2020 – Year in Review – Film

~ philthebearblog

At the risk of being cliched I think it is fair to say that 2020 has been pretty dire on a number of levels. It would be impossible to discuss the year without the mention of the Coronavirus Pandemic. A disease that has had such a massive impact on the world that to just focus on its impact on cinema would be a little short sighted. But, this is a film review blog and I am literally really short sighted so here goes…

Coronavirus quite simply seems to have put the idea of cinema as a business at risk. In the UK and across the world lockdowns have caused both forced and voluntary closures. I wrote an article, seemingly prematurely about how fantastic it was to have cinemas return after nearly 5 months of being closed only for the largest cinema chain in the UK to close again voluntarily after only 70 days of being open. Cineworld who I hold an annual pass with have only been open for business for 148 days this year. Which frankly has left a big hole in my life. A hole that I will admit I have at times struggled to fill.

The idea of limited or no audiences has resulted in Distributors repeatedly postponing or moving their films to streaming services. Creating a vicious circle for cinemas where audiences have nothing to watch and questioning their ability to stay open.

In my article last year, 2019 – Year in Review I suggested that there were thirteen films that I was really looking forward to this year. Three of those films released before the pandemic hit the UK. Of the other eleven films only two were released; Tenet which came out in cinemas after two postponements and Wonder Woman 1984 which received a dual release with streaming services. I look forward to seeing the others in 2021.

Let us hope that science can provide us with a safer world again and one where my favourite pass time can be enjoyed on a communal big screen.

The Stats

After seven consecutive years of seeing more than one hundred films at the cinema I have had to settle with my lowest number this century.

My statistics this year for films I have previously not seen are:

  • 41 visits to the cinema
    • 22 before Lockdown on 18th March
    • 17 before Lockdown on 5th November
    • 2 before Lockdown on 19th December
  • 69 films via streaming services
  • 106 reviews posted to the site

My most read articles this year at the time of writing are:

  1. Ammonite – The closing film of the London Film Festival that I was lucky to see at an Everyman Cinema. Currently scheduled for UK cinema release on March 26th 2021.
  2. The Karate Kid (1984) – A classic film that I saw at the cinema. I was the only person in my local cinema’s largest screen watching this.
  3. Extraction – A Netflix action movie starring Chris Hemsworth.
  4. Tenet – Christopher Nolan’s latest was easily the biggest blockbuster to receive a cinema release this year and I went to see it twice at the multiplex.
  5. Christopher Nolan Retrospective – Prior to Tenet’s release I watched and reviewed all of Nolan’s films. This included one of my happiest memories of the year, watching the Batman trilogy with my nine-year-old son for the first time (and doing Bane impressions).

My End of Year Lists

For the eagle eyed of you out there you may have noticed my 2020 – Year in Review – Television article where I round up my favourite ten TV series of the year. A byproduct of cinema closures and lockdowns meant that I had a lot of time to watch it this year. I may well expand my reviews in future to include television that I consider unmissable or worthy of commentary.

Best Films of the Year

  1. A Hidden Life – Terence Malick makes beautiful elegiac films. I saw this film in January at the cinema and was entranced for its near three hour running time. Telling the true story of an Austrian farmer who was a conscientious objector during World War Two it takes the Malick route of a fever dream of intercutting and narration. The cinematography is absolutely stunning and the emotional payoff at the end will make you cry. Currently available in the UK via Sky Cinema.
  2. Uncut Gems – The Safdie Brothers latest appeared on UK shores via Netflix in February this year. It includes Adam Sandler’s greatest acting performance and manages to make you feel as stressed and anxious as his character throughout. It is a masterclass from two exciting directors.
  3. Wolfwalkers – Arriving on Apple TV in December Wolfwalkers is one of the most beautiful films you can watch this year. Suitable for the whole family this is a fantastic story that delves into Celtic mythology.
  4. Parasite – 2019’s Oscar winner for Best Picture arrived on UK shores in January. It is a film that is difficult to pigeon hole other than to say it is fantastic viewing. Currently available in the UK via Amazon.
  5. Mank – David Fincher’s latest film arrived on Netflix in December and I will accept that this may be my most divisive of choices on this list. A movie about the making of a movie written and filmed in the style of the movie it is about. That also requires a fair amount of knowledge about the subject to really appreciate some of the intricacies of it.
  6. Jojo Rabbit – I actually saw this film in December 2019 but its UK release date was New Year’s Day 2020 so this makes the list. Taika Waititi’s film takes a child’s eye view of World War Two and makes a very difficult subject funny and poignant. It also features one of Scarlett Johansson’s best performances. Currently available in the UK via Sky Cinema.
  7. The Trial Of The Chicago 7 – Aaron Sorkin’s latest arrived on Netflix in October. It is smart, witty and hugely entertaining. Sacha Baron Cohen and Frank Langella steal every scene they are in.
  8. Enola Holmes – Arriving on Netflix in September this might be the most unadulterated fun film on my list, although number eleven might challenge it. Millie Bobby Brown and Henry Cavill dazzle as Enola and Sherlock Holmes and I look forward to the inevitable sequels.
  9. Queen and Slim – Another film that I saw in December 2019 but was released here in January. This road movie has stayed with me since I saw it over a year ago and I highly recommend it. Currently available in the UK via Amazon.
  10. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – Arriving on Netflix in the final two weeks of the year and featuring the final ever performance from Chadwick Boseman this film made a massive impact. Adapted from a play and featuring two stunning performances this is phenomenal viewing.
  11. The Personal History Of David Copperfield – Armando Iannucci provided us with an hilarious and visually inventive Dickens adaptation all the way back in January and its donkey jokes still make me chuckle! Vies with number eight on this list as the most fun. Currently available in the UK via Amazon.
  12. The Lighthouse – One of my most anticipated films of the year. Arriving in a few UK cinemas in February this film is daring, bonkers and brilliant. Robert Pattinson and Willem Defoe are as stunning as the black and white cinematography. Currently available in the UK via Sky Cinema.
  13. Tenet – Nolan does it again. Or perhaps he had already done it or is going to do it? Time can be a tricky thing. Fantastic set pieces, beautiful scenery, brilliant actors and mind bending time shenanigans. What more could you want? Clearly audible voices on the soundtrack? Pshhht. This one you will need to buy to view.
  14. The Invisible Man – This film proves that literally nothing happening in a frame can be scary and features one of the most shocking sequences of the year. Elizabeth Moss is brilliant and so is the film. Currently available in the UK via Sky Cinema.
  15. Saint Frances – One of the biggest surprises for me this year. A film about self discovery that breaks a lot of taboos. Available on Netflix the day this article is published, go and watch it!
  16. Soul – Pixar’s latest found itself premiering on Disney Plus on Christmas Day rather than making its way to a single cinema. It features some phenomenal animation, especially of New York and people and dares to think about the purpose of life.
  17. His House – A truly scary horror film about an unusual subject. Two refugees are haunted by their past whilst seeking asylum in the UK. Any horror fan can catch this on Netflix in the UK.
  18. Saint Maud – A psychological horror about a nurse having a mental breakdown. Low key and highly impactful. This arrived in UK cinemas in October and is not yet available to stream.
  19. True History Of The Kelly Gang – Arriving in UK cinemas in March just before the first UK lockdown this is a film I imagine many missed. It features brilliant performances from George MacKay, Essie Davis, Nicholas Holt, Charlie Hunam and Russell Crowe as well as some fantastic imagery. Currently available in the UK via Amazon.
  20. Babyteeth – This Australian film arrived in UK cinemas in August and is the film that I think made me openly sob the most this year. Eliza Scanlen, Essie Davis and Ben Mendelsohn are all excellent as a family trying to deal with terminal cancer as best as they can. Currently available in the UK via Netflix.

What Next?

This year I have decided not to do any other lists. It has already been far too depressing a year to do a worst of list. Whilst the lack of cinema releases has meant there was a lack of genre movies to really do any rankings for.

My expectation is that cinemas will be closed for some time yet. But I hope that it will be safe to return in 2021 at some point. My most anticipated films of the year remain almost largely the same as the end of last year…

  • The French Dispatch – Wes Anderson
  • Untitled Paul Thomas Anderson film
  • Bond – No Time To Die – will it ever see a cinema?
  • Top Gun Maverick – and for that matter, the Mission Impossible movies being filmed right now
  • The Marvel Cinematic Universe
    • Black Widow
    • Shang-Chi
    • Eternals
    • Spider-Man

Thanks for reading. I hope you stay safe and wish you a wonderful 2021.

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