True Story (2015)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2273657/

Very good - and I rarely say that about anything James Franco is in. A true true story, the pace is good and the main characters well played, keeping you guessing throughout. 

The Gunman (2015)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2515034/

Excellent thriller, in the same genre as the Bourne trilogy. A few hiccups along the way (no way he passes out on a Barcelona street, and wakes up hours later with all of his belongings) but otherwise good performances (except for Javier Bardem - scenery chewing to rival Jack Nicholson) and great action. 

Beyond the Reach (2014)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2911668/

Lame remake, with Michael Douglas doing his toothy best to be suave and evil but failing miserably. The story also tries to go in too many different directions, and so you lose (even more) interest in the main contest. 

First movie was Savage http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072116/, based on the YA novel Deathwatch (a boys classic). 

Deep Web (2015)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3312868/

An interesting but ultimately self serving/biased documentary about Silk Road and the darker side of the Internet. Little to no sympathy is established for Ross Ulbricht, and the reality is that he WAS the real Dread Pirate Roberts. While the questions around the legality of the investigation are real, there is little sympathy for the rights of people whose main civil disobedience was to make millions of dollars facilitating illegal and harmful activities. 

Kajaki (2014)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3622120/

Excellent film depicting the tension and horror of a team trapped in a minefield. This film compares favourably (and is better than) it's Hollywood cousins Lone Survivor and American Sniper. It's not for the faint of heart or stomach but a gripping intense story with wonderful portrayals of the people. 

The Living (2015)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2950236/

Interesting little tragedy with a little room for improvement. The storyline between the brother and the hit man could have been more thorough and been more interesting. Alternatively, the story between the sister and the husband - exploring the relationship between abuser and victim (which actually swings back and forth a bit, as the sister definitely gives as good as she gets emotionally) - could also have been more thorough and interesting. Perhaps two different movies would be required. The character of the mother is completely unnecessary except for her nagging (which provides some context to the sisters treatment of her husband) that sets the hit man plot in motion. 

Life is Sweet (1990)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100024/

Sad funny film about working class life in England in 1990. Crazy and creepy characters, a bit of a disorganized story but ultimately a sweet and intimate portrait. 

Dark Reflection (2015)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2662218/

Fascinating true story. The movie is very low key, bordering on made-for-TV quality, and the story tends towards the bureaucratic elements more than the human ones, but it still a compelling modern day investigation story. 

Quartet of creepiness

These Are The Damned (1961) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056576/

Never Take Sweets From a Stranger (1960) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054116/

The Snorkel (1958) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052207/ 

The Nanny (1965) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059496/

These Hammer films are from a classic series made in the 50s and 60s, and are very interesting, creepy tales, very much ahead of their time. Topics such as nuclear holocaust, abortion, pedophilia, and street gangs are all on offer, with great visuals, soundtracks, and surprisingly recognizable stars. One recurring theme in this quartet: children being truthful but not believed by adults. 

The Dilemma (2011)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1578275/

This movie is terrible. Ron Howard - seriously? How could such a (mostly) good group make such crap? This movie is not funny, it is not serious, it is just boring. The scenes that are trying to be funny or slapstick go on for far too long, the premise is silly, and none of the characters is even remotely endearing or empathetic. And what the heck was that sidebar story line about engineering and cars? Ridiculous. 

Faults (2014)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3021360/

An okay film about a girl in a cult and the attempt to deprogram her. The tense dance between the leads is good (excellent performances) but too often gets disconnected by the external factors in the life of the deprogrammer. The conclusion is also not very satisfying - an attempt at a twist that both unsatisfactory and unconvincing. 

Also check Holy Smoke http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0144715/, Harvey Kietel and Kate Winslet. 

Let Us Pray (2014)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3148348/

An interesting version of the "you're all going to die tonight" movies. Good performances lift this one above the average, although the sidebar story of the evangelist but evil police captain keeps it a bit too weird for mainstream. 

Similar to Devil (2010) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1314655/

Focus (2015)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2381941/

Only made it through the first 30 minutes - completely uncaptivating. 

Northmen: A Saga (2014)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2290553/

A lame amalgam of Scottish and Norse and a bunch of other stories and accents. 

The Cobbler (2014)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3203616/

A pleasant surprise, this fable in modern day works almost all around. I event didn't mind Adam Sandler, so that's high praise. Ellen Barkin is the only outlier, barely believable as the evil gangster. Otherwise, well worth watching.