Essential 2015

It's that time of the year again, time to take a look back at the finest films and music released this year. Complete review of each title can be found under the monthly issued "Essential" columns below.

ESSENTIAL VIEWING THIS YEAR:

1. AMY, dir: Asif Kapadia

2. BIRDMAN (OR THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE), dir: Alejandro Gonzàlez Iñárritu

3. WILD TALES, dir: Damián Szifron

4. INHERENT VICE, dir: Paul Thomas Anderson 

5. WHIPLASH, dir: Damien Chazelle

6. MAD MAX: FURY ROAD, dir: George Miller

7. THE END OF THE TOUR, dir: James Ponsoldt

8. MISSISSIPPI GRIND, dir: Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck

9. A MOST VIOLENT YEAR, dir: J.C. Chandor

10. BONE TOMAHAWK, dir: S. Craig Zahler

ESSENTIAL LISTENING THIS YEAR:

1. LEON BRIDGES, COMING HOME

2. CALEXICO, EDGE OF THE SUN

3. EL VY, RETURN TO THE MOON

4. RYAN BINGHAM, FEAR AND SATURDAY NIGHT

5. THE WAINWRIGHT SISTERS, SONGS IN THE DARK

6. DANIEL NORGREN, ALABURSY

7. THE AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT, DOPE MACHINES

8. ELLE KING, LOVE STUFF

9. JAMES TAYLOR, BEFORE THIS WORLD

10. THE DECEMBERISTS, WHAT A TERRIBLE WORLD, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL WORLD

2016, get to work.