Kalo's top 25 favorite films of 2015 - Countdown complete #1 film on page 4.

[Kalo]

#15 Sicario 

 

 

"Es hora de conocer a Dios"

 

To say that a movie about the underworld drug cartel of Mexico and the CIA. was one of the most beautiful films of 2015 sounds a bit strange. but it's true. 

 

Sicario begins with Kate Macer (played by Emily Blunt) , a by the books FBI agent, who is thrown into a world of question and moral dilemmas, when she is asked to escort the CIA into the heart of Drug cartel Mexican to stop a crime lord.

 

I found Sicarico to paint rather haunting picture of the moral greys on how far a country is willing to go to stop "evil" and at what point can we go before we begin the very evil we are trying to stop. the portrayal off this is nearly perfectly timed, starting out by giving the viewer just enough to get by and slowly revealing the motivations and actions that are tookin up as each one becomes progressively darker, it sucks you in and it is intense and heart pounding at times. this is only amplified by excellent performance, especially from Benicio Del Toro, who in my opinion gave one of the best performances of the year and was completely snubbed of a Oscar nomination. but on top of the the sound, score and camera work, makes this nothing short of a technical masterpiece in my book. Cinematographer Roger Deakins, gives one of best works of cinematography of the year, making a grim, dark film somehow a pleasure to look at. 

 

 

My Grade: A-

Favorite Scene: "Tunnel Vision"

Favorite Character: Alejandro 

Favorite Performance: Benicio Del Toro

Award Winner! Best Actor in a supporting role Benicio Del Toro - according to Kalo

 

 

 

[Kalo]

#14 The Peanuts Movie 

 

 

"Good Grief!" 

 

Nostalgia entry here we come!

 

The Peanuts were not necessarily of my time, however I did grow up with them, I can remember many afternoons of my small childhood sitting down and watching a peanuts special of one kind or another, The Christmas Special probably among my favorite, they were just really good stories with good morals for kids (well they did pick on Charlie Brown a bit too much though) Snoopy has got to be one of the best fictional pets ever!

 

so anyways I was really intrigued when I heard they were doing a CGI theatrical film of the peanuts movie, I was a little skeptical at first, but I was pretty much sold from the first trailer. anyways it finally came out around the time of my sister-in-laws birthday. and we each hold a warm spot for those little peanuts so I took her to see it and was overcome by the ardentness of this rendition of the film, they didn't throw away the old fashioned heart what made them so good to begin with for some cheap pop-culture gags, they stuck with the original themes and morals and the peanuts were suddenly back, although they did add a few modern nods, like some actually pretty good new songs just enough touch add a little update, and Charlie Brown finally gets his due!!! this movie was super sweet, funny and heartfelt I loved it and couldn't have been happier with the outcome!

 

 

 

My Grade: A

Favorite Scene: pretty much every scene with snoopy and woodstock. 

Favorite Character: Snoopy

Favorite Performance: Bill Melendez

 

 

 

 

 

[Kalo]

#13 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2

 

 

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the seventy-sixth Hunger Games"

 

Here goes my credibility... except Raphael, I guess you'll have to settle for 13. 

 

I got into the hunger games craze just like a lot of people did, in fact I am kind of responsive for  "Hunger Games" obsession that went through my circle of friends because I was the first one to read the book it was october 2011. gosh was it really that long ago? anyways I could barely putting down, I found it gripping and strangely relatable to society in many ways today. so I got Catching Fire, read it and it became one of my favorite books ever. (no I don't read a lot of books outside of star wars ones that is, which I haven't even done that in a while) it was so gripping and fast paced and gripping. I was ready for the conclusion and well i read Mockingjay and found myself bored at parts and overall not really fulfilled. but I had a few years to get over some things, and I remember thinking it would probably make a better movie than book, and then Mockingjay Part 1 was released and I found myself utterly disapointed, it was lethargically paced and almost nothing happened of relevance in it's 2 hour runtime. I did rewatch it again just before part 2 and I like it slightly better now, but it's still a major step down from the first two. anyways I had pretty low expectations for part 2. I thought it would probably be better than part 1 but wasn't expecting much else. what a pleasant surprise! 

 

 

Mockingjay Part 2 is about as good a conclusion you can get and still stick with the source material. it starts off slow, but more of a slow burn, with a constant build up. you know this is the conclusion everything is set and nothing will ever be the same, until it finally unfolds in a hail fire, one off redemption and of heartbeat. I ended up liking the bittersweet take, much better than I did in the book, and it showed the core of the capital's cruel impact on the world. mostly I found it just a really strong message on how small a line could be crossed until we become that evil that we once fought to destroy. 

 

 

Technically I found this a very engaging with some really well crafted action sequences, I liked the more real world warfare style they choose to go with rather than over the top action (not that everything they are facing is by any means real world threats). as well as the best CGI in the franchise so far those mutations were terrifying and felt like they were out of a horror film. I may got a lot of flack for this, but it really did kind of feel like an epic from the 1950s.  as far as acting it was overall very good, Lawerence, once again being the strong point. the conclusion is dark and heartbreaking, but this a story this grim it's kind of expected, and it ends on just enough high note that you feel that Katniss can finally rest. I found this to be an epic and great conclusion to an overall very strong unique franchise.

 

My Grade: A

Favorite Scene: "May your aim be as true, as your heart is pure"

Favorite Character: Katniss 

Favorite Performance: Jennifer Lawrence 

 

 

 

  

 

Edited February 12, 2016 by Kalo

[Ethan Hunt]

11 minutes ago, Kalo said:

#13 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2

 

 

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the seventy-sixth Hunger Games"

 

Here goes my credibility... except Raphael, I guess you'll have to settle for 13. 

 

 

  

 

No credibility lost here

 

[Kalo]

#12 Love & Mercy

 

 

I was raised with very conservative parents, they listened to very little in the way of secular music, and I myself knew very little of music outside of christian music until I was in my late teens. however there was one band that my parents would listen frequently because it reminded them off when they first fell in love I believe. it was The Beach Boys, in fact my dad even took my sisters to see Brian Wilson perform live in the 90s. I didn't want to like the Beach boys because my parents liked them so much, and I did my best to try and be different from them, but I couldn't help begrudgingly love them with the happy feel good tunes and surprisingly poetic anesthetics. 

 

Anyways I'm adult now so I'm not ashamed at all to say I love The Beach Boys and was pretty interested in this movie, but for some reason this was actually one of the last movies I watched before I started my countdown. I'm pleased to say it's a fantastic emotional and deeply moving film. The story takes place in two time periods Wilson's life. the 1960s sixties when he struggles with writing his pop album masterpiece, with dealing with his cold controlling father and getting lost in the world of drugs. and the 1980s when he meets Melinda Ledbetter a sales woman who grow up listening to his music and they begin a remarkable romance story, although at this point Brian is all but the shell of a man under constant watch of his "bodyguard" Dr. Eugene Landy.

 

The Flow between timelines is almost effortless to watch and the stories intertwine seamlessly into one another, and what starts out is as biopac turns into a complex story of a good hearted genius who is used and taken advantage of with extremely high steaks that by the climax it has the feeling of a thriller. 

 

 

Elizabeth Banks, John Cusack and especially Paul Dano give excellent layed performances to beautifully complex real characters. and Paul Giamatti does a great job playing a man you really love to hate. I had no I idea Brian wilson life so interesting, heartbreaking and in the end incredibly moving and inspirational. Love & and Mercy has got to be one of the best biographies I have seen about a singer and just a fantastic film in general, it's a shame it didn't get more attention than it did because it's a brilliant film.  

 

My Grade: A

Favorite Scene: "The End"

Favorite Character: Brian Wilson/Melinda Ledetter  

Favorite Performance: Paul Dano

 

 

 

 

 

[Kalo]

#11 Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

 

 

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl was awesome. was it overly sentimental? maybe, was it trying too hard to be cool and indie? maybe, but I was in incredibly moving sweet and surprisingly funny film.

 

Me and Earl and the Dying girl is based on the book of the same name. it's about Greg (Thomas Mann), who makes fake versions of movies with his "co-worker" Earl (RJ Cyler) and one day his mom forces him to befriend Rachel (Olivia Cook). after learning she is diagnosed with leukemia. and what starts out as act meant to appease his mother turns into a friendship of a lifetime.   

 

 

gosh this was a sad movie, I'll just say it it is, and maybe it's even a little manipulative about that, but it's so full of charm and charisma from the cast that you can't help but fall in love with it as well as the characters, even if you're pretty sure how it's all going to turn out. this movie also had a stellar supporting cast, with surprise appearances from Nick Offerman, Jon Bernthal and Connie Britton. so watch it and be prepared to laugh... and cry.

 

My Grade: A

Favorite Scene: pretty much whenever Greg is visiting Rachel.

Favorite Character: Rachel 

Favorite Performance: Olivia Cooke

 

 

 

[Kalo]

Finally getting into my top 10!

 

Here's my top 3 favorite shows of 2015. (I didn't watch that Many)

 

#3

Spoiler

The Walking Dead Season 5

 

I was just about to give up on Walking Dead after the extremely grim first quarter of the season, but it finally took a turn around and felt relevant and got me hook again (like it always does)

 

 

#2

Spoiler

 

Jessica Jones Season 1

 

 

Finally a good adaption of a female superhero, was it really so hard to do? 

 

 

#1 

Spoiler

 

Daredevil 

 

 

Not just one of the best Superhero tv shows ever, one of the best comic book adaptations I've ever seen, with incredible stunts, fantastic characters complimented by great performances, and a rich vibrant and unhinged and gritty story. and we finally have a strong marvel villain with Wilson Fisk, one of the most interesting characters in the series, aside from Daredevil of course, who is just amazing. none of that candy coated MCU trademark to be found here.

 

and then there is this:

 

 

 

[Kalo]

#10 Inside Out

 

 

 

"I loved you in Fairy Dream Adventure Part 7! Ok, bye! I love you!"

 

I Know I am in the extreme minority, but I actually feel like PIXAR releases a lot of incredibly overrated films, and haven't released a truly great movies since 2008 (Wall-E). (I did like Brave and MU alright though)

 

but after their long hiatus PIXAR is finally back! Inside out was a true return to form for Pixar and wasn't just an incredibly good animated film, it was one of the best films of the year! 

 

after too many sequels they finally went back to originality, and came up with something great, the idea of all the emotions living inside your head trying to guide you is a very unique idea indeed and it paid off rather well. having them take place inside an eleven year old girl moving from her small midwestern town to California added some great emotional drama to the story, I loved all the emo performances, but my favorite was that Amy Poehler as Joy, who is just so bright and cheerful you can't help but love her, aside from being quite funny there is a surprising amount of healt here as well as well emotional and it deals with some pretty serious issues, and the climax is intense and will most likely have you in tears of sadness and joy! It's also a really well crafted film technically, with a fantastic score and vibrant animtion.

 

I feel like this isn't really a kids movie but a movie made to remind adults of their childhood and the pains and aches of growing up. it's just a fantastic movie I loved it.

 

 

My Grade: A

Favorite Scene: Joy Turns to sadness

Favorite Character: Joy 

Favorite Performance: Amy Poehler 

Award Winner Best animated film - according to Kalo

 

 

 

 

Edited February 14, 2016 by Kalo

[Mockingjay Raphael]

Peanuts: one of my fave animations released in this decade, super funny, naive, silly, sweet, nostalgic, and with a great message, it is one of these movies that makes you leave the cinema feeling good, I really wanted it to receive more attention, it's really sad to see how underrated this movie is 

 

MJ2: I'm disappointed that it's only at #13, but I'm actually surprised that you enjoyed this movie since you hated MJ1 so much, lol. Most of the complaints that I read about this movie is that it is "too slow", ppl went expecting a war movie full of action and explosions, and, well, the final result is way different, I'm glad that you understand the message of the movie, it's not about explosions, but about what is behind it, we share the same fave scene, this scene was FUCKING epic at cinema, everybody in my show screamed as loud as possible, haha. I just wished more emotion to Prim's death, but, oh well, still a great movie, and Jen killed it 

 

IO: I looooooooove so much this movie, my fave animation ever, and, unlike Ethan, I didn't stop liking when I watched a second time, everything is so perfect here, the jokes are smart, the history is genial, the characters are lovely, it is a pure Pixar movie, a truly brilliant movie! 

[Ethan Hunt]

 

7 hours ago, Mockingjay Raphael said:

 

 

IO: I looooooooove so much this movie, my fave animation ever, and, unlike Ethan, I didn't stop liking when I watched a second time.

Jesus Fucking Christ 

[Mockingjay Raphael]

10 minutes ago, Ethan Hunt said:

 

Jesus Fucking Christ 

 

you know that I <3 you

[Kalo]

9 hours ago, Mockingjay Raphael said:

Peanuts: one of my fave animations released in this decade, super funny, naive, silly, sweet, nostalgic, and with a great message, it is one of these movies that makes you leave the cinema feeling good, I really wanted it to receive more attention, it's really sad to see how underrated this movie is 

 

MJ2: I'm disappointed that it's only at #13, but I'm actually surprised that you enjoyed this movie since you hated MJ1 so much, lol. Most of the complaints that I read about this movie is that it is "too slow", ppl went expecting a war movie full of action and explosions, and, well, the final result is way different, I'm glad that you understand the message of the movie, it's not about explosions, but about what is behind it, we share the same fave scene, this scene was FUCKING epic at cinema, everybody in my show screamed as loud as possible, haha. I just wished more emotion to Prim's death, but, oh well, still a great movie, and Jen killed it 

 

IO: I looooooooove so much this movie, my fave animation ever, and, unlike Ethan, I didn't stop liking when I watched a second time, everything is so perfect here, the jokes are smart, the history is genial, the characters are lovely, it is a pure Pixar movie, a truly brilliant movie! 

 

I didn't hate MJP1, I was just incredibly disapointed with it. I gave it a B-, not because of lack of action though, just lack of anything of real significance.  I actually enjoyed Inside Out more after a second viewing I think haha.  and I'm glad we share the same opinion on Peanuts 

 

 

Edited February 18, 2016 by Kalo

[Mockingjay Raphael]

this is deader than Iron Man after the release of Deadpool 

[Kalo]

On 2/26/2016 at 7:56 AM, Mockingjay Raphael said:

this is deader than Iron Man after the release of Deadpool 

 

Sorry I had 5 tests/assignments due last week. but now I am ready to complete!

[Kalo]

I have now seen. Bridge of Spies, I'm too lazy to shuffle things around, but I loved it, it was a lot better than I was expecting and It would probably just miss my top 10.

Edited March 1, 2016 by Kalo

[Kalo]

#9 Spotlight 

 

 

Spotlight had the hard job of telling a rather icky truth that you wished never happened, but it did. 

 

In 2001, the boston globe uncovered a massive sex scandal in the catholic church, and they decide to play the heroes for a change and do something about it, but there were many obstacles along the way and the deeper they dug the more shocking the truth became.

 

This movie was actually a little higher at first. I guess maybe I'm tired of these historically "important" films winning the Oscar. good movies for sure, but they aren't necessarily the best film of the year and nobody is going to watch it a 100 times or call it their favorite movie ever. but that being said I did love this movie for what it was, it told a complicated story that could have easily been confusing and boring and ended up being very easy to follow, fast pace and interesting. even a bit funny at parts. And that has to be attributed to its excellent, tight script, focused direction and the stellar performances all across the board. 

 

My Grade: A

Favorite Scene:

Spoiler

 the part where they won

 

Favorite Character: Marty Baron  

Favorite Performance: Mark Ruffalo 

 

Edited March 1, 2016 by Kalo

[Kalo]

#8 Steve Jobs 

 

 

"Musicians play their instruments. I play the orchestra."

 

Steve Jobs was a film that apparently nobody wanted to see, but maybe should have. Well I wanted to see it, because I love pretty much everyone involvement. and the end result played well to my biased. From a very unique take on a script in a three scene telling before each presentation, that gave the feeling of you watching an actual life event through a keyhole; a very nice shinny one with captivating cinematography and a hip score to boot. 

 

Michael Fassbender gave a whirlwind of a performance as Steve Jobs that was captivating and the film would not have worked without it, all the other actors were like decorations on a centerpiece only added flair and beauty to the center piece, but Kate Winslet was a true standout and kind of the heart and soul of them feel and Steve's moral compass for that matter. I just wonder I didn't know a whole lot about Steve Jobs going in, but was he really such an asshole? I'm guessing yes. 

 

 

This movie focused on pretty much everything I love: Computers, the 80s, 90s and crafty filmmaking. not to mention Fassbender is in my top 5 favorite actors ever, and Winslet is right up there as well so it was pretty much preaching to the choir for me. I just wish more people would watch it and enjoy.

 

My Grade: A

Favorite Scene: well there are only about 3 and they were all pretty awesome 

Favorite Character: Joanna Hoffman

Favorite Performance: Michael Fassbender

 

[Mockingjay Raphael]

Shit, I haven't watched any of these two movies yet haha

[Kalo]

#7 Ex Machina 

 

 

"Isn't it strange, to create something that hates you?"

 

We as humans are and always have been obsessed with creating things, we love to test our limits and see how far we can go. In the world Ex Machina, humans have finally created humanoid androids, they can talk and think and reason just like humans. but when a machine starts to think for itself. what does that mean for us? 

 

 

Ex Machina is an incredibly original take on a pretty widely practiced theme. technical evolution. the world is very advanced, but you only get a small glimpse of it. which makes seems to only add to the claustrophobic feel of the film. the majority of the film takes place in Nathan's "research facility" which looks like a very modern tech house. located in the jungle in the middle of nowhere. everything visually about this film as gorgeous. from the sets, to the photo realistic visuals that makes one wonder why other studies are spending hundreds of millions of dollars on visual heavy blockbusters that look less real than this made for $15m indie film. 

 

there is pretty much only three characters in this film Nathan the android maker, played with Oscar snubingly good by Oscar Isaac.  Caleb the programer and experimentee, who is perhaps overlooked the most but is very subtly fantastic. and Ava the android is shockingly believe in her role. 

 

 

I loved how such a big idea that could have easily been misused in a misfire action blockbuster, was restrained to a intimate mystery thriller, this movie is just fantastic and I really can't think of anything negative to say about it.

 

My Grade: A

Favorite Scene: The dance scene

Favorite Character: Nathan

Favorite Performance: Oscar Isaac

Award Winner! Best original screenplay  - According to Kalo

[Kalo]

#6 The Martian 

 

 

Matt Damon owns this movie, like seriously you feel like you can do anything after watching this movie. 

 

Funny how a movie about a man who is left behind and left to survive on his own for years, ends up being the feel good movie of the year, but it is. and it has the witty crisply written script, ridley Scott's focused direction and Matt Damon's charms and charm to thank for that. this is a more realistic spaced based sci-fi much like Gravity or Interstellar. but instead of the somber tone they have taken it decides to play to the humans spirits will to survive not just physically but mentally. many people if faced with the challenge of having to survive on a uninhabited planet all by their lonesome would would probably go insane before anything else.

 

 

But thankfully Mark Whatiny has a sly sense of humor and he is a botanist so he can grow space potatoes with his poo, and listen to his bosses disco music that annoys him but also helps keep him sane. and there are other people in this movie they try to figure out how to get him back and with a little help from a college dude and boromir it just might work (spoiler alert, Sean Bean doesn't die!). this movie was fantastic fun to watch and if you a Matt Damon fan (I am) you'll love it. if you're not maybe you will become one. it also have some pretty stinkin sweet visuals, especially if you like orange. I liked it better than Gravity and Interstellar btw.

 

 

My Grade: A+

Favorite Scene: Mark Watney sciencing the shit out of everything

Favorite Character: Mark

Favorite Performance: Matt Damon