A Franchise-Free List Of The 10 Films You Need To Look Out For In 2015

“Excuse me,” I hear you say, “I know exactly which films I need to see in 2015.” You’ve no doubt been bombarded with teasers and trailers by now, and you wait with baited breath for… which franchise is it? Looking forward to the next Avengers film, maybe you’re a Hunger Games fan? Maybe you absolutely cannot wait for Jurassic World? And why wouldn’t you? They will no doubt be excellent, entertaining movies all. But will you really remember them at the end of the year?

It’s in the best interest of the movie distributors to keep you on the edge of your seat, just waiting to run out and slam your money down on the counter of your nearest cinema ticket desk come opening weekend. But is it in your best interest? What productions have been quietly toiling away over the past couple of years, biding their time, waiting for the perfect moment to surprise and entertain you? I would be doing a great disservice to you if I just served up the obvious, so here’s something else: a franchise-free list of this year’s top 10 most interesting and possibly most successful films.

(For the sake of the international audience that read Film Inquiry, release dates have been given as a month range. Where an exact release date is not available, the year has simply be given. For exact dates please follow the links to their IMDb page and choose your country of origin from the release date list.)

10. That’s What I’m Talking About (2015)

By now you will have heard the name Richard Linklater. If not, where have you been and why haven’t you watched Boyhood? Richard Linklater was the toast of last year’s film community when he released the epic Boyhood. Filmed over a period of twelve years, this particular writer’s favorite director moved from obscurity into the limelight. With so much attention now focused on him I have no doubt that fans of film will be eager to see what he does next. And so it is perhaps serendipitous that he has been working on what has been touted as an unofficial sequel to both his recent success, Boyhood, and his renowned high school slacker comedy, Dazed And Confused.

The film does not have a cast of note and, as with most Linklater films, the information available online is thin on the ground. What we do know is that the film follows a group of college baseball players during the 1980’s. That’s about it. But the provenance is real and of a high quality. So keep an eye out for this future indie gem, and if you’re a fan of Linklater also keep your ear to the ground for a new documentary about the director, called 21 Years: Richard Linklater. A general distribution is unlikely but expect it on DVD some time this year.

9. Tomorrowland (May)

By now you have quite possibly seen a teaser trailer for the next film on our list, Tomorrowland. The work of Damon Lindelof (Lost) and Brad Bird (The Incredibles), Tomorrowland is about a young girl and a former boy genius who go on an adventure to discover more about a parallel universe that exists in their collective memory. Sounds trippy, right?

Britt Robertson (known for Under The Dome) stars as Casey alongside that heavyweight of cinema, George Clooney (playing Frank). The very talented Judy Greer and Hugh Laurie perform in supporting roles. You might wonder why such a large and phenomenal looking film rests near the bottom of our list. Well, there’s a lot here to recommend the film: a talented scriptwriter, director and a good cast. It also takes a place alongside Pirates Of The Caribbean, which is another film that was inspired by a Disney attraction. But when a film is so heavily dependent on SFX, you have to hedge your bets. So while this looks great, there’s no certainty just yet. Keep your fingers crossed.

8. Victor Frankenstein (October)

Fans of Daniel Radcliffe will no doubt recall the period, a couple of years ago now, where Dan was seen sporting hair extensions on a number of chat show appearances. The new look was, in fact, for his role in Victor Frankenstein. The new film looks at Mary Shelley’s infamous novel from a whole new perspective, Igor’s. We are privy to his life before his meeting with Victor Frankenstein, and see the creation of Adam (Frankenstein’s creature) through his eyes.

Radcliffe will be playing Igor alongside James McAvoy’s Frankenstein. Jessica Brown Findlay stars as Lorelei, and fans of the BBC show Sherlock will be happy to see that Mark Gatiss, Andrew Scott and Louise Brealey make up the supporting cast. If this isn’t enough to sway you then perhaps this will: the film is directed by Paul McGuigan, known for his excellent work on Lucky Number Slevin but perhaps most recently known as a director on Sherlock. The only suspicious fly in the ointment is that the script has been written by Max Landis (son of John Landis). His work up until now has not been spectacular, but the quality of the talent drawn to this script would suggest that his inexperience may just be a red herring.

7. The Danish Girl (November)

Still hot from the awards season, you will have no doubt seen this image of Eddie Redmayne, resplendent in a red wig. It is with great anticipation that the film industry looks towards his performance of the Danish artist, Lili Elbe, in The Danish Girl. The film is adapted from David Ebershoff’s novel of the same name and is based on the story of the artists Einar & Gerda Wegener and the implications on their life and art as Einar began to live as a woman (Lili Elbe).

The film is directed by the incredibly talent Tom Hooper (who previously worked with Redmayne on Les Miserables) and also stars Alicia Vikander as Gerda. The role was actually offered to a number of actresses (including Charlize Theron) before being placed in the hands of Vikander, who, like Redmayne, is on a career high after her performance in last year’s Testament Of Youth. I have no doubt that this film will be one of amazing quality and perhaps will also be an interesting move into onscreen discussions about gender identity.

6. Freeheld (2015)

Based on a the true story of a terminally ill detective and her girlfriend, Freeheld is packed with all the hallmarks of an Oscar-winning film. The original story was that of Lieutenant Laurel Hester, who fought to have her pension given to her girlfriend, Stacie, upon her death. A documentary (also called Freeheld) was made and went on to win the Oscar for Best Documentary (short subject) in 2008. The film which now shares its name and story is written by Ron Nyswaner (otherwise known as the writer of Philadelphia) and is directed by Peter Sollett (Raising Victor Vargas).

If that isn’t provenance enough, the film will star Julianne Moore, fresh from her Oscar win in Still Alice, alongside Steve Carell, who has proved himself to be a solid dramatic lead after his performance in Foxcatcher. Ellen Page stars as Stacie, while Luke Grimes and Michael Shannon take up supporting roles. Freeheld is heaving with quality talent, and while it might be stereotypical Oscar fare I have no doubt that it will be an impressive piece of filmmaking.

5. Black Mass (September)

These days you only need mutter the name Benedict Cumberbatch under your breath and at least 50% of the world’s population, this writer included, will turn out to watch. So it’s no surprise that the fifth film on our list stars our favorite gentleman detective. Black Mass is based on the true story of Whitey Bulger, a violent criminal who became an FBI informant. Johnny Depp, resplendent in heavy prosthetics, will play Whitey, while Cumberbatch will play his brother: state senator Bill Bulger. Although Depp has had a difficult time at the box office as of late, it is hopeful that this turn alongside the man of the moment will see him return to Oscar-worthy status.

The film is made by Scott Cooper, of Crazy Heart fame, and boasts a mixed but talented cast. Acting talent such as Juno Temple and Peter Sarsgaard appear in supporting roles, but so do Dakota Johnson and Sienna Miller. While they are not inexperienced actors, I do worry about them performing up against the likes of Cumberbatch and Depp. But all in all this looks to be an impressive film and will, in all likelihood, be very successful.

4. Everest (September)

There were originally supposed to be two films called Everest out this year, which would have been strange. Luckily, the biopic of Mallory has yet to make it to production, so we are left with Icelandic director Baltasar Kormakur’s epic Everest, which is about the 1996 disaster that took place on the mountain. Based on a true story, Jake Gyllenhaal stars alongside Josh Brolin and Sam Worthington. Keira Knightley and Robin Wright play in supporting roles, but I do worry that their performances might only be as “partner left at home,” which could be very disappointing.

The film combines a significant amount of information about the 1996 event, and is based on a number of books including Jon Krakauer’s memoir of the experience: Into Thin Air. Krakauer has previously been known for writing the book on which Sean Penn’s Into The Wild was based, and will be played by actor Michael Kelly in this film. Everest has everything you could desire in a film of its kind: a true story, a great cast and a real commitment to serious filmmaking. I have waited for this film for a long time, and can’t wait to finally have the chance to see it.

3. Legend (September)

Tom Hardy stars as both Ronnie and Reggie Kray in this biopic of the twin gangsters. Written and directed by Brian Helgeland (adaptor of LA Confidential & Mystic River) the film mainly follows Reggie as he attempts to control his brother Ronnie. While their reputation might not be known outside of the UK, within it they are infamous, with the film The Krays having previously been made with Martin and Gary Kemp (yes, out of Spandau Ballet).

Brian Helgeland’s career has been mixed but no doubt his penmanship of crime stories has been superb, and coupled with Tom Hardy’s acting range, I think this will be a solid biopic. And that’s without boasting of the incredible supporting cast that accompanies Hardy. The great English actors David Thewlis, Christopher Eccleston and Paul Bettany all play a part, as do two new Welsh hopefuls: Aneurin Barnard plays the photographer David Bailey (who he recently played in the BBC’s We’ll Take Manhattan), while Taron Egerton takes on the role of Edward Smith. Egerton has only recently burst on to the film scene, but as a talented actor I look forward to what he brings to this role. All in all, Legend looks to be a stunning piece of work.

2. Bridge Of Spies (October-November)

Bridge Of Spies is the first outing in a long while for the brilliant pairing of Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks. The film is based on the true story of James Donovan, an American lawyer who, during the Cold War, was sent into the USSR by the CIA to rescue an American pilot. Accompanying Hanks onscreen are Alan Alda and the formidable presence that is Mark Rylance. Outside of the British theatre, and the recent BBC series Wolf Hall, Rylance‘s reputation is minuscule, but he is a great actor and I look forward to his soon becoming an Oscar-nominated star.

As with most Spielberg films, you can expect a quality production, with Janusz Kaminski on cinematography, Michael Kahn on editing, and a score by John Williams. Unfortunately, Spielberg’s right-hand woman, Kathleen Kennedy, is missing as executive producer, with her being busy on Indiana Jones 5 and the new Star Wars films. Also missing is Kennedy’s husband, and Spielberg’s other longtime collaborator, Frank Marshall, who is likewise working on Indiana Jones 5 and the new Bourne films. I do hope that this film doesn’t suffer as a result.

The only other sticking point is that the screenplay has been written through the combined efforts of Matt Charman and the Coen Brothers. Prior to this, Charman’s career high has been with the BBC series Our Zoo, and although the Coens have won Oscars for their writing, they have also written some real turkeys. This is perhaps the only fly in the ointment of what has all the makings of a great film.

1. Inside Out (June-October)

Oh yes, after all the true crime and heartache of the list above I think what you should really look forward to this year is a computer-animated film about the little people that live in a young girl’s head. And let me tell you why. For all the true stories, the great actors, and the stylish directors, what people really want from their film-watching experience is a quality piece of work that makes them feel something. And when it comes to quality film feelings you can’t do much better than Pixar.

Inside Out is the tale of a young girl, the beings (a.k.a. her emotions) that live in her head, and what happens to her when they mess up their jobs. Pixar is known for their superior quality films, in this case it is especially so as the film is helmed by Pete Docter, who is known for his work on Monsters Inc. and Up. Pixar is also known for its impressive casting, and Inside Out is no exception. The voice cast is a comedy nerd’s dream, with Amy Poehler, Mindy Kaling, Bill Hader, Phyllis Smith and Lewis Black performing as young Riley’s emotions.

But it’s not just quality that makes this film the head of our list. It’s also here because it is about a universal truth, about sadness and the ongoing saga by both adults and children alike. This film is most likely one of the most important films of the year because, like past Pixar films, it will bring us together under a united hope to feel better about ourselves. You can talk to me till the cows come home about how cutting edge and brave and dark a film is. But ultimately you want a film to make you feel good, and you deserve a film that will make you happy. Inside Out just might be that film.

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Conclusion

So that’s going to be our year. I know it’s weak on the female front, but luckily a number of other quality films are arriving this year where women do take the lead. You may have also noticed that many of our films fall in the autumn months, but that’s the nature of the beast; the more serious biopics arrive after the summer blockbusters for the beginning of awards season. You may also think that I haven’t played fair by not including the franchises. But I know you’re smart people and will understand that I wouldn’t want to short change you by just repeating what you already know.

If you are actually at a loss for what franchise films to expect this year or would like to see what else is being released, but didn’t quite make it to the Top 10, have a look at the lists below. It’s going to be a brilliant year and I wish you well in whatever films you choose to watch.

Honourable Mentions: Carol, High-Rise, Icon, Midnight Special, Queen Of The Desert, Regression, The Early Years, The Lobster, The Sea Of Trees, The Walk.

Franchises: Ant-Man, Avengers: Age Of Ultron, Fantastic Four, Insurgent, Jurassic World, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Pt II, Terminator Genisys.

What do you think? Are there any films that you think are missing from our Top 10? What are you looking forward to seeing this year?

(top image source: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)