Haley Emerson's Top Ten Films of 2015

2015 was quite a year for film of all types.  Well, to be more specific, the last half of 2015 was quite a year for film.  When attempting to compile this list, I could all but disregard January-May. That being said, the year as a whole saw film releases that have made it into my top 10 ever. But here is my top 10 of 2015:

10. The Gift

This film is a psychological thriller from the mind of Joel Edgerton, which took me off guard in more ways than one. Starring Edgerton as the former victim of high school bully Jason Bateman (yes, Jason Bateman in a psychological thriller), the two cross paths once again in their late 30s.  Loner Gordo (Edgerton) was bullied relentlessly by Simon (Bateman) in high school, and pursues him to seek revenge.  Overall, the film had a unique premise, and many more disturbing twists and turns than I expected.  It was refreshing (albeit, a little confusing) to see Bateman in a dramatic role, but he and the rest of the cast gave adequate performances in a film which was more narratively quality.  Previous to seeing it, I never expected to put this film on a top anything list, but I was pleasantly surprised with how well done it was.

9. Straight Outta Compton

Directed by F. Gary Gray, this N.W.A. biopic was immensely enjoyable and moving. Pop culture biopics aren’t generally this thoughtful, but Compton deserves much more credit than it has received.  It told the story of how N.W.A. came into being, the obstacles they encountered, and the walls they broke down for African Americans in the music industry.  The film served as a nice tribute to Eazy-E’s memory, as well as the legacy of N.W.A.  With a killer soundtrack (obviously) and commendable performances by O’Shea Jackson Jr., Jason Mitchell, and Corey Hawkins, it saddens me that Straight Outta Compton received such little attention from the Academy.  Regardless, it was one of my favorite movies of this past year.

8. The Martian

This (comedy?!?) sci-fi Ridley Scott film is unanimously categorized as one of the best films of 2015, and I have to agree. Although I didn’t see it until last week (yes, I know), it is my firm belief that The Martian far and away bests any other space-themed movie that has come out in the last past year.  I liked it much better than Interstellar and Gravity, too, but that’s beside the point.  The film stars Matt Damon as a botanist/astronaut stranded on Mars, laying the foundation for one of my favorite Damon performances of all time.  Despite the lack of a Ben Affleck to interact with, Damon really does shine on his own.  The film also supplies an inside look into NASA, and perhaps the future of space exploration.  With insane space special effects, a gripping plot, and a handful of comedic moments (just a handful - still not a comedy), The Martian certainly earned its place in my list of top 10 films of 2015 (and the top 10 list of nearly everyone else).  

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

7. The Hateful Eight

In some ways, Tarantino’s latest endeavor felt familiar - clever dialogue, gratuitous violence, Samuel L. Jackson… But The Hateful Eight sets itself apart from the typical Tarantino archetype.  Set in the post-Civil War reconstruction period in the middle of a blizzard, the film chronicles the intersection of eight strangers seeking refuge from the storm.  It plays as a sort of Western, whodunit mystery, which strays from Tarantino’s typical historical fiction/spaghetti western/dark comedy/crime preference. Jennifer Jason Leigh’s performance was certainly the most memorable of the entire film, but it was well performed by the cast as a whole.  From the start, I was extremely skeptical about this movie.  The trailers didn’t give me any burning desire to see it, but of course, I saw it anyway.  Thankfully, I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed the whole thing, even Samuel L. Jackson’s minutes-long and excruciating monologue about blowjobs.

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

6. Spotlight

Another movie I saw way too late, Spotlight hit really close to home. Being from the Boston area AND having gone to Catholic school, this film was equally moving and disturbing.  The film follows a team of investigative journalists looking into allegations of the sexual abuse of children by Boston-area Catholic priests.  It stars Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, and Rachel McAdams as members of the Boston Globe’s Spotlight Team, the journalists who pursued this deeply upsetting (and true) story.  I was impressed by every performance in this film, and impressed by the film as whole really. Considering that director/writer Tom McCarthy’s last film was The Cobbler, I was a little wary of how he would handle such a poignant story.  McCarthy, however, did not disappoint.  I look forward to seeing Spotlight win the slew of Oscars it deserves.

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

5. The Danish Girl

This film based on the tragically true story of Lili Elbe (Eddie Redmayne), born as Einar Wegener, a Danish landscape painter who was one of the first people to undergo sex reassignment surgery in the late nineteenth century.  It recounts Lili’s transition, as well as how Gerda, Einar’s wife, deals with these new circumstances that have been thrust upon her. Aesthetically beautiful, emotionally moving, and astoundingly well acted, The Danish Girl was pleasing from beginning to end. Redmayne’s and co-star Alicia Vikander’s performances were nuanced and transformative - I really think these two will be remembered as some of the best acting talents of this era.  The film transports the viewer into Lili and Gerda’s world, using scenes of gorgeous Copenhagen, intricate costuming, and nineteenth century art. Though I left the theater feeling devastated by the plot and themes of it, the film was inarguably well done and is sure to receive continued praise. Redmayne and Vikander always impress me, so I supposed this film was destined to be on my top 10 list,

4. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

It’s easy to discount the artistic value of a teen, coming-of-age film, but Me and Earl and the Dying Girl was nothing short of beautiful. Yes, I sobbed obviously, but that didn’t take away from how much I loved it. High school senior Greg (Thomas Mann) is force by his mother to befriend one of his classmates, Rachel (Olivia Cooke), who has leukemia. Greg and his best friend Earl (RJ Cyler) begin a cordial acquaintanceship with Rachel, which eventually blossoms into a close and loving friendship. As she becomes sicker and unresponsive to chemo, Rachel decides to discontinue her treatment and eventually dies. Greg as narrator over and over ensures the viewer that Rachel won’t die, which is EVIL in my opinion, but made for a more dramatic climax, I suppose. The young actors in this film all provide impressive performances, and the screenplay alone is incredibly moving. If you’d like to watch one of the best films of the year AND have a good cry, I highly recommend Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.

You can read Mary Tobin's full review of Me and Earl and the Dying Girl here. 

3. The End of the Tour

As a several-times-over failed reader of Infinite Jest, this film was a must see for me.  The End of the Tour stars Jason Segel as David Foster Wallace, prolific novelist of the late-nineties and early-two thousands.  Wallace is on a book tour promoting his latest novel, Infinite Jest (a whopping 1,079 pages), which has been praised as one of the greatest books of the past century.  Journalist David Lipsky (Jesse Eisenberg) accompanies Wallace on the last leg of the tour.  Based on Lipsky’s memoir about this endeavor, the film exposes the interactions between Wallace and Lipsky, and what Lipsky learned from his time spent with Wallace.  The two develop a stiff friendship, but Lipsky is enlightened to the troubled genius that is David Foster Wallace.  Jason Segel does a fantastic job portraying the idiosyncratic novelist, in a much more dramatic role than the ones in which he is often cast.  The film carries similar meaning to much of Wallace’s writing: fame isn’t everything, success and money will most likely not make you happy.  Depressing to say the least, but these themes help the viewer understand Wallace’s work (if they embark on the journey to read it) and comprehend Wallace’s eventual suicide.  The End of the Tour is an vital film because it allows a look inside the mind of one of the greatest American writers of all time.  I wish it received more recognition for its beauty and significance, so it is the least I can do to give it the bronze medal of my top 10 list. This movie is a must see for fans of David Foster Wallace, for fans of Jason Segel or Jesse Eisenberg, and for fans of film in general. 

You can read Mary Tobin's full review of The End of the Tour here.

2. Ex Machina

2015 truly was the year of Alicia Vikander, and I am so glad that is was.  Vikander played an artificially intelligent robot named Ava, built by eccentric tech whiz Nathan (Oscar Isaac) who assigns one of his employees, Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson), to administer the Turing test with Ava.  Directed by Alex Garland, Ex Machina acts as a sort of cautionary tale against humanoid artificial intelligence.  Ava is so humanlike that she almost seduces Caleb and tricks him into setting her free.  Though Vikander is obviously actually a human, her performance truly makes the viewer believe that she is just a very lifelike and intelligent robot.  This film is a sci-fi, tech thriller with loads of artistic value.  Rob Hardy’s cinematography was one of my favorite aspects of this film, as it showcased the eerie technology as well as the beautiful landscapes in which the fortress was situated.  Although there are a lot of visual effects employed to make the technology believable, they were all done in post-production.  It is this very fact that makes Ex Machina so different from archetypal sci-fi/technology films.  It was shot as if it was an ordinary, live-action film, which allowed it to seem more realistic.  I was blown away by this film, and consider it one of my favorites of all time, never mind of just 2015.

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

1. Room

And here we are, at number 1! Room was the most moving and beautiful film released in 2015, and potentially one of the most moving films I’ve ever seen.  It tells the story of a young woman, called Ma (Brie Larson), and her five-year-old son held captive for years in a small, enclosed space which they call “Room.”  The only world her son, Jack (Jacob Tremblay), knows is within the four walls of Room.  Ma and Jack are eventually able to escape, and much of the film is about their adjustment to the outside world.  The acting in this film blew me away.  Larson gave the performance of a lifetime.  Her preparation of the role included consulting a trauma specialist, as well as writing a journal from the perspective of Ma. Larson truly immersed herself in the character, and allows the viewer to do the same.  Tremblay’s performance, was equally impressive.  For such a young actor (he was only seven years old when production began), Tremblay shows serious chops and has already won awards for his role as Jack (Larson has also won awards for her role).  The trauma endured by Jack is hard for an adult viewer to stomach, never mind a child who has to immerse himself in the mind of Jack. Tremblay plays the role with grit and impressive emotional scope, and I see a continued impressive acting career ahead of him.  Room is a movie that improves with several watches, provided you give yourself some time to recover between viewings.  It was a profoundly poignant film and deserves the continued acclaim it is receiving.  

You can read Arzu Martinez's full review of Room here.