The Best Of 2015
With yet another year lapsed , 2015 might not be the most eventful one for cinema , but it did showcase one of the best that had to be offered. While an age old charisma is re-kindled , art is prioritized for more stylized experience , with fruitful abundance of content. This is my list of the top 12 movies I have watched and loved in 2016.
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- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsSamuel L. JacksonKurt RussellJennifer Jason LeighIn the dead of a Wyoming winter, a bounty hunter and his prisoner find shelter in a cabin currently inhabited by a collection of nefarious characters.It has finally arrived. It was an inevitable choice for Tarantino , to put this gem of a script on screen after a successful , fan appreciated theatre enactment. This movie is the clear definition of a claustrophobic , " atmospheric " thriller. Everything in this movie hits the high points. While many complain about the movie's run-time , It was pretty much a perfectly casted build-up to one of the most satisfying endings seen on screen. The movie was oozing out with the comedy structured by Tarantino and most importantly , the movie clearly does not represent a case of "STYLE OVER SUBSTANCE". The movie tried to be reservoir dogs with the essence of pulp fiction , and boy was it a diabolical b***h.
- DirectorAdam McKayStarsChristian BaleSteve CarellRyan GoslingIn 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.It is surprising to see this movie so low or maybe even missing from many of the 2015's best list. This movie is the definition of a meta-documentary done right. While many ensemble cast movies are over bloated with a conscious and self centred screen time , this movie stood on it's own leg due to the overall contribution of each of their actors and a plot that is riveting , funny and satirical which is very much expected from a director like Adam McKay. It was a surprising experience to see McKay provide a fluent/fluidic and coherent movie that constitutes of some really hilarious fourth wall breaks and an insight into the world of the men who profited out of betting and watching the whole world burn.
- DirectorLenny AbrahamsonStarsBrie LarsonJacob TremblaySean BridgersA little boy is held captive in a room with his mother since his birth, so he has never known the world outside.This movie is a testament of how creativity , passion and actual talent is put into a movie that is limited by it's resources and production funds. Room is a character study that revolves and highlights two individuals sharing a room , bound by love and the morbid pain of curiosity to see what lies outside of their cubical environment. Room is a movie that resonates with all of us to show the inter-relativity between pain and love , and how all of it grows stronger when a crisis hits with full blow. With a brilliant adapted source material , and a superb background score , Room stands alone as a strong independent movie that stands for the fact that quality cinema is never bound by the restrictions of production money.
- DirectorAlejandro G. IñárrituStarsLeonardo DiCaprioTom HardyWill PoulterA 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.A story of a man's struggle , a story of failure , a story of loss and an ultimate triumph , this is the story of 44 year old Leonardo on his way to his first Academy ward while being mauled by a bear , getting shot by some natives , fixing cuts and bruises with gun powder and traversing through the harsh and relentless environment. If you guys have encountered my birdman review , it is an evident fact that I have a soft spot of Alejandro and his keen love for cinematic direction. The Revenant is a cinematic masterpiece when it comes to the minimalistic cinematography that is layered by the artistic decision taken by Alejandro , that makes this movie gritty , realistic and believable to be accepted by any kind of viewer. This movie is a beauty to witness on screen , and the performances delivered by both Leonardo and Tom Hardy makes this a must watch and memorable movie which is a clear highlight of 2016.
- 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.Let's just assume that Prometheus and Exodus never happened. Now that the Martian is out and it has managed to successfully blow our minds , I can be sure about the fact that my main man Ridley is back in form and I genuinely cant wait for his future projects. Many people call Martian the Vast Away on mars , while I would like to ask them if Tom Hanks , living on a tropical island , ever needed to grow food out of his own poop. Another survival movie of 2016 , another home run , mainly because this one chose to have a light hearted and a comedic tone with an optimistic survivor in the lead , handled superbly by Matt Daemon that provides this movie with the added edge of re-watch ability and also being overly entertained by the humour and the gorgeously set backdrop the movie is placed in , though it was an ultra disappointment to know that Matt's beard towards the end of the movie was CGI :( . #firstWorldProblems
- 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.Yet another independent movie to prove my statement about talent over money. Ex Machina was a surprising movie that came out of nowhere. While all the other movies on this list were hyped and spread around , this movie was a name that was spread through the word of mouth. Intellectually intriguing and a layered plot was held coherently by an overwhelmingly small cast of 4 , each having their own character trait , and each having an intriguing core that can be studied. Ex Machina is a movie that makes it's viewers understand , think and ask " Am I Real ? "
- DirectorDuke JohnsonCharlie KaufmanStarsDavid ThewlisJennifer Jason LeighTom NoonanA man crippled by the mundanity of his life experiences something out of the ordinary.Calling this movie an imaginative piece of art is a pure understatement. While this year brought the extremely good inside out , this movie , for me was the animated movie of the year. Anomalisa is greater than what is seen on screen. This movie pictures emotions in a twisted world of reality that blurs a line between who are and what you really think you are. The story while inherently being brilliant what really captured my attention is the new form of stop motion animation. While all the animation movies in 2015 chose to go ahead with the over abundance of computer generated effects , Anomalisa chose to stand out differently , by choosing a style of animation that is painstakingly difficult and time consuming to fully fledge out the message the movie has to convey and uplifting the idea and concept of true artistic integrity.
- DirectorRyan CooglerStarsMichael B. JordanSylvester StalloneTessa ThompsonThe 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.Who knew the man with the eye of a tiger would come back to give a performance that is overwhelmingly phenomenal , even without having the character of Sylvester Stallone under the spotlight. Creed is a breath of fresh air to the over saturated boxing franchise of Rocky. Though the previous entry to the franchise " Rocky Balboa " was surprisingly good , it was clearly evident that Stallone could not handle the franchise on his own any longer. And so comes Mr. Coogler to save the day , because the idea of bringing son of Apollo Creed as the lead for a movie being mentored and thought by Rocky himself is the most genius idea for a screenwriter. This movie hits , more or less the same notes as the original Rocky , but what makes it different are the stakes in hand. Money , Life , Friend , Love , Name and Fame all are challenges Creed needs to battle while having a superb performance by Stallone that definitely deserved an Oscar.
- DirectorTom McCarthyStarsMark RuffaloMichael KeatonRachel McAdamsThe true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core.This movie deals with a concept of reality , that puts to light an issue that is nearly unknown to majority of it's viewers. To be honest I really did not care much about the problem in hand till I realized that this movie was trying to push an issue that was around each and every one of , a problem that is in every country , every state and every city. Spotlight is movie that does not hold any regrets for delving into the darker areas of the society that ultimately brings out a movie that is bold and upfront and a piece of cinema that once again holds an ensemble cast that work together smoothly to provide a cohesive and comprehensive view into the harsh reality of the world we live in.
- DirectorF. Gary GrayStarsO'Shea Jackson Jr.Corey HawkinsJason MitchellThe rap group NWA emerges from the mean streets of Compton in Los Angeles, California, in the mid-1980s and revolutionizes Hip Hop culture with their music and tales about life in the hood.This is the musical we all deserved. A musical of the A rated type. Straight Outa Compton is the right movie to watch to get some energy pumped in and turn into the N****AZ with some serious attitude. I am technically clueless about the origins of the NWA , but this movie created an adrenaline rush of a plot handled perfectly with a brilliantly crafted original screenplay and most importantly , some absolute perfection in the acting department. Straight Outa Compton is an overall madness of a package , and deserved more recognition than it had received from the Academy.
- DirectorJ.J. AbramsStarsDaisy RidleyJohn BoyegaOscar IsaacAs 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.The Force Has Awoken , Nuff Said ..
- 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.Well , I did say top 10 , and I strongly feel that Fury Road and Star wars were both phenomenal and great , and for me they stand toe to toe , right there together sharing the 10th spot. Mad Max was an already good action franchise that dealt with a morphed world , and a world that ran on some jacked up gas. Mel Gibson was a great Max and the old movies were great too. But what if those movies were injected with some heroine , while snorting in some cocaine when smoking some weed , what you get ultimately is Mad Max: Fury Road. This was an enthralling cinematic experience that had my jaws dropped and staring at the screen , numb and speechless. The action was raw , productive and intricately simple ( if that makes any sense ). This is the movie one must watch before going on a long trip , to help grow a pair and live the road life like they mean it.