Will’s Top Ten 2020 Films

I don’t have to tell you the last year’s been a bit… strange. (At least that’s a nice word compared to, I dunno, “world-wide shit-show.”) Yet movies plenty of good movies were still released (some of them even played in theaters!). Because of, you know, pandemic stuff, The Academy has considered movies released from January 2020 through February of this year for their awards ceremony, so I played ball and did the same for my list. And so, after a few honorable mentions, here are my ten favorite films released in that time frame. Happy watching!

Some Very Honorable Mentions…

As implied, these are some movies I liked that didn’t quite make the list. Check em out! ‘The Assistant’ (now streaming on Hulu), ‘Emma.’ (now streaming on HBO Max), ‘The Invisible Man’ (now streaming on HBO Max), ‘Saint Frances’ (now streaming on kanopy and STARZ), ‘First Cow’ (available to rent), ‘Never Rarely Sometimes Always’ (now streaming on HBO Max), ‘The Vast of Night’ (now streaming on Prime Video), ‘The Forty-Year-Old Version’ (now streaming on Netflix), ‘S#!%house’ (available to rent), ‘Sound of Metal’ (now streaming on Prime Video), ‘Nomadland’ (now streaming on Hulu), ‘Minari’ (available to rent), ‘The Father’ (available to rent).

10. Palm Springs

A hilarious, smart and lovable time-loop movie that’s also low-key the best rom-com in ages. Starring Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti (both excellent) with a terrific supporting turn from J.K. Simmons. A total blast. (Now streaming on Hulu.)

9. Saint Maude

If you see one horror film from this year, please let it be A24’s mesmerizing little mood piece from first-time feature filmmaker Rose Glass. Stellar Welsh actress Morfydd Clark is a recently converted and extremely devout Roman Catholic hospice worker who becomes dead set on saving the mortal soul of her patient (Jennifer Ehle) whom she sees as most sinful. Thought-provoking, acted to perfection and, oh yeah, creepy as hell. (Now streaming on EPIX. I know, you don’t have EPIX. I know, no one has EPIX. Just get the free trial or something. Come on, I dare you.)

8. News of the World

In the aftermath of the Civil War a news-reader (Tom Hanks, who’s, I guess, kinda likable or whatever) reluctantly agrees to escort a young girl (the terrific German actress Helena Zengel) through some pretty hairy territories to the family she has left after a Native American attack. It’s directed by Paul Greengrass, though, don’t worry, this one won’t make you seasick. I think ‘News of the World’ stands very well on its own, though I should note I’m certainly a sucker for an old-fashioned western. Also is it too late to swap Glenn Close out for the 12-year-old Zengel for a best-supporting actress nomination? (Available to rent.)

7. Da Five Bloods

Part adventure movie, part war film, part character study with a little ‘Treasure of Sierra Madre,’ a little ‘Apocalypse Now’ and whole lotta Spike Lee. Lee (thankfully) took this project over from Oliver Stone and created something wild, unique, exciting and truly of this moment in time. Featuring one of the final Chadwick Boseman Performances (he’s great of course), and I’ll join the chorus in asking “what the hell?” to no Best Picture or Delroy Lindo nominations. (Now streaming on Netflix.)

6. Tenet

Yeah, that’s right. I’m a Nolan bro, baby! No, I didn’t really understand it on first watch. And no, I don’t completely understand all of it now. Screw it, this is top notch action spectacle with a pair of charismatic movie stars (John David Washington and Robert Pattinson) at their most charming, and a rockin’ score by Ludwig Göransson. Look, of the big writer/directors out there, Christopher Nolan hardly seems like the one who gets people the most. Therefore I’m happy to ditch the ineffective musings on love from the likes of ‘Interstellar’ and simply have him deliver the kind of knowingly-cold, kick-ass sci-fi actioner he does best. Also if you thought Kenneth Branagh hammed it up a bit as the bad guy in that Chris Pine Jack Ryan movie (which he also directed), wait till you see him chew up the scenery as a Russian arms dealer in ‘Tenet.’ Great stuff. (Available to rent.)

5. Soul

Sweet, heartbreaking and life-affirming; you know, Pixar at its best. Residing in a good cinematic family with past celestial dramas like ‘Here Comes Mr. Jordan’ and ‘A Matter of Life and Death,’ this story of Jazz teacher (Jamie Foxx) who dies too young and wants another shot at life is the family film of the year, and also comes with a lovely jazz score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. (Now streaming on Disney +).

4. The Kid Detective

Adam Brody stars as Abe Applebaum, who, as a child was his hometown’s beloved child detective, solving hundreds of small crimes worthy of the children’s books you probably think of when you hear a phrase like “kid detective.” Now he’s a thirty-something alcoholic desperate to be taken seriously as an adult private eye when a teen comes to him with a murder case. ‘The Kid Detective’ may not be for everyone, but if it happens to be on your wavelength, you’ll likely agree with me this little Canadian flick is a pitch perfect dark comedy destined for cult status. (Available to rent.)

3. Another Round

From Danish auteur Thomas Vinterberg (‘The Celebration,’ ‘The Hunt’) this wonderful comic drama concerns a group of friends, all teachers, who decide, based on a Norwegian philosopher’s questionable theory that we are all born with a blood-alcohol content of .05 too low, that they will put this idea to the test and day-drink to consistently maintain at least a .05 BAC buzz till 8PM every evening. And at first everything goes swimmingly. Martin (the lead character played by the irreplaceable Mads Mikkelsen) connects with his family better, and and becomes the kind of teacher his high school students actually look forward to having class with. His friends similarly seem to be living their best lives.

Of course then they suggest upping the booze intake. You can probably guess how some of this proceeds, but don’t expect this film to be some finger-wagging cautionary tale about the effects of the world’s most popular legal drug. Vinterberg’s no stuffy preacher, and his latest film is more of a discussion on life, family, friendship, and yes, the nice and not-so-fun effects of a few, or a few too many drinks. I give it a year or two before we get a shitty American remake, but why wait for that when you can watch this gem tonight. (Now streaming on Hulu.)

2. Judas and the Black Messiah

This true story of Black Panther leader Fred Hampton, told from the perspective of his FBI informant friend who would come to betray him (Bill O’Neill, played by LaKeith Stanfield) turns what could have easily been a by-the-numbers history lesson into an enthralling thriller. At 32, Daniel Kaluuya may be a hair too old to play Hampton, who died at 21, but it’s damn hard to care about that when the result is a performance this captivating. And as the counterpoint to Kaluuya LaKeith Stanfield gives a performance of quiet devastation as a man all-but forced to sell out his very humanity just after discovering it in the first place. (Available to rent.)

1. Promising Young Woman

While I have wished to see ‘Tenet’ on a big screen with a killer sound system, ‘Promising Young Woman’ is the explosive movie of last year I most wish I could have seen with a big audience. It’s also the movie that after watching I most wanted to see again (and I did soon after). Carey Mulligan, though always a joy to watch, has seemed somewhat stuck playing nice girls in awards-baiting costume dramas for over a decade (not to knock all of that, some of those movies I like very much). Oh boy, have we never seen her like this before. Mulligan plays Cassie, a young woman on a sort of revenge mission against men and their worst instincts, who goes to bars most nights, acts drunk and waits for a man to cross the line. What she does to these men I won’t reveal, since the clever marketing campaign has also refrained, and it’s always best to go in as blind as you can.

The movie is written and directed by Emerald Fennel, primarily known for acting on ‘The Crown’ and writing for ‘Killing Eve.’ Fun fact: the Internet Movie Database now lists ‘Promising Young Woman’ in first place in Fennell’s page’s “known for” section — though not for her writing or directing credits, but rather for her cameo as “Blowjob Lips Tutorial Host,” from a YouTube clip Mulligan’s character watches in one scene. (I’m left wondering if that’s an error from the website’s algorithm or perhaps if Fennell fixed this herself as a joke.) ‘Promising Young Woman’ glides between dark comedy, drama, romantic comedy and thriller with the ease of movies that typically only get green-lit in other countries less obsessed with political correctness and opening weekend grosses. A meditation on a kind of addiction hardly explored in cinema and an indictment of self-described “nice guys,” here’s an exciting, re-watchable and topical picture worthy of a conversation, or several. (Available to rent.)