Oh.
Hello there. Been awhile. “Three Heretics” has been keeping me pretty busy lately, and I figured it more productive to plug away at that than on here. But it’s good to keep things balanced, so here’s a list of some of my favorite movies from 2015, in no particular order, because that’s just how I roll.
THE HATEFUL EIGHT
I saw this movie last night and loved every single moment of it. I’ve always enjoyed all of Tarantino’s work, but prior to watching it, I did have some worries about its length and limited locations. I’m happy to report those worries were not realized.
The cinematography was beautiful, the writing was sharp, the acting was on point, and the plot itself was extremely captivating. The music, oh the music, was a lot of the unused music from “The Thing” soundtrack, and it fit the movie perfectly. At times, given what was happening on screen, I felt as though I were watching a horror movie.
I loved it. The movie is populated by terrible people doing terrible things, and the tone changes wildly, but I like things like that … things that cannot be pinned down, that make you laugh one moment and cringe the other. If you like Tarantino’s other movies, in particular slower ones like “Jackie Brown,” it’s definitely worth checking this one out.
SICARIO
I became a huge fan of this director’s work after watching “Prisoners.” And while “Sicario” isn’t on the same level as that movie, it’s pretty close. Like “The Hateful Eight,” the cinematography is disgustingly good, as well as most everything else. It’s an incredibly intense movie, too, with some absolutely awesome build-up before all hell breaks loose.
The plot is very interesting, not necessarily the content of it, but how it is executed. This is a movie determined to keep the audience at arm’s length, just like Emily Blunt’s character. In a way, it’s frustrating, because there isn’t necessarily a huge pay-off (there is and there isn’t), but at the same time, I liked it.
CREED
I didn’t know much about this movie other than it sounded like a really bad idea. Apollo Creed has a son and Rocky is going to train him? It seemed as though they were trying to cash in one last time on a franchise that had, more or less, ended well.
Good thing I didn’t know what the fuck I was talking about!
“Creed” was so good. Like, one of the best in the “Rocky” franchise good. It was so well made, with such passion. The audience I saw it with was absolutely captivated and invested into Creed’s journey. Whether you like the “Rocky” movies or not, you owe to yourself to check this one out.
STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS
Star Wars, doe. A little too similar to “A New Hope,” but other than that …
Star Wars, doe.
BONE TOMAHAWK
Okay, if I had to pick a best movie of the year, this may be one of them. I’d heard about this movie off and on. It had Kurt Russel (beautiful man), and it was a western horror, so I knew I had to see it. And I did. And I loved it.
It’s wonderfully well-written. The actors kill it. The direction is just right. And their journey is simultaneously beautiful and disgusting. I hope to see more of Zahler’s works. In fact, he’s a self-published author (or maybe not self-published?), and I’m thinking about picking up some of his books.
It also features one of the most fucked-up kills in a movie in a long time. See it, and add that notch to your gore belt.
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
I’m going to be lazy on this one. It’s insanely good, and praised so highly for a reason. This is a movie almost anyone can appreciate it. Watch it.
CRIMSON PEAK
Okay, so, Guillermo del Toro is the man. I want him to be my friend, and I want him to work with me and direct my series. His vision, his passion. His desire. His most intimates of intimates …
“Crimson Peak” is a gorgeous movie. Probably one of the best looking movies to come out this year. It’s a movie I could probably thrown on at anytime and never tire of. The story is familiar and not terribly surprising, and most of the time such a thing would piss me off, but … the atmosphere and everything more than makes up for it. I can live with the familiarity if it means I get to enjoy all the other aspects of this delicious, gothic horror/romance tale.
I really enjoyed a lot of these movies as well, but I’m I’ve got dishes to do and books to write, so let me just list them instead. I’ll make a note for movies I haven’t seen but expect to be awesome.
KRAMPUS
EX MACHINA
GOOSEBUMPS (YEAH, THAT’S RIGHT)
BEASTS OF NO NATION (NEED TO SEE IT)
STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON (NEED TO SEE IT; SORRY ABOUT CAPS)
THE REVENANT (^)
THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PART II: XKATNISSSUPERMEGAULTRALIZARDEDITIONX (REALLY LIKED THIS MOVIE A LOT. MAYBE MORE THAN MOST OF THE SERIES. AMG, THE CAPS)
WE ARE STILL HERE
INFINI