2015 In Review

If I left a film off my list it is not necessarily a slight against it. Full disclosure I have not seen all the films hyped for awards this year. I am a film studies major thus I spend an inordinate amount of time screening and studying films that were not produced this year.

Top 10

1.       Mad Max: Fury Road – A brilliant example of visual storytelling. A film that didn’t need nor use excessive exposition.

2.       The Hateful Eight (70mm Road Show) - As opposed to Mad Max a film that flourished because of how literary it was. In a year of sequels and reboots Tarantino pays homage to the epic westerns of yesteryear.

3.       The Martian – Mat Damon portrays the action hero whose weapon is science. The best episode of MacGyver ever produced!

4.       Ex Machina - In a year where a space opera ruled the box office let’s not forget some of the great hard science fiction that’s been coming out lately.

5.       The Revenant - Alejandro González Iñárritu’s first feature since Birdman is proving he is a modern day auteur.

6.       Avengers: Age of Ultron – A few shots in this film are the closest thing to a Jack Kirby splash page I’ve ever seen created in cinema.

7.       The Force Awakens – Not a perfect film by any stretch but it did manage to capture the energy and emotion of Star Wars and that’s a pretty wonderful thing.

8.       Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck – A unique documentary that utilizes the subject’s art work to tell the narrative.

9.       The Death of "Superman Lives": What Happened? – After watching this doc you are left wondering how does any film ever get made and of the ones that get made how are any of them ever good?

10.   Creed – Saying this is now the second best film in the franchise is no slight since Rocky won the 1976 Oscar for best picture.

·         A Most Violent Year *a 2014 film I loved that got a wide theatrical release in January 2015 so I thought I'd squeeze it in.

Most Overrated of 2015

Jurassic World - Much like The Force Awakens it gets by more on the emotions it creates then its paper thin story but not nearly as well.

Spy – This is one of the best comedies of 2015? On the bright side 2015 is almost over.  

Breakout Stars of 2015

Domhnall Gleason (Ex Machina, The Force Awakens, The Revenant)

Daisy Ridley (The Force Awakens)
 

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) review

                Joss Whedon’s  Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) is Mr. Whedon’s second go around with Earth’s mightiest heroes however this time he has full writing credits (Zak Pen had a story by credit on The Avengers 2012). This film showcases some of the writer/directors best known strengths such as writing strong ensemble pieces that meld action with witty banter. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) has a lot of spinning plates and giving each character ample character development while introducing four new characters that are central to the plot is no easy feat. This film definitely feels more like a Joss Whedon project then the previous Avenger’s film. Strong female characters are a Whedon hallmark that he brings to his latest project despite the fact the movie rights to some of Marvel’s strongest female characters were sold off when the publisher was facing bankruptcy. Black Widow wielding Cap’s shield or SHIELD agent Maria Hill saving a terrified male agent from Ultron may seem innocuous but in the all boys club of action movies and comic books these choices are a welcome breath of fresh air.

                As a comic book fan what makes this film particularly stand out from other films in the genre is the director’s ability in several scenes to convey the cinematic equivalent of a Jack Kirby splash page. Now eleven films deep into the Marvel Cinematic Universe you sometimes have to remind yourself not to take for granted the visual effects of Iron Man flying or the Hulk smashing. Two decades ago the most recent Hulk movie was the 80’s TV movie starring Lou Ferrigno who was painted green by a teamster with a paint roller. During the eighties and nineties a movie with the production values, cast, and crew like Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) would have been inconceivable. Using a motion capture suit for James Spader performance really pays off in his portrayal of Ultron. Animators would have been hard pressed to replicate the nuance of Mr. Spader’s physicality that compliments his vocal performance so well.

                The theme of monsters and what it means to be an outsider is used heavily in this film. The film features all types of monsters some that are obviously monstrous on the outside and other characters that maybe more monstrous on the inside or considered monsters because of their actions/choices. We see some characters that are born monsters and others that are turned into monsters. Despite being outsiders we see these characters inner strength as they come together to save a world that does not accept them. If I was Fox I would take notice and back up a dump truck of cash to the Whedon compound and beg Joss to take the helm of their mighty mutants franchise. A group of outsiders fighting for a world that hates and fears them is an important theme in X-men. Not to mention Mr. Whedon is already very familiar with the source material as he was the scribe on an EXCELLENT run on Astonishing X-Men. This is just one example of several ways Joss Whedon pumps heart into this CGI summer blockbuster behemoth. He takes the gods from atop Mount Olympus (Avengers tower) and brings them down to earth in an abandoned SHEILD compound located in the middle of nowhere upstate NY.

                This film wasn’t just an elaboration on Mr. Whedon’s previous Avengers film but a comment on war and collateral damage. I couldn’t help think of Man of Steel (2013) while watching this film. In that film Superman engages in a battle that lays waste to metropolis but The Man of Tomorrow seemingly saves no one because he’s too busy punching General Zod in the face. Several scenes in this film depict the protagonists saving innocent civilians or expressing concern for them. Bruce Banner feels angst about using his powers and hurting people even if they are evil Hydra foot soldiers. The Avengers (2012) was meant to be a super hero war movie and this film goes out of its way to show you even though our heroes will inevitably win and save the earth war always has its price.

                Marvel helped bring continuity to the silver age of comic books and now they have brought continuity to the silver screen. Even after ten previous films featuring various characters but all taking place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) is still a treat. High production values, strong acting, and a straight forward morality tale are all the makings for a great summer popcorn flick.

By Jake Cohen

4 out of 5 Jack “The King” Kirbys. RECOMMEND