My Top Films of 2020

I know this list is coming out way too late, but hey, if the Oscars can be delayed because of Covid, so can my best-of list. Since theaters were closed, I waited to watch some things on DVD from the library, but thanks to the American Cinematheque, I was able to get access to many screeners and watch more films than I was initially expecting. As per usual, this isn’t my best-of list, but rather my personal favorites, something I really feel I should stress this year since I was able to watch more Oscar contenders than usual before doing this list. The films I watched that did not make this list were Emma, Greyhound, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (though I really hope that Chadwick Boseman wins a posthumous Oscar for the latter).

20) The White Tiger - The most simplistic way I can describe this film is a more light-hearted, Indian version of Parasite, though not in a way that was quite as memorable or emotionally impactful. I’m still not quite sure about the use of flash-forwards that spoiled the ending and something about the tone seemed slightly off.

19) One Night in Miami - I found this an interesting, enjoyable film with great acting. I definitely learned a lot about these icons that I just didn’t know. I thought the directing was good, but not exceptional, especially considering some of the other films released this year, but I do hope Regina King gets to direct more films. I am curious how it is different from the play it’s based on.

18) Da 5 Bloods - A really interesting film, though I found it slightly long and not very memorable, especially compared to BlacKkKlansman. Delroy Lindo was definitely snubbed from an Oscar nomination, as his character was one of the most interesting of the year. Also, Chadwick Boseman’s passing has made his character seem all the more haunting and poignant.

17) Mank - What really impressed me about this film was the general aesthetic, especially the cinematography and sound design. I’ve only seen two other Fincher films, Fight Club and Se7en, and since I disliked the aesthetic of those, it made this film stand out all the more. It is one of the most unique feeling films of the year by far. I thought Amanda Seyfried’s performance has deserved all the acclaim, Gary Oldman was great, and Tom Burke was perfect at sounding just like Orson Welles. However, the weakest aspect was the script, which felt lacking. I understand that it was supposed to have a similar style to the script of Citizen Kane and that it was written by Fincher’s father, but it really needed one or two more drafts to have more staying power.

16) Boys State - This film was surprisingly entertaining despite being about politics. The filmmakers were able to get great cinema verite footage to craft a compelling narrative that says a lot about modern politics. It was also great seeing a Q&A with the filmmakers and two of the subjects to get a glimpse at how they are handling college, especially during the pandemic.

15) Mulan - Setting all the controversies aside, I actually enjoyed this movie and still wish I could have seen it in theaters. I didn’t mind Mulan being naturally gifted, as I found it an interesting change appreciated that they tried something different. I liked the original alright, but I didn’t love it. I understand the logic behind her end-of-second-act decision, but I still have mixed feelings about it. In short, the Beauty and the Beast remake deserves the hate this remake has received, most of which I feel is a little too harsh. This is definitely one of the better live-action remakes, but not at the top of the list. Also, I love that credits song.

14) Judas and the Black Messiah - A fascinating true story film that’s very engaging, and the ending leaves a strong emotional impact. The acting is great and it definitely makes me hate J. Edgar Hoover even more than I already did. It’s also a great companion piece to The Trial of the Chicago 7, with a connection that I did not even catch at first (I watched this film second). I’m very glad this story got to be told.

13) On the Rocks - This is only the second Sofia Coppola film I’ve seen (the other being The Virgin Suicides), but I really enjoyed this. I thought it was a great portrait of a mid-life crisis. Bill Murray was great in a role that was practically written for him. I found the third act to be both hilarious and moving.

12) The Call of the Wild - I got to see this at a free screening and really enjoyed it. I know everyone complains about the CGI dog, but like the de-aging in The Irishman, I felt that it was something that was jarring at first, but then once I got used to it, I was on board and I understand why they wanted the freedom of using CGI. I thought Dan Stevens was over-the-top, but I understand why they expanded his character after reading the summary for the original novel.

11) My Spy - I got to see this at two free screenings, the second being when class was canceled because everything was starting to shut down. I thought this film was very hilarious and was probably one of the funniest films I saw this year. Dave Bautista and Chloe Coleman have great chemistry and the humor was evenly spread out throughout the film. This was a fun film to see in theaters. If they make a sequel, I wouldn’t mind seeing it.

10) Wonder Woman 1984 - I loved the original, making it the only film in the DCEU that I own on DVD. I was fortunate enough to see this one in theaters as I wanted. I still don’t get the current eighties craze, but at least this setting fits the story. I didn’t hate this movie, though my feelings have become more mixed since I saw it, and I think it needs a rewatch before I can truly figure out how I feel about it. Either way, it is not even close to as good as the original, but I’m still interested to see what they do with the third one and I’d love for Diana to meet Asteria (whose cameo was the best part of the film).

9) The Trail of the Chicago 7 - Not knowing the outcome or anything about this trial, this film was very gripping. It has such a great script and great acting. The second half in particular was very gripping. This film definitely had the most “oh s***” moments of any film I’ve seen this year. Also, Frank Langella as the judge was perfect casting that immediately made me nervous, since he is so good at playing villains.

8) The High Note - This was a really enjoyable film about the music industry. Right before watching it, I met a Chapman alumnus who knew the screenwriter and told me she started out as an assistant, and it was great to see this with that perspective. I felt that the second act crisis was a little cliche, but I thought the third act twist really pulled the film to a great conclusion. I also found the trailers a little misleading, since the story they presented was actually a smaller part than I was expecting.

7) Bill & Ted Face the Music - So I did not like Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure and I never saw Bogus Journey, so I was shocked when the trailers for this sequel actually seemed intriguing. And to my greater surprise, I really enjoyed this movie, finding it hilarious and very entertaining. I especially found it amusing that Keanu Reeves has spent his career trying to distance himself from his “Woah” persona and now that he’s finally broken free from it, he’s gone back to the franchise. I really liked how they resolved the conflict that was built up since the first film. The biggest criticism I had is that the ending felt very abrupt. Still, I wouldn’t mind if they make more movies or a Billie and Thea spin-off.

6) Tenet- First of all, I am not a huge Christopher Nolan fan, loving Inception and liking Memento, but that was about it. Secondly, the marketing did not do anything to get me very interested in seeing it (the first trailer made me think it literally took place in the afterlife, which confused me). However, this movie surprised me and I consider it Nolan’s second-best film of the ones I’ve seen by far. I could follow the plot mostly and Youtube explainers clarified everything else. Even the decision to call the main character “The Protagonist” actually made some sense. I liked the characters and it has a great villain. This film better win Best Visual Effects at the Oscars.

5) Wolfwalkers - This was the biggest surprise of 2020. I was so shocked by how much I enjoyed this movie. It took me a moment to get used to the animation but once I did, I was on board, and I was amazed at how innovative it was. It’s a film that just had me immersed in its world and is probably the film with the most staying power this year. It even has a more satisfying ending than Soul, and a strong environmental message as well. It does have a plot that made me frustrated when characters won’t listen to each other, but it’s also a testament to the stakes and how much I was invested. Also, it would suck to never be able to truly sleep, but the mythology is fresh and original. Please release this on DVD!

4) Sonic the Hedgehog - I watched this movie on Election Day, and boy was it the movie I needed. This film is so funny and entertaining and for the record, I’m someone who doesn’t play video games outside of Mario Kart. I wasn’t as horrified about the old Sonic design, but I appreciated the change. Jim Carrey is great as Doctor Robotnik and it’s a fun return to his 90s zaniness. I wish I had seen it in theaters. I’m really looking forward to the sequel.

3) Hamilton - I was so glad they finally released this so I could watch the show without having to pay so much to see it on stage. While I’m not into hip-hop or rap at all, I did really like the music here. Ironically enough, despite him shining with everything else, I thought Lin-Manuel Miranda was the weakest actor of a stacked cast, but still pretty good. Not my favorite or second favorite musical (that honor still goes to Wicked and Into the Woods respectively), but definitely one of the better ones I’ve seen. And if they make a movie, I’m looking forward to it, but as long as they make it stylish and embrace the hip-hop aesthetic. Please release this on DVD!

2) Soul - I had refused to see this until it was in theaters and by chance, while I was finalizing this list, I discovered it was available for only one more day for a limited release in Los Angeles. Definitely Pixar’s best film since Coco, I would put this on the lower end of Pixar’s A-list tier. I also think it’s Pete Doctor’s weakest Pixar film (and least funny, though it does have some really hilarious moments), but since his other three are so strong, it’s not too much of an insult. This was such a deep film with a lot of complexities. I really loved the midpoint twist and am so glad they kept it from the marketing. I will say, while I like the choice of the ending and its ambiguity, it did feel a bit abrupt and I don’t think it actually delivered quite as hard an emotional gut-punch as Onward and there were a couple of threads introduced that didn’t seem fully resolved (who is Lisa?). But overall, a very excellent new Pixar film.

1) Onward - I did say this was my favorites list, didn’t I? Since I only saw Soul a few days ago, it did not seem right to give it the number one spot automatically, so I’m giving it to the film that, after two huge disappointments, renewed my faith in Pixar and was the last new film I got to see in theaters before the closures, seeing it at a free screening. I enjoyed it from the moment it started and really surprised me in the third act, far more than Soul did. I found its epiphany moment much more effective and thought it was a satisfying conclusion. Thank you, Pixar. I’m looking forward to your films again.