1. Kingsman: The Secret Service; A+
The sequel also topped my 2017 list, though it was considerably less popular with the masses than its surprising predecessor. Based on the comic by the legendary Mark Millar (Civil War, Old Man Logan), Secret Service piqued my interest with some amazing trailers and an intriguing Bond meets Tarantino spy story. Upon viewing, it took up a spot as not just a top film of the year, but one of my all-time favorites.
Led by brand new Hollywood face Taron Egerton and dynamite performances from Colin Firth, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Caine, Mark Strong and Sofia Boutella, the movie is total chaos. Good chaos. Exciting chaos. Jackson's villainous Valentine is hilarious and demented, but at the same time has a point to make. The best villains are the ones with a plan. (Except, of course, the GOAT.)
Few direct action like Matthew Vaughn (who previously adapted Millar's Kick-Ass as well, and who chose this project over an X-Men sequel to his successful First Class reboot) while composers Henry Jackman and Matthew Margeson take the movie from epic to iconic with an unbelievable, spy-tastic score.
Thanks, Kingsman, for a Happy. Meal. And obviously, the church scene.
2. Avengers: Age of Ultron; A+
I'll concede that the Natasha/Bruce romance thread could have been shelved for more Thor questing to discover the infinity stones, but getting Cap's spangly uniform right this time around makes up for a lot of the things Joss Whedon played with in the Avengers sequel.
Marvel films have all seemed to be home runs since the comparatively lukewarm reception to Age of Ultron. Even with a mildly engaged Whedon, the movie hits the action, emotional and character beats all throughout. And no, I didn't hate the farm scene. The MCU thrives on the quiet moments because of genius casting.
I wish Falcon and War Machine had a little more to do, especially Falcon, instead giving way to the introduction of Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch and Vision. James Spader voices Ultron with haunting brilliance and yes, he was a little too jokey, but he was created by Tony Stark in this world, not Hank Pym.
Last note on AOU: even though I absolutely loved it, the mob mentality of people bought into the critical reception and seem to poo poo it. That, and the combination of Civil War being incredibly lit a year later, seemed to replace Ultron as the official Avengers sequel. Which is fine. But let's not take for granted the accomplishment Age of Ultron is.
3. Ex Machina; A+
Ex Machina is absolutely horrifying. Not because of ghosts and goblins, but because of humanity and the dark, slippery slope of artificial intelligence. Hank Pym didn't create this one, either.
The movie is pretty much Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson and the extremely beautiful Alicia Vikander as the robot Ava. Because of this, Alex Garland's film relies on its actors. It was a good choice, because they all put in remarkable, chilling performances. This film is an absolute work of art and I really can't say enough about it.
4. Sicario; A+
Like Ex Machina, Sicario is thrilling and gives you the sweats because of its real world relevance. Instead of AI, we deal here with terrorism. It also relies on a trio of dynamite performances from Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro. They're extraordinary.
Up until the credits roll, you are holding your breath. Sicario really could place anywhere between third and fifth here, the top six of CinemAce 2015 are very close. The sequel hits theaters this summer. (2018 edit: aww... B+)
5. Star Wars: The Force Awakens; A+
Only three movies* in the history of the Earth have made $2 billion dollars at the global box office. Avatar almost hit $3 billion, Titanic and then The Force Awakens. (And this summer, Infinity War - A+)
The first Star Wars movie under the Disney umbrella, J.J. Abrams graduated from Star Trek to Wars to direct the monumental film. Overall, he played it pretty safe, rehashing the plot from A New Hope (A+) --desert planet, cantina, Death Star, etc.-- but to his credit, Awakens is a damn good movie.
Unlike the sequel coming two years later, and like the standalone feature coming a year later, the movie is excellent. It introduced new characters, reintroduces beloved old ones and tells an exciting story that sets the table for a new era in the galaxy far, far away.
It seemed the studio's first priority was to reintroduce the franchise, not build on it. Kylo Ren is not Darth Vader, but he's still an intriguing new addition. Rey is not Luke and Poe is not Han and Finn is not Lando. They don't need to be. It would be nice if they were a tad more interesting, but seeing Han, Leia and Chewie back on screen again, as well as R2-D2 and C-3PO was worth waiting for.
The indisputable John Williams also gives great new sound to yet another Star Wars movie, especially with a very beautiful new theme for Rey and an awesome, bombastic theme for Kylo Ren. Following up his iconic themes from the previous movies, like "The Imperial March" or "Duel of the Heroes" was a task only he himself could do.
6. Ant-Man; A+
Volume two in the "This will be Marvel's first failure" narrative, Ant-Man's page-friendly premise tilted the odds against him becoming a household name like Captain America or even as popular as Thor.
For a decade, Edgar Wright had been attached to direct. Creative differences saw him back out and give way to Peyton Reed. If you didn't know there was some drama behind the scenes, you never would have guessed.
Starring Paul Rudd as Scott Lang and Michael Douglas as the mentoring Hank Pym, these two as well as Evangeline Lilly's Hope Van Dyne elevate the movie with emotionally weighted performances. Also, the film delivers genuine laughs. No surprise there, as Rudd helped write the script. And Michael Peńa exists.
The action scenes involving ants and shrinking tech show just how insane movie-making has become, and while Yellowjacket is pretty carbon copy as a villain, his suit is super awesome and I appreciate the original idea for the completely different comic character.
The size, circumstance and powers of Ant-Man allow the movie to show us a different kind of combat. Also, a kickass cameo from an Avenger and a very sneaky mention of another in the film's final moments.
7. The Gift; A+
Joel Edgerton is so great in this. The movie is more suspense than scary, but again, I'm a sucker for situations that can actually happen. Home invasion movies keep me up at night more than demonic entities.
Written, directed by and starring Edgerton, he knocks this one out of the damn ballpark. Everything you think you know, you don't. The ending is jaw dropping. And man, Jason Bateman plays the perfect d*ck.
8. Spotlight; A+
The truly unbelievable story of catholic church sexual abuse gets told on screen and deservingly wins the Academy's highest honor of Best Picture. Not just riveting stuff, the movie gives an honest, impactful portrayal of journalism. We're not all heathens.
9. Heart Like a Hand Grenade; A+
The entire mythology of the band Green Day —and their historical 2004 album American Idiot— is truly the stuff of legend. Aside from their endless treasure chest of musical brilliance, the band and its trio of members have gotten together to do a ton of other media like documentaries and even a broadway show.
Heart Like a Hand Grenade is a documentary following the band’s journey of making, producing, recording and then debuting the revolutionary album that has proved to be one of the most influential in the history of music.
10. 99 Homes; A+
Had an arduous time finding this movie. Thankfully I finally did. Andrew Garfield loves his Orlando Magic in this movie, which is the biggest stretch of belief in the film! Michael Shannon is suitably terrifying, demented and just terrific.
11. Chappie; A+
"I am Chappie." Not as popular of an outing as District 9 (A+) for Neil Blomkamp, but another tale in South Africa that mixes fantasy with reality. Sharlto Copley voices the adorable Chappie with reverence and while everyone may not embrace the other main players --or Hugh Jackman's mullet-- the emotional undertone here and the commitment to reality-based entertainment is appreciated, and very exciting.
12. Room; A+
Troubling realities like kidnapping and abductions are unsettling. The effect it has on Brie Larson’s character, and a rock solid performance from young Jacob Tremblay, are worthy of the Oscar praise.
13. Cop Car; A+
Just a simple story about two playful youngsters coming across a seemingly deserted police car. Kevin Bacon’s police car! Things, as expected, go kind of south. How south they went was pretty startling.
14. Batman vs. Robin; A+
The middle —and best, in my opinion— entry of the “Damien Wayne trilogy", the sequel to 2014’s Son of Batman (A+) incorporates the Court of Owls comic book story and plays it seamlessly into the power struggle for the future of the troubled new Robin.
15. Creed; A+
In an age of reboots, how has someone not tried (and failed) a new Wizard of Oz? (Not counting Sam Raimi's semi-sequel, C- in 2013.) Ryan Coogler boldly took on Rocky, which itself had spun off three, four or five too many Rocky’s. Digging into Apollo Creed’s unexplored past was a brilliant idea. Casting Michael B. Jordan and making Sly Stallone’s Rocky the grizzled mentor ended up being, for me, the best movie in the entire franchise. Even if they kind of did poor Rocky's legacy dirty.
16. Bridge of Spies; A+
Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Mark Rylance team up for a Cold War drama about, well, trading spies on a bridge! I promise, there is more to it than that. #WouldItHelp?
17. Project Almanac; A+
Not many saw this movie. Not many liked this movie. I saw this movie. I loved this movie. I found the premise of jumping through time while trying not to change things --but also change things-- not only creative but well executed. Young actors across the board get the job done —so do Imagine Dragons — and the movie makes its “found footage” style pay off in the end.
18. Steve Jobs; A
I'm realizing quite a few 2015 movies seemed to go under the radar. It's almost like Star Wars, coming at the end of the year in December, coupled with the huge success from Marvel, has revitalized a movie industry that was losing footing to streaming and on demand services. But that is now and this is then.
Yet another movie about Apple genius (see what I did there?) Steve Jobs, this one hits. Michael Fassbender steps into the role of an older Jobs and delivers, for my money, one of the most dominant acting performances this decade.
19. Jurassic World; A
I'm a big fan of those prehistoric beauties. I love dinosaurs. Aladar, anyone? Obviously you've heard of The Land Before Time. And then, of course, Jurassic Park (A+). For World, the dinosaur movies were allowed to exist in the modern CGI landscape, and the results are astounding.
Chris Pratt always gets an A+ from me, and Bryce Dallas Howard is great, too. If you came for the comprehensive narrative…oh well. Enjoy the spectacle and it sure is one. Universal sure spared no expense and it’s the first Jurassic movie worth a darn since the OG.
20. The Hunger Games: MockingJay Part 2; A
The source material is so epic that despite some developing chinks in the armor, Mockingjay still storms on to its grand conclusion. Splitting the final book into two movies renders some of the film's elements a tad repetitive and/or tiresome, like President Snow's continuing idiocy or Jennifer Lawrence and/or Josh Hutcherson's whining, but as I said, the story is so damn cool and grimly reflective of world history that makesThe Hunger Games franchise a game very much worth playing.
"Diet Creed," if you will. Overshadowed by the other amazing boxing movie, that one however involving Rocky, Jake Gyllenhaal bulks up from his scrawny Nightcrawler display and plays a boxer who loses everything. I mean, everything. The movie holds nothing back and I appreciate that. Forest Whitaker is brilliant and it’s one of the last works done by the late, legendary composer James Horner (Titanic - A+, Avatar, The Amazing Spider-Man - A+).
22. The Martian; A
A great soundtrack accompanies an inspiring Matt Damon performance, something that has been seriously lacking in the past couple years. The movie is smart, showing you how someone would actually try to survive on Mars, and remains entertaining while doing a lot of HGTV things. Also, Sebastian Stan is in it and I’m an absolutely huge fan of Chiwetel Ejiofor.
23. Straight Outta Compton; A
Movies based on true stories (or existing properties) have a head start. But we've seen over and over and over and over again an adaptation go off the rails. Straight Outta Compton is an example of a film that builds off an incredible true story and goes the desirable step further - making a movie worthy of such a tale.
23. Straight Outta Compton; A
Movies based on true stories (or existing properties) have a head start. But we've seen over and over and over and over again an adaptation go off the rails. Straight Outta Compton is an example of a film that builds off an incredible true story and goes the desirable step further - making a movie worthy of such a tale.
24. The Voices; A-
Few actors pull off lovable doofus like Ryan Reynolds, who plays the lead character but also voices his two pets: a loyal dog who loves to be called "good boy" and a psychotic cat who tells him to kill people when he's not putting out kitty litter. It's intentionally ridiculous but also mixes in some heartfelt moments, while also offering rather candid look at mental health, albeit it in exaggerated fashion.
25. The Walk; A-
Once you just accept Joseph Gordon-Levitt's whimsical Parisian accent (which might take the entire movie), you're going to want to walk this line. Robert Zemeckis' film about Philippe Petit also serves as a bittersweet love letter to the Twin Towers.
Once you just accept Joseph Gordon-Levitt's whimsical Parisian accent (which might take the entire movie), you're going to want to walk this line. Robert Zemeckis' film about Philippe Petit also serves as a bittersweet love letter to the Twin Towers.
26. Legend; A-
If not for Tom Hardy, the movie about the twin gangster Kray brothers probably goes for not. It’s a bit jumbled and loses steam as the runtime boasts on, but remains a very fun watch with the the focus on Hardy and Hardy.
27. Beasts of No Nation; A-
War is awful. War through the eyes of a child is worse. War in the eyes of a child really hurts. Idris Elba plays a big role in this Netflix production but the weight of the movie lies on the young shoulders of Abraham Attah, who remarkably portrays a child soldier and the attempts to have any sort of life without the war he inherited.
27. Beasts of No Nation; A-
War is awful. War through the eyes of a child is worse. War in the eyes of a child really hurts. Idris Elba plays a big role in this Netflix production but the weight of the movie lies on the young shoulders of Abraham Attah, who remarkably portrays a child soldier and the attempts to have any sort of life without the war he inherited.
28. Spectre; B+
Casino Royale (A+) and Skyfall (A+ in 2012) are on a way different level than Quantum of Solace, and Spectre is closer to the good side than the... less good. However, it’s far too formulaic and clichéd —everything these new Bond movies don’t want to be—and doesn't make the most of a demented Christoph Waltz or charming Ralph Fiennes. I hope Daniel Craig does another Bond, and number five should be good if we’re sticking to the pattern here.
29. San Andreas; B+
Eye candy meets destruction meets The Rock. I'm always impressed by CGI and am constantly marveling at what movies can do now. San Andreas, a disaster movie stemming from the titular fault out west, plays out with some cheesy dialogue, massive carnage and unrealistically heroic efforts. But that's for the nitpickers. The movie is extremely entertaining.
30. In the Heart of the Sea; B+
Debuting a week before The Force Awakens, Ron Howard's movie was dead in the (literal) water at the box office. But I saw it! Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy and hey, even pre-Spidey Tom Holland fight for their lives in the Moby Dick tale. Lucasfilm made it up to Howard and let him complete Solo in 2018.
31. Mad Max: Fury Road; B+
It's not quite a comic book movie. Therefore, the Oscars were comfortable giving it awards not under the effects, music or prop department. I really enjoyed it, just apparently not as much as everyone else. I dig everything about this movie, from the lawless guitar solos to the ridiculous aesthetic, but it’s also a perfect example of the awards community’s transparency when it comes to fantasy films.
32. Sinister 2; B+
The first Sinister (A+ in 2012) was a way different story than this one. That one starred Ethan Hawke and was directed by Scott Derrickson, who by now was working on Doctor Strange (A+ in 2016). A different crew still delivers a very good scary movie and "Mr. Boogie" is as terrifying as ever. At least to me.
33. Run All Night; B+
Liam Neeson. Liam Neeson. LIAM NEESON! He is the man, despite some dialogue in this one that kind of demeans his royal stature.
34. Dope; B+
Shameik Moore's presence in Dope recalls the cliché of a "star-making performance." But man, it really is. That kid has a screen presence and likability, not to mention the acting chops. I'd be remiss not to point out he and co-star Tony Revolori would both go on to be part of the Spider-Man franchise.
35. Krampus; B
I find the whole idea of an anti-Santa fascinating. My first knowledge of Krampus actually came from an American Dad episode. The movie balances some comedy with some really violent scares. I dig it.
36. Trumbo; B
Bryan Cranston is one of the most impressive actors of this generation. Yet, he somehow feels underappreciated. In an era of blockbusters, Cranston picks his projects carefully. He and comedy director Jay Roach (of Austin Powers - All A+'s fame) get serious for Trumbo in 2015 and All The Way (A-) in 2016.
37. No Escape; B
An unlikely Owen Wilson role. But nonetheless a very tense film of a relocated American family trying to escape a savage war zone. Script lacks some substance but it's still a pretty nerve-wracking two-ish hours.
38. Crimson Peak; B
Not as much scary as it is visually enthralling, Crimson Peak probably lost points with people for not delivering the frights. I enjoyed the story, the plot making up for any perceived lack of scares, and Tom Hiddleston and Jessica Chastain are very good.
39. Trainwreck; B-
This movie has funny performances from people I usually don't find that funny: John Cena, Amy Schumer, and LeBron James. But I always find Bill Hader funny.
40. The Gallows; B-
The noose is loose.
41. Ted 2; B-
Seth Macfarlane's comedy speaks to me. I even liked The Cleveland Show. Probably more than he did. His ventures from the small screen to the silver screen were good, but the novelties and constant f-bombs wore off quicker in longer doses.
42. Everest; B-
It moves a little slow, as I imagine climbing Mount Everest would be. But between Josh Brolin, Jake Gyllenhaal and others, there is high altitude drama. Again, real. world. scenarios.
43. Daddy's Home; B-
The sequel in 2017 was dreadful but the first installment struck a chemistratic (all words are made up) cord between Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg. Reuniting after 2010's The Other Guys (A+), the chemistry between the goofball Ferrell and straight-shooting Wahlberg —as well as the always hysterical Hannibal Buress— is the film’s best strength.
44. Insidious: Chapter 3; C+
The third in this “suspense franchise” is not as good as the first two and the fourth in 2018 should mark the end of things. However, the new story and characters, accompanied by the returning Elise, Tucker and Specs make for a worthy time.
45. Concussion; C+
I feel like the Will Smith film was intended to inspire a lot of actual discussion regarding the dangers of head injuries in football. Instead, it inspired a meme.
46. Justice League: Gods and Monsters; C+An animated DC movie that was an original story, the story itself is not the problem and very interesting. Taking place in an alternate reality where the Justice League consists of just the “big three” that is Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, the movie does a great job quickly and efficiently introducing the alternate versions of the heroes. Writing is the film’s weakness and the inclusion of sex banter is misplaced.
47. Justice League: Throne of Atlantis; C+
The big problem with DC's 75-minute animated movies is that you only have so much real estate to tell a story. At times this movie wants to be a true successor to Justice League: War (B in 2014), but it also tries to tell an Aquaman origin story.
47. Justice League: Throne of Atlantis; C+
The big problem with DC's 75-minute animated movies is that you only have so much real estate to tell a story. At times this movie wants to be a true successor to Justice League: War (B in 2014), but it also tries to tell an Aquaman origin story.
48. Self/Less; C
Heavy on the sci-fi, Self/Less involves an older man (played by Sir Ben Kingsley) attempting to combat cancer by using a futuristic method of moving your consciousness into a younger body (played by Ryan Reynolds). It's certainly out there. I think Reynolds is perfectly fine sticking to Deadpool right now.
49. The Divergent Series: Insurgent; C
The movie effectively killed the franchise of not only this book adaption, but any attempt at recreating the Hunger Games or Harry Potter magic have largely been (book)shelved in the past few years. Octavia Spencer, though, is still awesome.
50. It Follows; C
Scary movies either become abhorred or adored by critics. It Follows falls into the latter, and I will say it is alright with a very cool premise, but it's not that good. But The Witch (F in 2016) also drew critical acclaim. Critics prefer scary movies that are not scary.
51. Mortdecai; C-
I confess, I thought the Johnny Depp vehicle was funny. Plus, Ewan McGregor and Gwyneth Paltrow are in it, so sue me.
52. Blackhat; C-
Chris Hemsworth's endeavors outside of Thor have been mostly misses. In the Heart of the Sea was good to me, but invisible to most. Blackhat was victim to a story that tried to go in a million different directions, and wasn't garnering much interest to begin with.
53. Secret in Their Eyes; C-
Remember Julia Roberts?
54. Victor Frankenstein; C-
Anytime you adapt a classic film, like Frankenstein, even if you are doing it verrrrry loosely, you are dealing with serious expectations. This movie fell under them. I'm not defending it as something fantastic, but it's serviceable and boasts great performances from James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe.
55. Scout’s Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse; C-
Entertaining enough with clever writing.
56. The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; C-
Henry Cavill, Alicia Vikander, and the entire cast do their best to make the most out of Guy Rithcie's ambitions. The movie has some moments but is all over the place in terms of story.
56. Child 44; D+
This Soviet Russia mystery had potential to be so much more. It's long, yet treats its most important plot piece with negligence, resulting in a sum far, far less than its parts. An impressive cast includes Tom Hardy and Gary Oldman, but in a movie about Russia, why no Russian leads?
58. Black Mass; D+
I honestly remember nothing about this movie. After googling it, I remember liking it mostly for Depp's performance as Whitey Bulger, but not enough to view again.
59. The Visit; D+
Blumhouse has become the powerhouse studio in the horror genre. "From the producers of" adds The Visit to that list, but I was disappointed. Had some freaky moments, especially with the oven, and the twist is pretty good if not predictable to a smarter person than I.
60. Mississippi Grind; D
Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden have directed two of my all-time favorites, Sugar (A+) in 2008 and Captain Marvel (A+) in 2019, but I didn’t feel quite the same about the Grind. It’s like Sideways without the wine and although Ben Mendelsohn is his usual charming self, I just can’t buy into a serious(-ish) Ryan Reynolds.
61. The Big Short; D
Wolf of Wall Street (A+ in 2013) is my preference of notable stock exchange flicks, probably because it's not really about math and/or money.
62. Poltergeist; D
Now you know they remade Poltergeist! You are very welcome.
63. The Gunman; D
Sean Penn gets in on the "old man kicks butt" genre and the results are decent, at best.
64. The Final Girls; D-
An intriguing premise for a mystery/slasher, it is neither mysterious nor slash-erious. (All words are made up.)
An intriguing premise for a mystery/slasher, it is neither mysterious nor slash-erious. (All words are made up.)
65. Taken 3; D-
Why the hell not.
66. The Lazarus Effect; D-
Mark Duplass is really good in this. But I can't help but feel like this effort was half baked. Awesome idea, though. And I regret to inform that Ra's Al Ghul has nothing to do with it.
67. Unfriended; F
Speaking of effort, the idea here is a winner. The social media scary movie market has not yet been exploited. It certainly wasn't here. A for effort, but F for
68. Minions; F
I fell asleep. All due respect to the Despicable Me universe, I found the Minions oh so very annoying.
69. Fantastic Four; F- (yes, introducing the F-minus.)
Stan Lee didn't cameo in the reboot of his very first superhero team. That about explains it.
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