Art
The 20 Best Movies of 2015
What was your favorite movie this year?
Most of us are looking forward to next year’s movie line up now that 2015 is nearing its end. I mean, who wouldn’t? Next year, exciting films such as Captain America: Civil War, Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, The Divergent Series: Allegiant, and Leonardo de Caprio’s The Revenant will hit the big screen.
2015, however, has been a remarkable year for the movie industry as well, and we’ve watched several films that were nothing short of entertaining. This year, theaters were graced with epic historical dramas, comedy, romantic fairy tales, and science fiction films that touched our hearts and captured our imaginations.
Let’s take a look at 20 of the best films of 2015 once again. And if you happened to miss it, this holiday season might be the best time to catch up.
#20. Woman in Gold
Helen Mirren portrays the role of a Jewish Refugee named Maria Altman, who is now in her 80’s. During WWII, the Nazis plundered her family’s treasures. Now, Altman seeks justice and fights the Austrian government to regain them, including Gustav Klimt’s painting, the ”Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer,” otherwise known as the Golden Adele, which was owned by her aunt. This film is based on a true story.
#19. The Martian
In an action/adventure/thriller film directed by Ridley Scott, astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) was separated from the rest of his crew after a vicious sand storm hit Mars. He was presumed dead, so they left him alone on the hostile planet for several, gruelling months. Watney, now with very limited resources, has to find a way to send a signal back to Earth and tell them he’s alive. It is a gripping tale of survival, and Matt Damon’s superb acting enables the audience to relate to the character’s struggles.
#18. The Intern
Written and directed by Nancy Meyers (Something’s Gotta Give, It’s Complicated) The Intern is a comedy that stars the legendary Robert de Niro as Ben Whittaker, a 70-year-old widower who learned that retirement is not as good as people claim it to be. So, he decides to apply as a senior intern at an online fashion site owned by the young and workaholic Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway).
#17. Mad Max: Fury Road
This action-packed, sci-fi movie is set in post-apocalyptic Australia. Oil crisis drove the people to war and destruction, and ruthless gangs are ready to kill anyone. Furiosa (Charlize Theron), rebels against a despotic ruler and searches for her homeland, thinking that it’s her only chance of surviving the chaotic world. She eventually finds help from unlikely people including Max (Tom Hardy), a drifter searching for peace of mind following the death of her wife and child.
#16. Spectre
Luxurious cars, gorgeous women, nerve-wracking action scenes that will keep you on the edge of your seat—what else can anyone ask for from this latest James Bond movie? Daniel Craig plays as Agent 007 again, but this time, he shows a bit more of his human side. The agent shows pain and suffering; he’s not the perfect and indestructible hero like in the rest of the Bond films. Spectre also stars Ralph Fiennes, the beautiful Monica Belluci, and Christoph Waltz.
#15. Battle for Sevastopol
Bitva za Sevastopol is a biography drama about a legendary female sniper named Lyudmila Pavlichenko, a young student who was forced to enlist in the army during WWII. Seeing that she is a threat, the German High Command wants her dead—at all cost.
#14. The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
This movie from Guy Ritchie has a perfect blend of action, adventure, and comedy. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. revolves around the story of a CIA agent and a KGB operative who join forces to stop a mysterious criminal organization that develops nuclear weapons.
#13. Avengers: Age of Ultron
A star-studded film filled with action, adventure, astounding special effects, and witty banter, the superheroes reunited once again to save Earth from the villainous Ultron.
#12. The Longest Ride
From Nicholas Sparks, the author who gave us The Notebook, The Lucky One, and The Best of Me, comes another film adaptation of a novel with the same title. It tells of two love stories simultaneously—one occurring at the present time and the other, which happened in the 1940’s.
#11. Age of Adaline
It has been 80 years, yet Adaline Bowman remains 29. Following a tragic car crash, she has been rendered ageless. She then led a solitary life just to keep that secret, never allowing anyone to get close to her until she met a dashing philanthropist who soon complicates her life.
#10. Birdman: The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance
Michael Keaton, Emma Stone, and Edward Norton top the cast of this Oscar-winning film by director Alejandro González Iñárritu. The story is about Riggan Thomson (Keaton), an ex-Hollywood star who played as Birdman about two decades ago. The problem is, Birdman is more renowned than Thomson himself is. Now past middle age, he wants to establish himself as a true artist and regain popularity by writing, directing, co-producing, and starring in a Broadway play. This comedy/ drama depict the struggles of a wasted actor as he tries to cope with his current life.
#9. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
Seventeen-year-old Greg is mostly preoccupied with creating parodies of classic movies together with his co-worker, Earl. Even though he’s a member of several social groups in school, he doesn’t have friends. But, when his mother forced him to befriend a quiet girl named Rachel, a girl who has just been diagnosed with cancer, he finds his life and his outlook changed forever.
#8. Ex Machina
The story is about Caleb, a 26-year-old programmer who works at the world’s largest internet company. He spends a week at a private mountain retreat as a prize for winning a competition; however, soon he learns that he has to participate in an experiment. It involves interacting with the world’s first true artificial intelligence—a beautiful robot girl with an out-of-control-artificial mind.
#7. Youth
Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel stars in this Paolo Sorrentino movie. The plot revolves around a retired orchestra conductor named Fred (Caine) and his best friend, a film director named Mick (Keitel). Together with Fred’s daughter, the three of them are on vacation in the Alps. Fred does not intend to continue his career, but then, Queen Elizabeth II invites him to perform for Prince Philip’s birthday.
#6. Crimson Peak
From writer/ director/ producer, Guillermo de Toro comes this horror flick set in 19th century England, which stars Mia Wasikowska as an aspiring, young, female writer who is torn between her beloved childhood friend and a seductive, mysterious outsider. Following a family tragedy, she marries the stranger and soon finds herself caught in dark and intriguing events.
#5. Relatos Salvajes
Relatos Salvajes a.k.a. Wind Tales is a film consisting of six short stories about troubled people. This comedy/drama/thriller focuses on how ordinary life situations can build up unexpectedly and eventually resulting in shocking consequences.
#4. The Walk
Writer/director Robert Zemeckis tells the true story of Philippe Petit, a professional high-wire artist who, in 1974, recruited a group of people to help him walk between the World Trade Center towers.
#3. Kingsman: Secret Service
Kingsman: Secret Service is an action/adventure/comedy film about witty special agents, cool gadgets, and saving the world from a perverse tech genius. Colin Firth, Michael Caine, Samuel L. Jackson, and Taron Egerton star this funny and truly entertaining film.
#2. Everest
In 1996, climbers from two commercial expeditions began their final ascent toward the summit of Everest. Tragically, they faced the harshest conditions when a severe snowstorm hit the mountain…this was their story.
#1. Inside Out
Pixar Animation Studios released this wonderful and truly heart-warming animation about a young girl named Riley and her emotions: joy, sadness, disgust, fear, and anger. This touching film teaches both kids and adults how emotions help us deal with our problems in life. It’s a must watch, just in case you haven’t seen it yet.
Did we forget to include your favorite movie this year? Share them with us.