100ish movies in 2015
Past movie totals:
112/100 movies in 2014
118/110 movies in 2013
127/100 movies in 2012
115/100 movies in 2011
125/100 movies in 2010
79/100 movies in 2009
95/100 movies in 2008
2015
1. Big Eyes ........ B-
Amy Adams, Christoph Waltz
January 1, 2015
It's nice to see a bit of a departure for Tim Burton. This film is decent but not amazing. I thought Amy Adams was fantastic, but Christoph Waltz chose to play is role far too cartoonishly. Walter Keane is far too complex a individual to be played as such a two dimensional villain, and the film would have been much stronger if it had been approached differently.
2. The Maze Runner ........ B-
Dylan O'Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Will Poulter
Started December 27, 2014, Finished January 7, 2015
Fast paced and engaging, this is a pretty solid outing in the Dystopian YA genre. The characters are a bit undeveloped and I suspect the book is quite a bit better, but that's to be expected.
3. Smashed ......... A-
Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Aaron Paul
January 14, 2015
A very interesting examination of alcoholism, and some of the darker aspects of getting clean, this felt more honest than many films on the same subject.
4. A Long Way Down ........ B
Pierce Brosnan, Toni Collette, Imogen Poots, Aaron Paul
January 16, 2015
Although there are some problems with rushed plot points and vague character development, I have to say I actually enjoyed this film adaptation more than the novel, which is my absolute least favourite outing by Nick Hornby, usually one of my favourite authors. The talented and endearing cast make the characters far less insufferable than they are on the page.
5. Whiplash ........ A-
Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons
January 18, 2015
Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons are both phenomenal in this film. It's been a long time since I've seen anything that manageed to build up so much intensity. The cinematography is perfectly done as well. You can see the amount of consideration that went into every single shot.
6. Gloria ........ B+
Paulina García, Sergio Hernández,
January 19, 2015
Really beautiful little film portraying a very refreshing story about old age. I truly appreciated Gloria's joyful promiscuity and the filmmakers not remotely shying away from the sexuality and all its imperfections.
7. Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb ........ B-
Ben Stiller, Robin Williams
January 22, 2015
Although it's certainly not "good" per se, this is a satisfying conclusion to the Night at the Museum series. Very silly. Not much depth, but enjoyable family viewing with reappearances from all of the best characters. Much much better than the second installment! And featuring some very strange homoerotic bestiality that I wasn't anticipating!
8. Filth ......... B-
James McAvoy, Jamie Bell
January 23, 2015
This film was truly all over the place. Some parts off the wall, dark and hilarious, some parts hard to follow and sort of boring. James McAvoy was fabulous as always though, and the end product is a lot of fun.
9. Wild ........ B
Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern
January 24, 2015
In general I thought that they did a pretty good job with this film adaptation, especially esthetically. The art direction and cinematography is beautiful. The end product though, really loses the emotional journey. It needed far more voice over of Cheryl's inner monologue, which was used quite a bit early on in the film, but trails off for some reason. The significance of minor characters is really lost. I also felt like some of the dialogue in flash back scenes was too obviously inserted for exposition, and felt awkward. Reese Witherspoon was fantastic in this role.
10. Foxcatcher ........ B
Channing Tatum, Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo
January 25, 2015
Although this film is decent, I didn't find that it stood up to the quality of its performances. Its three leads are all fantastic. It's actually a shame that all of the conversations have centred around Steve Carell and Mark Ruffalo, as I think this is easily Channing Tatum's career best performance (in all honesty, I've never been remotely impressed by his acting prior to this). It also baffles me a bit that Carell is nominated for Best Actor awards this season, as this role is clearly supporting. The film itself has quite a few problems. The very beginning is slow to the point of boredom, and although interest definitely grows, the intensity doesn't build to a level that the audience is really ready for the finale. In fact, the film fails to communicate the passage of time at all. In reality nine years had passed between Olympics and murder, and it seems as though the film is attempting to imply direct causation where there perhaps was one. I've got Mark Schultz's account of events on hold at the library and will look forward to reading his perspective.
11. American Sniper ........ C+
Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller
January 27, 2015
A very uneven film. Battle scenes are very impressive. Scenes at home (especially the initial build up to Kyle decided to join the armed forces) are just sloppy. The script itself goes from bland to embarrassingly formulaic, and featuring very little in the way of reality judging by some research. Bradley Cooper delivers a great performance though.
12. Horns ........ B-
Daniel Radcliffe, Juno Temple
January 28, 2015
Totally ridiculous, a little bad, and a lot entertaining.
13. The Good Lie ........ D+
Reese Witherspoon, Arnold Oceng, Ger Duany
January 28, 2015
This is such a story worth telling, and it's just too bad it was executed so poorly. Such an awful and tedious script, which doesn't portray either the refugees or those wanting to help them in a very positive light.
14. Cake ........ B
Jennifer Aniston, Adriana Barraza
January 31, 2015
Very interesting although oddly told story, and great performance from Jennifer Aniston.
15. The Imitation Game ........ A-
Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode
February 1, 2015
Wonderful performances all around, and a very well written script (although naturally it takes some liberties with fact and uses some fairly formulaic plot devices). Such an amazing story, and a worthy telling of it. The only thing that really bothered me was the film directly calling Turing's death a suicide and drawing causation when these things are in question and probably always will be.
16. Blancanieves (Snow White) ........ B-
Maribel Verdú, Emilio Gavira, Daniel Giménez Cacho
February 1, 2015
A very interesting homage to silent film in the form of the Snow White story done in Barcelona (with bull fighting no less!) Definitely a bit slow and overall not my cup of tea though.
17. The Skeleton Twins ........ A-
Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader
February 5, 2014
Really great family dramedy. Fantastic performances from both Wiig and Hader.
18. The Wedding Ringer ........ B-
Kevin Hart, Josh Gad
February 12, 2015
Pretty much exactly as expected.
19. Our Idiot Brother ........ B
Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel, Emily Mortimer
February 13, 2014
Very sweet, if average, comedy with a great cast.
20. Force Majeure ........ A-
Johannes Kuhnke, Lisa Loven Kongsli, Clara Wettergren
February 14, 2015
Although it is a bit slow and pondering, "Force Majeure" is a wonderful examination of both our undesirable gut reactions in an alarming situation, and the dynamics of a family and a marriage.
21. Still Alice ........ A-
Julianne Moore, Alex Baldwin
February 17, 2015
Wonderful performance from Julianne Moore. Perhaps not her best, but I have no problem with her getting a "career" Oscar for this role. A beautiful and sad story. Kristen Stewart's terrible acting is distracting at times though.
22. And the Oscar Goes To... ........ B-
Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman
February 21, 2015
Although in no way ground-breaking, this documentary is fun to watch and the perfect tool to get me geared up for the Academy Awards!
23. Uncle Buck ........ C
John Candy, Macaulay Culkin, Jean Louisa Kelly
February 24, 2015
Vaguely entertaining, and oh so 90s. I think I would have highly enjoyed this one if I'd seen it as a child. Alas, I did not.
24. Focus ........ C+
Will Smith, Margot Robbie
February 25, 2015
"Focus" has a somewhat ironic title for a film that's so completely all over the place. It's a bit of a mess, but an entertaining one to watch. Unlike the sleek thriller presented in the original trailer, it feels as though the director received three different treatments of the script (a thriller, a romantic drama and a farcical comedy) and decided to mix them together at random. I can see why this story looked good on paper, but it needed a much better job done in the editing room. That being said, the plot twists are not nearly as glaringly obvious as I was fearing at the beginning of the film, and Will Smith is charismatic and charming despite the tonal problems in the script. Margot Robbie's performance isn't nearly as solid as her work in "The Wolf of Wall Street", but the two leads do have great chemistry.
25. Magic in the Moonlight ........ B+
Colin Firth, Emma Stone
February 27, 2015
Although light and fluffy, still pretty delightful. I was a little put off by the overly theatrical acting at the beginning, but I got used to it.
26. 20 Feet From Stardom ........ B
Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer
February 27, 2015
It takes quite a while for this documentary to pick up, but it's a very interesting depiction of the world of back-up singers. Well worth watching.
27. Maps to the Stars ........ B-
Julianne Moore, Mia Wasikowska, Robert Pattinson
March 6, 2015
Props to Cronenberg for taking the general fuckedupness of this screenplay and running with it. Great cast and fully committed performances! A couple of moments of genuine shock and awesomeness. I quite enjoyed watching this one in my sick way, but in the end it just wasn't that well put together. There's really no resolution or point to any plot or character, and the "big reveal" is hinted at too unsubtly early on, it ends up packing no wallop at all.
28. Ain't About The Money
Big Dave McLean
March 7, 2015
It would be impossible to be to objectively evaluate a documentary about the father of three of my friends, so I won't even try. Such a unique and wonderful experience to watch, and of course full of great music! If anything, it does definitely lack some narrative focus. I would be interested to read an objective review. Check it out if you get a chance!!
29. Run All Night ........ C+
Liam Neeson, Ed Harris
March 11, 2015
Run All Night" (or "Taken 8" if you prefer) is stylishly shot, but overall pretty bad. Characters' actions are contrived to fit the very cookie-cutter plot. Lots of sloppy writing. Liam Neeson does maintain his very particular set of skills though.
30. Kingsman: The Secret Service ........ B+
Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Samuel L. Jackson
March 12, 2015
This film is a fantastic mix of silly and dark. Really well thought out and entertaining. Loved seeing an American villain in a British movie too. A rare situation where I would welcome a sequel.
31. Laggies ........ B
Keira Knightley, Chloë Grace Moretz, Sam Rockwell
March 15, 2015
32. Nightcrawler ........ A-
Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo
March 16, 2015
Jake Gyllenhaal is phenomenal in this. Such a shame he didn't receive any Oscar kudos. I loved how dark and twisted this film was. Such a clever send-up of our society's obsession with bloody headlines while at the same time maintaining a wonderful noir vibe.
33. Boychoir ........ C
Garrett Wareing, Dustin Hoffman
March 19, 2015
34. Short Term 12 ........ A
Brie Larson, John Gallagher Jr., Kaitlyn Dever
Started March 21, 2015, Finished March 22, 2015
33. Boychoir ........ C
Garrett Wareing, Dustin Hoffman
March 19, 2015
The actual choral music in this film is admittedly phenomenal, which is perhaps enough if you're seriously into this sort of thing. The rest of the film is an unbelievable mess of tedious, formulaic screenwriting, a comical Draco Malfoy rip off of a villain, a serious suspension of disbelief with regards to the cool factor of boychoirs and schools devoted entirely to their existence (do these kids not need math?), talented adult actors inexplicably wasted, and child actors chosen very clearly for their vocal abilities rather than any semblance of acting skill (although this part is certainly forgivable). I must confess that I giggled shamelessly through the whole achingly earnest production. So entertaining if not for the right reasons.
34. Short Term 12 ........ A
Brie Larson, John Gallagher Jr., Kaitlyn Dever
Started March 21, 2015, Finished March 22, 2015
A really phenomenal and gritty indie that doesn't shy away from harsh realities. The main characters are beautifully flawed and fleshed out, and the performances are fantastic. Highly recommend this one.
35. The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel ........ B-
Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Dev Patel
March 24, 2015
Although the characters and actors are charming enough to maintain this mediocre sequel's total enjoyability, it must be admitted that almost all of the plotlines are just ridiculous.
36. Insurgent ........ B-
Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet
March 25, 2015
All action, very little plot. I was seriously impressed by Shailene Woodley's performance though.
37. The DUFF ........ C+
Mae Whitman, Bella Thorne, Robbie Amell
March 26, 2015
Typical high school comedy in that it claims to promote individuality while at the same time reinforcing all stereotypes.
38. Deux jours, une nuit(Two Days, One Night) ........ B-
Marion Cotillard, Fabrizio Rongione, Catherine Salée
March 27, 2015
Although I do love Marion Cotillard and I enjoyed her performance, I'm not honestly sure it was as Oscar worthy as Jennifer Aniston's in "Cake". I also found the film to be pretty slow. I appreciated what the filmmakers were trying to do, but the reality is that watching one character give basically the same spiel to 14 other characters who haven't been previously introduced gets extremely repetitive. Great performances from all actors though.
39. All The Wrong Reasons ........ C+
Karine Vanasse, Cory Monteith, Emily Hampshire, Kevin Zegers
Started May 31, 2014, Finished March 27, 2015
I started watching this on the plane back from Scotland last spring. Unfortunately the plane landed and it wasn't available on the next flight. I've been trying to get my hands on it ever since! Not that I thought it was great at the time, just for the sake of finishing it haha. Overall pretty impressive performances through a pretty ridiculous movie. I did appreciate how off the wall the subject matter was, but I can't say that they really pulled it off.
40. The Safety of Objects ........ C-
Glenn Close, Dermot Mulroney, Joshua Jackson
April 1, 2015
Despite an all star cast, one can't really get past how nonsensical most of the storylines are, and how pointless half of their inclusion is to what appears to be the main plot arc.
41. Young Adam ........ D+
Ewan McGregor, Tilda Swinton
April 1, 2015
Lots and lots of fucking. Some reading. Some custard rape. And apparently there's been a murder? Is that a subplot, or the main plot? What's happening?
42. Kill The Messenger ........ A-
Jeremy Renner, Rosemarie DeWitt
April 10, 2015
A great showcase for the talents of Jeremy Renner, and a very candid look at the frightening power of the media.
43. Big Hero 6 ........ A-
Ryan Potter, Scott Adsit, Jamie Chung
April 13, 2015
Adorable, heart-warming and sad all at the same time. It's got some formula to it, but not in an offensive way.
44. The Seven Year Itch ........ D-
Marilyn Monroe, Tom Ewell
April 16, 2015
A classic that has decidedly not aged well. Even leaving aside how offensive every alarmingly sexist moment of the film is, the story being largely centred around a lone man in a room talking to himself does not lead to a particularly riveting viewing experience.
45. Woman in Gold ........ B-
Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds, Daniel Brühl
April 23, 2015
Great performances elevate this one a bit from the formula it sticks to religiously.
46. About Alex ........ B+
Nate Parker, Jason Ritter, Maggie Grace
April 29, 2015
Although it's maybe trying a bit too hard to saturate itself with social media references and become "The Big Chill" for Millennials, it's still a very compelling drama with real feeling friendships.
47. Avengers: Age of Ultron ........ B-
Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner
May 6, 2015
A reasonably entertaining but ultimately vapid and uneven script. Character interactions are weak at best. The opening action sequence is awful, especially for one trying to adjust to 3D viewing. Later action is very well done.
48. Pride ........ B+
Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Dominic West
May 7, 2015
Formulaic and feel good but in the best sort of way; this is a fascinating story that deserves to be told and is conveyed through thoughtful and genuine performances.
49. While We're Young ........ B+
Ben Stiller, Naomi Watts, Adam Driver, Amanda Seyfried
May 8, 2015
Although not Baumbach's best work, and he seems to have overdone the young characters a bit, still a compelling and interesting story.
50. The Rewrite ........ B+
Hugh Grant, Marisa Tomei
May 9, 2015
Hugh Grant is very Hugh Granty, and the younger cast shines in this pleasant, if cookie cutter, romcom. The script is well written and believable...except for the idea that the main character might be genuinely unaware that sleeping with his students might be against a regulation or two.
51. The One I Love ........ B+
Mark Duplass, Elisabeth Moss
May 11, 2015
A really interesting concept executed by two very talented actors. If anything I wish the film had veered less toward the intensely Sci-Fi, as I found that the exploration of the couple's relationship through their "ideal" double would have been more interesting, but that being said, still a great movie and well worth seeing.
52. Danny Collins ........ A-
Al Pacino, Annette Bening, Jennifer Garner, Christopher Plummer
May 13, 2015
Although there is a brief decent into misplaced formula that almost feels offensive, this is otherwise very well put together. A fairly run of the mill script is elevated by fantastic and heartfelt performances from all leads. Although heartwarming, it doesn't feel obviously schmaltzy, and it is a refreshing change to see a flawed main character who demonstrates that he's a reasonably good chap throughout the film, rather than having a hard to swallow 180 degree change in personality halfway through.
53. Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter ........ B+
Rinko Kikuchi
May 15, 2015
I found the first half of this film a bit tedious, but overall it was beautifully shot. The portrayal of the main character's mental illness, her difficulties with functioning at work and interacting with other people was very sensitively done. This sort of honest portrayal was a boon to what is also an adventure story, and will hopefully serve as a model for future films that could help de-stigmatize these issues.
54. The Trip ........ C+
Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon
May 17, 2015
I found this outing of The Trip to be a bit grating and tedious. Far too many joke repetitions. Steve Coogan's caricature of himself is a bit too unlikeable to really be funny. It's odd, because I saw "The Trip to Italy" first, and did not find this to be the case. Perhaps a "first-seen" bias?
55. The Age of Adaline ........ B
Blake Lively, Michiel Huisman, Harrison Ford
May 18, 2015
Blake Lively's performance is a bit grating and overdone in this otherwise pleasant fairytale. Her chemistry with Michiel Huisman is also a bit lacking, which is problematic given the supposedly epic nature of their love story. Interestingly she is much more believable opposite Harrison Ford.
56. Mad Max: Fury Road ........ A
Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult
May 23, 2015
I can't even imagine the storyboarding that must have gone into this. Such a manic, frenzied film. It's amazing how much plot manages to be conveyed through almost wall-to-wall action and very little dialogue.
57. Life Itself ........ A
Roger Ebert
Started May 21, Finished May 23, 2015
An honest, funny and heart-breaking documentary about the life of Roger Ebert, filmed during his decline from cancer. Very difficult to watch in places, but so worth seeing.
58. Confessions of a Dangerous Mind ........ B+
Sam Rockwell, Drew Barrymore
May 23, 2015
Enjoyably nutty and dark.
59. Far from the Madding Crowd ........ B-
Carey Mulligan, Matthias Schoenaerts, Michael Sheen
May 24, 2015
Although a little too "Pride & Prejudice 2.0" for my personal taste, the story was less compelling than I was anticipating, but this is an elegantly filmed piece with very good performances.
60. December Boys ........ D+
Daniel Radcliffe, Teresa Palmer, Lee Cormie
May 29, 2015
Tedious and forgettable.
61. 50 Shades of Grey ........ D+
Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan
May 30, 2015
Although overall less painful than the source material, the film version of "50 Shades" is still pretty laugh-out-loud bad. Jamie Dornan's attempt at a convincing American accent are adorably bad. The dialogue is pain. Thankfully the sexy scenes are beautifully shot, and a vast improvement over the book in terms of both kink and eroticism.
62. Aloha ........ C+
Bradley Cooper, Rachel McAdams, Emma Stone
June 2, 2015
This film is a garbled, tonal mess. I so badly wanted to like it, but I felt like Crowe just had no idea what sort of film he wanted to make. Some of the acting is wooden and embarrassing, and some of the script just as bad. Juxtapose this with some scenes that are truly amazing, including the very last scene, probably the best and most emotionally gripping end to a film I've seen in years. Such a wasted shame.
63. Pitch Perfect 2 ........ C+
Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow
June 5, 2015
Continuing with the unfortunate trend of bastardizing fun, successful movies with crappy sequels, "Pitch Perfect 2" is both unnecessary and medicore. Of course there are some fun moments, but overall the silliness can't withstand a second go round. The idea of incorporating lacklustre original songs has already been misused by "Glee" and apparently the lesson was not learned.
64. The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him ........ A-
James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, Bill Hader, Ciarán Hinds
June 6, 2015
Such a great idea for a series of films, and a great vehicle for James McAvoy. I was surprised by how little the film really had to do with their relationship, and how much it had to do with his recovery, but really enjoyed it anyway.
65. San Andreas ........ C+
Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario
June 6, 2015
I appreciated the unapologetic ridiculousness, but found it difficult to find the characters at all compelling.
66. The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her ........ B+
Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Viola Davis, Jess Weixler
June 6 , 2015
Although clearly meant to be watched back-to-back, I felt like "Her" probably would not stand up on its own in the same way as "Him". Too many scenes left dangling. Still wonderful as a combined product though.
67. Spy ........ B+
Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Jason Statham, Jude Law
June 9, 2015
I was shocked by how much I legitimately enjoyed this movie. Jason Statham is surprisingly delightful at comedy, and especially game to send up his own image. I love that this film treats Melissa McCarthy as any big name Hollywood actress, with both frumpy and dolled up moments. There is at no point any reference to her weight or doubt of her attractiveness, as well there should not be. I found it thoroughly refreshing.
68. Backstreet Boys: Show 'Em What You're Made Of ........ A-
Kevin Richardson, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, A.J. McLean
June 19, 2015
As much as I was expecting to enjoy this ironically, it was actually a very well put together documentary. The music is of course very enjoyable, and the story told without pretension. It left me very much wanting to go to a Backstreet Boys concert, and also feeling very very old.
69. I'll See You In My Dreams ........ B
Blythe Danner, Martin Starr, Sam Elliott
June 20, 2015
This film was not at all what I was expecting. I suspect the makers of the trailer really didn't know how to advertise it. Far from being a romantic comedy, every single comedic moment is crammed into the trailer. The end product is actually quite honest, melancholy and slow moving. Very European. I can't imagine it would be to everyone's taste, but I quite enjoyed it.
70. Jurassic World ........ B-
Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard
June 23, 2015
Entertaining enough summer blockbuster. I felt like a lot of the attempts to keep in the style of the original were understandable, but didn't actually play out very well. In particular the uber-cheesy 90s-style score felt very jarring. The characters were also very one dimensional and the acting wooden. I did appreciate the corporate perspective on the theme park that this one took. The general plot was a sensible way to continue on with an updated story.
71. The Drop ........ B-
Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace, James Gandolfini
June 25, 2015
Although interesting and gritty, just too slow-paced to really be gripping.
72. The Kings of Summer ........ B+
Nick Robinson, Gabriel Basso, Moises Arias
June 29, 2015
Not really the coming of age story I was expecting, the sometimes off-the-wall humour took me by surprise! Very enjoyable and fresh-feeling story.
73. I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story ........ B
Caroll Spinney
July 3, 2015
Although I did quite enjoy this documentary and found Caroll Spinney's story very interesting, I also found the story-telling to be disjointed. In some ways this plays like a sequel to "Being Elmo", and a lot of the fun of that one was the behind-the-scenes look at puppetry. I certainly understand no one wanted this outing to feel repetitive, but it seemed as though they were struggling to find a story arc and it came together in fragmented pieces. For instance, a brief discussion of a stranger who was murdered on Spinney's property is very interesting, but comes jarringly out of complete nowhere. Worth seeing, but it definitely needed another run in the editing room.
74. Inventing the Abbotts ........ B-
Joaquin Phoenix, Liv Tyler, Billy Crudup
July 4, 2015
Although beautifully filmed and a nice contemporary period piece, the characters are a bit flat at the same time as being unlikeable enough that one is really not invested at all in the outcome. I also found the main love story hard to buy given its progression.
75. We Bought A Zoo ........ B-
Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church
July 4, 2015
Charming and feel-good, if also cookie-cutter and cheesy.
76. Inside Out ........ A-
Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Lewis Black
July 10, 2015
Pixar truly reigns in terms of making children's movies that are adorable, endearing, and deliciously clever. Although there are so many things in "Inside Out" that a child can enjoy (shiny colours, rainbows, magicalness and funny characters galore!) it's really going to speak louder to adults. There are so many relatable and fairly weighty themes (ie. depression, emptiness, loss of innocence and imagination, the major events that shape our whole lives), that are handled with such intelligence that they never feel heavy-handed. It is kind of amazing that a film can equally result in delighted, squealing children, and deep, insightful conversations between adults.
77. Harold and Maude ........ B-
Ruth Gordon, Bud Cort
July 13, 2015
A very interesting, button-pushing film. I'm glad I've seen it! Definitely puts an interesting perspective on the 70s cult classic. However I did find it a bit too slow moving. Lots of potential for attention wandering.
78. Terminator Genisys ........ B-
Emilia Clarke, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jai Courtney
July 14, 2015
There are some decent ideas buried within this terribly written script, with far too many unfunny one-liners. It seems odd that the filmmakers so desperately seem to want to keep the rating PG-13 when presumably the target audience should be the now-adults who suffered childhood trauma at the age-inappropriate hands of the much grittier first two instalments.
79. Southpaw ........ B+
Jake Gyllenhaal, Rachel McAdams
July 15, 2015
Although in a lot of ways this story is pretty unoriginal, Jake Gyllenhaal's performance carries it to another level, particularly in scenes with his daughter. The actual fights are filmed with amazing intensity. Even when the conclusion seems fairly obvious, they still keep you on the edge of your seat.
80. Jupiter Ascending ........ C
Mila Kunis, Channing Tatum, Eddie Redmayne
July 16, 2015
This film really needed a better lead cast in order to carry such a ludicrous plot. The visuals are gorgeous, but one cannot get over how laughable Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum seem in these roles. As typical as it is that Eddie Redmayne followed up his Oscar win with this sort of fare, his performance was deliciously scenery-chewing.
81. Knights of Badassdom ........ D
Ryan Kwanten, Steve Zahn, Peter Dinklage
July 22, 2015
This movie got made. That happened.
82. Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation ......... B+
Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson
July 30, 2015
Yet another very solid Mission Impossible outing. Very enjoyable and well plotted, although what a waste of Jeremy Renner's character.
83. Trainwreck ........ B+
Amy Schumer, Bill Hader
July 31, 2015
Although a lot tamer than Schumer's series, still a breath of fresh air in terms of the romcom genre, and well worth a look.
84. Cinderella ........ B-
Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden
August 3, 2015
Although I can appreciate the efforts to independent-up the heroine, it's still Cinderella.
85. Running on Empty ......... B+
River Phoenix, Christine Lahti, Judd Hirsch
August 5, 2015
Really interesting premise and well delivered story, if a bit logistically eyebrow raising.
86. Delivery Man ........ B-
Vince Vaughn, Chris Pratt, Cobie Smulders
August 5, 2015
100% as expected.
87. Raising Arizona ........ A-
Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter
August 6, 2015
Totally haywire enjoyably ridiculous awesomeness.
88. The Pompatus of Love ........ C-
Adrian Pasdar, Jon Cryer, Tim Guinee
August 6, 2015
A script equally as preposterous as the Steve Miller lyric that inspired the title.
89. Ricki and the Flash ........ B-
Meryl Streep, Mamie Gummer, Kevin Kline
August 9, 2015
A pretty formulaic feel-good story, elevated by performances.
90. Pit Stop ......... B-
Bill Heck, Marcus DeAnda
August 10, 2015
Very interesting and odd character study. Odd in that the film seems to be marketing itself as a romance, but contains virtually none whatsoever. Well worth watching, but I doubt most viewers are expecting the slow meander this really is.
91. Magic Mike XXL ........ B
Channing Tatum, Joe Manganiello, Matt Bomer
August 11, 2015
In some ways I might have even enjoyed this totally absurd sequel more than the original, if only because it totally gave up any attempt to pretend to have a plot.
92. Goodbye to All That ........ B
Paul Schneider, Melanie Lynskey, Anna Camp
August 13, 2015
Some hilarious moments, and many forgettable ones.
93. Mr. Holmes ........ B-
Ian McKellen, Laura Linney, Milo Parker
August 15, 2015
Although beautifully shot and featuring a great performance from Ian McKellen, the plot is admittedly fairly boring and seems to undermine everything the Sherlock Holmes character is supposed to stand for.
94. Never Let Me Go ........ C+
Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, Keira Knightley
August 17, 2015
Such a noble effort on the part of the three leads, but this story is just nowhere near as compelling on screen as it is on the page.
95. Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief ........ A
Alex Gibney
August 19, 2015
Truly eye-opening and disturbing, as well as the perfect slow build. The filmmakers truly show the audience how one might be seduced by the church of Scientology before unveiling the madness.
96. Beetlejuice ........ B+
Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Michael Keaton
August 21, 2015
Can't believe it took me so long to see this one! Super enjoyable.
97. A Walk in the Woods ........ B-
Robert Redford, Nick Nolte
August 31, 2015
Disappointingly formulaic, if entertaining, especially character-wise.
98. Outcast ........ D
Nicolas Cage, Hayden Christiensen
September 2, 2015
Someone greenlit this. Which is perhaps the true explanation for the title.
99. The End of the Tour ........ A-
Jason Segel, Jesse Eisenberg
September 12, 2015
So well acted, engaging and perfectly mumblecorey, even if one knows nothing about the subject matter.
100. Ex Machina ........ B+
Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, Alicia Vikander
September 13, 2015
Very interesting premise. I appreciated that the film just launched into the story with minimal justification of the near future, which still seemed very believable. I suspect non sci-fi fans might find the beginning a bit draggy, but very clever and well plotted.
101. Clouds of Sils Maria ........ B+
Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart
September 16, 2016
Juliette Binoche delivers a beautiful performance in this film Kristen Stewart is surprisingly natural and engaging when playing opposite her, but her usual forced awkwardness in the few scenes she has on her own. Chloë Grace Moretz unfortunately just doesn't have the chops to remotely keep up with Binoche, particularly when her character is supposed to be so dynamic. The filmmaking is beautifully done. The only gripe I had was the constant, sudden, literal fade-to-black scene changes.
102. The D Train ........ B
Jack Black, James Marsden
September 18, 2015
One thing that can be said for this movie is that it definitely goes there. Although the main character's neediness is a bit insufferable, it's made up for by the rest of the button-pushing shenanigans.
103. Black Mass ........ B
Johnny Depp, Benedict Cumberbatch, Joel Edgerton, Rory Cochrane
September 22, 2015
A bit long, slow, and perhaps completely inaccurate judging from interviews, but excellent performances all around.
104. The Intern ........ B-
Robert DeNiro, Anne Hathaway
September 27, 2015
Nancy Meyer's most saccharine and hard-to-swallow film yet, but it's still enjoyable and charming in its predictable way.
105. 5 to 7 ........ B+
Anton Yelchin, Bérénice Marlohe
September 28, 2015
Not as progressive a story as I had hoped, but a lovely film.
106. Oblivion ........ B-
Tom Cruise, Andrea Riseborough, Olga Kurylenko
October 6, 2015
A dazzling spectacle of special effects and gaping plot holes.
107. Mumford ........ B-
Loren Dean, Hope Davis, Jason Lee
October 10, 2015
A retrospectively all-star cast. Very sweet and charming, if totally ridiculous.
108. It Follows ........ B+
Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist
October 10, 2015
Delightfully campy. I really loved the concept of a sexually transmitted demon.
109. The Salvation ........ B
Mads Mikkelsen, Eva Green, Jeffrey Dean Morgan
October 11, 2015
I was expecting this one to be hilariously bad, perhaps even deliberately so, but despite a pretty thin plot it's surprisingly legit. Eva Green gives a fantastic performance in a challenging, mute role. Mads Mikkelson apparently can actually do anything!
110. Save the Date ........ B+
Lizzy Caplan, Alison Brie, Mark Webber
October 12, 2015
Refreshing and believable. I do enjoy Lizzy Caplin despite her continual type-casting.
111. Hot Pursuit ........ D
Reese Witherspoon, Sofía Vergara
October 14, 2015
Lifeless, unfunny and embarrassing. It's tragic that a female buddy comedy actually got greenlit and this is the result.
112. Unhung Hero ......... C+
Patrick Moote
Started October 17, Finished October 18, 2015
"Does size matter?" is an interesting starting point for a documentary, but I found the actual film far too self indulgent on the part of Patrick Moote. There are so many different things he could have chosen to focus on such as cultural differences, norms, stigmas, whether women actually care etc., but rather one is forced to endure his own personal search to enlarge his member, wherein he basically comes across as a whiny douche and the film concludes in the only way it inevitably can.
113. Grandma ........ B
Lily Tomlin, Julia Garner, Marcia Gay Harden
October 23, 2015
Overall more superficial than I had been expecting, but some great performances.
114. Candyman ........ C+
Virginia Madsen, Xander Berkeley, Tony Todd
October 24, 2015
So ridiculous, and hard to believe that anyone has ever found this movie frightening. I did appreciate the initial PhD study set up.
115. Steve Jobs ......... B-
Michael Fassbender, Kate Winslet
October 27, 2015
Performance-wise, this film is excellent. On the whole I found it to be one of Sorkin's weaker scripts though. The plot device of every single significant conversation of Jobs' life taking place at a product launch didn't work very well.
116. Burnt ........ B
Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Daniel Brühl
October 30, 2015
Although formulaic and overall meh, it's really hard to be mad at this film with all of the mouth-watering displays of amazing food.
117. What We Do in the Shadows ........ B
Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi, Cori Gonzalez-Macuer
October 31, 2015
A silly a clever spoof on vampire culture. Some really excellent scenes.
118. Testament of Youth ........ A-
Alicia Vikander, Kit Harington, Taron Egerton
November 1, 2015
I'm not usually a fan of war stories, but I pleased with this beautiful and interesting film. It held my attention despite being a bit over-long. Vikander is dazzling, and Kit Harrington flexes his acting muscles more than Jon Snow really allows.
119. Turtle Power: The Definitive History of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ........ B+
Peter Laird, Kevin Eastman, Mark Askwith
November 2, 2015
Unapologetically made for nerds! As a child who loved the Ninja Turtles comics, I was really delighted by this documentary. Lots of interesting information and full of engaging interviews.
120. The Boy Next Door ........ D-
Jennifer Lopez, Ryan Guzman, Kristin Chenoweth
November 5, 2015
I can only hope that everyone involved in this piece was well aware of how enjoyably terrible it is. My particular favourite piece of ridiculousness came when the besotted young man presents J-Lo with a "first edition" of The Odyssey. Lol!
121. Room ........ B+
Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, Sean Bridgers
November 8, 2015
I was really sceptical that this novel could be adapted into a screenplay, but overall felt that the film version did it a reasonable amount of justice. It certainly helped that Emma Donoghue adapted her work herself. Although it loses a lot of what makes it great in the transition (the child's perspective, genius story-telling, and a lot of psychological information), it retains the brutal intensity.
122. Our Brand Is Crisis ........ C+
Sandra Bullock, Billy Bob Thornton, Anthony Mackie
November 9, 2015
This script is a complete mess. This film has no idea what it wants its message to be. Parts of it are the fluffy and formulaic political triumph story that's advertised in the trailers, and parts want to switch you around to thinking that all politics are evil. In the end it doesn't manage to say anything at all, and isn't a particularly enjoyable watch. Billy Bob Thorton's character is entirely pointless, but his scenery-chewing isn't unwelcome.
123. The Martian ........ A-
Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jeff Daniels
November 11, 2015
Totally riveting from start to finish, if scientifically improbable and a bit cheesy at the end.
124. Citizenfour ........ A-
Edward Snowden, Glenn Greenwald, Laura Poitras
November 12, 2015
Although it's pretty slow in places, a totally fascinating film.
125. Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine ........ A-
Alex Gibney
November 14, 2015
A much more effective picture of Jobs than the fictionalized Sorkin version. The most fascinating observation is that of the worldwide reaction to the passing of a man who is basically a creator and seller of products, not to mention an uber-dick by most accounts. If anything the film needed more of that.
126. Step Up All In ........ D
Ryan Guzman, Briana Evigan, Adam Sevani
November 14, 2015
So bad it's on the verge of not even being enjoyable (just the verge though).
127. Spectre ........ B-
Daniel Craig, Léa Seydoux, Christoph Waltz
November 18, 2015
A lot of the dialogue in this film seem to be going for "classic" Bond and coming out as super cheesy. Still a very superficially enjoyable watch. Better than "Skyfall" but nowhere near "Casino Royale". I also found the amount of conversation about Monica Belluci's "older" Bond girl (at a whopping 4 years Daniel Craig's senior) kind of appalling and embarrassing, especially given the barely mentioned 17 year age difference between him and Léa Seydoux, his actual love interest. The vaguely rapey one night stand is apparently more difficult to buy. But that's a whole other gripe entirely.
128. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 ........ B+
Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth
November 22, 2015
Although it's certainly dumbed-down and positivity-upped from the novel, I was impressed by the lack of added heroics for Katniss. This adaptation tried to tell the story as honestly as Hollywood could get away with. They also got around Philip Seymour Hoffman's absence from key scenes very seamlessly.
129. A Little Chaos ........ B-
Kate Winslet, Matthias Schoenaerts, Alan Rickman
November 29, 2015
A slow-moving, sweet little film. The latter half is a bit disjointed, I'm not sure about some of the editing choices, or if the main romance is really presented in a plausible way. Gorgeous art direction and general loveliness make up for this though.
130. The Night Before ........ B
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anthony Mackie
December 4, 2015
Although in no way a work of genius, this movie is surprisingly enjoyable, silly Christmas fun.
131. Spotlight ........ B+
Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams
December 13, 2015
Well written and gripping. I appreciated how the film was totally plot-driven, but still offered very brief glimpses into the characters' lives and how the coverage of the story affected them. It also seemed like a very accurate depiction of journalism, not glamourizing the long hours and general cubicle-y, spreadsheet-y lameness that plays a large role. I did feel like all of the awards chatter is a bit misplaced, and that this may be one of those films that's getting an outpouring of accolades due to how crazy the story it's telling is, rather than any true groundbreaking filmmaking.
132. Victor Frankenstein ........ B-
Daniel Radcliffe, James McAvoy
December 17, 2015
I'm kind of surprised by the critical drubbing this film took. I found it to be super fun, and the actors definitely did not dial in their ridiculous performances. Never did it take itself too seriously. Quite enjoyable in my opinion!
133. Sisters ........ B
Tina Fey, Amy Poehler
December 22, 2015
Although there are not many risks taken in this comedy, there are still plenty of good laughs. Even some of the jokes from the trailer are extended and surprisingly hilarious.
134. Joy ........ B-
Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper
December 28, 2015
This script could have used a serious re-edit. The first forty or so minutes of the film feel endless. The manic way the characters are introduced at the beginning is not remotely fun to watch, and the decision to include repeated scenes from the mother's favourite soap opera falls extremely flat. The second half picks up considerably. This is definitely some of the best work that Jennifer Lawrence has done with David O. Russell, and more deserving of acting awards than their previous match ups in my opinion.
135. The Counselor ........ B-
Michael Fassbender, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz
December 29, 2015
It's a shame that Cameron Diaz somehow ended up cast in this movie, as she seriously brought down an otherwise amazing cast. Not that I don't love Diaz in her own silly right, but this was a very poor choice. McCarthy is definitely a novelist, not a screenwriter, as is very apparently in the excessively wordy dialogue (which is still delivered beautifully by everyone else). Some parts drag to be sure, but overall I found this to be a more entertaining ride than the critics seemed to think.
136. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. ......... B
Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander
December 30, 2015
Really fun and fast-paced, if not terribly deep.
137. Two Night Stand ........ A-
Analeigh Tipton, Miles Teller
December 31, 2015
An excellent take on a modern romcom. Very fresh and believable, until it sadly does go a little cookie cutter ridiculous toward the end. Still a very fun watch. And unbeknownst to me, it was a perfect New Year's Eve choice given the holiday setting!
112/100 movies in 2014
118/110 movies in 2013
127/100 movies in 2012
115/100 movies in 2011
125/100 movies in 2010
79/100 movies in 2009
95/100 movies in 2008
2015
1. Big Eyes ........ B-
Amy Adams, Christoph Waltz
January 1, 2015
It's nice to see a bit of a departure for Tim Burton. This film is decent but not amazing. I thought Amy Adams was fantastic, but Christoph Waltz chose to play is role far too cartoonishly. Walter Keane is far too complex a individual to be played as such a two dimensional villain, and the film would have been much stronger if it had been approached differently.
2. The Maze Runner ........ B-
Dylan O'Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Will Poulter
Started December 27, 2014, Finished January 7, 2015
Fast paced and engaging, this is a pretty solid outing in the Dystopian YA genre. The characters are a bit undeveloped and I suspect the book is quite a bit better, but that's to be expected.
3. Smashed ......... A-
Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Aaron Paul
January 14, 2015
A very interesting examination of alcoholism, and some of the darker aspects of getting clean, this felt more honest than many films on the same subject.
4. A Long Way Down ........ B
Pierce Brosnan, Toni Collette, Imogen Poots, Aaron Paul
January 16, 2015
Although there are some problems with rushed plot points and vague character development, I have to say I actually enjoyed this film adaptation more than the novel, which is my absolute least favourite outing by Nick Hornby, usually one of my favourite authors. The talented and endearing cast make the characters far less insufferable than they are on the page.
5. Whiplash ........ A-
Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons
January 18, 2015
Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons are both phenomenal in this film. It's been a long time since I've seen anything that manageed to build up so much intensity. The cinematography is perfectly done as well. You can see the amount of consideration that went into every single shot.
6. Gloria ........ B+
Paulina García, Sergio Hernández,
January 19, 2015
Really beautiful little film portraying a very refreshing story about old age. I truly appreciated Gloria's joyful promiscuity and the filmmakers not remotely shying away from the sexuality and all its imperfections.
7. Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb ........ B-
Ben Stiller, Robin Williams
January 22, 2015
Although it's certainly not "good" per se, this is a satisfying conclusion to the Night at the Museum series. Very silly. Not much depth, but enjoyable family viewing with reappearances from all of the best characters. Much much better than the second installment! And featuring some very strange homoerotic bestiality that I wasn't anticipating!
8. Filth ......... B-
James McAvoy, Jamie Bell
January 23, 2015
This film was truly all over the place. Some parts off the wall, dark and hilarious, some parts hard to follow and sort of boring. James McAvoy was fabulous as always though, and the end product is a lot of fun.
9. Wild ........ B
Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern
January 24, 2015
In general I thought that they did a pretty good job with this film adaptation, especially esthetically. The art direction and cinematography is beautiful. The end product though, really loses the emotional journey. It needed far more voice over of Cheryl's inner monologue, which was used quite a bit early on in the film, but trails off for some reason. The significance of minor characters is really lost. I also felt like some of the dialogue in flash back scenes was too obviously inserted for exposition, and felt awkward. Reese Witherspoon was fantastic in this role.
10. Foxcatcher ........ B
Channing Tatum, Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo
January 25, 2015
Although this film is decent, I didn't find that it stood up to the quality of its performances. Its three leads are all fantastic. It's actually a shame that all of the conversations have centred around Steve Carell and Mark Ruffalo, as I think this is easily Channing Tatum's career best performance (in all honesty, I've never been remotely impressed by his acting prior to this). It also baffles me a bit that Carell is nominated for Best Actor awards this season, as this role is clearly supporting. The film itself has quite a few problems. The very beginning is slow to the point of boredom, and although interest definitely grows, the intensity doesn't build to a level that the audience is really ready for the finale. In fact, the film fails to communicate the passage of time at all. In reality nine years had passed between Olympics and murder, and it seems as though the film is attempting to imply direct causation where there perhaps was one. I've got Mark Schultz's account of events on hold at the library and will look forward to reading his perspective.
11. American Sniper ........ C+
Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller
January 27, 2015
A very uneven film. Battle scenes are very impressive. Scenes at home (especially the initial build up to Kyle decided to join the armed forces) are just sloppy. The script itself goes from bland to embarrassingly formulaic, and featuring very little in the way of reality judging by some research. Bradley Cooper delivers a great performance though.
12. Horns ........ B-
Daniel Radcliffe, Juno Temple
January 28, 2015
Totally ridiculous, a little bad, and a lot entertaining.
13. The Good Lie ........ D+
Reese Witherspoon, Arnold Oceng, Ger Duany
January 28, 2015
This is such a story worth telling, and it's just too bad it was executed so poorly. Such an awful and tedious script, which doesn't portray either the refugees or those wanting to help them in a very positive light.
14. Cake ........ B
Jennifer Aniston, Adriana Barraza
January 31, 2015
Very interesting although oddly told story, and great performance from Jennifer Aniston.
15. The Imitation Game ........ A-
Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode
February 1, 2015
Wonderful performances all around, and a very well written script (although naturally it takes some liberties with fact and uses some fairly formulaic plot devices). Such an amazing story, and a worthy telling of it. The only thing that really bothered me was the film directly calling Turing's death a suicide and drawing causation when these things are in question and probably always will be.
16. Blancanieves (Snow White) ........ B-
Maribel Verdú, Emilio Gavira, Daniel Giménez Cacho
February 1, 2015
A very interesting homage to silent film in the form of the Snow White story done in Barcelona (with bull fighting no less!) Definitely a bit slow and overall not my cup of tea though.
17. The Skeleton Twins ........ A-
Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader
February 5, 2014
Really great family dramedy. Fantastic performances from both Wiig and Hader.
18. The Wedding Ringer ........ B-
Kevin Hart, Josh Gad
February 12, 2015
Pretty much exactly as expected.
19. Our Idiot Brother ........ B
Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel, Emily Mortimer
February 13, 2014
Very sweet, if average, comedy with a great cast.
20. Force Majeure ........ A-
Johannes Kuhnke, Lisa Loven Kongsli, Clara Wettergren
February 14, 2015
Although it is a bit slow and pondering, "Force Majeure" is a wonderful examination of both our undesirable gut reactions in an alarming situation, and the dynamics of a family and a marriage.
21. Still Alice ........ A-
Julianne Moore, Alex Baldwin
February 17, 2015
Wonderful performance from Julianne Moore. Perhaps not her best, but I have no problem with her getting a "career" Oscar for this role. A beautiful and sad story. Kristen Stewart's terrible acting is distracting at times though.
22. And the Oscar Goes To... ........ B-
Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman
February 21, 2015
Although in no way ground-breaking, this documentary is fun to watch and the perfect tool to get me geared up for the Academy Awards!
23. Uncle Buck ........ C
John Candy, Macaulay Culkin, Jean Louisa Kelly
February 24, 2015
Vaguely entertaining, and oh so 90s. I think I would have highly enjoyed this one if I'd seen it as a child. Alas, I did not.
24. Focus ........ C+
Will Smith, Margot Robbie
February 25, 2015
"Focus" has a somewhat ironic title for a film that's so completely all over the place. It's a bit of a mess, but an entertaining one to watch. Unlike the sleek thriller presented in the original trailer, it feels as though the director received three different treatments of the script (a thriller, a romantic drama and a farcical comedy) and decided to mix them together at random. I can see why this story looked good on paper, but it needed a much better job done in the editing room. That being said, the plot twists are not nearly as glaringly obvious as I was fearing at the beginning of the film, and Will Smith is charismatic and charming despite the tonal problems in the script. Margot Robbie's performance isn't nearly as solid as her work in "The Wolf of Wall Street", but the two leads do have great chemistry.
25. Magic in the Moonlight ........ B+
Colin Firth, Emma Stone
February 27, 2015
Although light and fluffy, still pretty delightful. I was a little put off by the overly theatrical acting at the beginning, but I got used to it.
26. 20 Feet From Stardom ........ B
Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer
February 27, 2015
It takes quite a while for this documentary to pick up, but it's a very interesting depiction of the world of back-up singers. Well worth watching.
27. Maps to the Stars ........ B-
Julianne Moore, Mia Wasikowska, Robert Pattinson
March 6, 2015
Props to Cronenberg for taking the general fuckedupness of this screenplay and running with it. Great cast and fully committed performances! A couple of moments of genuine shock and awesomeness. I quite enjoyed watching this one in my sick way, but in the end it just wasn't that well put together. There's really no resolution or point to any plot or character, and the "big reveal" is hinted at too unsubtly early on, it ends up packing no wallop at all.
28. Ain't About The Money
Big Dave McLean
March 7, 2015
It would be impossible to be to objectively evaluate a documentary about the father of three of my friends, so I won't even try. Such a unique and wonderful experience to watch, and of course full of great music! If anything, it does definitely lack some narrative focus. I would be interested to read an objective review. Check it out if you get a chance!!
29. Run All Night ........ C+
Liam Neeson, Ed Harris
March 11, 2015
Run All Night" (or "Taken 8" if you prefer) is stylishly shot, but overall pretty bad. Characters' actions are contrived to fit the very cookie-cutter plot. Lots of sloppy writing. Liam Neeson does maintain his very particular set of skills though.
30. Kingsman: The Secret Service ........ B+
Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Samuel L. Jackson
March 12, 2015
This film is a fantastic mix of silly and dark. Really well thought out and entertaining. Loved seeing an American villain in a British movie too. A rare situation where I would welcome a sequel.
31. Laggies ........ B
Keira Knightley, Chloë Grace Moretz, Sam Rockwell
March 15, 2015
32. Nightcrawler ........ A-
Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo
March 16, 2015
Jake Gyllenhaal is phenomenal in this. Such a shame he didn't receive any Oscar kudos. I loved how dark and twisted this film was. Such a clever send-up of our society's obsession with bloody headlines while at the same time maintaining a wonderful noir vibe.
33. Boychoir ........ C
Garrett Wareing, Dustin Hoffman
March 19, 2015
34. Short Term 12 ........ A
Brie Larson, John Gallagher Jr., Kaitlyn Dever
Started March 21, 2015, Finished March 22, 2015
33. Boychoir ........ C
Garrett Wareing, Dustin Hoffman
March 19, 2015
The actual choral music in this film is admittedly phenomenal, which is perhaps enough if you're seriously into this sort of thing. The rest of the film is an unbelievable mess of tedious, formulaic screenwriting, a comical Draco Malfoy rip off of a villain, a serious suspension of disbelief with regards to the cool factor of boychoirs and schools devoted entirely to their existence (do these kids not need math?), talented adult actors inexplicably wasted, and child actors chosen very clearly for their vocal abilities rather than any semblance of acting skill (although this part is certainly forgivable). I must confess that I giggled shamelessly through the whole achingly earnest production. So entertaining if not for the right reasons.
34. Short Term 12 ........ A
Brie Larson, John Gallagher Jr., Kaitlyn Dever
Started March 21, 2015, Finished March 22, 2015
A really phenomenal and gritty indie that doesn't shy away from harsh realities. The main characters are beautifully flawed and fleshed out, and the performances are fantastic. Highly recommend this one.
35. The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel ........ B-
Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Dev Patel
March 24, 2015
Although the characters and actors are charming enough to maintain this mediocre sequel's total enjoyability, it must be admitted that almost all of the plotlines are just ridiculous.
36. Insurgent ........ B-
Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet
March 25, 2015
All action, very little plot. I was seriously impressed by Shailene Woodley's performance though.
37. The DUFF ........ C+
Mae Whitman, Bella Thorne, Robbie Amell
March 26, 2015
Typical high school comedy in that it claims to promote individuality while at the same time reinforcing all stereotypes.
38. Deux jours, une nuit(Two Days, One Night) ........ B-
Marion Cotillard, Fabrizio Rongione, Catherine Salée
March 27, 2015
Although I do love Marion Cotillard and I enjoyed her performance, I'm not honestly sure it was as Oscar worthy as Jennifer Aniston's in "Cake". I also found the film to be pretty slow. I appreciated what the filmmakers were trying to do, but the reality is that watching one character give basically the same spiel to 14 other characters who haven't been previously introduced gets extremely repetitive. Great performances from all actors though.
39. All The Wrong Reasons ........ C+
Karine Vanasse, Cory Monteith, Emily Hampshire, Kevin Zegers
Started May 31, 2014, Finished March 27, 2015
I started watching this on the plane back from Scotland last spring. Unfortunately the plane landed and it wasn't available on the next flight. I've been trying to get my hands on it ever since! Not that I thought it was great at the time, just for the sake of finishing it haha. Overall pretty impressive performances through a pretty ridiculous movie. I did appreciate how off the wall the subject matter was, but I can't say that they really pulled it off.
40. The Safety of Objects ........ C-
Glenn Close, Dermot Mulroney, Joshua Jackson
April 1, 2015
Despite an all star cast, one can't really get past how nonsensical most of the storylines are, and how pointless half of their inclusion is to what appears to be the main plot arc.
41. Young Adam ........ D+
Ewan McGregor, Tilda Swinton
April 1, 2015
Lots and lots of fucking. Some reading. Some custard rape. And apparently there's been a murder? Is that a subplot, or the main plot? What's happening?
42. Kill The Messenger ........ A-
Jeremy Renner, Rosemarie DeWitt
April 10, 2015
A great showcase for the talents of Jeremy Renner, and a very candid look at the frightening power of the media.
43. Big Hero 6 ........ A-
Ryan Potter, Scott Adsit, Jamie Chung
April 13, 2015
Adorable, heart-warming and sad all at the same time. It's got some formula to it, but not in an offensive way.
44. The Seven Year Itch ........ D-
Marilyn Monroe, Tom Ewell
April 16, 2015
A classic that has decidedly not aged well. Even leaving aside how offensive every alarmingly sexist moment of the film is, the story being largely centred around a lone man in a room talking to himself does not lead to a particularly riveting viewing experience.
45. Woman in Gold ........ B-
Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds, Daniel Brühl
April 23, 2015
Great performances elevate this one a bit from the formula it sticks to religiously.
46. About Alex ........ B+
Nate Parker, Jason Ritter, Maggie Grace
April 29, 2015
Although it's maybe trying a bit too hard to saturate itself with social media references and become "The Big Chill" for Millennials, it's still a very compelling drama with real feeling friendships.
47. Avengers: Age of Ultron ........ B-
Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner
May 6, 2015
A reasonably entertaining but ultimately vapid and uneven script. Character interactions are weak at best. The opening action sequence is awful, especially for one trying to adjust to 3D viewing. Later action is very well done.
48. Pride ........ B+
Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Dominic West
May 7, 2015
Formulaic and feel good but in the best sort of way; this is a fascinating story that deserves to be told and is conveyed through thoughtful and genuine performances.
49. While We're Young ........ B+
Ben Stiller, Naomi Watts, Adam Driver, Amanda Seyfried
May 8, 2015
Although not Baumbach's best work, and he seems to have overdone the young characters a bit, still a compelling and interesting story.
50. The Rewrite ........ B+
Hugh Grant, Marisa Tomei
May 9, 2015
Hugh Grant is very Hugh Granty, and the younger cast shines in this pleasant, if cookie cutter, romcom. The script is well written and believable...except for the idea that the main character might be genuinely unaware that sleeping with his students might be against a regulation or two.
51. The One I Love ........ B+
Mark Duplass, Elisabeth Moss
May 11, 2015
A really interesting concept executed by two very talented actors. If anything I wish the film had veered less toward the intensely Sci-Fi, as I found that the exploration of the couple's relationship through their "ideal" double would have been more interesting, but that being said, still a great movie and well worth seeing.
52. Danny Collins ........ A-
Al Pacino, Annette Bening, Jennifer Garner, Christopher Plummer
May 13, 2015
Although there is a brief decent into misplaced formula that almost feels offensive, this is otherwise very well put together. A fairly run of the mill script is elevated by fantastic and heartfelt performances from all leads. Although heartwarming, it doesn't feel obviously schmaltzy, and it is a refreshing change to see a flawed main character who demonstrates that he's a reasonably good chap throughout the film, rather than having a hard to swallow 180 degree change in personality halfway through.
53. Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter ........ B+
Rinko Kikuchi
May 15, 2015
I found the first half of this film a bit tedious, but overall it was beautifully shot. The portrayal of the main character's mental illness, her difficulties with functioning at work and interacting with other people was very sensitively done. This sort of honest portrayal was a boon to what is also an adventure story, and will hopefully serve as a model for future films that could help de-stigmatize these issues.
54. The Trip ........ C+
Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon
May 17, 2015
I found this outing of The Trip to be a bit grating and tedious. Far too many joke repetitions. Steve Coogan's caricature of himself is a bit too unlikeable to really be funny. It's odd, because I saw "The Trip to Italy" first, and did not find this to be the case. Perhaps a "first-seen" bias?
55. The Age of Adaline ........ B
Blake Lively, Michiel Huisman, Harrison Ford
May 18, 2015
Blake Lively's performance is a bit grating and overdone in this otherwise pleasant fairytale. Her chemistry with Michiel Huisman is also a bit lacking, which is problematic given the supposedly epic nature of their love story. Interestingly she is much more believable opposite Harrison Ford.
56. Mad Max: Fury Road ........ A
Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult
May 23, 2015
I can't even imagine the storyboarding that must have gone into this. Such a manic, frenzied film. It's amazing how much plot manages to be conveyed through almost wall-to-wall action and very little dialogue.
57. Life Itself ........ A
Roger Ebert
Started May 21, Finished May 23, 2015
An honest, funny and heart-breaking documentary about the life of Roger Ebert, filmed during his decline from cancer. Very difficult to watch in places, but so worth seeing.
58. Confessions of a Dangerous Mind ........ B+
Sam Rockwell, Drew Barrymore
May 23, 2015
Enjoyably nutty and dark.
59. Far from the Madding Crowd ........ B-
Carey Mulligan, Matthias Schoenaerts, Michael Sheen
May 24, 2015
Although a little too "Pride & Prejudice 2.0" for my personal taste, the story was less compelling than I was anticipating, but this is an elegantly filmed piece with very good performances.
60. December Boys ........ D+
Daniel Radcliffe, Teresa Palmer, Lee Cormie
May 29, 2015
Tedious and forgettable.
61. 50 Shades of Grey ........ D+
Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan
May 30, 2015
Although overall less painful than the source material, the film version of "50 Shades" is still pretty laugh-out-loud bad. Jamie Dornan's attempt at a convincing American accent are adorably bad. The dialogue is pain. Thankfully the sexy scenes are beautifully shot, and a vast improvement over the book in terms of both kink and eroticism.
62. Aloha ........ C+
Bradley Cooper, Rachel McAdams, Emma Stone
June 2, 2015
This film is a garbled, tonal mess. I so badly wanted to like it, but I felt like Crowe just had no idea what sort of film he wanted to make. Some of the acting is wooden and embarrassing, and some of the script just as bad. Juxtapose this with some scenes that are truly amazing, including the very last scene, probably the best and most emotionally gripping end to a film I've seen in years. Such a wasted shame.
63. Pitch Perfect 2 ........ C+
Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow
June 5, 2015
Continuing with the unfortunate trend of bastardizing fun, successful movies with crappy sequels, "Pitch Perfect 2" is both unnecessary and medicore. Of course there are some fun moments, but overall the silliness can't withstand a second go round. The idea of incorporating lacklustre original songs has already been misused by "Glee" and apparently the lesson was not learned.
64. The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him ........ A-
James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, Bill Hader, Ciarán Hinds
June 6, 2015
Such a great idea for a series of films, and a great vehicle for James McAvoy. I was surprised by how little the film really had to do with their relationship, and how much it had to do with his recovery, but really enjoyed it anyway.
65. San Andreas ........ C+
Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario
June 6, 2015
I appreciated the unapologetic ridiculousness, but found it difficult to find the characters at all compelling.
66. The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her ........ B+
Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Viola Davis, Jess Weixler
June 6 , 2015
Although clearly meant to be watched back-to-back, I felt like "Her" probably would not stand up on its own in the same way as "Him". Too many scenes left dangling. Still wonderful as a combined product though.
67. Spy ........ B+
Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Jason Statham, Jude Law
June 9, 2015
I was shocked by how much I legitimately enjoyed this movie. Jason Statham is surprisingly delightful at comedy, and especially game to send up his own image. I love that this film treats Melissa McCarthy as any big name Hollywood actress, with both frumpy and dolled up moments. There is at no point any reference to her weight or doubt of her attractiveness, as well there should not be. I found it thoroughly refreshing.
68. Backstreet Boys: Show 'Em What You're Made Of ........ A-
Kevin Richardson, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, A.J. McLean
June 19, 2015
As much as I was expecting to enjoy this ironically, it was actually a very well put together documentary. The music is of course very enjoyable, and the story told without pretension. It left me very much wanting to go to a Backstreet Boys concert, and also feeling very very old.
69. I'll See You In My Dreams ........ B
Blythe Danner, Martin Starr, Sam Elliott
June 20, 2015
This film was not at all what I was expecting. I suspect the makers of the trailer really didn't know how to advertise it. Far from being a romantic comedy, every single comedic moment is crammed into the trailer. The end product is actually quite honest, melancholy and slow moving. Very European. I can't imagine it would be to everyone's taste, but I quite enjoyed it.
70. Jurassic World ........ B-
Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard
June 23, 2015
Entertaining enough summer blockbuster. I felt like a lot of the attempts to keep in the style of the original were understandable, but didn't actually play out very well. In particular the uber-cheesy 90s-style score felt very jarring. The characters were also very one dimensional and the acting wooden. I did appreciate the corporate perspective on the theme park that this one took. The general plot was a sensible way to continue on with an updated story.
71. The Drop ........ B-
Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace, James Gandolfini
June 25, 2015
Although interesting and gritty, just too slow-paced to really be gripping.
72. The Kings of Summer ........ B+
Nick Robinson, Gabriel Basso, Moises Arias
June 29, 2015
Not really the coming of age story I was expecting, the sometimes off-the-wall humour took me by surprise! Very enjoyable and fresh-feeling story.
73. I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story ........ B
Caroll Spinney
July 3, 2015
Although I did quite enjoy this documentary and found Caroll Spinney's story very interesting, I also found the story-telling to be disjointed. In some ways this plays like a sequel to "Being Elmo", and a lot of the fun of that one was the behind-the-scenes look at puppetry. I certainly understand no one wanted this outing to feel repetitive, but it seemed as though they were struggling to find a story arc and it came together in fragmented pieces. For instance, a brief discussion of a stranger who was murdered on Spinney's property is very interesting, but comes jarringly out of complete nowhere. Worth seeing, but it definitely needed another run in the editing room.
74. Inventing the Abbotts ........ B-
Joaquin Phoenix, Liv Tyler, Billy Crudup
July 4, 2015
Although beautifully filmed and a nice contemporary period piece, the characters are a bit flat at the same time as being unlikeable enough that one is really not invested at all in the outcome. I also found the main love story hard to buy given its progression.
75. We Bought A Zoo ........ B-
Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church
July 4, 2015
Charming and feel-good, if also cookie-cutter and cheesy.
76. Inside Out ........ A-
Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Lewis Black
July 10, 2015
Pixar truly reigns in terms of making children's movies that are adorable, endearing, and deliciously clever. Although there are so many things in "Inside Out" that a child can enjoy (shiny colours, rainbows, magicalness and funny characters galore!) it's really going to speak louder to adults. There are so many relatable and fairly weighty themes (ie. depression, emptiness, loss of innocence and imagination, the major events that shape our whole lives), that are handled with such intelligence that they never feel heavy-handed. It is kind of amazing that a film can equally result in delighted, squealing children, and deep, insightful conversations between adults.
77. Harold and Maude ........ B-
Ruth Gordon, Bud Cort
July 13, 2015
A very interesting, button-pushing film. I'm glad I've seen it! Definitely puts an interesting perspective on the 70s cult classic. However I did find it a bit too slow moving. Lots of potential for attention wandering.
78. Terminator Genisys ........ B-
Emilia Clarke, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jai Courtney
July 14, 2015
There are some decent ideas buried within this terribly written script, with far too many unfunny one-liners. It seems odd that the filmmakers so desperately seem to want to keep the rating PG-13 when presumably the target audience should be the now-adults who suffered childhood trauma at the age-inappropriate hands of the much grittier first two instalments.
79. Southpaw ........ B+
Jake Gyllenhaal, Rachel McAdams
July 15, 2015
Although in a lot of ways this story is pretty unoriginal, Jake Gyllenhaal's performance carries it to another level, particularly in scenes with his daughter. The actual fights are filmed with amazing intensity. Even when the conclusion seems fairly obvious, they still keep you on the edge of your seat.
80. Jupiter Ascending ........ C
Mila Kunis, Channing Tatum, Eddie Redmayne
July 16, 2015
This film really needed a better lead cast in order to carry such a ludicrous plot. The visuals are gorgeous, but one cannot get over how laughable Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum seem in these roles. As typical as it is that Eddie Redmayne followed up his Oscar win with this sort of fare, his performance was deliciously scenery-chewing.
81. Knights of Badassdom ........ D
Ryan Kwanten, Steve Zahn, Peter Dinklage
July 22, 2015
This movie got made. That happened.
82. Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation ......... B+
Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson
July 30, 2015
Yet another very solid Mission Impossible outing. Very enjoyable and well plotted, although what a waste of Jeremy Renner's character.
83. Trainwreck ........ B+
Amy Schumer, Bill Hader
July 31, 2015
Although a lot tamer than Schumer's series, still a breath of fresh air in terms of the romcom genre, and well worth a look.
84. Cinderella ........ B-
Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden
August 3, 2015
Although I can appreciate the efforts to independent-up the heroine, it's still Cinderella.
85. Running on Empty ......... B+
River Phoenix, Christine Lahti, Judd Hirsch
August 5, 2015
Really interesting premise and well delivered story, if a bit logistically eyebrow raising.
86. Delivery Man ........ B-
Vince Vaughn, Chris Pratt, Cobie Smulders
August 5, 2015
100% as expected.
87. Raising Arizona ........ A-
Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter
August 6, 2015
Totally haywire enjoyably ridiculous awesomeness.
88. The Pompatus of Love ........ C-
Adrian Pasdar, Jon Cryer, Tim Guinee
August 6, 2015
A script equally as preposterous as the Steve Miller lyric that inspired the title.
89. Ricki and the Flash ........ B-
Meryl Streep, Mamie Gummer, Kevin Kline
August 9, 2015
A pretty formulaic feel-good story, elevated by performances.
90. Pit Stop ......... B-
Bill Heck, Marcus DeAnda
August 10, 2015
Very interesting and odd character study. Odd in that the film seems to be marketing itself as a romance, but contains virtually none whatsoever. Well worth watching, but I doubt most viewers are expecting the slow meander this really is.
91. Magic Mike XXL ........ B
Channing Tatum, Joe Manganiello, Matt Bomer
August 11, 2015
In some ways I might have even enjoyed this totally absurd sequel more than the original, if only because it totally gave up any attempt to pretend to have a plot.
92. Goodbye to All That ........ B
Paul Schneider, Melanie Lynskey, Anna Camp
August 13, 2015
Some hilarious moments, and many forgettable ones.
93. Mr. Holmes ........ B-
Ian McKellen, Laura Linney, Milo Parker
August 15, 2015
Although beautifully shot and featuring a great performance from Ian McKellen, the plot is admittedly fairly boring and seems to undermine everything the Sherlock Holmes character is supposed to stand for.
94. Never Let Me Go ........ C+
Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, Keira Knightley
August 17, 2015
Such a noble effort on the part of the three leads, but this story is just nowhere near as compelling on screen as it is on the page.
95. Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief ........ A
Alex Gibney
August 19, 2015
Truly eye-opening and disturbing, as well as the perfect slow build. The filmmakers truly show the audience how one might be seduced by the church of Scientology before unveiling the madness.
96. Beetlejuice ........ B+
Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Michael Keaton
August 21, 2015
Can't believe it took me so long to see this one! Super enjoyable.
97. A Walk in the Woods ........ B-
Robert Redford, Nick Nolte
August 31, 2015
Disappointingly formulaic, if entertaining, especially character-wise.
98. Outcast ........ D
Nicolas Cage, Hayden Christiensen
September 2, 2015
Someone greenlit this. Which is perhaps the true explanation for the title.
99. The End of the Tour ........ A-
Jason Segel, Jesse Eisenberg
September 12, 2015
So well acted, engaging and perfectly mumblecorey, even if one knows nothing about the subject matter.
100. Ex Machina ........ B+
Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, Alicia Vikander
September 13, 2015
Very interesting premise. I appreciated that the film just launched into the story with minimal justification of the near future, which still seemed very believable. I suspect non sci-fi fans might find the beginning a bit draggy, but very clever and well plotted.
101. Clouds of Sils Maria ........ B+
Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart
September 16, 2016
Juliette Binoche delivers a beautiful performance in this film Kristen Stewart is surprisingly natural and engaging when playing opposite her, but her usual forced awkwardness in the few scenes she has on her own. Chloë Grace Moretz unfortunately just doesn't have the chops to remotely keep up with Binoche, particularly when her character is supposed to be so dynamic. The filmmaking is beautifully done. The only gripe I had was the constant, sudden, literal fade-to-black scene changes.
102. The D Train ........ B
Jack Black, James Marsden
September 18, 2015
One thing that can be said for this movie is that it definitely goes there. Although the main character's neediness is a bit insufferable, it's made up for by the rest of the button-pushing shenanigans.
103. Black Mass ........ B
Johnny Depp, Benedict Cumberbatch, Joel Edgerton, Rory Cochrane
September 22, 2015
A bit long, slow, and perhaps completely inaccurate judging from interviews, but excellent performances all around.
104. The Intern ........ B-
Robert DeNiro, Anne Hathaway
September 27, 2015
Nancy Meyer's most saccharine and hard-to-swallow film yet, but it's still enjoyable and charming in its predictable way.
105. 5 to 7 ........ B+
Anton Yelchin, Bérénice Marlohe
September 28, 2015
Not as progressive a story as I had hoped, but a lovely film.
106. Oblivion ........ B-
Tom Cruise, Andrea Riseborough, Olga Kurylenko
October 6, 2015
A dazzling spectacle of special effects and gaping plot holes.
107. Mumford ........ B-
Loren Dean, Hope Davis, Jason Lee
October 10, 2015
A retrospectively all-star cast. Very sweet and charming, if totally ridiculous.
108. It Follows ........ B+
Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist
October 10, 2015
Delightfully campy. I really loved the concept of a sexually transmitted demon.
109. The Salvation ........ B
Mads Mikkelsen, Eva Green, Jeffrey Dean Morgan
October 11, 2015
I was expecting this one to be hilariously bad, perhaps even deliberately so, but despite a pretty thin plot it's surprisingly legit. Eva Green gives a fantastic performance in a challenging, mute role. Mads Mikkelson apparently can actually do anything!
110. Save the Date ........ B+
Lizzy Caplan, Alison Brie, Mark Webber
October 12, 2015
Refreshing and believable. I do enjoy Lizzy Caplin despite her continual type-casting.
111. Hot Pursuit ........ D
Reese Witherspoon, Sofía Vergara
October 14, 2015
Lifeless, unfunny and embarrassing. It's tragic that a female buddy comedy actually got greenlit and this is the result.
112. Unhung Hero ......... C+
Patrick Moote
Started October 17, Finished October 18, 2015
"Does size matter?" is an interesting starting point for a documentary, but I found the actual film far too self indulgent on the part of Patrick Moote. There are so many different things he could have chosen to focus on such as cultural differences, norms, stigmas, whether women actually care etc., but rather one is forced to endure his own personal search to enlarge his member, wherein he basically comes across as a whiny douche and the film concludes in the only way it inevitably can.
113. Grandma ........ B
Lily Tomlin, Julia Garner, Marcia Gay Harden
October 23, 2015
Overall more superficial than I had been expecting, but some great performances.
114. Candyman ........ C+
Virginia Madsen, Xander Berkeley, Tony Todd
October 24, 2015
So ridiculous, and hard to believe that anyone has ever found this movie frightening. I did appreciate the initial PhD study set up.
115. Steve Jobs ......... B-
Michael Fassbender, Kate Winslet
October 27, 2015
Performance-wise, this film is excellent. On the whole I found it to be one of Sorkin's weaker scripts though. The plot device of every single significant conversation of Jobs' life taking place at a product launch didn't work very well.
116. Burnt ........ B
Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Daniel Brühl
October 30, 2015
Although formulaic and overall meh, it's really hard to be mad at this film with all of the mouth-watering displays of amazing food.
117. What We Do in the Shadows ........ B
Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi, Cori Gonzalez-Macuer
October 31, 2015
A silly a clever spoof on vampire culture. Some really excellent scenes.
118. Testament of Youth ........ A-
Alicia Vikander, Kit Harington, Taron Egerton
November 1, 2015
I'm not usually a fan of war stories, but I pleased with this beautiful and interesting film. It held my attention despite being a bit over-long. Vikander is dazzling, and Kit Harrington flexes his acting muscles more than Jon Snow really allows.
119. Turtle Power: The Definitive History of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ........ B+
Peter Laird, Kevin Eastman, Mark Askwith
November 2, 2015
Unapologetically made for nerds! As a child who loved the Ninja Turtles comics, I was really delighted by this documentary. Lots of interesting information and full of engaging interviews.
120. The Boy Next Door ........ D-
Jennifer Lopez, Ryan Guzman, Kristin Chenoweth
November 5, 2015
I can only hope that everyone involved in this piece was well aware of how enjoyably terrible it is. My particular favourite piece of ridiculousness came when the besotted young man presents J-Lo with a "first edition" of The Odyssey. Lol!
121. Room ........ B+
Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, Sean Bridgers
November 8, 2015
I was really sceptical that this novel could be adapted into a screenplay, but overall felt that the film version did it a reasonable amount of justice. It certainly helped that Emma Donoghue adapted her work herself. Although it loses a lot of what makes it great in the transition (the child's perspective, genius story-telling, and a lot of psychological information), it retains the brutal intensity.
122. Our Brand Is Crisis ........ C+
Sandra Bullock, Billy Bob Thornton, Anthony Mackie
November 9, 2015
This script is a complete mess. This film has no idea what it wants its message to be. Parts of it are the fluffy and formulaic political triumph story that's advertised in the trailers, and parts want to switch you around to thinking that all politics are evil. In the end it doesn't manage to say anything at all, and isn't a particularly enjoyable watch. Billy Bob Thorton's character is entirely pointless, but his scenery-chewing isn't unwelcome.
123. The Martian ........ A-
Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jeff Daniels
November 11, 2015
Totally riveting from start to finish, if scientifically improbable and a bit cheesy at the end.
124. Citizenfour ........ A-
Edward Snowden, Glenn Greenwald, Laura Poitras
November 12, 2015
Although it's pretty slow in places, a totally fascinating film.
125. Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine ........ A-
Alex Gibney
November 14, 2015
A much more effective picture of Jobs than the fictionalized Sorkin version. The most fascinating observation is that of the worldwide reaction to the passing of a man who is basically a creator and seller of products, not to mention an uber-dick by most accounts. If anything the film needed more of that.
126. Step Up All In ........ D
Ryan Guzman, Briana Evigan, Adam Sevani
November 14, 2015
So bad it's on the verge of not even being enjoyable (just the verge though).
127. Spectre ........ B-
Daniel Craig, Léa Seydoux, Christoph Waltz
November 18, 2015
A lot of the dialogue in this film seem to be going for "classic" Bond and coming out as super cheesy. Still a very superficially enjoyable watch. Better than "Skyfall" but nowhere near "Casino Royale". I also found the amount of conversation about Monica Belluci's "older" Bond girl (at a whopping 4 years Daniel Craig's senior) kind of appalling and embarrassing, especially given the barely mentioned 17 year age difference between him and Léa Seydoux, his actual love interest. The vaguely rapey one night stand is apparently more difficult to buy. But that's a whole other gripe entirely.
128. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 ........ B+
Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth
November 22, 2015
Although it's certainly dumbed-down and positivity-upped from the novel, I was impressed by the lack of added heroics for Katniss. This adaptation tried to tell the story as honestly as Hollywood could get away with. They also got around Philip Seymour Hoffman's absence from key scenes very seamlessly.
129. A Little Chaos ........ B-
Kate Winslet, Matthias Schoenaerts, Alan Rickman
November 29, 2015
A slow-moving, sweet little film. The latter half is a bit disjointed, I'm not sure about some of the editing choices, or if the main romance is really presented in a plausible way. Gorgeous art direction and general loveliness make up for this though.
130. The Night Before ........ B
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anthony Mackie
December 4, 2015
Although in no way a work of genius, this movie is surprisingly enjoyable, silly Christmas fun.
131. Spotlight ........ B+
Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams
December 13, 2015
Well written and gripping. I appreciated how the film was totally plot-driven, but still offered very brief glimpses into the characters' lives and how the coverage of the story affected them. It also seemed like a very accurate depiction of journalism, not glamourizing the long hours and general cubicle-y, spreadsheet-y lameness that plays a large role. I did feel like all of the awards chatter is a bit misplaced, and that this may be one of those films that's getting an outpouring of accolades due to how crazy the story it's telling is, rather than any true groundbreaking filmmaking.
132. Victor Frankenstein ........ B-
Daniel Radcliffe, James McAvoy
December 17, 2015
I'm kind of surprised by the critical drubbing this film took. I found it to be super fun, and the actors definitely did not dial in their ridiculous performances. Never did it take itself too seriously. Quite enjoyable in my opinion!
133. Sisters ........ B
Tina Fey, Amy Poehler
December 22, 2015
Although there are not many risks taken in this comedy, there are still plenty of good laughs. Even some of the jokes from the trailer are extended and surprisingly hilarious.
134. Joy ........ B-
Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper
December 28, 2015
This script could have used a serious re-edit. The first forty or so minutes of the film feel endless. The manic way the characters are introduced at the beginning is not remotely fun to watch, and the decision to include repeated scenes from the mother's favourite soap opera falls extremely flat. The second half picks up considerably. This is definitely some of the best work that Jennifer Lawrence has done with David O. Russell, and more deserving of acting awards than their previous match ups in my opinion.
135. The Counselor ........ B-
Michael Fassbender, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz
December 29, 2015
It's a shame that Cameron Diaz somehow ended up cast in this movie, as she seriously brought down an otherwise amazing cast. Not that I don't love Diaz in her own silly right, but this was a very poor choice. McCarthy is definitely a novelist, not a screenwriter, as is very apparently in the excessively wordy dialogue (which is still delivered beautifully by everyone else). Some parts drag to be sure, but overall I found this to be a more entertaining ride than the critics seemed to think.
136. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. ......... B
Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander
December 30, 2015
Really fun and fast-paced, if not terribly deep.
137. Two Night Stand ........ A-
Analeigh Tipton, Miles Teller
December 31, 2015
An excellent take on a modern romcom. Very fresh and believable, until it sadly does go a little cookie cutter ridiculous toward the end. Still a very fun watch. And unbeknownst to me, it was a perfect New Year's Eve choice given the holiday setting!