People! I hear there is some film award circus coming up soon, so I thought I should push out my annual list of Barb’s top movies of the year!

1. Macbeth. I saw this three times in one week. Absolutely astonishing. Every scene is perfectly staged and crafted. Every scene subtle and nuanced, then later bathed in gore because – you know – Macbeth! However, I warn you that you can barely understand the dialogue and I do not think we can overlook that as a shortcoming in a “Talkie.” Nevertheless, my favorite film of the year. 
2. Mad Max: Fury Road. Like getting carpet-bombed with mayhem, this film is a weird mix of monster truck rally and runway fashion show. But, wow, those stunts (which are real, by the way). As with Macbeth (see above) I believe this is a film that will be studied and talked about for many years to come.
3. Inside Out. This is the film of 2015 that any and everyone will enjoy. It’s not perfect (there was this weird inconsistency in style that was distracting to me), but a terrific script cleverly performed.
4. The Big Short. This movie is porn for accountants, but surprisingly gripping – even moving. I don’t think this film will “wear” very well, but it captures perfectly the big financial meltdown and aftermath.
5. Tie for fifth place to The Danish Girl and Carol. Two spectacularly beautiful films with amazing lead performances. I admired both films very much, though the word “fun” does not enter in to the analysis.
6. Ex Machina. If you like your films stylish, your sci-fi arid, your robots like Barbie dolls, and your protagonists crazy as all get-out, well this is the film for you! 
7. The Gift. This film was a complete and total surprise to me in many ways. An unsettling thriller with a truly creepy villain and plot twist.
8. Far From the Madding Crowd.  I cannot resist any treatment of Hardy and this is a good one. The leads are strong in this beautifully filmed, terrific and romantic story.
9. Also of note for the year: Trumbo, Brooklyn, The End of the Tour, and Suffragette. All four films had very strong leads, but they are straight-up narratives which are not often my favorite style. Special note: John Goodman deserves an Oscar for his 5-10 minutes in Trumbo.
10. Guilty pleasure film of the year: What We Do in the Shadows. This film is a cross between The Odd Couple and Nosferatu with maybe a dash of Plan Nine From Outer Space thrown in. I thought it was hilarious. Thank you, Jemaine Clement
11. Worst film of the year. Oh, so many contenders!  Was it Vacation, which earned negative zero stars from me? No. We need not further punish those involved – they must live with themselves every day. I doubt Chevy Chase has left his house since the premier.  Or, maybe it was Terminator Genisys during which I fell asleep for an extended period although it was as loud as runway three at O’Hare. No, no, ladies and gentlemen of the academy, the worst film of the year for me was Crimson Peak. Checking my notes from that evening, I see I used the word “terrible” four times in the review – once in all caps. The thing that pushes it into absolute worst category is that a reputable director (Guillermo del Toro) spent an insane amount of money and worked with top notch stars on – this ridiculous, inane mess.

It was a great year for movies, actually!