On the Top Ten of 2015

As is always the case with being in the UK, some of the films seen in the 2015 calendar year would have been considered in 2014, as the US calendar seems to be universal when compiling the ‘best of’. The most apparent example of this is the almost universal praise for The Revenant, which doesn’t receive a UK release for another two weeks and will (likely) appear on a 2016 best of list.

Near misses here were Enemy, another Villeneuve film and like Whiplash a January release and Foxcatcher, also in January and a fine film. Slow West and The Lobster were also very close.  What is here presents a nice mix. Some big and loud that show the dominant superhero summer blockbuster how big and loud should be done. Some quiet and powerful. Carol, Selma and Bridge of Spies all tell well-crafted stories with important messages and remain long in the mind after watching. And one that defies categorisation. The overlooked Inherent Vice is thoroughly enjoyable and an important addition to the canon of Los Angeles crime.

10. Whiplash dir. Damien Chazelle

9. Bridge of Spies dir. Steven Spielberg

8. Ex Machina dir. Alex Garland

7. Amy dir. Asif Kapadia

6. Mad Max: Fury Road dir. George Miller

5. Selma dir. Ava DuVernay

4. Inherent Vice dir. Paul Thomas Anderson

3. Star Wars The Force Awakens dir. J J Abrams

2. Sicario dir. Denis Villeneuve
1. Carol dir. Todd Haynes