90% Winner: Spotlight 129 min, R, [Crime, Drama] [Tom McCarthy] [20 Nov 2015]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 81%, Rotten Tomatoes: 97%, Metacritic: 93%, External Reviews
Awards: Won 2 Oscars. Another 119 wins & 138 nominations.
Actors: Liev Schreiber, Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams
Writer: Josh Singer, Tom McCarthy
External Links: Wikipedia Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Website Language: English Country: USA
Plot: When the Boston Globe's tenacious "Spotlight" team of reporters delves into allegations of abuse in the Catholic Church, their year-long investigation uncovers a decades-long cover-up at the highest levels of Boston's religious, legal, and government establishment, touching off a wave of revelations around the world.
Rotten Tomatoes: SPOTLIGHT tells the riveting true story of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Boston Globe investigation that would rock the city and cause a crisis in one of the world's oldest and most trusted institutions. When the newspaper's tenacious "Spotlight" team of reporters delves into allegations of abuse in the Catholic Church, their year-long investigation uncovers a decades-long cover-up at the highest levels of Boston's religious, legal, and government establishment, touching off a wave of revelations around the world. Directed by Academy Award-nominee Tom McCarthy, SPOTLIGHT is a tense investigative dramatic-thriller, tracing the steps to one of the biggest cover-ups in modern times. (C) Open Road
82% Nominee: Bridge of Spies 142 min, PG-13, [Drama, History, Thriller] [Steven Spielberg] [16 Oct 2015]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 76%, Rotten Tomatoes: 91%, Metacritic: 81%, External Reviews
Awards: Won 1 Oscar. Another 30 wins & 99 nominations.
Actors: Alan Alda, Domenick Lombardozzi, Mark Fichera, Mark Rylance, Tom Hanks, Victor Verhaeghe
Writer: Matt Charman, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
External Links: Wikipedia Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Website Language: English, German, Russian Country: Germany, India, USA
Plot: In the cold war, a lawyer, James B. Donovan is recruited by the CIA and involved in an intense negotiation mission to release and exchange a CIA U-2 spy-plane pilot, Francis G. Powers. The pilot was arrested alive after his plane was shot down by the Soviet Union during a mission and stays in the company of a KGB intelligence officer, Rudolf Abel, who was arrested for espionage in the US.
Rotten Tomatoes: Tom Hanks stars as the American attorney tasked with negotiating the release of a U-2 spy plane pilot who was shot down over Russia at the height of the Cold War in this historical drama from DreamWorks Studios. Steven Spielberg and Mark E. Platt produce a film written by Matt Charman. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
86% Nominee: Brooklyn 117 min, PG-13, [Drama, Romance] [John Crowley] [25 Nov 2015]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 75%, Rotten Tomatoes: 97%, Metacritic: 88%, External Reviews
Awards: Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 37 wins & 152 nominations.
Actors: Brid Brennan, Domhnall Gleeson, Emory Cohen, Hugh Gormley, Maeve McGrath, Saoirse Ronan
Writer: Nick Hornby, Colm Tóibín (novel)
External Links: Wikipedia Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Website Language: English, Latin, Irish Country: UK, Canada, Ireland
Plot: In late 1951, Eilis Lacey, a young Irish girl, emigrates to Brooklyn. Sponsored by Father Flood, a priest from her native town Enniscorthy, she is assured to find a full-time job there. But the early days are tough, seasickness being soon replaced by loneliness and homesickness, two feelings all the more acutely felt by Eilis for having had to leave behind her widowed mother and her dear sister Rose. She nevertheless little by little manages to find her footing by adapting to her job as a salesgirl, by studying bookkeeping at Brooklyn College as well as with a little help from both Father Flood and Mrs. Kehoe, the owner of the boarding school she now lives in. And not only does graduation follow but love shows its face in Tony, an Italian-American plumber, full of adoration and respect for her. They end up marrying, although keeping the thing secret. It is at that point that tragedy strikes inciting Eilis to return to Enniscorthy to support her mother morally. And there a strange thing happens : she gradually gets lured by the charms of her native place, going far as to let herself be wooed by Jim Farrell, a young local.
Rotten Tomatoes: BROOKLYN tells the profoundly moving story of Eilis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan), a young Irish immigrant navigating her way through 1950s Brooklyn. Lured by the promise of America, Eilis departs Ireland and the comfort of her mother's home for the shores of New York City. The initial shackles of homesickness quickly diminish as a fresh romance sweeps Eilis into the intoxicating charm of love. But soon, her new vivacity is disrupted by her past, and Eilis must choose between two countries and the lives that exist within. (C) Fox Searchlight
89% Nominee: Mad Max: Fury Road 120 min, R, [Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller] [George Miller] [15 May 2015]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 81%, Rotten Tomatoes: 97%, Metacritic: 90%, External Reviews
Awards: Won 6 Oscars. Another 232 wins & 219 nominations.
Actors: Charlize Theron, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Nicholas Hoult, Tom Hardy
Writer: George Miller, Brendan McCarthy, Nick Lathouris
External Links: Wikipedia Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Website Language: English, Russian Country: Australia, USA
Plot: An apocalyptic story set in the furthest reaches of our planet, in a stark desert landscape where humanity is broken, and almost everyone is crazed fighting for the necessities of life. Within this world exist two rebels on the run who just might be able to restore order. There's Max, a man of action and a man of few words, who seeks peace of mind following the loss of his wife and child in the aftermath of the chaos. And Furiosa, a woman of action and a woman who believes her path to survival may be achieved if she can make it across the desert back to her childhood homeland.
Rotten Tomatoes: Filmmaker George Miller gears up for another post-apocalyptic action adventure with Fury Road, the fourth outing in the Mad Max film series. Charlize Theron stars alongside Tom Hardy (Bronson), with Zoe Kravitz, Adelaide Clemens, and Rosie Huntington Whiteley heading up the supporting cast. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi
87% Nominee: Room 118 min, R, [Drama, Thriller] [Lenny Abrahamson] [22 Jan 2016]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 82%, Rotten Tomatoes: 93%, Metacritic: 86%, External Reviews
Awards: Won 1 Oscar. Another 103 wins & 136 nominations.
Actors: Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, Sean Bridgers, Wendy Crewson
Writer: Emma Donoghue (screenplay by), Emma Donoghue (based on the novel by)
External Links: Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Website Language: English Country: Ireland, Canada, UK, USA
Plot: ROOM tells the extraordinary story of Jack, a spirited 5-year-old who is looked after by his loving and devoted mother. Like any good mother, Ma dedicates herself to keeping Jack happy and safe, nurturing him with warmth and love and doing typical things like playing games and telling stories. Their life, however, is anything but typical--they are trapped--confined to a 10-by-10-foot space that Ma has euphemistically named Room. Ma has created a whole universe for Jack within Room, and she will stop at nothing to ensure that, even in this treacherous environment, Jack is able to live a complete and fulfilling life. But as Jack's curiosity about their situation grows, and Ma's resilience reaches its breaking point, they enact a risky plan to escape, ultimately bringing them face-to-face with what may turn out to be the scariest thing yet: the real world.
Rotten Tomatoes: Both highly suspenseful and deeply emotional, ROOM is a unique and touching exploration of the boundless love between a mother and her child. After 5-year-old Jack (Jacob Tremblay) and his Ma (Brie Larson) escape from the enclosed surroundings that Jack has known his entire life, the boy makes a thrilling discovery: the outside world. As he experiences all the joy, excitement, and fear that this new adventure brings, he holds tight to the one thing that matters most of all--his special bond with his loving and devoted Ma.
82% Nominee: The Big Short 130 min, R, [Biography, Comedy, Drama, History] [Adam McKay] [23 Dec 2015]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 78%, Rotten Tomatoes: 88%, Metacritic: 81%, External Reviews
Awards: Won 1 Oscar. Another 37 wins & 79 nominations.
Actors: Casey Groves, Charlie Talbert, Christian Bale, Rudy Eisenzopf, Ryan Gosling, Steve Carell
Writer: Charles Randolph (screenplay by), Adam McKay (screenplay by), Michael Lewis (based upon the book by)
External Links: Wikipedia Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Website Language: English Country: USA
Plot: Three separate but parallel stories of the U.S mortgage housing crisis of 2005 are told. Michael Burry, an eccentric ex-physician turned one-eyed Scion Capital hedge fund manager, has traded traditional office attire for shorts, bare feet and a Supercuts haircut. He believes that the US housing market is built on a bubble that will burst within the next few years. Autonomy within the company allows Burry to do largely as he pleases, so Burry proceeds to bet against the housing market with the banks, who are more than happy to accept his proposal for something that has never happened in American history. The banks believe that Burry is a crackpot and therefore are confident in that they will win the deal. Jared Vennett with Deutschebank gets wind of what Burry is doing and, as an investor believes he too can cash in on Burry's beliefs. An errant telephone call to FrontPoint Partners gets this information into the hands of Mark Baum, an idealist who is fed up with the corruption in the financial industry. Baum and his associates, who work at an arms length under Morgan Stanley, decide to join forces with Vennett despite not totally trusting him. In addition to Burry's information, they further believe that most of the mortgages are overrated by the bond agencies, with the banks collating all the sub-prime mortgages under AAA packages. Charlie Geller and Jamie Shipley, who are minor players in a $30 million start-up garage company called Brownfield, get a hold of Vennett's prospectus on the matter. Wanting in on the action but not having the official clout to play, they decide to call an old "friend", retired investment banker Ben Rickert, to help out. All three of these groups work on the premise that the banks are stupid and don't know what's going on, while for them to win, the general economy has to lose, which means the suffering of the general investor who trusts the financial institutions. That latter aspect may not sit well with Baum. Some of these assumptions may be incorrect and may be far more manipulative than they could have ever imagined, which in turn may throw curves into the process.
Rotten Tomatoes: Writer/director Adam McKay joins forces with Paramount Pictures and Plan B Entertainment to adapt Michael Lewis' best-seller The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine, which centers on the housing a credit bubble of the 2000s. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
83% Nominee: The Martian 144 min, PG-13, [Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi] [Ridley Scott] [02 Oct 2015]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 80%, Rotten Tomatoes: 91%, Metacritic: 80%, External Reviews
Awards: Nominated for 7 Oscars. Another 37 wins & 185 nominations.
Actors: Jeff Daniels, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Matt Damon
Writer: Drew Goddard (screenplay by), Andy Weir (based on the novel by)
External Links: Wikipedia Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Website Language: English, Mandarin Country: UK, USA, Jordan, Hungary
Plot: During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. Millions of miles away, NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring "the Martian" home, while his crewmates concurrently plot a daring, if not impossible, rescue mission. As these stories of incredible bravery unfold, the world comes together to root for Watney's safe return.
Rotten Tomatoes: During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. Millions of miles away, NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring "the Martian" home, while his crewmates concurrently plot a daring, if not impossible rescue mission. As these stories of incredible bravery unfold, the world comes together to root for Watney's safe return. Based on a best-selling novel, and helmed by master director Ridley Scott, THE MARTIAN features a star studded cast that includes Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Kate Mara, Michael Peña, Jeff Daniels, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Donald Glover. (C) Fox
78% Nominee: The Revenant 156 min, R, [Action, Adventure, Biography, Drama, Western] [Alejandro G. Iñárritu] [08 Jan 2016]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 80%, Rotten Tomatoes: 78%, Metacritic: 76%, External Reviews
Awards: Won 3 Oscars. Another 86 wins & 181 nominations.
Actors: Domhnall Gleeson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Will Poulter
Writer: Mark L. Smith (screenplay), Alejandro G. Iñárritu (screenplay), Michael Punke (based in part on the novel by)
External Links: Wikipedia Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Website Language: English, Pawnee, French Country: USA, Hong Kong, Taiwan
Plot: While exploring the uncharted wilderness in 1823, legendary frontiersman Hugh Glass sustains injuries from a brutal bear attack. When his hunting team leaves him for dead, Glass must utilize his survival skills to find a way back home while avoiding natives on their own hunt. Grief-stricken and fueled by vengeance, Glass treks through the wintry terrain to track down John Fitzgerald, the former confidant who betrayed and abandoned him.
Rotten Tomatoes: Inspired by true events, THE REVENANT is an immersive and visceral cinematic experience capturing one man's epic adventure of survival and the extraordinary power of the human spirit. In an expedition of the uncharted American wilderness, legendary explorer Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) is brutally attacked by a bear and left for dead by members of his own hunting team. In a quest to survive, Glass endures unimaginable grief as well as the betrayal of his confidant John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy). Guided by sheer will and the love of his family, Glass must navigate a vicious winter in a relentless pursuit to live and find redemption. THE REVENANT is directed and co-written by renowned filmmaker, Academy Award (R) winner Alejandro G. Iñárritu (Birdman, Babel). (C) Fox