17. Trainwreck

Director: Judd Apatow

Release: July 30, 2015

Trainwreck is a showcase for the talents of its lead actress and screenwriter Amy Schumer, drawing heavily on the comedians own life to fuse low-brow wit with moment of truth and poignancy. It really is a star-making turn for Schumer, who demonstrates a dramatic range wider than most of her peers. The extended, conversational stretches of dialogue make Trainwreck feel innately Apatow-esque, but Schumer’s wry, ribald remarks ultimately make this his funniest cinematic release.

For the most part, about the first ninety per cent of the running time, the movie avoids cliche and sentimentality and succeeds in finding a balance when romance blossoms. The casting of Bill Hader as the movie’s romantic lead is a stroke of genius, as is the scene-stealing inclusion of a very impressive NBA superstar LeBron James.