Monday, January 25, 2021

Top 10 Movies of 2020

For quite some time now, I’ve done a “top 20” list of my favorite movies each year in this blog.  However, I’m only doing a “top 10” for 2020, since I didn’t get to see that many movies.  The amount of 2020 films I saw by December 2020 is just about half of the amount of 2019 films I saw by December 2019.  A huge reason is that many scheduled releases were cancelled and theaters were closed for most of the year because of the pandemic.  Another reason is that I wasn’t as enthusiastic about watching a whole lot of movies in 2020 as I was in previous years (same case with TV, actually).  So, even though there were still a lot of new movies that became available digitally, it wasn’t very often that I was in a movie-watching mood.  Thus, with me having a smaller pool of seen movies in 2020, a “top 10” list feels more apt than the usual “top 20.”

10.) Ride Your Wave
“…my most favorite Masaaki Yuasa anime to date.  It’s not only a smart, gorgeous, entertaining, and moving film, but it can also stir you to reflect deeply about your life so far, your present relationships, and your legacy.”
Click here for the full review.

9.) The Hunt
“More than just being a movie that has political themes and metaphors, The Hunt is a legitimate and delightful action thriller film.”
Click here for the full review.

8.) The Outpost
“Just like other worthwhile war drama films, there’s balance.  On one hand, it works as a solid movie to enjoy with its visceral violence and exciting action.  But on the other hand, it doesn’t romanticize war, but shows how horrible it is.  On one hand, it celebrates how amazingly ahead American military training and weaponry are.  On the other hand, it pays tribute to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the cause of freedom.”
Click here for the full review.

7.) Soul
“…an enjoyable, imaginative, touching, and thought-provoking animated film… does have something worthwhile to say.”
Click here for the full review.

6.) Onward
“…a fantastic movie about family, and a fantastic movie that everyone in the family can enjoy… very entertaining from start to finish.”
Click here for the full review.

5.) Palm Springs
“When done right, stuck-in-a-time loop stories are extremely enjoyable.  And Palm Springs does it excellently. Well-directed and well-written, the storytelling is utterly witty, efficient, thoughtful, and absorbing.  There are strong twists-and-turns, which not only generate genuine surprises, but provide depth as well.  None of the loops feel tediously repetitive.  And its jokes hit as potently as it hits you right in the feels.”
Click here for the full review.

4.) Love and Monsters
“…an engrossing, endearing sci-fi action-adventure comedy film that, despite having a trope-y premise, avoids being something derivative, but has instead managed to be a standout through presenting an emotionally-satisfying character-driven narrative, immersive worldbuilding, and an uplifting, relatable message.”
Click here for the full review.

3.) The Gentlemen
“…totally well-directed, well-acted, and well-written.  It pleases with the narrative devices it utilizes, the stylish visuals, the rapid-fire sharp dialogue, the chic editing, and the overall execution of how it tightly builds the whole from its parts.  It’s also splendidly peppered with the perfect amount of humor and action… showcases a well-realized underworld community occupied by an array of colorful, interesting characters.”
Click here for the full review.

2.) Tenet
“…utterly convoluted and knotty by design… But it genuinely makes the patience and work you put into it worth it… It features one of most unique and most fascinating time travel concepts ever, and superbly constructs a clever, fitting narrative around it… It’s such a cool movie.  And it only becomes cooler in your mind the longer you reflect on it.”
Click here for the full review.

1.) Hamilton
“As a musical production, Hamilton is pristine… The terrific cinematography, camera work, and editing involved in turning Lin-Manuel Miranda’s magnum opus into a movie also deserve to be praised… Truly, Hamilton is the gold standard of how to turn a stage musical into a movie.”
Click here for the full review.

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