While 2020 has definitely been a difficult time for everybody, there have still been several excellent films that have come out this year. Nothing this year has gone as anyone expected it to and this goes for the film industry as well.
Many of the highly anticipated releases have not come about and not all of the films released have been on the big screen. But here are some of the best films to have emerged out of 2020. They are in no particular order.
The Assistant – Directed by Kitty Green and starring Julia Garner, this tells the story of a young woman working in a highly male-dominated independent film company.
The Vast of Night – A debut film by Andrew Patterson, this is a science-fiction mystery in a retro 1950s setting.
Never Rarely Sometimes Always – A powerful drama by Eliza Hittman about a teenager from Pennsylvania desperately seeking an abortion in New York.
Bacurau – Kleber Mendonca Filho’s film is a fierce, anti-colonialist saga that is enthralling to watch.
Babyteeth – A debut by Shannon Murphy, this is an unusually fresh take on the old story of a terminally ill teenager falling for an unsuitable local boy.
The Invisible Man – Leigh Whannell’s film stars Elisabeth Moss as Cecilia, a woman attempting to escape an abusive relationship and dealing with great trauma.
Da 5 Bloods – Spike Lee’s incredibly compelling film about racism in America and the imperialism behind the Vietnam War. This came out weeks after the death of George Floyd and the protests against the injustice that flared up around the world.
The Lighthouse – A psychological horror story, this film by Robert Eggers is about two lighthouse keepers who are stranded on a rock together and slowly begin to lose their sanity.
1917 – A sheer technical marvel of a war movie, Sam Mendes’ film is set on the frontlines of the First World War.
Shirley – Not a typical biopic, Josephine Decker’s film about Shirley Jackson, author of Haunting of Hill House, is a poignant watch.
Portrait Of A Lady On Fire – Directed by Celine Sciamma, this is a beautiful love story between artist Marianne and noblewoman Heloise. The entirely female worldview in this film is a breath of fresh air.
Parasite – Already lauded all over the world, Bong Joon Ho’s film that defies genre classifications has already gone down in history.
