Movies Released in 2015 That I've Seen
Movies I've seen from 2015, ranked from best to worst.
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- 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.Just an insane action movie that does away with most modern conventions (colour grading aside) to provide old school, kick ass thrills and show off incredible stunt work. And to those whining about the moving being feminist propaganda: c'mon, seriously? Did you watch the same movie as me? The movie wasn't overtly feminist and it wasn't overbearingly macho, I found that it actually struck a nice balance. Oh, and if this doesn't at least get nominated for a makeup award this Oscar season, then I'll lose faith entirely in the Academy.
- 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.The Martian is a pretty great survival movie, one that really revels in its premise and takes joy in wringing out the maximum amount of thrills and tension as things go from optimistic to soul-crushingly cataclysmic and then back again. It's also just really interesting seeing the ingenuity on display which saves the day again and again, and while Matt Damon's Watney is the focus, the movie is very careful to acknowledge that the movie's heroics are very much a team effort. Speaking of Damon, he puts in a very good performance, although I'm not sure that this movie is going to be remembered or in any serious contention come Oscar season sadly.
- DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsEmily BluntJosh BrolinBenicio Del ToroAn 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.A really great action-drama with some standout acting and direction. The plot is really interesting and the film shows a very nasty side of the Mexican war on drugs, and a speculative look at an American response. I was also moderately surprised that the action was as good as it was, there are a few really fantastic action sequences that are extremely intense thanks to the great direction on display. Definitely worth a watch!
- DirectorBaltasar KormákurStarsJason ClarkeAng Phula SherpaThomas M. WrightOn May 10, 1996, mountain guides Rob Hall and Scott Fischer combine their expedition teams for a final ascent to the summit of Mount Everest. With little warning, a storm strikes the mountain and the climbers must now battle to survive.This movie might just be the most accurate adaptation of a true story I've ever seen. Yes, they definitely simplified the situation and omitted some key details (the lack of the Taiwanese climbers and complete excision some of Boukreev's controversial decisions are probably the most egregious examples), but on the whole it was incredibly faithful. Great performances all-round and just an absolutely intense and harrowing final hour that will have you absolutely riveted.
- 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.Ex Machina is, at its core, a surprisingly simple and straightforward story about artificial intelligence. However, it is elevated significantly by its gorgeous direction and cinematography and by the excellent performances of all of the actors. The special effects are also fantastic, while remaining shockingly low-key and unobtrusive. Definitely worth checking out!
- 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.The Big Short is a surprisingly-stylish film considering that it's all about manipulating finance and economics. The workings of Wall Street are a subject I'm particularly well-versed in, and while The Big Short does try to teach you about it up-top, it doesn't really start at the basics and just expects you to follow along from there. As a result, you're probably going to be confused about exactly what's happening at various points. If you can get over that confusion though, it's a fascinating glimpse at a whole world out of our sight which affects everyone's lives and the corruption which runs rampant in it.
- 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.I am only vaguely familiar with NWA and rap, but I found Straight Outta Compton to be a fascinating biopic. The stories of Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and Eazy-E are far more compelling than I would have expected going in. It is also clearly tapping into the current climate of cultural anxiety surrounding police brutality and racism, which lends the film additional gravitas and reminds us why NWA deserve to be remembered.
- 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.Spotlight is a good film, but one which is almost shocking in its lack of flash. That's not exactly a complaint, sensationalizing a story this important in the typical "Hollywood style" would be extremely crass, but the very straightforward (one might say "reporting the facts") style of the film doesn't really make the film stand out. Similarly, the performances are all good, but none stand out as particularly noteworthy. It's kind of a curse that this film won Best Picture - it's a good movie, but when you get that sort of accolade, it becomes a matter of what the film failed to do better than its contemporaries, rather than how enjoyable it was on its own merits.
- 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 Awakens is definitely a fan pleaser and sets up the next generation of Star Wars quite well. The new characters are very refreshing while the old ones don't outstay their welcome. However, the story was not particularly great and didn't set its stakes very well, meaning that it simply is not going to be remembered as a classic like the original trilogy was unfortunately. Still, The Force Awakens has rejuvenated the franchise and will hopefully mark the beginning of a strong new trilogy.
- DirectorJohn WellsStarsBradley CooperSienna MillerDaniel BrühlAdam Jones is a chef who destroyed his career with drugs and diva behavior. He cleans up and returns to London, determined to redeem himself by spearheading a top restaurant that can gain three Michelin stars.Who would have thought that you could wring so much entertainment out of a cooking drama? Well, one fronted by Bradley Cooper is a good start at least. Cooper puts in a strong performance and the film is definitely propelled by its characters' relationships to one another. Hell, I would consider the subject matter to be ridiculously boring normally, but the film manages to make you at least empathize with the notion of cooking as an artform.
- DirectorJoel EdgertonStarsJason BatemanRebecca HallJoel EdgertonA 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.The Gift is a pretty strong thriller-drama which mires in moral ambiguity and leaves just enough cards off the table to keep you guessing after it is all wrapped up. The ending brings things together quite nicely and, while there is a very obvious pitfall here (SPOILER: why not get a DNA test), Simon would probably not subject his child to a paternity test because he is incapable of telling the truth to his wife, not to mention that she doesn't want to see him again. All-in-all, a great debut for Joel Edgarton!
- DirectorJames WanStarsVin DieselPaul WalkerDwayne JohnsonDeckard Shaw seeks revenge against Dominic Toretto and his family for his comatose brother.Furious 7 starts out fairly rough, which is likely due to major script changes about halfway through. However, by the time the first act is over, the movie revs straight into some absolutely insane sustained action sequences which are enough to rival the very best moments from the previous films. Also, the ending is every bit as good as you have heard, you can tell that this is a film made by friends to celebrate a life cut way too short, and that they've poured their hearts into paying tribute. RIP Paul Walker, you went out when you were on top of the world.
- DirectorJoss WhedonStarsRobert Downey Jr.Chris EvansMark RuffaloWhen Tony Stark and Bruce Banner try to jump-start a dormant peacekeeping program called Ultron, things go horribly wrong and it's up to Earth's mightiest heroes to stop the villainous Ultron from enacting his terrible plan.I think a little too much was expected of Avengers: Age of Ultron, because it's great piece of fun entertainment within the context of its shared universe. However, if you were riding the hype train all the way (or god forbid, haven't followed the Marvel universe at all), then you might get disappointed. There are some stupid moments which make it a little worse than the first Avengers film, but all-in-all, I'd be shocked if you at least did not find yourself having a good time watching this.
- 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.The Hateful Eight is one-half of a great movie. The first half is fantastic, using its slow pacing to introduce all the characters and then let the paranoia build. However, the second half becomes really messy (in more ways that one, naturally), and just feels much more bloated and nasty than it really needed to be. It's still a fairly good movie, but by Tarantino's standard, it's easily one of his weakest efforts.
- DirectorPeyton ReedStarsPaul RuddMichael DouglasCorey StollArmed 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.Despite all the negative hype that has surrounded Ant-Man since its announcement, the film is actually quite a bit of fun. Most importantly, I left the theater thinking "holy crap, being able to shrink and communicate with ants is actually an AWESOME power!!" The film also features some of the funniest moments in the MCU, and has some pretty inventive action sequences. Unfortunately, it's also held back somewhat by a bit of a messy script - the plot doesn't make a lot of sense at times, the villain is arguably the most one-dimensional in the entire MCU and it's a bit of a slog for the opening 40 minutes. Still, if you can get past the unfortunate flaws, then Ant-Man is a very worthy addition to the Marvel canon!
- DirectorJudd ApatowStarsAmy SchumerBill HaderBrie LarsonHaving thought that monogamy was never possible, a commitment-phobic career woman may have to face her fears when she meets a good guy.Trainwreck is pretty typical Judd Apatow - way too long, lots of improv, and a ton of real heart to it. It's not as funny as his earlier comedy classics, but satisfies in the same manner.
- DirectorFrancis LawrenceStarsJennifer LawrenceJosh HutchersonLiam HemsworthKatniss and a team of rebels from District 13 prepare for the final battle that will decide the fate of Panem.It's hard to really get a strong sense for whether Mockingjay Part 2 is the satisfying conclusion that the Hunger Games franchise deserved, because it's just such a dour movie. This, of course, is the entire point, as we see the dark side of war and rebellion that most blockbusters wouldn't even dare to touch. This is, unfortunately, somewhat undercut by the series' insistence on a PG-13 rating, as an R-rated cut would definitely have made at least 2 of the big, depressing sequences much more impactful. As I said, the film is meant to be a depressing affair, but I don't think its story really does it proper justice and ends up leaving it feeling a bit empty in the end. After all, a depressing ending is not necessarily an unsatisfying one, as something like Terminator 3 or Escape From the Planet of the Apes could attest.
- DirectorMichael DoughertyStarsAdam ScottToni ColletteDavid KoechnerA boy who has a bad Christmas accidentally summons a festive demon to his family home.Krampus balances horror and comedy to create a surprisingly effective new alt-holiday classic. For one thing, it twists Christmas conventions in a deliberate manner to make it feel like a real Christmas movie, even while it is perverting the idea at the same time. Also, for a PG-13 horror film, it is unexpectedly savage at times, with plenty of kid-murder. All-in-all, Krampus is probably going to be joining Treevenge on my annual Christmas watch list.
- DirectorChristopher McQuarrieStarsTom CruiseRebecca FergusonJeremy RennerEthan 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.M:I5 is pretty enjoyable and flashy, once again deftly showing off Tom Cruise's viability as an action star in this day and age (and despite all the excellent films on his resume in recent years, he still has to prove himself to the public). The opening plane heist and the car/motorcycle chase are both fantastic set-pieces, but the main area where M:I5 stumbles is in its plot - it's serviceable, but extremely threadbare, with a very weak villain. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the film, but try not to think too hard about it and you'll have a good time.
- DirectorBrad PeytonStarsDwayne JohnsonCarla GuginoAlexandra DaddarioIn the aftermath of a massive earthquake in California, a rescue-chopper pilot makes a dangerous journey with his ex-wife across the state in order to rescue his daughter.If you have seen any Roland Emmerich disaster movie then you'll probably know exactly what to expect from San Andreas. The story is incredibly cliched, but the actors are charismatic and the action is intense (if a little distasteful). Basically just mindless entertainment, so you'll know if you like it already.
- DirectorM. Night ShyamalanStarsOlivia DeJongeEd OxenbouldDeanna DunaganTwo siblings become increasingly frightened by their grandparents' disturbing behavior while visiting them on vacation.A fun, long-awaited return to form for M. Night Shyamalan, The Visit grows surprisingly tense as it goes along and the grandparents' actions grow more erratic. The found footage angle can feel contrived at times, but the documentary explanation at least keeps it somewhat grounded.
- DirectorNancy MeyersStarsRobert De NiroAnne HathawayRene RussoSeventy-year-old widower Ben Whittaker has discovered that retirement isn't all it's cracked up to be. Seizing an opportunity to get back in the game, he becomes a senior intern at an online fashion site, founded and run by Jules Ostin.The Intern is a sweet movie, thanks largely to an enthusiastic performance from Robert de Niro. However, it also could have done with some editing, as some parts of the film really feel pointless and tonally out of place (I'm looking at you awful "steal mom's laptop" sequence). However, when the real conflict of the film begins to get underway, it gets far more interesting again, with a twist handled in a far more interesting manner than you would expect from a film like this.
- DirectorColin TrevorrowStarsChris PrattBryce Dallas HowardTy SimpkinsA new theme park, built on the original site of Jurassic Park, creates a genetically modified hybrid dinosaur, the Indominus Rex, which escapes containment and goes on a killing spree.Jurassic World is a pretty fun ride and definitely the best sequel to Jurassic Park, but it still doesn't quite leave you satisfied due to its rather weak plot, which is shot full of holes and contrivances. As a self-identifying feminist though, I have to say that the "controversy" regarding the movie is a tad silly - I was watching it with an eye on the gender relations, and it isn't really any worse than you average blockbuster (read: not good, but not unexpectedly misogynistic). All-in-all, Jurassic World is just slightly dumb fun, but it could have been so much more.
- DirectorJonathan LevineStarsJoseph Gordon-LevittSeth RogenJillian BellOn Christmas Eve, three lifelong friends spend the night in New York City looking for the Holy Grail of Christmas parties.The Night Before is a strange sort of film - the characters are very thinly drawn, the story doesn't gel together particularly well and it's generally just rather stupid. However, it's also rather funny, especially if you're into Seth Rogen's brand of comedy. Luckily for me, I am, but it's not really one of his better films.
- DirectorTodd Strauss-SchulsonStarsTaissa FarmigaMalin AkermanAdam DevineA young woman grieving the loss of her mother, a famous scream queen from the 1980s, finds herself pulled into the world of her mom's most famous movie. Reunited, the women must fight off the film's maniacal killer.A fun, very meta love-letter to the slashers of the 80s, although its script could use some work and it is nowhere near as funny as it seems to think it is. The meta elements also don't seem to have a lot of consistency, they just work however the movie needs them to at any time. Being PG-13 also doesn't really help for this kind of movie, you could wring a lot of actual comedy out of over-the-top kills, but the degree to which they are neutered by this decision can really be felt. Still, this is an enjoyable time and the cast help keep it enjoyable (I don't really like Adam Devine, but goddamn is he cast perfectly in this movie).
- DirectorSimon CurtisStarsHelen MirrenRyan ReynoldsDaniel BrühlMaria Altmann, an octogenarian Jewish refugee, takes on the Austrian government to recover artwork she believes rightfully belongs to her family.Woman in Gold has a ton going for it, from the insanely talented cast, to the really compelling story which inspired it. However, the crippling flaw lies within the script, which absolutely fails to wring out the emotional depth which this story has going for it - everything plays out like snapshots in a life, rather than feeling like it's a story we're witnessing and being a part of. Basically, to over-simply, things just happen to people in this movie, but we don't feel much for it.
- DirectorSam MendesStarsDaniel CraigChristoph WaltzLéa SeydouxA cryptic message from James Bond's past sends him on a trail to uncover the existence of a sinister organisation named SPECTRE. With a new threat dawning, Bond learns the terrible truth about the author of all his pain in his most recent missions.There's a pretty decent movie at the core of Spectre, but the film is weighed down by some big issues. For one thing, the movie is at least 30 minutes overlong, leading to some meandering and pacing issues. Punctuating this problem is the limp action scenes, which rarely excite and which are far too infrequent. I think this comes in part by trying to shake up the Bond formula - Casino Royale and Skyfall both did this well, but Spectre fails in the attempt. Spectre clearly tries to be something greater than the series' cheesier entries, but in being so full of half-baked ideas and limp action, it ends up being less-watchable than even the silliest Roger Moore film.
- DirectorTarsem SinghStarsRyan ReynoldsNatalie MartinezMatthew GoodeA dying real estate mogul transfers his consciousness into a healthy young body, but soon finds that neither the procedure nor the company that performed it are quite what they seem.Perhaps appropriately, Self/less has something of an identity crisis. It seems to be aiming to be a serious drama at times, but then it turns into a Bourne-lite for the bulk of the second half, with neither half coming together quite right. If the film had committed to one of these 2 styles, rather than trying to split itself between them, then it might have had more success I think.
- DirectorZach LipovskyStarsJesse MetcalfeMeghan OryVirginia MadsenAn ineffective vaccine fails to stop an epidemic which is turning people into zombies. The survivors organize themselves to escape from the living dead.Dead Rising: Watchtower is about as bog-standard as zombie fare goes, with only the brand tie-in nature of it allowing it to stand out in the slightest. The production values are rather low (appropriately, TV movie quality), but other than that it's just barely passable in pretty much every regard. Also... is Frank West this annoying in the games? Because he's pretty excruciating throughout this film, easily the worst part about it. If you enjoy the Dead Rising franchise then you might find something to like about this, but otherwise it's definitely worth skipping.
- DirectorNick RobertsonStarsJack CampbellAnna Lise PhillipsKatie MooreA farmer and his family must fight for survival after a ferocious pack of wild dogs infiltrates their isolated farmhouse. Through a series of frightening and bloody encounters they are forced into survival mode to make it through the night.There is some serious talent behind The Pack - the dog attacks can be quite intense, the film builds up suspense effectively and it is generally quite gorgeous, especially for an independent film. However, the film is absolutely hobbled by a weak script, particularly the dumb characters and wildly inconsistently-effective pack. One minute they can coordinate to stalk and attack a person, the next they're filing into a building one by one and can't even hear people talking a room away from them. It's a shame, there is definitely some good in here but it's hard to see it shining through the poor package it's wrapped in.
- DirectorWes BallStarsDylan O'BrienKaya ScodelarioThomas Brodie-SangsterAfter having escaped the Maze, the Gladers now face a new set of challenges on the open roads of a desolate landscape filled with unimaginable obstacles.The first Maze Runner film was basically just "Tease the Audience: The Movie", although when it started to reveal things it fell apart. The Scorch Trials takes the same sort of idea, but instead of saving it for the grand plot reveals, it leaves the audience in limbo for the flimsiest of reasons (such as "where is this person taking Thomas?", which the character will naturally refuse to answer). Just in general though, the story is very mediocre - the characters (who get nothing in the way of development by the way) escape into a generic post-apocalyptic wasteland and don't really do all that much in the process. In fact, the finale felt more like a 2nd act action scene, so when I looked down at the timer and realized we were 2 hours in I realized that yeah, this is basically just setting up The Maze Runner 3 rather than really telling a compelling stand-alone tale. The Maze Runner wasn't great, but at least it was interesting up until the 3rd act. The Scorch Trials is just boring and fails to give me much reason to care about what's going on throughout it.
- DirectorJosh TrankStarsMiles TellerKate MaraMichael B. JordanFour young outsiders teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe which alters their physical form in shocking ways. The four must learn to harness their new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.While it's not quite the unmitigated disaster that it was made out to be and is, in fact, better than the previous attempts in many ways). However, the F4 reboot is ultimately just extremely messy and ultimately pointless. Oh, and bad. Pretty freaking bad. It's unfortunate though, there is some interesting ambition on display here, the film just fails to capitalize on any of its potential.
- DirectorAlan TaylorStarsArnold SchwarzeneggerJason ClarkeEmilia ClarkeWhen John Connor, leader of the human resistance, sends Sgt. Kyle Reese back to 1984 to protect Sarah Connor and safeguard the future, an unexpected turn of events creates a fractured timeline.Terminator Genisys is a movie that is significantly dumber than it needs to be. The story feels like it's just going through the motions, and even the rather clever twists on the Terminator formula fail to excite me. Don't get me started on Emilia Clarke either, she can't even hold a candle to Linda Hamilton and actually makes the much-derided Jai Courtney look amazing. By the ending, I just didn't care about anything that had happened. The only truly nice thing that I can say about this movie is that at least they tried to do something risky... even if it blew up in their faces.
- DirectorIlya NaishullerStarsSharlto CopleyTim RothHaley BennettHenry is resurrected from death with no memory, and he must save his wife from a telekinetic warlord with a plan to bio-engineer soldiers.Hardcore Henry is a gimmick, one which grows very tired, very quickly... which, I guess, makes it the Air Bud of R-rated action flicks now that I'm thinking about it. The concept sounds pretty cool, and it is at times, but in practice a fully first-person action movie isn't all that engaging once it becomes clear that there's very little in the way of a story. Plus, the film has a really weird sense of humour to it, which gets particularly annoying with Sharlto Copley, who constantly plays different characters and dies every few minutes. Do yourself a favour - your best bet with this movie is to just watch some highlights on Youtube (particularly the admittedly awesome shootout in the abandoned hotel), because that's the longest you can really sustain your interest in this.
- DirectorOlivier MegatonStarsLiam NeesonForest WhitakerMaggie GraceAccused of a ruthless murder he never committed or witnessed, Bryan Mills goes on the run and brings out his particular set of skills to find the true killer and clear his name.I know I should expect January releases to suck, and doubly so when it's the follow up to Taken 2, but Taken 3 still felt like one of Bryan Mills' signature nut punches. The film has two major hamstrings which absolutely tear it to pieces. First of all, the action just plain sucks, due in large part to the haphazard, rapid-fire editing (not to mention that there is a distinct lack of actual action this time around during basically the entire 2nd act). Secondly, the writing is abysmal. Idiotic plot conveniences abound. I literally slapped myself in the face at least 5 times during the movie in frustration at how stupid everyone was for the sake of the plot (I noticed the freaking bagel issue the second he found Lenore dead, he had an ironclad alibi and could have been released in a couple hours...). Beyond even that though, I'm kind of insulted that they fridged Lenore. For one thing, it is such an overused, sexist trope that it shows just how lazy the writers are. For another, it retroactively makes Taken 2 even worse by making its 3rd act pointless. Great job guys, please don't give us T4KEN now...