It’s no secret 2020 has been an absolute mess of a year. In addition to a pandemic, the election, racial inequality, and much more, the movie industry was decimated. Films were delayed, then delayed again, then postponed or released on streaming services. Disappointment after disappointment followed each and every announcement bearing bad news. The movies I largely spent time watching were mostly from streaming services, and I must admit that most of what I watched were not your typical top tier worthy films. While the top of this list includes genuinely worthy films, the bottom half mostly consists of mid-tier films that were by no means award winning, but that I still found reasonably entertaining, fun, and heartwarming during my quarantine. With any luck, they’ll be pushed out of the running soon. This year I missed out on several films, notably Never Rarely Sometimes Always, First Cow, Wolfwalkers, Borat, and Nomadland. Hopefully I’ll be able to see those films soon, but until then, here is my list!
10. Unpregnant (Rachel Goldenberg, 2020)
Unpregnant follows its two protagonists, Veronica and Bailey (Haley Lu Richardson and Barbie Ferreria), as they travel cross-country to get an abortion for Veronica’s unwanted pregnancy. The fact that Veronica is underage and doesn’t want her parents to find out means that they have to go a long way to find an abortion center willing to take them. Along the way, the two girls find themselves in comedically silly and absurd situations that emphasize how difficult it is for women to access proper reproductive healthcare, all while making you laugh. Though set more on the comedic side, the film also offers decent lessons about friendships, relationships, and family. All in all, the subject matter makes Unpregnant a film that needed to be made.
You can read Madelyn Land’s review of Unpregnant here.
9. Birds of Prey (Cathy Yan, 2020)
I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed seeing Bird of Prey. As one of my last films seen in theaters before the pandemic hit, it holds a special place in my heart. Make no mistake, at it’s core, this is still a DC supervillain movie, something that’s not much to brag about. However, when I watched it, I could not help but laugh and cheer out loud as Margot Robbie and her ensemble of women fought of Ewan McGregor and his cronies. Accompanied by cute animations, a bright color palette, and a banger soundtrack, I firmly believe that this is one of the most fun movies I’ve seen of 2020. I hope Cathy Yan gets more chances to direct, because she’s got a lot of potential.
You can read Jesus Alfaro’s review of Birds of Prey here.
8. Happiest Season (Clea DuVall, 2020)
I watched Happiest Season expecting to not enjoy it very much. However, I found myself delightfully proven wrong! I am a self proclaimed Christmas lover, and I found this cheesy little merry love story to full of irresistible, wholesome goodness. In line with Unpregnant, I felt that this film fell into a category of a silly film with an important subject matter. Though the film has many comedic beats, the central story revolves around Harper (Mackenzie Davis) and her unwillingness to come out to her parents, something that jeopardizes her relationship with Abby (Kristen Stewart). In addition to many things, I thought that in particular, Eugene Levy’s heartfelt soliloquy about his coming-out experience to Abby, was a great moment for the characters and the story. You cannot help but be invested in the characters of this small town when watching this.
You can read Sarah Snyder’s review of Happiest Season here.
7. Pieces of a Woman (Kornél Mundruczó, 2020)
Pieces of a Woman details the indescribable grief that occurs from the loss of a child. Vanessa Kirby gives a stunning performance as a grieving mother, and though her performance far exceeds the quality of the film itself, the film is still a sobering experience. Kirby acts with all the nuances one would expect from a grieving mother and then some. While otherwise not of note, the camera work during the birth scene is flowing and claustrophobic, channeling the anxiety of new parents at a home birth. The film is explicitly marked by chapters of time, as if we were watching the growth or decay of a plant, another important motif in the film. While I’m sure Vanessa Kirby’s back must hurt from carrying this film, her performance and the film’s subject matter make this an incredibly important story.
6. Palm Springs (Max Barbakow, 2020)
A fun twist on the time loop genre, Palm Springs follows Nyles and Sarah at Sarah’s half-sister’s wedding, where both of them have not the best of relationships with the groom or bride. Sarah gets accidentally dragged into a time loop that Nyles has been stuck in forever, and they both must figure out a way out. What follows is (again) a comedic, heartfelt plot where both characters dive into questions like what makes life worth living? and how do you truly seize the moment? Combined with a raucous supporting cast, this film is a fresh and easy experience. A definitely recommend for anyone looking for a nice movie to snuggle up to during the pandemic.
You can read Rohan Patel’s review of Palm Springs here.
5. Shirley (Josephine Decker, 2020)
Shirley details the story of horror/thriller writer Shirley Jackson as she and her husband host a young couple in their home. What follows is an eerie descent into madness as Shirley (Elizabeth Moss) and Rose (Odessa Young) begin to bond. A baby, a missing student, and an unfinished manuscript are only parts of the mystery that begin to unravel in the home, along with Rose’s own peace of mind as she discovers that she cannot trust those around her. I thought the story, acting, and camerawork impressively portrayed the decay and insanity that creep in at the edges of this film. Both Elizabeth Moss and Odessa Young give great performances as woman who do not quite fit in.
You can read Rohan Patel’s review of Shirley here.
4. Soul (Pete Doctor, 2020)
Pete Doctor’s newest film since 2015’s Inside Out is strikingly similar, and yet different all the same. Once again, in classic Pixar fashion, we explore the value of life, passion, and soul. Through the Joe Gardner’s (Jaime Foxx) mistaken assignment as the mentor to a soul that’s yet to come to earth, we join him on an adventure where he looks towards not only his past and future with a new lens, but also the present. With good natured humor, beautiful animation, Soul captures the hearts and minds of its audience with its simple premise and lifelong lessons.
3. Sound of Metal (Darius Marder, 2020)
I was floored to see Riz Ahmed play Ruben, a drummer losing his hearing in Sound of Metal. As a musician myself with tittinitus, I felt particularly empathetic to his situation. With an impressive commentary on both disability and what defines people as human beings, Sound of Metal is unafraid to confront our deepest fears and embrace our lowest moments. As Ruben must come to terms with his new deafness, we watch him struggle with his own identity. He is not as ready to embrace his deafness as those in the deaf community around him, and so he comes to a crossroads between two sacrifices he must make. Riz Ahmed is spectacular in this film, and I am personally rooting for him this awards season.
2. Promising Young Woman (Emerald Fennel, 2020)
Emerald Fennel’s power packed directorial debut is definitely one for the history books. A delicious revenge story set against a pink pastel background, Fennel explores rape culture with an attitude like no other. Carey Mulligan also gives a heart pounding performance as Cassie, a woman determined to seek vengeance for the rape and death of her friend Nina. I personally loved how bold this film was. The music, cinematography, and screenplay were fearless, embracing traditional femininity while universally condemning victim blaming. While by no means a complete or comprehensive representation to the trauma that unfortunate affects so many women, it’s certainly gets your attention. Perhaps through that it can pave a way for more people to express their survivorship through art.
You can read Joe Lollo’s review of Promising Young Woman here.
1. Minari (Lee Isaac Chung, 2020)
I am proud to say that the top film of my list is none other than Lee Isaac Chung’s Minari. The film is a soulful exploration of a Korean immigrant family settling down in Arkansas and an insight into how different generations interact, whether it be children, parents, or the elderly. I particularly felt connected to the film’s depiction of an Asian immigrant family, and I was reminded of my grandparents back in Taiwan, who, not unlike the grandma in this film, sacrificed so much for their children and their grandchildren. What surmised was an emotional story of resilience and familial love that left a deep impression on myself. This quiet drama is a must see for everyone.