Arjun Agarwal's Top Ten Films of 2015

10. Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation

The latest installment in the Mission: Impossible series is quite possibly the best one yet. The film is another globetrotting escapade that takes you to incredible locales like Vienna and Morocco. Once again, the outrageous action sequences never fail to amaze. Ethan Hunt’s luck is nothing short of miraculous but it is amazing to watch him survive these death defying encounters.
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You can read Arjun's full review of Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation here.

9. 99 Homes

99 Homes is probably the most inconspicuous movie on my list but it was the most heartbreaking one of the year for me. The backdrop of foreclosure and economic uncertainty was depressing enough but it was Andrew Garfield and Michael Shannon’s characters that really drove the point home. Watching them deal with the abuse from victims of foreclosed homes was conflicting because they were responsible for countless evictions but took extreme measures to provide for their families.

8. Steve Jobs

Aaron Sorkin’s Steve Jobs has two remarkable standouts in Michael Fassbender and Kate Winslet. They are superb in this movie and elevate the familiar story. Unfortunately, two weeks after the film’s release, it was pulled out of over 2000 theatres due to a dismal box office performance. It’s a real shame because Sorkin didn’t set out to write a traditional biopic. The movie is set in real time, backstage at the launch of three key Apple products while Job’s relationships with his company, family and outsiders are explored as they evolve throughout the years. The sharp dialogue coupled with Fassbender’s layered performance really delves deep and offers up an interesting portrayal of Jobs.  ​

7. The Walk

This film was one of my biggest surprises of the year. The Walk is the only film I saw in 2015 that was actually enhanced (if not best suited) to watch in IMAX 3D. I thought the movie did a great job of striking that tricky line between the momentous subject matter at hand and the humorous, light hearted tone. Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s portrayal of Philippe Petit was charming and carried the film through any lulls. The last 30 minutes are visually stunning and quite an overwhelming spectacle to behold as evidenced by the number of people in the audience who were noticeably sick on the way out. Definitely one of my more memorable film experiences of the year.

6. The Hateful Eight

Whether you’re a fan of Quentin Tarantino’s films or not, you can’t deny that his films are some of the most unique works of cinema out there. The Hateful Eight is no exception and only Tarantino can come up with horrendously scarring images that shock the audience. His signature dark humor is present throughout the movie. One scene immediately springs to mind (the story told to General Smithers by Major Warren) which was somehow both genuinely horrifying and downright hilarious.  The film takes its time introducing the characters and setting up the stakes before cranking it up to eleven, aided by Ennio Morricone’s outstanding score.

The entire ensemble cast is fantastic and I’m honestly surprised Jennifer Jason Leigh is the only one nominated for an Academy Award. My one complaint is that the plot is decidedly contrived and at times beyond absurd but ultimately The Hateful Eight is very entertaining and I admire the commitment to delivering on the promise of a very unforgettable movie. ​

You can read Carter Sigl's full review of The Hateful Eight here.

5. Ex Machina

As someone who is absolutely terrified of the capabilities of Artificial Intelligence, Ex Machina didn’t do much to alleviate my fears. I loved the modern take on AI, showing us that breakthroughs can be made but asking the ever-present question: “Do we have the right to play God?” Alicia Vikander is remarkable and vulnerable as Ava and deeply unsettling when needed. The film’s ending felt justifiably earned and left me thinking about the implications of this powerful technology.

You can read Elizabeth Johnson-Wilson's full review of Ex Machina here.

4. Inside Out

Pixar’s Inside Out definitely ranks high amongst the studio’s greatest hits and that’s saying something when that list includes the likes of WALL-E, Toy Story 3 and Up. This movie pushes past the boundaries of what animation can do and tells an original, high concept story that is very relatable and quite unlike anything I’ve seen. The personification of the five emotions really shines through the film and are masterfully entwined as they bicker, ridicule and support one another. Inside Out does an incredible job of simplifying the complex processes transpiring in our head with visual representations of the “core memories”. The ending is also true to life as experiencing temporary sadness often plays a vital role in restoring an individual’s capability to be happy.

You can read Carter Sigl's full review of Inside Out here. 

3. The Revenant

There aren’t many movies that take a piece of you with them. The Revenant makes no apologies for being vicious and is not for the fainthearted. That being said, if you are willing to experience a gruesome story about survival, this movie will not disappoint you. Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy deliver phenomenal performances and remind you that the world they inhabit takes no prisoners. The jaw dropping sequences are even more inspiring when I learnt that they were filmed in natural light, within a window of a few hours a day.

Hugh Glass’ quest for revenge drives the story forward and only gets direr as it progresses. The Revenant never lets up and culminates towards a predictable but nevertheless satisfying conclusion. The film is longer than some might like but is well worth it as the lengthy runtime just makes the journey all the more impactful.

You can read Carter Sigl's full review of The Revenant here.

2. Spotlight

If I could only recommend one movie from this list, it would be Spotlight. The film tackles a very important issue and has one of the best ensemble casts you could hope to see in a movie. The systematic nature of the Catholic sex abuse scandal is depicted appropriately and the film shows you the multitude of factors that contribute to this deep-rooted problem. Nothing is overly dramatized and it is fascinating to get a behind the scenes look at how the journalistic process is carried out, from inception to completion. Above all else, this story is told honestly and captures the unfortunate reality that even well-meaning journalists can and will get it wrong sometimes.

You can read Arjun Agarwal's full review of Spotlight here.

1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens

The reason Star Wars: The Force Awakens is my favorite movie of 2015 is because it is greater than the sum of its parts. The characters, performances, action sequences, emotional drama, light hearted tone, musical score and special effects came together brilliantly and resulted in an incredibly entertaining time at the movies. Of course, the film is derivative of what came before but it’s easy to forget that those elements make for a really good Star Wars movie. This was the only movie I saw multiple times and I was not any less thrilled upon repeat viewings. The movie is by no means perfect but none of the others on my list are either. Together, they represent my collective enjoyment at the movies in 2015 but I think you’d be hard-pressed to find a film with as much heart as this one.

You can read Carter Sigl's full review of Star Wars: The Force Awakens here.

• Shout out to Domhnall Gleeson for being in three (Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Revenant and Ex Machina) of my top five films.

• I don’t usually like giving honorable mentions because if something didn’t make my list, it didn’t make it, plain and simple. But I want to acknowledge that I missed out on seeing Mad Max: Fury Road last year. Given that I was excited to see it (still trying to figure out why that didn’t happen) and the astounding critical acclaim surrounding the film, I’m sure it would have ended up on my list.