Half Year Favorites
This has been the strangest year of my lifetime. The worst president in American history (oooooh boy is that saying something) has been, as Chris Long puts it, the black light on the American hotel room. It’s terrible but also much better to know. There has been constant awfulness (and one bright shining light for me personally was getting married) but the overwhelming thing that makes this year different than any other is the pandemic. The way wearing a mask has become political instead of just a common sense and decent thing to do is so disappointing and unsurprising. I have no surprise left. I expect the bad things to happen. Which is what makes me so full of life and positivity to discover when the good shines through. It shines through in the protests of injustice, the voices of the oppressed being heard, and through the movements and art that come from it. The people that are really trying. Trying so damn hard. It gives me a lot of hope. Not enough to believe things will be better and change anytime soon. But, I think they will over time. Little by little. It starts now and progresses when we vote out the worst ones in November and start trying to pick some pieces up of what was good and remove the bigotry and white supremacy that infects nearly every part of life. This is not the worst things have been. I think the 60’s and really anytime before then would have something to say about that. But it’s the worst it’s been in the modern age. Because it’s the most we’ve known about how bad it is. The black light is on. We have to discuss the best ways to go about a deep cleaning. Then do the work. Until we admit the problems are there nothing will change. Those who won’t admit it or actively try to prevent change: tell them to fix their hearts or die.
Onto the entertainment during this year. The only thing I feel even a little qualified to talk about.
Here’s my top 25. It includes things I saw at film festivals this year and last year with scheduled releases for this year. But, they are all technically 2020 film releases.Where to see each one is underneath my description.
MOVIES
25. UNDERWATER - The Kristen Stewart disaster action movie that was better than I expected.
Available to rent for $6 on Amazon Prime, Youtube, and Google Play
24. JUMBO - The based on a true story empathetic tale of a woman that falls in love with an amusement park ride starring Noémie Merlant from Portrait of a Lady on Fire.
A US release has not been scheduled yet.
23. THE WAY BACK - A pure dads that cry good movie about an alcoholic former basketball star coaching his old high school and trying to redeem himself along the way. Affleck is good and I’m glad to see he’s doing better personally.
Available to rent for $6 on Amazon Prime, Youtube, and Google Play
22. FEELS GOOD MAN - Documentary about the origins and story of the Pepe the frog meme. From its simple and good hearted beginnings to making its way to the Cheeto dust ballsack of a president’s face.
A US release has not been scheduled yet.
21. THE GENTLEMEN - Kind of a weird movie but with enough Guy Ritchie-isms that it will still work if you loved Snatch or any of his other international gangster movies. The cast is good and it’s a fun time.
Available for $6 on Amazon Prime, Youtube, and Google Play
20. EUROVISION CONTEST: THE STORY OF FIRE SAGA - Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams are so funny and likable but the MVP is Dan Stevens as the Russian singer in the contest. More in line with Blades of Glory than Ferrell’s real top tier stuff but it’s well worth a watch to enjoy the silliness and loving portrayal of the super bowl of singing in Europe.
Available on Netflix
19. THE METAMORPHOSIS OF BIRDS - Experimental documentary that makes you want to use the words poetic, meditative, and hard to describe. A story of love and family that is told in a transfixing way that is worth your time.
A US release has not been scheduled yet.
18. KOKO-DI KOKO-DA - A psychological horror film of repetition and man letting woman down. Strange and darkly funny. Think of Funny Games mixed with the Groundhog Day style repeat model.
A US release has not been scheduled yet.
17. ATTACK OF THE DEMONS - South Park-esqe images with much more craft and a B movie horror plot. Overlooking the voice acting this could be a new favorite. One of my favorite low budget surprises in a long time. The score/soundtrack is awesome.
A US release has not been scheduled yet.
16. CRESTONE- Documentary about a commune? of soundcloud rappers that move out in the desert in Colorado that might as well be the last people left alive on earth. Funny, heartfelt, and easy to watch.
A US release has not been scheduled yet.
15. BIRDS OF PREY - This movie will probably be forgotten in the grand scheme of blockbusters with all the postponements and the fact it’s a mostly female driven DC answer to Deadpool, but it’s better than that. A really skillful directing job by Cathy Yan, and one of the better performances you’ll see in a movie of this size by Margot Robbie. Mary Elizabeth Winstead is the secret MVP also.
Available for $6 on Amazon Prime, Youtube, and Google Play
14. CAPONE- One of the biggest I CAN’T RECOMMEND movies I’ve seen in recent years. On paper Tom Hardy playing Al Capone is a slam dunk. Josh Trank, Hardy, and everyone else decided to stop dribbling and leave the court to play a different sport altogether. It’s an off-putting exercise in antisocial movie making. Nightmare quality without the jump scares. Just a slow mumbling descent into maddening death….I liked it…
Available for $7 on Amazon Prime, Youtube, and Google Play
13. SHIRLEY - Elisabeth Moss will probably be forgotten come Oscar time next April, moving it back was so stupid, but she should be nominated twice. Once for something coming later in my top ten and this one. She plays the real author Shirley Jackson with a vibrant distain of a true genius. Michael Stuhlbarg is a great match in this as her husband. If it weren’t for my lack of interest in the younger people the movie is also about this would be higher.
Available on HULU
12. FIRST COW - About to be released this weekend on VOD is one of the sweetest movies that I’ve maybe ever seen. It’s almost like a children’s story. A mostly warm hug of a movie about trying to make it in America. Another great film in her already impressive body of work.
Available on July 10th on VOD
11. EMMA - A debut film is rarely this assured and beautiful. Much funnier than most studio comedies along with a huge heart. A great adaptation of a Jane Austen novel I have not read and this movie may make me change that. It’s the story that inspired Clueless. I might even prefer this to Clueless as crazy as that may seem. Anya Taylor Joy and Mia Goth are standouts in a great cast.
Available for $6 on Amazon Prime, Youtube, and Google Play
10. THE LODGE- A horror/thriller that will divide audiences because of the bleak unpleasantness and plot but it engrossed me and then disturbed me. Riley Keough is good as usual and I think this is one of the best cult movies in recent years.
Available on HULU
9. THE INVISIBLE MAN - Moss Oscar nom number 2 is right here in the low budget success by Leigh Whannell. He is becoming the best big studio sci-fi boy with Upgrade and now this. I was all in pretty immediately and never faltered.
Available for $6 on Amazon Prime, Youtube, and Google Play
8. NEVER RARELY SOMETIMES ALWAYS - A movie that is being saddled with being one of the IMPORTANT ones this year but it is more than that. A character study of small town problems and the bond between relatives. It struck me how simple and honest this is without trying to flash any style or take away from what’s happening.
Available for $6 on Amazon Prime, Youtube, and Google Play
7. SAINT MAUD- A24 horror continues to impress me with the different kind of stories and oddness of the creators visions for them. Jennifer Ehle would win my best supporting actress if things ended today. But the movie is carried by Morfydd Clark in a dark dark dark role.
Release has been pushed back to later this summer so who knows????
6. BEING NATURAL - Oddball movie that shows gentrification and class in a fun and more interesting way than most movies about the subjects do. It seems like a slice of life movie and becomes much more than that. I would watch it as a Japanese companion piece to Parasite if you liked that.
A US release has not been scheduled yet.
5. DEERSKIN - I don’t think this movie will appeal to everyone, since it’s about a man who becomes obsessed with a jacket in hilarious and frightening ways. But, if you get on its wavelength early on I think you will really enjoy yourself.
Available for $4 on Youtube and Google Play
4. THE VAST OF NIGHT - A very impressive debut from a guy who clearly loves The Twilight Zone and early 20th century Sci-Fi before we could just show everything. Paranoia and likable characters populate this homage to War of the Worlds, not the Tom Cruise one, and I found myself loving it.
Available on Amazon Prime
3. SAINT FRANCES - A true heartwarming crowd pleaser that feels like that kind of movie that would’ve won Oscars years ago but now gets made for no money locally and comes out fantastic. Feels modern and timeless like the best ones do. Any parent or any person who has dealt with the potential of that should watch.
Available for $4 on Amazon Prime, Youtube, and Google Play
2. DA 5 BLOODS - Spike Lee made a wild epic that takes its time and deals with so many issues and themes. Vietnam war vets go back to deal with their past. That’s the simple plot, but it is of course much more than that. I hope everyone will give this a watch some night when you’re in the mood. Delroy Lindo’s performance is one you don’t want to miss.
Available on Netflix
1. DICK JOHNSON IS DEAD - This is going to be a hard movie to beat as my favorite this year so I’ll not say much now but when it officially comes out on Netflix later this year I’ll be posting more about it. Just know it is the classic YOU’LL LAUGH, YOU’LL CRY movies but this one earn all of it and then some. One of my favorite movies in the last ten years.
Netflix will release it later this year.
TV
I haven’t finished but around ten new shows this year so I’ll only put my 6 favorites of the ones I’ve fully finished so far on this list. Please send me any recommendations you have!
THE OUTSIDER - HBO/HBO MAX - A really good Stephen King adaptation that was so watchable I know I could just watch it again right now and be as into it. If you love horror or weird supernatural stories give it a try.
THE LAST DANCE - ESPN/ABC/NETFLIX - It was the biggest thing going for 5 weeks and it was easy to see why. Not a special documentary series by any means, but it was so fun for anyone who grew up or currently loves basketball.
BETTER THINGS - FX/HULU - The most tender and human show I can think of airing right now. Pamela Adlon writes, directs, and stars in every episode and she makes it seem easy. It’s well worth your time.
DEVS - FX/HULU - Alex Garland is the current king of Sci-Fi stories to me and I will watch anything he writes or directs. Nick Offerman makes a perfect techy cult leader and it is a hard sit if you don’t buy in pretty quick. I think it was great.
BETTER CALL SAUL - The best longest running show on right now. Going into the last season I am all in and so impressed at their ability to create so much tension on this show in different ways than they did with Breaking Bad. If you haven’t watched or stopped catch up before it comes back and do yourself a favor.
THE NEW POPE - My favorite thing I saw on TV this year was a sequel series to The Young Pope that didn’t have a conscious Jude Law for most of it (OR DID IT???) John Malkovich should win an Emmy and this is the only TV show to make me cry in a long time.
MUSIC
I have listened to a ton of records this year and here’s my top 20 or so that stuck with me.
20. Football Money by Kiwi Jr.
19. The New Abnormal by The Strokes
18. Marigold by Pinegrove
17. Making a Door Less Open by Car Seat Headrest
16. Melee by Dogleg
15. Songs for Pierre Chauvin by The Mountain Goats
14. I Was Born Swimming by Squirrel Flower
13. Beginners by Christian Lee Hutson
12. Alfredo by Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist
11. Honeymoon by Beach Bunny
10. The Situation is Excellent by Miss New Buddha
9. Julliet by En Attendant Ana
8. Women in Music Pt. III by HAIM
7. Built to Spill Plays the Songs of Daniel Johnston by Built to Spill
6. Punisher by Phoebe Bridgers
5. Likewise by Frances Quinlan
4. NO DREAM by Jeff Rosenstock
3. Saint Cloud by Waxahatchee
2. RTJ4 by Run the Jewels
1. Fetch the Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple
Here’s my playlist of songs I’ve liked this year
Thanks for reading and feel free to tell me things you’ve loved this year. New or old.
As always,
it’s chaos, be kind.