Best Films of 2020
Every year-end list from critics have talked about how 2020 was a crazy or weird year. We all know COVID-19 has impacted all facets of society, so I don’t really need to talk about it here. But 2020 has been a strange year for me, not because of anything pandemic-related, but because I didn’t fall in love with as many films as I usually do. Even with the films I’m featuring below as the best films I’ve seen in 2020, I don’t “love” all of them. And that’s a weird way for me to start out this post. I looked back at my Best Films of 2018 and Best Films of 2019 lists, and they’re all films I love and would absolutely rewatch over and over again. I can’t say the same thing about the ones from 2020. There are many films that have been critically-acclaimed, ones that have been sweeping awards, and while I enjoyed most of them, I was always left disappointed that I didn’t like them more. Such films include The Trial of the Chicago 7, Minari, Soul, Wolfwalkers, Nomadland, and many others.
According to my Letterboxd account, I watched a total of 70 films last year—a personal record! The films I consider to be the best of 2020 are wildly diverse, yet share similar themes. Several depict real-life racial injustices. Others feature women taking back agency over their lives. These films challenged the idea of the American Experiment and what it means to be truly American. They range from intimate family dramas to globe-trotting blockbusters. They’re stories told from women, Black, and Black women filmmakers. They challenge the line between film and television in the age of streaming. In one way or another, these films all impressed me. The following are the fifteen best films I watched from 2020.
15. American Murder: The Family Next Door
True Crime has been all the rage over the last several years. Unfortunately, I haven’t spent the time to watch any of them. American Murder: The Family Next Door is one of the latest of these documentaries, telling the story of the 2018 Watts family murders. I hadn’t heard of these murders before, but apparently news of it had spread all across the country at the time, so anyone who’s heard of it will already know what happened and, more importantly, who did it. But, thankfully, that’s not the point of the film. From the very beginning you can easily guess who killed the pregnant Shanann Watts and her two toddler children. There’s no late-reveal plot twists here. The main appeal of American Murder is in its execution—the entire film is depicted through text messages, social media posts, security cameras, and archival footage. This is noteworthy for a documentary because there’s absolutely no narration or talking heads! Director Jenny Popplewell is able to use this style to tell a thrilling and tragic tale about the deception of social media on our lives, and how we may never truly know someone as well as we think we do, all without ever feeling gimmicky. The film will leave you depressed, but the way the story is presented will leave you in awe.
‘American Murder: The Family Next Door’ is streaming on Netflix.
14. The Old Guard
One of the most pleasant surprises of the year is Netflix’s The Old Guard, adapted from the comic book of the same name. When I first saw the trailer I was not interested. It just seemed like another generic action film that wasn’t worth spending my valuable time on. But then I started seeing positive feedback, so I had to see what all the fuss was about. To my surprise, The Old Guard ended up being not just a kick-ass superhero film, but one that stands out from the usual Marvel and DC crowd by being less flashy and more thoughtful. This is largely due to the direction of Gina Prince-Bythewood, whose resume includes more dramas like the classic Love & Basketball and The Secret Life of Bees than anything resembling an action film, and screenwriter Greg Rucka, who wrote the original comic book (I always love when artists get to adapt their own work. Some of my favorite films in the past have been ones adapted for the screen by the original authors. For example, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl and Gone Girl).
The Old Guard follows a team of immortal beings who’ve spent their centuries on Earth discreetly fighting in many battles and wars throughout history, all in the name of helping people. They’ve been worshipped as gods, as well as hunted down as witches. Humanity seems to be going in a downward path, no matter how hard members of The Old Guard, led by Andromache “Andy” of Scythia (Charlize Theron), try to save it. Just as Andy starts to question whether or not it’s worth trying to save the world anymore, a new immortal has appeared, in the form of U.S. Marine Nile Freeman (KiKi Layne, If Beale Street Could Talk). This is a big deal because it’s been centuries since any new immortals have been born. Andy’s team plans to find Nile and have her join their team, all while avoiding the government operatives hunting them down who want to find the group’s secret to immortality.
Anyone who’s seen an X-Men film will know what to expect next; it’s par for the course. What makes The Old Guard stand out is in the characters’ deep and meaningful relationships with one another and what it means to live forever. With an ability like this, some would consider these people to be superheroes. But with immortality comes a long life of constant loss, heartbreak, and loneliness. And the film is effective in showing just how terrifying living forever can be.
‘The Old Guard’ is streaming on Netflix.
13. I’m Your Woman
One of the most underrated films of the year is also an original one—Julia Hart’s crime thriller I’m Your Woman, which she co-wrote with husband Justin Horowitz. The film follows a 1970s housewife, Jean (Rachel Brosnahan), who goes on the run after her career-criminal husband, Eddie, goes missing. She is protected by a mysterious man named Cal (Arinzé Kene), who is somehow connected to Eddie. I won’t mention anything further as to avoid spoiling some of the film’s slow reveals, but I should note the film isn’t really about any shocking twists or revelations. This is an intimate story that depicts a character’s journey to becoming her own woman. Not only is it expertly-crafted and well-paced, its thrills are more subtle than flashy, which isn’t something you’d expect from this type of film. You’ll be sorely disappointed if you’re just looking for action or trying to solve its mysteries. It’s less about “why is this happening” and more about experiencing everything along with Jean.
The 1970s aesthetic combined with Bryce Fortner’s cinematography is gorgeous. The few action sequences here are quiet and claustrophobic, yet still thrilling. Hart (Fast Color & Stargirl) shows a careful dedication to her craft, avoiding the pitfalls of typical bigger-budget crime thrillers, all while never losing suspense. And the acting, though understated, is strong all around, especially once Marsha Stephanie Blake (When They See Us) comes into the picture (she’s a standout and should be in more films!). This is a woman-centric feature—written and directed by a woman, starring two lead women characters. In what’s too often a male-dominated genre, I’m Your Woman offers a refreshing take on the crime thriller.
‘I’m Your Woman’ is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
12. Run
Aneesh Chaganty wrote and directed one of my favorite films of 2018, Searching, so I was excited to see what his follow-up film would be. Thankfully, it doesn’t disappoint. With Run, Chaganty has returned with yet another original thriller, this time inspired by Hitchcockian thrillers. The film stars Kiera Allen as Chloe, a 17-year-old girl who has been homeschooled by her mom, Diane (Sarah Paulson), ever since she was born prematurely, thus needing constant medical attention due to her chronic illnesses. They live a happy and peaceful life until, one day, Chloe realizes one of the pills her mom gives her to take every day isn’t what it seems. What follows is an highly-suspenseful escape thriller, with the wheelchair-bound Chloe doing all that she can to leave her home in the middle of nowhere and seek help. I love how Chaganty is able to make you feel claustrophobic in all of the scenes in which Chloe tries to escape her predicaments. Chloe is unable to walk, which makes it more difficult for her to escape her situation, and we feel just as stuck as she does. But at the same time, that doesn’t stop her. Chloe is smart and clever and uses her wits and science to get out of tough situations. This is so refreshing when you consider so many mainstream films like this feature dim-witted woman characters who make stupid decisions.
Side note: kudos to the filmmakers for casting an actual disabled actress to portray its lead character with a disability!
‘Run’ is streaming on Hulu.
11. Miss Americana
Yes I may be biased here, but I don’t care. This is my list, damnit! Anyone who knows me knows I am a huge fan of Taylor Swift. But that doesn’t mean I can’t be critical of her when need be. While some of my fellow Swifties will defend her at all costs, I’ve always been troubled by her silence when it comes to politics and Black Lives Matter. Thankfully, she’s been more vocal ever since the Trump Era. Her new Netflix documentary from Lana Wilson (After Tiller) won’t convince the cynical, but it never feels like an image-correction or superficial take on America’s Sweetheart. Miss Americana is a surprisingly close-look at someone who has gone to great lengths to keep her private life private (with the exception of her songs). Through this film, we see Swift’s journey through sexist gossip, feuds, eating disorders, and sexual assault, to growing a voice—a political one. While you don’t have to agree with everything she does, the film at least provides strong reasons to back all of her actions up. For example, it’s understandable for a young girl to see how the country group The Dixie Chicks were treated after they were critical of President George W. Bush and the Invasion of Iraq, witnessing the group’s downfall, and be convinced that it’s best to stay silent on important matters. As a Swiftie, I’m thankful to be able to get an inside look at someone who, for years, has kept herself at a distance. But I’m even more thankful that the film has managed to convince quite a few of my Swift-hating-friends into fans.
‘Miss Americana’ is streaming on Netflix.
10. Small Axe: Mangrove & Lovers Rock
Is it a film? A TV movie? Or is it a TV limited series? Who can tell anymore? The Small Axe series from Academy Award-winner Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave & Widows) is probably the most ambitious project of 2020. This is an anthology series consisting of five individual films that tell distinct stories, all based on or inspired by real life experiences of West Indian immigrants in London from the 1960s to 1980s. The five films—Mangrove; Lovers Rock; Red, White and Blue; Alex Wheatle; Education—are all written and directed by McQueen. And they’re all drastically different. The films were released on a weekly basis at the end of 2020, and I’ve seen all but the last one (Education). While I thought they were all good, the two standout installments that have been getting the most critical acclaim, and the two that made it onto my end-of-the-year list, are Mangrove and Lovers Rock.
Mangrove, featuring the trial of the Mangrove 9, is what The Trial of the Chicago 7 wishes it could be. This is a powerful courtroom drama that depicts the milestone case that resulted in the first judicial acknowledgement of racial prejudice by the Metropolitan Police—just 50 years ago! McQueen spends the first hour simply setting the scene, letting you get to know the characters, their daily lives, and culture. Admittedly, this first half was a little too slow for my liking, but I understood the reasons for its repetitive and frustrating nature. It allowed you to get into the heads of The Mangrove Nine, the group of Black activists who’d been consistently targeted and harassed by the Metropolitan Police on a daily basis. You got to feel how hurt and hopeless they felt. The film’s second half, featuring the criminal case, is where it truly shines, but the scenes wouldn’t have had the same effect had it not been for the slow and deliberate first half. Shaun Parkes is awards-worthy as the real-life Frank Crichlow, owner of The Mangrove restaurant (which the Mangrove Nine and other activists frequented). Parkes is powerful in his scenes as Frank, showing a man who didn’t choose to be an activist, but was thrown into the mix, and who struggles between doing what’s right,—fighting against the racist police, though risk his life doing so—or avoiding trouble and keeping his head down low.
While Mangrove was a two hours plus drama based on true events, Lovers Rock is on the other end of the spectrum, a short 68 minutes featuring a largely plot-less fictional house party in West London. Though the plot and characters aren’t real, it doesn’t mean they couldn’t have been. Lovers Rock is inspired by gatherings McQueen and others in his community growing up had on a weekly basis (the title is taken from the romantic style of reggae music). During a time where being openly racist and discriminatory was acceptable, these house parties were a safe space where Black people could be themselves. I didn’t know any of this going into the film, so the entire time I was waiting for something to happen, something bad, but it never did. Instead, I was exposed to one random scene to another, simply showing the characters enjoying a house party. But I couldn’t knock out the creeping feeling that something would appear to disrupt this joy. And I realized, this is a glimpse of what it feels like to live while Black, to always have a fear that prejudices, racism, or the police can interrupt at any time and take the joy away from you. After the brutal depictions of racism and police brutality in Small Axe’s first installment, it’s refreshing to witness a simple and beautiful film dedicated to Black joy.
Side note: Ever since seeing Lovers Rock I’ve been listening to Janet Kay’s “Silly Games” on repeat!
All five ‘Small Axe’ films are streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Read about *that* scene from ‘Lovers Rock’ and why it may very well be the best scene of the year!
9. One Night in Miami…
One Night in Miami features a plot that sounds fake but is, oh, so real. This is a fictional account of a real night on February 25, 1964, in which four of the most influential Black men in America met up in the Hampton House hotel in Miami. You might have heard of’em: civil rights figure Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir); world boxing champion Cassius Clay, aka Muhammad Ali (Eli Goree); singer-songwriter Same Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.); and NFL running back Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge). What follows is a contemplative story in which these different men discuss the ways to lead and use their skills, power, and newfound influence to propel their community forward.
This film is Black excellence all around. It’s based on the stage play of the same name by Kemp Powers (co-writer/director of Soul), who also adapted this film, features the directorial debut of the great Regina King (Watchmen), and showcases four powerful performances by its lead actors, all of whom do a remarkable job at portraying these larger-than-life historical figures. Kingsley Ben-Adir (The OA) is the standout here, depicting a complicated man who contemplates his life’s work and senses the end is near.
‘One Night in Miami’ is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
8. Tenet
Despite being arguably Christopher Nolan’s worst film to date, I had a lot of fun watching Tenet! Like most of Nolan’s projects (Inception & Interstellar), there was an air of mystery going into Tenet. No one really knew what the plot was, but at least the trailers were cool and exciting. Featuring Nolan’s first Black protagonist (the character is literally named The Protagonist, and he’s played by John David Washington), Tenet follows a secret agent who is exposed to the idea of time inversion and must prevent a catastrophic event that will destroy the world. What is time inversion, you ask? It’s like time travel… but not? Characters and objects who participate in time inversion have their entropy inverted, allowing them to literally move backward through time. It’s an interesting concept that allows the film to showcase something new in the sci-fi genre rather than the typical time travel stories we’re used to. Are we even surprised someone like Christopher Nolan would aim for something new and never seen before?
Tenet is a Christopher Nolan film at his most Christopher Nolan, so your tolerance for the film might depend on how much you’ve liked his previous works. A common criticism of Nolan’s films is that they’re emotionally hollow and cold. While I can understand why people feel that way, I’ve been able to find some of his films (like Inception or Interstellar) to be quite moving. Others have called out how obnoxiously loud and incomprehensible his films can be. It’s interesting because Nolan knows his films are loud, making some spoken dialogue inaudible, but it’s intentional. When Interstellar was called out for being so loud we couldn’t understand what the characters were saying, Nolan responded by saying “I don’t agree with the idea that you can only achieve clarity through dialogue. Clarity of story, clarity of emotions—I try to achieve that in a very layered way using all the different things at my disposal—picture and sound.” This was a creative decision I didn’t mind when I saw Interstellar in theatres. I understood what Nolan was going for. But I do wonder if my perception of Tenet would have been different had I seen it in theatres instead of at home. Not only did the subtitles help with understanding dialogue when the music and sound was too loud, but it also helped me better understand the mechanics of the plot (how time inversion works and all its rules). Without the subtitles, I would’ve been confused and frustrated the entire time. But alas, I did see it with subtitles, and I did enjoy it—so much, in fact, that I watched it twice in less than 24 hours. I just couldn’t get it out of my mind. The concept of time inversion was so cool, the fight sequences were groundbreaking—one standout scene featured a person fighting while moving forward in time against a person moving backward in time. Seriously, there’s never been a stronger case for stunt teams to be recognized by film awarding bodies—and the overall level of craft was just top-notch.
I can understand why many people disliked Tenet, from its overt exposition, to its confusing plot, and its cold personality. It’s just that, for me, I didn’t mind any of that because the direction, action, cinematography by Hoyte van Hoytema (Interstellar & Dunkirk), and score by Ludwig Göransson (Black Panther) worked together so well that I was thoroughly entertained.
‘Tenet’ is available on Blu-ray/DVD or for rent or purchase on digital platforms.
7. Hillary
I can already feel everyone’s eyes rolling back but, again, I don’t care—this is my blog! And apparently stanning and defending controversial white women (Taylor Swift, Hillary Clinton, Elizabeth Warren) is my biggest flaw. Hulu’s Hillary documentary is another project that challenges the idea of what is a film or television series in the age of streaming. Nanette Burstein’s documentary on the polarizing First Lady premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival before it was streamed on Hulu in four parts (i.e. episodes).
Like Miss Americana, the film takes a deep dive into a beloved and vilified public figure who is used to keeping her private life private. The project initially began as a recap of Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign—her team had collected 2,000 hours of behind-the-scenes footage for what I’m sure they had planned to be a historic documentary on the first woman president (You can see some of the same clips from the film in this campaign video released just a few days before the 2016 election. It’s one of my favorite campaign videos of all time). When Burstein was attached to the project in 2018, she decided it’d be more interesting to take a more wide lens approach into Clinton, a biopic about her life. It’s miraculous that Burstein was able to convince Clinton to open up and share parts of her life, no matter how painful (like the Monica Lewinsky Scandal), and the result is a captivating look at one of the most polarizing figures in America.
The documentary details Clinton’s life from birth to present day, and features interviews from her husband Bill Clinton, former President Barack Obama, and other public figures and private citizens, including her childhood friends. Despite all the criticisms Clinton receives, many fair, others not so much, the film reminds us that this was a woman who many people liked; Lindsey Graham wrote a positive tribute to her in Time Magazine back in 2006! Young people forget this was a woman who, as First Lady, championed universal healthcare for kids. Her failure in doing so most definitely impacted her thoughts and hesitation in making big promises that she can’t meet (regarding her infamous primary race against Bernie Sanders). At over four hours long, the film is an extremely detailed look into Hillary Clinton’s trailblazing life—all of her milestones, her accomplishments and failures, the sexism she faced all her life—and leaves practically no stone unturned, including her emails!
Side note: One of my anti-Hillary friends watched the film and changed her views about Hillary Clinton afterwards. And another person who was pro-Bernie Sanders left the film hating him. I say, if you have an opinion on her, give the film a chance. You might be surprised at what you learn.
All four episodes of ‘Hillary’ are streaming on Hulu.
6. Promising Young Woman
Emerald Fennel’s rape revenge thriller is one of the divisive films from those who’ve seen it. Not only because Promising Young Woman isn’t what the trailers made the film out to be, but because of its shocking third act (which I won’t spoil here). It’s a film that will leave you thinking about what you’ve just witnessed, about the larger discussion surrounding sexual violence and rape culture. The ending left me confused whether or not I liked it (I will say, Emily VanDerWerff’s Vox article on the film’s ending convinced me that the ending was good), but no matter how you feel, it can’t be denied that the film sparks an important discussion.
Promising Young Woman stars Carey Mulligan (An Education & The Great Gatsby) as Cassie Thomas, a 30-year-old med school dropout suffering from arrested development. She lives with her parents in Ohio and spends most of her days working at a local coffee shop, with seemingly no friends besides her boss Gail (Laverne Cox). We find out the reason Cassie dropped out of school was to care for her best friend Nina, whose rape by a fellow classmate wasn’t investigated by the school. Now, Cassie spends her nights at local clubs and bars, pretending to be drunk, allowing “nice guys” to take her “home,” only to reveal her sobriety to their expectedly shocked faces. When a former classmate (played by Eighth Grade’s Bo Burnham) shows up to her cafe one day to ask her out, having had a crush on her since their med school days, and who appears genuinely good, Cassie begins to consider a life beyond revenge, a life in which she may finally find happiness again.
I love this film! Written and directed by Fennel (Killing Eve) in her feature film debut, it’s part drama, part black comedy, part thriller, so it bounces back and forth between tone, but the film never feels haphazard. I love the bubblegum pop aesthetic, the music (I am now fan of Paris Hilton’s “Stars Are Blind”), and especially the acting. Mulligan deserves an Oscar for portraying such a broken and conflicted character. I appreciated Fennel’s casting decision, with actors like Adam Brody (The O.C.), Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Superbad), Sam Richardson (Veep), and Max Greenfield (New Girl), who normally play friendly and trustworthy men (characters we root for) in other films and shows, playing bad guys here. It’s such a clever way to refute the “nice guy” narrative without being too on-the-nose.
‘Promising Young Woman’ is available to stream on video on demand.
5. Judas and the Black Messiah
One of the most powerful and heartbreaking films of the year is Shaka King’s Judas and the Black Messiah, a biographical film telling the real-life betrayal of Black Panther leader Fred Hampton by a Panther member he trusted.
17-year-old William “Bill” O’Neal (Lakeith Stanfield) is a petty criminal-turned-FBI informant who is instructed to infiltrate the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party and monitor its 21-year-old leader, Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya), in order to avoid prison time. What follows is a tragedy, as we know from the very beginning how this story will end. There’s a sense of dread running throughout the film as we get closer and closer to its endpoint, knowing it can’t end well for either of these two men.
I didn’t know too much about Fred Hampton or the Black Panther Party before this film. I knew bits and pieces, but the film is important for being a major mainstream production that can show folks what the Black Panthers and people like Hampton were really like, that they weren’t terrorists. Kaluuya is absolutely stunning as the charismatic leader, especially during his powerful speeches. The sequence showing Hampton forming his Rainbow Coalition—the multicultural alliance between the Black Panthers, white southerners Young Patriots, and Latino Young Lords—was breathtaking to me. The coalition offered so much hope and liberation for these marginalized groups that of course it was seen as a radical threat to the FBI and its hold on white supremacy. Judas and the Black Messiah is a reminder that the fight for Black liberation isn’t new and has been a constant struggle. This is an important film that’s relevant now more than ever.
Side note: The decision to have a soundtrack featuring the likes of billionaire Jay-Z, and songs like “Rich Ni**a Problems,” is so head-scratching when you consider the fact that Hampton and the Black Panthers were socialists. Also, check out this great review of the film from Vulture critic Angelica Jade Bastién. While she didn’t like the film at all, her words are worth reading. It’s why I sometimes love film criticism, and the nature of debating art overall—someone will always see the same art differently than you.
‘Judas and the Black Messiah’ is playing in theatres (it was available on HBO Max for one month starting from February 12, 2021).
4. The Invisible Man
The first major surprise of 2020 was the latest adaptation of H.G. Wells’s novel “The Invisible Man.” Ever since its debut in 1897, it’s been adapted into a dozen films and television shows. This new version was originally supposed to be a part of Universal Studios’s shared cinematic universe, dubbed Dark Universe (Remember that? There was a trailer, photoshoot, and everything!), but after the bomb that was The Mummy reboot, the studio changed course and the new Invisible Man became a standalone feature. Thank god it did, because 2020’s The Invisible Man, written and directed by the reliable Leigh Whannell (Saw & Insidious), makes this old story feel brand new.
The film stars Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid’s Tale) as Cecilia Kass, a woman trying to escape an emotionally and physically abusive relationship with her wealthy tech bro boyfriend Adrian (Oliver Jackson-Cohen). After Adrian’s apparent suicide, he leaves his massive fortune to Cecilia. However, she suspects he’s still alive, that he’s somehow found a way to become invisible, and he’s still trying to make her life miserable.
This new rendition of The Invisible Man is a work of pure genius. It’s a horror film, but not in the typical ways you’d expect. The jump scares are there, but not abundant. What makes the film transcend its source and the trappings of its genre is in its ability to make you feel just as scared and paranoid as Cecilia. Brilliant are the shots of Cecilia looking at an empty space, wondering if the invisible man is there, paying close attention to every detail, every movement—and often times the film never reveals to us if Adrian really was there. And Elisabeth Moss is fantastic as Cecilia, in what should be her breakout role (if she hasn’t had one yet). She’s just so good at playing a character who’s absolutely sane, but spirals due to her inability to prove what’s happening to her. Her facial expressions, her physicality, she’s just so perfect as the emotional center of the film.
‘The Invisible Man’ is available on Blu-ray/DVD and is streaming on HBO Max.
3. A Sun
Chung Mong-hong’s family drama A Sun is Taiwan’s official selection to be considered for this year’s Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. But it wasn’t until the end of 2020 that anyone in the States even knew about it—Netflix’s own PR team didn’t even know the film was streaming on their own service! The film was the best narrative I’d seen all year, a great way to close out such a chaotic year in film.
The performances are a knockout, so subtle and nuanced. Wu Chien-ho shines as A-Ho, the film’s beating heart, playing a troubled teenager learning what it takes to redeem oneself. Greg Hsu’s A-Hao, A-Ho’s older and over-achieving college-aged brother, will make you feel like you’ve just been hit by a ton of bricks; it’s heartbreaking. And Samantha Ko and Chen Yi-wen play their parents, Qin and Wen, with the former never giving up hope on her troubled child, while the former acts like he doesn’t exist. Liu Kuan-ting also has a memorable turn as A-Ho’s dangerous friend Radish. Seriously, all of the scenes with Radish made me so anxious and scared. Liu’s performance is absolutely terrifying.
The official synopsis for A Sun is “A family of four fractures under the weight of unmet expectations, unexpected tragedy, and uncompromising pride.” And to be honest, that’s probably all you should know about the film prior to seeing it. This is a type of story that’s mean to be experienced, to take in and reflect. It’s a trip, but don’t expect anything on the level of Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite, which had an entertaining populist bent. Like Parasite, A Sun is a genre-bending affair—part comedy, part family drama, part crime thriller—but unlike Parasite, the film is all dark and there’s no joy to be found. Chung even said it during an interview: “‘A Sun’ is not really a joyful film. It’s not a film that offers hopes or optimism. I hope viewers will think about society or family afterwards. I hope viewers will think of life and its frustrations. Parents may blame their kids, and vice versa. There are no definite answers.”
Similar to Burning, Lee Chang-dong’s 2018 South Korean masterpiece, A Sun is a film that takes its time setting the scene and exploring its characters before reaching its momentous climax. Its story of what it means to be a family, a story of love, expectations, and redemption. It’s a slow burn, but your patience will be rewarded.
‘A Sun’ is streaming on Netflix.
2. All In: The Fight for Democracy
All In: The Fight for Democracy, also known as “Stacey Abrams’s documentary,” is the most important film of the year. From directors Liz Garbus (The Farm: Angola, USA) and Lisa Cortés (The Remix: Hip Hop X Fashion), the documentary depicts the history of voting rights in America and how the legacy of slavery continues to this day in many ways, especially when it comes to voter suppression. Produced by former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, who notoriously helped turn Georgia blue this past November and January, she also plays a major speaking role in the documentary, which is no surprise considering how long she’s been a voting rights advocate. She and over a dozen others discuss the many ways our government and politicians maliciously suppress the votes of Black, Hispanic, Asians, young, and poor people all across the country. It’s an enlightening film in many ways. For example, I’d always known how the votes of African-Americans were suppressed, but I never realized the ways Asian Americans were affected by these tactics, which appear in forms like strict voter ID laws. With the majority of the Asian American population being immigrants, many don’t speak English, so their English signatures are not consistent, and when their signatures are analyzed they’re likely to have their ballots rejected.
The film is a rallying cry, it’s a wake-up call to those of us who haven’t been paying attention. It’s a film that manages to dive into history, politics, and laws without ever feeling dull. Instead, it’ll invoke emotional reactions from you. It’s infuriating, heartbreaking, and powerful.
‘All In: The Fight For Democracy’ is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Hamilton
Hamilton is the final film on this list that challenges the notion of what a film can be. Is a cinematic recording of a live stage production considered a film? Regardless, this production is my favorite film of 2020, featuring a musical I’ve been obsessed with for years.
For any of you who’ve been living under a rock and don’t know what Hamilton is, it’s a musical created by, written by, with music by, and starring Lin-Manuel Miranda (Moana), that made its Broadway debut back in 2015 and quickly became a worldwide phenomenon. It tells the life story of Alexander Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and the country’s first Treasury Secretary. And the best part is this is a hip-hop musical, starring mostly people of color! Say what?
I was lucky enough to see the musical in Chicago, but seeing the film version (with the original actors) was still just as thrilling, and it’s nice being able to see some of the finer details I didn’t get to see sitting so far back in the theatre. Hamilton seriously feels like lightning in a bottle. Miranda has managed to create a compelling musical based on a Founding Father, with catchy-as-hell songs and memorable lyrics, astounding choreography and set design, and featuring some of the most talented non-white stage actors working today. Everything is just perfect and works together so well it feels like a miracle. I still can’t get over how amazing “Satisfied” is—especially Renée Elise Goldsberry’s Tony Award-winning performance, Nicki Minaj meets Busta Rhymes.
There are some critics who believe the musical romanticizes our violent founding fathers, ignoring the fact that many owned slaves. While the musical does touch on slavery a little bit, admittedly, it maybe could’ve done more. I do think it’s fair criticism. But I’m also on the side that believes Hamilton is an act of reclamation, depicting a mostly-white history in the eyes of people of color, challenging the idea of what a revolution, especially the people who lead it, can look like.
‘Hamilton’ is streaming on Disney+.
Non-2020 films I enjoyed: 13th; Detroit; Goodbye Mother; Just Mercy; Knock Down the House; Luce; Selma
Biggest disappointments from 2020: Let Them All Talk; Mulan; Small Axe: Red, White and Blue; Soul; Tigertail; The Trial of the Chicago 7
2020 films I wish I had watched: The Assistant; Athlete A; Borat Subsequent Moviefilm; Da 5 Bloods; Dick Johnson Is Dead; The Father; The Forty-Year-old Version; His House; Kajillionaire; Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom; Martin Eden; The Nest; Never Rarely Sometimes Always; Shirley; Sylvie’s Love; Time
