Makin' H15tory
2015: the year of my high school graduation, my first year at Olivet Nazarene University...and these movies.
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- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsSamuel L. JacksonKurt RussellJennifer Jason LeighIn the dead of a Wyoming winter, a bounty hunter and his prisoner find shelter in a cabin currently inhabited by a collection of nefarious characters.99/100
- DirectorJ.J. AbramsStarsDaisy RidleyJohn BoyegaOscar IsaacAs a new threat to the galaxy rises, Rey, a desert scavenger, and Finn, an ex-stormtrooper, must join Han Solo and Chewbacca to search for the one hope of restoring peace.98/100 - The Force Awakens is exactly what the Star Wars franchise needed after the disastrous (but not completely horrible) prequels. It is the best-acted film in the entire saga and is hilarious as well. What sets it apart is J.J. Abrams's stellar visual direction and the incredibly fast pace. After CG-filled, slow-moving snoozefests like The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones, we finally have a new Star Wars film that feels like a Star Wars film.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsMatt DamonJessica ChastainKristen WiigAn astronaut becomes stranded on Mars after his team assume him dead, and must rely on his ingenuity to find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive and can survive until a potential rescue.97/100 - The Martian is not your typical sci-fi survival film. Ridley Scott takes this standard concept and breathes a ton of new life into it. There's a lot of comedy that actually works here too, which is a little surprising given the bleak premise. The visual direction from Scott is among his best, particularly his use of practical effects, and Damon's performance is among the best of his career. This is definitely a film I loved watching and want to watch again and again and again.
- DirectorAlex GarlandStarsAlicia VikanderDomhnall GleesonOscar IsaacA young programmer is selected to participate in a ground-breaking experiment in synthetic intelligence by evaluating the human qualities of a highly advanced humanoid A.I.96/100 - I'm just going to cut to the chase: Ex Machina is one of the best films of the year. The way it's filmed, acted, and written is nothing short of spectacular. Oscar Isaac and Domhnall Gleeson are perfectly cast in their two roles, and Alicia Vikander does incredibly well too. I really don't know what else to say here. Ex Machina says so much about artificial intelligence and its dangers while also being one of the most thrilling and still intimate science fiction films I've ever seen.
- DirectorRyan CooglerStarsMichael B. JordanSylvester StalloneTessa ThompsonThe former World Heavyweight Champion Rocky Balboa serves as a trainer and mentor to Adonis Johnson, the son of his late friend and former rival Apollo Creed.94/100
- DirectorPete DocterRonnie Del CarmenStarsAmy PoehlerBill HaderLewis BlackAfter young Riley is uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San Francisco, her emotions - Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness - conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house, and school.93/100 - Inside Out is not quite the timeless classic that I feel Up, The Incredibles, the Toy Story films, and Wall-E are, but it does show us that the cross-generational Pixar we know and love is back. The voice casting is superb, and the animation is golden as always, but its premise sets it apart. I can't think of a film that has examined the human mind in such a unique yet strangely accurate way. I'm not sure how much of it will be grasped by kids, but the more seasoned viewers will have a blast.
- DirectorChristopher McQuarrieStarsTom CruiseRebecca FergusonJeremy RennerEthan and his team take on their most impossible mission yet when they have to eradicate an international rogue organization as highly skilled as they are and committed to destroying the IMF.92/100 - How can a franchise be this good in its fifth installment? M:I shows no signs of stopping with Rogue Nation, and neither does Tom Cruise, as he performs some of the most dangerous stunts of his career. The rest of the returning and new cast members make sure we don't lose the team dynamic that was so essential to Ghost Protocol. McQuarrie also has some great helming of the many action scenes, particularly the motorcycle chase. This is a thrill ride that keeps you on edge the whole time.
- DirectorGeorge MillerStarsTom HardyCharlize TheronNicholas HoultIn a post-apocalyptic wasteland, a woman rebels against a tyrannical ruler in search for her homeland with the aid of a group of female prisoners, a psychotic worshiper and a drifter named Max.91/100 - Featuring a hefty story and masterful direction from George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road is a breath of fresh air for action films with its unique aesthetic and complex, intricate practical stuntwork.
- DirectorRobert ZemeckisStarsJoseph Gordon-LevittCharlotte Le BonBen KingsleyIn 1974, high-wire artist Philippe Petit recruits a team of people to help him realize his dream: to walk the immense void between the World Trade Center towers.90/100 - The Walk further cements Robert Zemeckis's return to live action cinema with its impeccable visuals and near-perfect pacing while also showcasing the true talent of Joseph Gordon-Levitt in an incredibly committed performance.
- DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsEmily BluntJosh BrolinBenicio Del ToroAn idealistic FBI agent is enlisted by a government task force to aid in the escalating war against drugs at the border area between the U.S. and Mexico.88/100 - Sicario is definitely not a film based on action. It is an incredibly cerebral experience due to its more deliberate pace that makes the supposed black and white War on Drugs a grey area in quite an effective way. Roger Deakins's cinematography makes this film incredibly effective in combination with its on-location shooting. Emily Blunt and Benicio del Toro turn in some of the best performances of their respective careers to make this one of the more unflinchingly tough films of this year.
- DirectorSam MendesStarsDaniel CraigChristoph WaltzLéa SeydouxA cryptic message from James Bond's past sends him on a trail to uncover the existence of a sinister organisation named SPECTRE. With a new threat dawning, Bond learns the terrible truth about the author of all his pain in his most recent missions.87/100
- DirectorJoel EdgertonStarsJason BatemanRebecca HallJoel EdgertonA married couple, Simon and Robyn, run into Gordo, an old classmate. Things take a turn when Gordo begins to drop in unannounced at their house and inundates them with mysterious gifts.86/100
- DirectorPeyton ReedStarsPaul RuddMichael DouglasCorey StollArmed with a super-suit with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, cat burglar Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, pull off a plan that will save the world.85/100 - What sets Ant-Man apart from the other Marvel films is its unique tone. Most of the MCU's Phase One and early Phase 2 films were basically trying to replicate Iron Man's formula for their respective characters. However, from 2014 on Marvel has done a really good job of making each film's tone distinct, and this continues with Ant-Man. It feels less like a superhero film and more like a heist comedy, allowing Paul Rudd to flex his comedic muscles quite a bit while also giving all the other players room to work. The way Peyton Reed crafts the film's shrunken sequences puts a very unique mark on this Marvel film that will allow it to stand apart from the rest of their body of work.
- DirectorColin TrevorrowStarsChris PrattBryce Dallas HowardTy SimpkinsA new theme park, built on the original site of Jurassic Park, creates a genetically modified hybrid dinosaur, the Indominus Rex, which escapes containment and goes on a killing spree.82/100 - Jurassic World is exactly the sort of film that we've been waiting for for 14 years: a well-directed, well-acted popcorn thriller that captures much of the original magic of its franchise without copying it to excess.
- DirectorJoss WhedonStarsRobert Downey Jr.Chris EvansMark RuffaloWhen Tony Stark and Bruce Banner try to jump-start a dormant peacekeeping program called Ultron, things go horribly wrong and it's up to Earth's mightiest heroes to stop the villainous Ultron from enacting his terrible plan.79/100 - Age of Ultron is good. It's got good acting, writing, direction, and characters. Unfortunately, it suffers from the same bloatedness that The Avengers had but on a much larger scale. Believe it or not, if this film was longer it might have actually helped it flesh out some of its story more. It feels incomplete to a degree, especially in regard to Ultron, and its constant quipping makes the darker tone it tries to capture unable to take hold. That said, this is still a really enjoyable film.
- DirectorKenneth BranaghStarsLily JamesCate BlanchettRichard MaddenWhen her father unexpectedly dies, young Ella finds herself at the mercy of her cruel stepmother and her scheming stepsisters. Never one to give up hope, Ella's fortunes begin to change after meeting a dashing stranger.79/100 - Cinderella succeeds solely because of Kenneth Branagh's stellar period direction. The set design and costuming here are both top-notch. Lily James turns in a fantastic performance as the titular Disney princess, while the supporting cast is for the most part good as well. The only one I didn't quite like was Helena Bonham Carter as the Fairy Godmother, as I felt she didn't quite fit the film's tone. However, if you want that classic Disney magic, this is the closest you'll get right now.
- DirectorFrancis LawrenceStarsJennifer LawrenceJosh HutchersonLiam HemsworthKatniss and a team of rebels from District 13 prepare for the final battle that will decide the fate of Panem.67/100 - Mockingjay Pt. 2 is definitely not bad, but it's also not great. For every fantastic set piece or well-directed/well-acted scene we enjoy, we are made to bear with a ton of slow exposition that feels like it could have been done in half the time. The film's ending is really well handled, however, and probably does that part better than the book. There's more style than the first half of this two-parter, but the much darker tone of the Mockingjay installments slows the film's pace to a crawl.
- DirectorBrad BirdStarsGeorge ClooneyBritt RobertsonHugh LaurieBound by a shared destiny, a teen bursting with scientific curiosity and a former boy-genius inventor embark on a mission to unearth the secrets of a place somewhere in time and space that exists in their collective memory.59/100 - There's something to be said for making an original film in today's industry. Too bad this one didn't quite pan out. Tomorrowland is able to highlight a couple good performances from George Clooney and Britt Robertson, but Hugh Laurie's villain seems a little thin. Brad Bird's direction is great too, but the third act makes the plot and characters of the first two acts seem incredibly thin. There's such a good build-up to the film's climax that when it fizzles out, it feels like a huge letdown.
- DirectorBrad PeytonStarsDwayne JohnsonCarla GuginoAlexandra DaddarioIn the aftermath of a massive earthquake in California, a rescue-chopper pilot makes a dangerous journey with his ex-wife across the state in order to rescue his daughter.45/100 - I got more out of San Andreas than expected. Yes, it was a little silly at times, very CGI driven, and a pretty pointless movie. But that's the point: it's a "turn your brain off" film, and a pretty well-made one at that. Dwayne Johnson shows off his action star chops well, while Paul Giamatti does pretty decently too as a seismologist. The massive destruction we see is also well done with some unexpected restraint. No, San Andreas isn't great, but it's not bad for killing time.
- DirectorNeill BlomkampStarsSharlto CopleyDev PatelHugh JackmanIn the near future, crime is patrolled by a mechanized police force. When one police droid, Chappie, is stolen and given new programming, he becomes the first robot with the ability to think and feel for himself.37/100 - Never have I ever seen a film so mismarketed as Chappie. Everything that I wanted to see more of from the trailer wasn't in the film. I would have loved to see Dev Patel's character's interaction with Chappie more than just the minute or two we get or his struggle against Hugh Jackman...or just more of Jackman's character in general. This could have been such a thought-provoking film instead of the snooze fest it actually is. At least the motion capture work from Sharlto Copley is well done.
- DirectorFrank CoraciStarsAdam SandlerTerry CrewsJorge GarciaAn outlaw who was raised by Native Americans discovers that he has five half-brothers. Together the men go on a mission to find their wayward, deadbeat dad.25/100 - While The Ridiculous 6 is definitely a bad movie, it's not nearly as big of an offender as some of Sandler's other recent films. Unlike such debacles as Jack & Jill and Grown-Ups 2, there is actually a decent plot for almost a half hour of the movie before the bodily function jokes kick in. However, its constant skirting of the line between acceptable satire and racially offensive comedy is what really does it in.
- DirectorJosh TrankStarsMiles TellerKate MaraMichael B. JordanFour young outsiders teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe which alters their physical form in shocking ways. The four must learn to harness their new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.19/100 - I thought that this film had a shot. It had a great cast, a young talented director, and a pretty decent writing team. I was wrong. Fantastic Four is just a mess. The writing is atrocious, the acting is wooden, and even the CGI is a wreck. It's also incredibly poorly paced, as the film seems to just want to set up another one instead of focusing on itself at all. I gave this film a shot, and I was rewarded with absolutely nothing. There's nothing redeeming about Fantastic Four at all.
- DirectorChris ColumbusStarsAdam SandlerKevin JamesMichelle MonaghanWhen aliens misinterpret video feeds of classic arcade games as a declaration of war, they attack the Earth in the form of the video games.16/100 - Pixels has such an interesting concept that I have to dock it for its terrible execution. This is one of Sandler's worst performances of his career, but Kevin James is even worse playing the President. (And yes, that takes away any credibility this movie had.) I was forced to watch this utter mess and was thoroughly unentertained. The only time I laughed was at a joke about Han shooting first, and that's because Star Wars. The CGI is quality, but it's the only watchable part of this movie.
- DirectorAdam McKayStarsChristian BaleSteve CarellRyan GoslingIn 2006-2007 a group of investors bet against the United States mortgage market. In their research, they discover how flawed and corrupt the market is.