THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE VERY, VERY BAD | FILM ROUND UP 2015
Joe Richards reminisces over the highs and lows of 2015’s cinematic releases, from Studio Ghibli to Star Wars, and Pixar to Pixels.
2015 has been a fantastic year for film. We’ve had the good, the not so good and the completely awful, with enough variety across the generic spectrum to prove that if you think modern day cinema is all about superheroes, then you aren’t looking hard enough.
This was the year that the blockbuster began to shift away from capes and spandex, as George Miller’s long-gestating Mad Max: Fury Road proved that audiences were ready for something different. Miller’s bonkers sequel to his original dystopian trilogy is easily one of this year’s most memorable movies, in that its visuals and ambition are unlike anything else we’ve seen in 2015.
One of the biggest highlights of the year has to be The Martian. With Ridley Scott on top form, a likeable performance from Matt Damon and an air tight script from Drew Goddard, this thrilling piece of sci-fi is a top contender for film of the year.
Away from big blockbusters, there have been a considerable number of documentaries and art house pictures that have impressed. The Look of Silence, Joshua Oppenheimer’s shocking companion piece The Act of Killing, is an unforgettable experience. Asif Kapadia’s Amy – which looks at the life and death of troubled singer Amy Winehouse, and Louise Osmond’s Dark Horse – which tells the uplifting ‘nags to riches’ story of a horse racing syndicate from the valleys – are essential viewing too.
Other filmic highlights include Whiplash; excellent performances with an edge of your seat drum solo, and White God; brutal, beautiful, but dog lovers beware.
What’s been particularly great to see this year however, is the revival of excellent animation that proves just as enjoyable for adults as it does children. Towards the beginning of the year we had Studio Ghibli’s The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, an eye-widening piece of work that broke the heart and made the jaw drop. The same can be said for Tomm Moore’s Song of The Sea, an Irish folktale that is as good for the soul as it is the eye.
Arguably, it’s Pixar’s Inside Out that has been the biggest animated joy of the year. In typical fashion from the studio, the visuals are colourful, the idea is inspired and it has a big heart at the centre of it. It made me laugh and it made me cry buckets.
Of course, it’s not all been good and this year has seen some stinkers grace the cinema screen. The first which springs to mind is Pixels, which didn’t live up to the potential of its concept. What could have been Wreck It Ralph-meets-Ghostbusters ended up with bad jokes, poor performances and dodgy representations of its female characters – some of which are literally ‘trophy wives’.
Adam Sandler and his mates are a big part of the film’s awfulness, and, unfortunately, it didn’t end there. We had the Kevin James film Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, which was one of the most painful cinematic experiences of 2015, and more recently Hotel Transylvania 2, which is horrific in all the wrong ways.
Shout outs also go to Seventh Son; which looked like a lot of fun rubbish, but ended up just being rubbish, The Visit; great premise that was ruined by crap humour, literally, and Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension; more of the same thing, but this time in practically pitch black 3D.
However, on the whole, 2015 has been another spectacular year for film. Amongst all the original films, we’ve had Bond back on the big screen, we’ve said goodbye to Katniss Everdeen, and Star Wars has returned in a very big way. Roll on 2016.
All available on DVD via www.amazon.co.uk