by John Zenoni
So we reached the end of the 2020 movie season a couple of weeks ago and I've been thinking back on the films that I really enjoyed the most this past year.
With most of my viewing of movies being spent at home, watching films released straight to demand, streaming sites or other viewing apps, it was a sad year of not being able to watch movies my favorite way and as it should be - on the big screen!
But it was still a great year of film and I watched some great ones! What about you? Below is my list of the best of 2020 (note, not in any particular order)! Feel free to share your favs!
Soul
After enjoying all the holiday festivities with my family, we decided to watch the latest Disney/Pixar film, ‘Soul’ and I can report we were not disappointed by any means. I'm pleased that Disney/Pixar has kept up with their reputation of producing beautifully made animation films.
The story revolves around jazz musician, Joe Gardner (voiced by Jamie Foxx), who is a part time music teacher at a local school and is given an opportunity to finally become a full time teacher with a regular pay, pension, benefits, etc. You would think that most people would be excited as this is a sound, secure job but you can tell that Joe is really looking to do something different with his music. Not twenty minutes into the film, one of Joe’s former students, Curley (voiced by Questlove), calls him to tell him they need someone to fill in at the last minute for a gig at a local jazz club, performing with the well known jazz musician, Dorothea Williams (voiced by Angela Bassett), and he is estatic.
He's on the way home all excited when an unfortunate accident takes place and Joe leaves this earth and wakes up in the afterlife. This is when the story takes a turn and gets very interesting.
Once Joe realizes that he's headed to the Great Beyond, he panics and does everything he can to get back to his body on Earth as he doesn't want to miss his big break! During this time in the afterlife, he's assigned as a mentor to 22 (voiced by Tina Fey), a soul that doesn't have any desire to go to Earth as she doesn't think there's anything worthwhile there. Joe manages to get 22 to go to earth but instead of Joe’s soul returning to his body, he ends up in that of a cat, while 22 ends up in his body. Panic ensues as Joe only has so much time to get his body prepared for the gig and they have to go through a ‘mediator’ named Moonwind (voiced by Graham Norton) in order to get Joe and 22’s souls back in the right bodies.
It's during this time that 22 begins to experience things on earth as a person that she's beginning to appreciate and Joe also begins to realize things about himself that he hadn't before. The switch does take place, Joe gets back into his body and is able to perform his gig, but it's with the sacrifice of 22 going back to the afterlife and not having a body. Once Joe performs with the band, he realizes it still didn't fulfill him completely and he thought it would be a more exciting experience than expected. Joe knows 22 has changed and is ready to come to earth as a person and he sacrifices himself to allow 22 to go to earth. Because of this, the Great Ones (what I can only think of calling them) allow Joe to also go back because of his kind act.
Now on to the comments about the film. First, the animation is, of course, amazing and absolutely beautiful so this didn't disappoint at all. The characters of Joe and his mom, (voiced by Phylicia Rashad), are by far my favorites and really make the film. The music - outstanding! Wonderful music that fits this film perfectly, which if anyone is interested in knowing, is put together with the consultation of Questlove.
Also significant about this film that I'm sure many will notice is that it's voiced by a predominantly African American cast. I read a great review about the film and she noted (Tasha Robinson, Disney+) the same as well, stating, “... The film, which now debuts directly on Disney Plus, is another groundbreaker, with the studio’s first Black protagonist and first focus on Black community, relationships, and art.
Soul will come in for endless analysis of the details that give it shape. One of its subtlest but most daring touches is that it doesn’t have significant white characters at all — it seems natural enough that the people in Joe’s most immediate circle of family and friends are Black, but it’s also notable that the authority figures in his world, from minor characters (the principal, a doctor, a random cop) to major ones (all the Great Before counselors and accountants) are also people of color, from a range of genders and ethnicities. That choice, and the view of Black community life — particularly Joe’s relationship with his mother, and a barbershop scene that defines how Joe relates to his friends — will certainly be studied and examined at length.”
If I have to find any fault with the film, it's only that it's a little more ‘deep’ as far as the subject matter than I expected. This isn't necessarily a bad thing but I do think it can go over younger kids’ heads. I was very moved by it myself and loved this film. Definitely another great addition to the Disney/Pixar catalogue of animated films.
Promising Young Woman
If you want to watch a movie with a great performance by an amazing actor and absolutely wild ending, then ‘Promising Young Woman’ is the film for you. Carey Mulligan gives an outstanding performance as Cassie, a young woman who had a promising future while attending medical school but who dropped out after the sexual assault of her best friend, who attended school with her as well. It is implied in the film that her BFF took her own life after not being able to live with what happened to her. Since the assault, Cassie has been living at home, working in a local coffee shop, just seemingly living out a boring life. However, Cassie is actually living a double life at night, taking ‘revenge’ on men who seem to want to prey on her vulnerability (she pretends to be intoxicated).
During lunch one day a young man comes in to the coffee shop insistent that she go out with him, particularly after he finds out they were in med school together. Reluctantly she agrees as she is not interested in a relationship but she finds herself really liking this young man until she learns some horrible news about his ties to her friends assault.
The build up of suspense and tension in this film is unbearable especially once things begin to become revealed. But the clincher is definitely the ending! It in no way turns out as I had expected but it is powerful!
This is a film with an important message and the way Cassie gets it across is ingenious. Does it mean she is right in the end? Well the way I thought about it after watching the film was that two wrongs don’t make a right and/or you cannot take justice into your own hands. But I will say that the way the payback takes place is pretty good.
One Night in Miami
“One Night in Miami...”, directed by the wonderful Regina King - all I can say is, ‘Wow!’ An amazing story with amazing performances by these wonderful gentlemen:
Leslie Odom, Jr as Sam Cooke
Kingsley Ben-Adir as Malcolm X
Eli Goree as Cassius Clay
Aldis Hodge as Jim Brown
Definitely one of the best films of the year!
Run
Released on November 20, ‘Run’ is now the most-watched original film ever during its opening weekend for Hulu. The movie is writer/director Aneesh Chaganty’s second film following his 2018 breakout with ‘Searching.’
First of all, if you haven't seen the film 'Searching’, definitely put that one on your must-see list. It's original and suspenseful and an exciting film. So needless to say I'm glad to say that the director of that film has done it again with ‘Run.’ This is the story of what appears to be a fun, loving relationship between and mother and her wheelchair bound daughter. All appears well until some clues start coming in that make the daughter question a few things. That's all I can say as this is one that you don't want to give anything way.
As always, Sara Paulson is remarkable in her role as the mother, Diane Sherman. Can Sara Paulson do anything wrong as far as her acting? She's definitely on a roll with ‘American Horror Story’ and ‘Ratched.’ Also very good in her performance as the daughter, Chloe Sherman, is Kiera Allen. The supporting characters in the film do a good job but it's the chemistry between Paulson and Allen that really keeps this film and the suspense going.
It's a definitely a nail-biter for sure so if you're looking for something to keep you on the edge of your seat, this is the film for you.
Herself
‘Herself’ is a story about a young wife with two children who is in an abusive relationship and is determined to take her kids and get out. She has to fight not only her ex but also a housing system that provides little in terms of a clean, safe environment in which to raise her kids. The woman works herself tirelessly to try and provide a better life for her kids, working multiple jobs, picking them up from school, providing food and what shelter she can. Then she comes across an idea to build your own house with as little money as possible and decides it's what she's going to do. Realistic? Maybe not but an idea for an entertaining film? Absolutely! I was concerned that this film might get a little too ‘mushy’ or fall into the ‘Hallmark’ mode but it doesn't do that at all. There are great performances in this film and it ends perfectly. Very inspirational and a great one to watch.
Sylvie’s Love
I’m Thinking of Ending Things
I’m Your Woman
Greyhound
Let Him Go
Let me preface this review by saying that the trailer is somewhat misleading, just a little in my opinion, in that it makes it appear that this is going to be a fast, action packed film. Yes, it does happen but I'll get into that later.
First, let me start with the premise of the story and then delve into what specifically makes this a great film.
Kevin Costner and Diane Lane (who has always been underrated in my opinion and I dare anyone to find a bad performance by her) play a husband and wife who live on a beautiful ranch/horse farm with their only child, a son, and his wife and little grandson.
***Spoiler alert***
A horrible accident happens and the son is thrown off his horse and killed leaving them with the daughter-in-law and grandson. You can tell that the love Diane Lane’s character has for little Jimmy is intense and she will do anything for him. As years pass, the daughter-in-law remarries, breaking Diane Lane’s character’s heart for fear she won’t see her grandson again. They do move but live nearby until unexpectedly, when going to pay a visit, Diane Lane’s character learns that they have packed up and gone. What scares her is she had been in town on a previous day and observed the new husband hit both the daughter-in-law and little Jimmy. Well after hearing they've left town, Diane Lane’s character is determined to go find them and bring Jimmy back home to live them. This is where the drama begins.
First, I have to mention the cinematography in this film. Absolutely stunning and gorgeous! It's been a long time since I've seen a film show such beautiful scenery in so many scenes. What I also love is how the moments even in scenes like a luncheon diner capture the time period and make you feel like you've gone back in time.
The next thing is the dialogue. A host of a live after-screening event last night made this same comment when talking to cast members and the director and I'm in agreement with him. There are moments - a good many in fact, especially early on - where the dialogue is little-to-none and you only see interaction between Kevin Costner and Diane Lane by their body language or facial expressions. But it makes no difference because these are experienced actors and they're telling the story between each other themselves. It's great to see. As a critic for Roger Ebert wrote, “Subtle moments, all, but they do so much to set the scene and establish the themes of regret and redemption in 'Let Him Go'.” This is the kind of solid, grown-up drama we don’t see very often anymore.” Totally agree!
As for the other performances in the film, they're all very good especially that of Lesley Manville, a British actor, who plays Blanche Weboy, the other grandmother, and all I can say is, ‘Wow!’ She knocks her performance out of the park as the ‘gangster’ style mother of a group of sons who are crude, ruthless and mean. Apparently, even the neighboring police don’t play with this family due to their antics and how they treat everyone. People are scared to death of them and, of course, mother Weboy isn't going to let little Jimmy go without a fight, and fight they do. This is when the action picks up and there is one scene in particular with Kevin Costner that made me cringe as it shows how horrible the Weboy family is. But they took on more than they should have with Kevin Costner and Diane Lane’s characters. One thing is the ending is not completely as you would have expected or wanted but that's something that I found fresh and appealing.
The Way Back
For those people who love sports and films about sports, “The Way Back” is definitely for you. This is one of the best sports themed films I've seen in a very long time for several reasons. (For those not familiar with this movie, it's about a former high school sports star who ends up stepping in as head coach at his former school where he played due to the current coach having to step down for health reasons.)
First, and I will try to say this without ruining anything about the film, it does not follow that typical down-and-out athlete or coach story who all of a sudden makes a miraculous turnaround and then either makes the greatest save or score or win for the team and all ends happily ever after. No, the story-line in this one definitely strays away from that which was a nice surprise.
Second, it has a plot twist that totally caught me off guard and punched me in the gut. Some people might say that they could see it coming a mile away but perhaps it was the way the film progressed that made me miss it until it happened. The other thing I loved was the scenes of the young men playing basketball. It felt like you were in the game with the players and you could feel the coach’s (portrayed by Ben Affleck) enthusiasm carry over into their games as they proceeded to get better and better.
Finally, the performances are superb, particularly that of Ben Affleck. What an outstanding job he does playing coach Jack Cunningham. He also does an excellent job carrying this film with his performance and he makes you root for him (while being mad at him at the same time)! This performance is one that demands recognition and I hope that he won't be overlooked during awards season as he's so good. Great film!
Sound of Metal
Talk about an absolutely stunning performance in a great movie - definitely check out Riz Ahmed as musician Ruben Stone in the film, ‘Sound of Metal.’ It's one of those performances that makes your mouth drop as well as feel every emotion the actor feels in his/her portrayal.
The film is about a heavy-metal drummer in a band with his girlfriend who begins to suddenly lose his hearing. A former heroin addict, but four years clean, he begins to panic and feels that he's spiraling out of control. His girlfriend is worried that he's going to revert back to his drug use to deal with the situation so she gets him into a house for people learning to adjust to life as a deaf person. Ok, this is where people might think the film would fall apart and into the trap of sentimental, heartfelt overload. But thank goodness it doesn't do that. Ruben is given an opportunity and he slowly begins to try and adapt to his new life as a deaf person, learning sign language and developing relationships with those who live in the home. But the whole time he has plans to try and revert to his former life as a musician on the road and living in his RV with his girlfriend again, moving from city to city and playing gig after gig. Without giving anything else away, I'll say that things do not exactly fall into place as he expects.
The acting by the cast in this film is all good but this movie definitely belongs to Ahmed and rightly so. He puts his whole heart into this performance, learning to play drums and sign language. I'll back up on an earlier comment and admit that there were a couple of touching moments and the ending is a killer at playing with your mind and heart.
Definitely one film that pulled at my heart strings, not only because I'm a person who loves music immensely and couldn't imagine going through what Ahmed’s character does, but also because it teaches so many good lessons while not doing overkill. It's a well balanced, well made film with a tour de force performance!
The Vast of Night
The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart
In watching the captivating documentary by Frank Marshall about the singing group The Bee Gees, “The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart”, it saddened me to think that many people might still think of them only as ‘that disco group’ or ‘that group who only had a short-lived stint as disco singers.’ They absolutely were way more than that. This is a group whose vocals blended together like few others and they were phenomenal songwriters. They wrote over 1,000 songs and had 20 number 1 hits between the United States and the UK.
This is a great film that gives insight into the drive and chemistry between the brothers and what they went through during their highs and lows. The film used interviews pulled from 1999 since Maurice and Robin are no longer with us and I'm glad that we were able to get their insight into their music career and contribution to music in general.
The film shared many facts I had never known about their personal lives, the different techniques they used in the recording studio and the number of songs they had written for other people. Fortunately, they were able to still thrive in the music industry as a result of their songwriting skills. The most touching point is when Barry says at the end that he'd give all the hits back to have his brothers, including Andy, back with him.
I don’t care what anyone thinks, they definitely left a tremendous legacy behind when it comes to beautiful, melodic songs that captivated several generations.
His House
If you're looking for your next fright or horror film to watch, I highly recommend the excellent “His House” on Netflix. Holy cow what a good one! This film is currently sitting with a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes so that should tell you something.
The story is about a refugee couple who manage to escape from South Sudan, currently war-torn, to seek asylum in England but have to deal with the loss of their daughter during their escape, who drowns while on the journey across the ocean. The whole situation is awful for them as not only do they leave the only country they have known, and lose their only child, but then they are subjected to certain rules and regulations, as well as humiliating encounters with others, while trying to establish a new life for themselves in a foreign country.
Once they begin trying to settle into the new house, they both begin to hear and sense things that they know are not normal. The husband, played by Sope Dirisu, begins to see things in the walls and hear voices. His wife, played by Wunmi Mosaku, knows that they're being haunted and she tries to explain why to her husband one night. It's definitely a riveting and horrific tale.
I don’t want to go into anymore specifics as I don't want to give anything away but the twist at the end is devastating and shocking.
The cast is outstanding to say the least. The heartbreak in Rial’s character (Wunmi Mosaku, who was also excellent in ‘Lovecraft Country’) is evident and you hurt for her. The husband, Bol, is distraught and at his wit’s end about having to keep it all together so he and Rial can try to establish a new life together. He's desperate and is willing to do whatever needs to be done to bring his wife peace, which is evident in a certain act he carries out toward the end.
The most impressive thing about this film is that it's the directorial debut of Remi Weekes -- and it is astounding. There are many things that are unique about this film and will leave many talking about it for years to come. Definitely a must-watch.
Originally Posted 1/25/21
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