Top 10 Movie Predictions for the Upcoming Decade!

As we journey into a brand new decade, we always tend to look back at the decade that was and reflect.  We make our Top Ten Lists - giving you our favorite movies, characters, moments, etc.  They are always challenging, therapeutic, but mostly a blast to put together!  

So, as I was in the process of making one of these type of lists, an idea came to my mind that excited me.  Instead of us looking back at the decade that was, how about we look forward and predict where the next decade will take us!  The possibilities are truly limitless! 

As I put this list together, please keep a few things in mind.  Some of these things I truly do hope will happen in the upcoming years. So, some will come across as me being a fanboy.  Other things on the list, are the direction I see Hollywood would go for stories.  No time frame will be given, as ten years is a very long time and will be hard to point to exactly where things will fall. So without further ado, here are my predictions of the 10 Movie related things we will see things next decade!

Honorable Mentions:

Tom Brady Biopic

Blu-Rays will become this decades DVDs

 

Disney buys back all the Marvel properties

A24 makes a blockbuster horror film

 Almost Sideways get quoted from a review

10.

The MCU will have a Rotten Movie

At the time of writing this, the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) is 23 films in and still going strong.  With a full slate of films on the horizon there aren't any signs of slowing down.  With their upcoming slate featuring such films as Black Widow, Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder, and Black Panther 2, just to name a few.  Being owned by Disney will also add a significant amount of resources at their disposal.  

With each release fans will continue to flock to the theater to watch these epic films.  Being a fan of this universe and the comics, it's hard not to have a great time with each release.  Marvel is showing that they want to take more risk with their films, by introducing the multiverse and more cosmic stories as well.

Being 23 films in, the MCU still has a spotless record based on the tomatometer on Rotten Tomatoes!

23 films in, every film but 2 (Thor: The Dark World, The Incredible Hulk) are certified fresh by critics on Rotten Tomatoes.  So the prediction is that the good luck that the MCU is having will run out and they will be given their first rotten film!  The film will still cross the billion dollar mark but it won't be a spotless record anymore.  

9.

Music Biopic Shared Universe?

This one, I'll admit this might be a bit of a stretch and mostly something I would love to see.  The Shared Universe is something that is becoming more and more of a common occurrence at this point.  With the MCU leading the way, followed by the likes of DCEU. The Dark Universe, and MonsterVerse. 

For this idea to actually work they would have to get a lot of people on board and come up with a solid game plan.  We don't have to go too far to see that this idea could very well become a reality.  In 2017, the Tupac biopic, All Eyez on Me, released with an actor who had previously played a rapper in a different film.  Jamal Woolard was cast to reprise his role from Notorious (2009) playing The Notorious B.I.G..  As an audience member, it was so awesome to see someone play the same iconic rapper in both films!  

I do have some ideas of bands and rappers I would love to see have this connected universe:

Nirvana vs Pearl Jam, John Lennon w/ The Beatles vs Bob Dylan, Van Halen, Guns and Roses, Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne/Black Sabbath, Flavor Flav/Public Enemy, The Wu-Tang Klan and many more.  Heck, make a biopic about Madonna and have Taron Egerton play Elton John again!

8.

Netflix wins Best Picture

Now this one might happen sooner rather than later! As the 2019 Oscar race heats up - Netflix has two films that are bidding for the Best Picture Oscar (The Irishman, Marriage Story) against the likes of Parasite, 1917, Bombshell and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood!  I can totally see either of the Netflix movies going home happy on Oscar night, however my personal pick is Parasite to win.

Netflix, for a long time was the only streaming service around, but recently many more companies have been craving a piece of that streaming pie! With the rise of Amazon and the new addition of Disney+, streaming has become a more prominent form to digest our entertainment.  Sometimes being the first to the party means that your last for the recognition.  If Netflix doesn't win this year, I think in the next few years they will eventually earn their Oscar.

As of now, Netflix's biggest Oscar wins so far are for - Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Foreign Film for Roma (2018) and Best Documentary for Icarus (2018).  

7.

Jon Favreau takes over Star Wars

With the Skywalker saga finally wrapping up, I find it highly unlikely that Kathleen Kennedy renews her contract with Disney to stay on board as overseer of the Star Wars I.P.  Back when Disney acquired the rights to Star Wars, fans were overjoyed for the possibility for more journeys to a galaxy far far away!  In the years since that feeling has been a sour taste in many fan's mouths.  The fanbase has become a toxic one that even for myself has felt like an inescapable Sarlac pit.  Kathleen Kennedy, has been at the forefront of a lot of the fan backlash.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens, even though being a carbon copy of A New Hope, made critics and fans alike celebrate!  But every release since received more and more backlash from fans.  If it was stories we didn't want to see (Solo: A Star Wars Story), a film that truly divided fans (The Last Jedi), a character that is compared to being a Mary Sue (Rey), and a complete course correction (Rise of Skywalker) - these things broke the fan base.  Also with every film, there have been directors that have been fired or let go (Lord and Miller, Colin Trevorrow) for creative differences by Kathleen Kennedy.  But for me the biggest thing that was wrong with how things were run was that there wasn't a guideline that they stuck to while making these films!  Problems like that come from management and unforgettably that is Kathleen Kennedy!

The one bright spot for Star Wars has been on Disney+, The Mandalorian.  By far the best thing that Disney has done with the Star Wars I.P., created by Jon Favreau.  He would be perfect for the role as the head of Star Wars for Disney.  He has the experience with the property and knows how to tell stories that has a lot of moving parts (Marvel).  He's already familiar with the Disney higher-ups, as well.  If he, and Dave Filoni (head of Lucasfilm Animation) as his number two take over Star Wars, I truly feel it would be in good hands and fans would be happy too!

6.

First Time Oscar Winners! 

There are so many amazing actors and actresses, that I feel will finally win an Oscar sometime this next decade!  Each actor that I will mention has given me some of my favorite performances of the past decade.  So with that complete bias, I truly hope they continue doing amazing work and get rewarded for it as well!  I'll mention the actors and actresses below along with some of the roles I loved from the last decade!

Adam Driver - Marriage Story, Paterson, Star Wars, Blackkklansman, Silence

Amy Adams - Arrival, Nocturnal Animals,

Ben Foster - Leave No Trace, Hell or High Water

Daniel Kaluuya - Get Out, Widows, Black Panther, Queen and Slim

Emily Blunt - A Quiet Place, Sicario, Edge of Tomorrow

Florence Pugh - Fighting with my Family, Little Women, Midsommar 

Jake Gyllenhaal - Nightcrawler, Prisoners, Enemy, 

Ryan Gosling - Blade Runner 2049, Drive, Blue Valentine, La La Land

The list is endless!

5.

Daniel Day Lewis returns

While we are on the topic of Oscar winners, let's talk about one of our favorites!  Daniel Day-Lewis has gone on the record saying that he's retiring from acting,  Making his final film, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, Phantom Thread (2017). 

He's a man who's is totally devoted to his craft and perfecting every role he takes!   I can understand why he might want to walk away.  However, I refuse to think that we have seen the last of this great performer!  Just like another one of my favorite actors, Joe Pesci, the right role could bring him out of retirement!  The only question now is what role would he make his comeback with. In my dream world, Quentin Tarantino would write some crazy role that he couldn't refuse!  I can dream, right?

4.

A Great Video Game Movie?!?

The video game medium has been around for a very long time and has brought some amazing characters and stories.  Very recently, I've been getting back into playing games.  There are so many great ones now, I'm truly having a hard time catching up on all the ones I want to play!  

The beautiful thing about games compared to movies, is that you have longer with the characters and story.  Movies average roughly 2 hrs, where as a game could last 10-20 hrs or more depending on the type of game you play.  Also, you get to control the character and have a longer time with them as well.

However, video games haven't translated to films as well as one might think.  We have seen some video game franchises try to make the jump to the big screen (Tomb Raider, Resident Evil, Super Mario Bros, Mortal Kombat) but were a shell of the greatness they once were.  

This next decade will see a brand new generation of video game consoles (PS5 and XBOX 2) release in 2020!  Also, with some amazing story driven games the time might finally be here for a great video game movie!  We could have an epic war invasion film (Gears of War), battle giant dinosaur robots (Horizon Zero Dawn), reboot horror classics (Resident Evil, Doom, Silent Hill), search for a lost treasure (Uncharted), or battle alongside the Chief (Halo).  But if we are being honest the correct video game to make into a GREAT film is Metal Gear Solid!

3.

Female Best Directors!

One of the hot topics of this last decade was put in place with a simple hashtag: #oscarsowhite. Now, I'm fully aware that while the Oscars are by no means perfect in who gets nominated, at least things are moving in better direction.  More people of color are being nominated each year!  Progress is progress and more is always needed!  One big thing I would like to see happen is more female directors get the recognition they deserve.

The last few years we have seen some amazing films from the likes of Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman), Lulu Wang (The Farewell), Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird, Little Women), Ava DuVernay (Selma), Debra Granik (Leave No Trace), and Chloe Zhao (The Rider), just to name a few!  Each visionary brings unique perspective that I appreciate. These women weave together their narratives with such ease.  I hope that these women inspire more women to become future directors!  I believe that more women in this decade will be nominated and we will at least see two women take home the Best Director Oscar!  I can't wait to experience their films!

2.

Films surrounding the 2016 Presidential Election

One of the biggest and arguably most divisive things of the last decade was the Presidential Election.  Regardless of your views of the man in the oval office, it was an important moment in our country's history.  I can totally see a film about Donald Trump being made similar to the ones about George W. Bush.

Trump is a very controversial individual and could have lots of subject matter that would lend itself to the big screen.  However, I would be more interested if the film follows either a member of the press, or someone on the Trump advisory staff.  Having it from a different perspective could be an Ides of March situation but with more intrigue.  

Whatever your political views may be,  there's always an audience for political films.  Based off the box office numbers from 2017's Vice, which grossed 47.8 million, I could see this subject grossing more in the right person's hands.  Of course, seeing that most of Hollywood does disagree with Trump's views, there is a chance that his supporters might not like the way the film turns out.  I have some strange feeling that Oliver Stone would make this type of film at some point!

1.

Harvey Weinstein Exposure

I know, I was saving the controversial films for the end of this list!  The #MeToo movement has been one of the most important talking points from the last few years.  The Me Too founder, Tarana Burke, first coined the hashtag back in 2006. However, it first gained traction in 2017.  In late 2017, the New York times exposed the long-rumored accusations of sexual-harassment and assault by Hollywood producer, Harvey Weinstein.

The film could be a mix of Spotlight (2015) and the recent release, Bombshell (2019).  It's clearly a film that Hollywood would make.  The subject matter is important, not just for the people involved with heinous acts, but to the thousands of people who have yet to speak up.  Also, clearly a topic of conversation that won't be going away anytime soon.

For Weinstein, the only person I can truly see playing him is, John Goodman.  I feel like he could deliver something good with the role. However, his performance shouldn't be celebrated.  Just like John Lithgow playing Roger Ailes in Bombshell.  A film like this would be the perfect opportunity to have a female director at the helm, with a possibility of the Best Director nomination and win (like we talked about previously).  

Well that's my list of predictions for this upcoming decade!  It will be fun to look back in ten years and see what I got right and what I got wrong!  What do you think will happen in the next decade?  Let us know down below!  

Adam Daly of Almost Sideways!

Power Rankings: Top 10 Space Movies

Space: the final frontier. It's a place full of wonder, adventure, and, of course, terror.  They say no one can hear you scream in space, but I bet that with this week's Top Ten, some wish they could've been heard.

With the upcoming release of Star Trek Beyond, I have decided to count down the top ten space movies.  As with every top ten list, some will just barely miss making the cut, and I am bound to leave some off.  You will find that on my list there will be a good variety of genres represented.  So, without further ado - "Honorable Mention" and "what I haven't seen yet time"!

What I need to see (like now): 2001: A Space Odyssey, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Sunshine, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

Honorable Mentions: Serenity, The Right Stuff, Titan A.E., Total Recall (1990), Spaceballs, Pitch Black, Starship Troopers, Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, Star Trek (2009)

10. Guardians of the Galaxy  (James Gunn)

When this movie was first announced, I was very skeptical about whether it would be good or not, and I was totally unfamiliar of the source material.  I thought that Marvel was finally going to fail, because no movie with a talking raccoon or a tree could be good.  When I saw, however I quickly ate my words.  Guardians of the Galaxy was a pleasant surprise and actually made my Number #7 film of 2014.  This film made Chris Pratt a super star.  Pratt leads an amazing cast with the likes of  Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Glen Close, John C. Rielly and Benicio Del Toro.  It also has a killer soundtrack, that reminds me of something Tarantino might use for one of his films (Pulp Fiction).  James Gunn (Super), proved that he can direct on a much bigger scale but still stay in the Marvel Cinematic Universe space.  He made this film fun and entertaining to say the least.

9. The Martian (Ridley Scott) 

Ridley Scott - who we might see again on this list - directed one of the biggest film surprises of 2015 for me.  From the first trailers that came out,  it seemed bland, and my initial reaction was  unimpressed.  I thought they showed us to much in the trailers.  I was wrong.  The film was funny and entertaining, while still giving us a story we can get behind and cheer for.  Matt Damon gives one of his best performances since Good Will Hunting.  Damon leads an all-star cast, with the likes of  Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wigg, Sean Bean, Jeff Daniels, Kate Mara, Michael Pena, and Chiwetel Ejiofor.  I was happy that Damon and Scott were both nominated for their respected categories at this years Oscars.  It's a beautifully shot film, and it  revitalized Ridley Scott's career.  I'm looking forward to watching this again, sooner rather than later.

8.  Gravity (Alfonso Cuaron)

Gravity isn't a film - it's an experience.  This film doesn't rely on star power, though it does star  Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, and Ed Harris.  The driving force of this film is the amazing special effects, which will blow you away.  They will make your heart palpitate as you try to catch your breathe at each close call that happen to Bullock.  Other than the effects, the other star is the director Cuaron.  He directed an amazing film with a lot of moving parts.  Gravity took home a total seven Oscars (Directing, Cinematography, Film Editing, Score, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Visual Effects)

7. Wall-E (Andrew Stanton)

 One of the best Pixar films to date.  Wall-E is about a curious little waste collector droid who inadvertently embarks on a journey into space, one that will ultimately decide the fate of  mankind.  It seems like every time Pixar makes a film, it's gold.  Wall-E might not say much -and he doesn't have to. Pixar does such a good job making us feel what he is feeling through his expressions and mannerisms.  The animation is so crisp and fantastic, and supporting a wonderful color pallet.  The Academy also loved this film too, nominating it six times (Animated Feature, Original Screenplay, Original Score, Original Song, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing).  It picked up the win for Best Animated Feature.

6. Alien (Ridley Scott)

Ridley Scott once again makes my list, this time with a totally different type of film.  Alien, isn't only a great space film, it is a great horror film.  I still remember my first viewing - being scared and on edge.  The first time you see the xenomorph, I jumped out of my seat.  Along with the chills, we were given one of the greatest movie heroines of all-time, Ellen Ripley.  With her portrayal of Ripley, Siqourney Weaver cemented herself as one of the greatest action stars as well, especially after her second time around with the character.  It won one Oscar (Visual Effects) and was nominated for another (Art Direction) as well.  Still one of the greatest tag lines for any movies, "In space no one can hear you scream".

5. Star Wars: A New Hope (George Lucas)

George Lucas: the creator of the greatest movie universe of all-time.  Where would we all be without Star Wars?  Say what you will about him now - the man is a genius.  He gave us some of the best characters, worlds, and experiences we will all remember.  A New Hope introduced us to the timeless characters of Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, R2-D2, and C3PO.  The stamp that these characters have left on our society will forever be ingrained in our minds.  I know my child hood was formed by hokey religions, ancient weapons, a smuggler, a walking carpet, two droids, and the menacing golden lungs of the greatest Sith we all know.

4. Moon (Duncan Jones)

Sam Rockwell stars as astronaut Sam Bell, who is working on a lunar base by himself for three years.  What a trippy film that will make you think, 'what is real, and what is in my head'.  Rockwell is such an underrated actor and it's great to seem him carry a film and deliver it with flawless execution.  Kevin Spacey, on the other hand gives us one of the best voice-over performances in recent memory, maybe behind Scarlett Johansson (Her).  Duncan Jones delivers a great film, one you must check out.

3. Aliens (James Cameron)

This times it's war!  The Alien franchise makes another appearance on this 'best of' list', and it's very deserving.  Just like what he did for T2: Judgement Day, James Cameron, took a great movie and made it better.  He didn't just improve the action but made more compelling characters in the process.  Sigourney Weaver, reprises her role as Ripley, as well as enshrine her name as the most bad-ass female character ever.  She doesn't need the boys to save her - the boys need her!  Michael Biehn and Bill Paxton, also join this universe and try their hardest to take down some xenomorphs as well.

2. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (Irvin Kershner)

Like the previous film on this list, who said sequels can't bet better than the original?  Well, The Empire Strikes Back, is a far superior film than A New Hope.  It has a darker and more powerful tone, but is still grounded in the universe that George Lucas has created.  Growing up, this was my least favorite film in the original series - but what did I know, right?  As I grew, I began to appreciate it as more than just a Star Wars film, but as a work of cinema gold.  Empire is one of my favorite films of all time.  All of our favorite characters are back (Luke, Leia, Han) and we are introduced to some new ones as well (Boba Fett, Lando, Yoda).  Let's not forget to mention, Darth Vader - an iconic villain that strikes fear even in us scruffy-looking nerf herders.    

1. Apollo 13 (Ron Howard)

It's quite fitting that my number one space film would be based on an actual event.  Apollo 13, tells the daring story of how NASA was able to get the Apollo 13 space shuttle back to Earth safely.  This film is a triumph of the human spirit and the "never give up" attitude we should always have.  It's beautifully directed by Ron Howard and has some of the best performances you will see by a cast: Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Ed Harris, and Gary Sinise.  This film received a lot of Academy love too, winning two Oscars (Best Sound, Best Editing) and nominated for seven others (Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Ed Harris) , Best Supporting Actress (Kathleen Quinlan), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Art Direction, Best Visual Effects, Best Original Score).  Apollo 13 is one of Almost Sideways' favorite films, and we highly recommend it to you!

Well that's my list!  What's your favorite space film?  Comment below and let me know! 

Thanks again for reading!

Adam      

  

Year in Review: Terry's Top Ten Films of 2015

It's been a long time coming, but I have finally seen enough films to feel confident enough to write my top ten list of last year.  I try to make it a rule that I don't finalize my top ten list of the year until I have at least seen all the Best Picture nominees.  With my busy schedule, it usually takes until around now for that to happen.  As I think I say every year, it is better late than never.

To date, I have watched 28 films from 2015.  I realize probably all of my counterparts have seen that many, if not more, already in 2016 (my 2016 total right now is 3), however I have seen enough quality throughout the 2015 canon that I have no problem proclaiming my top ten of the year.  Here we go!

Honorable Mention

Southpaw

(dir. by Antoine Fuqua)

The Good Dinosaur

(dir. by Peter Sohn)

The Big Short

(dir. by Adam McKay)

10.  Beasts of No Nation

(dir. by Cary Joji Fukunaga)

Many people complained this year about racial bias in the Academy voting.  I think that is an unfair assessment and evaluation of the situation.  Yes, there were no African-Americans nominated in a major category this year.  However, the issue wasn't racial bias but a bias against streaming services.  The best chances African-Americans had at getting nominated was in Beasts of No Nation, a beautifully tragic film about the abduction, recruitment, brainwashing, and training of child soldiers in third world countries.  The film's star, Abraham Attah, deserved a nomination similar to Quvenzhane Wallis is 2012.  Idris Elba looked destined for his first nomination and an outside chance at winning.  At the very least, it would get the attention of the tech categories for the beautiful work of Fukunaga and his crew, showing that the first season of True Detective was a sign of the greatness to come from this young filmmaker.  However, it got no recognition.  Why?  It wasn't because of the all black cast.  It was because it was released on Netflix.  It received enough of a theatrical run to qualify for awards season, but everyone could see the film streaming online as soon as it was released.  Maybe this meant none of the important people saw it.  Maybe it meant all the moneymakers in Hollywood refused to vote for a film that refused to bring in a box office income.  Either way, Beasts of No Nation didn't get the credit it so much deserved.  Go find it on Netflix now if you haven't seen it.  It will break your heart.

9.  Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens

(dir. by JJ Abrams)

Now to shift gears in the furthest direction possible from the last film, here's Star Wars, the biggest box office darling of 2015.  There is a reason it made so much money though.  It was that good.  It was a film that brought the franchise back down to earth ... or whatever planet they happened to be on.  George Lucas ruined the prequels with overuse of the digital.  JJ Abrams made it all look real again.  Sure, there are way too many parallels between this and A New Hope to ignore, however it doesn't change the fact that it was possibly the most entertaining theatrical experience of the year.

8.  Room

(dir. by Lenny Abrahamson)

This was the last film I required myself to watch before I made my list, and I am so glad I did.  This film is very similar to 2011's Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close as it explains a horrific experience and ordeal through the eyes of a child.  However, where Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close resorted to mental illness and puzzles to connect with the audience, Room stayed much more down to earth as we see possibly the most honest and genuine performance of the year, and I am not talking about Oscar-winner Brie Larson.  Jacob Tremblay's performance in this should go down as one of the greatest child performances of all time.  His unique perspective on life and the world is shown in every moment he, or his voice, is on screen.  Somehow, this heartbreaking story of abduction and captivity is made heartfelt and inspiring through both Larson's and Tremblay's performances.

7.  The Revenant

(dir. by Alejandro G. Inarritu)

He did it again.  Who, you might ask?  There are several perfectly acceptable answers to this question.  Let's start with director Alejandro G. Inarritu.  Just one year earlier, Inarritu took home Oscars for Best Director and Picture for his groundbreaking film Birdman.  Now, he goes in a completely opposite direction and tells this story of struggle and survival in the wilderness.  His keen eye for beautiful filmmaking and setting in this might be rivaled only by Ang Lee in today's Hollywood.  Now, the other very acceptable answer to my original question is, of course, Leonardo DiCaprio.  Although he may have finally been recognized by the Academy with his first Oscar for this film, he once again proves that he might go down as one of the greatest actors of all time.  He has such a natural ability to disappear into any role he plays, and not in a campy, makeup way like Johnny Depp.  Leo just simply is whoever he needs to be.  Whether it be as the "King of the World" in Titanic, a con-artist kid in Catch Me If You Can, an eccentric entrepreneur in The Aviator, an undercover cop in The Departed, a plantation owner in Django Unchained, a crooked stock broker in The Wolf of Wall Street, or a man mauled by a bear determined to survive and live in The Revenant, Leonardo DiCaprio delivers the most believable performances in any film he makes.  He is simply the best of his generation, and it is about time the Academy honored him as such.

6.  Ex Machina

(dir. by Alex Garland)

This was definitely the biggest surprise of the year.  This brilliant film by Alex Garland, who had written several screenplays but was making his directorial debut here, explored the world of true artificial intelligence.  Appearing yet again on this list, Oscar Isaac (Star Wars) and Domhnall Gleeson (Star Wars, The Revenant) star as the mad scientist and his guinea pig.  Alicia Vikander plays a robot that is very hard to recognize as such because she acts, thinks, reacts, and speaks just like a human.  It is an endlessly fascinating film that gets in your head and doesn't go away for awhile.  If you haven't seen it, do whatever you can to change that.

5.  The Hateful Eight

(dir. by Quentin Tarantino)

Why did I every doubt the master?  When I heard the plot and even saw the trailer for The Hateful Eight, it felt like a film that was bound to disappoint.  Quentin Tarantino makes films like no one else has ever even thought of.  However, a second consecutive film about a bounty hunter; this time stuck in a room for two hours with a bunch of other people?  Really?  I was skeptical to say the least.  Then I saw it and hated myself for ever thinking Tarantino could produce anything but a masterpiece.  This film's closest relative is definitely Reservoir Dogs, Tarantino's first film.  However, he also does things Tarantino has never done before.  He takes the time for long, landscape shots.  A filmmaker obsessed with dialogue let this film breathe almost more than any other film he has made.  I have said before that Quentin Tarantino has created his own genre.  The Hateful Eight shows that he is still the king of that genre he created.

4.  Brooklyn

(dir. by John Crowley)

Brooklyn is a beautiful story of love, loss, and self-discovery.  It is like a 20th century Jane Austen tale.  Saoirse Ronan is absolutely brilliant as a young Irish girl leaving everything she knows to find a new and better life for herself in America.  You know it is a good film when you are sad it ends because you want to live in these characters' lives a little longer.  I loved every minute of it.  On a side note, let's recognize the amazing year Domhnall Gleeson put together.  This is his fourth appearance in my top ten.  Few actors find enough work to put out four movies in a year.  Not only did Gleeson accomplish that, but all four films are among the very best of 2015.  Well done!

3.  The Martian

(dir. by Ridley Scott)

I have very high standards for movies in outer space, especially realistic ones.  Apollo 13 has scarred me for life.  With that said, The Martian is the closest thing to the greatness of Apollo 13 I have seen.  Matt Damon plays an astronaut left for dead on the Martian surface.  To everyone's surprise, including his own, he is still alive and must survive on Mars until someone can come get him.  Everyone made fun of the fact that this was categorized as a comedy at the Golden Globes.  Although I wouldn't classify it as such, it is quite funny.  Matt Damon and others are able to keep this potentially tragic survival story light and humorous throughout.  I normally am not a huge fan of Ridley Scott, but he really produced a masterpiece with this one.

2.  Spotlight

(dir. by Tom McCarthy)

The surprise winner of Best Picture deserved every accolade it received.  I have been a fan of Tom McCarthy's work for some time.  His unique way of telling stories in films like The Station Agent, The Visitor, and Win Win is always heartfelt and approachable, not matter the topic.  I even liked The Cobbler much more than I should have!  Now we find McCarthy's masterpiece.  Spotlight tells the true story of the investigation done by the Boston Globe surrounding child abuse and molestation in the Catholic church.  It is a heavy and depressing topic that could easily be preachy.  However, the film takes a very different approach.  It simply tells the story from the point of view of the reporters.  At no point do we "see" anything because the reporters didn't see anything.  Every character is a real person as the performances are some of the most understated and brilliant you will see on screen.  This is led by Liev Schreiber, an outsider new to the area that brings a fresh set of eyes to a topic many seemed to turn a blind eye to in the close-knit community of Boston.  It is a quiet, real, yet intense movie you cannot take your eyes off of.  Movies don't get much better than this.

1.  Inside Out

(dir. by Pete Docter & Ronnie Del Carmen)

Pixar is king when it comes to animated films.  They simply operate on a different level than every other animated studio.  Their secondary film this year made my honorable mention!  However, every now and then, they make a film that is truly a masterpiece regardless of whether it is animated or live action.  Inside Out is one of those films.  It is fun and entertaining for the kids, yet it has a message that is profound and genuine.  This film takes you inside the head of a young girl where her five key emotions (Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust, and Sadness) control her actions and attitude.  The intricate world that is built to represent her mind is a genius way to describe how our brains work.  As chaos enters the young girl's life, chaos erupts in the brain's control room as Joy must try and fix what has been broken.  Being someone who works with kids often, I had such a deeper appreciation for the immense thought and care that was put into such a story that really explores the psyche of a pre-teen better than any film I have ever seen.  When Pixar makes films like this and WALL-E, they are not only making a fun kid's film.  They are making a cinematic masterpiece that will stand the test of time.

So there's my list.  What do you think?  Check our page later this week to see what films made our site's top 5 films of 2015.

Star Wars: The Top 10 Moments

As a five year old boy, I would never imagine how much of an impact a simple gift would be.  As I raced off the school bus and ran home to celebrate my birthday, my only thought was what cool toy I would receive.  What I received that day was the original 3 Star Wars films on VHS.  I watched them right after another.  I was hooked.  
Since that day, I started collecting the action figures, trading cards, and books.  With my action figures, I reenacted the films, as well as made some new stories of my own.  

Now, 26 years old, I still have the same excitement as that five year old boy for Star Wars.  Instead of 3 films there are now 6.  I will always cherish A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and The Return of the Jedi.  Even though I was excited for a new trilogy, I'm not the biggest fan of them.  The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith are still entertaining films and are apart of the Star Wars experience.  

Being a month away from The Force Awakens, I figured to do my Top Ten Star Wars moments.  I found that this list was a lot harder then I thought. My criteria however is that I have to use at least one scene/moment from each movie.  So lets let the force guide us.

Here are some Honorable mentions:

                                 The Phantom Menace: 

Podracer race

   Attack of the Clones:

Obi-Wan vs Jango Fett

Revenge of the Sith:

Order 66

A New Hope:

Obi-Wan vs Darth Vader

The Empire Strikes Back:

Asteroid Field Flight

Return of the Jedi:

Speeder Bike Chase

10.

Attack of the Clones

Battle of Geonosis 

Well we start of our list with the fifth film and second in the prequel trilogy.  This battle finally shows us all the Jedi in action at once.  This also shows us the beginning of the clone wars too.

9.

Revenge of the Sith

Obi-Wan vs Anakin Skywalker

 

The battle that the prequels were leading us up to the whole time.  We finally get to see how Darth Vader becomes more machine than man.

8.

The Phantom Menace

Duel of Fates

This fight was incredible.  Such a fast paced fight that keeps you on your toes.  Darth Maul is awesome.  

7.

A New Hope

Blowing Up Alderan

When I was a kid, I was amazed that the Empire could blow up an entire planet.  It shows you that the Empire will do whatever it takes to get what they want.

6.

The Empire Strikes Back

The Battle of Hoth

The Empire Strikes Back was my least favorite film of the franchise when I was a kid.  As a began to get older I realized how amazing this film is.  This battle is really hectic.

5.

The Return of the Jedi

Battle over Endor

This has to be one of the greatest space battles of all time.  I get chills every time I see the Falcon shoot out of the explosion of the Death Star.  So cool.

4.

The Return of the Jedi

Luke vs. Darth Vader: The Rematch

The fight that ended it all.  The fastest fight of the classic trilogy.  It makes it all the better because the Emperor is watching and tempting Luke.

3.

The Empire Strikes Back

Han Solo's Fate 

The power of the Empire clearly shows in the second installment of the classic trilogy.  Han Solo being frozen in carbonite, left us all wondering what would happen next to the best character in the franchise.

2.

A New Hope

The Opening

The very first shot we get of the Empire.  What a way to start of the film.  That star destroyer seemed like it would go on for ever.

1.

The Empire Strikes Back

No, I am you *Spoiler!

This was a given right??  I mean how couldn't it right??  The greatest plot twist ever!!!

So, that's my list!  What are your favorite moments in the Star Wars universe?  

One More Month!!!!

Adam