How quickly does time pass! It seems like only yesterday that I had posted the list with my favourites of 2014. Yet, here we are. We're already two months in 2016 and the awards season is coming to an end this Sunday, February 28th with the 88th Academy Awards Ceremony that will once again take place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
This has been one of the most uncertain award races of recent years, as we still cannot guess with certainty the definite Best Picture winner (the SAG Awards gave their big prize to Spotlight, the VGA Awards gave it to The Revenant, while the PGA Awards chose The Big Short). Nevertheless, one thing seems to be in the bag: Leonardo DiCaprio, who has been nominated for an Oscar six whole times (5 for his performances and once as a producer), will most likely win his first Academy Award and the internet community (which has been passionately campaigning in favour of the beloved actor for years) is expected to explode.
This has been one of the most uncertain award races of recent years, as we still cannot guess with certainty the definite Best Picture winner (the SAG Awards gave their big prize to Spotlight, the VGA Awards gave it to The Revenant, while the PGA Awards chose The Big Short). Nevertheless, one thing seems to be in the bag: Leonardo DiCaprio, who has been nominated for an Oscar six whole times (5 for his performances and once as a producer), will most likely win his first Academy Award and the internet community (which has been passionately campaigning in favour of the beloved actor for years) is expected to explode.
So, just before the actual ceremony, I am almost ready to present my favourite films, performances, directorial achievements and musical compositions of 2015. And I say almost, because I've had difficulty in forming a list of 10 films that have gained a bigger place in my heart than others. In general, this has been quite an underwhelming year for me (from the extremely disappointing AIFF that I attended in September -more about it here- to films that didn't manage to meet my expectations such as The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Pt2, Ex Machina, Aloha, Crimson Peak or Jupiter Ascending).
Also, before we continue, I would like to give a shout-out to the films that did not make it to the final cut, despite how pleasant or original they were. These films are Youth (Paolo Sorrentino's english-language debut was a unique film that were I a little older I might have appreciated more), Irrational Man (Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone in a Woody Allen film is a recipe for success, yet the abrupt ending of an up-to-that-point well-written film let me down), Tomorrowland (it was much better than I expected and I was thoroughly entertained by its joyful premise), Tale of Tales (I talked about this film here and all I can tell you is that it was an extremely original combination of grim Italian fairy tales that you should check out), Room (a riveting story about the connection between a mum and a child who have been living for more than 5 years in a claustrophobic environment) and Everest (this was a breathtaking experience that has stayed with me for a long time after I saw it).
So, after a lot of consideration, this is my list (mind you, there are some unconventional choices here). Enjoy!
Also, before we continue, I would like to give a shout-out to the films that did not make it to the final cut, despite how pleasant or original they were. These films are Youth (Paolo Sorrentino's english-language debut was a unique film that were I a little older I might have appreciated more), Irrational Man (Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone in a Woody Allen film is a recipe for success, yet the abrupt ending of an up-to-that-point well-written film let me down), Tomorrowland (it was much better than I expected and I was thoroughly entertained by its joyful premise), Tale of Tales (I talked about this film here and all I can tell you is that it was an extremely original combination of grim Italian fairy tales that you should check out), Room (a riveting story about the connection between a mum and a child who have been living for more than 5 years in a claustrophobic environment) and Everest (this was a breathtaking experience that has stayed with me for a long time after I saw it).
So, after a lot of consideration, this is my list (mind you, there are some unconventional choices here). Enjoy!
BEST ACTOR
It might seem like the obvious choice but the truth is that Leonardo DiCaprio has given one of his most mature performances in his latest film The Revenant (which, surprisingly has not been directed by his favourite collaborator Martin Scorcese, but by last year's Academy Award Winner for achievement in Directing Alejandro G. Inárritü. Whether it is a coincidence that the actor has a great chance of winning the golden statue now that he is not working with a director that the Academy had been neglecting for numerous years, I leave it up to you). It may have taken DiCaprio more than two decades but it seems like 2016 will finally be his year as there are no real competitors in his category as has happened in the previous times when he was nominated. DiCaprio delivers one of his better performances in this raw and violent adventure and acts not only with his body but with his facial expressions as well. Terror, determination, pain, agony, heartbreak are all emotions that are presented through his eyes showing us what this well-deserving actor is capable of.
Runners-Up
Runners-Up
- Ian McKellen for Mr. Holmes with his tremendous take on an elderly Sherlock Holmes
- Matt Damon in The Martian. It might seem like an easy job to bring a funny, creative and inventive character to life but let's not underestimate the abilities of an actor who has never failed to deliver a flawless performance and has managed to keep us at the edge of our seats during a two-hour one-man-show such as The Martian.
- Coling Farrell in The Lobster. Awkward, strange, introvert yet quite charming and lovable, Farrell is able to make us care for a character that lives in a quite unfamiliar and repulsive society.
- Jacob Tremblay in Room. This year's revelation is a 9-year-old boy who makes us ache, cry, laugh and fear without even trying.
Since September, I was certain that no other actress would replace Charlotte Rampling in my mind as the best female performance of the year. And what a year it has been for female performances. In 45 Years, an otherwise lukewarm film, Rampling gives us a woman who tries to compromise with the idea that her husband of 45 whole years would rather prefer to still be with his ex girlfriend who had disappeared in the Alps when they were young and whose body has recently been found perfectly preserved. Rampling's quiet, subtle performance of despair as she realises that the life she has been living, has only been offered to her by chance and that her love for her husband is under a test, is one of the best of recent years.
Runners-Up
- Alicia Vikander in Ex-Machina. The swedish actress came to us with a bang this year both in this film and in The Danish Girl but I've chosen her sci-fi role as she has flawlessly captured the true cold nature of a robot making the viewers forget that she is, in fact, human.
- Charlize Théron in Mad Max: Fury Road. Perhaps the 4th Mad Max movie wouldn't have been the same without Théron's performance as Imperator Furiosa, a war leader with a dream of a better peaceful life
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Three films in 2016 for Tom Hardy, the great actor who proves himself again and again, yet his role in The Reverant is one of the greatest performances he has ever delivered. Hardy plays the cold-hearted villain of the story and manages to steal the show from the incredible DiCaprio more than once. One can see that Hardy has given it his all and has vanished in his role as, from the way he says his lines to the look that he gives to his co-stars and his surroundings, everything seems to be shouting that he is not an actor anymore but a real person in the real situation that we happen to be witnessing as we watch the film. A well-deserved Oscar, should he win it.
Runners-Up
- Mark Rylance in Bridge of Spies. A subtle and amazing performance that gives true meaning to the term "supporting".
- Christian Bale in The Big Short. Everyone that knows me, knows that I consider Bale one of the best, but in this all-star cast he still manages to draw everyone's attention and be singled-out.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Jennifer Jason Leigh is the underappreciated person of the year as she not only gives one of the most significant performances in Quéntin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight -out of all the cast, let me tell you- but she might have delivered the best performance by a supporting actress in 2015 altogether. Despite all this, however, she has not gained any momentum in the awards race. The Hateful Eight is a great actors' film (the stage-like direction and enormous screenplay make it a gift for talented actors) but it wouldn't be half the film it is, were it not for Leigh's spectacular interpretation of a female criminal in the Far West.
Runners-Up
- Rooney Mara in Carol. Shy, unsure and in love, Mara achieves to give so much with so little.
- Marion Cotillard in Macbeth. Cotillard is the true star of this film, caring yet villainous, loving to her husband yet determined to take what she aims for using the most cruel means.
This was a rather difficult choice so I ended up with a tie between Ennio Morricone's tremendous and atmospheric score for The Hateful Eight and Junkie XL's spectacular work in Mad Max: Fury Road, a score that I have listened to more than any other this year.
BEST DIRECTOR
Adam McKay did the unthinkable: being a not so respected director of films such as Anchorman (2004) and Stepbrothers (2008), he made a terrific film about the financial crisis of 2008 making it both educational and entertaining. With a huge cast, fast editing, a clever screenplay and some narrative tricks that I won't spoil for you, he managed to create a rather funny film that treats a serious subject with respect and sarcasm and at the same time giving it his own signature and ending up with an Oscar nomination. What a surprise it would be if he won it, too!
Runner-Up
The incredible Alejandro G. Inárritü may have won an Oscar last year with his breathtaking one-shot in Birdman but did not rest. He came back with another exceptional piece of filmmaking: The Revenant which made him a serious contender for the golden statue, for the second year in a row.
MY FAVOURITE FILMS OF 2015
10. Bridge of Spies
Steven Spielberg's newest film may not be his best one but it sure is one of his better films after a few missteps along the years. Following the true story of James B. Donovan (Tom Hanks), an American lawyer who after defending a Soviet spy (Mark Rylance) in court, ends up leading the negotiations to exchange the aforementioned spy with a captive American pilot.
Janusz Kaminski's romantic cinematography combined with Thomas Newman's touching score and Spielberg's abilities, create a rather good film that may present the story in a fairy tale way which diminishes the dangers of the situation but captures our attention and gives us a beautiful spectacle.
09. The Hateful Eight
Up until recently I did not expect Quéntin Tarantino's latest installment to be this low in my list. The reason why, though, is that there were some other films that have stayed with me significantly longer but at the same time I cannot but appreciate the marvelous film-making and great mind of this compelling director.
Here, Tarantino has gathered the talents of Kurt Russel, Samuel L.Jackson, Tim Roth and Jennifer Jason Leigh and has brought us a gripping story that gets better and better as you watch it. His most stage-like screenplay to date is a gift for good actors and a surprise after a surprise for the audience that watches the story unravel. Robert Richardson's fantastic cinematography, Yohei Taneda's set design as well as the amazing score by the legendary Ennio Morricone (one of the most excellent musical scores of recent years) make The Hateful Eight a film to remember.
08. The Lobster
Yorgos Lanthimos's strange little english-talking debut is one of those films that I was excited to see and still I was dreading its premise. But, look at it now. It is number 8 in my list and for a good reason. If you've seen (or heard about) Lanthimos' breakthrough film and cinema lovers' sensation Dogtooth (2009), then you know that he is all for the unexpected and original stories. That is what The Lobster is, too. Set in a dystopian future where people are punished should they remain single for long, this is the story of David (Colin Farrell) who visits a hotel with the purpose to find a companion for the rest of his life, under the condition that if he does not succeed, he will be transformed into an animal (like his brother before him). The animal he chooses is a lobster. Soon, David realises that living under this threat is not what he wants, so he escapes the hotel and joins the Loners who live in the woods and are the exact opposite of the established society: they are against companionship. The Lobster is a somewhat romantic, somewhat sci-fi film that succeeds because of its originality and creativity in a world full of blockbusters and sequels.
07. Spotlight
Spotlight is the true story of a team of reporters who revealed one of the greatest scandals for the Catholic Church back in 2001. Working for the Boston Globe, the team started searching the truth behind some sexual abuse allegations of a Catholic priest against a minor. By doing that they uncovered a decades-long cover-up done by the Church and began a wave of revelations all around the world. Directed by Tom McCarthy and having an all-star cast with names such as Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Mark Ruffalo, Liev Schreiber, Stanley Tucci and Billy Crudup, Spotlight is a thrilling story that has been nominated for 6 Academy Awards and you should definitely see it because it is a very interesting film. Now, before we go on to the next movie of our list, just a small piece of advice: when you watch Spotlight, check out another film from Chile called El Club that treats the same subject but from another point of view. You can read more about it here.
06. Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
From the great first film back in 1996 until now, ten whole years later, the Mission Impossible series gets better and better. Tom Cruise returns and this time he is accompanied not only by his team -for two films in a row- that includes Jeremy Renner and Simon Pegg but by a great revelation named Rebecca Ferguson.
This film might be an unconventional choice for a top-10 list, but let me tell you: it was a thrilling ride and a true representative of what a proper adventure should be. Not only that, but the story was full of surprises and just as you thought that you knew where it was heading, it would take just another unexpected turn. This is what one asks from an action film: suspense, humour, a good story and great stunts (the opening scene of the film is one of the greatest of all time). Well done.
05. Trumbo
Trumbo is not only Bryan Cranston's (Breaking Bad) great breakthrough in film but it also is an important story that needed to be told. Trumbo was a very successful writer in the 40s who enjoyed a very satisfying family life as well as a very fulfilling career in Hollywood. The only problem was that he was a member of the Communist party and that was his doom. Trumbo may not be a great acchievement when it comes to cinema-making but it is a very important film that brings forward the issue of the concealed propaganda that went on (and quite possibly still goes on) in the US (and consenquently in the whole world) against not only Communism but people who had a different thing to say or believe in. It is a film that if seen under proper light it can put lots of subjects on the table and enrage those who believe in free will.
04. Mad Max: Fury Road
Look at that! Mad Max came back after so many years (and with a different actor portraying him, Tom Hardy) and it just got better than expected. If you are not familiar with the universe of Mad Max, then this film surely is not for you as these stories are set in a dystopian futute in the desert where violence and madness are the cannon while sheer logic cannot be easily found.
This time Mad Max is a captive and soon finds himself helping a group of enslaved women who travel towards their freedom. Praised not only for its feminist viewpoint but also for its jawdropping direction by George Miller, its breathtaking scenes and stunts as well as its excellent score, Mad Max: Fury Road was exactly what sequels should be like.
03. The Revenant
Alejandro G. Inárritü's latest film is not an easy one and let's face it, it is not for everybody. It is set back in 1820 and it is the story of a man (Leonardo Dicaprio) who fights against the forces of man and nature and against himself in order to take revenge for the way his companions treated him when they left him for dead after he had been attacked by a bear.
Full of breathtaking scenes that you will most likely remember for a long time after seeing it, great images of the wilderness and amazing acting by its most talented cast, The Revenant is a film that one can either love or hate but will not be left unimpressed by its scope of things. Whether you liked it or not, the raw way in which Inárritü chose to present it makes it a unique film that will most likely be appreciated even more after a few years.
02. The Martian
Based on an extremely successful book, this adaptation might present a quite fearsome possibility - a man getting left behind on Mars- but it is the feel-good film of the year. Ridley Scott (director of sci-fi sensations such as Alien and Blade Runner) returns after a lot of badly-critisised films and directs Matt Damon in his struggle to find a way to survive on Mars, communicate with Earth and possibly come back some day.
The Martian is not the greatest science fiction movie of all time, but it is the most accurate one (even NASA has admitted this) and while it tells a story that even thinking about might be terrifying, it does so in a light-hearted way. I am a sucker for sci-fi films and whenever I come across one that treats space with respect, I can't help but love it, let alone when there comes one that is as charming, visually stunning and clever as The Martian.
01. The Big Short
These were all great movies, but the one that really stole my heart from the get-go was The Big Short. Adam McKay's comic take on a greatly serious subject such as the financial crisis of 2008 was one of 2015's surprises for me.
Without dumping-down the story at all, the clever script written by Charles Randolph and McKay himself gives us all the facts and the economic details that we need to understand how the dirty world of stockmarkets works. At the same time, McKay has found some smart ways to make the film more enjoyable and attention-drawing that expected using some great techniques as well as a fantastic cast that includes Christian Bale, Steve Carrell, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt and Marisa Tomei. Thought-provoking and educating in an unforced way, The Big Short is another important movie whose worth will be proven even more in the future.
Here, Tarantino has gathered the talents of Kurt Russel, Samuel L.Jackson, Tim Roth and Jennifer Jason Leigh and has brought us a gripping story that gets better and better as you watch it. His most stage-like screenplay to date is a gift for good actors and a surprise after a surprise for the audience that watches the story unravel. Robert Richardson's fantastic cinematography, Yohei Taneda's set design as well as the amazing score by the legendary Ennio Morricone (one of the most excellent musical scores of recent years) make The Hateful Eight a film to remember.
08. The Lobster
07. Spotlight
06. Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
This film might be an unconventional choice for a top-10 list, but let me tell you: it was a thrilling ride and a true representative of what a proper adventure should be. Not only that, but the story was full of surprises and just as you thought that you knew where it was heading, it would take just another unexpected turn. This is what one asks from an action film: suspense, humour, a good story and great stunts (the opening scene of the film is one of the greatest of all time). Well done.
05. Trumbo
04. Mad Max: Fury Road
This time Mad Max is a captive and soon finds himself helping a group of enslaved women who travel towards their freedom. Praised not only for its feminist viewpoint but also for its jawdropping direction by George Miller, its breathtaking scenes and stunts as well as its excellent score, Mad Max: Fury Road was exactly what sequels should be like.
03. The Revenant
Full of breathtaking scenes that you will most likely remember for a long time after seeing it, great images of the wilderness and amazing acting by its most talented cast, The Revenant is a film that one can either love or hate but will not be left unimpressed by its scope of things. Whether you liked it or not, the raw way in which Inárritü chose to present it makes it a unique film that will most likely be appreciated even more after a few years.
02. The Martian
The Martian is not the greatest science fiction movie of all time, but it is the most accurate one (even NASA has admitted this) and while it tells a story that even thinking about might be terrifying, it does so in a light-hearted way. I am a sucker for sci-fi films and whenever I come across one that treats space with respect, I can't help but love it, let alone when there comes one that is as charming, visually stunning and clever as The Martian.
01. The Big Short
Without dumping-down the story at all, the clever script written by Charles Randolph and McKay himself gives us all the facts and the economic details that we need to understand how the dirty world of stockmarkets works. At the same time, McKay has found some smart ways to make the film more enjoyable and attention-drawing that expected using some great techniques as well as a fantastic cast that includes Christian Bale, Steve Carrell, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt and Marisa Tomei. Thought-provoking and educating in an unforced way, The Big Short is another important movie whose worth will be proven even more in the future.
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