Films…
Mad Max: Fury Road
The adrenaline rush of this fourth installment set in a hellish post-apocalyptic future is a cinematic tour de force. Director George Miller goes full-throttle, putting the spectacular in the spectacle — a frenetic wild ride featuring mind-blowing stunt work and top-notch technical achievements.
Tom Hardy takes over the role Mel Gibson played in the previous three films (1979, ’81 and ’85), and easily slips into the strong, silent, tortured hero. But it is Charlize Theron’s movie as the fierce Furiosa — a blistering performance. Add a creepy tyrannical ruler, eye-popping action and a pulsating music score, and you have a feverish dream of a film.
Inside Out
Its cleverness unsurpassed this year, Pixar’s imaginative masterpiece is to be cherished. This mind-bending, rib-tickling, envelope-pushing animated film achieved new heights as a witty excursion into the human mind. Chock-full of colorful visuals, it endears because of its warm look at childhood. Not only is their ambition rewarded with dazzling modern techniques, but it also connects emotionally. Every parent can relate to the precious moments and pitfalls shown as the principal character grows up. And the voices were cast perfectly.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
The fact that this seventh episode lived up to the massive hype is a remarkable achievement. But the way this engrossing epic carries us forward into the next trilogy is VERY exciting. Director and co-writer J.J. Abrams brings back our heroes, with Han Solo, and Leia and Luke Skywalker getting noteworthy screen entrances. Nevertheless, the fresh crop of young actors proves they can measure up, too – Daisy Ridley as spunky scavenger Rey, John Boyega as reluctant Stormtrooper Finn, Adam Driver as Dark Side acolyte Kylo Ren, Domhnall Gleeson as maniacal general, and Oscar Isaacson as ace pilot Poe Dameron. It is not just the event movie of the year but one of the year’s finest accomplishments as well.
Ex Machina
This is another one of those movies that sticks with you for ages after it ends. It makes you think while it’s playing, and then it makes you continue to contemplate it for days after it ends. A thought-provoking artificial intelligence drama about a beautiful robot (a magnetic Alicia Vikander) facing an existential crisis of sorts. As the genius inventor, Oscar Isaac gave one of the year’s most underrated performances (and that dance sequence is soooo creepy). It’s exhausting, honestly, because of the amount of work it wants you to do. But, even if you don’t want to do that work, it still offers a gorgeous view, a thrilling plot, and wonderful acting.
Straight Outta Compton
I know, I know…it was left off a bunch if the years best lists. This one was more personal for me. Check out my review for the film here:
F. Gary Gray’s massive, engrossing and relevant take on the groundbreaking hip-hop group N.W.A. might hew to biopic traditions, but it’s so well done and stuffed with standout performances and powerful scenes, you just don’t mind.
Honorable Mentions: Ant Man, The Martian, Amy, Crimson Peak & Creed.
What’s Next:
Rogue One-A Star Wars Story
A “heist movie,” which will follow the group of Rebel Alliance soldiers who steal the plans to the original Death Star. It is being directed by Gareth Edwards with Gary Whitta and Chris Weitz as screenwriters. I think I’ll go and check it out…shut up and take my money!
Ratchet And Clank
I have been waiting for this since 2002! For those unfamiliar with the story behind the game, the ‘Ratchet & Clank’ movie will follow that adventures of a creature called a Lombax, named Ratchet, who becomes determined to join The Galactic Rangers to help save the galaxy from destruction at the hands of alien mastermind Chairman Drek and his minions the Blarg. While Captain Qwark may not initially see the potential within Ratchet, he refuses to give up and eventually bumps into an intelligent machine named Clank who becomes more than instrumental in the defeat of their enemies.
Captain America: Civil War
The conceit of the original comic book Civil War — that authorities seek to create a government database of superheroes, with those that refuse to sign up branded as criminals. While the movie is going to take a more ‘personal’ approach and borrow the ‘Who watches the watchmen’ mantra, I still think the Russo bros are going to knock it out the box.
Television (BEST Episodes)…
The Leftovers ‘International Assassin’
By now, you should all know how much I love ‘Lost’, my absolute favorite show. However, ‘The Leftovers’ (Especially season two) fills that void and then some. ‘International Assassin’ was The Lostovers. I was left speechless by this episode. Just incredible. The single best episode of TV I have seen this side of ‘Ozymandias’ (Breaking Bad). Intriguing. Deep. Touching. Humorous. It is on a whole other level.
Game Of Thrones ‘Hardhome’
This one will go down as one of the most stunning episodes of any year: Game of Thrones’s “Hardhome,” which chronicles Jon Snow’s efforts to convince the Wildlings to ally with the Night’s Watch in the upcoming war against the White Walkers. The fighting in this episode isn’t just clashing swords for the sake of it: Jon Snow is at the center of it all. The camera stays tight on his face as we feel his panic, his desperation. We wonder, along with him, how he can possibly get out of this. To be able to weave that kind of character work alongside breakneck action sequences is universally great television.
Daredevil ‘Cut Man’
Matt Murdock is in my top three ‘superheros’ of all time. The hallway scene in Netflix’s second episode of ‘Daredevil’ was is epic. Shot in one take, that lasts over five minutes and is wholly encapsulated in a single hallway. It does wear its influences on its sleeve (Cool homage to the Korean O.G. ‘Oldboy’)- however, it SOLD me on the show itself.
Fargo ‘The Castle’
I find the Coen brothers’ films and themes to be on the one hand terrifyingly nihilistic, and yet on the other hand oddly warm and… sincere in both celebrating goodness and showing evil as it exists on all the levels. And if you run down your checklist for penultimate episodes: Impeccable acting, writing, directing, editing, lighting, color timing, and special effects. Fargo ‘The Castle’ had it all.
Mr Robot ‘epsi.8_m1orring.qt’
I would’ve loved if they’d worked in Elliot saying to Tyrell somewhere in that final scene ‘you met me at a very strange time in my life’. I mean, Elliot saying to the audience “you already knew didn’t you?” pretty much frames the reveal as something Elliot just discovered but most of the audience was in on. While season one is like the first act. Season two is where the real story begins.
Honorable mentions (for Television shows, not specific episodes): Jessica Jones, The Man In The High Castle and Master Of None.
What’s Next:
Westworld
A futuristic, high concept series from J.J. Abrams, John Nolan and Lisa Joy. ‘Westworld’ is an adaptation of the 1973 film written and directed by visionary author Michael Crichton. Like the author’s best-known work, ‘Jurassic Park’, it’s about a theme park where rather unique attractions (in Westworld’s case, lifelike androids) break from their assigned roles and kill the guests.
Vinyl
‘Boardwalk Empire’ creator Terence Winter and director Martin Scorsese are collaborating on another period HBO drama — this one focusing on the 1970s supernova of punk, disco, and hip-hop culture in New York City. Why hasn’t this been done before?
Luke Cage
Mike Colter OWNS the Luke Cage character at this point. Expect ‘Daredevil’ to hit Netflix before this one does (Maybe dropping in the Fall 2016?), In any case, the Marvel/Netflix shows are bonafide hits with critics and fans alike and that means ‘Iron Fist’ can’t be far behind. Seriously, just take Fractions’ The Immortal Iron Fist ‘The Last Iron Fist Story’ adapt it and all will be right in the universe.