to tell his story. As Aaron Sorkin is famously one of the best writers in Hollywood, his talent is reflected here in a film that has some of the best writing I've seen all year. Unfortunately, not many people went to see this movie, so that's why I feel the need to tell everyone to find a way to watch this movie, because it's a brilliant film. And it proves that an actor doesn't need to look like the person they're portraying to give an amazing performance.

#6
#6 is always one of the hardest spots on my top 15 of the year, because it's always where I have to put a film that I really loved, but didn't quite make my top 5. So, this year, that movie is The Gift.

Much like Steve Jobs, not very many people saw this movie, but it's a film that truly deserves to be seen. Joel Edgerton gives an incredible performance in this movie (totally snubbed for the oscar), and Jason Bateman was shockingly good. This movie is one of the most intelligent and well-organized thrillers I've seen in a while, and it's also one of the best discussion movies of the year. This is the kind of movie I love to see, the kind that promotes serious discussion to a very serious topic, so that alone should entice you to see it.

#5
It's well known to anyone who actively watches movies that January & February are the dump months. These are the months where all the movies are either forgettable, mediocre, or just trash the studio behind them wants to forget about. So a movie from these months making my top 5 is extremely rare, but Kingsman: The Secret Service did it anyway.

Kingsman has it all, everything anyone could ever want from a great action film. It has a great protagonist, the supporting characters are fantastic, it has a memorable villain, a badass henchman, it has great music, and it's a fantastic love letter to the classic Bond movies. Colin Firth is amazing as Galahad, and I really hope he does more action films as a result of this movie. I loved Kingsman, and I am dying with anticipation for the sequel.

#4
This is a movie that I was originally not going to see, simply because I wasn't all that interested in it, however I went to see it on chance, and now '71 is one of my favorite movies of the year.

'71 was one of the more important movies to me this year, mainly because of the way this film portrays war. This movie is what happens if you take No Country for Old Men's style of gritty violence and on-the-run story, but set it in the backdrop of a war. In '71, war is almost portrayed more like a horror movie than a necessity, which was the main thing I adored about this movie as someone who is strongly anti-war. And Jack O'Connels performance in this movie is stunning, I really hoep to see this actor in more things to come.

#3
This is the movie I've seen almost universally as the #1 of the year on most critics lists, and while It's not my #1, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is still one of the best movies of the year.

The Force Awakens is a perfect example of a movie that may have its issues here or there, but is still a near-perfect film, and it's good enough to look past its minor problems. This is one of those reboot type movies I love to see, yet its the kind Hollywood never seems to get right. It perfectly balances the new and the old, creating a film that is both great for newcomers and the old fans, without alienating either side. The cast of the film does a spectacular job (particularly Daisy Ridley and John Boyega), and I can't wait to see what's to come with this franchise.

#2
Now, same with last year, my picks for #1 and #2 are practically interchangeable. They're both masterpieces in my mind, and are all but tied. However, since it's a toplist, I have to put it in some kind of order, so my #2 is Me & Earl & the Dying Girl.

This is a truly brilliant movie, with amazing acting, and some of the best writing I've seen in a high-school movie. The clever and unique style by which this movie is filmed and the story is told would've already earned this movie a spot on this list, but it's the execution that counts. This movie seems to be able to do what most movies of its kind (not just Cancer movies, emotional movies in general) can't seem to do. This movie doesn't have the plagues of movies like Room, movies that seem to force an emotional reaction out of the audience. The most emotional moments in this movie aren't ones with dramatic dialogue or overbearing music (like in most movies), but the scenes that are unmistakably real. This is a rare example of a movie that doesn't force an emotional reaction out of its audience, but simply hits them with some good realism, and lets the emotions happen naturally. Me & Earl & the Dying Girl earned its spot as #2, not just because it's an amazing movie, but it's the movie on this list that most deserves to be seen by everyone. Except for #1, obviously.

#1
As a critic, I hate to use the word "perfect". "Near-perfect" or "masterpiece" usually do, but a film that is completely flawless usually only comes around once a year, and always lands the #1 spot on my list. This year, that movie is Mad Max: Fury Road.

What can I say about this movie that hasn't already been said? This is an incredibly rare kind of movie, the kind that needs to be celebrated for how damn good it is. This movie has incredible action sequences, with great stunts and set design to match. Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron are both excellent in the lead roles, and even the supporting cast was amazing. It has a really cool villain, who managed to also be a very memorable one on top of that. The cinematography is gorgeous, the world of Mad Max is more beautiful in this movie than ever before. But not only that, Mad Max: Fury Road is also one of the most consistently entertaining movies I've ever seen. The actions sequences are all filmed in unique and visually interesting ways, and this movie doesn't shy away from the quiet and somber moments. When a character dies, it's not something that gets brushed off quickly, you feel the shift in tone caused by each event in the movie. This movie manages to tell a simple story in the most effective way possible. It's a movie I've watched a hundred times, and could probably do to watch a hundred times more. So, with that, it's my favorite movie of 2015.