2020 Film Rankings
This is a list of all the films I have seen from 2020, in order from best to worst. All films listed come with a rating out of 10.
1= Absolute garbage (Make sure nobody ever watches it)
2= Terrible (Please don't watch this)
3= Very bad (Watch if you absolutely must)
4= Quite poor (Watch if you want to)
5= Average (Might be worth watching)
6= Quite enjoyable (Worth watching)
7= Good solid film (Try and go see it)
8= Very good (Make sure you watch it)
9= Brilliant (An absolute must see)
10= Perfection (You and everyone you know must see it)
Obviously this list is all my opinion, so you may not agree. If there are any films you want me to add, comment. I will be adding to it continuously.
1= Absolute garbage (Make sure nobody ever watches it)
2= Terrible (Please don't watch this)
3= Very bad (Watch if you absolutely must)
4= Quite poor (Watch if you want to)
5= Average (Might be worth watching)
6= Quite enjoyable (Worth watching)
7= Good solid film (Try and go see it)
8= Very good (Make sure you watch it)
9= Brilliant (An absolute must see)
10= Perfection (You and everyone you know must see it)
Obviously this list is all my opinion, so you may not agree. If there are any films you want me to add, comment. I will be adding to it continuously.
List activity
145 views
• 1 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
31 titles
- DirectorFlorian ZellerStarsAnthony HopkinsOlivia ColmanMark GatissA man refuses all assistance from his daughter as he ages. As he tries to make sense of his changing circumstances, he begins to doubt his loved ones, his own mind and even the fabric of his reality.A really powerful drama about the difficulties of dementia, told mainly from the perspective of the suffering father, but also showing us the toll it takes on his daughter. The film is at its absolute best when it takes us inside the mind of the Anthony Hopkins character. To make us feel how confusing and challenging it is to be in his shoes was truly incredible and devastating. A lot of people are going to be able to relate to elements of the titular character, but there were so many commonalities between him and my own grandfather that this film hit really close to home.
Score: 8.8 - DirectorAndrew PattersonStarsSierra McCormickJake HorowitzGail CronauerOne night in New Mexico, in the late 1950s, a switchboard operator and radio DJ start hearing a strange signal over a radio frequency.This slowly sucks you in with all the mystery and child-like wonder of a good camp fire story. Before you realise it, you are on the edge of your seat, hanging onto every word coming through a small town radio. Andrew Patterson, the visionary behind this film (don't let the pseudonyms fool you), has managed to make something truly special on a shoe-string budget of $700,000. The simple story, heavily influenced by the 'Twilight Zone', is so efficiently written that I found myself engrossed in the story and characters without the need of action or expositional character intros. His direction is so inventive and well judged for a debut film. If you are a fan of long takes, you will love this. A filmmaker to keep and eye on for sure.
Score: 8.7 - DirectorPete DocterKemp PowersStarsJamie FoxxTina FeyGraham NortonJoe is a middle-school band teacher whose life hasn't quite gone the way he expected. His true passion is jazz. But when he travels to another realm to help someone find their passion, he soon discovers what it means to have soul.Perhaps Pixar's most mature outing to date, Soul is the story of a middle-school band teacher who traverses the after-life, the before life and lives inside a cat on his way to discover the meaning in life. While it is touching, the thing that makes this film memorable is how hypnotic, cerebral and meditative this film experience is. It has some of the most inventive animation Pixar has ever done. My question coming away from was: Is this really a kids film? And maybe more importantly: Would it have been better had it not been designed with kids in mind? Either way, I still loved it.
Score: 8.3 - DirectorCharlie KaufmanStarsJesse PlemonsJessie BuckleyToni ColletteFull of misgivings, a young woman travels with her new boyfriend to his parents' secluded farm. Upon arriving, she comes to question everything she thought she knew about him, and herself.Needed time to digest this film, as it is not just your standard narrative story. Charlie Kaufman as he quite often does has made something truly surreal and cerebral, that has the delicate precision of a beautiful piece of literature. Furthermore, I feel like this is Kauffman's finest piece of directing. Maybe he left the film a tad bloated in places, where another director would be happy to trim it down. However, his framing and compositions were excellent. As was the decision to shoot it like a horror movie. It gave the film a sense of unease that could not be shaken. Much of what makes the film interesting from both an emotional and academic point of view is the hidden narrative that is taking place and the meaning behind the film. I do think that it is difficult to pick up on first viewing, but thankfully it deserves as well as needs multiple viewings to fully appreciate the film.
Score: 8.2 - DirectorDarius MarderStarsRiz AhmedOlivia CookePaul RaciDuring a series of adrenaline-fueled gigs, itinerant punk-metal drummer Ruben begins to experience hearing loss. When a specialist tells him his condition will rapidly worsen, he thinks his music career - and with it his life - is over.The sound mixing here is essential to what makes this movie work. It's both terrifying, fascinating, and beautiful all at once to witness a world without sound. Riz Ahmed is incredible in the lead role, as he grapples with the changing world around him. He is quite rightly frustrated with his situation, and tragically acts in the ways the worst part of us would. The supporting cast is also unbelievable, with Paul Raci a real standout. One of the toughest obstacles I can imagine this film had to overcome was the ending. To which I think it knocks it out the park.
Score: 8.1 - DirectorAlex ThompsonStarsKelly O'SullivanRamona Edith WilliamsCharin AlvarezAfter an accidental pregnancy turned abortion, a deadbeat nanny finds an unlikely friendship with the six-year old she's charged with protecting.Charming and honest depiction of the struggles of adulthood, that discusses important subjects such as abortion, menstruation, birth control and postnatal depression. Bridget is an extremely flawed but relatable protagonist, who evolves via trial and error as much as anything over the course of the film. At the heart of the film is her relationship with 6 year-old Frances, who she is being paid to look after.
Score: 7.7 - DirectorAaron SorkinStarsEddie RedmayneAlex SharpSacha Baron CohenThe story of 7 people on trial stemming from various charges surrounding the uprising at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois.'The Trial of the Chicago 7' is the horrifying true story of the unfair trial of 7 men deemed responsible for leading protests in Chicago that eventually turned to riots. It is set in 1968 against the backdrop of the Vietnam war, and yet its themes could not be anymore relevant to what is happening today. It is a wonderful film that made me angry in the same way something like 'The Big Short' did. In typical Aaron Sorkin style, the film is fast paced, clever and moving, but also teeters on the edge of melodrama. He did a fantastic job of not indulging, until the final scene that I confess made my eyes roll.
Score: 7.5 - DirectorShannon MurphyStarsEliza ScanlenMichelle LottersToby WallaceMilla, a seriously ill teenager, falls in love with a drug dealer, Moses, her parents' worst nightmare.'Babyteeth' is a stark, slow burning, and raw coming of age story. Eliza Scanlen is brilliant as the cancer suffering teenage, looking to embrace life with the help of a new drug dealer boyfriend. It starts out very slow, to the point that it begins to drag. However, when you reach the heart-wrenching and true to life end it feels worth it. The soundtrack and score is a triumph. One of the best of the year. It does have an indie sensibility to it. While I appreciated its artsy framing and direction, it was a bit much at times, and I am sure the director will learn to be more efficient in the future.
Score: 7.5 - DirectorMax BarbakowStarsAndy SambergCristin MiliotiJ.K. SimmonsNyles and Sarah find themselves stuck in a time loop and living the same day over and over again. They are drawn to each other but certain revelations threaten their budding romance.The 'Groundhog Day' movie is becoming a bit of a sub genre itself. Just in recent years we have seen several writers put their own spin on the Harold Ramis classic. 'Palm Springs' is the "what if there were two of them stuck in a time loop" version of the story, which unsurprisingly is a an easy lay up for a romantic comedy. There is a strange pleasure to be had in the idea of a life with no consequences, which is the main idea behind this film. We see our two protagonists deal with this reality in different ways and naturally this forms their character arcs. One thing I would say, is that the 'Groundhog Day' format is so designed for character arcs that I find them a bit reductionist at this point. Especially when this film gets meta about it. Part of the beauty of the original 'Groundhog Day' is that the time loop is never explained and we have no idea that to get out of it he needs to undergo a change as a person. I think what makes this film work are the two lead performances from Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti and their brilliant chemistry. Although I think my absolute favourite part of this film is the weird J.K Simmons character, who featured in my favourite scene.
Score: 7.4 - DirectorArmando IannucciStarsDev PatelHugh LaurieTilda SwintonA modern take on Charles Dickens's classic tale of a young orphan who is able to triumph over many obstacles.Armando Iannucci's adaption of the Charles Dickens novel contains all of the sharp wit that we have come to expect from the filmmaker, but it perhaps lacks some of the satire he has when he is at his best. It has an incredible cast, who are all clearly having a ball, which makes them so entertaining to watch. It's actually my first time hearing the story, which made the film that much more fun and interesting. There are some really fun creative choices taken with regards to directing and editing that give it a surrealist nature that separates it from any would be TV movie.
Score: 7.3 - DirectorBrian DuffieldStarsKatherine LangfordCharlie PlummerYvonne OrjiGet ready for the outrageous coming-of-age love story about growing up...and blowing up. When students in their school begin exploding (literally), seniors Mara and Dylan struggle to survive in a world where each moment may be their last.What a pleasant surprise this movie was. The characters are well drawn-out realistic people, the romantic leads have tremendous chemistry, and it brilliantly tackles the anxiety of modern adolescence. Somehow all of this is made more impactful by the spontaneous explosions of students in their class. It's such a wonderful example of how your life can be impacted if you don't take it for granted. It does get a bit depressing at the end, and I'm not sure it perfectly balances the highwire act it sets itself, but man this was fun.
Score: 7.3 - DirectorRegina KingStarsKingsley Ben-AdirEli GoreeAldis HodgeA fictional account of one incredible night where icons Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown gathered discussing their roles in the Civil Rights Movement and cultural upheaval of the 60s.Regina King does a great job in her directorial debut at making a converted play visually interesting. There was never a point that I felt bored or constrained as we watch the characters talk for almost an hour in one room. The performances intoxicating, particularly that of Leslie Odom Jr. What a voice he has. I do think there is a limit to how much I enjoy these play/films. It is difficult to escape the feeling that this isn't the ideal medium for the story. However, this was still very enjoyable.
Score: 7.3 - DirectorPaul GreengrassStarsTom HanksHelena ZengelTom AstorA Civil War veteran agrees to deliver a girl taken by the Kiowa people years ago to her aunt and uncle against her will. They travel hundreds of miles and face grave dangers as they search for a place that either can call home.It has a simple, old-fashioned narrative that feels right at home on something like TCM. There is lots of stuff enjoy. As always, it's a pleasure to watch Tom Hanks in a lead role. The cinematography is stunning and the score is great, with a particular song near the end really standing out. Ultimately, it doesn't do anything ground-breaking or particularly memorable. It takes long breaths between the moments of action that you expect from Paul Greengrass. I also don't think it needed the hand held shots that he feels required to use in his films.
Score: 7.2 - DirectorAntonio CamposStarsBill SkarsgårdTom HollandBanks RepetaSinister characters converge around a young man devoted to protecting those he loves in a postwar backwoods town teeming with corruption and brutality.This is like a bleak rural version of 'Pulp Fiction', without the humour and sharp dialogue. However, it is still crazy enough to be entertaining. I'm a fan of director Antonio Campos and it is clearly a very well made film.. Love to see Dudley and Cedric Diggory have become crazy preachers. Also, the entire time Bill Skarsgard was on screen, I couldn't help but think he was doing his best Michael Shannon impersonation.
Score: 7.1 - DirectorKaren MaineStarsNatalia DyerTimothy SimonsWolfgang NovogratzAfter an innocent AOL chat turns racy, a Catholic teenager in the early 2000s discovers masturbation and struggles to suppress her new urges in the face of eternal damnation.A small (in scale and length) and intimate film, that demonstrates just how conservative and oppressive the nature of the Catholic church was in the late 90's, and still is for that matter. It's a real coming of age story as a girl, wonderfully played by Natalia Dyer, begins to question her thoughts and the authority of the church as she has something of a sexual awakening. Everything about this film feels real and authentic, as if the director went through this herself. My main complaint about the film were that some of the dialogue, perhaps not helped by some amateurish performances, felt stilted at times. Also, there was a real lack of sound mixing at times which added to the low budget feel in the not so good way.
Score: 6.8 - DirectorDavid FreyneStarsFionn O'SheaLola PetticrewSharon HorganTwo school friends decide to start a pretend straight relationship in an effort to fit in.At this point we have seen quite a few queer coming of age stories. Obviously, they are still important, but it does mean that it's harder to be original, and 'Dating Amber' does cover a lot of familiar ground. The central premise of gay guy and lesbian girl pretending to be in a relationship does lay up quite a few obvious gags and dramatic plot points. This does do a pretty good job of executing these, as the movie was pretty consistently funny throughout. The biggest negative was how predictable the movie is. As much as I was invested in our protagonist coming out, I knew how the journey was going to go down every step of the way. I'm not sure how much I'll remember this movie in a year's time.
Score: 6.6 - DirectorChristopher LandonStarsVince VaughnKathryn NewtonCeleste O'ConnorAfter swapping bodies with a deranged serial killer, a high-school senior discovers that she has fewer than 24 hours before the change becomes permanent.Christopher Landon has already done the Groundhog Day slasher, now it is time for the Freaky Friday slasher. This one might be funnier than Happy Death Day. The body swap gimmick lends itself well for slapstick comedy, and Vince Vaughn brings it as a teenage girl stuck inside a large male serial killer body. Kathryn Newton doesn't get as much to do, with the character of the serial killer being pretty one note. The horror elements of this aren't quite as successful outside of a few creative death scenes. The meshing of the genres isn't perfectly balanced, which means it is inconsistent.
Score: 6.3 - DirectorAneesh ChagantyStarsSarah PaulsonKiera AllenSara SohnChloe, a teenager who is confined to a wheelchair, is homeschooled by her mother, Diane. Chloe soon becomes suspicious of her mother and begins to suspect that she may be harboring a dark secret.This horror film brings to the screen the truly nightmarish and tragic condition of Munchausen's by proxy, in which a mother makes her daughter believe she is extremely unwell through a mixture of lies, drugs and forced illness. It is competently written and shot, and at the end of the day a solid horror movie. However, it left me frustrated with how rigorously it stuck to the genre's tropes. The mother, played by Sarah Paulson, is a monstrous character. But the film leans into this, to the point where she feels like a Michael Myers or Freddy Krueger type of villain. I would have loved for this film to approach her condition with more nuance and sympathy, as I believe there is a lot more interesting stuff to unpack here than what was given.
Score: 6.2 - DirectorDavid DobkinStarsWill FerrellRachel McAdamsDan StevensWhen aspiring musicians Lars and Sigrit are given the opportunity to represent their country at the world's biggest song competition, they finally have a chance to prove that any dream worth having is a dream worth fighting for.Making a comedy that both celebrates and laughs at Eurovision wasn't necessarily needed when Eurovision is already aware of how ridiculous it is. The story feels like the obvious one if you were to make a Eurovision film, so don't expect many surprises. I think that is the most frustrating thing about this film along with the fact that the Will Ferrell character is like every annoying man child he has played before. The two things that make this film entertaining are: the incredible and accurate to Eurovision original songs, and Dan Stevens scene-stealing performance.
Score: 6.1 - DirectorMichael MatthewsStarsDylan O'BrienJessica HenwickMichael RookerSeven years after he survived the monster apocalypse, lovably hapless Joel leaves his cozy underground bunker behind on a quest to reunite with his high school sweetheart.Oh boy, this film is really dumb. But at least it knows its dumb. It hits you with an opening narration explaining another dystopian future, and it is so unapologetic with how ridiculous it all is, which is actually quite smart. Now, they have explained it, we're set and we can just go along with it. Now, my biggest disappointment with the movie is how obvious both the plot and character arc is from the outset. I would have enjoyed the film a bit more if it looked to surprise me once or twice. That being said, it is still quite a fun time, largely due to the incredible dog. I also really enjoyed the use of practical effects along with the CGI when creating the monsters.
Score: 5.9 - DirectorDan FriedkinStarsGuy PearceClaes BangVicky KriepsAn artist is suspected of selling a valuable painting to the Nazis, but there is more to the story than meets the eye.The is a classic example of a film that is a good TV movie, but if I caught it in the cinema I would leave feeling slightly disappointed. Often with these types of films, there is an interesting true story at the centre, which is enough to keep you engaged with what's going on. However, it lacks that cinematic quality and artists touch, which is ironic seeing as this is about a forgery artist. The visuals, the story structure, the performances are all very by the numbers. But it isn't a bad watch.
Score: 5.8 - DirectorJeff BaenaStarsAlison BrieMolly ShannonGoldeniteSarah, a socially isolated woman with a fondness for arts and crafts, horses, and supernatural crime shows finds her increasingly lucid dreams trickling into her waking life.A film that takes place in the mind of an increasingly anxious young woman who has become paranoid that she is part of some sort of extra-terrestrial experiment. At the beginning, she is a slightly awkward, socially anxious protagonist, who is trying to navigate the early stages of dating someone and keep in touch with an old horse she used to ride. While cringe inducing at times, there were some really sweet moments that make you sympathetic to the character. However, as the film rolls on, not only does her mental state completely deteriorate, but so does the film's message about mental illness. If you are not on board with all the alien, time travelling stuff, then the film leaves you behind to wonder what the film has to say about mental illness if anything.
Score: 5.6 - DirectorGuy RitchieStarsMatthew McConaugheyCharlie HunnamMichelle DockeryAn American expat tries to sell off his highly profitable marijuana empire in London, triggering plots, schemes, bribery and blackmail in an attempt to steal his domain out from under him.The type of geezer gangster film that thinks it is much cooler than it is. I appreciated Guy Ritchie's attempt at being inventive with narrative structure, but it isn't original and it didn't serve the story in any interesting way. The cast is great, but the characters all speak the same way; that is they sound like Guy Ritchie. That being said, there are some fun moments and witty one liners. You're certainly not going to get bored watching this film, that's for sure. But as a gangster film, does it ever feel like you are watching something real? No.
Score: 5.5 - DirectorHarry BradbeerStarsMillie Bobby BrownHenry CavillSam ClaflinWhen Enola Holmes, Sherlock's sister, discovers her mother is missing, she endeavors to find her, becoming a super-sleuth in her own right as she outwits her famous brother and unravels a dangerous conspiracy.This very much feels like it was concocted within Netflix's content generating machine, which is why I was slightly surprised to hear it was based off a YA novel. As has become the trend, there is a lot of 4th wall breaking in this, much of which comes off as lazy writing. It does help the film maintain a brisk pace, something which is need with the film's 2 hour +runtime. But it only adds the cheapness of the film, that is already battling with a lacklustre mystery and unconvincing depiction of Victorian London. Little to enjoy here if you're not the intended audience.
Score: 5.4 - DirectorMichael FimognariStarsLana CondorNoah CentineoJordan FisherLara Jean and Peter have just taken their relationship from pretend to officially official when another recipient of one of her old love letters enters the picture.The second instalment in the franchise, adapted from the trilogy of YA books doesn't feel nearly as fleshed out the first. I would go as far to say, that this story wouldn't stand a chance of becoming a film if it wasn't a follow up. It leaves this feeling a lot like part of a TV series and not its own feature film. There really isn't much to criticise other than it is just quite a bland film. Now that the novelty of the series' premise has worn off and all the character's have been introduced, there isn't really much to stick around for.
Score: 5.4