My Top 10 for 2020

Soul- Pixar takes on the meaning of life through the life & “death” of a Jazz musician and it’s brilliant. Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey are perfect together.

Da 5 Bloods- Spike Lee re-imagines “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” in  contemporary Vietnam (and in flashbacks during the war) and takes on a host of contemporary issues. Wonderful cast.

Sound of Metal- centered on a rock drummer losing his hearing, Riz Ahmed’s performance is tremendous.

First Cow- period western that is a quietly effective ode to friendship.

My Octopus Teacher- a documentary about a man’s relationship with an octopus. Just try not to get swept up in its beauty and intelligence. Simply amazing.

Emma- Anya Taylor–Joy stars in this period piece that’s a fresh take on the classic novel.

Ma Rainy's Black Bottom- Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman anchor a wonderful cast in this filmed version of August Wilson’s great play.

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm- Sacha Baron Cohen once again exposes the ugly underbelly of America and adds a touching story of a father and daughter’s growing relationship.

The Invisible Man- Elizabeth Moss’s acting elevates this movie to A status as well as one incredible shocking scene.

Tenet- You’ll either love it or hate it but you can’t ignore the fact that Christopher Nolan is in a class by himself when it comes to mind blowing movie making. Small puzzles wrapped inside a bigger puzzle that may be impossible to figure out but exciting to watch.

Honorable mention-

“The Queen’s Gambit”- while not technically a movie, this multi-part show on Netflix  felt like a film and was worth every single moment.

Tenet

           A mind blowing, time twisting, adventure from writer/director Christopher Nolan. Mr. Nolan's breakout film was "Memento" and what made the film so fascinating was that it played in reverse. He also played with elements of time twisting in "Dunkirk" as major sections of that film occurred at different times that eventually merged into the same moment. And let's not forget how he messed with our heads with "Inception". In "Tenet", Mr. Nolan takes the concept of time itself to a whole new level. I won't pretend to understand the complexities of "Tenet" but I think I understood enough to appreciate the story even while it moves forward and backward in time sometimes even simultaneously.

         John David Washington stars as "The Protagonist", a secret agent with a one-word clue, "Tenet", on the trail of a billionaire arms dealer, (played by a menacing Kenneth Branagh) who has the ability to invert time. It's a complex concept that forces the viewer to really pay attention but it's worth every second.

         The film looks fantastic. Scenes reverse themselves in ways you can't imagine. You are watching something so new and original that it will blow you away, even if you don't quite understand the science and there's plenty of action sequences to keep you engaged. From the opening moments, the film takes off and never lets up. It's a remarkable work of movie magic brought to life by Mr. Nolan and his team. 

          Co-starring are Elizabeth Debicki as Mr. Branagh's wife, with an agenda of her own, that puts her in the center of the action and Robert Pattinson, as Neil, a shadowy figure helping "the Protagonist". Other friends and foes include Martin Donovan, Dimple Kapadia, Himesh Patel and Aron Taylor-Johnson. And of course, it wouldn't be a Christopher Nolan film without a cameo from Sir Michael Caine.

           

          To explain anymore would ruin the fun. If you trust seeing it in a theater, try to see it in IMAX for the ultimate experience. It's also currently streaming on various services for $19.99. You will probably need to see it at least twice and won't mind a bit.

The Personal History of David Copperfield

      Co-written and directed by Armando Iannucci, this new comedy-drama tells the story of David Copperfield from his point of view. It is a fresh, comedic and charming spin on the timeless classic.

      The adult David is played by Dev Patel, always an engaging actor, he is terrific in the role. As a child, David is played by Jairaj Varsani, an adorable little boy with a wonderful smile. Other familiar faces in the cast include Tilda Swinton as Betsey Trotwood, Hugh Laurie as Mr. Dick, Ben Whishaw as Uriah Heep, Peter Capaldi as Mr. Micawber, Benedict Wong as Mr. Wickfield and Gwendoline Christie as Jane Murdstone. Also featured are Rosalind Eleazar as Agnes Wickfield, Morfydd Clark as Dora Spenlow and Diasy May Cooper as Peggotty. It is a fine cast representing all the well-known characters from the novel. Ms. Swinton, Mr. Capaldi and Mr. Laurie, in particular, have a ball with their roles and are all a sheer delight.

   
 Mr. Iannucci, known for his biting wit and sarcasm (VEEP) loves to play with language and sets a comedic tone for this revised version of "Copperfield". Typically filmed as a drama, this version is filled with great word play as well many visuals gags. He also faithfully recreates 1850's England with great sets, costumes and scenery. The film is very entertaining and I highly recommend it.

Soul

     Pixar Studios does it again with one of the best films of the year.  With each film they produce, they take on more and more complex themes and this time they ask the biggest question of all...what is the meaning of life?

      "Soul" stars a jazz pianist named Joe (voiced by Jamie Foxx) who's been waiting his whole life for his one big break. In the meantime, he supports himself as a part time music teacher. After a freak accident, Joe "dies" and his soul is separated from his body on the way to "The Great Beyond". Joe doesn't accept his fate and his soul ends up in "The Great Beginning". Due to a mistaken identity, he ends up a mentor to another soul, number 22 (voiced by Tina Fey). 22 is a restless soul who can't seem to find the one spark that will allow her to travel to earth and merge with her physical body.

       Joe and 22 do eventually find their way to earth but not in the way they expected and this starts a series of comic misadventures to restore order in the universe. The film explores many complex themes and tries hard to simplify its concepts. For small children, these concepts may be hard to understand but they will still enjoy the colorful characters and energy of the story. For everyone else, it's a wonderful journey of self-discovery filled with humor, emotion, and absolutely fantastic animation. 

       Much of the film takes place in New York City (pre-pandemic) and it captures the energy and life of the city in all its glory. Animated scenes are incredibly lifelike from the streets to the subway to the smallest detail. There are sight gags galore (many of which may only be recognized by true New Yorkers).

       The film also features the vocal talents of Angela Bassett, Phylicia Rashard, Daveed Diggs, Graham Norton, and Questlove. Of course, music is also an important element of the story. The score is by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross with Jazz contributions from Jon Batiste and consultations from Herbie Hancock and Terri Lyne Carrington. There are lessons of love, for family, for music, for life itself, presented in a remarkable way. I can't give enough credit to director Pete Docter, his writing partners, Mike Jones and Kemp Powers and his incredible team of animators.

         This is simply a wonderful film. Now streaming on Disney +.

The Midnight Sky

  George Clooney directs and stars in this futuristic adventure. 

     The film is set 28 years in the future and an unnamed cataclysmic event has made Earth almost completely uninhabitable.

 

     Mr. Clooney is the last remaining researcher at an Artic station trying to warn a spaceship returning to earth that it's not safe. The film splits its time between Mr. Clooney's efforts and the crew of the spaceship dealing with their own problems on their return home from exploring a new inhabitable planet. The flight crew are played by Felicity Jones, David Oyelowo, Kyle Chandler, Damien Bichir and Tiffany Boone. Also co-starring in a pivotal role is newcomer Caoilinn Springall. 

     After a slow start, the film begins to build momentum and there are many suspenseful moments particularly during a meteor shower and a trek through the snow to find a relay station that can send a signal to the spacecraft. Mr. Clooney's direction is well balanced and the script is thoughtful and surprising. The special effects and CGI work are first rate in both environments and I only wish I could have seen this in a theater to really appreciate the look and feel of the film.

       The film is out now streaming on Netflix and possibly playing in a movie theater somewhere.

Wonder Woman 1984

             Just when you thought 2020 couldn't get worse, Warner Brothers finally releases this horrible sequel. They may have struck gold with the first film but this one is not even worth tin.  

           Gal Gadot returns in the title role and really tries hard to make the film work but there are just too many problems to overcome. The script is terrible. You can forgive a movie based on a comic book to defy logic but within its own context, it still has to make sense.  Nothing about this story makes sense or has any sense of logic to keep the viewer engaged (unless you are a 9-year-old girl who will probably love it).

          Chris Pine as love interest Steve Trevor from the first film, also returns. He should be about 70 years old or so by now but the script finds a silly way to bring him back (at a price that is eventually important).

           Pedro Pasqual is the main villain and his acting is so bad, you're better off watching him in "The Mandalorian". Kristin Wiig also co-stars and any of her "Saturday Night Live" characters are better than her role here.  At times the sets and CGI are so bad, they look like they were done in director Patty Jenkins backyard. I just can't say enough how bad this film is. As usual,
DC comic films just can't complete with far superior Marvel films.

              The two central themes of the film are truth and wishes. Truth is, I wish I could get back the two and a half hours I wasted watching this mess. In theaters and HBO Max.

The Way Back

    Cliche heavy but still surprising, this new drama stars a brave and truly heartfelt performance from Ben Affleck. While High School basketball plays a big part of the story, it's really about an alcoholic battling his demons and finding the strength to change his life.

     The film co-stars Al Madrigal, Michaela Watkins, and Janina Gavankar, as well as some terrific high school basketball players. Mr. Affleck is front and center as the alcoholic construction worker given a chance to coach his former High School's basketball team after their coach has a heart attack. The team consists of many stereotypical characters but they are a charming bunch of kids and fun to watch as they come together as a team.

      A big reveal late in the film brings out the tissues and while sincere to the story, still manipulates the audience to root even more for Mr. Affleck. The basketball sequences are exciting and are a welcome counterpoint to watching the depths of Mr. Affleck's despair.

       Considering the real demons in Mr. Affleck's life, making this film had to be very personal and probably not easy  but it's an art imitating life performance that never wavers.

First Cow

        From director and co-writer, Kelly Reichardt, comes this gentle and beautifully crafted tale of the old west.

        After a clever nod to one of her previous films, we are transported back to Oregon in the 1800's where fur trappers are hunting the abundance of beaver and settlements are starting to grow throughout the territory.

       We meet "Cookie" played by John Magaro, a young man finding his way, working as a cook for a group of trappers. Once day, out looking for ingredients,  he meets "King Lu", played by Orion Lee. A friendship grows between the two men and they hatch a plan to secretly milk the only cow in the region to make "cakes" they can sell in the settlement. Toby Jones co-stars as "Chief Factor", the rich owner of the cow.

       Ms. Reichardt allows her story to grow slowly and organically. The camera lingers on little details as the two men go about their business. There is very little more to the plot than their friendship, life in the settlement and ultimately what happens when their secret is revealed. The authentic look and feel of the film is remarkable. Ms. Reichardt and her team truly transport us back in time, where we can linger and appreciate her quality storytelling.

The Invisible Man

              Written and directed by Leigh Whannell, this is a timely feminist spin on a classic story. Elisabeth Moss stars as Cecilia, a woman trapped in an abusive relationship. The film begins with her escaping her controlling and abusive lover, Adrian, only to find out shortly thereafter, he has committed suicide. 

               When strange things start happening to Cecilia and the people around her, she suspects Adrian has somehow faked his death or is haunting her in some way. Of course everyone else thinks she is just becoming unhinged as a result of her traumatic relationship.

                Ms. Moss is the emotional center of the film and she is terrific conveying fear, anxiety, and eventually strength to face her adversary. The film, while not providing any real scares, is still suspenseful enough as Cecilia grapples with escalating torment. 

                 The film co-stars Aldis Hodge (turning up everywhere these days), Storm Reid, Harriet Dyer, Michael Dorman and Oliver Jackson-Cohen. The entire cast sells the concept but it's Ms. Moss's performance that keeps the audience fully engaged.

                  The special effects are effective (especially in one particular jarring scene) and the music, by Benjamin Wallfisch, really makes a difference contributing to the suspense throughout the film. 

                  Why the film was released in the Imax format is a mystery. There is nothing special about it to warrant that format so if you are planning to see it in a theater, save some money and avoid the Imax version.

Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)

     D.C. comics gets this one right. After an introduction to the character of Harley Quinn in "Suicide Squad", Margot Robbie returns as the living embodiment of Ms. Quinn in her own film. While the title may be "Birds of Prey", make no mistake, this is a starring vehicle for Ms. Robbie, who also produced the film.

     Ms. Robbie is joined by Rosie Perez as detective Rene Montoya, Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Huntress, Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Black Canary and Ella Jay Basco as Cassandra Cain. They don't actually come together until late in the film, joining forces to rescue Cassandra from "Black Mask", played by a scenery chewing Ewan McGregor, and his right hand man, Victor Zsasz, play by Chris Messina. For most of the film, we are treated to Harley Quinn madness and mayhem as she struggles to accept her "break up" from The Joker and tries to be her own woman.

     Directed by Cathy Yan, with a script by Christina Hodson the Harley comic book is brought to life in all its craziness. This R rated action comedy is strictly for fans though, who will appreciate Ms. Robbie's commitment to the character and all the inside jokes. 

The Rhythm Section

           Despite star Blake Lively acting with conviction, "The Rhythm Section" is completely out of tune. It's a paper thin revenge story that flirts with an espionage connection that goes nowhere. A typical studio film released in the bleak movie month of February where bad films go to die.

            When she discovers the plane crash that killed her family was actually a terrorist bomb, Ms. Lively awakens from a three year stupor of drugs and prostitution to track down those responsible. She rather easily finds co-star Jude Law, an ex-MI 6 agent, living in the middle of nowhere Scotland who, out of the goodness of his heart, helps train her to locate the terrorists. Sterling K. Brown also co-stars as an rogue information broker living in Tangiers. No matter what role Mr. Brown takes in a film, he's always a variation of "Randall" from "This Is Us".

              Ms. Blakely tries hard with a script by Mark Burnell, who based the film on his novel but it's easier to find an MI 6 agent in the middle of Scotland than to take this story seriously. What the film does have going for it, is a beautiful world travelogue. Set in multiple countries, the scenery is lovely. Otherwise, things blow up, people die, there is a requisite twist and who cares.... 

The Gentlemen

       Director Guy Ritchie returns to his British Gangster genre roots with this new action comedy. It's a very twisty plot concerning rival gangs controlling the marijuana trade in the U.K. Don't expect subtlety from Guy Ritchie but  count on action, humor and plenty of dialog heavy plot twists. 

       The film stars Matthew McConaughey, Henry Golding, Charlie Hunnam, Jeremy Strong, Michele Dockery, Hugh Grant, Eddie Marsan and Colin Farrell. It's a fine cast having a good time themselves, which in turn, makes it fun for the audience. Mr. Farrell and Mr. Grant steal the film out from the rest of the cast. Mr. Grant, as a sleazy, blackmailing tabloid reporter is brilliant.  Mr. Farrell , in a smaller role as a boxing coach caught up in the tangled plot, is just terrific. Ms. Dockery, the only significant women in the film, is a cockney "Lady Macbeth" who  is married to Mr. McConaughey. She wears her high heels and lipstick very well and is a far cry from Dowton Abby.

        It's a fun film but Mr. Ritchie's somewhat offensive dialog may not sit well with some.  The film makes a perfect third to a trilogy besides "Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" and "Snatch".

1917

   Co-written (with Krysty Wilson-Cairns) and directed by Sam Mendes, this new World War I war drama is brilliant. While I saw it New Year's day, I'm taking liberties and declaring it one of the best pictures of 2019.

    With subtle but meticulous editing, the film appears to be shot in one long take, following two British soldiers as they embark on a dangerous mission to warn another battalion of a German sneak attack.  Using this technique, the film puts the viewer right in the frame and keeps you glued to the screen for the entire movie. The tension and emotion throughout the film is unbearable. It is just remarkable.

   The two soldiers are played by Dean-Charles Chapman and George MacKay. Their mission is a perilous journey through No Mans Land and both actors, Mr. MacKay in particular, are just terrific. Expressive and extremely like-able, you can't help but root for them as they cross enemy lines. There are cameos from Benedict Cumberbatch, Richard Madden, Mark Strong and Colin Firth but the film belongs to Chapman and MacKay.

  The music blends beautifully with the incredible cinematography as the camera seamlessly tracks both men across a variety of landscapes. This is a masterful achievement that both entertains and pays tribute to the brave men that lived and died through that "Great War'. Don't miss it and see it in a theater to really appreciate it.