Due to our ongoing fetish for freezeframing movies at random and for the practical reasons of looking for which 2020 releases are streaming --we are rapidly approaching "year in review" list-season so we gotta catch up --we're freezing 2020 pictures at the 20:20 mark. If you missed part one, that's here. The movies were chosen entirely at random ....so long as they were easily accessible for viewing.
How many of these 15 movies have you seen? Any you've been meaning to catch up with?
Are the people ready to make opening arguments?
TRIAL OF CHICAGO 7 (Aaron Sorkin, US)
Netflix. Original release date: Oct 16th. Streaming on Netflix
Well... the people have definitely made arguments already about this movie. Including here. We published both a rave and a pan. As for myself I fall somewhere in the middle of those two takes. It has its moments but its glossiness and kinda broad performances are like double-edged swords; sometimes they lend this a grand Hollywood entertainment vibe and other times they make it feel glib and inauthentic.
When I have all six strings I'll play the ultimate power chord.
TROLLS WORLD TOUR (Walt Dohrn & David P Smith, US)
Universal. Original Release Date: April 10th. Streaming on Hulu
True story: I was babysitting one of my friend's kids the other day and while he was in his zoom class the teacher asked them to name their favourite movies. Mostly it was recent Disney films or big franchises like Star Wars that were name-checked. But one kid screamed "Trolls World Tour!" like he was possessed. Out of curiousity I watched this bit and then ended up watching the whole thing. It was both beautiful and ugly and idiotic and smart... often all of those things simultaneously. It's too bad the music is terrible and that it already feels dated in its hysterical need to feel contemporary. (Anyway, get that kid an exorcist.)
[heartbeat sounds from ultrasound]
NEVER RARELY SOMETIMES ALWAYS (Eliza Hittman, US)
Focus Features. Original Release date: March 13th. Streaming on HBOMax
I have a terrible confession to make: have still not screened this but it's one of the most acclaimed pictures of the year so I WILL carve out the time this weekend. I'm realizing that my pickings for "best of the year" are very slim thus far since a lot of promising things are moving to Jan/Feb ...which is next year (sigh).
What was wrong with the way I said it?
BOYS IN THE BAND (Joe Mantello, US)
Netflix. Original release date: Sept 30th. Streaming on Netflix
Apologies that we never properly wrote this one up. I liked it enough to watch it twice though Murtada did not like it (as he shared on the podcast). True rare remake fact: I think it's better than the original. Unpopular opinion: I'm leaning towards Andrew Rannells being best in show. Some of his line readings were particularly inspired ("it's for you, Hank" just killed me), and though he was saddled with an unlikeable character -- who wasn't in this famous play? -- he plays the cattiness just right, as if its half-exhausted by itself. And there's so much unspoken rage underneath his rationalizations and argumentativeness. Anyway, I thought he was great but who was your favourite in this version?
[romantic music]
REBECCA (Ben Wheatley, UK)
Netflix. Original release date: Oct 21st. Streaming on Netflix
Hmmm. Now I will be spending two hours picturing Sir Laurence Olivier eating Joan Fontaine's face. (One thing I love about the original is how chilly and formal their relationship feels... even when things are going well.) These two hours will not be spent consuming the remake as no good could come of that (we hear).
Why most hip hop got me feeling
so much older, yo?
When the fuck is this loud-ass song
Gon' be over?
THE FORTY YEAR OLD VERSION (Radha Blank, US)
Netflix. Original release date: Oct 9th. Streaming on Netflix
Murtada really liked this one at Sundance.
[V.O. interrupted] The obvious unseen... [needle scratch]
THE HALF OF IT (Alice Wu, US)
Netflix. Original release date: May 1st. Streaming on Netflix
Cyrano de Bergerac sure does inspire a lot of movies and tv plots, doesn't he?
All right, run it back. Marcus, this time your feet don't leave the paint. Brandon, let's go!
THE WAY BACK (Gavin O'Connor, US)
Warner Bros. Original release date: March 6th. Streaming on HBO Max
Keep waiting for the right mood to watch this. It hasn't come yet but hopefully it will if Ben Affleck is as good as people say he is herein.
[no dialogue]
HOLIDATE (John Whitesell, US)
Netflix. Original release date: Oct 28th. Streaming on Netflix
I suspect this movie will lead many to drink, so that's a fun time stamp to land on. Holidate is not... good... but somehow it's very watchable? It helps that Luke Bracey and Emma Roberts are both so dazzlingly attractive that occassionally you forget how aggravating their characters are. But even at just 103 minutes it takes them WAY too long to fess up to their feelings since we're aware of said feelings seconds after they meet. It's all very broad but it's also bawdy and that's worth something these days when everything is so neutered.
He wanted me to read a prepared statement.
THE INVISIBLE MAN (Leigh Whannel, Canada/US/Australia)
Universal Pictures. Original release date: Feb 28th. Streaming on HBO Max
Love that the image we landed out on has Elisabeth Moss out of focus. Not quite invisible but somehow fitting. I must confess I don't quite get the acclaim for this movie/performance. All very solid but... good ≠ best. (Maybe this is just a 2020 problem?) Previously reviewed by Chris.
[voice on loudspeaker] Chin up. It's a few minutes after 7 am. Make the most of life as long as we have life.
BACURAU (Juliano Dornelles & Kleber Mendonça Filho, Brazil/France)
Kino Lorber. Original release date: March 19th. Streaming on Criterion Channel
I loved Aquarius so much so I feel guilt that I haven't yet watched this but one of these days I hope Filho can convince himself to make a short movie. I'm not necessarily proud of it but whenever I'm thinking about which of the MANY films I still have to catch up with from any given year I always go with the options that are under two hours first. Eventually I will screen this. Hopefully soon since my 2020 'best of' list is looking dire and I've heard great things. Previously reviewed by Jason.
[Voice on loudspeaker] Authorities assure us the crisis will be swiftly handled. Even so, doubts are mounting.
ARTEMIS FOWL (Kenneth Branagh, US)
Walt Disney Pictures. Original release date: June 12th. Streaming on Disney+
Well, this one certainly came (to streaming) and went (out of the public consciousness) in record time. Did any of you watch it?
Leave it be, Francie
TO THE STARS (Martha Stephens, US)
Samuel Goldwyn Major. Original release date: April 24th. Streaming on Hulu
Shea Wigham is about to get a vodka-soaked ice cube thrown at him by his drunk wife Francie (Jordana Spiro). This is a reasonably diverting lesbian drama set in the 1960s Oklahoma. I caught it last summer at the Bentonville Film Festival, I think? (Their daughter, played by Moonrise Kingdom's Kara Hayward, is the lead character, and in love with a classmate)
I've been touching it the whole time!
THE LOVE BIRDS (Michael Showalter, US)
Netflix. Original release date: May 22nd. Streaming on Netflix.
...said everyone about their phones always. Good luck with fingerprints when phones are evidence.
I am the anti-christ
PALM SPRINGS (Max Barbakow, US)
Neon. Original release date: July 10th. Streaming on Hulu
LOLOLOL. This is the scene where Nyles explains to Sarah about what's happening to her with the desert cave and the supernatural time loop. Andy Samberg and Cristin Milotti are absolutely terrific in the film and they'd make ideal Globe Comedy nominees. (Are you listening HFPA?) Boy did this moviee get f***ed up by COVID after a big festival purchase. It's so entertaining and they spent so much money at Sundance only to have to dump it on streaming. Previously reviewed by Abe at Sundance.