| Title |
Year |
Rating |
Rank |
Review |
| Ex Machina | 2015 | 93 | 1 | (full review) - Ex Machina takes place entirely inside Nathan's minimalist, luxury compound which sets a tension of danger for Caleb who is not free to leave until the helicopter scheduled to return in 7 days comes for him. The script is also quite clever when it comes to keeping the audience guessing on the motives of each character, many mind games being played... |
| Room | 2015 | 93 | 1 | (full review) - One of the things that impressed me most about the film was it doesn't lose momentum or make a wrong turn once the pair are freed; nor does it feel like the confinement is just a build up to their freedom; instead, in my opinion, it's evenly paced and really good storytelling! Actually, the best thing I've seen all year! |
| Spotlight | 2015 | 88 | 3 | (full review) - It's another great role for Keaton following up last year's Oscar winning hit "Birdman" (click for T&T post). In "Spotlight" he plays a super likable guy with important contacts who treat him like he's a star quarterback. Except in this case he starts to hit too close to home and a couple of higher ups involved in the scandal try to convince him to "be a team player." |
| The Martian | 2015 | 88 | 3 | (full review) - I got to attend a panel discussion to promote The Martian in Philly at Fels Planetarium at the Franklin Institute moderated by Chief Astronomer Derrick Pitts. The participants: were two cast members from The Martian, Sebastian Stan (Mars crew) & Mackenzie Davis (Mission Control), retired NASA astronaut, Nicole Stott and Dr. Jim "Mr. Mars" Green - Director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA, also the film's consultant, and lead scientist on the announcement this past week on the discovery of streaks of water on Mars. |
| Sicario | 2015 | 83 | 5 | (full review) |
| The Revenant | 2015 | 80 | 6 | (full review) - Unlike "The Hateful Eight", which relies on a complex network of masquerades to generate suspense, "The Revenant" is driven less by narrative than the pure thrill of immersion. |
| Trumbo | 2015 | 80 | 6 | (full review) - Going into the movie, I knew what it was about, but I was under the impression it was Hollywood vs The Government. I never knew Hollywood turned on itself. Members of the HUAC were made up of Hollywood insiders like John Wayne (David James Elliott), Hedda Hopper (Helen Mirren) and Ronald Reagan. Others like Edward G. Robinson (Michael Stuhlbarg) were forced to turn on their friends and colleagues or lose everything. |
| Joy | 2015 | 75 | 8 | (full review) - I've read some of the criticism of "Joy", most critics feel it's messy, unfocused and falls way short of Russell's "The Fighter" which brought great drama with equal humor. "Silver Linings Playbook" (set in Philly)which had such unexpected charm and romance. "American Hustle" which created a definitive look and feel with wonderfully off kilter pacing and humor, so I can't argue the "Joy" criticisms entirely. But of the four, I most identify with Joy. |
| The Hateful Eight | 2016 | 75 | 8 | (full review) - Jennifer Jason Leigh in particular, delivers a stand-out performance as Daisy Domergue, the coarse captive of bounty hunter John Ruth. She conveys an impressive range with body language, even blowing a big wad of snot out of her nose in one memorable moment. |
| The Big Short | 2015 | 65.6 | 10 | (full review) - The movie doesn't talk down to the audience. At times they use easily understood analogy devices involving celebrities to explain the finer points of the game - like cutting to The Wolf of Wall Street's Margo Robbie in a bathtub, drinking champagne to explain sub-prime loans. But basically you either catch up and get the gist or you don't, and I like that. |
| Brooklyn | 2015 | 60 | 11 | (full review) - Screenwriter Nick Hornby observes: |
