Best Movies of 2015

To the surprise of probably no one, “The Force Awakens” has become the highest grossing movie of all time in the United States. 2015 will be designated as the year “Star Wars” roared back to life, but it has also an exceptional year for cinema outside of the galaxy far, far away.

I saw 114 movies released in 2015, and, for the first time in several years, I struggled to narrow my Best of List to just 20. As much as I enjoyed “Star Wars,” it missed the cut. A lot of good movies did.

1. "Spotlight"

The best movie of the year contains little of the visual spectacle moviegoers most often crave. “Spotlight,” as directed by Tom McCarthy, isn’t a film of stylistic flourishes. Most of the story consists of people sitting in rooms talking.

Yet “Spotlight” is thrilling in its airtight procedural construction. It depicts a team of journalists investigating sexual assault allegations within the Catholic Church in Boston at a time and place where such accusations were ignored or swept away. The reporters, as played by the likes of Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams and Mark Ruffalo, grind away at their sources, pound through the bureaucratic roadblocks and expose a truth nobody really expected to uncover.

“Spotlight” deserves its comparisons to “All the President’s Men” because it celebrates the power and importance of investigative journalism without idolizing it. The movie takes place at the edge of the industry’s demise, then makes the ultimate case for why it should stick around.

You don’t have to be a “newspaper person” to appreciate “Spotlight.” The movie is filled with concise, sharp dialogue and honest performances from every name on the cast list. It doesn’t go crazy with stylized camerawork or editing because the story doesn’t require it. As much as it is a case for the survival of newspapers, “Spotlight” is a case study in the riches of classical, formalist storytelling.

2. "Inside Out"

Pixar’s masterful story of the emotions inside a little girl’s head is funny, heartfelt and visually unlike anything the studio has ever produced. The movie’s interpretation of the human brain is a constant source of humor and adventure but never in a way that makes the film feel episodic.

“Inside Out” builds to an emotionally wrenching climax while essentially balancing two storylines - one of a child coming to terms with a cross-country move, and one about the complex-but-essential relationship between joy and sadness (and the characters Joy and Sadness). It has the power to turn any parent into a blubbering baby. Available on home video.

3. "Mad Max: Fury Road"

A thrill ride from beginning to end, George Miller’s “Mad Max” boasts some of the most spectacular stunts ever committed to film. A straightforward chase movie on the surface, “Mad Max” is overflowing with ideas and powerful imagery, and there’s some provocative social commentary for those not interested in watching War Boys jump between speeding vehicles. Charlize Theron steals the movie as the supremely awesome Imperator Furiosa. Available on home video.

4. "Sicario"

Gorgeously shot by the great cinematographer Roger Deakins, “Sicario” is a grim and rather pessimistic view of the U.S./Mexican drug war, told from the perspective of an idealistic-but-marginalized FBI agent (a fantastic Emily Blunt). “Sicario” provides Benicio del Toro with his best character in years, and director Denis Villeneuve (“Prisoners”) is fast becoming one of the industry’s most exciting filmmakers. Available on home video.

5. "The End of the Tour"

A road movie comprised (mostly) of two people talking about the biggest and smallest of human experiences. Jason Segel gives a mesmerizing performance as “Infinite Jest” author David Foster Wallace, and Jesse Eisenberg provides enough of his signature “charm smarm” as the Rolling Stone writer tasked to dissect the musings of a brilliant, damaged recluse. The dialogue, much of it taken from real life transcripts, is as thrilling as any action movie not named “Mad Max.” Available on home video.

6. "Anomalisa"

Maybe the polar opposite of “Inside Out” in terms of visual style and intended audience, “Anomalisa” is a small-scale stop-motion animated film from the mind of Charlie Kaufman (“Being John Malkovich,” “Adaptation”). Taking place over a single day, the movie follows a depressed customer service expert who is so bored by life he only hears the same monotonous voice from every person he encounters. Until he meets Lisa (voiced by Jennifer Jason Leigh, a 2015 All-Star). Funny, uncomfortable and beautifully somber in just the way you’d expect from Kaufman. Expanding in theaters this month.

7. "The Martian"

A rousing tale of science-wins-the-day about an astronaut stranded alone on Mars and forced to survive longer than most anyone deems possible. Matt Damon is at his charming best at the center of this expertly entertaining film - easily the best offering in years from director Ridley Scott. Available Tuesday on home video.

8. "The Big Short"

An infuriating, hilarious story of clever accounting during the housing market crash of 2008. Director Adam McKay, known mostly for comedies like “Anchorman,” does a brilliant job finding humor in an otherwise enraging period in recent history, plus the movie finds clever ways to explain all the confusing finance mumbo-jumbo. Now in theaters.

9. "The Hateful Eight"

Destined to be writer/director Quentin Tarantino’s most divisive film, “The Hateful Eight” is a nearly three-hour chamber drama about post-Civil War America, racism in any era and a room full of really nasty hombres. Tarantino is a master of generating tension within individual scenes, and “The Hateful Eight” piles them on top of each other until a whole lot of blood comes spilling out in the final act. Featuring standout performances from Samuel L. Jackson, Walton Goggins, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh and the rest, the movie will nevertheless garner a fair share of detractors. Three-hour chamber dramas with extended speeches about stew and coffee aren’t for everyone. Now in theaters.

10. "What We Do in the Shadows"

The year’s funniest film gives modern-day vampires an “Office”-style outlet for their everyday struggles, including messy feeding sessions, encounters with loudmouth werewolves and that terrible feeling of running into an ex-girlfriend at the Unholy Masquerade Ball. Sharp wit and surprising character growth highlight this little-seen gem from the makers of “Flight of the Conchords.” Available on home video.

11. "Tangerine"

Known by many as the film shot exclusively on iPhones, this energetic and often very-funny indie follows two transgender prostitutes searching Los Angeles for a cheating ex on Christmas Eve. Forget the novelty of its subject matter and technical creation, “Tangerine” is an engaging character study full of funny, kinetic surprises. Available on Netflix Instant streaming.

12. "Bridge of Spies"

Steven Spielberg is so good at making movies it can be easy to take him for granted. “Bridge of Spies” is another gem about an American attorney (Tom Hanks, perfect) who orchestrates a prisoner exchange with the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War. An impeccably-gorgeous period drama with plenty of relevant social commentary for the modern era. Available Feb. 2 on home video.

13. "Room"

Two of the best performances of the year highlight “Room,” about a woman and her young son held captive for years in a tiny shed. Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay play the mother and son, and the film has two distinct halves that compliment each other in powerful ways. An emotionally draining but worthwhile experience.

14. "Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief"

A shocking documentary that, through first-hand accounts of former members, exposes some truly frightening acts orchestrated by the Tom Cruise-approved church. Good luck watching Cruise dangle from planes and skyscrapers in the “Mission: Impossible” movies without thinking about “Going Clear.” Side note: This year’s “Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation” was pretty good too. Available on home video.

15. "Ex Machina"

A computer programmer spends a bizarre week at the secluded home of his enigmatic boss and plays question-and-answer with a seductive robot. Alicia Vikander plays the artificial intelligence that makes a mess of “Force Awakens” co-stars Domhnall Gleeson and Oscar Isaac. Available on home video and for streaming on Amazon Prime.

16. "Mississippi Grind"

A down-on-his-luck gambler (Ben Mendelsohn, the standout on Netflix’s series, “Bloodline”) meets up with big-risk taker Ryan Reynolds and tries to break away from a lifetime of loser tendencies. Mendelsohn carries several dialogue-rich scenes, and Reynolds does the best work of his career. Available on home video and for streaming on Amazon Prime.

17. "Amy"

An incisive documentary of late musician Amy Winehouse that supplies a portrait of a brilliant artist never fully understood by the scandal-starved general public. Available on home video.

18. "Phoenix"

German import about a Holocaust survivor who undergoes facial reconstruction surgery and returns to Berlin in search of her husband. He doesn’t recognize her, and there’s a possibility he turned her over to the Nazis in the first place. A compelling drama punctuated by one of the great final scenes of all time. Really. Available on Netflix Instant streaming.

19. "The Revenant"

While I wasn’t particularly enthralled by the storytelling of this man vs. nature Frontier odyssey starring Leonardo DiCaprio, “The Revenant” is still two-and-a-half hours of the most beautiful outdoor cinematography I’ve ever seen. That’s something to celebrate, even if director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (“Birdman”) doesn’t have a complete hold of the narrative. Now in theaters.

20. "It Follows"

An unconventional horror film oozing with dread, atmosphere and thematic resonance. The scares don’t jump out at you, they approach slowly and in plain sight. Available on home video.

Honorable Mention: “Beasts of No Nation,” “Creed,” “Carol,” “The Diary of a Teenage Girl,” “Dope,” “Star Wars The Force Awakens,” “Steve Jobs,” “Trainwreck,” “Wild Tales”

Agree or disagree? Email twilson@cdapress.com and share your picks for the Best Movies of 2015.