Of the 371 movies that I watched in 2015 I have selected the 20 movies that stood out for me the most. This list is in no particular order. I am not saying that they are the best movies on the list, but they are the ones that I remember the most. These are the movies that stayed with me, they either moved me or angered me or I just loved watching them. Some of them are really fantastic movies and others just had elements to them that I really enjoyed. I encourage you to check out any of these films. I have added a quick little thought on each film below to give you an idea of why I picked these movies.
20 Standout Movies from the 371 I Watched
Snowpiercer – this movie was the first one I watched in 2015 and started this whole thing. It stands out for that reason, but also because I thought this movie was a lot of fun, it felt unique and crazy and I loved every minute of it. Snowpiercer is available to buy or rent from Amazon.
Short Term 12 – I didn’t get a chance to see Room yet, but I think Short Term 12 was a clear indicator that Brie Larson is someone to keep an eye on. I liked the simplicity of the story in this movie and just though the performances were fantastic. You can watch Short Term 12 on Amazon.
Fish Tank – I cannot say enough about Michael Fassbender, I think he is such a fantastic actor and I would be hard pressed to find something I haven’t enjoyed him in. Fish Tank is a dark little movie that explores some gritty territory, but it stayed with me for days after I watched it and that’s what makes it so good. You can rent or buy Fish Tank from Amazon, I recommend you buy because it deserves multiple viewings.
Fruitvale Station – this movie made me so angry, it is such a tragic story, told very simply and performed beautifully. There isn’t anything else to say except for watch it.
Your Sister’s Sister – this movie was a grower for me, it started off fine and I was enjoying it, but the way it unfolds is wonderful and by the end I found myself loving the movie. Check it out on Amazon.
Midnight in Paris – Woody Allen movies can be pretty hit and miss for me, but I thought this was such a fun and whimsical movie. I knew nothing about it going in and was delighted by it. If you haven’t seen Midnight in Paris you can get it from Amazon.
Whiplash – the intensity of this film stayed with me for days. I was on the edge of my seat the whole movie and the performances were amazing. If you haven’t seen this movie, you need to.
Obvious Child – I will watch anything that Jenny Slate does, she is so much fun to watch. I loved this movie, I am a sucker for a romantic comedy, but Obvious Child took the romcom and added some depth to it and characters that I really believed in. I thought it was a perfectly charming movie. This one deserves your support, buy or rent on Amazon.
Warrior – I had no desire to see this film, I didn’t really even know it existed, but my sister insisted that I watch, so I did. I know nothing about MMA fighting and don’t really care to know much about it, but I do know that I loved Warrior. It was intense and emotional and I was glued to the screen. Tom Hardy is such an intense actor, everything he does is pretty close to perfect. Check out Warrior on Amazon.
Rust and Bone – I thought the development of the relationship in this film was so interesting. The story was raw and emotional, it felt real and honest. If you don’t mind subtitles, check out Rust and Bone.
Mad Max: Fury Road – this movie was a riot, it was fun and exciting and beautiful to look at. I loved everything about this movie. You’ve probably already seen this one, but if not it’s available from Amazon.
Cake – there was something special about this movie that I can’t quite put my finger on, but as I was watching it I was very aware that I was enjoying it. Jennifer Aniston was doing something I hadn’t seen from her in a long time and I was really into it. This one won’t be for everyone, but it is worth a watch.
Magic Mike XXL – I saw this one with my sister in the summer and we had so much fun with it. We laughed and giggled our way through and just enjoyed the crap out of it. I took her to see 50 Shades of Grey earlier in the year, hoping it would be a hilarious and ridiculous time and it was not, but Magic Mike XXL delivered the goods and we had a blast. If you haven’t already watch Magic Mike XXL then it is safe to say you probably never will, but if you change your mind, it’s on Amazon.
Dear Zachary – this documentary is on my list because of the emotions I felt while watching. If you haven’t seen this film you won’t know what I am talking about, but the story is so dark and twisted and infuriating that I found myself yelling at my TV. I felt haunted by this story and I won’t forget it. This is a hard movie to watch, but if you are interested you can get it from Amazon.
Merchants of Doubt – here’s another film that made me angry. There is something about watching a documentary that is telling you that you are being lied to and then feeling like there is nothing that you can do about it. I watched a lot of these kinds of docs over the year, but this one made me the angriest and left me feeling hopeless, not great things, but the message was received and the movie did its job.You might be able to find this title on Netflix, if not Amazon has it.
Results – I watched this movie on a whim, it popped up on Netflix and I liked the cast so I checked it out. It wasn’t an amazing movie by any means, but it was quirky and weird and I really liked it. I watched this one on Netflix or you can get it from Amazon.
Steve Jobs – no surprise here, Michael Fassbender and Kate Winslet give two amazing performances and take subject matter that could be considered dry or boring and bring it to life. I could watch these two argue for days. This one might still be in a theater near you or you can pre-order your copy now.
Brooklyn – this film is charming and beautifully acted. It is on my list because it was the kind of movie that you enjoy from beginning to end. The story is simple and doesn’t ask much of you, but the characters are so lovely that you just can’t help but smile your way through. I loved this movie because it made me feel good. Brooklyn is still in theaters, but keep an eye out for it.
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief – i am fascinated by Scientology and I really like Alex Gibney’s documentaries, so this one just makes sense. It is on the list because it satisfies my desire to know more about Scientology and continued to blow my mind as the story unfolded. If you’re like me you will want to see this movie asap.
Sleeping with Other People – this is one of the last movies that I watched this year and it was one that I was really looking forward to. I love the cast of this movie and that is really what I was drawn to. I thought Jason Sudeikis and Alison Brie had such great chemistry, which as a romcom lover is hugely important to me. The thing I loved most about this movie was that in moments when I thought I knew exactly what was going to happen or be said, I was wrong and I loved that. I loved this movie and you might too, check it out on Amazon.
