Favorite Movies of 2020
2020 has been a tough year for cinema with the pandemic changing the film industry forever. While many films were still released on streaming, most were postponed to 2021. Streaming is convenient, but I do miss the cinema. With the Oscars postponed to April 2021, many indie films usually released in December are pushed to January or February. There are a lot to look forward to in the new year such as Minari, The Little Things, and Promising Young Women. Looking back on 2020, here are my ten favorite new films from this year. (This list is of course completely subjective and biased towards my own taste.)
10. The Half of It
A high school jock asks a nerdy girl to write a love letter to his crush. From the surface, this storyline seems very cliche, but Alice Wu’s drama The Half of It is a fresh take to a familiar premise. The 104 minute film, shorter than most animations, tells a story of unlikely friendships, immigrant life, and self identity. Alice Wu carefully crafts these themes together in a simple and heartwarming story. The Half of It beautifully shows that there is no right way to express your love for someone. A quote in the trailer sums up this movie perfectly, “not every love story is a romance.”
9. Da 5 Bloods
Spike Lee’s new joint is an experimental, violent, yet funny history lesson of the brutal Vietnam War. Delroy Lindo gives a show stopping performance as a Trump-supporting veteran, who travels to Vietnam with his fellow comrades in order to bring their leader’s body back to America. The film is filled with shocking and nail biting moments, showing that the horror of the war still lives within these soldiers years later. Spike Lee chose to shoot this movie in both film and digital, using three different aspect ratios to tell his gritty story. The different feel of the images adds a unique old school touch to a timeless tale.
8. David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet
The only documentary on this list is one of the most important films of this century so far. One year after the stunning Netflix series “Our Planet,” Sir David Attenborough shares his concerns over the future of Earth’s nature and wildlife. The images on screen speak louder than words. From orangutans of Borneo to polar bears in the Arctic, the terrifying before and after comparisons taken from Attenborough’s seventy-year career is a loud wake-up call for humanity. Footage shot for this documentary and Netflix series is some of the most mind blowing images ever captured. The stunning visuals make us appreciate the magical world millions of species call home. If there is no systematic change, all of this will cease to exist.
7. Birds of Prey
Birds of Prey is by no means a masterpiece. It is far from the best DC movie or even the best DCEU movie. However, during this awful year for cinema when big releases were postponed or changed to streaming, Birds of Prey was one of the best experiences I had in a movie theater. Even though the movie had an ensemble cast, Margot Robbie was once again the standout role. Harley Quinn was everything we loved about her in Suicide Squad, but turned to the max. The film did struggle with writing and character development, but the constant glittery R-rated action was enough to compensate. I left the theater smiling and I cannot wait to see Harley Quinn in action on the big screen again.
6. A Sun 陽光普照
Taiwan’s Best International Feature submission for the 2021 Oscars is a gem overlooked by many. Even after winning best feature at the Golden Horse Awards (Chinese language Oscars) the film did poorly at the box office. Unlike popular Taiwanese films in recent years, A Sun is not a romantic comedy, but a tough drama tackling systematic inequality, gang culture, and family dynamics. The brutal opening scene sets the tone of an intense gut wrenching experience that follows. Each character has a complex story and ideology that collides with their fellow family members. In a way, A Sun is like the opposite of Parasite, but equally as compelling.
5. Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
In the crazy year that is 2020, everyone’s favorite Kazakhstani reporter, Borat, returns to America to discover what people feel about Covid-19, the election, and gender roles. The mockumentary features many unknowing subjects naturally going along with Sacha Baron Cohen’s master plan. The film reveals the true absurdity and divide of America today. As I lived in a liberal part of USA during my time there, it is difficult to imagine that elsewhere in the same nation, beliefs are so drastically different. Even though the lead roles are actors, most of the imagery we see is real and frightening. Newcomer Maria Bakalova gives the bravest performance of the year. Borat Subsequent Moviefilm is 2020 America summed up in 100 minutes.
4. Black Bear
Black Bear is a movie you will either love for its concept and ambition, or hate for its weirdness. The film is a meta experience that explores the meaning of relationships and creativity. Aubrey Plaza gives her career-best performance as Allison, a director who goes to a cabin in the woods in search of inspiration. Allison’s arrival at the cabin sparks a psychological standoff between her hosts Blair (Sarah Gadon) and Gabe (Christopher Abbott), a dysfunctional couple. The film quickly evolves from a romantic comedy to a dark thriller. With that being said, do not go into this movie expecting a cathartic story or engaging plot. However, do watch the movie for its artistic experience.
3. Tenet
Tenet is not my favorite Nolan film by a long shot. It is difficult to emotionally connect with the characters, hear the dialogue, or fully comprehend the narrative. Nearly half of the 150 minute film is exposition, most of which hurts your brain. There are many negatives that can be made about Tenet, but yet it is a film I admire greatly. Tenet is the craft of filmmaking at its best. It is a technical masterpiece in terms of cinematography, production design, and practical effects. Even though the plot is fantasy, what you see on screen is believable. Most may give up after the first, but Tenet really is a movie that requires a second viewing. I was then able to fully appreciate the little details intricately weaved into the plot and timeline. As a movie-goer, maybe I did not like Tenet. As a filmmaker, I think it is genius.
2. Beyond the Dream 幻愛
We all fantasize about falling in love. Sometimes romance is like a dream that we cannot comprehend. Lok (Chun Him Lau), a recovering schizophrenic patient, encounters the magical feeling of love when he meets Yan (Cecelia Choi), a girl beyond his wildest dreams. However, as Lok’s illness deteriorates, he struggles to differentiate fantasy from reality. Beyond the Dream is a romantic drama beautifully shot and masterfully acted. The mixture of naturalistic and stylized cinematography takes us into Lok’s mind as we navigate our way through his world. Even though the subject matter of mental illness can be intense and distant, the film tackles it in a way where we feel deeply connected to the characters. Beyond the Dream offers a visual and emotional journey like no other film this year.
1. Soul
My favorite movie of the year is one that will keep me thinking for years to come. After tackling “where do personalities come from” with Inside Out, Pixar and Pete Docter attempt to explore the most difficult question of all, “What is your purpose in life?” Soul is simple enough for kids to understand and enjoy, yet complex enough for adults to ponder about afterward. The theme and message is delivered to us through a funny fish-out-of-water adventure between Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx), a middle school music teacher, and 22 (Tina Fey), an annoying little soul. The movie will make you laugh with joy and question your own existence. After a unfulfilling 2020, Soul comes as a timely wake-up call. Thank you Pixar.
