Continuing with my top ten films of 2015
7
TRAINWRECK
Directed by Judd Apatow
Screenplay by Amy Schumer
Starring Amy Schumer and Bill Hader
Amy is well, a trainwreck, a commitment-phobic career woman,who may have to face her fears when she meets a good guy.
The funniest film of the year. At the same time there is a sweet love story mixed in with all the humor.
Schumer is fantastic as you would expect. Hader, fantastic also as you would expect. What is great is that there are sooo many comedic moments from other actors. Tilda Swinton is funny!!! Who would have thought??!! Then there are moments that surprise you like an hilarious sex scene with a bare ass John Cena. Lebron James with great comic timing and playing a cheap bastard!! A movie within a movie about dog walking!! Ezra Miller (Perks Of Being A Wallflower) another hilarious sex scene.
I could keep going but if I mention more of the funny parts I feel like I am spoiling the film.
Yes, it had trouble closing. Still, in a year lacking of actual funny comedies, this is far and above the funniest film of the year. Trainwreck is available for home viewing.
6
SPOTLIGHT
Directed by Tom McCarthy
Screenplay by Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer
Starring Rachel McAdams; Mark Ruffalo; Michael Keaton; John Flattery; and Live Schreiber
The true story of how the Boston Globe Spotlight Team uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core.
This is a really good film. One that many will not go see. "Honey lets go out to the movies and watch the story about priest molesting children". Yeah. That is not going to happen. However I will tell you anyway...it is a very good film.
Why?
It takes you back to All The Presidents Men. When newspapers did not have an agenda. They just worked hard on a story to get the truth out. And, as in this story, you push for the truth despite all the obstacles in front of you. Lets face it. These reporters were not just fighting priests they were fighting the beliefs of most of Boston who were catholic. In the face of all the push back...they worked very hard to get the truth out to the public. These reporters were heroes who opened up a can of worms. Again it has you long for the day when a newspaper just went out and got the news and did not try to make the news.
Every single actor in this film gives a fantastic performance. Highlighted by Ruffalo as Rezendes. He pushes and pushes and gets emotionally involved.
A really good film the is still out in the theatres.
5
Ex Machina
Direction and Screenplay by Alex Garland
Starring Alicia Vikander; Domhnall Gleeson; and Oscar Isaac
A young programming geek Caleb (Gleeson) is selected to visit the lab/house of Nathan (Isaac) an eccentric inventor. While there, Nathan is excited to show off his beautiful AI invention Ava (Vikander) and have Caleb put her(?) through a series of tests.
Different than any film you may have seen (Maybe the film HER?). Using a wonderful screenplay by director Garland; Rob Hardy's grey/dark fantastic Cinematography; and a haunting constant score by Rupert Coulson, brings a very intense feel throughout the film. The film is 110 minutes and it seemed to fly by.
Throw in fantastic performances by all three leads, mainly highlighted by Isaac (With the oddest yet best dance scene of the year), in a film that plays out like a stage drama. It is like a cat and mouse and I guess cat game that comes to an interesting conclusion. It simmers to a boil, in a film that asks the questions of how smart or realistic do we want our electronics/AI?! Who or what is playing who?
Sadly the ignored for an Oscar Nomination, where the Academy cannot remember back to April when it was released.
Interesting that the two male leads, Gleeson and Isaac are in the new Star Wars film.
Ex Machina is available for home viewing.
Tomorrow 4-3-2
As always from the shadows thanks for your time.
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