It was a roller-coaster ride of big wins and bigger losses at the multiplex this year. Multiple movies broke the all-time opening-weekend box-office record, while some just didn't break even during their whole theatrical run.
I was there for all of it and have to admit that there was more good than bad.
With so much interesting filmmaking, it was tough to come up with just 10 favorites of the year, but here they are — along with a few others that deserve recognition.
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10. "Star Wars: The Force Awakens"
To say that there was a thirst for the "Star Wars" saga to continue would be an understatement. The seventh episode in the franchise, "The Force Awakens" picks up on the story of the fight between the Rebels and the Empire 32 years after "Return of the Jedi"— they are now called the Resistance and the First Order, respectively. It broke all box-office records its first weekend in theaters, including an astounding opening-weekend domestic gross of $247 million and worldwide take of $528 million. Though "Star Wars" movies always make money, what makes "The Force Awakens" different is that director J.J. Abrams has accomplished the difficult task of exciting us for what's to come in future episodes while celebrating our nostalgia for the original trilogy.
9. "Creed"
As Abrams does with "The Force Awakens," but with much less box-office pressure, director Ryan Coogler resurrects an elite franchise with some contemporary flavor. Delving into the "Rocky" franchise but focusing on the legacy of a supporting character, the movie has the freedom to explore new territory while sprinkling in what we love about the "Rocky" movies. Though Coogler obviously adores the source material and the camera work by DP Maryse Alberti is top-notch, it's Michael B. Jordan as the young Creed who drives it home. Jordan plays the character with intense swagger to impress a father he never knew, giving the latest "Rocky" a satisfying range of emotions.
8. "Love & Mercy"
The second directing effort by veteran producer Bill Pohlad is an exquisite look at the life of Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson, zeroing in on the musician at the height of his creativity (played by Paul Dano) intercut with him at his lowest point (played by John Cusack) decades later. By exploring Wilson's mental health, Pohlad draws powerful performances from both actors, but also uses the sound design perfectly to take us inside Wilson's mind.
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