If you want to watch a really good movie and haven't seen any of these, check them out as they are all excellent.
Get Out pretty much turns the horror genre on its head as it combines horror/terror/psychological thriller elements with well-timed humor with racial anxiety at its core. For his directorial debut, Jordan Peele did a damn find job. I heard an interview with Peele on NPR’s Fresh Air in which he described the movie as a “social thriller” and that is a perfect description. I guess when you direct a movie, you can usually accurately describe it. The basic premise of the movie is how a young black man (Chris played by Daniel Kaluuya) goes to visit his white girlfriend’s (Rose played by Allison Williams...very UN-Marnie like!) parents on their very strange estate. That’s when the shit most decidedly hits the fan. This movie scared me, made me jump, and made me laugh.
Whiplash (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2582802)
There were some damn fine movies nominated for Best Picture in 2015 and Whiplash was one of them. J.K. Simmons’ performance as uber asshole Fletcher is utterly amazing and so deserving of the Oscar he received. Miles Teller also turns in a great performance as Andrew, the student drummer who is the recipient of Fletcher’s incessant vitriol. This was one of my favorite movies from the 2015 Oscar nominees.
Selma (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1020072)
I will admit that I know very little about the Civil Rights movement from the 1960s since I didn’t grow up then and it wasn’t a big part of my education. I knew there was a march in Selma, Alabama, that involved Dr. Martin Luther King, but I didn’t know much about it. This movie was a good education for me and it portrayed that important event in a powerful, moving way. David Oyelowo is outstanding as King. I really enjoyed this movie.
Gone Girl (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2267998)
I don’t know how else to say this...Gone Girl is a mindfuck! I didn’t know what to think after watching this movie, I left the theater in a bit of a daze. I then read the book which gave me a new perspective of the story as the book is presented less dramatically than the movie, but with the same outcome. I definitely really liked the movie (and the book).
Concussion (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3322364)
Concussion is a hard movie to watch if you are a football fan (which of course, I am). But it is an excellent movie and Will Smith’s performance as Dr. Bennet Omalu is outstanding and Oscar-worthy (too bad he didn’t receive a nomination though). It may change your mind about how you feel about football though (and the NFL). A very good movie.
The Normal Heart (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1684226)
The Normal Heart is a pretty powerful movie depicting the struggles of gay men in New York City during the early 1980s during the early onset of HIV/AIDS. It portrays the activism and awareness campaigns during this time which were organized to get the word out regarding HIV/AIDS. The struggles associated with this movement from the gay community to the political community are astounding and The Normal Heart does an excellent job of showing all of this. This was a very scary time for gay men and this movie shows the pain & suffering that went on during ths time. The Normal Heart is an excellent movie.
Sing Street (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3544112)
While La La Land was getting all of the accolades for being a wonderful musical (much deserved), Sing Street flew under the radar. It’s a big unfortunate because it is a sweet, charming, and bloody brilliant movie. Director/writer John Carney who directed the equally wonderful Once and Begin Again (Begin Again review) delivers another home run with Sing Street. It is set in 1980s Dublin and in order to impress a girl (Raphina, played by Lucy Boynton) he has a crush on, Conor (played wonderfully by Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) decides to join a band. And while a bit predictable, the pure joy & love that Conor exudes comes out in his band’s music. As a band, they are pretty good as well and the music in general in this movie is spot on. How could a movie set in the 80s NOT have great music? I truly loved this movie.
Sully (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3263904)
The Miracle on the Hudson was most decidedly miraculous and there is pretty much one reason for that: Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger. Sully wonderfully depicts this amazing story of when Sully Sullenberger (played by Tom Hanks) lands a plan on the Hudson River in New York to prevent it from crashing into New York City or some other city area surrounding NYC. It also does a great job of showing the aftereffects of the plane crash by portraying the hearings which took place after the crash. I definitely enjoyed this movie.
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