Since 2011, I have been pulling together a list of the best movies of the year according to the Brisbane-based critics who I run into regularly at preview screenings.  Those films to have topped prior year lists have been Drive in 2011, Argo in 2012, Gravity in 2013, and Boyhood in 2014.

To come up with an overall top 10, I’ve used a simple points system and applied it to the list of each critic. It is as follows:
  3 points – the top film on each list.
  2 points – the films ranked between 2nd and 5th on each list.
  1 point – the films ranked between 6th and 10th on each list.


If two films finished on the same score, the film that appeared on the most number of top 10 lists is ranked higher (as an indication of wider approval).

This year there was a clear winner - Mad Max: Fury Road.   The film featured on 9 of the 12 top ten lists with 4 critics naming it as their top choice.  The film is expected to perform strongly when the Academy Award nominations are unveiled in a few weeks.

Critics were divided when it came to the other selections.  Only 3 films appeared on at least 50% of the top ten lists - Birdman, Inside Out and Sicario

On that note, here are the top 10 movies of 2015 according to Brisbane critics…
 

Brisbane Film Critics - Top 10 Of 2015
  1. Mad Max: Fury Road
2. Birdman
3. Inside Out
4. Sicario
5. It Follows
5. The Lobster
7. Foxcatcher
8. Selma
9. Ex Machina
10. Macbeth

You can view a table of all the votes and final scores by clicking here.

A big thanks to all the critics who were able to contribute. Hopefully we'll do it again next year!

You can check out information on all the Brisbane critics (along with their choices for the best and worst of 2015) below.
 

 

Matthew ToomeyMatthew Toomey

Born in Brisbane, Matt Toomey was introduced to the world of cinema when he landed a job at a video store fresh out of high school in 1995. A few years later, he started his own website and reviewed movies regularly on a community radio station. In 2005, he joined the team at 612ABC and can be heard reviewing the latest releases every Thursday on Brisbane’s highest rated breakfast program with Spencer Howson. He can also be heard weekly on ABC Wide Bay, Capricornia and Southern Queensland.

Website: www.thefilmpie.com
Twitter: @ToomeyMatt

 
 
Top 10 Released Films:
1. Inside Out
2. Selma
3. Mad Max: Fury Road
4. The Diary Of A Teenage Girl
5. The Walk
6. Citizenfour
7. Straight Outta Compton
8. Leviathan
9. Still Alice
10. Sicario
 
 
Best Australian Film:
Mad Max: Fury Road
Best Animated Film:
Inside Out
Best Documentary:
Citizen Four
Best Performance:
Bel Powley (The Diary Of A Teenage Girl)
Worst Film:
Ruben Guthrie
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
Shaun The Sheep Movie
Inside Out

 

Sarah WardSarah Ward

Sarah Ward is a freelance film critic, arts writer, and film festival organiser. She is a film reviewer and feature writer for artsHub, the Australian critic for Screen, a senior writer for Concrete Playground, the editor of Trespass Magazine, and a contributor to FilmInk, Metro Magazine and Screen Education. Her work has been published by the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Junkee, Lumina, Senses of Cinema, SBS Film, Televised Revolution, At The Cinema, and the World Film Locations book series. Sarah also chats about film weekly on ABC radio Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and the ABC's national digital channel.

Websites: www.artshub.com.au
www.trespassmag.com
www.concreteplayground.com
www.filmink.com.au
www.screendaily.com/reviews
Twitter: @swardplay

 
 
Top 10 Released Films:
1. Macbeth
2. The Lobster
3. Ex Machina
4. Mad Max: Fury Road
5. Inside Out
6. A Most Violent Year
7. Selma
8. Sicario
9. Far From The Madding Crowd
10. Far From Men
 
 
Top Unreleased Films:
1. Carol
2. The Club
3. Brooklyn
4. The Forbidden Room
5. Heart Of A Dog
 
 
Best Australian Film:
Mad Max: Fury Road
Best Animated Film:
Inside Out
Best Documentary:
Cobain: Montage Of Heck
Best Performance:
David Oyelowo (Selma)
Worst Film:
Entourage
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
Jupiter Ascending
Macbeth

 

Laurence BarberLaurence Barber

Laurence Barber is a film and television critic and freelance writer based in Brisbane. His writing appears regularly at Graffiti with Punctuation, SBS, and Metro Magazine, and his work has been featured at The Guardian, Senses of Cinema, Crikey, The Age, Archer Magazine and News.com.au.

Websites: www.letterboxd.com/Laurence
Twitter: @bortlb

 
 
Top 10 Released Films:
1. Mad Max: Fury Road
2. Inside Out
3. Mommy
4. Inherent Vice
5. A Most Violent Year
6. The Dressmaker
7. Ex Machina
8. Bridge Of Spies
9. Clouds Of Sils Maria
10. Selma
 
 
Top Unreleased Films:
1. Arabian Nights, Volumes 1-3
2. Carol
3. 45 Years
4. The Club
5. The Treasure
 
 
Best Australian Film:
Mad Max: Fury Road
Best Animated Film:
World Of Tomorrow
Best Documentary:
The Salt Of The Earth
Best Performance:
Charlotte Rampling (45 Years)
Worst Film:
Entourage
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
The Age Of Adaline
Mad Max: Fury Road

 

Baz McAlisterBaz McAlister

Baz McAlister is the editor of Qweekend magazine. A blow-in from the wilds of Northern Ireland, he started watching horror films at the age of ten and never fully recovered.

Website: bazmcalister.wordpress.com
Twitter: @bazmcalister

 
 
Top 10 Released Films:
1. Mad Max: Fury Road
2. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
3. Kingsman: The Secret Service
4. Ex Machina
5. The Martian
6. Birdman
7. It Follows
8. The Visit
9. '71
10. Top Five
 
 
Best Australian Film:
Mad Max: Fury Road
Best Animated Film:
Inside Out
Best Documentary:
He Named Me Malala
Best Performance:
Taron Egerton (Kingsman: The Secret Service)
Worst Film:
Jupiter Ascending
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
Fantastic Four
Mad Max: Fury Road

 

Garry WilliamsGarry Williams

Garry Williams is a reviewer for the 4ZZZ-FM Film Club broadcast each Thursdays from 6-7pm on 102.1FM.

Website: 4zzzfm.org.au/program/film-club
Twitter: n/a

 
 
Top 10 Released Films:
1. Amy
2. Youth
3. Going Clear: Scientology & The Prison Of Belief
4. Birdman
5. Foxcatcher
6. The Martian
7. Cobain: Montage Of Heck
8. Avengers: Age Of Ultron
9. Sicario
10. Truth
 
 
Top Unreleased Films:
1. Experimenter
2. My Ordinary Love Story
3. Filmed In Supermarionation
4. Drunk Stoned Brillaint Dead: The Story Of National Lampoon
5. A Sinner In Mecca
 
 
Best Australian Film:
The Dressmaker
Best Animated Film:
When Marnie Was There
Best Documentary:
Amy
Best Performance:
Michael Shannon (99 Homes)
Worst Film:
50 Shades Of Grey
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
Magic Mike XXL
Amy

 

David EdwardsDavid Edwards

David Edwards is the editor and film critic for The Blurb, a website that provides the latest news and reviews for arts entertainment in Australia.

Website: www.theblurb.com.au
Twitter: @TheBlurbMag

 
 
Top 10 Released Films:
1. Birdman
2. Clouds Of Sils Maria
3. Foxcatcher
4. Macbeth
5. Mistress America
6. Ex Machina
7. The Lobster
8. Me & Earl & The Dying Girl
9. Trainwreck
10. Sicario
 
 
Top Unreleased Films:
1. Carol
2. The Revenant
3. Sisters
 
 
Best Australian Film:
Mad Max: Fury Road
Best Animated Film:
Inside Out
Best Documentary:
Amy
Best Performance:
Juliette Binoche & Kristen Stewart (Clouds Of Sils Maria)
Worst Film:
Chappie
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
The Gift
Birdman

 

Peter GrayPeter Gray

Peter Gray is a Brisbane based freelance entertainment writer specialising in film. Currently the entertainment reporter/film reviewer for QNews, Queensland’s largest LGBT publication, and regular contributor to M/C Reviews and Hush Hush Biz.

Website: hushhushbiz.com
qnews.com.au
Twitter: @ratedPDG

 
 
Top 10 Released Films:
1. Mad Max: Fury Road
2. Birdman
3. It Follows
4. Sicario
5. Foxcatcher
6. Inside Out
7. Spy
8. Top Five
9. The Dressmaker
10. The Martian
 
 
Top Unreleased Films:
1. The Revenant
2. Spotlight
3. The Big Short
 
 
Best Australian Film:
Mad Max: Fury Road & Cut Snake
Best Animated Film:
Inside Out
Best Documentary:
Amy
Best Performance:
Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant)
Worst Film:
The Gallows
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
The DUFF
Mad Max: Fury Road

 

Gary McDonaldGary McDonald

35 years ago Gary’s movie career began as Publicist in film distribution in Australia and later Internationally.  He moved onto journalism, television production and freelance film work.  His 1st reviews were published late 70’s in full gloss colour street mag ‘Me’.  Over 3 decades reviewing film and tv, he is now with Fairfax Media 4BC and ABC.  His philosophy is ‘Don’t talk about it unless you have seen it’. Gary has current film and television production underway in the UK and USA.  Remember: ‘A good movie reminds us to feel’.

Website: n/a
Twitter: n/a

 
 
Top 10 Released Films:
1. The Theory Of Everything
2. Leviathan
3. The Imitation Game
4. Sicario
5. Far From The Madding Crowd
6. Love & Mercy
7. Southpaw
8. Birdman
9. Foxcatcher
10. In The Heart Of The Sea
 
 
Top Unreleased Films:
1. An
2. The Look Of Silence
3. Theeb
4. Carol
5. Grandma
 
 
Best Australian Film:
Paper Planes
Best Animated Film:
Inside Out
Best Documentary:
That Sugar Film
Best Performance:
Steve Carell (Foxcatcher)
Worst Film:
50 Shades Of Grey & Pixels
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Theory Of Everything

 

Dave CreweDave Crewe

Dave is a full-time teacher and part-time freelance film critic. You can mostly find his work at ccpopculture, but he’s also been published by the likes of The Guardian, SBS, Metro Magazine, Screen Education, Junkee and The Big Issue.

Website: ccpopculture.com
Twitter: @dacrewe

 
 
Top 10 Released Films:
1. It Follows
2. The Lobster
3. Infinitely Polar Bear
4. Sicario
5. Dope
6. The Dressmaker
7. Mad Max: Fury Road
8. Foxcatcher
9. 99 Homes
10. Creed
 
 
Top Unreleased Films:
1. Sherpa
2. Beyond The Lights
3. Tehran Taxi
4. Spotlight
5. Carol
 
 
Best Australian Film:
The Dressmaker
Best Animated Film:
Inside Out
Best Documentary:
Cobain: Montage Of Heck & Herpa
Best Performance:
Bel Powley (The Diary Of A Teenage Girl)
Worst Film:
Entourage
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
Jurassic World
It Follows

 

Jesse ThompsonJesse Thompson

Jesse Thompson is a film critic and radio producer. He contributes to ey-based film reviewing website 4:3 Film and expresses opinions on new release movies each Thursday from 6pm on 4ZzZ’s Film Club.

Website: www.fourthreefilm.com
Website: www.4zzzfm.org.au/program/film-club
Twitter: @je_thom_

 
 
Top 10 Released Films:
1. Clouds Of Sils Maria
2. It Follows
3. Sicario
4. Inside Out
5. Mad Max: Fury Road
6. Mommy
7. Selma
8. Inherent Vice
9. The Salt Of The Earth
10. Magic Mike XXL
 
 
Top Unreleased Films:
1. The Assassin
2. Cemetery Of Splendour
3. Hill Of Freedom
4. Breathe
5. Results
 
 
Best Australian Film:
Mad Max: Fury Road
Best Animated Film:
Inside Out
Best Documentary:
The Look Of Silence
Best Performance:
Kristen Stewart (Clouds Of Sils Maria)
Worst Film:
Chappie
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
We Are Your Friends
Clouds Of Sils Maria

 

Ella DonaldElla Donald

Ella is a journalism and arts student who decided to start writing reviews when she was 16 because she had too much fun defending why she loved Zack Snyder’s Sucker Punch. In addition to writing for her blog Monumental Pictures, her writing has also been featured on many publications, including The Seventh Row, where she is an editor, and An Online Universe. When she’s not trying to write about everything she’d like to she enjoys calling out bad French in English language films, fangirling over various actors, and arguing about Awards Season.

Website: monumentalpictures.wordpress.com
Twitter: @_pingus

 
 
Top 10 Released Films:
1. Mad Max: Fury Road
2. Mistress America
3. Wild
4. The Dressmaker
5. The Lobster
6. A Most Violent Year
7. Selma
8. Mommy
9. Top Five & Magic Mike XXL
10. Girlhood
 
 
Top Unreleased Films:
1. Carol
2. Respire
3. Spotlight
4. Brooklyn
5. Mustang
 
 
Best Australian Film:
Mad Max: Fury Road & The Dressmaker
Best Animated Film:
Inside Out
Best Performance:
Carey Mulligan (Suffragette), Kristen Stewart (Clouds Of Sils Maria), Suzanne Clement (Mommy)
Worst Film:
Irrational Man
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
Paper Towns
Mad Max: Fury Road

 

Shayne GrieveShayne Grieve

Shayne has successfully been able to manipulate his addiction and obsession with film into a full time career. When not attempting to moonlight as a film critic, you can find him indoctrinating the youth in his Film and TV classes. Huge genre fan. Bigger geek. He tears up frequently when attending the cinema. Editor-in-chief @ www.thisisfilm.com. Also contributes to Scene Magazine and Moustache Magazine.

Website: www.thisisfilm.com
Twitter: @ShayneTIF

 
 
Top 10 Released Films:
1. Birdman
2. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
3. The Lobster
4. Mad Max: Fury Road
5. Macbeth
6. Ex Machina
7. Inside Out
8. It Follows
9. Selma
10. Beasts Of No Nation
 
 
Best Australian Film:
Mad Max: Fury Road
Best Animated Film:
Inside Out
Best Documentary:
None
Best Performance:
Marion Cotillard & Michael Fassbender (Macbeth)
Worst Film:
Fantastic Four
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
Dope, Spy, Unfriended
Birdman