| Title |
Year |
Rating |
Rank |
Review |
| The Hateful Eight | 2016 | 100 | 1 | (full review) - The Hateful Eight is an old school film grandly envisioned and executed in a way that only Quentin Tarantino can. It's one damn good movie that may just be an instant classic. |
| The Revenant | 2015 | 100 | 1 | (full review) - Epic, gorgeous, and riveting in every way, The Revenant is undoubtedly a tree with strong roots. Thanks to Iñárritu, this revenge flick is brought to life in stunning vibrancy, and nature is the auteur's weapon of choice. |
| Bridge of Spies | 2015 | 99 | 3 | (full review) - I've been hesitant to say this in 2015 so far, but I'm ready to pull the trigger. Bridge of Spies might just be the best damn movie of the year. |
| Brooklyn | 2015 | 99 | 3 | (full review) - Crowley makes a period piece that functions as a feel-good movie but maintains the emotional depths of a more serious affair. |
| The Big Short | 2015 | 98 | 5 | (full review) - Blending some of the best elements of Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street and J. C. Chandor's Margin Call, the finance-themed comedy drama from Anchorman director Adam McKay serves up both irreverent humor and gut-wrenching drama in perfect doses. |
| Carol | 2015 | 97 | 6 | (full review) - Written based on strong source material from Highsmith, directed nimbly by Todd Haynes, and acted beautifully by the superb cast on hand, this adaptation is not a high-flying drama full of bravado performances or heavy-handed direction. It's a much more understated affair that subtly tackles the persecution of the era that our lead characters endure to share a kind of romance that was uncommon at the time, at least in the public sphere. |
| Creed | 2015 | 97 | 6 | (full review) - A knockout from the opening credits, Creed surpassed every expectation I had for it. Ryan Coogler rises to the occasion in his second feature film and delivers one compelling boxing drama. |
| Ex Machina | 2015 | 97 | 6 | (full review) - Ex Machina is undoubtedly an homage to those sci-fi films of the past that showcase this clash of man and self-aware machines. Unlike other films that bake this theme into expansive worlds with lots of colorful characters, Ex Machina boasts a far more intimate film. |
| Inside Out | 2015 | 97 | 6 | (full review) - Running the gamut of emotions, Docter does something that defines the best films by capturing that lightning in a bottle called movie magic. On top of this, we have a delightful and beautiful animated short with James Ford Murphy's musical Lava kicking things off. |
| Mad Max: Fury Road | 2015 | 97 | 6 | (full review) - It's safe to say that we can't afford to wait another thirty years for director George Miller to craft the next installment in the Mad Max franchise. This post-apocalyptic thriller is a breath of fresh air at the mainstream box office. It's something different. It's something inventive. It's something throwback. |
| Room | 2015 | 97 | 6 | (full review) - Dominated by two incredible performances from Brie Larson and her younger pint-sized co-star Jacob Tremblay, this potent drama delivers on so many levels. It's simultaneously heartbreaking and uplifting to watch this situation unfold as a young mother tries to shield her son from the horrors of the confined, ultra-insular world in which they live. |
| Sicario | 2015 | 97 | 6 | (full review) - I've got nothing but love for Sicario. This is the first truly great movie of the fall movie season. |
| The Martian | 2015 | 97 | 6 | (full review) - Boldly envisioned, meticulously crafted, and beautifully executed, this film finds Scott in rare form. |
| Spotlight | 2015 | 88 | 14 | (full review) |
| Love & Mercy | 2015 | 80 | 15 | (full review) - A musical heavyweight whose career went sideways thanks to drug addiction, mental illness, and abuse by his doctor is the stuff of which biopics are made. The proof is in the pudding because director Bill Pohlad concocts one delightfully quirky film in Love & Mercy. |
| Steve Jobs | 2015 | 80 | 15 | (full review) - Offering all the typical underpinnings of an Aaron Sorkin-penned screenplay and touting a robust cast led by one of the great actors of his generation, Boyle's latest film delivers the goods with one intriguing and engaging exploration of Jobs and the people that played key roles in his life. |
| Trumbo | 2015 | 80 | 15 | (full review) - Trumbo is a well-timed film that’s all about the freedom of speech. More specifically, the freedom to think, vote, and believe as one chooses is the central theme of the film. With the backdrop of the cinematic history behind Roman Holiday, The Brave One, and Spartacus, director Jay Roach hammers on this theme throughout the film with a stylized, darkly humorous approach that generally hits the spot. |
| The Danish Girl | 2015 | 56.6 | 18 | (full review) - I have just one question that pretty much sums up my thoughts on The Danish Girl. Where are the Danish accents? |
| Joy | 2015 | 52 | 19 | (full review) - Joy is a sloppy film that lacks cohesiveness in every sense of the word. |
