First seen in 2020
List of titles that I saw for the first time in 2020
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- DirectorSteven SoderberghStarsMeryl StreepGemma ChanDianne WiestA famous author goes on a cruise trip with her friends and nephew in an effort to find fun and happiness while she comes to terms with her troubled past.Don't be fooled by the package or the initial feeling that this is all very superficial. There's a gem hidden inside, which very gradually reveals itself. The acting is predictably great, and it's the ultimate attack on stilted dialog in film. The natural flow of the dialog with pauses, false starts, etc can take some getting used to, but it means that the whole project is brimming with life.
- DirectorRemi WeekesStarsSope DirisuWunmi MosakuMalaika Wakoli-AbigabaA refugee couple makes a harrowing escape from war-torn South Sudan, but then they struggle to adjust to their new life in an English town that has an evil lurking beneath the surface.I love a crossover, and His House is an excellent refugee drama with a so-so horror hidden in there. The refugee drama is ultimately much more important, so it's very watchable even if the horror antics aren't actually that scary.
- CreatorJon FavreauStarsPedro PascalChris BartlettKatee SackhoffThe travels of a lone bounty hunter in the outer reaches of the galaxy, far from the authority of the New Republic.Pilot - The plot didn't do much for me yet, but the production value is through the roof, the creatures are charming and the effects are fun.
Season 1 - It certainly has a grasp on what brought people to Star Wars in the first place. It's charming and surprisingly episodic. It didn't blow my mind and I found some the action scenes a bit drawn out and dull, but I mostly had fun.
Season 2 - Continues a (mostly) unassuming space western bit, in the spirit of the original trilogy. It's charming and fun, and looks great. - DirectorAl CampbellAlice MathiasStarsSamuel L. JacksonHugh GrantLisa KudrowIn mockumentary format, characters discuss events of 2020 with a mixture of true information and satire. The overarching topic is the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the US and UK.I appreciate the sentiment. This special sometimes falls flat, is sometimes hilarious, and generally feels like it was whipped together a bit too quickly. Still worth a watch.
- DirectorLiz GarbusStarsAmy RyanThomasin McKenzieGabriel ByrneWhen Mari Gilbert's daughter disappears, police inaction drives her own investigation into the gated Long Island community where Shannan was last seen. Her search brings attention to over a dozen murdered sex workers.There are strong moments here, and the decision to follow only women is a good one. As is the decision to be completely frank about these people's faults. Tough watch as it is, it also seems incomplete, the scenes sometimes randomly chosen.
- DirectorThomas VinterbergStarsMads MikkelsenThomas Bo LarsenMagnus MillangFour high-school teachers consume alcohol on a daily basis to see how it affects their social and professional lives.I'd expected this to be depressing in the vein of Festen and Jagten, and sat with a constant pit in my stomach, expecting everything to go horribly wrong. It does, I guess, but some things also work out, and in the end this is a warm, sometimes funny, and deeply human take on changing, getting older, and dealing with what life throws at you. Vinterberg at his best.
- DirectorDan ScanlonStarsTom HollandChris PrattJulia Louis-DreyfusIn a magical world full of technological advances, elven brothers Ian and Barley Lightfoot set out on an adventure to resurrect their late father for a day.This left me a little disappointed, mostly because it's what I expect from a Disney film and not from a Pixar film. It's occasionally funny and occasionally grating, and the animation looks fantastic. It's also by-the-numbers, and sometimes feels like it's blatantly ripping off themes and structures of better animated pictures.
- 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.Best new film I've seen this year by a considerable margin, and the best Pixar has been in a long time. It's gorgeous, and its visual profile is fantastically inventive. It's structured like a Pixar movie but somehow still manages to shoot so many holes in traditional structure. It's beautiful, sad, joyful, very funny, and manages to juggle some very adult existential questions in what seems like a child-friendly package (but what do I know).
- DirectorGeorge ClooneyStarsGeorge ClooneyFelicity JonesDavid OyelowoThis post-apocalyptic tale follows Augustine, a lonely scientist in the Arctic, as he races to stop Sully and her fellow astronauts from returning home to a mysterious global catastrophe.The third-act payoff and the very cool visuals make it worth watching, but it still feels jumbled and unnecessary.
- CreatorJack ThorneStarsDafne KeenKit ConnorRuth WilsonA young girl is destined to liberate her world from the grip of the Magisterium which represses people's ties to magic and their animal spirits known as daemons.Pilot - I have a feeling this would be more mind-expanding if I had a sort of clue what was going on. But it was definitely good enough to make me WANT to understand what's going on.
Season 1 - The slow unraveling of the mythology is compelling if you're paying attention, and the large scale of this production is really cool. I had fun, and I'm looking forward to the next season.
Season 2 - I liked this much more than season 1. Season 1 seemed to be just build-up, where the storyline really explodes in this one. I swallowed it in no time, and I'm looking so much forward to next season. - CreatorNatasha ArthyRune SchjøttStarsSilas Cornelius VanMaria SzigethySelma Dali PapeBjørn is an insecure teenager and all he wants is to be like everyone else. But that is not easy when your body is acting out - Is it just puberty? To find out what is happening, Bjørn needs help from both family and friends.This is the most fun I've had with a Danish TV Christmas special in a while. It stays in the YA formula that these have been stuck in for a while, but it delivers quite well on the child acting front, it tells a surprising oddball story that's quite uplifting, and it really has fun with the visual profile. Finally, it doesn't lack in Christmas spirit.
- CreatorDahvi WallerStarsCate BlanchettRose ByrneElizabeth BanksConservative activist Phyllis Schlafly leads an unexpected fight against the Equal Rights Amendment movement during the 1970s.It's a complicated series with impressive reach and fantastic acting. It's almost entirely woman-centered focus is fresh, and although it clearly chooses sides, it's story-telling and not preaching.
- CreatorAdam ReedStarsH. Jon BenjaminJudy GreerAmber NashCovert black ops and espionage take a back seat to zany personalities and relationships between secret agents and drones.Season 10 - More genre antics here that I thought overall fell a bit flat.
Season 11 - It's mostly a back-to-basics spy season, playing around with the character dynamics. I love the show like this - it's the best season in quite a while! - DirectorErnst LubitschStarsCarole LombardJack BennyRobert StackDuring the German occupation of Poland, an acting troupe becomes embroiled in a Polish soldier's efforts to track down a German spy.Very delicate subject matter for an extremely raucous comedy - like The Great Dictator, but more clever and more incisive. This is one of the best and most fearless comedies I've seen in my life.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsWillem DafoeHarvey KeitelBarbara HersheyThe life of Jesus Christ, his journey through life as he faces the struggles all humans do, and his final temptation on the cross.It's a very interesting treatment of Jesus as part-human, part-divine. Not a historical character, but a Messiah with human attributes. Some parts work better than others, and it can get a little incessantly 80s, but for the most part this is reaching at greatness.
- DirectorFrank CapraStarsJames StewartJean ArthurClaude RainsA naive youth leader is appointed to fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate. His idealistic plans promptly collide with corruption at home and subterfuge from his hero in Washington, but he tries to forge ahead despite attacks on his character.It's a fantastic early turn for James Stewart, and it feels frighteningly relevant still. Two key reasons why the final scenes feel so vital and riveting.
- CreatorJennifer FlackettAndrew GoldbergNick KrollStarsNick KrollJohn MulaneyJessi KleinTeenage friends find their lives upended by the wonders and horrors of puberty.Season 4 - Another very good season of Big Mouth that's funny, gets through some important issues, and manages to stay fresh by actually having these kids grow older. The plot's a bit too gimmicky in the last couple of episodes though.
- CreatorPer-Olav SørensenStarsDennis StorhøiIda Elise BrochOddgeir ThuneWhen the constant comments on her single status and society's expectations of the perfect family Christmas finally get to 30-year-old Johanne, she starts a 24-day hunt for a partner to bring home for Christmas.Season 1 - Quite sweet, cozy winter fun. It's light sitcom material, but the Norwegian take on that format works quite well.
- DirectorDavid FincherStarsGary OldmanAmanda SeyfriedLily Collins1930s Hollywood is re-evaluated through the eyes of scathing social critic and alcoholic screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz as he races to finish the screenplay of Citizen Kane (1941).First of all, from someone who's never written a script before, this is amazingly well-written. It hints at the difficulty of leaving the impression of a man all the while doing it; discusses the circular structure of Citizen Kane while pulling it off itself. The Sorkin-style rapid-fire dialog requires and pays off constant attention. It's also beautifully filmed and appropriately well-acted.
- CreatorNoah HawleyStarsBilly Bob ThorntonMartin FreemanAllison TolmanVarious chronicles of deception, intrigue, and murder in and around frozen Minnesota. All of these tales mysteriously lead back one way or another to Fargo, North Dakota.Season 4 - This season was quite a leap for Fargo, shaking up the formula a lot more than previous seasons. It focuses more on organized crime and less on people randomly caught in the wake of it. I think it had some balancing issues, even if it still had many inspired moments and fantastic acting throughout.
- DirectorFrank CapraStarsClark GableClaudette ColbertWalter ConnollyA rogue reporter trailing a runaway heiress for a big story joins her on a bus heading from Florida to New York and they end up stuck with each other when the bus leaves them behind at one of the stops along the way.The storyline is expectedly dated in some respects, but it's generally good writing wrapped around a good story with a couple of transcendent moments (like the scene with the singing on the Greyhound bus).
- DirectorBuster KeatonStarsBuster KeatonKathryn McGuireJoe KeatonA film projectionist longs to be a detective, and puts his meagre skills to work when he is framed by a rival for stealing his girlfriend's father's pocketwatch.There are some fantastic set pieces, effects, and stunts in this little film, and it's still genuiniely funny and tense. Very good watch.
- DirectorJustin KurzelStarsGeorge MacKayEssie DavisNicholas HoultAustralian bushranger Ned Kelly and his gang flee from authorities during the 1870s.This was an interesting, really detailed biography of what leads to a spectacularly failed revolution. There's very gritty stylized violence. It never knows exactly which story it wants to tell and how, but the actors pull through and the end result is pretty good.
- CreatorScott FrankAllan ScottStarsAnya Taylor-JoyChloe PirrieBill CampOrphaned at the tender age of nine, prodigious introvert Beth Harmon discovers and masters the game of chess in 1960s USA. But child stardom comes at a price.This massively bingeable show managed to get me excited about chess, which is quite an achievement. I loved almost every bit of it.
- DirectorBilly WilderStarsFred MacMurrayBarbara StanwyckEdward G. RobinsonA Los Angeles insurance representative lets an alluring housewife seduce him into a scheme of insurance fraud and murder that arouses the suspicion of his colleague, an insurance investigator.Thrilling crime classic with good acting, memorable characters, and some cool unexpected plot developments.
- DirectorCharles ChaplinStarsCharles ChaplinMack SwainTom MurrayA prospector goes to the Klondike during the 1890s gold rush in hopes of making his fortune, and is smitten with a girl he sees in a dance hall.A huge undertaking with some amazing effects, sourcing some very dark material for comedy. It's an obvious classic, and deservedly so.
- DirectorNiki CaroStarsLiu YifeiDonnie YenGong LiTo keep her ailing father from serving in the Imperial Army, a fearless young woman disguises herself as a man and battles northern invaders in China.Nope. Feels like a hugely expensive straight-to-DVD. Sometimes visually stunning to look at, although some effects are also surprisingly bad; there's nothing to see in the way of plot or acting.
- DirectorJohn FordStarsJohn WayneJeffrey HunterVera MilesAn American Civil War veteran embarks on a years-long journey to rescue his niece from the Comanches after the rest of his brother's family is massacred in a raid on their Texas farm.This is gorgeously filmed, well-acted, and has some very impressive action sequences. It also grapples with some extremely murky morality, and refuses to shy away from some very dark questions about what it means to be American. It's masterful.
- CreatorJon Iver HelgakerJonas TorgersenStarsKåre ConradiNils Jørgen KaalstadJon ØigardenViking life at the close of the 8th century.Pilot - Dry Scandinavian humor, ludicrous Norwegian accents, surprisingly high production design. This promises a ton of laughs.
Season 1 - Exactly what the pilot promises. It gets over the top at times, but mostly it's just hilarious. - CreatorDavid ChaseStarsJames GandolfiniLorraine BraccoEdie FalcoNew Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano deals with personal and professional issues in his home and business life that affect his mental state, leading him to seek professional psychiatric counseling.Season 3 - Continuing streak of extremely good television that clearly pioneered a lot of the best things happening in a lot of the best television now. As opposed to something like The Wire it is clearly dated, but that doesn't really damage the watchability.
Season 4 - For every season, I feel like I'm getting closer and closer to these characters. S4 was more modern than previously, and I found myself grappling more with the complex morality of the whole enterprise, which is a good thing.
Seasons 5 and 6 - This show is so good. Even when nothing's happening it is a joy, and towards the end something is always happening. It doubles down on important themes of the show and always feels real. - DirectorJoel CoenEthan CoenStarsJohn GetzFrances McDormandDan HedayaThe owner of a seedy small-town Texas bar discovers that one of his employees is having an affair with his wife. A chaotic chain of misunderstandings, lies, and mischief ensues after he devises a plot to have them murdered.It's a low budget affair with a remarkably straightforward thriller plot, but it plays to many of the Coen Brothers' strengths, with many odd characterizations, a ton of style, and beautiful music. It's nowhere near their best, but it's a good and interesting watch.
- StarsJohn OliverDavid KayeRyan BargerFormer Daily Show host and correspondent John Oliver brings his persona to this weekly news satire program.Season 7 - Glad we had John Oliver with us in the horrific shitshow that was 2020. It's not been a fun year, but he did his best, with no audience and performing in a blank void.
- DirectorLars von TrierStarsEmily WatsonStellan SkarsgårdKatrin CartlidgeOilman Jan is paralyzed in an accident. His wife, who prayed for his return, feels guilty; even more, when Jan urges her to have sex with another.So many of Von Trier's prime tricks are here; the jarringly ill-fitting music, the beautiful landscapes, the mostly handheld recording devices. The characters are complex, but often feel like Platonic ideals stretched to their limit. It's a strong subversion of ideas of faith, goodness, miracles, sacrifice, and Christianity. No wonder this guy got people's attention.
- CreatorChris CarterStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonMitch PileggiTwo F.B.I. Agents, Fox Mulder the believer and Dana Scully the skeptic, investigate the strange and unexplained, while hidden forces work to impede their efforts.Season 3 - Some really top-notch episodes in here, and not too much of the larger mythology stuff which never really caught my interest.
Season 4 - More monster-of-the-week, less mythology than Season 3. It's a fun romp. - DirectorJohn McTiernanStarsSean ConneryAlec BaldwinScott GlennIn November 1984, the Soviet Union's best submarine captain violates orders and heads for the U.S. in a new undetectable sub. The American CIA and military must quickly determine: Is he trying to defect or to start a war?Tense and well-made thriller that I seem to remember seeing at least parts of before. Star-studded cast, and they perform well.
- DirectorCathy YanStarsMargot RobbieRosie PerezMary Elizabeth WinsteadAfter splitting with the Joker, Harley Quinn joins superheroines Black Canary, Huntress, and Renee Montoya to save a young girl from an evil crime lord.The R rating suits it - this is so much better than Suicide Squad. It's a gender-reversed Deadpool with an annoying voice-over, some plot issues, and similar music issues to Suicide Squad. But it was also just a decent time - I had fun for most of it, and the action scenes were well made.
- DirectorBilly WilderStarsJack LemmonShirley MacLaineFred MacMurrayA Manhattan insurance clerk tries to rise in his company by letting its executives use his apartment for trysts, but complications and a romance of his own ensue.Some pretty saucy material for an early sixties film, but also just moving, hilarious, and all-round extremely well-written.
- DirectorYarrow CheneyScott MosierStarsBenedict CumberbatchCameron SeelyRashida JonesA grumpy Grinch plots to ruin Christmas for the village of Whoville.I had a good time with this retelling. It was beautifully animated, vibrant and with a ton of background gags. The best parts - like in the 2000 film - comes from the original Dr Seuss story, while the added material feels like mostly filler. But it's better filler this time around.
- DirectorAlan ShapiroStarsEdward AsnerRene AuberjonoisJim MetzlerA counterfeiter finds the true meaning of the holidays.Cozy low-budget Disney christmas flick that seems like it's been forgotten. It did what I wanted it to do, it was unprovocative, even a little fresh. Nothing masterful of course, but not awful either.
- DirectorKelly ReichardtStarsAlia ShawkatJohn MagaroDylan SmithA skilled cook has traveled west and joined a group of fur trappers in Oregon, though he only finds true connection with a Chinese immigrant also seeking his fortune. Soon the two collaborate on a successful business.Moves along at its own, very quiet place. It's amazingly filmed in amazing settings, with some beautiful understated acting. I'm glad I saw it in the cinema - I think it would've been hard to take in with all the distraction of a home viewing - but I almost loved it.
- DirectorKirill MikhanovskyStarsChris GalustLauren 'Lolo' SpencerMaksim StoyanovIn this freewheeling comedy, medical transport driver Vic risks his job to shuttle a group of rowdy seniors and a Russian boxer to a funeral, dragging clients like Tracy, a young woman with ALS, along for the ride.A minor miracle of a film to see right before the 2020 US election, because it's a funny and beautiful film about the melting pot that the US can be, and in some cases is. It's a messy, chaotic, and very busy film, but there's so much beauty to be found.
- DirectorGavin RotheryStarsTheo JamesStacy MartinRhona Mitra2038: George Almore is working on a true human-equivalent AI. His latest prototype is almost ready. This sensitive phase is also the riskiest. Especially as he has a goal that must be hidden at all costs.Occasionally cool cinematography and set design aside, this is trashy b-movie fare, with a plot that doesn't know what it wants and actors who aren't delivering. There's a final plot twist that you won't have seen coming because it doesn't make any sense or contribute anything. Next.
- DirectorHarry MacqueenStarsColin FirthStanley TucciPippa HaywoodSam and Tusker are traveling across England in their old RV to visit friends, family and places from their past. Since Tusker was diagnosed with dementia two years ago, their time together is the most important thing they have.This is a quite minimal film, focusing mostly on Stanley Tucci and Colin Firth in their RV. The story is mostly an anchor for some great, Oscar-ready acting, but then that kind of thing is done well, it really works. I dare you to not choke up a little. Also it's just great to see a film about a gay people where their being gay isn't remotely a part of the plot.
- DirectorMohammad RasoulofStarsBaran RasoulofZhila ShahiMahtab ServatiThe four stories that are variations on the crucial themes of moral strength and the death penalty that ask to what extent individual freedom can be expressed under a despotic regime and its seemingly inescapable threats.Perhaps the most effective anthology film I've ever seen - four devastating short stories about capital punishment in Iran, that investigate how it's weaved into the fabric of society.
- DirectorRuthy PribarStarsAlena YivShira HaasTamir MulaDespite living together, Asia barely interacts with her daughter Vika. Their routine is shaken when Vika's health deteriorates rapidly. Asia must step in and become the mother Vika so desperately needsI never really felt this film lived up to the full potential of its story - perhaps it was just too short to build its world properly - but there were still moments of real beauty and sorrow in the final act.
- CreatorAaron SorkinStarsJeff DanielsEmily MortimerJohn Gallagher Jr.A newsroom undergoes some changes in its workings and morals as a new team is brought in, bringing unexpected results for its existing news anchor.Pilot - Fantastic pilot. Beautiful stage setting, character introduction, but a well-contained and entertaining story.
Season 1- The best episodic drama I've seen in a very long time, and amazingly bingeable. Aaron Sorkin is definitely kinda masturbating here, but I love his writing.
Season 2 - Grows less episodic, which leads to a number of storytelling issues. I still love the characters and their banter though, but the one major story arc doesn't work that well.
Season 3 - The story takes a number of turns that make no sense, with a kinda bad story arc, but also with soapy elements emerging across the board. This turned really quickly from a show I loved to a show I didn't even really like, while being super Aaron Sorkin-ish all the way. I guess that's impressive in its own right. - DirectorJeremy HershStarsJasmine BatchelorChris PerfettiSullivan JonesA web designer for a nonprofit in Brooklyn, is ecstatic to be the surrogate and egg-donor for her best friend and his husband. Twelve weeks into the pregnancy, a prenatal test comes back with unexpected results that pose a moral dilemma.Very impressive piece of film in its insistence to consider all angels of a very difficult topic. To me, this was a film about a woman constantly doubling down on poor decisions, but this always felt like my opinion and not one the film was forcing on me. A bit of an exhausting watch, but also an important one.
- DirectorJon StevensonStarsBrian Landis FolkinsWil WheatonKathleen Brady1990: David, 40, looks after his dementia mom. He uses a video dating service to no avail. He buys a "Rent-A-Pal" video tape and things change.Impressive creepy atmosphere, and some thoughtful and genuinely good acting in here. But it doesn't always make much sense, the third act feels a bit sick, and by the end, I was sort of sick of staring at the same repeated VHS tape loops.
- DirectorAlex Huston FischerEleanor WilsonStarsSunita ManiJohn ReynoldsBen SinclairA young Brooklyn couple head to an upstate cabin to unplug from their phones and reconnect with each other. Blissfully unaware of their surroundings, they are left to their own devices as the planet falls under attack.A lot of laughing in the cinema for this sci-fi about two lovably annoying hipster goofs fighting off fuzzball aliens. It didn't quite know how to end, but I had a ton of fun throughout.
- DirectorJoe BegosStarsStephen LangWilliam SadlerFred WilliamsonA group of old war veterans put their lives on the line to defend a young woman taking shelter in their local VFW post, who's running from a deranged drug dealer and his relentless army of drug-addled punks.This was a riot - a good old-fashioned grimey grindhouse pic bathed in Argento-colors and very, very blood-spattered. I had fun throughout.
- DirectorDoron PazYoav PazStarsHani FurstenbergIshai GolanKirill CernyakovDuring an outbreak of a deadly plague in Lithuania, a mystical woman must save her tight-knit Jewish community from a gang of ruffians led by a local landowner, but the entity she conjures to protect them is a far greater evil.No to this. It's predictable, not particularly well-made, not particularly well-acted, and not scary in the least.
- DirectorRobert ZemeckisStarsTom HanksHelen HuntPaul SanchezA FedEx executive undergoes a physical and emotional transformation after crash landing on a deserted island.The island part is deliciously weird and fantastically acted. The bits that surround it feel a bit tagged on and unconnected.
- DirectorMads BrüggerStarsMads BrüggerClarinah MfenguSaphir Wenzi MabanzaDanish director Mads Brügger and Swedish private investigator Göran Björkdahl are trying to solve the mysterious death of Dag Hammarskjöld. As their investigation closes in, they discover a crime far worse than killing the Secretary-General of the United Nations.It's a baffling little film that uncovers a number of shocking things, and hints at much more shocking things. It's extremely difficult to follow at times, the narrative style has too many bells and whistles, and it's difficult to say how much we can actually take away from the final third. But as a piece of investigative journalism, it's still excellent.
- DirectorMads BrüggerStarsUlrich Løvenskjold LarsenMads BrüggerAlejandro Cao de Benos de Les y PérezA real-life undercover thriller about two ordinary men who embark on an outrageously dangerous ten-year mission to penetrate the world's most secretive and brutal dictatorship: North Korea.This was a wild documentary, that captured some outrageous material on tape and gets something really thrilling out of an experimental approach to documentary film making.
- DirectorVáclav MarhoulStarsPetr KotlárNina SunevicAlla SokolovaA young Jewish boy somewhere in Eastern Europe seeks refuge during World War II where he encounters many different characters.While watching it, I had a hard time figuring out if I hate or love this film. It's a very nihilistic piece, like a long montage of human misery and cruelty set in stunning black and white. It takes a long time before all this misery amounts to anything, and you might ask yourself if there's any point to it. But it also becomes increasingly painful to watch, which is part of the point, and part of what makes the last 45 minutes so effective.
- CreatorEric KripkeStarsKarl UrbanJack QuaidAntony StarrA group of vigilantes set out to take down corrupt superheroes who abuse their superpowers.Pilot - Some seriously impressive stage-setting, world-building, and character work in this pilot. I like the style.
Season 1 - Feels like one of the most important things on tv right now. It exists in a very post-Deadpool world, but it has a lot more to say. It's funny, but tackles some very serious issues. The production value is through the roof.
Season 2 - Continues in the same way as season 1. Extremely entertaining, extremely dark, a bit more overtly political. It was over way too quickly. HBO must be furious that they didn't develop this. - 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.I love Aaron Sorkin - his characters don't feel like real people, his dialogs don't feel like real speech, but watching these are like watching a great play. The cast is great across the board here, and I especially love Sasha Baron Cohen. It doesn't feel like the full story, but what's chosen here makes for very entertaining cinema.
- DirectorMiranda JulyStarsRichard JenkinsDebra WingerEvan Rachel WoodA woman's life is turned upside down when her criminal parents invite an outsider to join them on a major heist they're planning.This is a deeply strange story that mostly manages to feel real throughout, probably because it's carried by some tremendous performances. The wounds here are deep, the abuse feels very real, and the tragicomedy veers strongly toward tragic. But there's also real beauty to be found here, for example in the magical ending.
- DirectorMike FlanaganStarsKate BosworthThomas JaneJacob TremblayA couple adopt an orphaned child whose dreams - and nightmares - manifest physically as he sleeps.There are a few genuinie scares in here, but it's in service of a trope of a story that gets very sappy and melodramatic towards the end.
- DirectorLynne RamsayStarsTilda SwintonJohn C. ReillyEzra MillerKevin's mother struggles to love her strange child despite the increasingly dangerous things he says and does as he grows up. But Kevin is just getting started, and his final act will be beyond anything anyone imagined.It's probably not entirely realistic, and I'm not sure it wants to be - but this film sure is perfectly acted (especially by the children involved) and is effectively terrifying and infuriating.
- 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.It's a new style for Iannucci, and it takes some getting used to. But once you get on its wavelength, it's a delightful film, which is very funny and wonderfully acted all around. It doesn't care one bit about traditional story presentation. One point of critique is that it crams more story elements in than it actually has time for, which may be a critique of Dickens.
- CreatorMike FlanaganStarsVictoria PedrettiOliver Jackson-CohenAmelia EveAfter an au pair’s tragic death, Henry hires a young American nanny to care for his orphaned niece and nephew who reside at Bly Manor with the chef Owen, groundskeeper Jamie and housekeeper, Mrs. Grose.This show is a very good binge, but not nearly as perfect as Hill House. It's having more trouble with the boundary between drama and horror I think, veering strongly towards (melo-)drama during the final episodes when a ramp-up in tension would've been more fitting. The shift in narrative technique that occurs around halfway through the show is very cool though.
- DirectorKitty GreenStarsJulia GarnerOwen HollandJon OrsiniA searing look at a day in the life of an assistant to a powerful executive. As Jane follows her daily routine, she grows increasingly aware of the insidious abuse that threatens every aspect of her position.An extremely low-key film that survives on beautiful restrained acting by Julia Garner. It has an important story to tell and I think the lack of bells and whistles are refreshing, even if it's hard to get very excited about something this restrained.
- DirectorBrady CorbetStarsNatalie PortmanJude LawStacy MartinAn unusual set of circumstances brings unexpected success to a pop star.Some of the narrative ideas (like the Dafoe voice-over) I liked, and the acting was generally top-notch. But the story seemed disjointed and jumbled, like three diffferent unrelated stories were clumsily thrown together.
- StarsMichael PetersonDavid RudolfRon GueretteThe high-profile murder trial of American novelist Michael Peterson following the death of his wife Kathleen Peterson in 2001.An extremely impactful show that feels like a frontrunner for much of the true crime documentary and podcast scene today. It's heartbreaking, charming, and completely takes away your faith in a functioning justice system. I prefer the no-bullshit structure of the original 8-episode run to the more sentimental character of the newer ones.
- DirectorSean DurkinStarsJude LawCarrie CoonOona RocheLife for an entrepreneur and his American family begins to take a twisted turn after moving into an English country manor.Beautifully acted and very intelligently put together. My favorite stories often feel like they're parables for something much larger but still feel tethered to particular circumstances. This is the case here, where large parts of the story feel like a metaphor for capitalism as a whole, but the specific details make for a great family drama. There's tons to unpack here. Unfortunately, the ending is a bit undeserved and leaves something to be desired.
- DirectorHarry BradbeerStarsMillie Bobby BrownHenry CavillSam ClaflinWhen Enola Holmes (Sherlock's teen sister) discovers her mother is missing, she endeavours to find her, becoming a super-sleuth in her own right as she outwits her famous brother and unravels a dangerous conspiracy.I'm not really feeling this. The plot is a decent if somewhat by-the-numbers adenture/mystery, but it's terribly overacted, and I wasn't a fan of the chipper voice over and fourth-wall-breaking.
- DirectorValentyn VasyanovychStarsAndriy RymarukLiudmyla BilekaVasyl AntoniakA soldier suffering from PTSD befriends a young volunteer hoping to restore peaceful energy to a war-torn society.This film is made up mostly of very long steadicam shots. No music in here. It's an extreme aesthetic, and requires a lot of patience. I certainly see what the director's going for, and the location scouting, set design, and sound design are all really great. But I didn't feel my patience was rewarded, there wasn't much of a story there.
- DirectorLeigh WhannellStarsElisabeth MossOliver Jackson-CohenHarriet DyerWhen Cecilia's abusive ex takes his own life and leaves her his fortune, she suspects his death was a hoax. As a series of coincidences turn lethal, Cecilia works to prove that she is being hunted by someone nobody can see.A good tak on a classic tale, with a modern spin to it. This kind of story is getting all the more gross because the technology seems more and more realistic. Backstory is kept to a minimum, which is probably for the best. Wouldn't have worked with Elisabeth Moss to tie it together.
- DirectorJosephine DeckerStarsElisabeth MossOdessa YoungMichael StuhlbargA famous horror writer finds inspiration for her next book after she and her husband take in a young couple.A lovely, disorientingi film that has an interesting take on what 'sanity' means for women in a world that fundamentally works against them. The editing is beautifully off-kilter, same with the music, and the acting is predictably great. It's a gem.
- DirectorMong-Hong ChungStarsChien-Ho WuYi-Wen ChenSamantha Shu-Chin KoA family of four fractures under the weight of unmet expectations, unexpected tragedy, and uncompromising pride.A slow-burn family drama with some serious melodrama. It's well-made, but it's a bit too schmaltzy at times, and it never quite earns its long runtime. I'm still mostly positive.
- DirectorPeter SullivanStarsNia LongOmar EppsStephen BishopEllie tries to mend her marriage with her husband Marcus after a brief encounter with an old friend, David, only to find that David is more dangerous and unstable than she'd realized.By-the-numbers garbage TV thriller that feels like it was written by an algorithm for a cast and crew that couldn't care less about it. To its credit (maybe?) I never cared enough about it to actually be upset about how bad it was.
- DirectorNora EphronStarsTom HanksMeg RyanRoss MalingerA recently widowed man's son calls a radio talk-show in an attempt to find his father a partner.Nora Ephron tries to convince us that rather hardcore stalking is actually charming, and it doesn't work well in 2020. Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan are here, so sometimes she almost succeeds, which I'm not sure is a good thing.
- DirectorShannon MurphyStarsEliza ScanlenMichelle LottersToby WallaceMilla, a seriously ill teenager, falls in love with a drug dealer, Moses, her parents' worst nightmare.The actors and the screenwriter deliver a piercing emotional rollercoaster, digging inside a bunch of broken characters to find complexity and redemption in all of them. At times, it's almost a feelgood explosion; other times, the complete opposite. It's a tough balance that's masterfully handled here.
- CreatorArmando IannucciStarsJulia Louis-DreyfusTony HaleAnna ChlumskyFormer Senator Selina Meyer finds that being Vice President of the United States is nothing like she hoped and everything that everyone ever warned her about.Season 2 - I liked this a lot more than the first season, which never really worked for me. This was dense, rapid, and hilarious.
Season 3 - Very good, for the same reasons as Season 2.
Season 4 - Kudos to this show for keeping its storylines variable! Not quite as laugh-out-loud funny as the two preceding seasons though. - DirectorDavid LeanStarsWilliam HoldenAlec GuinnessJack HawkinsBritish POWs are forced to build a railway bridge across the river Kwai for their Japanese captors in occupied Burma, not knowing that the allied forces are planning a daring commando raid through the jungle to destroy it.This is such an obvious classic. Eternal characters, good acting, beautiful cinematography, a darkly ironic storyline and a constant sense of grandeur.
- DirectorMike FlanaganStarsEwan McGregorRebecca FergusonKyliegh CurranYears following the events of The Shining (1980), a now-adult Dan Torrance must protect a young girl with similar powers from a cult known as The True Knot, who prey on children with powers to remain immortal.Thought this would be mediocre, but it's actively bad. The story might make some sense as a sequel to King's book, but it makes zero sense as a sequel to Kubrick's film. Most of the story feels like a lazy X-Men ripoff, with constant cheap reminders that you're watching a Shining sequel in the form of recreated images from the original with worse actors and set designs. It's never scary, but it is kind of a nightmare.
- DirectorNatalie Erika JamesStarsRobyn NevinEmily MortimerBella HeathcoteA daughter, mother and grandmother are haunted by a manifestation of dementia that consumes their family's home.This was a little gem. Genuinely scary at times, relatively novel plot, doesn't rely on tropes. In the end, it doesn't have much to say, but it's certainly an effective horror film.
- 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.What a mindfuck of a film, constantly at the fringes of demarcated personalities and linear time. It feels like Charlie Kaufman finally found a company that would help him make a film with no traditional narrative structure at all. If you can get on his loopy wavelength, it's a beautiful patchwork of ideas delivered through some stunning acting. It's probably besides the point to mention that it's frontloaded, and the long stretches of very dark grey are probably part of the point; even so, as much as I like this film, it can be a bit challenging to sit through.
- DirectorLauren GreenfieldStarsImelda MarcosEtta RosalesFerdinand MarcosAn extraordinary look into the political career of Imelda Marcos, this documentary tells a cautionary tale of a powerful leader whose questionable sense of reality divided the Philippines.This is such a larger-than-life documentary, that ticks all the boxes. It told me a story I ought to know about but didn't; it's structured in a way that makes it exciting throughout; it gathers some unbelievable interview material.
- DirectorJoel CoenEthan CoenStarsJohn TurturroJohn GoodmanJudy DavisA renowned New York playwright is enticed to California to write for the movies and discovers the hellish truth of Hollywood.It's the best I've ever seen John Torturro act, but it's quite an achievement for everyone involved. One of the clearest Coen Bros allegories, fittingly hilarious and terrifying.
- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsJohn David WashingtonRobert PattinsonElizabeth DebickiArmed with only the word "Tenet," and fighting for the survival of the entire world, CIA operative, The Protagonist, journeys through a twilight world of international espionage on a global mission that unfolds beyond real time.This is classic Nolan in every sense of the phrase: a fantastic sci-fi idea coupled with groundbreaking visual effects, gorgeous cinematography, and world-class acting. Coupled with a storyline that isn't quite up to par, and definitely subpar dialog. I'll need to see it again before I can judge it properly, but in my first viewing I was very positive.
- CreatorBaran bo OdarJantje FrieseStarsLouis HofmannKaroline EichhornLisa VicariA family saga with a supernatural twist, set in a German town where the disappearance of two young children exposes the relationships among four families.Pilot - Dark, creepy start to what promises to be an interesting show.
Season 1 - Very good first season, even if it can be challenging to follow what's going on with the large rotating cast of characters and - to put it mildly - extremely confusing plot. By the end I was seriously into it.
Season 2 - Now that we know the characters after Season 1, there's time to get into the thick of the plot. It's weird, full of genuinely effective plot twists, and very well-produced.
Season 3 - It becomes all the more clear in the final season just how much of a JJ Abrams show this is. It's still very high quality, but I'm not convinced that the added complexity of interdimensional travel (or whatever) did anything great for the show. - DirectorÓliver LaxeStarsAmador AriasBenedicta SánchezInazio AbraoAmador returns home to his aging mother after serving a sentence for arson. He tries to adapt to daily farm life and coping with the villagers' memories of his past actions.A very slow way of life if depicted here, so it's not surprising that the structure of the film is similarly glacial. It's worth watching for the beautiful images alone, but it's hard not to feel a bit cheated by the story, which stops just when it feels like it's set up.
- DirectorCharles ChaplinStarsCharles ChaplinEdna PurvianceJackie CooganThe Tramp cares for an abandoned child, but events put their relationship in jeopardy.Very strong storytelling and good technique in this early motion picture. It's still legitimately fun and sweet, but building on very serious subject material.
- DirectorSpike LeeStarsNick CannonTeyonah ParrisWesley SnipesA modern day adaptation of the ancient Greek play Lysistrata by Aristophanes, set against the backdrop of gang violence in Chicago, Illinois.This film is very idiosyncratic and very, very Spike Lee. Most of the time it's funny, some of the time it's sad, some of the time it's just rousing. I love that it exists, I love that Spike Lee keeps doing his thing, but I was admittedly stuck with a feeling that the storytelling could be improved quite a bit.
- DirectorFred ZinnemannStarsPaul ScofieldWendy HillerRobert ShawThe story of Sir Thomas More, who stood up to King Henry VIII when the King rejected the Roman Catholic Church to obtain a divorce and remarry.Very well-written with a number of rousing speeches that play out like very good scenes of a play. Acting is excellent across the board.
- DirectorYeon Sang-hoStarsNazeeh TarshaKoo Kyo-hwanLee Jung-hyunA zombie virus has in the last four years spread to all South Korea. Four Koreans in Hong Kong sail through the blockade to Incheon for USD20,000,000 on a truck.The setup is cool, most of the action is very effective (even more so than in the original). The plot can be a bit on the goofy end though, with the kind of tone shifts that give you whiplash, and not in a good way. It's about 30 minutes too long and the ending is wildly melodramatic.
- DirectorJean-Luc GodardStarsJean-Paul BelmondoJean SebergVan DoudeA small-time crook, hunted by the authorities for a car theft and the murder a police officer, attempts to persuade a hip American journalism student to run away with him to Italy.Breathless is a great title. With its rabid editing, seamless shifts between jazz and orchestral music in the soundtrack, and rapid-fire dialog, this manages to be a sort of talk-heavy drama disguised as a crime film. It's quite an experience.
- DirectorDaniel SackheimStarsDiane LaneLeelee SobieskiStellan SkarsgårdAn orphaned teenager is taken in by a Malibu couple but discovers they aren't the caring friends they seemed to be.Somehow they got some actually talented people to act in this trash. They have precious little to work with though; the dialogs are awful, and the plot is even worse.
- DirectorFrelle PetersenStarsJette SøndergaardPeter Hansen TygesenOle CaspersenKris, living with her uncle since her teenage years, is starting to second guess her current life, at her disabled uncles farm. As love crosses her path, a possible life changing question emerges.Beautifully acted, slow, and low-key heartbreaking film. It also serves as a nice insight into the day-to-day of a neglected community.
- DirectorThomas VinterbergStarsThomas Bo LarsenUlrich ThomsenMia Maria BackThe bank robbers Karsten and Peter are on the run in Sweden. With them is one of their teenage daughter.Gritty drama about some very anti anti-heroes. Wants to be realistic, but probably isn't really. Feels very cheap, but is pretty well-acted.
- DirectorJohn Lee HancockStarsMichael KeatonNick OffermanJohn Carroll LynchThe story of Ray Kroc, a salesman who turned two brothers' innovative fast food eatery, McDonald's, into the biggest restaurant business in the world, with a combination of ambition, persistence, and ruthlessness.It's a good story, and it's compellingly told. Not very likeable main characters.
- DirectorGina Prince-BythewoodStarsCharlize TheronKiKi LayneMatthias SchoenaertsA covert team of immortal mercenaries is suddenly exposed and must now fight to keep their identity a secret just as an unexpected new member is discovered.Very good action, looks great. I like the concept, and I can imagine some great sequels. Oddly horrible music which gives it a tv-movie feel.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsRobert De NiroJerry LewisDiahnne AbbottA passionate yet unsuccessful comedian stalks and kidnaps his idol to take the spotlight for himself.Cool film. Stellar acting, great balance between dark comedy and drama, and extremely cringy moments from start to finish. Feels like a very strong inspiration for Joker.
- DirectorStephen J. AndersonDon HallStarsJim CummingsCraig FergusonJohn CleeseWhile searching for honey, Pooh and his friends embark on an adventure to find Eeyore's missing tail and rescue Christopher Robin from an unknown monster called The Backson.Much like the older one, it's fun, sweet, and full of great visual gags and puns.
- DirectorJane CampionStarsHolly HunterHarvey KeitelSam NeillIn the mid-19th century a mute woman is sent to New Zealand along with her young daughter and prized piano for an arranged marriage to a farmer, but is soon lusted after by a farm worker.Beautiful film with all-round great acting. Some parts could've aged better, but it remains a very sensual experience.
- DirectorJack KinneyHamilton LuskeWilliam MorganStarsEdgar BergenDinah ShoreLuana PattenJiminy Cricket hosts two Disney animated shorts: "Bongo," about a circus bear escaping to the wild, and "Mickey and the Beanstalk," a take on the famous fairy tale.Some shorts which aren't particularly memorable.
- CreatorSam EsmailStarsRami MalekChristian SlaterCarly ChaikinElliot, a brilliant but unstable cyber-security engineer and vigilante hacker, becomes a key figure in a complex game of global chaos when he and his shadowy allies try to take down the corrupt corporation his company is paid to protect.Pilot - One of the best first episodes I've seen in a long time. We get complex relationships, interconnected and thrilling plotlines, a distinct visual profile. Its evaluation of the world can feel a bit adolescent, but we already get the feeling here that we're dealing with an untrustworthy narrator so there's the feeling that that can go any number of ways as well.
Season 1 - Follows up the pilot beautifully. Keeps dodging expectation. It's a great season of television that leaves a lot of open questions, and I have high hopes for the rest of the series.
Season 2 - The baseline of this show remains very high, and there are cool production choices and clever writing throughout. For a while, it seems to run on autopilot a bit more than Season 1, though.
Season 3 - Perhaps the best season yet. Less focus on setting up gotcha!-plot twists, more focused on good old-fashioned story developments. It's super high intensity and high stakes with some very cool production choices.
Season 4 - One of the best seasons of television I've ever seen - it's the best elements of what's always been a very riveting series distilled to their essentials. - DirectorMalou ReymannStarsKaya Toft LoholtMikkel Boe FølsgaardRigmor RantheEmma has a perfectly normal family until one day it turns out her dad, Thomas, is transgender. As Thomas becomes Agnete, both father and daughter struggle to hold on to what they had while accepting that everything has changed.It's a good film with some terrific acting, with a plot that just felt too simplistic at times. This has to do with a choice of perspective (the younger duaghter's) that's actually very clever and insightful, but sometimes just didn't work that well in practice.