Films of the Year 2015

Make Way for Tomorrow. Amazingly grown-up Hollywood film anticipates Tokyo Story.

What We Did on Our Holiday. Unique, fresh, laugh out loud funny.

Texasville. As good as the original.

She's Funny That Way. The master back at work, giving us films we really need, with a fantastic performance from Poots.

The Imitation Game. Superbly acted scandalous true story.

Sword of Honour. One of Will's most successful films.

St. Vincent. Sweet film with our beloved veteran Bill Murray. "It is what it is."

My Blueberry Nights. Stylish beyond description, with amazing performances that give the film real depth.

Wild. Reese fabulous in most involving (true) story.

The Theory of Everything. Manages not to be depressing, two equally good lead performances.

Life of Pi. Just jaw-droppingly creative.

Black Narcissus. It gets better each time, film is way out there!

Went the Day Well. Incredibly tough, hard-hitting, brilliant drama still after all these years.

Inherent Vice. Very seventies, very funny, Joaquin's growing hugely in our estimation.

Election. Revisiting early Payne is a joy.

Deconstructing Harry. Wonderfully different; enormously funny.

Un Flic. For its mood, and that amazing (and funny) train scene.

Lone Star. Just so interesting and totally unexpected.

La Belle et la Bête. Pure Cocteau magic, a unique experience in cinema.

That Uncertain Feeling / Trouble in Paradise. Lubitsch seems to get better with every viewing.  'Keeks!'

The 39 Steps. You forget just how good it is, one of the very best of the British years.

Broken / London Road. Rufus Norris knocks us over with impressive debut about kids, then hits us over the head with the most utterly original musical ever made. For a theatre director he's most interestingly cinematic.

Aloha / Vanilla Sky. Cameron's made another wonderful, humane, timeless classic, but the rediscovery of 'the one that got away' is fantastic too.

Mary and Max. Quite remarkable animation leaves strong impression.

Man Up. Very fresh date-movie.

This is England '90. Beautifully balanced between horror and sweetness, this semi-improvised series has lost none of its visceral power.

Magnolia / Punch-Drunk Love. Paul Thomas Anderson rediscovered in the gripping and unusual epic; but his Sandler 'comedy' is equally fascinating and original with bonkers music score,

McCabe and Mrs Miller. Sensational early Altman in his distinctive style, enriched by just amazing photography.

Bonnie and Clyde. Has lost absolutely none of its power and nimble energy, and a key film of American cinema.

Stranger on the Third Floor. Because it's just so damned different and interesting.

Four Lions. Astonishing in that it can make its terrifying subject matter so hilarious.

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai. Totally cool in every way, funny, stylish, thought-provoking.

And of course the usual selection of Wilders, Leans and Hitchcocks, The Descendents (again), Up In the Air (again) etc.

Also, special mention to Gemma Chan in Humans.