COUNTDOWN AT THE MOVIES 2015

Before we start this countdown, let's state the obvious: there are some great films released this year that I haven't gotten around to seeing yet. Also, this list is ever-changing, so as 2015 becomes 2016 you can check back as we update it via Letterboxd. A big thank you to guest contributor and movie aficionado Sean S.

TOP 10 COUNTDOWN

10) Trainwreck - Directed by Judd Apatow

Judd Apatow has had much success with making a comedy movie with heart, and Trainwreck is a great example. Amy Schumer plays Amy, a successful woman who takes after her father and does not believe in monogamous relationships. This is until she has to profile a sports doctor played by Bill Hader. What makes this a successful comedy is that you can watch the same scene multiple times and the laughs come just like the first time. The scene that does this for me is the movie theatre scene. From the fake movie playing on screen, to the interactions that Amy's boyfriend (John Cena) with the other audience members. The Mark Wahlberg comparison joke from the trailer showcases only a glimpse of that sharp wittiness. The heart comes from the supporting cast members including Brie Larson as Amy's sister, and Bill Hader as the sports doctor. --Remi

9) The Wolfpack - Directed by Crystal Moselle

This has to be one of the great documentary features of 2015 to use Cinéma vérité to not only tell the story of the Angulo Brothers, but to also showcase the love of cinema. The documentary follows the Augulo Brothers, or the self-proclaimed "Wolf Pack", who were been shut out of society and kept in isolation due to their father's strict views about society being the evil. The brothers find their voice through cinema and film, which they view and re-enact. This is until the oldest brother escapes the house, which then allows the other brothers to go out and explore society around them. One of the defining moments for me is on Valentine's Day when the brothers leave the house in the evening, as their mother and father tearfully say goodbye, to go and see David O. Russell's The Fighter. As the older brother puts it while walking on the streets, "hopefully we don't get murdered." Crystal Moselle has created one of the best Cinéma vérité documentaries in recent years that pleases both documentary viewers, as well as cinema lovers. --Remi

8) Amy - Directed by Asif Kapadia

Asif Kapadia's Amy is a documentary that showcases the late soul singer singer, Amy Winehouse, with an unapologetic and unfiltered camera lens at her talented, yet turbulent life. The unfiltered lens is shown by the paparazzi camera's going off as Amy is speaking or singing her mind. This unapologetic lens also captures the abuse Winehouse endured, given her unapologetic outlook on life. The best of Winehouse is showcased with her performances, which includes a duet with Tony Bennett, where Mr. Bennett has to instil confidence in Amy. We also see her at her lowest points while on tour during a summer concert series, which would happen to be her last live performance. Kapadia did not want to point to the antagonists in his documentary, but when he focusses the lens on the boyfriend or father Michael Winehouse, who we see lead and abetted to Winehouse's self-destructive nature. --Remi

7) It Follows - Directed by David Robert Mitchell

David Robert Mitchell's suspense thriller It Follows does not try to reinvent the horror genre, but pays homage to it. From the basic premise of the unknown entity that follows the female protagonist, portrayed by Maika Monroe, after having premarital intercourse. Then there are the jarring tones composed by Disasterpeace that set the atmosphere of the film. It Follows sits alongside early '70s John Carpenter films, with minimum vulgarity and a focus on the aesthetics, which makes for a great horror suspense film. Most of the newer generation of horror fans do not know about this aesthetic approach, due to the genre laced with found footage and grotesque and excessive gore and violence. I highly suggest the newer generation of horror fans seek it out. The more times I see it, the more It Follows crawls under my skin and stays with me.- -Remi

6) The Martian - Directed by Ridley Scott

The Martian is a blazing return to form by director Ridley Scott. Scott manages to juggle the grandeur of the big action set pieces, with the more quiet, delicate, human drama taking place in the film. He does all of that while getting amazing performances out of every single one of the actors in this huge cast, including Jeff Daniels, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jessica Chastain, and Childish Gambino himself, Donald Glover. This is the best we've seen Matt Damon in years. Pulling a page out of Tom Hanks in Cast Away's book, Damon is alone for the majority of the picture, and you really feel the humanity of the character. The Martian is a film deserving of all its praise, well done Mr.Scott, well done! --Sean S.

5) Room - Directed by Lenny Abrahamson

Based on the book by Emma Donoghue, Room is a powerful tour de force on the human condition. What makes the movie adaptation a success is having the script written by Donoghue herself, to which she is now receiving nominations for her work as a screen writer. The heart and the spirit of the film is five-year-old Jack (Jacob Tremblay) as the central narrator of the story, and Lenny Abrahamson directs the camera to his perspective at all times. Brie Larson gives one of the best and powerful performances by a lead actress this year as Ma, which is on Short Term 12 level. I don't want to get into the story because that is where the film is special as the emotional tour de force. The performances and the story's adaptation make this a solid film that connects not only to the true essence of Donoghue's book, but the human condition as well. --Remi

4) Mad Max: Fury Road - Directed by George Miller

The Mad Max franchise was originally the strong silent Max, portrayed by Mel Gibson, as he fought against apocalyptic scenarios in order to restore order to the world. Since Mel Gibson is no longer a bankable Hollywood actor, Tom Hardy steps in the boots. Right away we are thrown into the apocalyptic wasteland that relies less on CGI effects and more on live action. Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) has rescued the slave women for the tyrannical Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne) as they try to find The Green Place. At their first meeting there are trust issues between Max and Imperator Furiosa, who are both lone wolf characters, and end up working together. Upon their arrival to The Green Place, which has become a desolate wasteland, Imperator Furiosa breaks down as nothing is left besides the older band of female warriors. Plots are set it motion to take down the tyrannical Immortan Joe for good. George Miller shows that in a generation plagued by CGI overkill, you can still make a back-to-basics action film that relies on live action and a solid story. Also, this might be the end of Max as we know him as Imperator Furiosa, a strong female character, casts a strong shadow over the strong silent Max. For the full review, visit cjlo.com. --Remi

3) Clouds of Sils Maria - Directed by Olivier Assayas

Visually, Clouds of Sils Maria has some great cinematography and direction from Olivier Assayas. From the shots of the natural landscapes of the Swiss Alps, to the shots on a train ride juxtaposed to the natural landscapes with the natural lighting. A veteran actress Maria Enders (Juliette Binoche) is preparing for an acting role with the help of her personal assistant Valentine (Kristen Stewart), who manages her day to day affairs. The more Maria dives into the role, the more it consumes her because she is now the antagonist to the protagonist she once played. The troubled teen idol Jo-Ann Ellis (Chloë Grace Moretz) plays the protagonist to Maria's antagonist. All of the actresses give exceptional performances, which gained Kristen Stewart the César Award for Best Supporting Actress. The breathtaking cinematography and direction from Assayas matches the performances. --Remi

2) Sicario - Directed by Denis Villeneuve

On the outside, Sicario may seem like just another stereotypical colour-by-numbers "war on drugs film", and it has every right to be. Denis Villeneuve's crisp, slow building, sombre, quietly intensifying direction elevates this picture to one of the year's best. The actors are perfect in their roles. Emily Blunt's DEA agent acts as great conduit for the audience, Josh Brolin is his charismatic self as usual, but the stand-out is Benicio del Toro, who plays a mysterious man helping with the investigation who you never really quite know what side he's on. Roger Deakins' cinematography is to be marvelled at, as Sicario is one of the years best-looking films. Sicario is yet another excellent notch on Dennis Villeneuve's growing belt of great pictures. --Sean S.

1) Inside Out - Directed by Pete Docter & Ronnie del Carmen

Leave it to Pixar Studios to create the most innovative and emotional animated film of the year. From a cinematic and human emotional experience, nothing else this year compares to Inside Out. As for my immediate reaction let me paraphrase my review as "Man, tears flowed out of me as I reminisced on my childhood days". The reason behind this is known as the Pixar emotional investment. The story is about 11-year-old Riley (Kaitlyn Dias) and the emotions that live in her head. They are Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Disgust (Mindy Kaling), Fear (Bill Hader), and Anger (Lewis Black). After a move to San Francisco, and spoiler alert, there is no Joy without Sadness. Superb voice action, originality, top notch vivid and varied colour animation, Pixar has hit all of these categories and created a return to form film. I am calling it a Pixar Renaissance that will delight and make audience members reminisce on the old Pixar favourites. For the full review, visit cjlo.com. --Remi

THE WORST LIST IN A SENTENCE

• Entourage - Directed by Doug Ellin: An excuse to make an overindulgent movie with an excessive number of celebrity cameos.
• Minions - Directed by Pierre Coffin & Kyle Balda: Don't be fooled by the loveable, adorable creatures that you cannot understand and have no sense of morality.
• The Visit - Directed by M. Night Shyamalan: I went in expecting a director's revival and all I got was generic.
• Vacation - Directed by John Francis Daley & Jonathan M. Goldstein: A cringe-worthy film from start to finish, and the only thing missing is an appearance from Randy Quaid.

--Remi hosts At the Movies (with Iconic Sounds) every Tuesday at 8 AM, only on CJLO 1690AM.