Films Of 2020

Reviewed by

Adriana Ciot & Catherine Noorlandt

The Old Guard (action/fantasy) 

This Netflix Original film starring Charlize Theron exceeded expectations when it was released in the summer of 2020. Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, The Old Guard essentially turned the overdone action/fantasy shtick on its head. It further proved Theron is a potent action star, initially demonstrated in the widely renowned Mad Max: Fury Road. With exemplary fight choreography, it took a risky premise of immortal warriors (based on a comic book of the same name), and delivered a combination of R-rated action and superhero mythology. The story truly kicks in when our protagonists’ backstories are introduced and unveils how they adapted to the ever evolving world in the second act. It offers a practical conflict of human tendency to benefit from the exploitation of others. The cast performances further elevate its material as an unconventional exploration of the superhero genre.

Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey (action/superhero) 

A follow up to the widely hated and abismal Suicide Squad, starring Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn as the title character, often regarded as one of the only saving graces of its predecessor. Alongside Ewan McGregor donning the iconic Black Mask, this DC comic book adaptation undertook the suited choice of being R-rated which better complimented the movie's tone and halted it from playing the safe angle. The action and narrative were taken to the next level, and were an obvious improvement from 2016’s Suicide Squad. Although the movie does have a lack of clear storytelling from time to time and some sequences go on for longer than necessary, it’s the shift between former and current events and its use of dark comedy that prove competent with audiences and critics alike. Likewise not dismissing the fabulous performances, especially that of Robbie and McGregor.

The Invisible Man (horror/thriller) 

The Invisible Man, released at the beginning of 2020, practically took such a basic concept and blew it out of the park by blending fantastical elements into real world horror. Directed by Leigh Whannel, this feature film’s most prominent attribute is the staggering performance by Elizabeth Moss. The narrative revolves around Cecilia, a young woman that has endured years of torment from her controlling and psychologically abusive boyfriend. In the wake of narrowly escaping him, he is found to have committed suicide in their home. Finally free of her tormentor, Cecilia attempts to move on with her life but a series of unexplainable events gives her the apprehension that she is not alone; even when we think she is. As a result of exceptional cinematography, it continuously provided a tense atmosphere by allowing the camera to linger evocatively in the mundane corners of the room. All the nail-biting moments are brilliantly executed and never fall back on cheap jump scares. Moss’s performance was deemed Oscar worthy by critics as she flawlessly portrayed Cecilia’s mentally deteriorating state, proving once and for all; what you can’t see, can most definitely hurt you.

The Way Back (sports/drama) 

Stated by many to be one of Ben Affleck’s best performances, The Way Back is a story about a former star basketball player that has fallen off the wagon and is now wallowing in a life of alcoholism. After being asked to coach a lacking basketball team at his high school, Jack has to put aside his own issues and strain to lead his team to victory. It handles its serious tone with integrity and a touch of realism as addiction sadly is a drawback countless people succumb to in their lifetime.

With gut punching emotional twist after gut punching emotional twist, this is a movie that makes you long for the triumph of not only the team that are individually dealing with their own problems, but also for our protagonist who has been thrown so many obstacles throughout the course of his life. With a performance regarded as one of the best of the year, Ben Affleck is well on his way of earning yet another Oscar nomination. 

The Gentlemen (crime/thriller) 

Guy Ritchie’s crime film stars a powerful ensemble cast with the likes of Mathew McConaughey, Hugh Grant and Charlie Hunam. It surprisingly gifted viewers with a story of slimy underworld gangsters, that are charismatic and charming in their own way. On account of the great rapport of the cast, it succeeds in delivering an entertaining and humorous narrative.

The story revolves around Mickey Pearson, an American expatriate who gained his fortune by building a highly profitable marijuana empire in London. When word gets out that he's looking to cash out of the business, it soon triggers a handful of plots and schemes - including bribery and blackmail from questionable characters who want to steal his domain. This movie covers all fronts by having an engaging plot, a brilliant dynamic between the characters and has been well received by the general public, stated by many to be a refreshing return to form for Ritchie. 

Tenet (action/thriller) 

The long awaited Christopher Nolan action/spy film has been pushed back several times due to the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic, finally being released in August of 2020. Directed by Christopher Nolan who is known for countless cinematic masterpieces, including the likes of Inception, Dunkirk and obviously, The Dark Knight trilogy. Nolan is well known for taking overdone concepts and delivering unconventional and brilliant narratives. The same can be said for the action/spy genre, creating a somewhat Bond film along with added elements of time travel. Nevertheless, Tenet became one of Nolan’s most polarising motion pictures. 

The movie was praised for its action sequences and solid performances, especially at the hand of John David Washington, Robert Pattinson and Kenneth Braughnagh. However, it’s major defect is it’s overly complicated and self indulgent plot. The storyline has become infamous for being difficult to follow due to elements of the narrative being thrown at you, with little to no set up for the characters or the situations that they are in. It never slows down long enough for the audience to catch up and piece together what is happening. Likewise, the limited exposition given is drowned out by the awful sound mixing, which makes it hard to distinguish any dialogue. While the movie may be out of this world, with a fabulous premise and story elements, it’s unnecessarily convoluted plot earns its title as one of Nolan’s most divisive films amongst critics and audiences. Definitely in need of repeated viewings for those wanting to grasp the plot.

Underrated films of 2020

  

 The Half Of It (teen drama/comedy) 

The Half Of It has the potential to be one of the most iconic teen comedies of this generation, but it has not received any real level of success. A Netflix Original movie written and directed by Alice Wu, it is an American coming-of-age comedy-drama. The film is about a shy intellectual girl who decides that she will help a jock impress a girl that she is also secretly crushing on.

The film deals with some very important topics, including sexuality and cultural integration. It deals with these issues sensitively and maturely. It does this while maintaining a humorous and fairly lighthearted tone. Leah Lewis and Daniel Diemer have excellent chemistry, and together add a lot of charm. The cinematography makes the setting look appealing and realistic at the same time. The pace makes the film easy to follow and the director's style feels personal and precise rather than the cookie cutter films that Netflix puts out a few times a year. This film deserves more attention, so I encourage you to try it out.

Ride Your Wave (japanese animated romantic drama)

This anime by Masaaki Yuasa is one of the best films of the past year. Unfortunately, it was not a commercial success, making only 3.9 million dollars in the box office worldwide. The film is about a 19 year old girl and a 21 year old boy who fall in love quickly and deeply. The plot gets more emotionally complex as it goes on, and grief and loss become major themes of the film after a tragic point in the story. The film delves deep into these topics, and goes far past surface level. The story draws you in immediately, with it’s beautiful animation style, intricately crafted plot, complex and multidimensional characters, and it’s messages. This is a great film for families with emotionally mature children, as a fair portion of the movie is quite depressing. Anime lovers will admire the stylistic integrity and the level of detail, and general film lovers will appreciate the exceptional direction, amazing script, and the emotional impact.

The Assistant (drama)        

The Assistant is an American drama film written, directed, produced, and edited by Kitty Green. The film revolves around just one day in the life of Jane, who is the assistant to a powerful figure in the entertainment world. Her day appears to be mundane, as we watch her do boring chores. However, we become increasingly aware of the horrific abuse experienced in her workplace every day. It is deeply unsettling to see how easy it is for people in positions of power to manipulate others and their surroundings, and the film does a great job at shining a light on big problems often faced by women in the entertainment industry and the workplace in general. Julia Garner as Jane gave a sublime performance. An excellent choice that added to the tone of the movie was to make the big boss a mystery. What we see on screen is not necessarily what scares us, but a mixture of the sound mixing, the close first person, and the cinematography all add to a tense atmosphere. It is absolutely worth the watch. 

Bad Education (crime-comedy)       

Despite having an impressive cast featuring a few A list actors with the likes of Hugh Jackman (the X-men franchise, Les Miserables, The Greatest Showman etc.) and Allison Janney (I, Tonya, The Help, Juno), this film didn’t have a lot of buzz in the press or on social media. The film is set in Rosyln, Long Island in the early 2000s. It tells the story of Dr. Frank Tassone and Pam Gluckin, who steal 2 million dollars from their public school district. Jackman and Janney are both suited for their roles. Jackman in particular is very charismatic. A stand out actor in this film is Alex Wolff, most known for his role in 2018’s Hereditary. He has a relatively small, but very important role as Nick Fleishman. Wolff certainly makes the most out of his limited screen time. The film takes typical crime tropes and blends them with unique twists. The mixture of excellent acting and a witty script keeps you on the enthralled for the entire journey. Overall the film is worth the watch, and is also a great time.

Color Out of Space (sci-fi/horror)

In a return to form after films such as Pay the Ghost and Deadfall, Nicolas Cage stars in this technicolour nightmare of a film, directed by Richard Stanley. After a meteorite lands in the front yard of their farm, Nathan Gardner (Cage) and his family find themselves battling an extraterrestrial organism that infects both their minds and their bodies. This Lovecraftian horror film is made beautiful through some of the best cinematography of the year. It utilises a vibrant colour palette and interesting angles. 

The cinematography is even further enhanced by the editing, leading to the film being a near visual masterpiece. The way the film looks is not it’s only good quality. The script is a level above competent. Every member of the cast is doing at least decent, at most exceptional. Cage and Jullian Hilliard, a child actor known for The Haunting Of Hill House deliver the performances of the film. The downside to the film is that the sound mixing and the soundtrack are both very generic, which is disappointing for this creative of a concept, but it is easy to look past for everything else the film has to offer. Put aside any doubt that stems from Nicolas Cage being the protagonist, and give this phenomenal film a chance.