Tiny's Faves for 2015

As I was thinking about all the movies I'd seen this year, I realized there were only two films that I really got excited about....  But SO many TV shows.

Time and time again this year, I found myself leaving the movie theater feeling extremely disappointed. (Before I go any further, let me quickly say that I’m not really into fantasy franchises, so I haven’t seen Mad Max or Star Wars. I’m sure they’re great. Just not my genre.) 

There were a few movies that I did enjoy. I liked Trainwreck and I thought Straight Outa Compton was very good, but most of the time, all the movies that Hollywood had to offer felt lazy, predictable and even cringeworthy. So, rather than driving to the movie theater, paying for parking, paying at least $16 for the movie ticket, then paying an insane amount for genetically modified popcorn and fountain soda, it seemed like a much smarter move to get in my comfy jammies, microwave my own popcorn, lie on my couch  and binge watch some amazing TV. 
Here’s what I went nuts for this year:

Making A Murderer (Netflix)

Netflix released the entire series Dec 18th. By Dec 20th I had binge watched all ten episodes and had begun to sink into a deep depression as a result of what I'd just seen. This show is a shocking example of how fucked up and corrupt the US justice system is.. If you haven’t watched it yet, I hope this doesn’t deter you from doing so. Yeah, it’s hard to watch and it weighs on you, but Making A Murderer is a must see. THE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THE TRUTH, DAMMIT!!!!!

The Jinx (HBO)

If Making a Murderer is a prime example of how poor people in America can get screwed by the justice system, then The Jinx is the perfect example of how you can pretty much get away with anything if you have enough money - *SPOILER ALERT* - including chopping your next door neighbor into pieces and throwing his body parts in a lake! The thing is, The Jinx didn’t make me nearly as mad as Making A Murderer did because there is something fascinating and comical about it's subject, Robert Durst. Dare I say he’s almost likeable. I think his likability comes from the fact that he’s quite self deprecating and will happily draw attention to his flaws – unlike the self righteous, grand standing members of the Manitowac County Sheriff’s department and the special prosecutors that convicted Steven Avery and his nephew Brendan Dassey in Making A Murderer.
The other thing that The Jinx has going for it - aside from one of the most bizarre real life characters ever on TV - is it’s director Andrew Jarecki. This guy is slick and a master of his craft. Side note: If you haven’t yet seen his 2003 directorial debut; Capturing the Friedmans, please do so immediately.

Getting On (HBO)

I have never seen such three dimensional characters on a sitcom before. Not to mention that these three dimensional characters are female!!! In addition to the great writing, I honestly cannot say enough good things about the three lead actresses playing these roles; Alex Borstein, Laurie Metcalf and Niecy Nash.  These ladies had me feeling ALL the feels. Their comedic timing is on point but they also know how to tug at your heart strings. On several occasions I found myself laughing out loud and choking back tears in the same scene. I’m so sad that the third season of this show will be the last. I only just got hooked! I highly recommend subscribing to HBO streaming, even just for one month, so you can binge watch all three seasons.

Master of None (Netflix)

It took me a little while to get in to this, (and I’m gonna be really mean and say that I found his tall, white friend with the beard insanely annoying and not funny) but I really ended up warming to this show and was so impressed that the creators clearly went out of their way to have as much diversity in the casting as possible. This is what pretty much EVERY show on television should be doing as a matter of responsibility. Nice job, Azis Ansari.

Transparent (Amazon)

I have loved Jill Soloway ever since I saw her debut feature Afternoon Delight when it came out a few years ago. Transparent has her same sensibility and feels very much like an extended indie film. What makes this show so authentic is that it’s inspired by Soloway's actual relationship with her father who transitioned from male to female. You can stream both seasons on Amazon Prime. Also, you should check out Soloway's amazing speech from the AFI Directing Workshop for Women. She is a true champion of women in film.
Click here to read it in full:  Jill's Amazing Speech

Crazy Ex Girlfriend (CW)

This one is just plain silly fun. There’s not much more to say, other than; Rachel Bloom is a brilliant comedic actress and I genuinely laughed out loud a lot while watching this series – Oh also – it’s kind of a musical. But don’t let that stop you. There’s usually only one song per episode and they are always ridiculously hilarious. See “The Sexy Getting Ready Song” below. My only complaint about this show is that there were only 8 episodes. I really hope they renew it for a second season. I needed a good laugh after all the true crime I’d been watching.

How To Get Away With Murder (ABC/Netflix)

Okay I’ll be honest here. This show is basically a soap opera, but damn, it's addictive and Viola Davis is such a badass! Also - THANK YOU to Shonda Rhimes for creating a show where the lead character is a complex woman of color over the age of 40. Also, thank you again Shonda, for hiring an equal amount of female and male directors for this show. It’s people like you that give me hope for the future of the entertainment industry.

There were many more TV shows I loved this year; The Affair, The Fall and Broadchurch just to name a few. But there are still so many shows I have heard great things about that I haven't had a chance to watch yet; Empire, Mr. Robot, Fargo, and Jessica Jones. Unfortunately, there are only so many hours in the day. And I DO have a life, thank you very much.

OK - now to movies. Like I said before, there were only two I really liked. What were they?

Tangerine

Made for $100K and shot on the iPhone 5, this film is somewhat of a revelation . I’m a huge fan of Sean Baker and loved his previous feature film Starlet. I think Tangerine is almost as good (some would argue even better). Those of you who read my blog regularly know that I am extremely passionate about microbudget filmmaking, and Baker is a perfect example of how one can use a smaller budget to their advantage. Sure $100K may seem like a lot to some of us but by Hollywood standards it’s peanuts. This movie is also a must see for the wonderful comedic performances from first time actresses Mya Taylor and Kitana Kiki Rodrgiuez. You can stream Tangerine currently on Netflix.

The Diary of a Teenage Girl

Marielle Heller's brilliant debut feature felt like a breath of fresh air among the Hollywood blockbusters this year. Every moment in this film is masterfully crafted and the performances that she gets from her actors are so honest and brave. It also has a kick ass soundtrack. If you missed this one at the cinemas be sure to check it out on VOD. I hope that the industry took notice of this film and that Marielle Heller is rewarded with a long and successful career as a director because I’m dying to see more of her work.

So that's my take on TV and movies for 2015. I hope 2016 has some much better films to show for itself and maybe not so great TV shows. If there are as many good series as there were this year, I'm gonna have to quit my job and spend my life in front of the TV in my pajamas.