To say that 2020 was a weird year for movies would be the understatement of the, well, year. The fact is that it was incredibly hard to find let alone see the best films of the past year (with some only now getting distributed more widely via streaming platforms). Personally I believe 2019 was an incredibly hard act to follow with several marquee directors doing some career-best work coupled with a better than average slate of commercial fare too.
For me, 2020 was about much more lowkey simple pleasures, which is perhaps fitting considering what an unabashedly terrible year it was. Still, I found quite a few films that I did like a lot and while there are still many acclaimed 2020 films I have yet to see, having finally caught Minari (which is expected to perform well at the Oscars), I finally felt like I could reveal my annual top 10 list with the caveat that it could easily change once I get see more highly touted films like The Father.
But for now...
10) *tie Dick Johnson is Dead/Totally Under Control/The Reagans - I'm cheating a little bit by grouping all these docs together, but it was a particularly strong year for them and I didn't have a favorite among these. There was Showtime's partisan but still powerful takedown of the Reagan era in their multi-part, fascinating series on the 40th president and his wife. And speaking of presidents, Totally Under Control, which documents the failure to take the cov-d crisis seriously at all levels of government -- but especially by the Trump administration will make you hate the 45th president more than you already do. And finally, there is the incredibly moving and uniquely personal doc, Dick Johnson is Dead, a film about a woman grappling with the inevitable loss of her father by embraced it with grace and joy.
9) Freaky - I simply did not see this wacky and deliriously gory thrill ride coming. It takes a tried and true body swap premise to knew heights by introducing horror and by providing Vince Vaughn with his more endearing and enjoyable roles in several years. I was underwhelmed by director Christopher Landon's breakout hit Happy Death Day, but he seems to have perfected his vision of candy colored scares here in a movie that feels both like an homage and a total original. One of the more laugh out loud movies I've watched in a while.
8) Borat Subsequent MovieFilm - This unexpected sequel really grew on me. It's one of those movies that you can enjoy more on repeat viewings after the initial shock wears off. Who knew that there was still plenty of gas in the tank of this character, especially after so many horrible people who didn't get the jokes co-opted him as their own. All credit goes to Sacha Baron Cohen who has lost none of his daring and savage wit (he's also the best part of the overrated Trial of the Chicago 7) and Maria Bakalova, who is a revelation as his daughter. She ought to be Oscar nominated for her fearless work here, but will likely be passed over because of the Academy's consistent (and absurd) bias against comedy.
7) The Invisible Man -The most purely entertaining popcorn movie of the year was a modest hit but could have been a blockbuster if covid didn't knock the wind out of its sails. Elizabeth Moss is at her unhinged best (again, should be in the Oscar conversation, but won't be) and the movie's stunning visual effects put to shame far more expensive and far dumber action thrillers. It also deserves kudos to seriously tackling the often overlooked trauma of domestic abuse without cheapening it or overly sensationalizing it. A terrific, throwback crowdpleaser.
6) One Night in Miami - Regina King proves she's as adept at directing as she is acting with this effective stage-to-cinema translation. She gets four fantastic performances -- with the standouts being Leslie Odom Jr. and Kingsley Ben-Adir -- in this fictionalized piece about an evening where Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown and Sam Cooke, got together fought, laughed, commiserated and confided in each other about their fears and careers -- and how race plays a fundamental role in their lives. It magically avoids being either boring or preachy and winds up being invigorating.
5) Mangrove/Lovers Rock -It's hard to encapsulate the stunning totality of director Steve McQueen's ambitious Small Axe suite of films recounting the rise of the black civil rights movement in the UK. Every entry is excellent, but the first two are sublime. Mangrove is a stirring and passionate courtroom drama that is a showcase for its cast of known and up-and-coming actors. And the briefer, but no less beautiful Lovers Rock is a revelation -- one long, by turns tumultuous and tremendously sexy dance party that has to be seen to be believed. McQueen is an unparalleled craftsman. I can't wait to see what he does next.
4) On the Rocks - Bill Murray and Sofia Coppola managed to rekindle their Lost In Translation chemistry all these years later with this loving ode to New York City and complicated father-daughter relationships. If there was any justice Murray would finally win a well-deserved Oscar for his work here which perfectly balances his comedic timing with his glorious pathos as a bit of a Lothario who nevertheless adores his daughter (Rashida Jones) and teams up with her to determine whether her husband (a surprisingly subtle Marlon Wayans) is cheating on her. Underrated gem of the year.
3) Nomadland - A haunting and undeniably sad journey that feels like a very important movie of the moment, without ever feeling manipulative or opportunistic. Frances McDormand remains one of our greatest living actresses and she is surrounded by a remarkable cast of professional and amateur actors in this moody, moving look at a community of drifters who are making the most of their lives on the underbelly of the American economy. The movie just unfolds, and it's a richly rewarding experience I won't soon forget.
2) Minari - This beautifully rendered, almost old-fashioned story of a Korean family trying to forge a new life for themselves as farmers in Arkansas is damn near perfect. It's a tear-jerker to be sure, but also frequently quite funny and ultimately inspiring. The ensemble cast is incredibly lovable and believable, especially Steven Yeun, who has emerged as one of the great leading men and the scene-stealing child actor Alan S. Kim who just lights up the screen and seems to have wisdom well beyond his years. The rare film that everyone can and should enjoy.
1) Da 5 Bloods - Spike Lee's proves his triumph with BlacKKKlansman was no fluke with this sprawling, ambitious Vietnam war/PTSD epic. At its center is a remarkable performance by Delroy Lindo, my favorite of the year, as an ex-marine so damaged he's become a Trump supporter. The journey he goes on back to the jungle with some former comrades and his son in tow is exciting, informative and emotionally compelling. I watched this film twice within the span of just a couple days I was that floored by it. One of Lee's best -- and in my personal opinion -- the best film of last year.
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