Reel life: Dann picks some of 2015's best, worst
<h3>Film critics notebook</h3>
As we segue into 2016, here are some final movie observations about the recently departed 2015:
<b>The Best Movie Poster:</b> Hands down, "Trainwreck." The photo of star Amy Schumer guzzling a bottle of spirits while gesturing us either to hold on or to get lost perfectly summarizes her character, and the randy character of the movie itself. Few posters project this level of personality.
<b>Worst Movie Trailer:</b> I have to name three, because each one revealed just enough information to ruin key plot points or to blunt the element of surprise. "In the Heart of the Sea," "The Water Diviner" and the upcoming "The Revenant." Remember, the role of trailers is to get people in theater seats. If the quality of the movie experience suffers because of it, Hollywood dismisses this as collateral damage.
<b>Dumbest Voice-Over Narration:</b> Emily Browning's Frances Shea in the fact-based British crime drama "Legend." In telling us the story of the infamous Kray twins, Ronnie and Reggie (both played to detailed perfection by Tom Hardy), Frances not only reveals information she couldn't possibly know, but also she continues to narrate the movie after dying of a drug overdose.
Granted, "Legend" isn't the only 2015 movie to be narrated by a character who turns out to be deceased. Just the dumbest one.
<b>Not So Accurate in Advertising:</b> If you have cable TV service from Xfinity Comcast, you might have noticed a special program offering called "The Best of 2015 Movies."
Click on it and you'll get 11 movies released in 2014. Another one, "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol," is from 2011.
<h3>Heads up, sports fans</h3>
What are some of the greatest sports movies ever made? Dann and Raymond's Movie Club reveals them when it presents "The Great Sports Movies" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 7, at the Schaumburg Township District Library, 130 S. Roselle Road, Schaumburg. Free admission! Clips from 14 of the best films based on boxing, baseball, football and other sports. Go to schaumburglibrary.org.