The Best Films of 2020
Metro’s favorites movies and documentaries, from “Miss Americana” to “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”
Since the advent of streaming, our collective viewing habits—whether on TV or film—have evolved. But this year, things were different. Because of the pandemic, cinemas all over the world shuttered, leaving us no choice but to watch movies on-demand and through streaming platforms, and film sets had to temporarily halt their operations, resulting in the delay of several major releases.
(Mulan, for example, was just about ready to premiere when the lockdowns begin, and so Disney found itself needing to release the much-awaited and highly-divisive film on its new streaming platform, Disney+.)
Here in the Philippines, it’s no different—new movies premiered on Netflix and iWant TFC; Cinemalaya still pushed through, finding its space digitally; and come next week, the annual Metro Manila Film Festival can also be accessed online. It doesn’t make-up for the feeling of watching a good movie on a movie theater screen, but these are weird times, after all.
Still, that doesn’t mean there were not good movies this year. In the gallery below, we round up twelve of our favorite releases from this year, from documentaries like Miss Americana and BLACKPINK: Light Up The Sky, to fun, enjoyable fare like Enola Holmes and Birds of Prey.
The Best Movies of 2020
The Best Movies of 2020
Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), dir. Cathy Yan
In Birds of Prey, Harley Quinn just broke up with the Joker, and she’s on a mission to heal—and have the best damn egg sandwich of her life—all while protecting the young Cassandra Cain. Birds of Prey is fun, entertaining, and thrilling—the perfect superhero movie to show anyone who’s still skeptical about the genre.
Blackpink: Light Up the Sky, dir. Caroline Suh
2020 has been a wonderful year for K-pop and its fans, but Blackpink fans have been especially spoiled. In Light Up the Sky, the members of the world’s biggest girl group talk about the challenges of fame, the hardships of being an idol, and the dreams they’re slowly achieving.
Emma., dir. Autumn de Wilde
Emma., a re-imagined adaptation of Jane Austen’s 1815 novel is uproarious and silly, capturing the essence of Austen’s beloved comedy about a young woman who meddles in the love lives of her friends. It stars Anya Taylor-Joy in one of her best performances to date.
Enola Holmes, dir. Harry Bradbeer
Enola Holmes is a sweet, delightful surprise of a film: based on the books by Nancy Springer, Enola Holmes tells the story of its titular protagonist, the younger sister of world-renowned detective Sherlock Holmes on a journey to find her mother. With the lovely Millie Bobby Brown at its center, Enola Holmes charms and delights.
The Half of It, dir. Alice Wu
Alice Wu’s most recent work, The Half of It, takes on the tropes and themes of Cyrano de Bergerac: gentle jock Paul asks the introverted, straight-A student Ellie for help on wooing his crush, popular girl Aster Flores. It’s a sweet coming-of-age film about unlikely friendships, immigrant experiences, and the philosophies of love.
Lingua Franca, dir. Isabel Sandoval
Isabel Sandoval’s Lingua Franca has been making waves abroad, and this past October, it finally premiered on Philippine shores. The film follows the story of an undocumented trans caregiver who marries in order to obtain a green card—told vividly, delicately, and with a whole lot of heart.
Mank, dir. David Fincher
Mank, which follows Herman Mankiewicz as he races to finish a draft of Citizen Kane, is an homage to old Hollywood, and a joy to watch. It has stunning cinematography, sharp dialogue, and charming leads, and is definitely a film worth-celebrating—and watching.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, dir. George C. Wolfe
Starring Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman in his final film role, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom follows trailblazing blues singer Ma Rainey in an afternoon of recording, where tensions are high: Ma is fighting for control of her own music while trumpeter Levee eyes Ma’s girlfriend—and his own spot in the music industry.
Miss Americana, dir. Lana Wilson
Miss Americana, a Netflix documentary that affords the public a glimpse of Taylor Swift’s life from the time she went into hiding until her Lover era, is a quiet and intimate portrait of one of pop’s loudest (and most divisive) figures, of her loneliness and comprises, and of a woman finally finding her voice.
A Secret Love, dir. Chris Bolan
A Secret Love follows a former baseball player, Terry Donahue, and her partner, as they run an interior decorating business and keep their lesbian relationship a secret from their families for over sixty years. It’s a tender and intimate portrait of the power of love between women—and the lengths we are willing to go to in order to protect and keep sacred what—or who—we love.
The Social Dilemma, dir. Jeff Orlowski
The Social Dilemma explores the rise of social media—and data-mining—across the world, as well as our relationship with it. While there are parts that may be considered simplistic, the documentary still offers a fascinating and sobering glimpse into the dangers and harmful effects of social media.
To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You, dir. Michael Fimognari
As the follow-up To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, this sequel to Lara Jean and Peter Kavinsky’s love story is as cute and as colorful as its predecessor, and Jordan Fisher is always a welcome addition.
Photos from IMdB
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