The Top Ten Movies of 2020
Another year, another arbitrary ranking…
This year was weird in an assortment of ways. The least important of them being the way most of us watched movies this year. Streaming was always the easiest option, but this year it was the only option for most. Outside of Tenet, which I saw at a drive-in, I have not ventured to a theater since early February when a local theater played all the short films nominated for the Oscars. While some 2020 films have been pushed back to next year, most of the films that populate my top 10 of the year were planned to go straight to streaming regardless.
10. Dick Johnson is dead — Dir. Kirsten Johnson
A heartfelt documentary about the director’s aging father. They stage dramatic death “what-if’s” while her father’s health, and memory, declines.
9. Never Rarely Sometimes Always — Dir. Eliza Hittman
A young teen travels to New York City in order to get an abortion. Less about the moral implications and more about her personal journey & friendship.
8. Lovers Rock — Dir. Steve McQueen
Steven McQueen’s name will undoubtedly show up multiple times on many peoples best of lists. His Small Axe series of five films, streaming on amazon is an incredible achievement. Lover’s Rock details one night at a house party in exceptional detail & beauty.
7. Da 5 Bloods — Dir. Spike Lee
Four African-American Vietnam vets return to Vietnam in search of their friends remains along with some buried treasure. Flashbacks have the old men remembering the war in their now old & wrinkled bodies. Delroy Lindo’s unique & timely performance is breathetaking.
6. Mank — Dir. David Fincher
Whatever the opposite of a love letter to cinema is, Mank captures. expert script writer Herman Mankiewicz battles gambling & drinking while crafting the masterful script of Citizen Kane- all while tangling with the corrupt studio system and the powers that be.
5. Mangrove — Dir. Steve McQueen
Based off the true story of the Mangrove Nine. Half courtroom drama, half amazing. Aaron Sorkin could learn a thing or two by watching this.
4. A White, White Day — Dir. Hlynur Pálmason
The film starts with the aging Ingimundur renovating a house in the wake of his wife’s death. He begins to suspect she was having an affair. A film about grief and obsession, told exceptionally well. The slowest of burns.
3. Boys State — Dir. Jesse Moss, Amanda McBaine
The documentary of the year. Capturing the annual Texas Boys State convention where thousands of 17-year-old boys run for mock office in much of the same way that adults run for real office. Compassion quickly turns to contempt.
2. I’m Thinking of Ending Things — Dir. Charlie Kaufman
On a roadtrip to meet her new boyfriend’s parents, Jessie Buckley’s unnamed character finds out a bunch, and the viewer may not find out anything in this confounding and mysterious movie. The last 30 minutes is surreal and amazing and not to be missed.
- First Cow — Dir. Kelly Reichardt
No one else can make the films that Kelly Reichardt makes. Give any director the script to First Cow and their is a zero percent chance they make something as wonderful as Reichardt has made with first cow. A film about friendship, capitalism, and a cute cow oblivious to it all. Everything about this film is exceptional- performances, script, and an ending that could not be more perfect.
“History isn’t here yet. It’s coming, but maybe this time we can take it on our own terms.”
