BEST OF THE DECADE - 2014-2015

2014

​2014 brought about a string of films that worked to extend the medium of film, testing its boundaries to see where it could take both the filmmaker and the viewers. Examples of such films include Interstellar, with is breathtaking special effects which transported us into space, Boyhood, causing us to question what exactly realist cinema is, and Birdman’s experimentation with cinematography and editing. Marvel continued to crank out super-hero films with Guardians of the Galaxy and Captain America: The Winter Solider. Ben Affleck decided to blur the lines between art and life with his portrayal of Nick Dunne in Gone Girl and moviegoers developed an appetite for dystopian trilogies (The Hunger Games series and the Divergent series).  Want to know what quality cinema came out this year? Check out the list below:

Jocelyn Illing - President

Birdman (Alejandro G. Iñárritu, USA)
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Birdman was one of the first film’s that made me truly pay attention to film form and appreciate every little artistic choice. The cinematography and editing in this movie is insane! Never before had I seen a film that appeared to be shot in almost a single take. On top of its brilliant camerawork, Birdman contains one of the best cinematic ensembles of the decade, bringing together a string of Hollywood powerhouses, including Michael Keaton, Emma Stone and Edward Norton, in a way that showcases their talent rather than their stardom. 

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Elias Stang - Poster Designer

Whiplash (USA)
 
Its got amazing and invigorating music that will stick in your mind for days after listening, as well as an intense and intimidating performance by JK Simmons as an absolute powerhouse of aggression that will keep you in a constant state of angst throughout its run-time. Not to mention a protagonist so dedicated yet completely driven by ego that he will not rest until he becomes the greatest Jazz percussionist in the world, even if it means losing everything and everyone just to say that he won. Need I say more?
 
This will be your tempo.

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Anton  Carpentier - Cinema Politica Coordinator

The Lego Movie (USA)

I love this movie. I know it’s a giant commercial, but filmmakers Phil Lord and Chris Miller do an incredible job with such a constraint. The strength in this film is how powerful its message impacts the viewer, which is being creative as only you yourself can be. Plus, it’s got anti-capitalist undertones which is hilarious in a something that may as well be a commercial.

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Lucia Gonzalez - Cinema Politica Assistant

Güeros (Alonso Ruizpalacios, Mexico)

I LOVE THIS FILM! Definitely one of my favourite movies of all time. It captures the love I have for my beautiful city, among other things. You can actually rent this movie at the TFDL and I 100% encourage y’all to watch it!
(Honorable mention to Relatos Salvajes)

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Jacob Bews - Crash/Cut Editor

Güeros (Alonso Ruizpalacios, Mexico)
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Two brothers wander through Mexico City searching for the singer on a sublime tape (which the audience never hears). They encounter a drug dealer, student protestors, and crash a ritzy ‘fresa’ party. Its insight into growing up, and the role of art and artists, cannot be found elsewhere. Lovely to the core.

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Nicole Betts - Crash/Cut Editor

Kingsman: The Secret Service (Matthew Vaughn, UK)
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Be still my heart, I was not prepared for how much I was going to love this movie. I grew up watching James Bond, so spy movies have always held a special place in my heart, and Kingsman did not disappoint. This movie treats you to the classic spy elements, the cool cars and gadget, but turns it on its head. The main spy isn’t some dashing, well put together man in the beginning. Instead we get a stereotypical chav turned superspy, and it’s bloody brilliant. The quick humour combined with an interesting villain and evil scheme means this movie is a blast and a half to watch. Not to mention, the choreography in the fight scenes is absolutely gorgeous to watch, especially the scene in the church.

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2015

This was the first year that a single studio, Universal Pictures, released three films that each grossed over $1 billion; the first year that a single studio released two films that both grossed over $1.5 billion, and the first year a single studio released two films that both grossed over $1 billion outside of North America. These movies are Jurassic World, Furious 7 and Minions. Minions became the first non-Disney animated film to gross over $1 billion, and it is currently the fourth highest-grossing animated film of all time. 2015 was also the year of the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris, we won the fight for net neutrality, and the world exploded over what colour the dress was. In June, the Supreme Court made a landmark decision when they voted to allow same-sex couples to marry nationwide, while Ireland was the first country in the world to approve same-sex marriage. In July of 2015, we got the clearest picture of Pluto after more than​ 9 years of waiting for the New Horizons craft to reach this distant planet. We also got to see the day that Doc Brown, Marty McFly and Jennifer descended upon, October 21st, 2015… though our time seems to have a lot less hover boards. Star Wars, The Force Awakens was released at the end of 2015, and became the highest grossing film of 2015.

Lucia Gonzalez - Cinema Politica Assistant

The Revenant (Alejandro González Iñarritu, USA)

Fuck Leonardo DiCaprio..

(But Emmanuel Lubezki is a cinematography God)

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Jocelyn Illing - President

Me, Earl and the Dying Girl (Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, USA)
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​As a lover of tear jerkers and teen romance films, Me, Earl and the Dying Girl provided me with everything that The Fault in Our Stars did not: heart, witty humour, realistic teens and Polish actor Klaus Kinski. Like Birdman, Me, Earl and the Dying Girl has personal significance to me for it, through its young filmmaker protagonists, opened by eyes to the art of film making, as well as many must-see classic films. On top of all this, the film depicts the high school experience in a realistic and non-melodramatic way. 

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Jacob Bews - Crash/Cut Editor

Mad Max: Fury Road (George Miller)
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Witness. Gasoline thrills and vehicles welded together to make an orchestra of engines. A cult of toxic masculinity, and its role in disguising class/wealth asymmetry. ‘We are not things.’ Imperator Furiosa, played by Charlize Theron, helps a group of women from a egoistic pseudo-god-king. A mostly silent Tom Hardy helps out. Wonderful. Definitely has a place in the halls of Valhalla.

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Elias Stang - Poster Designer

Inside Out
 
Pixar at this point is capable of personifying anything, infusing their characters with depth beyond imagine, and a tried and true approach to development which flows smoother and more naturally than a river. Nothing exemplifies this better than their 2015 endeavor with Inside Out. A film about feelings having feelings, Inside Out may be Pixar's peak. This film not only provides a beautiful story that will leave your heart full, and of course have you let out a few tears, but also sets itself as a prime example of the ever-developing medium of animation. From the subtle and vibrant fuzzy exterior of each character, the glittery plastic texture of each emotion's hair, to the ever-present glow that radiates off of Joy, there is no shortage of thought and care that went into creating such a visual spectacle. Narratively, Inside Out is one which many of us have felt; the uprooting of one's life at a very impressionable age, childhood as something inherently imperfect, the idea that our emotions will always guide our actions, the feeling of not being 100% in control of your life. It shows us the message that its ok to feel sad, it's ok to feel hurt, that emotions shouldn't be separated or ignored but embraced no matter how many may be felt at one time. Inside Out is powerful because it's true, and is not only one of Pixar's strongest films but one of the greatest animated films of all time.
 
What’s joy without a little sadness?

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Anton Carpentier - Cinema Politica Coordinator

​CREED
 
Following his brilliant first film Fruitvale Station, Ryan Coogler breathed new life into the  Rocky franchise. The film owes dues to the original film of course, but largely tells a new story about underdogs. It’s a love letter to boxing films, the excitement of sport, and the human connections that lead to greatness. An impeccably well-made film that proves that it can trade blows with the classic it follows.

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Nicole Betts - Crash/Cut Editor

The Danish Girl (Tom Hooper, Portugal)
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This movie is beautiful, and while I am a touched biased as I love the 1920s, there is an artistic subplot associated with the central story that beautifully translates onto the rest of the film. It takes on the story of Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener, and while the story isn’t completely accurate in its portrayal, the acting done by Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander is spectacular. This movie is heart breaking and full of hope and love, and despite the criticism for the inaccuracies, does expose a lot of the issues and struggles in the development of understanding what it means to be transgender.

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