Ten great movies you should watch in 2015

1. Ten Great Movies
1st Half of the Year (2015)

2. • Plot: A young bear raised in the jungles of Peru is shipped to London after a deadly
earthquake destroys his home. Finding himself lost and alone at Paddington Station, he
attempts to find a caring family. He meets the kindly Brown family, who offer him a
temporary haven.
• Our review: Paddington was a hit with both young and mature alike because it has an
endearing quality that kids love and the not too heavy-handed for adults since it functions
as a rather stealthy allegory about immigration.
PG | 95 min | Comedy, Family | January 16
Director: Paul King
Writers: Paul King, Hamish McColl (screen story
Stars: Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters
Paddington

3. Plot: Troubled UK teen "Eggsy" is recruited into a covert operation of deadly spies, tasked with
stopping the global-domination schemes of the wicked Richmond Valentine. It show the
development of an unrefined, but promising street kid into the agency's ultra-competitive
training program, just as a global threat emerges from a twisted tech genius.
Our review: Murder, mayhem and madness are unleashed in this absurdly enjoyable spy caper
that David Niven or perhaps Patrick Macnee might have made in the 1960s. The cast is
incredible from the chemistry between the lead actors to the priceless contributions made by
the exceptional character actors.
15 | 129 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy | February 13
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Writers: Jane Goldman (screenplay), Matthew Vaughn
(screenplay)
Stars: Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Samuel L. Jackson
Kingsman: The Secret Service

4. Plot: The DUFF stands for the "Designated Ugly Fat Friend." A high school senior, Bianca learns
that her fellow students believe she is The DUFF, so she instigates a social pecking order
revolution after finding out about it. She enlists a charming jock to help her reverse her image.
Our review: "The DUFF is a teen comedy that can sit beside Mean Girls, in the respect that it
takes its subject matter on with a meta sensibility. It's should also be seen as a good launching
pad for Mae Whitman to start playing some more lead roles, as she not only carries this film,
she makes it pop."
R-13 | 101 min | Comedy | February 20
Director: Ari Sandel
Writers: Josh A. Cagan (screenplay), Kody Keplinger (novel)
Stars: Mae Whitman, Bella Thorne, Robbie Amel
The Duff

5. Plot: Stuck behind enemy lines after a military maneuver falls apart, a young and disoriented
British soldier is accidentally abandoned by his unit following a riot on the deadly streets of
Belfast in 1971. He must avoid hostile Belfast locals to survive a very difficult night before a
rescue mission can take place.
Our review: Powerfully directed and acted, '71 stays true to its fact-based origins while
remaining as gripping as any solidly crafted action thriller.
15 | 99 min | Action, Drama, Thriller | February 27
Director: Yann Demange
Writer: Gregory Burke (screenplay)
Stars: Jack O'Connell, Sam Reid, Sean Harris
‘71

6. Plot: Sir Kenneth Branagh tackles the classic fairy tale, giving it a live-action twist, as the put-upon orphan
triumphs over a wicked step-mother and finds true love after attending a magical ball.
When her father unexpectedly passes away, young Ella finds herself at the mercy of her cruel stepmother
and her daughters. Never one to give up hope, Ella's fortunes begins to change after meeting a dashing
stranger.
Our review: Refreshingly traditional in a revisionist era, Kenneth Branagh's Cinderella proves Disney hasn't
lost any of its old-fashioned magic even with this American live-on romantic fantasy film. Although not a
direct remake, it borrows many elements from the 1950 animated film of the same name.
U | 105 min | Drama, Family, Fantasy | March 13
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Writer: Chris Weitz (screenplay)
Stars: Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden
Cinderella

7. Plot: A supernatural and deadly force follows a beautiful teenager getting involved in a sexual
encounter with her new boyfriend… not knowing that he was merely trying to "pass" the entity
on to her.
Our review: Smart, creepy, unsettling original, and above all terrifying ‘It Follows’ is intelligently
barebones; the rare modern horror film that works on multiple levels -- and leaves a lingering
sting. This horror gem from David Robert Mitchell will be the scariest thing you'll watch all year.
15 | 100 min | Horror, Thriller | March 27
Director: David Robert Mitchell
Writer: David Robert Mitchell
Stars: Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist, Olivia Luccardi
It Follows

8. Plot: Reclusive, young, genius programmer, Nathan believes he has cracked the code on Artificial Intelligence
after being selected to participate in a ground-breaking experiment in artificial intelligence. He came to this
conclusion after evaluating the human qualities of a breath-taking female A.I. He then invites an expert
programmer to come to his hideaway and run tests on Ava, his groundbreaking creation.
Our review: Alex Garland has proven himself time and time again that he is one of the most gifted sci-fi
screenwriters working today. His ‘Ex Machina’ displays an uncommonly engaging sci-fi feature. This also
shows that the filmmaker has an exciting eye as a visual artist, as the movie is as beautiful as it is captivating.
This is a visually polished piece of work even it if leans more on the ideas rather than the effects.
15 | 108 min | Drama, Sci-Fi | April 10
Director: Alex Garland
Writer: Alex Garland
Stars: Alicia Vikander, Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac
Ex Machina

9. Plot: In a burned-out post-apocalyptic desert, Max Rockatansky gets swept up in Imperator
Furiosa’s plan to rescue the multiple brides of the sadistic Immortan Joe. The two lead joined
forces in a stark desert landscape where humanity is broken, two rebels just might be able to
restore order.
Our review: Mad Max: Fury Road is a bombastically entertaining and action packed special film.
But it does not stop there; excellent treatment was given to the plot and the emotions it
evoked.
15 | 120 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi | May 15
Director: George Miller
Writers: George Miller, Brendan McCarthy, 1 more credit »
Stars: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult
Mad Max: Fury Road

10. Plot: This is a touching, tragic yet inspirational story of the brilliantly troubled songwriter Brian Wilson at two
different stages of his life. In the 1960s, Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson struggles with emerging psychosis as
he attempts to craft his avant-garde pop masterpiece. In the 1980s, he is a broken, confused man under the
24-hour watch of shady therapist Dr. Eugene Landy.
Our review: As unconventional and unwieldy as the life and legacy it honors, Love & Mercy should prove
moving for Brian Wilson fans while still satisfying those who are not familiar with his work. The movie is
one interesting audio trip: from the sweet, spiritual harmonies of “The Beach Boys” to the way Pohland uses
sounds in captivating and fascinating ways to convey the madness in Wilson’s head.
12A | 121 min | Biography, Drama, Music | 1June 5
Director: Bill Pohlad
Writers: Oren Moverman, Michael A. Lerner (as Michael Alan
Lerner) , 1 more credit »
Stars: John Cusack, Paul Dano, Elizabeth Banks
Love & Mercy

11. Plot: Pixar’s latest takes us inside the head of an 11-year-old girl, where dominant emotions like
Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust and Anger control her daily mood swings. After young Riley is
uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San Francisco, her conflict on how best to
navigate a new city, house, and school.
Our review: Inventive, gorgeously animated, and powerfully moving, Inside Out is another
outstanding addition to the Pixar library of modern animated classics. It’s a phenomenal,
touching and special piece of art, and fittingly a mind-blowing and emotional experience.
U | 94 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy | June 19
Directors: Pete Docter, Ronaldo Del Carmen
Writers: Pete Docter (story), Ronaldo Del Carmen (story) (as
Ronnie del Carmen) , 5 more credits »
Stars: Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Lewis Black
Inside Out