Top Ten Films from 2020

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Top Ten Films from 2020

2020 was an excellent year for me as it topped the previous year with the high number of four 5-star movies that I watched with many others that came very close. Here are ten best films that I watched throughout the year with five honorable mentions. Once again, foreign movies dominated the list and the newer releases are naturally excluded.

10. The Assassination of Jesse James

 It is very rare for a western movie to bewilder me, but this one is worth all the praise that it received. Yes, it’s way too long and slow, but the results are incredible at the end. It explores myth creation and idolizing in a clever manner while also benefiting from one truly outstanding performance from never better Casey Affleck.

9. Best in Show

One of the funniest comedies out there, Best in Show managed to wring so many laughs from its dog-centric storyline and is perfect for everybody who loves dogs and/or knows dog owners. The numerous iconic comedic actors and actresses were a joy to follow here while the dialogue and its observational nature made it a real treat.

8. Tomboy

Tomboy is this very ambiguous movie about gender identity that can be relatable both to trans guys and lesbians. Everybody really who was different as a kid can relate to this sophisticated, deft French charmer that is grounded in reality, wonderfully acted and just the right amount of short, but impactful in its runtime.

7. Downfall

Downfall caught me by surprise. I did not expect to love a movie about Hitler, but what they did here was truly outstanding. Following the last days of the Nazis, the movie is both suspenseful and claustrophobic as well as insightful and meticulously detailed in acting, directing, cinematography and dialogue. It’s a transporting time piece, that’s for sure.

6. Aferim!

Aferim! is one of the greatest movies that I watched during my European Cinema Month in November of this year. Romanian cinema is truly special, but this is one of their best newer products. This historical drama channels Kurosawa, but is ultimately particularly potent in its brutal depiction of racism and slavery during the nineteenth century in Romania.

5. Angel’s Egg

The biggest work of art on this list, Angel’s Egg is an undisputed anime masterpiece that deserves much more attention nowadays. It is open to interpretation in its Christian parallels while the animation truly is spectacular, especially the focus on Art Nouveau and weird creature designs. The atmosphere is incredible and so is the world building.

4. The Mortal Storm

I am clearly in the minority, but I found this classic 40s picture to be one of the best World War II movies of all time. The performances are great and the third act is truly epic, but it is the shift from joyous to tragic that happens in the mid act that made it really unsettling as well as the dramatic instead of action-oriented portrayal of the rise of Nazism.

3. Azur & Asmar

Michel Ocelot is one of the masters of animation and this is right up there with ‘Kirikou’ in terms of greatness and appeal. The style here is gorgeous and beautifully ornamental while the themes are subtle and the storyline overall is very engaging. It’s a magical film that benefits from many enchanting moments that really appealed to me.

2. The Boys in the Band

This one might be the most contested inclusion, but I simply loved every second of this seminal gay film. This is the type of stage adaptation that especially appeals to me as a big fan of these types of plays. It truly gets how tough it must have been being gay during the twentieth century while being painted with truly incredible personalities and stupendous acting performances.

1. Children of Nature

This was the magnum opus of my European Cinema Month and one of the best films that I have seen in quite a while. A deeply moving Icelandic drama, it is a nostalgic, truly touching portrayal of aging that is filled with many lyrical moments that are unlike anything else I’ve seen anywhere else. It’s a beautiful magical realist movie that needs more attention among cinephiles as it is an utter masterpiece.

Honorable Mentions:

About Elly – This is another Asghar Farhadi triumph in a career full of them. It’s a complicated, sophisticated drama that is engaging and thematically fascinating.

Innocence Unprotected – This Serbian documentary of sorts is one of the best films from the country. It’s utterly authentic and charming in its idiosyncrasy.

Born Yesterday – Featuring a remarkable central performance and character, this 50s charmer is both delightful and very inspirational.

The Goat Horn – This Bulgarian period gem is brutal and painfully realistic while featuring an interesting conflict at its core.

Thesis – This Spanish thriller is disturbing at times while being incredibly entertaining. It’s dark and twisted, but also much smarter than you would think.