2015 has been a better-than-average film year, coming to an end with the fan favorite, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."

 

2015 has been a better-than-average film year, coming to an end with the fan favorite, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."  My choices for Best and Worst Films of 2015 are listed below in alphabetical order.

Be happy, healthy and safe in the New Year.

 

Ten Best Films of 2015 

 

Beasts Of No Nation (rated R)---intense story of how to make a child-soldier in Africa. 

 

99 Homes (rated R)---Michael Shannon shines in a film about heartlessly foreclosing mortgages and who he takes under his wing to be another such person.

 

Sicario (rated R and “sicario” means “hit man”)---beautifully photographed and great soundtrack about the U.S. and drug trade in Mexico. Who do you trust? Benicio Del Toro walks away with his scenes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spotlight (rated R)---based on the true story of the Boston Globe and its investigation  into the allegations of sexual abuse by catholic priests in the Boston area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Suffragette (rated R)---did anyone realize what women in Great Britain had to go through to get the right to vote? This film lays it on the line.

 

The Danish Girl (rated R)---Eddie Redmayne, who won the Oscar last year for portraying Stephen Hawking, now takes on the role of  Einar Wegener, who was born a man but thought of himself as a woman. It is Sweden in the 1920’s and the film is beautifully photographed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Revenant (rated R)---you may not want to go into the woods again after watching Leonardo DiCaprio being mauled by a bear.  It is 1820 and no help available. ("revenant” means to come back.) Scenery is wonderful.

 

Trumbo (rated R)---blacklisting in the middle of the 20th century is shown in this film about Dalton Trumbo (played by Bryan Cranston) who was thought a communist and blacklisted from writing movie scripts.

 

Truth (rated R)---the story behind the news story that had anchorman Dan Rather (Robert Redford) resign from CBS news and his producer, Mary Mapes, (Cate Blanchett) get fired.

 

Youth (rated R---another beautifully photographed and music composed film, this time of two elderly men (Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel) who remember their past girlfriends and achievements.

 

Also Ran:
Black Mass (rated R)---Johnny Depp immerses himself in the role of a mob murderer in Boston.

 

Brooklyn (PG 13)---A romantic story of a girl from Ireland who comes to America and finds love.   Stars Saoirse Ronan.

 

Concussion (rated R)---based on the article about concussions and football, Will Smith stars as the doctor who begins to unravel this mystery.

 

Jurassic World (PG 13)---Along with “Star Wars,” this film was a box office smash in 2015, but this one has dinosaurs, guys who ride motorcycles and women who run in high heels.

 

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (PG-13)---Fans waited long enough for this movie, Enough is said, except now they are waiting for the next one.

 

Sunshine Superman (no rating)---documentary on a man who, with only a light parachute,  loved to jump from tall places.

 

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Ten Worst Films of 2015 In Alphabetical Order
 
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip (rated PG)--animation with chipmunks has seen it’s day. For fans, and you know who you are, don't admit it.

 

Horns (rated R)---Daniel Radcliffe from “Harry Potter” is not selective about his material, with this horror film and  playing Igor in “Victor Frankenstein” (see below)

 

Horror Films---Whatever is a sequel of anything designed to frighten people away from closets, basements, garages, trees, water and you name it. Reference: “Paranormal Activity.”

 

Pan (PG 13)---Hugh Jackman in over-the-top mode in this unusual version of “Peter Pan.”  Go back to "Wolverine" mode.

 

Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (rated PG 13)--The first film did not need a sequel, but here we go again.

 

Rock The Kasbah (rated R)---several writers in search of a story in this Bill Murray film of finding a singer in the Middle East. Stumbling in the desert does not a film make.

 

San Andreas (rated PG 13)---enough special effects for five films which is about the amount of endings the audience thinks it has seen.  Dwayne Johnson tries to save everyone before California slides into the Pacific.

 

The Big Short (rated R)---many actors with the same speeches about investing money in the housing market in 2008. Big name cast including Brad Pitt and Steve Carell does not pull the story together.

 

Vacation (rated PG 13)---Ed Helms tries to bring back the “National Lampoon” type of film, but that has long gone.

 

Victor Frankenstein (rated R)---See “Horns” and another agent is recommended.