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Best and Worst Films from January 2020

Best Films from January 2020:

3. The Last Black Man in San Francisco

January was pretty good for me, and obviously I watched a couple of stellar 2019 films during this month that are going to end on my top ten for the year list. This is one of them. This indie drama is undervalued for just how emotional it is, how realistic it most definitely is and how truly artistic the production design, score and cinematography are. It deals with gentrification in such a heartwarming, contemplative manner.

2. 1917

1917 surprised the heck out of me. I was skeptical going into the theater, but leaving the place, I was amazed. The film is a technical achievement unlike any other owing to its stupendous one shot, great production design, superb score and outstanding direction from Sam Mendes, but it’s above all else a terrific adventure in its framing, very video game-like, and also hugely emotional, and downright heartbreaking in its ending. It’s one of the best WWI films ever made.

1. The Mortal Storm

The Mortal Storm is a movie that needs to be talked about more when it comes to World War II pictures. This drama features a wonderful, fittingly moral James Stewart turn, and a fantastic Margaret Sullavan performance. The film is technically strong, but incredibly moving, dramatic and suspenseful throughout. It’s a film that was released in 1940 and thus it was incredibly timely. Showing just how dangerous the Nazi movement was and how it turned friends into enemies was so tragic to witness in this underappreciated masterpiece.

Worst Films from January 2020:

3. The Sugarland Express

I really disliked The Sugarland Express. That’s why it easily landed on the worst list of mine for the month. Spielberg’s second feature has a strong turn from Goldie Hawn, but is otherwise a very boring, pointless movie with non-stop action and no plot or character development to speak of.

2. The Addams Family

This Addams Family flick was frustratingly disappointing. I expected much bigger things from such an animated project, but I was let down due to the kid gloves treatment of this dark source material. The film looks good, but everything else is safe, sanitized and frankly quite dull.

1. Ford v Ferrari

Ford v Ferrari is not only the worst Best Picture nominee among this year’s slate, but it’s also one of the worst movies of the entire year, period. Bale chewed his scenery like crazy, and honestly he annoyed the hell out of me. The entire film is the type of middlebrow cinema that is boring to watch, overlong and offering nothing interesting or fresh in it.