2020 seems like a fever dream honestly. Feels like I was just talking with some friends of mine about how badly this year started off when it came to movies. Then came Tiger King, I moved, and then somehow in the midst of all that theaters shut down and I found myself in quarantine. I’m a social guy - I don’t exactly know what to do when it comes to taking social stuff out of the equation. This year started off rocky when it came to movies. Which, in all honesty, was sad but somewhere around August, the movies really began to deliver. Quarantining didn’t seem so bad anymore. Here are my picks for the top 10 movies that this year has bought us.
10. You Don’t Nomi
It seems unlikely to feature a documentary on a top 10 list. Typically they are the kind of movies that I find myself watching once and leaving unsatisfied. That's not the case with You Don't Nomi. On the contrary, it led me down a rabbit hole of one of the most notorious box office bombs in Showgirls. This documentary looks at the cultural impact and eventual rebirth of the NC-17 film. It's informative, it's entertaining, and it will probably find itself as a new companion with future Showgirls viewings. To read my full review click here or to hear our Showgirls episode click here.
9. The Invisible Man (2020)
I've come to find that a large number of these movies on this list and even my honorable mentions have impacted me deeply and emotionally. While I've never been in an abusive relationship I have been in a toxic one. Not to mention that I have had multiple friends that have as well. The subject matter of this remake hit me a bit harder. Leigh Whinell did an excellent job at updating this remake for modern audiences and grounding it simultaneously. The lead performance from Elisabeth Moss is captivating and without a doubt one of this year’s best performances. Read my full review: http://bit.ly/timv20
8. Yellow Rose
This was a movie I didn't expect to be as emotionally impacted by as I was. The marketing for this movie did not do this movie justice. Yellow Rose perfectly captures what I imagine would be the fear of many Mexicans hoping for the American dream and what that is gonna cost them. This indie darling is fearless in its emotional pursuit to showcase that struggle. The performances are nothing shy of incredible, with a stand out performance by Eva Noblezada in particular. Her relationship to country music and its use of therapy solidified this film for me. Read my full review: https://bit.ly/Vyrose
7. Tenet
It's always exciting to see what Christopher Nolan is going to do next. He has become one of the modern filmmakers I actually look forward to. For his latest, Tenet, Nolan tackles both time travel and espionage. John David Washington and Robert Pattinson lead a visually stunning, exquisitely layered, and deep film that may take multiple viewings to grasp. I love films like this. It brings me back to the days of studying film and Tenet has a great deal to offer. Note to the reader, if you haven’t seen it yet, watch it on the biggest screen possible. It's something that needs to be experienced. Read my full review: https://bit.ly/v10et
6. Scare Me
The premise is simple. Two people experience a power outage and tell scary stories. This Shudder exclusive is one of the funniest movies I came across this year. After her stand out performance in The Boys, Aya Cash proves her comedic chops are just as strong. Cash and Josh Ruben have immaculate chemistry. They prove that sometimes the most effective movies are those which embrace simplicity. I can't remember a movie that brought me to tears from laughing. Scare Me did that. Well worth the watch. Read my full review :https://bit.ly/vscareme
5. The Hunt
Back in June I got a great deal of flack for featuring this one on my list. The Hunt received controversy upon its initial 2019 release. I will be completely honest this movie is far from perfect and stands out from a lot of other movies on this list. It has more in common with b-horror movies but its quirkiness is the reason that I love this movie so much. Betty Gilpin strongly leads this movie into the weird unknown that could turn The Hunt into a cult classic. This movie is my guilty pleasure of the year if I had to give it a name. To read my full review click here & to hear our episode click here.
4. Soul
Soul was a movie that I had high hopes for. Given that it was a Pixar movie, I expected to be entertained. This movie blew me away unlike any other film the studio has done. It is complex, beautiful, sometimes darkly hilarious, and boasts a tremendous soundtrack. This movie is perfect in all the ways. Read my full review: https://bit.ly/Vicsoul
3. Sound of Metal
Back in July of this past year I went swimming for the first time in a year. I came out of that experience with loss of nearly all my hearing. I grew up around the music scene, standing way too close to the speakers. By all accounts it is a miracle I can still hear. I thank God every day for that fact. With Sound of Metal, I found myself grateful for my hearing. Riz Ahmed as a drummer who loses his hearing is an emotionally intense cinematic experience. His performance is one of the best this year has brought to us. It's raw, gritty, and impactful in every way. I can not recommend this movie enough.
2. I’m Thinking of Ending Things
A controversial pick. I grew up watching Becoming John Malkovich probably way more than a child probably should have. I grew to truly love Charlie Kaufman's unique sense of humor and corkiness. Earlier this year, I watched Adaptation for the first time and rekindled that love. Then came his latest movie, I'm Thinking of Ending Things. This movie is a trip and a half. Extraordinarily layered and complex but an accurate portrayal of grief, regret, and depression. The performances are top tier. The cinematography and direction are incredibly married to set a complex, yet compelling, tone. To read my full review click here & to hear our episode click here.
1.Promising Young Woman
I remember coming across the trailer for this film late last year. It was originally circling around a mid April release date. It immediately became one of my most anticipated films of this year, higher than any horror or superhero movie. This movie did not fail to deliver. From its subtle humor and dynamic directing to its smart writing or fearless approach to rape culture and toxic masculinity, Promising Young Woman is the movie we all need to see to better understand the gravity of the film’s subject matter. Read my full review now: http://bit.ly/vproyfem
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Victims and Villains is written (and produced) by Josh "Captain Nostalgia" Burkey and others, and edited by Cam Smith. Music by Mallory Johnson and others. You Don’t Nomi is property of RLJE Films. We do not own nor claim any rights. Tenet is property of Warner Brothers Pictures. We do not own nor claim any rights. The Hunt is property of Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Productions .We do not own nor claim any rights. Promising Young Woman is property of Focus Features. We do not own nor claim any rights.
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