2020 and quarantine has disrupted the film industry in many ways. It’s practically halted all productions and increased budgets by at least 25%. But one MAJOR CATEGORICAL winner are streaming platforms. And it’s brought back the nostalgic drive-in theaters. Hooray! Whatever may happen in the industry, I love watching movies. Below are five of my favorite films of this year!
While many filmmakers and studios moved their release dates, such as the much anticipated The French Dispatch from Wes Anderson, many chose to continue on schedule. It’s been a great year for female filmmakers and films about girls and women. I hope that we see more films like these in the future!
What were your favorite films of 2020? Drop it in the comments!
Never Rarely Sometimes Always — Eliza Hittman is one of my favorite filmmakers. I’ve been a fan of her work since her first feature, It Felt Like Love. She’s able to dramatize and expose the parts that we are most ashamed of in brave and nuanced ways. She’s unflinchingly honest about what it’s like to grow up as a girl in America. Never Rarely Sometimes Always is about a teenager who crosses state lines to find legalized abortion and the negotiations that girls make with their bodies. Whatever your beliefs may be about abortion, this is an important coming of age film. Last time I heard, this is a contender for the Oscars.
Miss Juneteenth — Black Lives Matter has finally had its moment in 2020. I hope that it’s here to stay. In Channing Godfrey Peoples first feature film, she explores the dynamics of a mother, a former Miss Juneteenth who never lived up to the promise of her title, who pressures her daughter to compete in the same pageant. This film is able to explore the importance of Juneteenth (Liberation Day) without explicitly talking about race. It’s masterful in its subtlety and it does what very few social impact films is able to do — show don’t tell. At the end of the day, this film is about a woman’s relationship with her daughter and her relationship with herself. Visually, the sense of place is extremely strong in this film. Also in the running for the Oscars.
The 40 Year Old Version — It’s important to have “midlife” films about men and women alike, but we rarely see women having second and third lives on screen that are not about divorce or regaining their sexuality. In The Forty Year Old Version, which cleverly references The Forty Year Old Virgin, Radha, a down on her luck playwright attempts to salvage her career by becoming a rapper. It’s insane to me that she had to fight for the most unique and important aspects of this film — the title and filming it in black and white. Like Miss Juneteenth, these aspects add layers and sophistication to the film without having to be explicit. Stylistically, the film enhances and combines all of the great New York films of the 90’s made by filmmakers such as Woody Allen, Spike Lee, and Rob Reiner.
Beanpole — This film is colorful, delirious, insane, and heartbreaking. Following two women in post World War II Leningrad, the film explores the trauma and havoc that a person continues to create while rebuilding their lives. The casting and acting is extraordinary. I loved it.
Nomadland — Chloe Zhao is known for her gorgeous cinematography and it is no different in this film. The landscapes are expansive and freeing. It’s no wonder that Fran would rather be outside than inside. It makes me wonder, why do I prefer to be locked in a house when I could be outside, exploring all the beauty and wonder this world has to offer.
Films that I want to see but haven’t seen:
- Tenet — Christopher Nolan is known for his high concept films, and this is no different. With theaters mostly shut down, I did not venture out to see it. While he may be angry with Warner Brothers for offering the film for streaming on HBO Max in 2021, I am excited to see it in the safety of my home, even if it’s not on the big screen.
- Liberte — I love European films and who wouldn’t love one about debauchery and sex?
- Promising Young Woman — Carey Mulligan is an amazing actress and she always makes interesting choices. I can’t wait to see her as a man killer out for revenge.
