It’s been a strange old year in the movie business, hasn’t it? For obvious reasons, 2020 at the cinema has never really got going, with the year’s biggest movies all delayed.
But that doesn’t mean we’ve missed out entirely on good films this year. So, of the litter we have had so far, these are my picks for the 10 best films of 2020.
10. Yes, God, Yes
Touching and wonderfully funny, this is easily one of the best coming-of-age movies of the year. Not just taking on the trials of growing up, Yes, God, Yes looks at the conflict between young people and the adults that claim to be looking out for them.
Taking place in a Catholic summer camp, the film follows Natalia Dyer as she begins to discover masturbation and sexual pleasure, but is forced to keep her newfound desires under wraps. However, as she grows in confidence, she realises that the principles her elders teach her aren’t necessarily the best.
It’s a genuinely wonderful movie with a heartfelt, albeit unorthodox message, brought to life by a fantastic lead performance and a dash of nostalgia.
Read a full review here.
9. Shirley
As creepy as biopics get, Shirley is an immensely unnerving yet still factually enthralling story of when brilliance and madness come together.
The story of famed American writer Shirley Jackson, the film follows a young couple as they move into the author’s house, only to become the focus of her next work. As their relationship develops, things take a turn for the strange, as we see Jackson attempt to break out of an unhealthy home environment.
Starring Elisabeth Moss’ second career-best performance of 2020 (more on that later), and featuring a creepy, shocking musical score, Shirley is a powerfully atmospheric, intoxicating watch, making its historical plot all the more enthralling.
Read a full review here.
8. Greyhound
Aiming to emulate the breathless thrills of Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk, this story about the Atlantic theatre of World War II is full of excitement and intrigue, albeit not quite on the overwhelming levels of Nolan’s modern classic.
Starring a brilliant Tom Hanks as the captain of a ship hounded by Nazi submarines as it attempts to traverse the ocean, Greyhound is a gripping mix of historical drama and intense, claustrophobic thrills.
Complete with exceptional visual effects that recreate the dark terror of Atlantic convoys during the war in incredible style, Greyhound grabs you by the scruff of the neck with an intense and utterly engrossing tale of battle.
Read a full review here.
7. Eurovision Song Contest: The Story Of Fire Saga
Believe me, I’m as surprised as you are. Everything about Eurovision Song Contest: The Story Of Fire Saga seemed to set it up for disaster, but somehow, Will Ferrell and his crew not only made it a great comedy, but a genuinely great movie.
Gut-bustingly hilarious from start to finish, the film is the perfect bit of crowd-pleasing light entertainment, complete with energetic performances, funny accents and genuinely amazing songs.
But the film’s greatest charm comes from its loving parody of the real Eurovision Song Contest, telling a touching story while diving headfirst into the madness of the famed tournament. It’s a delight for all comedy fans, but a particular joy for all the die-hard Eurovision fans out there.
Read a full review here.
6. Da 5 Bloods
A staggeringly moving tribute to the legacy of black army veterans from the Vietnam War, Da 5 Bloods is one of director Spike Lee’s very best, combining immense passion and captivating storytelling throughout.
With an ensemble cast playing a group of former friends who return to Vietnam in search of treasure they once buried there, the film is a unique blend of nostalgic reminiscence and a sobering reminder of the maddening world of war, with conflict once again pulling these men apart in a way they could never expect.
Starring an Oscar-worthy turn from Delroy Lindo as the hothead of the group, Da 5 Bloods is a film tinged with immense sadness and regret, both in the form of the events that unfold, but also at the wider context of the underappreciated legacy of black veterans. However, with Spike Lee behind the camera, it always works hard and passionately to redress that injustice.
Read a full review here.
5. The Invisible Man
An updated remake of H.G. Wells’ classic horror, The Invisible Man isn’t just a frightening and tense affair, but one of the sleekest and most dramatically gripping films of the year.
Featuring Elisabeth Moss at the height of her powers, the film is more of a meditation of trauma and abuse than your average horror movie, following a woman who escapes from an abusive relationship only to be stalked by what she believes is her dead husband.
Cagey, unnerving and featuring some genuinely terrifying moments, this is an absolutely mesmerising watch, but that dramatic depth – along with its gorgeous visual style – make it so much more, and easily one of the best movies of 2020.
Read a full review here.
4. Birds Of Prey
DC’s Extended Universe has been all over the place for the last few years, but Birds Of Prey is the movie that proves that it has so much potential.
A fun-loving, chaotic and wonderfully eccentric film, it takes Margot Robbie’s beloved Harley Quinn and places her right at the centre of events, backed up by a kick-ass line-up of female heroes.
Narratively, Birds Of Prey is a little on the messy side, but it’s one of the most lovable comic book movies in recent memory. With energetic, loving direction from Cathy Yan, great performances, exciting action and hilarious humour, it’s an utter joy to watch, and deserves so much more recognition than the lukewarm reception it got at the box office back in February.
Read a full review here.
3. Babyteeth
More coming-of-age drama, this time coming all the way from Australia. A striking blend of challenging, sobering drama and uplifting emotion, Babyteeth is one of the most captivating movies in the genre, telling a difficult story with a smile on its face.
Tackling a wide variety of hard-hitting issues including terminal illness, drug abuse, homelessness, juvenile delinquency and more, you’d think that Babyteeth would be an almost overwhelmingly heavy watch. But, though it pays heed to the harsh realities of its subject matter, its energy and charm is undeniable.
Featuring a gorgeous lead performance from Eliza Scanlen, the film follows the trials of a terminally ill girl as she breaks out of her shell, falling in love with a drug dealer to her parent’s dismay. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions, but its heart is always in the right place, and that’s what makes Babyteeth such a beautiful watch.
Read a full review here.
2. Palm Springs
So much more than just another rehash of Groundhog Day, this film is sci-fi brilliance, comedic genius and heartfelt dramatic depth all rolled into one.
Darkly funny with its nihilistic sense of humour, Palm Springs takes on the time loop genre with ambition and ingenuity, taking a well-trodden premise and injecting new life into it thanks to two stellar lead performances and an enthralling screenplay.
Taking an even more pensive look at the meaning of life than the Bill Murray classic, this movie is just as intellectual as it is at times completely out of this world. It’s fun, cerebral and touching all at the same time, and an enormously entertaining watch from start to finish.
Read a full review here.
1. Tenet
It seems right that in a year as topsy-turvy as 2020 that mind-boggling, time-bending films are coming out on top, and that’s in no question with Christopher Nolan’s spectacular Tenet.
Though short on emotional depth in comparison to his very best, Nolan pushes the limits to the very edge with this movie as he crafts a bewildering and exceedingly complex sci-fi thriller story, only to make it all fall into place just when he wants it to.
A movie that requires full concentration at every second, it’s impossible to overstate just how much is going on in Tenet, and why it’s undoubtedly one of the most brilliant sci-fi screenplays written in years. It’s by no means an easy watch, but with exceptional action, rapid pacing and incredible visual effects, it’s yet another masterpiece from Nolan that you won’t be able to look away from.
Read a full review here.
