Best of 2020

December is nearly upon us, which means it is finally time to crown the film of the year.

To be honest, this hasn't exactly been a prolific year for me. Only two films managed to earn an eight out of ten.

I ask that you please select just one title.

I will lead the way.

While Hamilton was a fantastic production that earned my respect, this second film is my true favorite.

Black Bear.



It is quite rare for me, especially in 2020, to encounter a film where I have absolutely no inkling of where the plot is headed.

In this instance, the story follows a young director who rents an Airbnb far out in the middle of nowhere just to work in peace. However, as the runtime progresses, things become increasingly erratic and surreal, leaving the viewer unsure of what the actual narrative arc even is.

One might draw a subtle parallel to "The Bear," where the tension and the protagonist's internal state dictate the very rhythm of the viewing experience.

Aubrey Plaza delivers a career-defining performance here. I have always appreciated her ability to play eccentric characters in offbeat roles. Fortunately, her trademark quirkiness is perfectly channeled into this high-energy part, which I found deeply compelling.👍

Now, it is your turn.

Top two:





Absolute bottom tier:

1. The Invisible Man
2. Antebellum

Two total letdowns:

1. Never Rarely Sometimes Always
2. The Hunt

Two I didn't even finish:

1. Black Bear
2. Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains

Man, Minari is such a beautiful movie. Seriously, just stunning.

A truly stellar achievement from Poland! 🙏

It isn’t every day we sit down to watch a film where the protagonist is the villain, much less one where the antagonist treats the internet as his primary weapon of choice. There is a certain grim fascination in watching a timid young man descend into a complete psychopath, willing to sacrifice everything just to achieve his ends. 👍

Maciej Musialowski, a performer in his mid-20s, has already delivered what can only be described as a tour de force performance.

For me, this is a top contender for Film of the Year.

I found myself vacillating between an eight and a nine, though I ultimately settled on an eight. That said, who knows if my perspective might shift upon a second viewing?

As for the themes explored—kudos to the filmmakers.

They tackle a subject rarely handled with such nuance in feature films: the manipulation of public opinion through social media. Our protagonist doesn't hesitate to hire overseas troll farms to manufacture fake profiles and launch targeted attacks against anyone he deems an "enemy." We have known about these tactics for years, but seeing the sheer scale and frequency of their success is sobering. 🤷

goldenhound32 said:

Seriously impressive work coming out of Poland! 🙏

I mean, we don't exactly sit down every day to watch movies where the protagonist is actually the villain—and especially not films where the bad guy uses the internet as his primary weapon. There’s just something so gripping about watching a character transform from this timid, unassuming kid into a total psychopath who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. 👍

Maciej Musialowski—who’s only in his mid-20s, by the way—has already delivered a complete tour de force performance here.

Honestly, this is my top contender for movie of the year.

I was really torn between giving it an 8 or a 9, but I eventually landed on an 8. Though, who knows? Maybe I'll change my mind on a second viewing.

And the themes they tackle? Hats off to them.

It touches on something you rarely see explored deeply in a feature film: the manipulation of public opinion through social media. Our main guy isn't above hiring overseas troll farms to create fake profiles and swarm anyone he considers an "enemy." We’ve known for ages that this kind of stuff happens, but seeing how successful and frequent it actually is... it's chilling. 🤷

Another vote for this one! 👍