#keegsta

1.    Star Wars: The Force Awakens

    Surprise surprise, my favorite film of 2015 is Star Wars: The Force Awakens. This was my most anticipated film of my entire life thus far. There is no reality in which this movie isn’t my favorite film of the year so in some ways I’m incredibly biased. That being said, JJ Abrams finally delivered the goods. Of course the realistic feel and the mind blowing visuals were great but what really knocked this film out of the park was the cast. Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Adam Driver are my new favorite people on this planet. The old cast was perfectly used sparingly so that you don’t notice their age. This film is firing on all Star Wars cylinders for me, so surprise, it’s my number one.

2.    It Follows

    Now that Star Wars is out of the way, this can get interesting. It Follows steadily remained my favorite film of the year until December came around. I love this movie. It’s a love letter to everything I love; John Carpenter-esque horror. The premise will turn most people off right away but if it doesn’t, you’ve got to see this movie. It’s surprising that It Follows was only made for $2 million because at times it looks like a bigger budget studio film. The score really steals the show here though. This is easily one of the best horror scores of the last decade.

3.    Jurassic World

    This film feels extremely similar to my number three pick last year, Godzilla. Jurassic World isn’t a perfect film by any stretch of the imagination. It is however some of the most fun I’ve had at the movies in a long time. I love the cast of this film. Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Pratt in particular shine together in the second half. I’m also a sucker for giant monster movies and that’s what this film sort of became. I was really impressed with how director Colin Trevorrow managed to fit in a giant monster fight in the climax of Jurassic World. Spoilers, it’s awesome.

4.    What We Do In The Shadows

    This is easily the funniest film that I saw all year. The premise of the film is simple, a group of vampires live in a house together and hilarity ensues. Several times throughout watching this film I was laughing out loud, which is saying quite a bit. The film explores day to day happenings and struggles of what being a vampire would actually be like. One example is that since vampires can’t see themselves in the mirror, they must dress puppets to see if they will look good for the day. Obviously seems extremely simple but the film portrays several of these struggles with great fun. Everyone should see this movie as soon as possible.

5.    The Hateful Eight

    Another year, another Tarantino film makes my end of the year list. The Hateful Eight is a master class in storytelling. The film plays out as if it were a stage play, right down to an actual narration of the story by none other than Tarantino himself. This film features gorgeous 70mm photography, fantastic actors and a progressively bloody affair. Like all Tarantino films, Hateful Eight packs a massive punch for the third act and this one doesn’t disappoint. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you to see this movie, but please, see this movie.

6.    Mad Max: Fury Road

    This is easily the most bonkers film of 2015. In fact, this is easily one of the most bonkers films I’ve ever seen. George Miller returns to his franchise which I honestly never had much affinity for. This film however completely blew me away. The amount of practical effects on display throughout Mad Max: Fury Road boggle the mind. Simply put, this film feels dangerous. It seems that at any moment, things could go wrong and a lot of people are going to get hurt. Top it all off with a great character from Charlize Theron and you’ve got one of the best films of 2015.

7.    Predestination

    Predestination was the most surprising film of the year for me. This film is about a sort of time cop that travels back in time to catch a notorious serial killer. Easy sci-fi premise right? What follows is a mind blowing film that turns out to be an emotional roller coaster. The film is ultimately about what it means to love another person. The film also explores identity and self identification. If you do seek this one out, get ready for a crazy ride through time. You will be rewarded in the end.

8.    The Martian

    This film is just an absolute crowd pleaser. I went into this film hoping for Interstellar type ideas about space and the expanse. What I got was much more grounded in reality. That being said I loved this film. Matt Damon is completely hamming it up as Mark Watney, an astronaut stranded alone on Mars. He is asked to carry much of the film by himself and he pulls it off with ease. While I can’t say this film explores any deep thought provoking ideas, it does remind us that space travel can be done. We just have to work together. While it seems like a simple proposition, it’s easily forgotten.

9.    Straight Outta Compton

    Who knew that a film about the beginnings of N.W.A. would end up being this good? The actors picked for these iconic figures are remarkable. My favorite newcomer that has inevitably gained quite a bit of attention following this film’s release is Corey Hawkins. His portrayal of Dr. Dre is the heart of this film for me. Having said all of that the direction of this film is top notch film making by F. Gary Gray. All around, this film is a perfect rendition of the hip-hop business. Did I mention seeing Straight Outta Compton in the theater meant you got to hear N.W.A. songs blasting out of 7.1 surround sound?

10.    Krampus

    I was set up to love this film for a multitude of reasons and guess what? I love this film. Krampus is directed by Michael Dougherty, the same man behind the best Halloween film of all time, Trick r’ Treat. So it shouldn’t surprise anyone that he managed to craft a great Christmas horror movie. That being said this film doesn’t rise to Trick r’ Treat level for me but it is great. Krampus is full of inventive Christmas creatures that are all a ton of fun. This film instantly became regular viewing every holiday season from now on.

Best Television of The Year

The Leftovers Season 2

    I created an all new category for my end of the year list just so I could include this pick. The second season of The Leftovers repeatedly knocked me out of my chair episode after episode. This show was created by Damon Lindelof of Lost fame but it’s a completely different type of show. Over its ten episode second season I’m pretty sure I cried at least once an episode. I don’t mind admitting that because The Leftovers is that strong. This season culminated with three of the best episodes of television I have ever seen, and I don’t say that lightly. Please, I beg you, give this show a chance. You won’t regret it.

Worst Movie of The Year

Terminator: Genisys

1.    Prometheus

     This is one of the grandest science fiction displays of all time and my favorite film of the year. Prometheus asks some of man kind's biggest questions like, Where did we come from? Why are we here? Is there a god? The film answers most of those questions in perfect science fiction fashion. It also leaves a lot to be discussed. This is my favorite kind of film, one that will be dissected for years to come.

2.    The Cabin In The Woods

     This is a once in a lifetime kind of film. As stated in my review, I don't want to say a whole lot because this film is easy to spoil. The Cabin In The Woods essentially portrays the entire horror genre in one huge masterpiece. If you haven't seen it yet you need to shut your computer off and go watch it NOW.

3.    The Dark Knight Rises

     Chris Nolan managed to give his Batman trilogy a perfect and fitting end. The only problem I had with the film is that it was not as good as The Dark Knight which I believe is a perfect film. I don't think The Dark Knight Rises is a perfect film but I do believe it is a perfect end to Nolan's entry in the Batman pantheon.

4.    Looper

      Rian Johnson's first entry into science fiction is one of the most original films of the year. Looper doesn't feel like a single other film that came out this year. It has its own beat and wavelength. Part science fiction epic, part character study. Looper is an insane sci-fi thrill ride that you must see for yourself.

5.    Django Unchained

     Tarantino continues to rewrite history in one of the most fun films that came out this year. Django Unchained tells the story of a slave that is set free by a bounty hunter that needs help. The first half of this film is hilarious and a ton of fun. The second half is much more dark and sinister. An all out Tarantino blast. That would be my pull-quote.

6.    The Avengers

      2012 in film will likely be regarded as the year of The Avengers and for a good reason. Joss Whedon was able to meld together six superheroes that span five separate films into one massive comic book lover's dream. The Avengers has tons of action, explosions and it might also be the funniest film of the year. The summer movie to end all summer movies.

     7.    The Innkeepers

     This was a hard film to include on this list because it is unclear when it actually was released to mass audiences. The DVD release was in February of 2012, which I believe to be the first time it was widely available. With all of that aside, The Innkeepers is one of my favorite horror films of all time. It took a second viewing to really get the appreciation I now have for Ti West's throwback ghost story. The film's strength is its script and Sara Paxton's performance. Some say nothing happens during the entire film, I say it is just a lot of fun to hang out with the hotel's employees. However, if you are looking for a massive scare fest, you will be disappointed.

8.    Skyfall

     Had it not been released in the same year as Prometheus, Skyfall would be the best looking film of the year. Not only does this film looking stunning, but it is a great modern take on the Bond franchise. This film is great because it doesn't rely on ridiculous gadgets and stunts. Skyfall is a much more stripped down Bond than previous entries, focusing on the man inside 007.

9.    The Impossible

     I decided to only include one survival film on my list and it came down to Life of Pie or The Impossible. Ultimately, Life of Pie is just too muddled with religious undertones, weird narrative flashbacks and an ending that leaves a lot to be desired. However, The Impossible has none of those problems and is a much more emotional journey. This film is about a family that gets caught in a tsunami during their vacation. Not only is The Impossible more emotional and a much larger scale, but it is a true story. If you get the chance to watch this film, you absolutely must see it.

10. Moonrise Kingdom

            Chernobyl Diaries is a horror film that tells the story of a group of friends that want to tour something a little more exciting than Paris. The film was directed by Brad Parker and stars Jesse McCartney playing brother to Jonathan Sadowski. Chernobyl follows their journey to the nuclear disaster site known as Chernobyl. The Chernobyl Diaries has an interesting story and easy to get along with cast of characters, but mostly an average horror flick.

            Easily the best feature of Chernobyl Diaries is the incredibly eerie atmosphere that Parker pulls off perfect. From the moment the film kicks off there is an audible noise that sounds like a nuclear reactor. The opening credits slowly flash in and out as Parker introduces the audience to his characters. A sense of doom and gloom resonates quickly and sets the tone for the entire film. Unfortunately, this great atmosphere loses it’s uneasiness as soon as the group finds themselves into trouble. After the first couple big scares, Parker seems to have forgotten what made The Chernobyl Diaries interesting in the first place, Chernobyl.

              The Raven is an alternate history tale about a killer that uses Edgar Allan Poe’s violent poems as inspiration for murder. James McTeigue, a man mostly known for his previous work on V For Vendetta, directed the film. John Cusack plays Poe, while Luke Evans plays a detective named Fields. The film revolves around a mystery murderer that captures Poe’s love interest that leads him and Fields on race to save her life. While McTeigue directed V For Vendetta, The Raven is nowhere near as good as V. The mystery throughout however is enough to be a fun ride, but nothing more.

                Easily the best aspect of The Raven is Cusack’s portrayal of Edgar Allan Poe. While I don’t personally know what Poe was like in person, Cusack is great fun playing him. Cusack kicks off the film with long adjective filled tirades that are fairly complex, but that is how I would imagine Poe acted when he was alive. Cusack handles these crazy lines of dialog with ease and surprisingly doesn’t become irritating. After Poe realizes his beloved has been kidnapped, he turns into a crazed man trying to solve his own riddles and stories. Cusack is believable in both of these areas and carries the film.

               The film The Ides of March stars Ryan Gosling next to George Clooney and is directed by George Clooney. Gosling stars as Stephen, a higher up on the presidential campaign trail. Clooney plays Mike Morris, a presidential candidate who is currently in the race for democratic nomination. The film revolves around Stephen’s incredibly hard position on Morris’ campaign. The Ides of March is a perfect portrayal of how politics in the United States can get polluted very quickly. The political melee kicks off with a scene in the beginning of the film when the rival candidates campaign chairman tells Stephen’s boss “I might want to steal him from you.”

               Gosling shines as the perfect good guy. He is the complete package in The Ides of March. From emotional moments to pure tense scenes, he does it all. This can be seen in the middle of the film when Stephen’s boss tells him some hard to hear news. He goes on an emotional roller coaster from then on. Stephen becomes a very intense character that gosling is able to pull off without a hitch. In every single scene in the film, it’s hard not to notice Gosling’s acting.

          The film Real Steel stars Hugh Jackman alongside Dakota Goyo and is directed by Shawn Levy. Jackman plays the role of Charlie, who is a washed up boxer that has found a new way to make money in the fighting game. Goyo plays Charlie’s son, Max, a child that just lost his mother and must spend a summer with Charlie. The film revolves around Charlie and Max’s bond in fighting robots for cash. A few scenes of respectable cinematography are the only redeeming aspects of a film that is lacking remarkable characters, makes Real Steel absolutely forgettable.

              Levy commits a cinematic crime on the audience with one of the worst executed scenes of exposition of all time. Quite a bit of back-story is literally spoken right out of Jackman’s mouth. Charlie and Max are in the junkyard searching for parts to build a new robot when Charlie just becomes a history teacher, exclaiming that people want more violence without the pain of real boxing. It would not be so bad if it weren’t the single most important scene in the entire film, but it is. Even a montage of just what Charlie is speaking about would have been better than what Levy decided to convey. This is all happening while Charlie and Max are supposed to be forming a father and son relationship.

            Real Steel’s biggest setback is the imaginary father-son relationship that is formed over the course of the film between Charlie and Max. Their connection never feels like a father and his son, more of a “best buddies”. Even when Charlie is faced with saving Max from a near death accident, it merely seems as if he wants to get the kid back in one piece. Some of the blame is in the hands of the actors. Jackman’s emotion is just too shielded for the entire film. Even when Jackman’s character finally dishes out some real sentiment, it’s still clouded by his rough attitude. On the other hand, Goyo also on no account feels sad about the death of his mother and when he does, it’s quick and barely visible. While there are clear plot induced like-nesses between Charlie and Max, it is never real.

              The only respectable aspect of Real Steel is a few glimpses of great camerawork and lighting. Specifically the opening sequence of Charlie driving through the countryside while the sun is rising over a mountain in the distance. Levy creates a mood that feels very grounded in reality that just happens to have giant dueling robots. Unfortunately, any hope of a quality film is quickly dashed with the next scene being shot just like every other action film, little detail and quick cuts. Almost as if Levy couldn’t decide whether he wanted to stand out or blend in with the rest of Hollywood.

         The film Drive stars Ryan Gosling and Carrey Mulligan under the direction of filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn. Gosling plays a Hollywood stunt driver who does a little part time work in driving criminals around Los Angeles; While Mulligan plays Irene, a lone mother whose husband is in prison. The film revolves around a lingering heist that has gone wrong. Somehow keeping a coherent story while going on a wild tangent into the heart of LA crime, Drive is a great ride.

              Drive begins with a high level of slickness that never lets up until even the credits are over. From the subtle beginning shots of Gosling driving through the LA nightlife, to the simple font used for the title card, this film is a visual treat. In the opening scene, we get to take a ride with Gosling that is wonderfully composed. The car’s rear view mirror provides details and depth to each carefully framed shot. Every single shot being meticulously thought out is easily spotted with Refn’s storytelling style because in many scenes, the camera stays fixed at a single position.

              Refn handles the storytelling of Gosling’s character who is aptly named “The Driver”, quite easily. Drive barely has three lines of dialogue that provide exposition. It is not very often that a film can pull off this kind of character while keeping the subject interesting. A few minutes after the film begins, it doesn’t matter what Driver’s name is, it doesn’t matter what his background is, he is just fun to watch. Some of the credit must go to Gosling himself for being so likeable to begin with. However, Refn is able to be gripping while maintaining that Driver has a past that is up for interpretation. Interpretation is part of the ride of chaos.

              What makes this film an absolute ride is that while there is complete chaos in terms scene-to-scene continuity, Drive manages to attain a cohesive story. In the opening scene this film looks to be another heist film. By the middle of the film Refn disregards Driver’s night job and focuses on his growing relationship with Irene. The film’s third quarter turns to another heist job that has gone wrong. Finally coming to an end with a straight up revenge thriller. It is this sense of genre bending that Refn pulls off without missing a beat.