Well the Hollywood Foreign Press held their annual movie and television gala last night and as usual there were a few surprises, a few predictable wins, and some head-scratching  moments as well. But that’s to be expected. I mean I enjoy them and there were a few applause-worthy moments. But let’s be honest, often times these things make no sense whatsoever. Still, they do give us plenty to talk about as we make our way to the Oscars. So, as I do every year, here are a few random thoughts about last night’s Golden Globes…

• Okay, lets go ahead and get this out of the way. Everyone knows “The Martian” was not a comedy. Good film. I love Ridley Scott. But you have to wonder if it was shoehorned into the comedy category just to give it an award? Better yet, by it winning what does it say about the actual comedies of last year?
• Jonah Hill’s bear bit wins for stupidest moment of the night. Wasn’t clever. Wasn’t funny. Kinda embarrassing. On the other hand, Jason Statham was hysterical.

NOPE!

YEP!

• I was so wanting Saoirse Ronan to win Best Actress for “Brooklyn”, but if she had to lose I’m so happy it was to Brie Larson. Both films were fantastic. Still not convinced either will win the Oscar though. My fingers are crossed.

• Remember that scene in “The Martian” when Matt Damon had a piece of flying debris smash into his head? Pure comedy genius. Surely that’s one of the reasons he won for Best Actor – Comedy.
• No Best Director win for George Miller. Bummer. But I guess “Mad Max: Fury Road” is an anti-awards type movie. Shouldn’t surprise us that it didn’t get the votes. Unfortunately it looks like it will need to be content with nominations.
• Was it just me or did Brad Pitt’s face look especially stiff and bronzed? Not making any accusations. Just a little observation.
• “Carol” went in with a lot of nominations and a ton of critical praise but left the show empty-handed. I must admit I was surprised. Unlike “Mad Max” it seems custom-made for awards season.
• Ricky Gervais played the mean-spirited agitating Englishman to the hilt. He did have several funny gags. He also had some lame ones and others that seemed to come from his ego overextending itself. He was okay but exactly what we expected. Nothing more or less.
• Speaking of Gervais, the bit with Mel Gibson got a little uncomfortable. Mel took Gervais’ ribbing well and had a great colonoscopy comeback. Apparently Gervais’ ego couldn’t stand it. He comes back out and the two have another exchange that didn’t seem mutually respectful.
• Kate Winslet’s Supporting Actress win for “Steve Jobs” was a bit of a surprise. While I thought Jennifer Jason Leigh gave a good but not awards-worthy performance, she had some momentum going into the night. She certainly doesn’t have as much now.
• Hands down, the biggest disappointment of the night was “Spotlight” getting shut out. What a shame. Such an important and thoroughly engaging film. But here’s the thing, it’s not the least bit flashy or ostentatious – both things the awards voters seem to love. Again, what a shame.

• What a fantastic introduction of Denzel Washington by Tom Hanks for the Cecil B. DeMille Award. Funny thing is the exact same introduction could be made for Hanks and probably will be in the next few years.
• So Jennifer Lawrence wins Best Actress – Comedy for “Joy”. Fairly predictable. I found that to be one of the weaker categories. I don’t see that win carrying over to Oscar night when (and if) she gets thrown into the mix with the other dramatic performances.
• I had to rewind a couple of times to get what Quentin Tarantino was saying about Ennio Morricone. Before last night he had never won an award for a musical score in America. That is pretty amazing. His score was one of the best things about “The Hateful Eight”. Too bad he didn’t get to do original music for the entire film.
• Keeping with some of the night’s predictability, “Inside Out” wins Best Animated Feature and “Son of Saul” wins Best Foreign Language Film. Don’t expect anything to change come Oscar night.
• Speaking of nothing changing on Oscar night, Leonardo DiCaprio will be the biggest sure-thing at this year’s Academy Awards. He’s not going up against a big Daniel Day-Lewis type performance plus the standing ovation he received was telling. The crowd was genuinely enthusiastic for the win and many in that crowd are Academy voters. The Oscar drought is over.
• Speaking of enthusiasm and standing ovations, those same Academy voters gave one to Sylvester Stallone for his Best Supporting Actor win. For me it and Best Actress are the strongest categories. Idris Elba was my choice but back when I reviewed “Creed” I said don’t be surprised if Sly got an Oscar nomination. Not only will he be nominated, but now he is the bona-fide frontrunner. Good for him. Plus he had one of the night’s greatest reactions at the calling of his name.

• Jim Carrey is a funny guy. Where so many floundered on the stage trying desperately to be funny (Hill, Tatum, Lawrence, Schumer to name a few), the bearded Carrey comes out and I immediately start giggling. Is it his goofy, well-spoken delivery or his even goofier expressions? I don’t know. He’s just funny.
• “The Revenant” sure came out of the Globes in a strong position. Winning for Best Director and Best Motion Picture – Drama makes it the leader in the Best Picture Oscar pool. But some are saying don’t christen it the big winner just yet. I don’t know. It’s hard not to see it as the true frontrunner.

So there are a few random thoughts on this year’s Golden Globe festivities. What did you think of the show? What were you impressions of the winners, losers, or anything in between?

Each year I set aside time to examine and spotlight what I think are the best performances of the past movie year. In keeping with the upcoming Oscars I have adopted their format and for the next few days I’ll be highlighting the very best performances for each of the four acting categories. Today the ladies get to go first and we will look at Supporting Actresses. This was a toughie. So many names came to mind and limiting it to five was no easy chore. But such is the nature of these things so here we go – the Best Supporting Actress Performances of 2015:

 #5 – Zoe Saldana (“Infinitely Polar Bear”)

Compared to Mark Ruffalo’s attention-getting lead, Zoe Saldana has a pretty thankless role. But in “Infinitely Polar Bear” it’s also a pivotal role that Saldana handles with such sincerity and emotional detail. She delivers an impressively earnest performance which revealed a skillful dramatic precision I never knew she had. For me this was a true eye-opening performance from 2015.

#4 –  Nina Kunzendorf (“Phoenix”)

“Phoenix” was one of the more haunting films of 2015. A key reason for its success lies with its trio of performances including that of Nina Kunzendorf. She gives a quiet yet powerful performance playing a woman scarred by her Holocaust experience and frustrated by the willingness of others to so quickly forgive. In a way she is the conscious of the film as well as the voice of reason. But Kunzendorf never lets us forget the pain her character is trying to suppress.

#3 – Elizabeth Banks (“Love & Mercy”)

There were a handful of biopics to come out in 2015. One of the better ones was Bill Pohlad’s “Love & Mercy”, the story of Beach Boys singer Brian Wilson that was completely against the normal biopic formula. Elizabeth Banks plays a woman who has developed a relationship with Wilson and played an important part in getting his life on track. Banks is great and she gives us a clear outside perspective on Wilson’s troubling circumstances.

#2 – Joan Allen (“Room”)

Unquestionably one of my favorite supporting performances came from Joan Allen in the powerfully moving “Room”. Allen plays a mother juggling so many heavy emotions. I don’t want to spoil anything, but let’s just say she has battled guilt and grief for seven years. Those feelings and emotions take an unexpected turn and are mixed with several others as the film goes along and Allen has no trouble conveying them to us in the most genuine way. It’s a fabulously complex performance.

#1 – Rebecca Ferguson (“Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation”)

Some may scoff at this pick being tops on my list because “Mission: Impossible” isn’t the normal Awards-type picture. Too bad. Rebecca Ferguson was one of the great surprises in 2015. She was a showstealer and gave us a mysterious female character every part equal to Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt. Ferguson has a strong grasp on her role and plays it confidently and fearlessly. It’s such a great performance and it’s hard to imagine her career not getting a boost after such strong work.

So what did you think of the list? Please take time to share your thoughts and look out for the next category coming soon.

After seeing so many people participate in these Blind Spot things I decided to give it a try for the first time last year. I’m so glad I did. It was a load of fun so naturally I’m ready to give it another go. Today I’m sharing the lineup of movies I’ll be watching throughout the coming year. These are films that are glaring omissions from my personal movie watching history and are generally held in high regard either by film critics or audiences. Some of these are films that I’ve seen bits of but have never watched them through. Others will be completely new experiences. So here they are…

JANUARY – “The Killing” [REVIEW]

FEBRUARY – “Paths of Glory” [REVIEW]

MARCH – “Ace in the Hole” [REVIEW]

APRIL – “Red River” [REVIEW]

MAY – “LA STRADA” [REVIEW]

JUNE – “A Man Escaped” [REVIEW]

JULY – “Rio Bravo” [REVIEW]

AUGUST – “Touch of Evil” [REVIEW]

SEPTEMBER – “Cléo from 5 to 7” [REVIEW]

OCTOBER – “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” [REVIEW]

NOVEMBER – “The Candidate”

DECEMBER – “The Last Picture Show”

What are you thoughts on this year’s lineup? Any particular movies catch your eye?

Well, it’s an imperfect world so I guess it makes sense that not all movies are perfect. Some are merely very good, fair, or downright crap. Today we’re looking at the dregs of the 2015 movie year, the bottom feeders, the lowest of the low. Overall it was a good year for movies particularly in the last quarter, but that didn’t stop these abominations from staining the year that was.

#5 – “The Gunman”

There was something off about “The Gunman” going all the way back to its first trailer. I think it was the idea of Sean Penn playing a gun-toting action hero. Well whatever it was I call it prophetic. The entire movie is ‘off’ and that’s being kind. Penn is never convincing. He seems more interested in showing off his freshly carved physique than telling a good story. And he never looks interested in what he’s doing. Instead he has an ever-present sour facial expression that looks like he ate some bad sushi. Penn is boring. The action is boring. The so called political message is boring. “The Gunman” is boring.

#4 – “The Boy Next Door”

Another year and another crappy J-Lo movie. I’ve always thought Jennifer Lopez was a better actress that her movies suggest, but I’m honestly starting to second guess myself. “The Boy Next Door” does her no favors. This ‘thriller’ starts off with a tingle of promise but it squanders it within minutes becoming a predictable and dumb exercise in tedium. It’s too absurd to be taken seriously and too serious to be good campy fun. The ending is the cake topper – a completely idiotic finale that leaves more gaping plot holes than answers. A total waste of time.

#3 – “The Ridiculous 6”

What would a ‘Worst of’ list be without an Adam Sandler movie? This serving of Sandler’s annualized cinematic slop ventures into the Old West, but aside from that there’s no difference between this and the normal garbage he churns out. Sandler and his usual cronies follow the same formula of dopey characters, overused juvenile gags, and general lazy humor. The sad thing is “The Ridiculous 6” will have a following. It will make a profit. Some people will think it’s funny. And ultimately that will be enough to encourage another movie of this type for next year. Ugh!

#2 – “Fantastic Four”

Talk about a trainwreck from its inception. The Fantastic Four aren’t exactly box office gold to begin with, but this was a film riddled with odd decision-making from the start. The casting intrigued some but felt terribly off to me. I also wasn’t big on Josh Trank who I feel gets too much credit for his overpraised “Chronicle”. Both concerns proved to be valid. None of the cast feel comfortable or even engaged and Trank’s direction is all over the map. And then there is the story itself, a clumsy and painfully dull slog. Hardly anything works in this series death knell.

#1 – “Mortdecai”

Leave it to Johnny Depp to give us something worse than any of the above disasters. You would think his career would be bruised by the number of painfully bad film choices he has made, but I’m not sure that’s the case. “Mortdecai” is probably the worst of the bunch. From start to finish “Mortdecai” feels like some kind of weird disjointed in-joke and the audience are never let in on it. The gags are appallingly unfunny, the dialogue is  lifeless, and Depp’s attempt at quirky humor is inane and frankly quite embarrassing. There are some talented people in its cast, but when the material is this dreadful it just doesn’t matter.

Can you believe we have reached the end of another movie year? That means it’s time for film critics, bloggers, and movie lovers to put together their Best of 2015 list. Some people roll their eyes at these lists and dismiss them as frivolous obligations. I’ve always loved doing them because they give us a chance to reflect on and debate the movie year that was. So let’s get to it. Below you will find my favorite films from 2015. It’s always tough leaving some movies out of my Top 10 so to remedy that I like listing my 11-20 picks as well. Here they are:

(Click on the movie title to read my full review)

#20 – “The Martian“
#19 – “Meru“
#18 – “Z for Zachariah“
#17 – “Everest“
#16 – “The Gift“
#15 – “The Connection“
#14 – “Slow West“
#13 – “What We Do in the Shadows“
#12 – “The Look of Silence“
#11 – “Creed“

Now let me share my Top 10 movies of 2015:

#10 – “Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation” – There are those who find it easy to dismiss the Mission Impossible franchise. Personally I’ve enjoyed them and the last two films have launched the series into a wildly entertaining direction. Just look at this year’s installment “Rogue Nation”, the best of franchise so far. Christopher McQuarrie helms this action-packed entry, but he does several interesting (and frankly unexpected) things. McQuarrie knows Tom Cruise is his star, but this time around Cruise steps back a bit and we see his character constantly dependent on those around him. McQuarrie also gives us a tough and independent female character superbly played by Rebecca Ferguson. The film hurdles all of the normal romantic and action tropes helping to make this a fun and entertaining ride.

#9 – “Phoenix“ – Despite several other contenders, Christian Petzold’s “Phoenix” may be the most haunting film I saw in 2015. This simmering post-World War 2 German period drama is a prime example of how slow-boiling storytelling can sometimes be the most riveting and potent. The superb performances, especially the lead work from Nina Hoss, portray broken characters, hulls of their former selves, each bearing their own heavy burden. The story deals with the after effects of the Holocaust, intimate betrayal, loss of identity, and more. It pushes its implausibility to its limits yet it feels perfectly suited for the parable being told. “Phoenix” is intriguing and subtly suspenseful from those quiet personal early moments to the satisfying final exhale. This is an enthralling tale from a confident filmmaker.

#8 – “Beasts of No Nation” – One of the more interesting stories of 2015 was “Beasts of No Nation” and not strictly the film itself. In October it released in theaters and on Netflix at the same time. The Netflix release riled up the four biggest American theater chains who refused to show the film. While this had to have hurt it to a degree, positive word of mouth quickly spread. I’m glad it did. “Beasts” is a stinging and visceral spotlight on child soldiering told through the eyes of a young war orphan. Writer and director Cary Fukunaga stays away from regional politicking and keeps his story more personal (something a few critics have found disappointing). It’s a great move that keeps the film in a better place. Throw in an eye-opening debut performance from Abraham Attah and Idris Elba in top form and you have one of the year’s best.

#7 – “Brooklyn” – There is something to be said for simplicity in both filmmaking and storytelling. “Brooklyn” encapsulates that idea by telling a simple, straightforward story with a classical approach. But don’t let my words fool you. Director John Crowley and writer Nick Hornby inject the film with several subtle but creative strokes that make this more than just a simple old-fashioned love story. “Brooklyn” is sweet and sincere. It dances close to convention and cliche but it never goes that far. Its focus stays grounded and personal. And then there is Saoirse Ronan. This is her best work in a career defined by good performances. And she does this at 21 years-old. It’s hard to grasp the level of maturity shown in this performance from such a young actress. What a travesty if Ronan doesn’t get an Oscar nomination for her work.

#6 – “About Elly” – Some may call this a cheat and I can see why. “About Elly” actually premiered overseas in 2009 but ridiculous distribution tussles kept it from coming to the United States. That changed on April 8th when “About Elly” finally nabbed a limited US release. That’s one bit of reasoning I used to have it on this list. The other being that this is a spectacular film that deserves to be talked about. It’s written, produced, and directed by Asghar Farhadi who is easily one of the best filmmakers working today. This immersive drama is a sharp and intelligent examination of relationships under stress from a writer who is one of the best at penning thoughtful, introspective dialogue. “About Elly” is right up there with Farhadi’s Oscar-winning “The Separation” and this film again defines him as one of the best pure cinematic storytellers on the planet.

#5 – “Sicario” – Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, Benicio Del Toro, cinematography by Roger Deakins, direction by Denis Villeneuve. When you read that list of incredible talent involved in making a movie it has to grab your attention. “Sicario” certainly shines as a result of the contributions from each of these components. Blunt, a long time favorite actress of mine, stars in this action thriller centered around drug trafficking along the US/Mexico border. She is fantastic. Brolin plays a role right in his comfort zone. Del Toro steals the show with a tough, cryptic supporting performance. Deakins’ cinematography is strikingly diverse and features some of the best shot sequences of the year. And Villeneuve is a director that has developed his own unique vision and style. And despite an impressive resume, “Sicario” is his best work to date.

#4 – “Room” – Great things often come in small packages. Okay, so that is a pretty corny thing to say, but it certainly fits when talking about Lenny Abrahamson’s “Room”. This potent and often heart-shattering film is one-half mesmerizing thriller and one-half intense relationship drama. The story’s centerpiece is the love between a mother and her 5 year-old son despite their immensely harrowing circumstances. The film shows us a love that endures, sustains, and saves. The script by Emma Donoghue (based on her own best selling novel) is superb, but it’s the two lead performances that make the film so absorbing. Young Jacob Tremblay is stunningly authentic in what I believe is the best child performance in decades, and Brie Larson does career-defining work that should earn her the recognition she deserves.

#3 – “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” – The sheer audacity required to make this movie is mind-boggling. Being able to do it as well as J.J. Abrams has is amazing. But despite the pressures and expectations, “The Force Awakens” is a really good film. More importantly it is a Star Wars movie through and through. That may sound like nonsense but fans know exactly what I mean. Abrams and company have managed to capture the essence of what makes these films the most cherished franchise in entertainment. This is a dual purpose movie. It serves to connect the old with the new and it injects a fresh energy for this and future installments. It’s nostalgic, funny, exciting, and unapologetically Star Wars. For that Abrams deserves a ton of praise.

#2 – “Mad Max: Fury Road” – The very moment I left the theater back in May I knew that “Mad Max: Fury Road” would be one of my very favorite films of the year. I was really excited for a new Mad Max picture, but all I expected was a wild post-apocalyptic action romp. It is definitely that, but to say it is nothing more would be such a disservice. George Miller embraces and bucks so many action movie trends all at the same time and he does it with gloriously violent artistry. The action is non-stop and shown via the most dazzling visual presentation I have ever seen. But there is more to it than that.  The subtleties of the story combine to create something far more meatier than you may think, and Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron are lights out. This is arguably the best action film of the last 10 years.

#1 – “Spotlight” – I don’t think any other movie from 2015 captivated me by the sheer brilliance of its storytelling quite like Tom McCarthy’s “Spotlight”. Pulling inspiration from a number of classic filmmaking approaches, McCarthy centers his movie around an important and compelling story. By that I mean everything he does is in service of the story he is telling. His direction never outshines it. Same with the stellar cast. This is an ensemble film in the truest sense and the entire cast is more interested in the greater story than big character moments. I would also call this the greatest newsroom procedural ever made. Big words for sure but they fit. Great performances, impeccable pacing, and a script so fluid and rich that I hung on every spoken word. I knew this would be my favorite film the moment I left the theater.