My Top 15 Films of 2020
2020 was a tumultuous year to say the least. It is a year in which the entire world shared a common experience of isolation. The fear that many people had throughout the year was justified, and unfortunately that fear is still being lived out in many parts of the world. However, it was also a time of solidarity, where great things came out of the world. You saw humanity highlighted as people started to band together in order to create a collective effort to help the needy. It was a tough year but I can’t say it was the worst for me on a personal level. Although it was tough mentally I came out of this year stronger than ever. I learned many aspects about myself and pushed myself to try to do stuff that I never would have if not for the time I had on my hands. One of these things was to watch more films. With the start of my career in 2018 I have found it extremely difficult to watch films as much as I used to. Based on my letterboxd I had only seen 44 films in 2018, and 86 in 2019. Well in 2020 I managed to almost double last year’s number with a whopping 165 films watched in 2020. I have discovered some of my absolute favorite films this year, with another impressive achievement of thirteen 5/5 films on letterboxed (compared to three in 2018, and four in 2019). Yet some may have found the output of this year’s films to be stale. What with major blockbuster releases being delayed to 2021, many found no reason to watch movies all together this year. Well I’m here to tell you that there were some incredible films released throughout the year, and why you should watch them.
#15 - Another Round (Druk)
Directed by Thomas Vinterberg
To say that I was not surprised following up Vinterberg’s The Hunt with this film would be an understatement. Completely opposite in tone, but still holds the same weight to the issue of alcoholism, just using a different approach. What starts off as a silly experiment slowly spirals into a dangerous act that has the potential of sacrificing family, and even your own life. Even with the seriousness of it all, Vinterberg managed to bring in a lot of humor into the mix without it feeling forced. Also this film has one of the best final montages of the year and that alone is what pushed Another Round barely onto this list.
#14 Nomadland
Directed by Chloé Zhao
Zhao’s Nomadland was one of my most anticipated films of the year following its immense reception during virtual film festivals throughout the year. Although it may not have lived up to the high praise everyone else sung for it, I still enjoyed this film a lot. It is one that I feel like may go up this list with multiple viewings. As I was initially uninspired to connect with Fern’s character as the first quarter was presenting itself. Yet all of that changed the closer it got to the end, and my understanding of Fern grew. I feel with all of that in mind my appreciation can grow with a second viewing. Regardless, I loved the way this was filmed. Zhao really immersed the audience in this nomadic lifestyle with the use of desolate landscapes, a melancholic soundtrack, and wide shots that really emphasize the isolation of this lifestyle. It is undoubtedly one of the best films of the year and its easy to see why.
#13 Kajillionaire
Directed by Miranda July
Kajillionaire is without a doubt one of the strangest films of the year. It is the initial shock that hit me at the start of the film that left me apprehensive throughout. My guards were up without even realizing it, until slowly the characters brought it down. I have never seen anything like this, and I wish I understood it more than I do. It is a film that requires another viewing from me, in order to truly understand how I feel about it. The performances are top notch, especially with the strange personas the actors had to embody. July’s technique as a director shows, and her talent has not gone unnoticed. I will be keeping my eye out for any project she comes out with in the future.
#12 There is no Evil (شیطان وجود ندارد)
Directed by Mohammad Rasoulof
There is no Evil is a great film which tells four seemingly unrelated stories about a similar theme. The theme of capital punishment is a brazen one to talk about especially in a country like Iran. I would have preferred if each was presented as its own short film in order to increase the impact of each, but I understand the directors motive in combining them. Although not all of the stories hit the mark, the ones that did really left an impression on me, and it was a brilliant way of handling such a topic.
#11 Soul
Directed by Pete Docter
Pixar’s most mature film. It struck a chord in me because I feel like we can all see ourselves in the shoes of Joe Gardner. Pixar has always had a way with taking complex ideas and boiling them down in a way that can make sense to kids while also being meaningful to adults. It is a difficult balancing act to perform but Pete Docter does it perfectly here. The greatest aspect about this film, and one that I have criticized certain Pixar films of the past is that in Soul the character takes center stage, not the concept. Sure the exploration of life and death was interesting, but at the heart of all of that was the character and story of Joe Gardner. He was, for lack of a better word, the Soul of this film, and that is what I hope is the direction of upcoming Pixar projects.
#10 First Cow
Directed by Kelly Reichardt
At the heart of First Cow is a story of an unconventional friendship. It is one that encapsulates the feeling that many have felt throughout the year when they finally saw their friends again after a long separation. The film is wonderfully shot and has shots that I still think about to this day. Reichardt’s control over the direction of this film is insanely tight, as if she had been doing this for over 50 years. I see a bright future for Reichardt and I am going to be along for the ride for as long as possible.
#9 1982
Directed by Oualid Mouaness
Juxtaposition is a powerful tool. When done right, its effectiveness is unmeasurable. Oualid’s use of Juxtaposition in 1982 leaves a great impact on any person watching this film. Mouaness Juxtaposed the innocence of children with the horror of an ensuing civil war. We see throughout the film adult's are mostly concerned with the news and what is happening to the country. Politics, family wellbeing, and the devestation is at the top of their minds. Contrast that with what the children are thinking of. Wissam's only concern is to confess his love of Joana. Majid's only care is that he is excited they dont have school the next day. Joana just wants to finish the exams so that she gets the top again. By showcasing the innocence of these children, the impact of the war slowly looming closer to them is further highlighted. It is a masterful use of such a tool and one that should be seen by as many people as possible.
#8 The Woman Who Ran (도망친 여자)
Directed by Hong Sang-soo
Hong Sang-soo is the absolute master of simplicity. A film like this would probably be uninteresting if done by someone else. Yet there is something about the way that Hong does it that makes a feature film about a woman going from friend to friend and just talking so engaging. It’s the little techniques that he uses that make all the difference. A wide shot of a conversation that has been going on for a couple of minutes suddenly zooms into the face of one of the participants. It emphasizes an important point, yet it does not dwell on that point. Similar to life things move on, and the wide shot is brought back almost as fast as it was gone. To some degree I fell like The Woman Who Ran is the most appropriate film of the year. It evokes a similar feeling that I have had during quarantine and I don’t know why. I guess its just the magic of Hong Sang-soo, one that I may never understand, but always appreciated.
#7 Never Rarely Sometimes Always
Directed by Eliza Hittman
Hittman is indie incarnate. Her film feels sentimental, and comes from a place of care similar to a mother who wants her baby to succeed in this world. The topic of abortion is one that was done many times before in cinema, but Hittman takes an angle that is very unique and effective at showcasing her message without being preachy. On the contrary, Hittman’s approach is unbiased and never feels like she is talking down to anyone who disagrees with her point of view. She uses silence as her most powerful tool with this film. As sometimes, the less way say the louder we are. It also makes certain scenes more effective due to the sparsity of conversations. The famous scene where Autumn is asked to answer a couple of questions gives us so much insight with such few words. It is a masterful performance from both the actors and the director, and I cant wait to see what she comes up with in the future.
#6 Shithouse
Directed by Cooper Raiff
Within the first 20 minutes of Shithouse I was rolling my eyes and thinking to myself “oh God, another one of these films”. I thought I knew what I was in for, and that I would never relate to something like this. As an Arab man who studied engineering in South Korea, the story of Alex couldn’t be farther away than my own experiences. Yet as the film went on, I found myself smiling, laughing, and almost shedding a tear. Certain scenes like Alex hanging up the phone from his mom and bursting to tears reminds me of similar experiences I had in Korea. It is hard to imagine this is Raiff’s first experience making a film, and at 23 years of age, this man has achieved more than I ever have in my past 26 years. He has a natural talent for cinema, and the characters are real and relatable, even to someone like me who never expected to relate to the typical American college kid. I really love this film, it may not be the most innovative, or unique thing out there, but its special.
#5 The Book of the Sun (شمس المعارف)
Directed by Faris Godus
The most relatable film I have probably seen in my entire life. Watching The Book of the Sun brought me so much joy. Because I saw myself in Hussam, the way he gets excited when talking about movies and how he argues with his friends. I remembered days when I would nag my friends to watch one of my favorite films only for them to come back hating it. The characters are so memorable, and ones that I feel like I have known my entire lives. The story is simple yet effective in telling the journey of these guys making their low budget film. I just adore everything about The Book of the Sun, it is the reason why I love cinema. You can see the passion oozing out of every corner of this project, and it is hopefully a sign of what is to come from the Arabic region in cinema.
#4 Minari
Directed by Lee Isaac Chung
The aptly named Minari is a story that can grow anywhere. Every expat living in a foreign country sees themselves in the eyes of the Yi family. It is a universal story that transcends its seemingly Korean roots. Minari is beautifully crafted, from the soundtrack to the gorgeous cinematography. The acting takes center stage as Steven Yeun gives the performance of his life, topping what I thought was his peak in Burning. Yet it is Youn Yuh-Jung that steals the show as the grandma, with her hilarious yet captivating performance that you will be thinking about all year long. It is a wonderful film full of realism and hope. It is the shining light that was needed in a year like 2020.
#3 Sound of Metal
Directed by Darius Marder
A powerful film through and through. It hits you hard with everything its got and really makes you sympathize with Ruben and everything he is going through. Riz Ahmed is incredible in this, possibility the best male acting of the year with Steven Yeun close if not the same level. Marder cleverly uses audio in order to convey what Ruben is feeling. Not through words or plot, but just by sound design. It speaks volumes to the talent of Marder as well as the sound design team that they were able to so effectively incapsulate the Deaf experience. Also that final scene was just *chefs kiss*
#2 World of Tomorrow Episode Three: The Absent Destinations of David Prime
Directed by Don Hertzfeldt
The first two World of Tomorrow episodes have not grabbed me as much as Hertzfeldt’s other works, especially It’s Such a Beautiful Day. When I heard of the release of the third episode I was generally excited but not as much as I wanted to be. However the next 34 minutes were filled with a flurry of emotions that I never would have expected. Wonderment, sadness, joy, hope, melancholy, and awe were just some of the emotions I was experiencing throughout this masterclass film. It is Don’s most powerful statement in the World of Tomorrow series. His artistic style is even more brazen as ever, yet it works under the Sci-Fi infused story of Emily. It is a film series that everyone needs to watch, because I think its easy for me to say that Hertzfeldt is one of the greatest cinematic geniuses of our time.
#1 I’m Thinking of Ending Things
Directed by Charlie Kaufman
Possibly the greatest piece of media that I have experienced in 2020. Kaufman’s I’m Thinking of Ending Things has been a highly anticipated project for me. Especially since his two other films have been incredible and left a huge impression on me. This is especially true for Synecdoche, New York which is one of my favorite films of all time, yes all time. Watching I’m Thinking of Ending Things was an experience like no other. The first viewing left me confused as I sat there as the credits rolled just pondering what had just happened. The second viewing was more analytical as I tried to pay attention to all the little details I may have missed now that I know what to expect. The third and final viewing I had of this film was to wrap everything up, and to confirm to myself that this indeed is that good. No surprise, it was that good. It is a challenging film that many may not enjoy or take as being too pretentious. But to me it is perfect for what Kaufman was trying to portray. I love these sorts of films that mean something different to each person watching. It is why I love cinema. I can’t wait for Kaufman’s next project, even if it takes another 5 years, I will be waiting with anticipation wondering if he can keep this incredible streak going. From what I saw, I don’t know how this man can ever miss, he is that good.
