The road to the 88th Academy Awards ends today. Which of the eight films nominated will walk away with the big prize as the best of 2015 cinema? Will Stallone finally win an Oscar after getting his first nomination almost 40 years ago? Speaking of potential first wins, can Leonardo DiCaprio finally end his Oscars hoodoo with The Revenant? Fret not, as we have the definitive (though questionable) cream of Hollywood's crops, only the one of thousands of best-of lists crowding the blogging-verse in this hectic week for Hollywood. Goes to show that cinema in this time and age isn't so dead after all.

Do note that the films listed below are entirely this writer's opinion on the 2015 films he's SEEN thus far, and boy have been plenty of them been home runs. There are still plenty of those, especially award favourites, that are yet to be seen by yours truly, including The Revenant, Brooklyn and The Big Short, and it'll sure be watched in due time. Also, some films this year have stood the test of time better than others, so don't be surprised if a film I've rated lower makes the list over another (hint: it a pretty furious film). 

With the ground rules firmly established, Without further ado, let's kick off our best 6 films of 2015!

Spotlight

Based upon the true allegations investigated by a team of Boston Globe journalists against the Catholic Churches in 2002, Spotlight's story is as gripping as the casts portraying the real-life group of reporters, with fantastic performances from Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, and Mark Ruffalo amongst an already stellar group of actors.  Where spotlight really 'shines' is the tension which escalates with every new revelation that the film throws at the audience, as director Tom McCarthy delivers storytelling that aims to convey a clear scope of such dire circumstances much like the story's protagonists.

The film inadvertently brought us along for the ride as if we were there with them in 2001, as we witnessed the shock, disgust, and the muted celebrations that occurred throughout  with every discovery and victim interview (The Pelton St. scene was particularly disturbing). A rewarding retelling not only for the justice it brings to the many victims of the scandal, but also to the public eyes of the audience.


Mad Max: Fury Road

"Fury Road is visual storytelling at its 'furiest', and Warner Bros. should be commended for giving George Miller another crack at his franchise set in an Australian wasteland, and it can proudly sit alongside its older trilogy siblings. Much of the "best action movie" accolades the film's been receiving were due to the reliance on practical effects over CGI to create a heart-pumping caper, again, the stunt crew and those off the cameras should be given due credit for making this such a beautiful blast to watch. The ending leaves plenty of opportunities for more film (whilst still completing the current storyline), and it'll be exciting to see the further adventures of Max Rockatansky and even Furiousa." [Review]


The Martian

The Martian, based on Andy Weir's book of the same name, describes Matt Damon's Dr. Mann and the reason he got  left on a deserted planet, leading into the events of Interstellar chronicles Matt Damon as he gets stranded yet again, this time on Mars, with only his botanist skills, disco music and banter to survive the crass conditions. It's very Castaway-like, but Damon here doesn't feel as isolated as Tom Hanks was in Castaway, as NASA soon hatches a plan to bring him back.

Flanked by an ensemble including Jessica Chastain, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jeff Daniels and Childish Gambino himself, but it's ultimately Damon as the star of the show, as he spends most of the time in The Martian speaking to monitors and monologuing, hurling one wise crack at a time.

Despite the circumstances, Matt Damon's having a ball of a time trapped on Mars, and it's the tone that sets the entirety of the film, as it elegantly combines the high stakes of Mars survival with witty/humorous dialogue as the viewers are shifted between the red planet and back to NASA. One scene with David Bowie's Star Man serving as a relaxing musical backdrop is the 'feel good' highlight of the film, or perhaps even the year itself!.

Furthermore, in what is almost unchanged from  the Andy Weir book it was based on, director Ridley Scott (a return to sci-fi form after Prometheus) and writer Drew Goddard successfully combines realistic science fiction (or so I heard) with genuine human emotions that will have us rooting for not only Matt Damon's safety, as well as for his space-mates and those back on Earth. Remember how Gravity put people off space travel? The Martian's about to do the opposite.


Star Wars: The Force Awakens

"As a fan of the film series, Star Wars: The Force Awakens had me feeling all kinds of emotion, the latest installment being a great throwback to its original trilogy predecessor, without detracting us from the new characters and story elements. While it's also tough to judge a film with so many elements purposely left out to be explained in the coming sequels, JJ Abrams opted for the safer and familiar route to jumpstart this 38 year old franchise, and his efforts worked out well as a great passing of the torch story.

With The Force Awakens, the sequel trilogy is already on a promising start, while what we do have before us thus far is a fun sci-fi follow-up deserving to be uttered in the same breath as the original trilogy. Over to you now, Rian Johnson. Episode VIII can't come soon enough." [Review]


Kingsman: The Secret Service

"Kingsman feels like an amalgamation of Vaughn's previous works, combining the retro suave of First Class, the ultraviolence of Kick-Ass, and finally the raw British feel of Stardust and even Vaughn's directional debut Layer Cake (starring a pre-Bond Daniel Craig), yet all of them share one thing in common, which is producing great entertainment value far worth the price of admission. 2015 is still early, but it is not premature to say that Kingsman is so far (and probably will still be) the best flick that has been churned out this year. As Colin Firth's Harry Hart said in the film in response to his and Valentine's love for the classic spy films, 'Give me a far-fetched theatrical plot any day', Kingsman is just that." [Review]


Creed

"Creed shows just how writers Ryan Coogler and Aaron Covington are deeply invested as well as knowledgeable into the legacy of Rocky Balboa and those surrounding him, culminating in a warm, heartfelt, and emotional masterpiece that will simultaneously be tugging your heartstrings as well as rousing you up to fight for yourself, despite the odds.

While Michael B. Jordan yet again delivers in a role that further strengthens his position as a future Hollywood heavyweight, the ultimate victor at the end of the day may belong to the 80's action star who has been with the series from the very beginning, the franchise's founding father to call it. Stallone should commended for not only handing over the franchise reins to a young director, but for showing us a new yet believable side of Rocky who has experienced the ups and downs of life just like the rest of us. Director Ryan Coogler yet again reaffirms his position as a promising young director on the rise after Fruitvale Station, showing that he's no flash in the pan, and his double act has been 'rewarded' after being whisked away by the Marvel honchos to direct 2018's Black Panther. A worthy champion of a movie that delivers a knock-out blow in what would be a crowd favourite as the years fly by, montage style." [Review]