My top 10 films & shows of 2020
Despite the fact that movie-going looked a little different in 2020, it was a year that definitely did not fall completely short in delivering some pretty good movies and binge-worthy television shows. Here is a quick list of my personal top 10 favorite movies and shows of last year:
10. She Dies Tomorrow
This movie is a bit strange and bizarre, but in a really great way. She Dies Tomorrow is a movie about a young girl named Amy as she struggles with her irrational belief that she is going to die tomorrow. Not only do we realize how truly irrational Amy’s belief is as the movie goes on, but we learn that her belief is contagious, too.
As you can imagine, She Dies Tomorrow is a wild ride. I don’t remember how I stumbled upon this movie, but I am glad I did; in its short one hour and 26 minute run time, She Dies Tomorrow manages to be uncomfortable and horrifying as well as incredibly dreamy and comedic (in a really morbid way). Some parts feel a little long and dragged out, but the stunning visuals and powerful use of music makes up for that. This definitely is not something to watch casually, but if you do, I really hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
She Dies Tomorrow is available to rent on most streaming platforms.
9. Run
Run is a thriller starring Sarah Paulson and newcomer Kiera Allen. Allen plays Chloe Sherman, a young girl with many disabilities who has been raised by her mom, played by Paulson, who has kept her daughter completely isolated from the world. As Chloe gets older and more curious, she begins to question what secrets her mother is hiding from her.
I love Sarah Paulson in practically everything she is in, especially her creepier roles like Nurse Ratched in Ratched or Cordelia Foxx in American Horror Story’s Coven, and she does not fall short of delivering a terrifyingly great performance in Run as Chloe’s obsessive mother. Not only is Paulson great, but Kiera Allen delivers a stunning and emotional performance as Chloe; so great that I would say she outshines Paulson in most of the movie. Because of these two great performances, although the plot can be a bit predictable, Run had me on the edge of my seat the entire movie. I sincerely hope to see Keira Allen star in more movies in the future. I definitely recommend watching Run if you are craving a good thriller, or if you simply are in the mood to watch some great acting.
Run is available to watch on Hulu.
8. The Invisible Man
Elizabeth Moss is so. good.
The Invisible Man, based on the novel of the same name by H.G. Wells, is a science-fiction horror film about a young woman named Cecilia, played by the incredible Elizabeth Moss, who believes that her abusive ex-boyfriend is stalking her despite the fact that he is presumably dead.
This was the last film I saw in theaters before theaters shut down, so maybe I just have a special place in my heart for this movie, but what a great, thrilling ride this movie is. It is a movie that is made to be seen in the theater. The sound design, the cinematography, the special affects, and Moss’s performance as Cecilia are what makes this movie great. If you aren’t going to watch this movie, I highly suggest at least watching some of the behind-the-scenes videos because how they made this is truly fascinating (you can watch some of the behind-the-scenes here: https://youtu.be/-FD319SnJpo ).
The Invisible Man is available to watch on HBO Max.
7. The Lodge
If you are not a horror fan, than this movie may not be for you. Starring one of my favorite actors Riley Keough, The Lodge is about a young woman named Grace who is stuck taking care of her boyfriend’s kids at their family lodge for a few days. However, after a blizzard isolates the three of them inside the lodge, weird things start to take place that trigger Grace to revisit her dark past.
This is a great, great horror movie. The Lodge has an incredibly similar style to Hereditary, which is an all-time favorite of mine, with its own unique and emotionally driven story. In the beginning of the movie, there is a sequence where the children are mourning, and it features one of the best performances I believe I have ever seen from a child actor. Lia McHough, who plays the daughter, completely broke my heart. This movie not only broke me, but it had my undivided attention and left me deeply disturbed and sick to my stomach by the end of it. I definitely, definitely recommend watching this one with a friend.
The Lodge is available to watch on Hulu.
6. The Queen’s Gambit
I really hope you’ve already heard of this show by now, but if not, I am truly honored to be the one to inform you about the excellence that is The Queen’s Gambit. Starring Anya Taylor Joy, who was recently nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance, The Queen’s Gambit follows young orphan Beth Harmon as she reveals an incredible talent for chess.
It took me forever to decide to watch The Queen’s Gambit because I was convinced that I could not be interested about a show that is primarily about chess. I am so glad that I was wrong. This isn’t just a show about chess, it is a powerful and fascinating coming-of-age story, and Beth Harmon’s story is extremely gripping, emotional, and entertaining. After finishing the final episode, I found myself wishing and begging for more. I loved pretty much every aspect of this show, but by far my favorite aspect is the set and production design; as the story takes place in the 1950s, the sets and costumes are incredibly detailed, glamorous, and fun. In fact, I loved the sets so much that I may just use them as inspiration for my own house one day.
The Queen’s Gambit is available to watch on Netflix.
5. Normal People
Oh man, this one hurts. Normal People, based on the novel by Sally Rooney, is a romantic-drama miniseries that follows the lovely Marianne and incredibly charming Connell as they grow up all while weaving in and out of each-other’s lives.
I binged all episodes of Normal People at the start of quarantine over the night it was released, and then again a second time the next night. Needless to say, my emotions were running high and this show did not help. Plus, Marianne and Connell’s story takes place in Ireland, which is my favorite place in the world, as I have been multiple times and I romanticize the idea of living there multiple times a week. So it is safe to assume that Normal People shattered me, so much so that I had to watch the whole show twice in the same 24 hour period. It is beautiful, funny, heartwarming, and devastating. Daisy Edgar-Jones, who plays Marianne, and Paul Mescal, who plays Connell, are perfect and share a powerful chemistry that I don’t believe matches anything else I have seen on-screen. I may be a bit dramatic and a tad emotionally charged, but Normal People is my favorite depiction of a love story possibly ever. Make sure you have tissues for this one.
Normal People is available to watch on Hulu.
4. Palm Springs
While Normal People broke me, Palm Springs was there to pick up the pieces. Palm Springs stars Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti as Nyles and Sarah, two wedding guests that are stuck in a time loop together as they are forced to live the same day over and over again.
I strongly believe that rom-coms are the designated comfort movies for society, and while there has been a lack in rom-coms over the last few years, Palm Springs came to save the day as it is the comfort movie we all needed for 2020. It is charming, clever, and- simply put- just a really fun time. The fact that I have a crush on Andy Samberg helps, too.
Palm Springs is available to watch on Hulu.
3. Promising Young Woman
This movie is worth watching for the music alone. Promising Young Woman stars Carey Mulligan as Cassie, a “promising young woman” who is on a mission to right the wrongs of the past, and maybe confront a few guys for their gross predatory behavior along the way.
Directed by Emerald Fennell (who is one of the three women nominated for best director this year at the Golden Globes!!!!!!!!), Promising Young Woman is the type of movie I would dream to direct if I ever directed a movie. Fun, feminine, and powerful, Promising Young Woman is genre-blending as it is romantic, thrilling, comedic, and really, really dark. Or as Mulligan explains, “It’s a sort of beautifully wrapped candy, and when you eat it you realize its poisonous.” And damn, is it stylish as hell. The cinematography quite literally had me drooling. However, I did not love everything about this film, as the ending is incredibly bold and divisive and, without giving anything away, it did not work for me in regards to the story. Despite the ending, I really, really love this movie as it is the type of movie that inspires me to want to work on and create movies myself one day.
Promising Young Woman is available to rent on most streaming platforms.
2. Miss Juneteenth
Directed by Channing Godfrey Peoples, Miss Juneteenth is a drama film about Turquoise Jones, a former beauty pageant queen and single mom who enters her rebellious daughter in the “Miss Juneteenth” pageant.
Miss Juneteenth is a film that is coated in beauty and charm. Nicole Beharie gives a raw and unmatched performance as Turquoise, who handles all her hardships with so much grace and undeniable strength. It is an incredibly beautiful and important watch for all Americans, as we follow Turquoise on a journey of self-realization while representing generations of Black women in America. As Channing Godfrey Peoples explains, “Thematically in the film, we’re talking about freedom and what freedom means for Black people. And here we are in 2020, still really navigating what freedom means for Black people- and that’s our freedom to survive and to be able to walk down the street or to be in our homes, and really to live.” If there is a film on this list that you watch, make sure that it is this one. Also, in case the academy sees this, give the best actress award to Nicole Beharie. She truly gives the best performance of the year.
Miss Juneteenth is available to rent on most streaming platforms.
1. Swallow
And here we are: number one. Swallow is not only my favorite movie of 2020, but perhaps one of my favorite movies of all time. As you have probably learned by now after reading this list, I am a sucker for horror and thriller movies, and this film is probably the hardest film to watch out of all of the horror movies on this list. In this amazing film- directed by Carlo Mirabella-Davis- Haley Bennett stars as Hunter, a young and beautiful housewife, who lives a picture-perfect life with a seemingly perfect marriage. However, all of that starts to unravel as Hunter develops a disorder where she harms herself by swallowing inedible objects.
This movie destroyed me in the best way. I didn’t leave my bed for the rest of the day after watching it, and I am incredibly sad I was not able to experience the feeling of not wanting to move a muscle in your movie theater seat as you sit through the credits in absolute awe after watching this movie. It is beautifully written and beautifully shot, thanks to DP/Cinematographer Katelin Arizmendi (whose work we soon get to see more of as she worked as 2nd Unit DP under Greig Fraser for Dune!). I would talk about how the plot resonated with me and touched me deeply, but I don’t want to spoil too much. Instead I am simply going to say: watch this movie, please. It can be incredibly hard to watch (or one might say…hard to “swallow”), but it is well, well worth it.
Swallow is available to rent on most streaming platforms.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Defending Jacob, Onward, Yes God Yes
I have a list full of many films and shows that I still need to see from last year, including Pieces of A Woman, I’m Thinking of Ending Things, The Undoing, Emma, and The Trial of the Chicago 7, which all have great reviews, including many MANY others, so this list definitely has the potential to change in the future as I check off more movies from my 2020 watchlist. For now, however, I hope you enjoyed my top 10 of 2020 list and that, maybe, I was able to give you some shows/movies to add to a watchlist of your own.
Let me know what your top 10 of 2020 is, I would love to know!
