New Jack City: Jack Poessiger’s 2015 Movies Wrap

This is not another Top 10 list.

It’s just my thoughts, surprises and disappointments experienced while spending countless hours watching movies in dark auditoriums this past year.

Sure I fall for the Hollywood hype sometimes only to be pleasantly surprised when the film turns out to actually deliver or be better than advertised.

Yet far too often I’ve headed to screenings only to have my perceptions and anticipations shattered—and experienced the loss of three hours of my life that I’ll never get back.

Here then my 10 biggest cinematic disappointments of the past year from a major studio. (Note that movies are not listed in the usual 1-to-10 fashion but by their opening dates in Kansas City.)

* (April)- Kevin James’ lame and sorry Las Vegas trip follow-up in “PAUL BLART: MALL COP 2”

* (May)- Walt Disney’s ugly sci-fi duckling called “TOMORROWLAND” which seemed to even embarrass George Clooney who starred in it.

* (May)- “HOT PURSUIT”—An unfortunate sidestep for Reese Witherspoon as she dragged herself down to the level of her co-star Sofia Vergara.

* (May)- Director Cameron Crowe’s all-star turkey of immense proportions called “ALOHA” with Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone, Rachel McAdams, Bill Murry and Alec Baldwin. (Boy, did the audiences ever smell this one coming!)

* (June)- “ENTOURAGE”—It worked great on HBO but failed miserably on the big screen. They just couldn’t bring back the magic.

* (June) Seth MacFarlane’s “TED 2” with Mark Wahlberg.

Maybe Seth was just trying too hard. The laughs were totally forced.

* (July)- Adam Sandler in “PIXELS” which proved? (I don’t know WHAT it proved……)

* (July)- “VACATION” with Christina Applegate. Ed Helms, Beverly D’Angelo, Chevy Chase and Leslie Mann.

I was REALLY looking forward to seeing this movie. The trailer was terrific. But that’s about all the movie had to offer.

(October)- “OUR BRAND IS CRISIS”. It turned out to become Sandra Bullock’s lowest grossing movie—Ever! And deservingly so.

* (December)- Angelina Jolie’s starred, directed and wrote this disaster “BY THE SEA” co-starring (poor) Brad Pitt. (In my opinion this movie could be grounds for divorce.)

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First runner-up in my list of 2015’s great disappointments:

* (December)- “POINT BREAK”, the no-soul/no-name remake of 1991’s action thriller which starred Keanu Reeves, Patrick Swayze and Gary Busey and was directed by Kathryn Bigelow.

Why this one?

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All of that said, 2015 also brought some great surprises for this critic/reviewer—and for that matter to audiences nationwide.

Here then my lineup of what made my hobby worthwhile during the past year.

* (January)- Clint Eastwood’s gut wrenching “AMERICAN SNIPER” with Bradley Cooper.

* (June)- Disney/Pixar’s terrific venture into an 11 year old girl’s mind in “INSIDE OUT.”

* (July)- Tom Cruise versus The Syndicate in “MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE-ROGUE NATION.” (Who can ever forget that opening scene outside the airplane!)

* (October)- Ridley Scott’s ill-faded Mars mission with Matt Damon as “THE MARTIAN.”

* (October)- Steven Spielberg’s Cold War, spy-thriller “BRIDGE OF SPIES” starring Tom Hanks and Mark Rylance.

* (November)- Daniel Craig in what could be his final portrayal as James Bond in “SPECTRE.” (May not have quite lived up to “SKYFALL” but delivered nevertheless.)

* (November)- Sylvester Stallone’s re-imagining of the ‘Rocky’ franchise with “CREED” co-starring Michael B. Jordan.

* (November)- Director Thomas McCarthy’s explosive true story of how ‘The Boston Globe’ exposed the Catholic Church’s cover-up in “SPOTLIGHT.”

Great performances by Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Stanley Tucci, Liev Schreiber and Rachel McAdams. It’s my favorite film of the year!

* (December)- “THE BIG SHORT,” director Adam McKay’s smart expose of  the financial crisis which almost destroyed the banking system.

This is where “THE WOLF OF WALL STREET” meets “MARGIN CALL!”

* (December)- My tip of the hat to the Walt Disney Company for giving J.J. Abrams a free hand at triumphantly resurrecting the ‘Star Wars’ franchise with “THE FORCE AWAKENS.”

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Almost making my list of favorites would have to be the terrifying story of “ROOM” starring Brie Larson which was first exposed to us in November.

Agree or disagree.

Just keep repeating: ‘It’s only a movie–Only a movie–Only a movie.

Take as much as you can.’

Happy New Year, everybody!