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Best Films of 2020

As I’m sure you all know, 2020 was a difficult year for many people.  It presented us with all sorts of new challenges the likes of which most of us have never seen before.  It was especially tough for movie-lovers like myself, because in the town where I live and the surrounding areas, movie theaters were constantly being shut down, then reopened for a few weeks only to be shut down again.  That being said, I didn’t get to see nearly as many films as I did in 2019, and a lot of the films I did see were films I didn’t have time to write reviews for before the year ended.  For that, I apologize.  I think it goes without saying that all of the movies on this list are ones that I really enjoyed, and I recommend checking out all of them if you get the chance.  These are the films I enjoyed watching the most in 2020.  


Honorable Mentions: 

  • Mank

  • Babyteeth

  • Hamilton

  • Hunter Hunter



10. Da 5 Bloods

  

Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods is a unique story about a group of Black Vietnam veterans who go back to Vietnam to recover both the body of a fallen friend and a cache of buried gold.  The film is timely and relevant and deals with heavy subject matter in a way that is accessible, powerful, and at times, very funny.  







9. Sound of Metal

Darius Marder’s poignant and meditative directorial debut is a masterclass in both sound editing and acting.  Riz Ahmed shines as a broken musician who is adjusting to a life without hearing.  It’s a movie that tactfully examines any music lover’s worst nightmare.



8. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

  

This adaptation of August Wilson’s play contains the late Chadwick Boseman’s best performance.  The film is often fun and joyful but is ultimately a devastating account of what happens when you let anger and resentment drive you.

7. The Devil All the Time

The Devil All the Time is a Southern crime epic that reminded me of a cross between True Detective and The Place Beyond the Pines.  The story is complex and layered, and it jumps around from character to character.  Gradually, a twisted web of corruption and crime rears its ugly head until all of the characters collide for a powerhouse of an ending.



6. The Invisible Man

Director Leigh Whannell puts a fresh new spin on the classic Universal monster with this film.  The story contains shocking twists and turns that keep the story moving at a brisk pace. Elizabeth Moss is wonderful in the film, and she convincingly portrays a woman who is constantly on edge.


5. Run

Aneesh Chaganty’s sophomore effort is even better than his first in my opinion.  Run is a tense, gripping thriller that pulls no punches.  It’s anchored by a wonderful performance from Kiera Allen and packed with some really clever Stephen King references.





4. Tenet

Christopher Nolan returns to direct another complex, sci-fi mindbender, and Tenet most definitely does not disappoint.  It’s chock-full of spectacular special effects, hard-hitting action scenes, and intelligent concepts.  This is the type of film that only improves upon multiple rewatches.



3. Another Round

 

Another Round is a Danish comedy-drama about four high school teachers who strive to keep a consistent blood-alcohol level of 0.05% in order to be more lighthearted. The film starts out as a hilarious comedy that had me smiling and laughing quite often, but when the drinking experiment begins to derail the teacher’s lives, it becomes tragic. It’s a wonderful film about enjoying things in moderation, and it has what is in my opinion, the best ending of the year. It also contains one of the catchiest movie theme songs I’ve heard in 2020.



2. The Trial of the Chicago 7

 

The Trial of the Chicago 7 is one of the most socially relevant films I’ve seen in a long time.  It has witty, accessible dialogue, powerful messages, and the best acting of the whole year.  Sacha Baron Cohen is impossible to ignore as famous political activist Abbie Hoffman.



1. The Gentlemen

My absolute favorite film of 2020 is Guy Ritchie’s British gangster comedy The Gentlemen. This is easily Ritchie’s best work since Snatch and is destined to become a classic.  The storytelling is brilliant and complicated, and it only gets better with each viewing.  Though not completely flawless, The Gentlemen was the most fun I had in theaters all year.



Thank you for reading my reviews, and thank you for continuing to follow me on my film journey!  I can’t wait to continue my reviews in the coming year!

 

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