Are you not entertained?

By Jaron Brandt

With the Golden Globes in the rearview and the Oscars coming up quickly, it’s time for movie buffs like me to take a moment and look back on all the great movies released in the last year.

Now usually, this would mean a hot debate over which films should win the many different awards offered by the academy, or at least a heartfelt dispute over the big winners at the Globes (I’m looking at you “The Martian”). While I feel there is a time for such discussions, this is not one of those times.

Instead of trying to convince you of which movies I believe have the best chance to make a splash at the next award ceremony, I would rather like to share my “Top Five” movies of the year based solely on entertainment value.

Spoiler Alert: I am not attempting to speak on behalf of the general population. Is this list biased? Of course! All I intend to do with this article is answer Russell Crowe honestly when I hear him ask, “Are you not entertained?” But still, I hope that by creating this list, I can help you find your next favorite movie of the year.

5. The Big Short – Ensemble casts can go either way (Crash vs. Valentine’s Day for instance), but The Big Short is one of those films that make it work. Not only did I get to leave the theater after a few laughs and a lot of learning, but also The Big Short was able to deliver an ending that will stay with me for years to come.

4. Room – Though I just saw Room less than 48 hours ago, I know that even after the honeymoon stage, I will still love this movie. It hasn’t gotten much love from the general public, but that’s only because it comes and goes in and out of theaters without anyone noticing. Keep your eye out for this one at your local box office. And don’t forget to bring tissues.

3. Steve Jobs – Michael Fassbender. Must I go on? In my opinion, his take on Jobs is the best performance of the year by far. The movie is dialogue heavy, and I ate up every moment. Probably the only movie on the list where I was on the edge of my seat every time two characters met. It’s simply brilliant.

2. Inside Out – Now we are to the part of the list that reveals how basic I can be concerning movies. Everyone knows Pixar is the best animation studio in the business, and Inside Out proves that once again. With the perfect blend of originality, comedy and heart, Inside Out portrays a world so thought out and realized that each viewing peels back yet another beautiful layer. When I say that I may even like it more than Wall-E, those that know me well know that’s a big deal.

1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Whenever I talk to my friends about my favorite movies of the year, it’s impossible for me not to mention Star Wars. It’s Star Wars. Now, was The Force Awakens the best movie of 2015? I don’t think so. A conversation about the movie doesn’t have to get far before fans like myself start to mention parts of the movie they wish were different. But that’s not the point. The point is going to the theater hours before the start of the first screening offered in OKC with some of my best friends so that we could get the best seats, pick out our nerdy 3D glasses, buy the most expensive collector’s edition cups and proceed to watch the biggest movie of our generation made for the best movie-going experience of my life. Plus, did I mention that it’s Star Wars?

Jaron Brandt is a senior at Oklahoma Christian University.

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