How do you make a movie about people playing chess exciting, intense, and gripping? Pawn Sacrifice pulls it off brilliantly. I saw this the day after I watched Spotlight, another film based on a true story and although Pawn Sacrifice isn’t make a lot of top 10 lists this year, I felt it was a more compelling and even more interesting film. That’s saying something because Spotlight is fabulous too.

I’m not a big Toby McGuire fan but I have to admit, his role as the unstable chess player Bobby Fisher was nothing short of amazing. Best work I’ve ever seen him do. Along with his career-best performance is an ensemble cast that all just completely knock it out of the park. The story is engrossing, the tension high, great conflict in every scene. One of the best biopics I saw this year.

Although not in any way what you might call a “crowd pleaser”, Spotlight nonetheless is an engrossing, powerful film that examines important issues in a respectful and compelling way. Spotlight tells the true story of the Boston Globe reporting team known as Spotlight who discovers the disturbing scandal involving Catholic priests who molested children and then were moved to new locations in a widespread cover-up.

What I loved most about this film is how it showed real journalism, feet on the street, deep digging, critical thought, skepticism against the system, willingness to tread into dangerous paths. Pretty much everything missing from mainstream journalism today. Along with the joy of seeing journalism so perfectly depicted, we get some absolutely amazing performances from Michael Keaton and probably Mark Ruffalo’s best role to date. It’s a tough watch because the truth is so disturbing but this is a great film. I don’t think this will make my top 10 best of the year list (like it has nearly everyone else’s) but it’s excellent.

I have been hearing about this film for years but until now, never got around to seeing it. This film is always talked about in film buff circles as one of Robert De Niro’s best (and most unique) roles. This is a comedy / action & adventure / buddy cop movie from the era when buddy cop movies were rampant.

It also stars Charles Grodin (who most people know from The Great Muppet Caper) but is at his Grodin-ish best here. The whole thing is basically a madcap road movie where De Niro is a bail bondsman who is trying to get his man back by midnight, traveling by plane, bus, train, and foot across America. I’m not sure I love this as much as the reviewers who always recommend it but I did enjoy it and there’s no denying De Niro is especially great in this.

Sam Jackson as the president of the United States? I’m in. This is a film from Finland by the same director as Rare Exports (the twisted Christmas tale from a few years ago). It’s premise is completely ridiculous, Air Force One is shot down by some terrorists and the President must survive on his own with the help a young boy in the wilderness of Northern Finland.

Everything about this is pure fun. It’s not trying to be serious or even that believable. This is the kind of movie that a 12 year old kid would just have a blast with and on those terms (and with that type of mindset), this was a lot of fun.

I may be the only person left on the planet who doesn’t hate Adam Sandler. He’s been seriously phoning it in the last few years but I also think he’s one of the only guys still trying to do some amount of “classic” comedy instead of just gross out / crass / shock comedy (which is all the rage lately).

Ridiculous 6 isn’t great but it has a few things going for it. It’s screwball comedy, there are a couple of pretty funny scenes, and the overall premise has a “Three Amigos” vibe to it that I really liked. What’s most amazing is that Rob Schneider actually has one of the funniest lines. This is a passable comedy but in a sea of really crumby comedies this year, it actually comes out looking better.

I’m sad to report that this film fell completely flat for me. On paper, this should have been a home run, exciting director, great young and upcoming cast, nostalgic spy TV show premise. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work.

From the very first shot, something felt “off”. I couldn’t care less about the characters, had trouble grasping what the plot was or why I should care and the character’s motivations are muddled from the onset. The chemistry is weak and worst of all, it’s just so boring. Really disappointed in this one because this could have been great.

It’s been so long since I saw Tombstone, I’d nearly forgot every scene. Wow, this is so good. I had forgotten how really great everything is about Tombstone. It’s got a classic Western feel, a throwback in its scenes and characterizations, but it’s also cleverly updated, modern, and with amazingly high stakes and thrills. Like a great John Wayne western for the modern movie-goer.

For a film that had a troubled production (the director was fired midway through), the film is great. Most of that credit goes to Kurt Russell who besides being the lead, also ghost-directed the film. It really is amazing and makes me wish Russell would have directed more films. Of course everyone loves Val Kilmer’s Doc Holiday and for good reason, he’s excellent here as well. The whole cast just rocks. A brilliant script makes Tombstone truly special. This along with Unforgiven are the two best Westerns of the 1990’s. An absolute classic.

I realized something as I watched Don Verdean, director Jared Hess’ latest weirdo / comedy project, that all of his films play out like an inside joke. You aren’t sure what the joke is or the context and as you watch each film from Napoleon Dynamite to Nacho Libre, you aren’t sure if you’re supposed to laughing or just feel awkward. That’s how things play out for a first viewing every time but what’s so interesting about Hess’ films is that on a second viewing, the become flat out hilarious.

I’m not sure if Don Verdean will turn out the same on a second viewing but I can say that the first time through, there were quite a few laugh out loud lines. It’s pretty quotable. There’s a few dull moments that should have been trimmed but overall, I had a good time with this. Loved Sam Rockwell (as always). If you like Hess’ brand of bizarro humor, you’ll enjoy this too.

Phew, this is quite a grueling journey, watching human pieces of filth argue over trivial, mundane, trumped-up interpersonal issues. The best word that describes the characters in this film is: “sad”. Incredibly sad. Tangerine follows the story of a trans-gendered prostitute who is released from prison and goes on a revenge hunt for her pimp. What’s notable about Tangerine (besides being on a few best of the year lists) is that it was filmed all on iPhone 5s but before you get too worried, it actually gives it an interesting, documentary-like feel. And the acting is incredible. The street people portrayed by the actors/actresses are so believable, so tragic.

The film absolutely accomplishes its goal of bringing you into the day to day lives of these street people. It’s like a different world they occupy and all the filth, grime, drugs, ugliness, and sorrow of that world is portrayed with raw precision. One thing’s for sure after seeing this, it makes me so sad to think that our brave men & women in blue have to deal with these types of people each night and day. This is a tough, tough film to watch. I wouldn’t recommend it to most because it’s so tough but it is a well-made and challenging film and I can at least see why it hit some best of the year lists. If the above description of this film doesn’t make you shy away, if nothing else, your mind will be opened a bit to the sad plight of these characters.

Charismatic actors/actresses and solid acting do not a great movie make and Aloha is one of the best examples this year. The cast is extraordinary here lead by Bradley Cooper, Rachel McAdams, and Emma Stone with bit parts by Bill Murray (It’s hard to tell but I think Bill Murray may be drunk for everyone of his scenes in Aloha), Alec Baldwin, and John Krasinski and yet, they are all in search of a compelling story.

For most of Aloha, it feels like we are just meandering around, unclear on what our main character’s true goals or obstacles are. It’s like the script was a few drafts away from cracking an idea worth filming. Everyone’s clearly in this because it’s a Cameron Crowe film. Unfortunately Crowe didn’t come through (like he usually does). I just wish he’d cut about 20 minutes, fixed the story issues, and had a little more fun. It’s not terrible and there are a couple of REALLY great scenes but it all amounts to an unfortunately forgettable film. Still, Crowe gets a near-lifetime pass. So what if this is a bit of a misstep. I’ll still be excited to see what he does next.