CINEMATIC HOLY MOMENTS: 2015

by Toby

[re-upload from the now defunct wanderingimage tumblr January 2016] 

my personal favorite moments from films to receive a 2015 U.S. release. Not all of which made my actual “Best Films of 2015” list, but at least had incredible segments that stayed with me since first viewing. Scenes that I’m sure I’ll want to re-visit again and again.

+ = was actually featured on Toby's 2015 "Best of"

Mukunda's homemade expressionism that plays out over the end credits. Someone should let him make an entire feature film in this inspiring DIY style

- THE WOLFPACK 

              (Crystal Moselle)

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the vengeance of a freakishly large albino sperm bull (LOL “sperm”) + the Essex's fiery wreckage sinking into the Pacific ocean -

IN THE HEART OF THE SEA 

             [IMAX 3D] (Ron Howard)

giant rampaging Praying Mantis of “Shock Street.” a movie monster sequence as fun as anything in THEM (1954) 

- GOOSEBUMPS [3D] 

                  (Rob Letterman)

trapped inside a pitch black bedroom with unhinged "Nana," playing hide & seek. the choice to have Becca's camera LCD be the sole light source in this scene was genius. It was also unnerving as hell

- THE VISIT (Shyamalan)

Hunt’s race against time within the water-cooled storage tank 

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 

- ROGUE NATION (McQuarrie)

Cpt. Powers’ U2 is shot down over the U.S.S.R. by a surface-to-air missile 

- BRIDGE OF SPIES (Spielberg)

+

the climactic night raid (in night vision) on the underground drug smuggler tunnel 

    - SICARIO (Villeneuve)

"the Doll cabinets." Ava trying on new skin.. both beautiful & creepy all at the same time

   - EX MACHINA (Garland)

+

hunting down terrorist “Sadak” during the Nyepi lantern festival.. yet another act of finale violence hypnotically constructed by Mann 

    - BLACKHAT (Michael Mann)

+

the chemo therapy & training montage. Climaxing in a run with "12 o'clock" biker kids to Rocky's apartment. expertly cut & mixed in true ROCKY (1976) spirit

    - CREED (Coogler)

+

Young Jack is finally able to convey his Mother's predicament to the female officer in the squad car 

   - ROOM (Lenny Abrahamson)

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pursued by Rock Riders (with grenades!) through the canyon passage

- MAD MAX: FURY ROAD 

                   (George Miller)

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"The Four Passengers" arrival & shootout.. 

- THE HATEFUL EIGHT

                        (Tarantino)

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the second time the dinner scene that bookends the film plays out. featuring one of the saddest gestures of cinematic longing these eyes have seen in a while 

 - CAROL (Todd Haynes)

+

 

the big vertigo-inducing finale between the Twin Towers in glorious IMAX 3D! .. Almost shit my pants

- THE WALK [IMAX 3D] 

                      (Zemeckis)

bloody fight with a giant kodiak bear that plays out in one fluid continuous shot. a sequence worthy of Alfonso Cuarón, as far as technical brilliance goes. I only wish the rest of the film was as smoothly conceived & well paced.. nothing in the formally vapid BIRDMAN (2014) was as well constructed as this

- THE REVENANT (Iñárritu)

Strangers begin to confess their love for Michael. **the mask falling off**

 - ANOMALISA 

    (Charlie Kaufman & Duke Johnson)

+

Final 30mins of wall-to-wall convoy action! **Slit takes Max’s Interceptor to Valhalla, "polecats," chainsaw, etc**.. I don’t mean to sound hyperbolic, but it’s easily the greatest action finale since the end of Buster Keaton’s THE GENERAL (1926)... if cinema were ever to go extinct, it’s existence would have been worth it for this

- MAD MAX: FURY ROAD 

                   (George Miller)

+

also this stretch from the funniest comedy of 2015;

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Toby’s Favorite Movie Moments

2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1986, 1985, 1984, 1983, 1982, 1981, 1980