Here we go again. I have published some best of lists last month but having seen all of the movies nominated for this year's Best Picture, along with many others, I can finally finish the lists. So today let's celebrate the film's best scenes in 2015. Here is last year's list. Next up we will look at the best shots and a week from today my gigantic, annual Best (And Worst) of the year arrives.20. Thomas the Engine Train, Ant-Man / 19. Ford confronts Susan in Paris, Spy / 18. Lucille chases Edith, Crimson Peak / 17. The Krays fight in the club, Legend / 16. The coffee scene, The Hateful Eight / 15. Jack's escape, Room / 14. The argument with Sculley, Steve Jobs / 13. The bear scene, The Revenant / 12. The bridge, The Force Awakens / 11. The ending, The Force Awakens
While The Revenant bored the living shit out of me, what amplified the boredom by stark comparision were the rare moments of excitement which were very good such as a stirring moment when Glass is discovered by the Captain and his people, Bridger among them. The slow build up, the drums on the soundtrack (which should be there for the entire movie, at least this way there would be something speeding up the pace) and the whole moment is very well done.
It Follows is as a whole a beautifully shot, unique horror film. It does, like most horrors, requires suspension of disbelief, but if you can do that, you are in for a very fun ride. The film's climax is probably something that strains logic the most but who cares when something that happens is so awesome and beautifully shot.
Macbeth is a mediocre movie that features gorgeous cinematography and fantastic performance from Michael Fassbender. The film's best scene benefits from the same thing the above scene from The Revenant does - something finally happens and it is showed in an exciting way. The quick montage of Macbeth committing the pivotal crime, Lady Macbeth praying and the storm going on outside is a really incredible scene.
It is truly a year of tame and unexciting movies. Other than Fury Road and The Big Short it would be hard to find a movie in this Oscar season that is actually fun to watch. But as tame as Spotlight is, at least it's a very good movie. There is all too little anger in it, but when anger finally arrives, the scene definitely delivers.
The finest moment of Tom Hardy's performance happens when he camera fixes on him as he is telling the horrific story of being scalped by the Indians. We've seen actual scalping in 2015 in the excellent Bone Tomahawk but hearing Fitzgerald talk about it was equally awful. And then Hardy follows that moment of his character's vulnerability with a bit of comedy when Fitzgerald asks Bridger to stop scratching the flask. It's brilliant.
It is just Dicaprio and Hardy hacking at each other and it all looks so very real. It's a fantastic, incredibly demanding scene and one of such violence and will to survive you cannot turn away no matter how much blood is spilled. It is the climatic moment of the entire film and they sure delivered in making it incredible.
I sat there speechless, from the moment that Furiosa, Max and the girls began their ascension and then Furiosa turns around to see that Max has left, not being ready to stay just yet. And then they exchange that nod and that amazing quote comes up. That is the best ending in 2015, hell that is the best ending in years.
When I was watching that movie in the cinema no one so much as moved. There was a gasp when Alejandro mentioned his daughter. Sicario is a continuously intense movie, to the point you are exhausted after seeing it, but in a wonderful way. That scene is a pinnacle of tension. And its climax? I couldn't believe what happened actually happened. It's unflinching.
Things we didn't know we needed in our lives - Colin Firth, wearing a suit, gunning down religious fanatics as Free Bird plays in the background. This is one of the most brilliant scenes I've seen in my entire life. The whole film is so clever and energetic but when the film was released EVERYONE was talking about this scene and rightfully so. This is sheer cinematic brilliance. In fact that scene is so fantastic I can almost forgive Matthew Vaugh for unleashing Kick Ass onto the world. Almost.
Just unbeatable. Through the entirety of Fury Road you feel like you will explode from the sheer awesomeness of it, but it is this scene that really takes the cake. Everything about it - from the amazing score to the team work between Max and Furiosa is so fantastic and instantly iconic. I am so grateful I got to see that in the cinema. Years from now people will envy all of us who got to.