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.

  
Is there anything in the vast expansive world of entertainment bigger than Star Wars? What started as an ambitious but questionable concept has blossomed into arguably the most recognized property in any entertainment medium. It spans decades. It spans demographics. It reaches out into nearly every marketing direction (in a local grocery store I actually saw a big display of Star Wars oranges). No franchise is as passionately loved, as passionately debated, or as  passionately supported by its fans as Star Wars.

All of that speaks to an incredibly rich and healthy franchise. But when I talk about Star Wars I’m almost always talking about it on a personal level. What I mean is Star Wars is something I genuinely love. It’s an affection that runs deeper than niche enthusiasm or rabid fanboyism. I’m thoroughly invested in this crazy universe that found its origin in the mind of George Lucas.

For me Star Wars wasn’t a spur of the moment discovery. I’m 44 years-old and I would call it the perfect age to be a fan. I was able to experience Star Wars as it was released in every phase of my life. The original trilogy came out when I was a kid. I had it all: action figures, pajamas, vehicles, lightsabers, lunch boxes, storybooks, comics, posters, trading cards. I was enamored with this amazing creation, its strange worlds, and its even stranger characters.

The controversial sequels came out while I was a young adult. Another phase of my life and more Star Wars. The prequels have their share of detractors and I don’t want to debate the value of them here. Suffice it to say I enjoyed them flaws and all. More importantly they showed just how beloved the franchise was. Star Wars was everywhere again. People talked about it. Purists debated it. Fans dissected it. It was a ringing reminder of the how Star Wars transcended the realm of entertainment.

And now Star Wars has returned and here I am in yet another phase of my life. I’m an early middle-ager and yet I’m as giddy as a child for J.J. Abrams’ new Star Wars pictures. I have invested so much over the years. I have so much affection for these characters. And after so much time and with so much passion, I can’t stand the thought of these new movies being bad. I want to be talking about Star Wars again. I want to be excited about a new generation of heroes and villains. I want to be fed a new story that leave me anticipating what’s next.

What I’m saying is I need “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” to be good. It’s important. I don’t want to see something that has been an integral part of each phase of my life to fail. I don’t want someone to turn it into something else. Star Wars is more than a movie for millions of us, and the thought of it being just another movie is too much. So J.J., now it’s up to you.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has unveiled their precursor to the Oscars – the 2016 Golden Globe nominations. As with many of these things there were a few surprises while several nominations went just how you would expect. Here are a handful of random thoughts on today’s announcements:

• Sylvester Stallone gets a Supporting Actor nomination. I finished my review of “Creed” by saying Sly could get some awards attention. Thrilled to see it. It is well deserved and it shouldn’t be viewed as some type of token nomination.
• “The Revenant” received four Golden Globe nominations for 2015 films yet it doesn’t release until January 8, 2016. Yes I’m aware this is how it has been, but it is still annoying. Get the movie out. It’s finished for very select audiences but not for the rest of us?
• What a morning for Idris Elba. He was nominated for both film and television. I can’t speak to his TV work, but his performance in “Beasts of No Nation” is top-tier. I would have no problem with him taking home the award.
• Despite all of the praise we have heard throughout the year, I had a suspicion that “Mad Max: Fury Road” would conveniently miss out come awards time. Happy to be wrong. The film was nominated for Best Picture – Drama and Best Director. It certainly deserves the recognition. It’s one of the best films of the year and one of the best action movies from the past several years.
• Who told Dennis Quaid how to pronounce Saoirse Ronan’s name? Was it John Travolta? But it could be worse. He could’ve said Dick Poop!
• Who knew ” The Martian” was a comedy? Or was it a musical? 
• Way back when the first trailer for “Carol” landed I tweeted that it was guaranteed a ton of nominations. It looked polished and primed for awards time. This morning it received five Golden Globe nominations. These things can be so predictable.
• “Spy”? I mean it isn’t as teeth-grinding as a lot of Melissa McCarthy’s stuff, but nominations for Best Picture – Comedy or Musical and Best Actress? That’s a stretch.
• I love seeing a smaller film like “Room” getting such recognition. For some reason I expect Oscar to give it the cold shoulder so I’m glad the Globes gave it some well deserved attention.
• Quentin Tarantino got his obligatory screenplay nomination, but “The Hateful Eight” only landed two others (Jennifer Jason- Leigh for Best Supporting Actress and Original Score). But QT acolytes shouldn’t worry. The Academy loves him….kind of.
• And Will Smith for “Concussion”? Obviously I haven’t seen the film or the performance, but this nomination seemed to come out of left field.
• And no Meryl Streep? How can this be? How could this be allowed to happen? Thankfully Oscar always reserves a slot for her regardless of how undeserving the nomination may be. 
• While I didn’t expect it to be nominated, I’m still a bit bummed that “Sicario” got nothing. Fantastic thriller and phenomenal supporting work from Benicio Del Toro. But again, not unexpected.
• I think it’s safe to say that Alicia Vikander is pretty happy this morning. Two acting nominations but not a third for “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.”? The HFP must have forgot about that one.
• We can now actually say “The Golden Globe nominated Fifty Shades of Grey”. Nothing about that sounds right!
• I always forget that the Golden Globes and has no award for cinematography or documentary. That is a bit absurd.
• The best and most intriguing category this year – Best Supporting Actor. I mean look at this group: Elba, Stallone, Shannon, Dano, and Rylance. Really strong.
• What’s with all of the nominated one word titles? Room, Carol, Spotlight, Joy, Spy, Trainwreck, Trumbo, Brooklyn, Concussion, Grandma, Creed, Anomalisa, Youth, Spectre, Mustang. 

So there are just a few random thoughts about this year’s Golden Globe nominees. What did you think about the announcements? What do you see as some nice surprises or glaring omissions? Agree or disagree with any of my thoughts? Let’s talk about it in the comments section below. Here is a full list of the movie nominees:

Best Picture, Drama

• Carol
• Mad Max: Fury Road
• The Revenant 
• Room
• Spotlight

Best Picture, Comedy or Musical

• The Big Short
• Joy
• The Martian
• Spy
• Trainwreck

Best Director

• Todd Haynes, Carol
• Alejandro Innaritu, The Revenant
• Tom McCarthy, Spotlight
• George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road
• Ridley Scott, The Martian

Best Actor, Drama

• Bryan Cranston, Trumbo
• Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant
• Michael Fassbender, Steven Jobs
• Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl
• Will Smith, Concussion

Best Actress, Drama

• Cate Blanchett, Carol
• Brie Larson, Room
• Rooney Mara, Carol
• Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn
• Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl

Best Actor, Comedy

• Christian Bale, The Big Short
• Steve Carell, The Big Short
• Matt Damon, The Martian
• Al Pacino, Danny Collins
• Mark Ruffalo, Infinitely Polar Bear

Best Actress, Comedy

• Jennifer Lawrence, Joy
• Melissa McCarthy, Spy
• Amy Schumer, Trainwreck
• Maggie Smith, The Lady in the Van
• Lily Tomlin, Grandma

Best Supporting Actor

• Paul Dano, Love & Mercy
• Idris Elba, Beasts of No Nation
• Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
• Michael Shannon, 99 Homes
• Sylvester Stallone, Creed

Best Supporting Actress

• Jane Fonda, Youth
• Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight 
• Helen Mirren, Trumbo
• Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina
• Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs

Best Screenplay

• Emma Donoghue, Room
• Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer, Spotlight
• Charles Randolph and Adam McKay, The Big Short
• Aaron Sorkin, Steve Jobs
• Quentin Tarantino, The Hateful Eight

Best Original Score

• Carter Burwell, Carol
• Alexandre Desplat, The Danish Girl
• Ennio Morricone, The Hateful Eight
• Daniel Pemberton, Steve Jobs
• Ryuichi Sakamoto & Alva Noto, The Revenant

Best Original Song

• “Love Me Like You Do,” Fifty Shades of Grey
• “One Kind of Love,” Love & Mercy
• “See You Again,” Furious 7
• “Simple Song #3,” Youth
• “Writing’s On the Wall,” Spectre

Best Animated Feature Film

• Anomalisa
• The Good Dinosaur
• Inside Out
• The Peanuts Movie
• Shaun the Sheep Movie

Best Foreign Language Film

• The Brand New Testament
• The Club
• The Fencer
• Mustang
• Son of Saul

Truly great movies leave indelible marks. It may be through an emotional connection to the story. It may be through a remarkable performance or a signature scene. But it could also be through the brilliant imagery that films carves into your mind. That’s what this feature is all about – highlighting great images from great movies.

So what are thoughts on this Coen brothers classic. Is there a particular image that stands out to you?