2015 Young Critic Awards

Hello Audience,

Well once again we’ve bid farewell to another great year in film. So good that it was very difficult to narrow my list down to a Top 10 from this year. I left out some films I loved this year, but I wanted to narrow down the essentials that made 2015 a great year for movies. The films are listed in alphabetical order. 

 

1. Beasts of No Nation

The Netlfix original had Cary Joji Fukunaga deliver the same dark magic that he employed in True Detective. The film also explores the atrocities of war, and more specifically the loss of childhood through the child soldier employment in Africa.

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2. Brooklyn

One of the most moving pictures of the year; it explored the sense of homesickness through an immigrant story. It fully delves into the definition of what makes one an American. Saoirise Ronan delivers an incredibly heartening performance as the lead character.

 

3. Carol

The 60s lesbian story stars a stellar Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara in one of the most subtle films of the year. Todd Haynes perfectly lowers us into a scandalous story that ends up seemingly normal to us.

 

4. Ex Machina

Alex Garland debuts with an incredibly philosophical film that explores the dangers of technology and what distinguishes a human being from a robot. Alicia Vikander, Domhnaal Gleeson, and Oscar Isaac are dominating in this claustrophobic setting. 

 

5. Inside Out

Pixar’s summer film is their most creative and emotional yet. The use of an 11 year old’s emotions as our main characters helps us delve into what makes us feel, and why. The film essentially plays with your emotions as well, making you fall of laughter, and sniffle of sadness. 

 

6. Mad Max: Fury Road

The revival of the action film has Tom Hardy take on Mel Gibson’s role, but it is really Charlize Theron’s film as Imperator Furiosa. The film simplifies its plot and focuses on amazing stunts. Not only that, but it also carries deeper messages of climate change and feminism. 

 

7. Room

An incredible story of imprisonment and the innocence and curiosity of childhood; the film has great performances from both Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay. Lenny Abrahamson directs with an organic but steady hand, and it delivers a film that has you thinking about our society’s structure.

 

8. Spotlight

A slow cook, but incredibly intriguing. The film delves into the journalistic world as a group of Boston journalists uncover a huge scandal in the Catholic Church. The superb cast and fabulous script make this one of the best journalism films since All the President's Men.

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9. The Big Short

The film takes a look into the 2008 economic meltdown, which is taken with humor by director Adam McKay. It takes on a funky narrative that ends up working extremely well to explain the complicated financial world. The cast is superb with both Hollywood veterans and newcomers sharing the spotlight

 

10. The Martian 

The latest space epic by Ridley Scott is an incredibly well rounded film, with a great leading performance from Matt Damon. The film is infused with a youth and electricity that is surprising for the veteran director. The film itself is a look at the will of a human being to survive. 

 

 

Here’s to another great year in 2016.