68.) 99 Homes [10/20/2015]

If you have never seen a Michael Shannon movie, do yourself a favor and rent Take Shelter (2011), then go see 99 Homes; this movie, which followed the lives of those profiting off the misery of others after the housing crash of 2006, pulled off a rare feat: Rick Carver (Michael Shannon) was both despicable and relatable as he does terrible things to people for reasons which the viewer both hates and understands.

67.) Sicario [10/18/2015]

The Oscar contenders are out in full force, and Sicario could be a sleeper for Best Actor (Benicio Del Toro); while criticism levied against the film for it's depictions of Mexico as a run-down slum full of violence and decapitated bodies is certainly well-founded, as a film, the movie is an intense examination of the war against crime which is steeped neck-deep in grey, and Benicio Del Toro brings a difficult character to life in a way that he is both reviled and admired.

66.) Black Mass [10/15/2015]

I have been weary of Johnny Depp movies since The Tourist and Transcendence, but I am always a sucker for Boston-based crime movies (see: The Drop, The Town); this movie was great, and largely because of Johnny Depp playing a menacing Whitey Bulger scamming the FBI to grow his crime ring; the movie was so good, it rekindled my disappointment in Depp's less-than-stellar work.