1 - Mad Max: Fury Road

This was easy. No film made me feel the way I felt while watching Fury Road. It’s easily the most fun I had at the movies all year. In fact, I saw it twice in theaters, which I rarely do. The amazing thing about Mad Max: Fury Road is that the plot is blindingly simplistic. They literally drive from point A to point B, and then from point B to point A. However, it’s all the crazy, intense, peculiar, heart-pounding stuff in between that makes Fury Road my favorite film of the year. I’ve always been a fan of the Mad Max franchise. I first saw the films after I got out of college (in what I like to call phase two of my movie watching career). I was catching up on all the modern classics and I just loved the atmosphere of the Mad Max films. Fury Road captures that and then some. The other cool thing about Fury Road is that it has a very female empowering message. In fact, one could argue that Charlize Theron’s character Furiosa is actually the main character of the film. Mad Max: Fury Road isn’t for everybody, but if you like your films with an extra side of chaos, buckle up because you’re in for a wild ride.

2 - Inside Out

It’s movies like Inside Out that make me shake my head when I hear an adult say they don’t watch animated films because they’re just for kids. I could argue that Inside Out might appeal to the adults more than the children. The film features one of the more interesting plots for a Pixar film and features some genuinely clever moments. Honestly, most of the themes about memories and what makes us who we are can only be appreciated by an adult. Inside Out is a heart-wrenching movie that is sure to squeeze a salty tear from the corner of even the most stoic movie goer. I’m not kidding, there is a scene that rivals the opening of Up as one of the more touching scenes in animated movie history.

3 - Ex Machina

Alicia Vikander.  Everybody say it with me - Alicia Vikander. Remember her name and her face, she will be around a while. Ex Machina is one of the best original films of the year. It’s actually a quite simple film with a small cast. It almost feels like a stage play. Oscar Isaac, who’s about as hot as any actor in Hollywood, plays an eccentric billionaire who tasks Domhnall Gleeson’s character with evaluating the human qualities of an alluring female A.I. Like many films about cyborgs and Artificial Intelligence, we are asked to debate what it truly means to be alive, but Ex Machina doesn’t stick to the normal script. There’s a lot of twists and turns along the way and the film is best to be discovered on your own.

4 - The Martian

The Martian is that rare film that is adored by critics and mainstream moviegoers alike. That’s hard to find, especially nowadays. Based on the best-selling novel, The Martian is an interesting film in many ways. It’s essentially a one-man show. Matt Damon is fantastic as usual as an astronaut stranded on Mars by himself. Damon is asked to carry the film by himself, and much of the film is literally just him. Not exactly stuff you find in Summer blockbusters. The most interesting thing about The Martian is the fact that it’s surprisingly funny. In fact, I would say it’s the funniest film of the year. The Martian proves that you don’t need superheroes and tons of explosions to make lots of money at the box office. I hope Hollywood takes notice and we get more of these smart, funny adventure  films.

5 - Spotlight

One of my favorite documentaries is Deliver us From Evil.  The film deals with the conspiracy of priests in the Catholic Church and the accusations of molestation.  The cover up by the Catholic Church extends all the way to the Vatican.  Spotlight deals with this crisis,  mainly focusing on Massachusetts. The film follows investigative reporters for the Boston Globe as they slowly uncover information that turns from an isolated incident into a problem the world over.  The film does a great job of not vilifying the Catholic Church. It's just telling the story as it's reported. It also doesn't make the reporters out to be heroes.  It's easily one of the more accurate portrayals of journalism in a film I've ever seen.  Spotlight features a fantastic cast of Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams.  Each actor feels like a real-life journalist. To its credit, Spotlight never feels like a Hollywood film, which means it's somewhat under the radar, but it needs to be seen.

6 - Sicario

Sicario was one of my most anticipated films of the year. Denis Villeneuve is one of the best young directors working today. His 2013 film Prisoners was one of my favorite films of that year. Sicario also stars one of my favorite female actors in Emily Blunt. The rest of the cast is also superb, Josh Brolin plays a slick, carefree leader of a shady government task force and Benicio Del Toro is mesmerizing as a mysterious member of the unit. Most of Sicario is shrouded in mystery. Blunt’s F.B.I. agent Kate Macer is left in the dark for most of the film, as are we. We’re experiencing every twist and turn as things start to hit the fan for her. Her biggest problem is she can’t stand by and look the other way as the group she’s attached to starts to operate in less than an ideal way. Sicario also looks fantastic, it’s easily some of the best cinematography you will see all year thanks to legendary cinematographer Roger Deakins. I’m a little worried that the film came out too long ago to be remembered come Oscar season. That’s too bad, because it’s more than deserving of a few awards, most notably Benicio Del Toro for Best Supporting Actor.

7 - Star Wars: The Force Awakens

I didn’t grow up with Star Wars like many people my age. My dad wasn’t into it, therefore I didn’t watch them as a kid. It wasn’t until years later that my love for Sci-fi and fantasy films grew. I really enjoy the original Star Wars films, they’re full of adventure and wonder, something that the prequel films are lacking.  J.J. Abrams did a great job of recapturing what made the original films so great. Abrams really nailed it. It’s not a perfect film, but it’s a lot of fun. They did a great job of connecting the old with the new. There are some really cool new characters, I was especially impressed with relative newcomer Daisy Ridley as Rey. She’s one of the stronger female characters I’ve seen in a long time. The Force Awakens is far from a perfect film. For some it probably borrows too much from A New Hope. A lot of people have problems with the main villain, I personally thought he was pretty cool. I would have liked to see a little more from certain characters, especially Oscar Isaac’s Poe Dameron. I also want to applaud the use of practical effects, I thought its seamless use with CGI is what really made the film feel like a Star Wars film. I hope more movies start to use more practical effects.

8 - Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation

Movie franchises are supposed to be getting worse on their fourth and fifth films, not better.  To me, the last 2 films in the Mission Impossible franchise far surpass the first 3. Rogue Nation isn't quite as good as Ghost Protocol, but it's close.  The film features two of the best scenes of the year. One, an edge-of-your-seat motorcycle chase scene and the other an underwater scene that will literally have you gasping for air. Rogue Nation also introduces us to Rebecca Ferguson, who goes toe-to-toe with action legend Tom Cruise and even steals a few scenes from him. If you abandoned the Mission Impossible franchise long ago, now is the time to jump back in.

9 - Straight Outta Compton

I grew up listening to rap music as a kid/teen in the 90’s. I like to think that rap was the music of choice for a lot of kids my age. Rap was all about rebelling and standing up to authority, what kid couldn’t equate that to their parents or their teachers? Anyway, I'm very familiar with a lot of the rappers portrayed in Straight Outta Compton. The film became one of the surprise hits of the summer and rightly so, it’s a great biopic where many of the issues that the characters were going through 25 years ago are sadly still relevant today. My main problem with the film is the characters are painted a little too kindly and it also unfolds a little too much like the group’s Wikipedia page. One of the more standout performances was by O’Shea Jackson Jr, who really channels his father Ice Cube in the film. He had his facial expressions and mannerisms down perfectly. This isn’t Ray or Walk the Line, so I’m sure most people will pass on this musical biopic, but they really shouldn’t because it’s a well made film.

10 - Jurassic World

Jurassic Park is one of my all-time favorite films. There’s a small group of films that I consider perfect and Jurassic Park is in that group, so it’s safe to say that I was going into Jurassic World with thick nostalgia colored glasses on. While not perfect, Jurassic World is far better than the second and third films in the franchise. I thought director Colin Trevorrow did a great job with bringing the franchise back to its roots. On a side note, Trevorrow will be tasked with an even bigger challenge, he has signed on to direct Star Wars: Episode 9. The biggest problem with the film is a silly side storyline about weaponizing raptors. Yes, it’s as silly as it sounds. That being said, Jurassic World is a lot of fun and I think it’s a welcome entry to the franchise.

11 - Trainwreck

After bursting onto the scene with the 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up, director Judd Apatow hit kind of a rough patch. With Trainwreck, he might just be back on track (see what I did there?). Trainwreck marked the first film that Apatow directed but didn’t also write. The writing credit for the film would go to Amy Schumer, whose meteoric rise to stardom has been just short of amazing. Schumer went from placing 4th on Last Comic Standing in 2011, to one of the top comedians working today, to a bonafide movie star. Trainwreck has some genuinely funny moments and it’s probably one of the more realistic romantic comedies you will ever find. There are also quite a few surprising performances, mainly from people you wouldn’t expect it from. Lebron James steals more than a few scenes and has some great lines. The same can be said for John Cena who proves he can actually act when given the right material. Trainwreck isn’t just a silly comedy though, its commentary on relationships, especially from the female perspective, is something you don’t get very often in a mainstream film.

12 - Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

Yes, this is a cancer movie. Every year there are one or two. Last year it was The Fault in Our Stars, which was also very good, but Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is even better. What I enjoyed more about the film is the fact that it doesn’t rely on a romantic relationship between the two leads. It’s a teen boy and a teen girl who have a blossoming friendship. It’s something you don’t see very often in a Hollywood movie. As you would expect from any film dealing with cancer, especially among young people, the film is absolutely brutal. Seriously, bring a box of tissues. Earl is the kind of Indie film that turns a lot of people off. It’s quiet and very quirky, but it also feels like a realistic film. The three main actors did a fantastic job and I’ve been touting Olivia Cooke since seeing her on Bates Motel. Don’t let the gloomy subject matter steer you clear, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is a solid film.

13 - Spy

There aren’t that many good comedies out there anymore and Spy might actually work better for me as a spy/action film than it does a pure comedy. Don’t get me wrong, Spy has some really funny moments, especially from Jason Statham who is playing off of his past action film personas where he’s essentially the ultimate action hero. That’s not the case here, he’s basically a bumbling buffoon. I’d like to see Statham do more comedy, I think he really has a knack for it. With that said, the film still belongs to Melissa McCarthy, who is playing it a little more straight than she normally does in her films. McCarthy has become one of those actors that you either love or you hate. I usually tend to enjoy her, especially in films that were directed by Paul Feig (The Heat, Bridesmaids). There aren’t that many action/comedy franchises around, but I would sign up for about 2 or 3 more of these.

14 - Kingsman: The Secret Service

Kingsman: The Secret Service is some of the most fun I’ve had at the theater all year. The film does a great job at poking fun at all the spy films out there, mainly the Bond films. It’s wickedly funny at times and features some really cool action scenes. One scene in a church is probably one of the best scenes of the year. It’s just plain over-the-top. Also, I’m not sure how, but the film managed to turn Colin Firth into a badass. I must say I was really impressed by the main character played by Adrian Quinton. Quinton has a bright future. Kingsman was actually his first major film, but you wouldn’t know it. He seemed like a movie star right from the start. Samuel L. Jackson is also in the film (shocking) and he plays a villain that comes very close to turning into a cartoon character, although I think that’s what they were going for. I know I’ve gotten on my soap box about Hollywood and their propensity to turn out sequels, but I wouldn’t mind if Kingsman: The Secret Service turned into a multi-film franchise.

15 - Ant-Man

I’m not going to lie, I’m starting to experience superhero fatigue. There are just so many superhero films being released now that it’s getting to be a little too much. They all follow the same formula with the same tropes. We know the world isn’t going to end, we know our favorite superhero will be back for the sequel, which kills the suspense. Maybe that’s why I enjoyed Ant-Man so much. It’s a smaller film (in more ways than one). There’s no aliens to fight, or robots to stop from ending the world. It’s basically a heist film, and it really works. Paul Rudd does a great job as Ant-Man. I’m a little biased because my whole family has been huge fans of Rudd for years. I’m also glad I saw Ant-Man in 3D. I’m not a fan of the format, it’s a fad that comes and goes every few decades and is usually only used as a gimmick. In Ant-Man however, it’s utilized to perfection. They were able to get great depth of field and you really felt like this little Ant-Man was inhabiting this massive world. I’m looking forward to seeing how Ant-Man figures into the rest of the Marvel universe.