Victor Stiff’s Top Ten Films of 2015

• Five: The Martian

Ridley Scott’s sci-fi masterpiece, The Martian, is a bold declaration that the genius behind the classics Alien and Blade Runner still isn’t finished with the genre. This gem of a film is spectacular at every level: it’s gorgeously shot (worth the extra money for 3-D), packed with fantastic performances (Damon, Ejiofor, Chastain, Daniels), and boasts gripping drama that will literally have viewers on the edge of their seats. The Martian shows us that the most important aspects of sci-fi are not always robots, aliens, and ray guns; when done right, touching moments derived from relatable human emotions are all that is needed.

• Four: MAD MAX: Fury Road

If this world were fair, the title of this film would read, Mad Max: The Rise of Furiosa. Charlize Theron rolls through the film exuding more O.G. than the cast of Straight Outta Compton. On top of crowning a woman as one of the baddest mofos around, the film is a marvel of unmitigated spectacle. Compared to Mad Max, the Transformers, and Furious series have the artistry of kids yanking cars out of a toybox and smashing them together. Fury Road is blockbuster action done right. Director George Miller packs his movie with well-choreographed and beautifully executed set-pieces. Miller applies such complete mastery over the visual spectrum that Mad Max: Fury Road is its own form of art, a hybrid of Jackson Pollock and Cirque du Soleil projected up on the silver screen.

• Three: The Hateful Eight

The Hateful Eight is the most difficult film to place on my list. Sometimes a great film experience is separate from a great film. The Hateful Eight passed through my city featuring a “road show experience.” The road show throws the movie up onscreen in the much-vaunted 70mm format and runs a few additional minutes. I love Tarantino movies and I’m not yet 24 hours removed from watching The Hateful Eight for the first time, so my decision making may not come from the most objective place right now. A week from now the film may slip down to number 5 or perch it itself atop my list. Right now 3 is a safe bet. Despite a slight bias from my current Tarantino buzz, the film still features memorable characters, an atmospheric setting, and all of the stylized dialogue and brutality that I’ve come to appreciate from the genre loving auteur. Number 3 it is…..for now.

• Two: What We Do in the Shadows

I don’t often watch movies twice, but when I do I rarely choose comedies. An action movie’s quick pace means it’s easy to miss something, the films often warrant second looks. Comedy is a different animal. Jokes rarely land as effectively the second time they’re experienced. Yet, I couldn’t help but watch What We Do in the Shadows over and over. I find the film funnier with each viewing. The movie offers a fresh take on the well-worn vampire genre, and despite being a comedy, it happens to be one of my all-time favorite additions to vampire fiction. What We Do in the Shadows is an easy watch featuring unforgettable characters and infinitely quotable lines. If you fall under the umbrella of enjoying vampires while  also happening to be someone that likes laughing, check this flick out.

• One: Creed

Ryan Coogler’s masterful follow-up to Fruitvale Station converted me into an unconditional lifetime fan. Real Talk – Coogler’s next picture could be an origin story about that robot Paulie owned in Rocky IV, and I’ll still be all in. Rocky isn’t just one of the greatest sports movies ever made, it’s one of the great American films: period. By creating a follow-up worthy of the original, Coogler pulled off a small miracle. Creed features an insanely tight script, visual flair, and strong performances evoking some well-earned tear jerking moments. I just want to watch this movie again and again. Creed is a shining example of a follow up that hits all the familiar beats from the original while still remixing it in a way that feels fresh. 6-months ago, had someone said to me I would prefer the new Rocky movie to the next Star Wars installment, I would have called them crazy: that’s the beauty of cinema.

Honourable mention to:

Bone Tomahawk, It Follows, Mistress American, Inside Out, Where to Invade Next, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Call Me Lucky.