Top 10 Best Movies of 2020

After doing my top 10 worst movies of 2020 list, it’s time to be more positive and look at my top 10 BEST movies of the year. This list was a little more complicated to make this year because there’s a lot of grey area on what’s considered 2020 and what’s not since I saw a lot of movies at virtual film festivals thanks to the pandemic sending a vast majority of them online. So for this list, any film that I watched at film festivals but does not have an official U.S. release date in 2020 will not be included (even if a lot of film critics are including them in their top 10 lists), so expect to see some of those on next year’s list. Also, as much as I love it, the Disney+ recording of “Hamilton” will also not be included on this since it’s a stage recording of a Broadway musical and not an actual movie. So, without further-ado, out of over 100 movies I’ve seen in 2020 (again, yes more than just “Sonic the Hedgehog” was released this year), here’s my top 10 best of the year:

Honorable Mentions:

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom: Review GRADE: A-
Relic: Review GRADE: A-
The Forty-Year-Old Version: Review GRADE: A-
Wolfwalkers: Review GRADE: A-

10. The Invisible Man: Review GRADE: A–

This is the only movie on this list, including the honorable mentions, that I actually saw in a theater before the pandemic started. While I liked his 2018 film, “Upgrade,” slightly more, Leigh Whannell still does a fantastic job directing this remake of the classic Universal Monster movie while using real world issues to help tell the story. Elizabeth Moss also gives one of the best performances of the year, really going all in with this. One of the best horror movies of the year (the best coming later in this list)..

9. Sound of Metal: Review GRADE: A–

Representation of the disability community is rarely ever touched upon in film, but two movies that do a great job at that make this list today and “Sound of Metal” is definitely one of them. Following a drummer that loses his hearing, writer/director Darius Marder does so many great things with his debut film. Riz Ahmed gives an incredible performance while being surrounded by actual deaf and hard-of-hearing actors and actresses. The sound design is also absolutely perfect. This is a movie I haven’t been able to stop thinking about.

8. Da 5 Bloods: Review GRADE: A–

Spike Lee is one of my favorite directors and is also probably the most ambitious director working today, always with something important to say. His newest film “Da 5 Bloods” is no different. He really explores the Black identity both today and during the Vietnam War while also just showing a great story of friendship and family. There are so many interesting creative decisions Spike makes with this movie that only make it better. Delory Lindo also gives one of the most incredible performances of the year.

7. Run.: Review GRADE: A

The second horror film and the second film that explores disabilities is “Run.” Writer/Director Aneesh Chaganty already won me over with his 2018 debut film “Searching” and he only makes me love him more wit this. This movie is thrilling and haunting all at the same time and I could never take my eyes off the screen. Sarah Paulson is incredible while Chaganty’s decision to cast an actual wheelchair-bound person in the lead role with Kiera Allen only makes me love the movie more.

6. Mank: Review GRADE: A

David Fincher is my favorite director of all time and “Mank” was #1 on my top 10 most anticipated movies of 2020 list at the beginning of the year (only one of two movies from that list that made it on my top 10, granted a majority from that list never got released this year thanks to the pandemic), so it’s really no surprise that this film found its way here. About the writer of Citizen Kane, it’s really an impressive technical achievement all around and includes some extremely interesting moments.

5. Never Rarely Sometimes Always: NO REVIEW GRADE: A

“Never Rarely Sometimes Always” is the only movie on this list I never got the chance to fully review. Eliza Hittman does a fantastic job directing this heartbreaking movie. About a teenage girl who gets raped and makes the decision to get an abortion when she finds out she’s pregnant, but when she can’t get it without her parents’ permission in her state, she travels to New York City with her best friend in order to get it. There is a scene that’s an about five minute one take shot that’s absolutely haunting and Sidney Flanigan’s performance is amazing. It’s unbelievable that this is her first time acting.

4. Minari: Review GRADE: A

“Minari” is currently only playing in select theaters in New York and Los Angeles, but that’s technically an official release date so it counts here. I went back and forth if I wanted to included it on their list or wait for 2021, but I’m glad I’m including it. “Minari” stars The Walking Dead‘s Steve Yuen and is a semi-autobiographical story of the writer/director Lee Isaac Chung’s childhood growing up in rural Arkansas. As someone who has spent most of his life in Arkansas, I thought this was such an incredibly wholesome and powerful film. It goes wide in February and I hope more people see it then.

3. The Trial of the Chicago 7: Review GRADE: A

Where David Fincher is my favorite director of all time, Aaron Sorkin is my favorite screenwriter of all time. The dialogue in “The Trial of the Chicago 7” is absolutely perfect and helps the film flow as well as it does. The cast is the best ensemble all year and it’s not even close. Every single person could fill all the acting nominees at every awards show and I really wouldn’t complain much. It’s also a movie that is so timely to what’s been going on in 2020 and shows that we really haven’t come that far since the time period this film is in.

2. Soul: Review GRADE: A+

The first of only two A+s on this list (in comparison, there were five on my 2019 list), “Soul” is absolutely magical and one of Pixar’s best films ever made. It really makes you stop and think about your life, questioning if you’re living it to yours to the fullest. The animation is wonderful and it’s great to see Pixar have their first Black lead character (and hopefully it won’t be anywhere near the last). Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey do incredible voice work while the score is the best all year.

1. Promising Young Woman: Review GRADE: A+

The #1 movie on this list is also the most recent film of 2020. “Promising Young Woman” is perfect in every way and one of the most ambitious and thrilling films of the year. It tackles such a sensitive issue in the most thrilling way possible and director Emerald Fennell holds back no punches. Carey Mulligan delivers the best female performance of the year truly showing off her range as an actress like never before. The ending is divisive, but obviously I loved it.