THE YEAR IN MOVIES - 2020
- 2020 was ... a year. And yeah, that's been a recurring theme in all of this year's Best of 2020 blog posts. 2020 saw a pandemic, an economic crisis, an increasingly unhinged and psychotic "President," an incredibly stressful and unpredictable election season, racial injustice and police brutality, and just, in general, unprecedented upheaval and chaos. In a lot of ways, this was quite simply a year spent in the darkest of timelines.
The last movie I saw in theaters in 2020 was Pixar's Onward. I remember going to the movies that night in March - there was a bit of an unsettled feeling in the air. I recall hoping that the theater wouldn't be at capacity, and feeling a bit nervous when I realized that it was close to it. Still, at that time, I never could have imagined what was to come - the severity of the imminent pandemic or how long it would last. I was lucky to have some really cool moviegoing experiences early in the year. I remember seeing Invisible Man with a great crowd - a perfect theatrical experience. I saw an Emma director Q&A at the Arclight in Hollywood, hosted by Elijah Wood. It was a ton of fun. I remember going with a group of friends to see the insane Nic Cage cosmic horror movie Color Out of Space - a gloriously weird midnight movie if ever there was one. I remember going to see the Alien-riff Underwater, because it seemed very much like my jam, and like a movie that needed to be seen on the big screen - I'm glad I did. I remember, after hearing so many great things about it, finally getting to see the superlative period drama Portrait of a Lady on Fire at the Arclight. It was an amazing movie that completely captivated me. While not technically a 2020 film, it was one of the best movies I saw this year.
Then, the pandemic hit. I was working from home, cut off from most friends and family. In those early days of quarantine, aside from a few new movies that jumped straight from theaters to digital, there were pretty slim pickings in terms of new movies, as studios scrambled to either push back release dates or else find a new distribution strategy. My work in digital distribution put me smack dab in the middle of this crazy new Wild West. Things very quickly got very crazy and very busy.
Since moviegoing is, normally, such a big part of my life - and since it soon became clear that we were going to be in this quarantine for the long haul - I talked to my girlfriend and we came up with a plan: we would create a Google Doc filled with movie themes, and we'd add to it whenever a new theme idea occurred to us. If a new movie was coming out, we'd plan a theme around it. The themes could be based on actors, directors, genres - pretty much anything. It was a fun and safe way to have something to look forward to every weekend of the pandemic. We made the plan and have stuck to it - and I'm so glad we did. We watched Hitchcock films, golden age Hollywood musicals, fantasy movies, and childhood favorites. We had a Body Swap-a-thon Marathon, a Time Loop Weekend, a Shark Weekend, a Weekend of Goldblum, a Merry Meryl Movie Marathon, a Ewan McGregor McMovie McWeekend, and of course (timed with the release of the new Bill & Ted), Keanu-Con. During October we had consecutive horror-themed weekends - like Scary 90's and Vampire Weekend - and continued the annual tradition of me throwing a Halloween Horrorthon. When Mank released, we paired it with a viewing of Citizen Kane. When Tenet finally became available at home, we paired it with my favorite Christopher Nolan movie Memento. We showed each other our favorite films, and watched a number of classics (everything from The Birds to The Jerk to One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) that neither of us had ever seen. It was the best of times, even in the middle of the worst of times.
Truly, a silver lining of 2020 was the chance to watch so many great movies - new and old. Certainly, this year did not see the volume of great movie releases that we've had in years' past. Big mega-budget blockbusters were rare this year - with most pushed back to a hypothetical future when theaters will be open once again. At the same time, a number of anticipated films saw production halted, and in turn saw delays. Where once many a film fan was a bit weary of the original films from streamers like Netflix and Amazon - especially the ones that mostly skipped theaters - this year, Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu's steady stream of original films that we could all watch at home was a godsend. And there's no denying that, just as in the last few years, many of the year's best movies could be found on streaming platforms. Of course, the pandemic quickly upended the entire distribution system - so, next year, we're going to get WB's entire theatrical slate day-and-date on HBO Max. What's clear is that many of the changes to the movie business that happened this year are going to stick around even post-pandemic. But man, I hope that theaters still find a way to stay alive and thrive in the years to come. While I'm all for movies going straight to the home when going to the theater is unsafe ... it will be a truly sad day if and when theaters are no longer an option in which to see a vast majority of first-run movies.
In any case, I've heard some ask why even bother listing the best movies of 2020. Did anything good or great even come out this year? My answer: an emphatic "yes!" - a lot of great films *did* come out this year. If anything, the lack of big blockbusters forced us to give smaller, quirkier, and less conventional movies a chance. By the same token, the delay of some of the more traditional Oscar-bait-ish movies forced us to consider less obvious films as potential Best of the Year candidates. But if you were a savvy movie viewer in 2020 - with access to several streamers and a VOD service - there was, in fact, a lot of great stuff to watch even in this craziest of years.
So here is my list. Movies meant a lot to me in 2020, and so a lot of the films below in turn - they meant a lot. I'm glad we still got so many new movies, and so many good ones. That said, I look forward to, hopefully, going back to a theater in 2021. A big group of friends, a huge IMAX screen, and a new Marvel movie on opening weekend? Yeah, that ... that would be nice.
One last note: since this was a really weird year for movie releases (with many major Oscar contenders not actually releasing wide until January or February 2021), here is my criteria for this list: any movie that received *at least* a major limited theatrical release in 2020, or was released straight to streaming/digital in 2020. That means that a few films, like Promising Young Woman and News of the World - that many won't see until 2021 - are in fact on this year's list. But others, like Nomadland and Minari - that I have not yet seen (nor has anyone yet seen save select movie critics) - are not on the list.
DANNY'S BEST MOVIES OF 2020:
1.) Da 5 Bloods
- The great Spike Lee, with Da 5 Bloods, gave us one of his greatest movies to date. Pure rock & roll filmmaking from start to finish, this story of a group of Vietnam vets going back to jungle - decades later - in search of lost treasure felt like the film we needed most in 2020. A scathing, satirical, in-your-face movie that dealt with legacy and family and toxic masculinity and Trumpism - that looked at the underlying sickness infecting America itself in a way that only Spike Lee can - had many of the best movie moments of the year. From Delroy Lindo's delirious trek through the jungle (give this man an Oscar!) to the all-timer line of "Bloods don't die, they multiply" - there was so much greatness here. The movie makes you laugh, makes you cry, makes you cringe, makes you sit up on the edge of your seat from the tension of it all. It's full of blood, sweat, and tears and it takes you on a spiritual, emotional, and visceral journey into the proverbial heart of darkness. Da 5 Bloods pulled off a double whammy - it was, perhaps, both the most essential movie of 2020 as well as the most entertaining.
2.) Sound of Metal
- An absolute tour de force, Sound of Metal is literally difficult to watch at times. The story of a drummer in a metal band who is losing his hearing, the movie puts you in his shoes - making you viscerally feel the loss of sensation, the distortion of sound. It is, at times, terrifying. But it's also incredibly affecting - anchored by a best-of-the-year performance by Riz Ahmed. Ahmed is so, so good in this one - an all-time great performance.
3.) The Assistant
- The Assistant tackles the #MeToo era with a powerful subtlety. At first glance, the film seems like a simple day-in-the-life story of a low-level entertainment industry assistant. But around the edges of the film, a darker picture begins to take hold - one that brilliantly mirrors the way many of us see bad behavior around the edges of our own day-to-day existence. With a stunner of a lead performance from Julia Garner, The Assistant was vital 2020 viewing.
4.) Palm Springs
- A brilliant, twisty entry in the time-loop genre, Palm Springs felt like a prescient film. After all, how many of us seemed to be stuck in our own personal time loops in 2020 - doomed to perpetually repeat the same basic stuck-at-home routines over and over again? Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti crushed it in this one, combining hilarity with heart and a healthy dose of hard-earned Millennial cynicism. The expertly-crafted script took the time-loop idea to a lot of very interesting places. At the same time, it gave us one of the year's most compelling and easy-to-root for on-screen relationships.
5.) Never Rarely Sometimes Always
- One of 2020's true hidden gems, Never Rarely Sometimes Always is a movie that deserves an audience. A moving, poignant, 100% authentic-feeling film - the movie tells the story of a teenage girl who finds out she's pregnant, and takes her best friend on a harrowing trip to get an abortion. The movie doesn't take its premise lightly - it thoughtfully examines all sides of the issue. In doing so, it paints one of the best portraits of teenage angst, struggle, and friendship I've ever seen in a film.
6.) Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
- Speaking of 2020 movies ... holy lord, Borat 2 was a much-needed annihilation of so much of everything that sucked this year. Sacha Baron Cohen took on right-wing bigots, anti-semites, COVID-deniers, and embarrassed Rudy Giuliani so badly that it was almost painful to watch. Cohen simply has no fear, and as always jumps right into the fray - using his over-the-top Borat character to cut right to the heart of the absolute worst aspects of our society. Best of all, he does so in absolutely hilarious fashion - with some of the most laugh-out-loud moments of any movie in years. Plus, credit he and co-star Maria Bakalova for not just being funny-AF, but for also bringing unexpected heart to the movie as well. Very nice!
7.) Spontaneous
- One of 2020's best and brightest indie surprises, Spontaneous is a much-welcome burst of genre-bending originality. It's a teen romance, but also a horror movie, but also a conspiracy thriller, but also a comedy/satire, BUT ALSO ... All I can say is that writer/director Brian Duffield knocks it out of the park, giving his directorial debut a vibrant, funny, and original voice. Who knew that a movie about spontaneous combustion could be this crazy-good? Katherine Langford kills it in the lead, the needle-drops are incredibly on-point, and the movie somehow works on just about every possible level even though it probably shouldn't. A minor movie miracle.
8.) The Platform
- One of the first new movies I watched post-lockdown, this Netflix original horror/thriller left my jaw on the floor. A mind-bending, high-concept social satire - the movie attacks the excesses of capitalism in gory, gruesome, violent fashion - concocting a what-if scenario that sees criminals locked in a towering, multi-leveled prison in which those at the top can thrive, but those on the bottom are left with mere scraps, if anything. To say more would be spoiling - best to go into this one cold. But rest assured, this movie will scar you and shock you in the way that only the best horror really can.
9.) Let Them All Talk
- A late-in-the-year surprise, this HBO Max original from the great Steven Soderbergh is an absolute joy to watch. This is one of those great films where you just want to keep hanging out with its characters even after the credits roll - because their conversations are so well-crafted, well-acted, entertaining, and absorbing. The film casts Meryl Streep as a novelist taking a cruise ship to the UK to accept an award, who mysteriously invites a pair of long-estranged friends - as well as her aspiring-writer nephew - along with her. What's really going on here? With so many great performances (including an all-timer supporting turn from Candice Bergen), the movie's central mystery is simply the icing on the cake.
10.) Onward
- The last movie I saw in theaters in 2020 was also one of my favorites of the year. Pixar's first of two 2020 movies was a fun adventure that, admittedly, felt a bit un-Pixar-ish. In fact, the movie's zany fantasy-world setting (chock full of awesomely geeky references), two-brothers-on-a-road-trip adventure story, and numerous goofy gags almost felt downright Dreamworks-ish at times. But what so impressed me about the film was that, all along, there were layers of emotional resonance just beneath the surface - culminating in an absolute gut-punch of an ending that is, in my view, among Pixar's most powerful big-finishes. So yeah, come for the absurdly fun geekiness, stay for the perfectly-planted emotional payoffs. At the end of the day, this may go down as an underrated but awesome Pixar gem.
JUST MISSED THE CUT:
11.) Run
- From the team that brought us the superlative thriller Searching, Run is another absolutely riveting thriller - that's just ingeniously clever and edge-of-your-seat exciting. And man, Sarah Paulson kills it. This is just pure popcorn fun from start to finish - I only wish I'd been able to see it with a packed theater audience, because this one is filled with big-applause moments.
12.) Kajillionaire
- Director Miranda July tempers her trademark quirkiness with some real heart and soul. The film starts out as an offbeat tale of a family of low-level con-artists, but ends up as a surprisingly poignant story about love and identity and finding your own way on this crazy journey we call life.
13.) The Way I See It
- In a year of really good documentaries, this one was the best. Profiling photographer Pete Souza and his time in the Obama Whitehouse, the film was an extraordinary and powerful look at the shared humanity we'd lost in the era of Trump.
14.) I'm Thinking of Ending Things
- The latest bit of eccentricity from the one and only Charlie Kaufman, this Netflix original sees the always-great Jessie Buckley and Jesse Plemons paired as a new-ish couple en route to meet the parents. And then, this being a Kaufman movie ... weirdness ensues. A fascinating, thought-provoking movie - this one makes you thankful we've got creative visionaries like KAufman who continue to push the envelope.
15.) Feels Good, Man
- Another of 2020's incredible docs, this one is an absolutely fascinating look at how internet meme culture and toxic alt-right culture converged to make Pepe the Frog - a satirical underground comic book character - into an unlikely symbol of right-wing nutjobs, white nationalists, and Trump cultists. If you want to do a deep dive into how we got to the dumpster-fire that was 2020, this is a great primer.
THE NEXT BEST:
16.) Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
- Adapted from an August Wilson-penned play, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is a crackling film with sharp dialogue, great performances, and a whole lot to say about race, gender, life, death, and everything. And man, what a fantastic final performance from the great Chadwick Boseman.
17.) Lovers Rock
- Arguably the standout film from director Steve McQueen's Small Axe series of movies (each exploring race and social justice in London's West Indian communities), Lovers Rock is, on the surface, a straightforward tale of a night out at a party one evening in 1980. But along the edges, the movie has a lot going on - making it a deceptively thematically-rich and memorable film.
18.) An American Pickle
- Seth Rogen's man-out-of-time comedy is surprisingly poignant - often very funny, but also a film with a lot to say about heritage and tradition and what we've both lost and gained in modern times vs. times past. Rogen is great in it in a double-role too. And also, few films in recent memory have dealt with themes of Jewish identity so effectively.
19.) Mank
-David Fincher's highly-anticipated Netflix film had many of the qualities that make the director one of the most admired in the business: the movie looked incredible in striking black & white, and offered a deep, dense, layered look at the real-life inspirations behind the writing of Citizen Kane. And Gary Oldman went-all-in to deliver an acting master-class. While the movie at times meandered, it delivered some truly memorable moments in its tale of Old Hollywood drama.
20.) News of the World
- Tom Hanks reunites with Captain Phillips director Paul Greengrass for a good, old-fashioned Western epic that's got action, adventure, and plenty of inspirational speeches. Despite its historical setting, the film's got a message about truth and justice - in the face of lies and division in a torn-apart America - that rings true today.
21.) First Cow
- Speaking of Westerns - this quirky, comedic tale of the American frontier also provides a moving tale of unlikely friendship. A Jewish baker, a Chinese immigrant, and a rare cow make for a potent parable about the harsh principles upon which America was founded, and upon which it still operates. An indie gem.
22.) The Invisible Man
- I became a huge fan of director Leigh Whannell following his kick-ass sci-fi action movie Upgrade, and I'm an even bigger fan now after his amazing work directing this update to The Invisible Man. The film is ultra-intense, downright chilling at times, and features an awards-worthy performance from Elisabeth Moss to boot.
23.) Soul
- Pixar's second film of 2020 helped to end the year in movies on a high note. Who else but Pixar could make an animated family film that's filled with humor and hijinks and body-swapping - but also packed with meaningful messages about life, death, and about not letting chasing your dreams get in the way of appreciating what you already have? A beautifully-animated film with a lot to say.
24.) Hamilton
- One of the big movie events of the year was the Disney Plus release of Hamilton - and rightfully so. With Broadway and other play-houses shut down during the pandemic, it was cathartic to see such a vibrantly-filmed musical production. For me, I was brand new to Hamilton - as I'd been hoping to see it live. The show more than lived up to the hype - it's a brilliant musical whose original cast overflowed with talented performers.
25.) Promising Young Woman
-A candy-colored, punk-rock, pop-art revenge flick, Promising Young Woman is not your mother's prestige film. The movie is a clever, subversive, thought-provoking original - with an instantly iconic lead performance from Carrey Mulligan. I can't wait for people to see this one en masse in early 2021 and hear the discussions it provokes.
MOE GREAT FILMS OF 2020:
26.) The King of Staten Island
- Judd Apatow's dramedy about a messed-up kid (Pete Davidson) - trying and flailing to grow up and move past his lingering traumas and issues - was one of Apatow's strongest directorial efforts in a while.
27.) The Vast of Night
- This Amazon original was an awesome surprise - an earnest and super-likeable sci-fi movie that evoked golden-age 50's sci-fi and X-Files esque alien-abduction paranoia. The movie featured great characters, some real visual ingenuity, and some genuinely creepy moments.
28.) Black Bear
- This indie starred Aubrey Plaza in the performance of a lifetime, playing two variations of the same character in a unique, mind-bending drama. Plaza rules in one of the most powerfully raw performances of the year.
29.) Mulan
- The best of Disney's live-action remakes, this version of Mulan gave us thrilling action scenes, stunning scenery, and some legit gravitas. In a year without many blockbusters, Mulan provided some much-needed epicness.
30.) Totally Under Control
- This hard-to-look-away-from doc is the definitive chronicle of the United States' complete mishandling of the COVID-19 outbreak of 2020 under the inept and corrupt Trump administration. Frustrating yet compelling to watch, this is an important film that serves as a record of a year that must be learned from so that history is not repeated.
31.) Emma
- Featuring colorful costumes, plenty of dry wit, and a magnetic lead performance from the great Anya Taylor-Joy, Emma was a wonderfully witty and entertaining update to the Jane Austen classic.
32.) The Trial of the Chicago 7
- Aaron Sorkin's dramatization of the famous trial features an all-star cast, some memorable dialogue exchanges, and a story that feels extremely resonant today.
33.) The Midnight Sky
- George Clooney directs and stars in this sci-fi adventure that evokes the classic, golden-age works of Rod Serling and Ray Bradbury. Clooney's direction dazzles, and the script contains some great twists.
34.) Jingle Jangle
- Talk about a complete surprise - this Holiday musical was a ridiculous amount of fun. With a colorful, steampunk-inspired setting and a number of well-done musical numbers, this one was an unexpectedly perfect holiday movie guaranteed to make you smile.
35.) Ammonite
- This slow-burn period drama about forbidden lust features two of today's best actresses giving fantastic performances. Kate Winslet in particular is awards-worthy.
36.) Color Out of Space
- An instant midnight-movie cult classic, Color Out of Space features trippy Lovecraftian horror and a fully insane performance from Nic Cage - who starts out measured but, eventually, goes full Cage.
37.) Becky
- This compelling action/horror/thriller pits a thirteen-year-old girl against an invading gang of neo-Nazi assailants. The result is an over-the-top action-fest with some absolutely insane moments. A very well-done grindhouse flick.
38.) Underwater
- Already, the cult audience for this one is growing. And why not? It's Alien but underwater, with some excellent set-piece action sequences and a kick-ass performance from Kristen Stewart doing her best Ellen Ripley impression.
39.) Red, White and Blue
- Another excellent entry in Steve McQueen's Small Axe series, this one features John Boyega - in a fantastic turn as a rookie cop trying his best to enact positive change from the inside.
40.) Possessor
- It appears that a knack for pull-no-punches horror runs strong in the Cronenberg family. David's son Brandon directs this captivating sci-fi/horror thriller about a near-future assassin who inhabits others' bodies in order to better stalk her prey.
41.) Freaky
- A very funny, very entertaining body-swap horror/comedy, this one strikes a Happy Death Day-like balance between humor and horror that works to near-perfection. And man, stars Kathryn Newton and Vince Vaughn really go all-in.
42.) Enola Holmes
- An incredibly fun mystery/adventure, this one sees Millie Bobby Brown, as Enola, take up the Holmes family mantle of detective-hero extraordinaire (usually held by older brother Sherlock). This Netflix original filled the popcorn-blockbuster gap well this past Fall.
43.) Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
- A much-needed absurdist comedy, Eurovision was goofy as heck ... and yet had some real humanity too. But let's face it, at the end of the day, we're *all* all about the Jaja Ding Dong song.
44.) Save Yourselves!
- A sharp and funny Millennial satire, this is a fun and clever alien-invasion indie comedy that's admirable for what it's able to do on a limited budget. Original and funny.
45.) His House
- This British horror film combines creepy haunted-house scares with some interesting and not-often-explored thematic territory. A Netflix original that was one of the hidden horror gems of 2020.
46.) Bill & Ted Face the Music
- While it was always going to be a challenge to update early-90's icons Bill & Ted for 2020 in a way that worked, this long-delayed sequel gave it its best shot. The result was a movie that provided real joy and optimism in a bleak year - with a rocking ending that provided hope for a world in which we could all learn to be excellent to each other.
47.) The Old Guard
- This adaptation of Greg Rucka's comic book series got a script actually penned by Rucka himself, and that made all the difference. Rucka has always written some of the best strong female characters in genre fiction, and getting Charlize Theron to portray the film's lead immortal warrior proved a perfect fit.
48.) The Personal History of David Copperfield
- This whimsical update to the Dickens classic provides a funny and vibrant re-telling. A cast of virtual British royalty (Tilda Swinton! Hugh Laurie! Peter Capaldi!) help this one really come alive.
49.) Sonic the Hedgehog
- Last year we all made fun of Sonic the Hedgehog's lame-seeming trailer - but as it turned out, this movie was actually a ton of fun, re-worked CGI Sonic likeness and all. With Jim Carrey hamming it up as the villain, this one was an unlikely winner.
50.) Tenet
- I had my issues with Christopher Nolan's latest, but I wanted to include it here because, for all its faults, it still delivered some of 2020's most memorable cinematic sequences. Even lesser Christopher Nolan is still a wild ride - and still one-of-a-kind, must-see movie-making.
HONORABLE MENTIONS - OTHER RECOMMENDED MOVIES FROM THIS YEAR:
- Wild Mountain Thyme
- Red Penguins
- Prom
- Wander Darkly
- The Lovebirds
- The Croods: A New Age
- David Byrne's American Utopia
- Let Him Go
- Honest Thief
- Birds of Prey
- Valley Girl
- Come to Daddy
= The Lodge
INDIVIDUAL 2020 AWARDS:
BEST LEAD ACTOR:
1.) Delroy Lindo - Da 5 Bloods
2.) Riz Ahmed - Sound of Metal
3.) Chadwick Boseman - Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
4.) Gary Oldman - Mank
5.) Sacha Baron Cohen - Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
BEST LEADING ACTRESS:
1.) Evan Rachel Wood - Kajillionaire
2.) Aubrey Plaza - Black Bear
3.) Kate Winslet - Ammonite
4.) Julia Garner - The Assistant
5.) Elisabeth Moss - The Invisible Man
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
1.) Mark Rylance - The Trial of the Chicago 7
2.) Paul Raci - Sound of Metal
3.) Orion Lee - First Cow
4.) Colman Domingo - Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
5.) Sacha Baron Cohen - The Trial of the Chicago 7
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
1.) Candice Bergen - Let Them All Talk
2.) Viola Davis - Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
3.) Talia Ryder - Never Rarely Sometimes Always
4.) Dianne Wiest - Let Them All Talk
5.) Maria Bakalova - Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
BEST DIRECTOR:
1.) Spike Lee - Da 5 Bloods
2.) Darius Marder - Sound of Metal
3.) David Fincher - Mank
4.) Pete Docter - Soul
5.) Steven Soderbergh - Let Them All Talk
BEST SCREENPLAY:
1.) Da 5 Bloods
2.) Palm Springs
3.) Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
4.) Sound of Metal
5.) I'm Thinking of Ending Things
6.) Onward
7.) Run
8.) Never Rarely Sometimes Always
9.) Kajillionaire
10.) Let Them All Talk
And that's a wrap on the Best of 2020. Here's to all the great movies of 2021 - happy movie-watching in the New Year and in the new decade!
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