We already know that 2020 was the worst, but that doesn’t mean movies let me down! Well…at least not all of them. I watched 245 films this year and there were certainly some stinkers, but for the most part, 2020 delivered some very impressive indie films (my favorite), and I unearthed some older titles. That’s one thing this pandemic has been good for: making time for movies I’ve never had time for in the past. Let’s talk about my favorites, my least favorites, and some bonus runner-ups!
First up are my top ten runner-up films. These were truly all great films, but they lacked just a little to make it into my top 10 for the year. These are all very much worth watching, so get your pen ready to write these down!
Another Round – Starring Hannibal’s Mads Mikkelsen, this focuses on a teacher who’s lost his lust for life and decides to try out an experiment with a group of his friends: keep a consistent BAC level throughout the day. Both parts funny and sad.
Retaliation – Malky is struggling in adulthood as he faces the effects of sexual abuse by a trusted priest in his youth. This was a struggle to watch at times, but very moving. An A+ performance by Orlando Bloom for sure.
The Invisible Man – Leigh Whannell is an absolute genius, and his remake of The Invisible Man proves that ten-fold. It’s tense throughout and you just want to help out Elisabeth Moss’s character, or at least just give her a hug! Talk about a vindictive ex!
Blow the Man Down – This very understated thriller was so fun to watch. Set on the backdrop of a fishing town, this bright caper shows what lengths two sisters will go to in order to keep the house their deceased mother left them.
Sound of Metal – A heavy metal drummer suddenly loses his hearing and his livelihood. You see Ruben starting to make strides as he spends time living with a deaf community, but his need to get back to the life he lived before somewhat derails his progress.
The Vast of Night – I am not usually one for black and white films, but this 50s set sci-fi drama about a town that’s possibly being infiltrated by aliens had me right from the start. Anchored by charming leads, this movie excels at the long tracking shots, and is fully worthy of your time.
The Wolf of Snow Hollow – A unique and lightly comedic take on the horrors of werewolves that are mauling women in a small town. The scares were real, but the ultimate deterioration of the new chief of police led to some appropriate laughs. Also, R.I.P to Robert Forster in his last film role.
Uncle Frank – Paul Bettany is enigmatic as the titular Uncle Frank, who ends up forming a close relationship with his niece. The traumas of his past come to haunt him when he goes back to his hometown for his father’s funeral.
The Rental – If you’re looking for a happy ending, don’t add this to your list, but for Dave Franco’s directorial debut, it’s a fun and thrilling ride! Two couples rent out a house for a weekend where infidelity ensues and then they have to run for their lives as a stranger starts taking them out one by one.
Next up are the worst of the worst. I’m serious. Some of these didn’t even get finished and I may have fallen asleep in the middle of some of them. I would say I like watching a great deal of different films, and while some aren’t great, it takes a lot for me to dislike something. All of these possessed that quality, though.
The Last Full Measure – I mean it was meant to pay tribute to war veterans, but this movie was insanely boring. Some of Sebastian Stan’s worst work. Also, runner up to Christopher Plummer for wasting his time with this.
The Photograph – This was for sure a film I fell asleep in the middle of. Starring Lakeith Stanfield and Issa Rae, I was sure this romance movie was going to be at least decent, but it was boring and disappointing. Neither could really commit and there was a strange flashback involving her mother…why?
EMMA. – Not necessarily bad, but just not for me at all. Anya Taylor-Joy plays a sharp-tongued girl who is looking for a new friend but also sort of finds love in the 1800s. I suppose the time period should have been a warning to me, but the trailer had some funny parts and I like Taylor-Joy! Oh, well.
Capone – Good grief. What a colossal fail this was for Tom Hardy. Why not play Al Capone in his prime instead of in his boring, dementia-filled later years? I may never know.
Arkansas – Another film I fell asleep in the middle of. Even though this western touted a pretty impressive cast, nothing could save the dismal performance Liam Hemsworth gave. Outlaws on the run is cool, but not in this film.
The Night Clerk – With Tye Sheridan as the lead, I was so bummed with how terrible this was. It also had the potential to be really cool, but it just couldn’t capitalize on anything. Sheridan is a young man with Asperger’s who is the titular night clerk at a hotel, where he connects with a very attractive guest with a complicated life.
Knock, Knock – I just reviewed this a couple weeks ago and I stand by what I said. Keanu Reeves’ character gets persuaded to cheat and then the two girls torment him and ruin his life. Just awful dialogue, and really, acting.
The Lost Husband – With a name like The Lost Husband, I knew I was in for a bad time, but this movie had me rolling my eyes so hard I’m surprised they stayed in my head! Basically, a single mother geos to work at her aunt’s farm and ends up falling for the ranch-hand. Barf.
Henry Gamble’s Birthday Party – While this title is not new, it was new to me and hands down the worst film I watched this year. The pacing was strange and all of the characters were having an existential crisis at a birthday party! Also religion was involved a lot, but not in a useful way. Never waste your time on this.
Finally! With all the garbage and mediocre movies I spent my time with this year, there were real winners that I watched, and I’ll probably watch them again for years to come. That’s high praise. So here we have it, my favorite (and obviously, the best) films of 2020.
Pain and Glory – An absolutely beautiful and moving story about a director who is trying to make amends with his life and the people in it, past and present, as his health deteriorates. A truly lovely film, so if subtitles don’t bother you, definitely check out Antonio Banderas’ best work.
The Gentlemen – This is a truly British gangster film and I loved every second of it. The dialogue was fresh and quick, and the action was gritty and intense. Truly a cathartic experience.
Work It – I know this seems like a pretty lame entry on my best of list, but this young adult film about a girl trying to get into her dream college by joining her high school dance team just made me feel good every time I watched it (three times).
Patti Cake$ – Not new in any way, but new to me, Patti Cake$ is an aspiring rapper who keeps getting shut down for all of her efforts. Pretty soon she starts getting some recognition when she creates a group featuring her best friend, a metalhead, and her grandmother. PBNJ all the way!
Get Duked! – I had zero expectations for this movie and it was absolutely incredible! A group of boys go out to the Scottish Highland and end up getting hunted by the Duke and Duchess. Hysterical and trippy, but also features a soundtrack that includes the likes of Run the Jewels. Check it out on Amazon Prime, please!
Herself – After only watching this a week ago, I was deeply moved by this story of an Irish mother trying to raise her two kids alone after suffering abuse at the hands of her husband. Through her kind personality and tenacity, she is able to get a group to help her build a house on an unexpected friend’s property.
Possessor – This is certainly not for everyone, but the weirder the better for me. And this was certainly weird. Tasya is an assassin that inhabits the mind of innocent strangers to pull off her missions. Either Tasya’s been at this business for a long time or her new host is just way too overpowering. Who will win this battle of the mind? Some seriously trippy scenes and some rather graphic violence and nudity. Be prepared for a wild ride.
The Trial of the Chicago 7 – Film Twitter is telling me there is too much hype surrounding this film, but I was enthralled by this story from start to finish. A group of anti-Vietnam War protestors are tried for intent to start a riot across state lines, but all of the crap these men went through is truly astounding.
Stoker – Also not a new film by any means, but that doesn’t matter. If it’s good it’s good. India is a strange girl who’s life becomes even more bizarre when her estranged uncle shows up at her father’s funeral. These two oddballs have more in common than meets the eye, and some gnarly truths unearth themselves as time goes on. Also, most erotic piano scene I’ve ever seen on film.
Promising Young Woman – If you read my review last week, the inclusion of this film should come as no surprise. Just perfect in all senses of the word! It expertly blends comedy with thrills and you truly won’t see some of the twists that are coming. I can’t wait to watch this a bunch of more times in 2021.