Five favourites from last year
2015 was another fine year of film with some huge box office hits helping global cinemas pull in record revenues. As always there were surprises, disappointments and a few treasures. Here’s a list of some favourites released last year:
1. Birdman Winning best picture at last year’s Oscars, this is the story of a faded Hollywood star struggling to regain fame by producing a new Broadway play. There’s a fair chance that Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárrituj could repeat the feat with new film The Revenant already scooping big at this year’s Golden Globes. Everything about Birdman is brilliant: the performances, its pop-culture references and dark themes on identity, purpose and definitions of success. It’s visually stunning and brings something new – the entire film appears like it has been made in one extended take – making this a real cinematic experience. Like most of Iñárrituj’s work (21 Grams, Babel etc.) this is intense and could be discussed long into the night and still leave a lot to ponder.
The entire film appears like it has been made in one extended take.
2. Brooklyn From start to finish this was the most satisfying film I watched in 2015. It’s a romantic-drama adapted from an Irish novel and stars the hugely talented Saoirse Ronan as a young Irish girl faced with a new world and choices when setting sail for America in the 1950s. It’s interesting to learn Ronan’s own family story – her parents were migrants to the US, she was born in New York and later brought up in rural Ireland. “When a story means so much to you and it’s almost like it’s your identity, it just means so much more”, she says. I loved the storytelling that weaved themes of family, romance and choices. With moments of real humour and tenderness and every scene feeling honest and authentic this film was a rare gem in 2015.
When a story means so much to you and it’s almost like it’s your identity, it just means so much more. Saoirse Ronan
3. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl This indie film about three teens coming together, one of whom has leukaemia, is pretty original and quirky. It’s got great film-making and is way more edgy (better too) than 2014’s similarly-themed The Fault in their Stars. Maybe not everyone’s cup of tea, this film about true friendship is a little bit different and worth a look – you might just be surprised.
4. Beasts of No Nation Based on a 2005 African novel we find ourselves immersed in the life of a child solider called Aga. Cary Fukunaga (careful), director of the superb first series of True Detective, delivers a drama (commissioned by a streaming provider) that’s harrowing and opens the eyes to some of the unseen horrors taking place in African civil wars.
5. Inside Out Whiplash You don’t typically expect a film about jazz music to have you on the edge of your seat. But watching a young drummer pushed to his limits does exactly that. The conductor’s brutal psychology is often disturbing but offers a thrilling ride for the viewer affirmed by a spontaneous rare applause from almost everyone around me in the cinema.
Thank you for sharing. Know that people are reading and enjoying – even if they aren’t commenting! What a privilege it is that we are to able to express ourselves and what a loss it would be not to do so! Thanks for beginning the conversation and creating the space for others to respond. I hope you feel encouraged to keep up the blog in 2016!
I also enjoyed Brooklyn. It was a delight to watch from start to finish and I felt comfortable and cosy with the setting in Ireland. I particularly enjoyed the dinner table scenes with Mrs Kehoe and loved the character of Dolores played by Northern Irish actress, Jenn Murray. The humour and playfulness of the girls offset the sadness of Eilis’s mother and sister at their dinner table in Ireland. Interestingly, although set in the 1950’s I think the theme of emigrating for a better standard of living would resonate with many people today – although who’s to say which is better in this scenario! Certainly losses and gains to be had either way.
**SPOILER** Saoirse Ronan/Eilis carried me along with her in all of her confusion and sadness.. I didn’t have time to think of what the final outcome would be and had I had a moment I’m not sure I would’ve been able to say! Her relationships with Jim and Tony felt true, charming and gentle.. And in the end she really chose to love herself.
I left the cinema feeling warm-hearted but wondering one thing: would she have returned to the States had she not married Tony before leaving…? Or was it less about him and more that she no longer felt at home in Ireland?
I also enjoyed Whiplash. Any film that focuses around a small number of lead characters, that feels like it is filmed in just one space, that has great music AND still manages to hold my attention from beginning to end is a winner in my book. Incredible acting and a very powerful story.
I look forward to watching Me and Earl and the Dying Girl and I recommend Mistress America for any Baumbach/Greta Gerwig fans. Although it may not be everyone’s cup of tea (some of the scenes left me squirming a little – why?) I think it’s worth a watch.
As we reflect on our favourite films of the year aren’t we are also reflecting on who we were and how we saw the world? What moved us.. what made us laugh.. what had us on the edge of our seat and what surprised us in 2015. I like how inevitably our response to a film says as much about the film as it does about where we are on our journey and what we hold true – discussed through a medium we feel comfortable with.
Thanks Sunny. Great to hear your comments! Love your thoughts on how film can (retrospectively?) give a glimpse of our journey.
Here’s to the films in 2016 that entertain and those that invite us to remember, respond and, dare I say it, change – whether we realise it at the time or not.
Will check out Mistress America – sounds interesting.
Some interesting choices here. I totally agree with you about Whiplash, it was one of my favourite films of last year too. My other favourites were Mad Max Fury Road, Ex Machina and Inside Out. Can I ask why you have Inside Out crossed out like that? The biggest disappointments for me were Terminator Genisys, Spectre and Star Wars The Force Awakens. I enjoy reading your blog so keep on posting!
Thanks Ian – and great to hear your take. So, Inside Out was joint fifth but I realised that wouldn’t quite work for a pure top 5 so it got relegated at the last second! I just probably enjoyed the others more in different ways. If I’d my own kids though, I’m sure Inside Out would have finished near the top which is kind of interesting but maybe not that surprising.
Agree with you about Ex Machina (Domhnall Gleeson seems to be everywhere these days – Ex Machina, Brooklyn, Star Wars, The Revenant – he’s doing alright for himself.). Let’s see how 2016 shapes up and if the big blockbusters fare any better for you!