2020 was a strange year for movies. When theaters closed it took a whole host of movies from us. Since then, movies came out to us in an IV drip rather than the typical firehose. While I’m mourning the loss of several summer blockbusters and horror flicks, I still had the chance to catch some exciting movies of 2020 that I would rank among my top ten.
10. The Invisible Man
I love it when horror functions on a higher level. When they nail it they truly nail it and Leigh Whannel’s take on the Universal Classic eschews the lewd bandaged-wrapped tropes of the character. It introduces a sleeker, more malevolent version and centers the story, not on the man himself but rather his victim: a woman tormented by her dead husband made to look insane. Elizabeth Moss elevates the entire movie with her acting and Whannel’s robocam movements and wirework do a fantastic job of selling “The Invisible Man.”
9. Impetigore
Here’s a horror movie you probably haven’t heard of. Joko Anwar’s latest flick shows off Indonesian folk horror. What starts as a creeping dread could easily derail but with each twist and turn it manages to shock and entertain. The ending plays out a monstrous revenge story and showcases some incredible makeup/effects work. When I recommend movies to people, I always came back to this movie as one of my true joys of 2020.
8. Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Sacha Baron Cohen might be the all-time master of cringe humor. I mean truly it takes not only lots of guts to do what he does but also cunning and wit to keep an interview subject in the room with him. Sure editing has a lot to play when it comes to this ridiculous pseudo-documentary but the real value is when Baron couldn’t make this up even if he tried.
This time around he’s got a fantastic collaborator in Maria Bakalova. I laughed my way through the first two-thirds but right around the time he goes to his Washington rally, it stopped being funny and started being scary. That’s the true genius of Baron’s film: by sugarcoating the satire with broad comedy he introduces us to the darkest corners of the American continent he can find. Plus, how many filmmakers can say they almost successfully took down the President’s lawyer?
7. Soul
This movie is not really for kids. It’s very linear and easy to follow sure, but it’s not truly approachable as far as kids are concerned. Its focus on abstract art stylings makes it by far the most abstract Pixar movie to date and its deft portrayal of the afterlife devoid of religious subtext takes guts. Not only that but they tell a story about pursuing one’s life purpose while accepting there’s more to this world than simply chasing a dream. There’s living.
I cried during the climax and I can’t truly say why. More than anything else I appreciated the love and attention given to the African American community in the film. Between the barbershop scene, scenes with Phylicia Rashad, and all the love for jazz music this movie feels authentic in a way prior Pixar movies couldn’t always manage.
6. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
The last, greatest performance of a rising star. Chadwick Boseman brought his A-game with him and so did everybody else. Unlike previous adaptations of stage plays, this feels like a tried and true movie. Whereas “Fences” felt like a camera mounted on a stage, “Ma Rainey” uses cuts, intercut scenes, direct splices, and all sorts of camera maneuvers to deliver an incredible piece. Viola Davis is a force of nature incarnate and I can easily say I was thinking about this movie for days afterward.
5. Black Boys
Few documentaries maintain their narrative thread over the duration like “Black Boys.” It’s full of hope and pain. It carefully treads over every aspect of young African American men’s lives combing through their dreams and aspirations demonstrating the deep racism and silent oppression of these dreams. In one sequence, it compares and juxtaposes slave auctions with the NFL draft.
It’s structured by section: Body, Mind, Voice, Heart. Each part delves deep into this world of young black men so thoroughly I couldn’t look away. People spill their hearts out on screen and I lamented what my country has done. I never felt lost in this movie; only hurt. But it’s the same movie that demonstrates pain can be helpful in instigating change. It’s a hidden gem still making the festival runs but should you get the chance to see it run, don’t walk.
4. Birds of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)
Few blockbuster flicks have such a unique vision as “Birds of Prey.” Honestly, this movie feels like a breath of fresh air after all the “Justice League” and “Batman” films. It pops colorfully. Its characters are brash and wildly emotional. It’s never afraid to dip into musical territory. Every actor looks like they’re having a fun time. If that’s not enough the fight choreography is one for the books.
Clearly, director Cathy Yan spared no expense in bringing this vision to life. Is it an almost epileptic music video at times? Yes! But that kind of verve and chaotic energy embodies our protagonist so perfectly this movie feels like a perfect representation. It’s a blast. It’s a dream. It’s also one of the only blockbusters to get major screentime before everything shut down.
Before “Tenet,” this was the last blockbuster I watched in theaters. Would it remain on the list had all the other blockbusters come out? I can’t say. I can say the originality of vision and the masterful execution merit this movie a place on my top ten, close to the top.
3. The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain
The murder of George Floyd brought up a long-standing topic all of America needs to deal with: police brutality. Many found themselves arguing over its mere existence while many more shook their heads as their personal realities were completely ignored. Kenneth Chamberlain breathed new life into this conversation with a photorealistic portrayal of a routine house visit gone horribly wrong.
Director David Midell knows how to build tension and how to pull his punches. Despite the title giving away the ending, you’re wrung dry with the constant tension of the movie. You know it’s going to go bad, it’s just a matter of how.
Frankie Faison carries the entire movie on his back. If I could nominate a single performance for an Oscar it would be his. His majestic performance carries true weight and goes beyond tragic into the Shakespearean. Faison makes us feel every breath, every beat. By the end, I wound up sobbing on the floor. Every minute, every second is filled with intensity. I can’t recommend this movie enough!
2. Feels Good Man
This movie feels eerily prescient. After catching it at Fantasia Fest, I have to say: it lives up to the hype. It charts a line from birth to death to the afterlife of the internet meme Pepe the Frog as his creator tries to get back what he lost when neo-Nazis put the frog on their flag. It sounds crazy and even as the documentary goes on it feels crazy, but the crazy part is: it’s all real. You can’t make this up!
“Feels Good Man” has a lot of ground to cover. It starts with Matt Furie’s origins as a happy-go-lucky cartoonist just out for a good time. It quickly delves into topics like internet etiquette, 4Chan posting, meme history, Meme Wars, the etymology of memes, Pepe as a cryptocurrency, the alt-right, President Donald Trump, Neo-nazis, and more. It’s a wild spin and one few could ever imagine. “Feels Good Man” threads the needle perfectly by spinning out into it’s more esoteric subjects but always yo-yoing back to Matt and his journey. It intersects each portion with animated sketches akin to Adult Swim bumpers.
I remember finishing this movie then immediately standing up and just freaking out. Over everything. It’s a wild ride. It’s hilarious. It’s artsy. It feels almost like an Adult Swim documentary. Its very unique and specific vision held me captive throughout its entire runtime.
1. Bad Education
I love a good house of cards dark comedy. After the joyous chaos of “Thoroughbreds,” director Cory Finley is really making a name for himself in this specific niche. Based on a true story, “Bad Education” follows a school district superintendent attempting to hold together everything he’s worked towards as an embezzlement scandal rocks the school he’s worked for.
It’s a tragedy and comedy in equal measures. Hugh Jackman delivers incredible scenes showcasing his powerful abilities. Allison Janney backs him up with her caustic behavior but also her vulnerability. The cast rounds out nicely with Ray Romano, Alex Wolff, Geraldine Viswanathan, and Rafael Casal and no minute is wasted. Jackman’s character straddles the line between likable and odious near-perfectly where he can fill a student with motivation in one scene and bully his accountant in the next. Watching him absorb pressure after pressure helps build-up to that collapse where he eventually cracks.
This movie has a lot of heart for all of its characters. In the end, we get a sense of why Jackman and Janney’s characters committed a crime: because they felt so small in this world they’d never get noticed. It’s easy to trace a line from beginning to end at just how tragic the whole thing is when you realize the impact this protagonist has had on so many kids.
With near-perfect cinematography and subtle shades of blue throughout, the film masterfully showcases its material. I loved laughing at the chaos unfolding. As 2020 showed us: our world is a house of cards waiting to fall and “Bad Education” really mirrored that.
Honorable Mentions:
I’m Thinking of Ending Things
Charlie Kaufman’s latest and greatest proves, once again, he’s making movies no one’s ever thought of. That this movie got made at all is a testament. Jesse Plemmons and Jessie Buckley deserve all the credit for walking us through this utterly insane world of his. Kaufman’s no joke when it comes to dense movies and this one’s a multi-watcher for sure.
Big vs. Small
A documentary that seems humble at first hones in on honest human emotion in a powerful way. Watching Joana Andrade process her trauma by becoming one of two record-breaking female surfers helps us understand ourselves a little better. While its pace feels more laconic it still gives us much to consider. Plus it has some real-life big wave surfing that feels utterly insane.
Mank
“Mank” is one of those movies that plays fine by itself but if you’ve seen “Citizen Kane” and know the history behind it, you realize you’re watching a masterwork. Telling the story of “Citizen Kane” in the same manner “Citizen Kane” told it is a feat worth recognizing. This level of attention to detail could only be found in a Fincher movie and every actor brings their absolute best. Amanda Seyfried triumphs in her role even as Gary Oldman drags the movie from one scene to the next. The witty dialogue is enough for a revisit and if you’re not careful you’ll miss several important allusions, but all told this movie feels deep and sympathetic and profound and oddly linked to our current day.
