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2020 has been a rollercoaster of a year, as full of dismay as of jubilation. I started it sick, feverish, and bone-tired, a fitting first chapter to an annus horribilis fated to forever be remembered for worldwide disease. As the months unfurled, much happened, including cinematic triumphs whose wonder I couldn't believe, universal despairs I hoped would always be enclosed in my nightmares, loss, and life.
Thanksgiving isn't a holiday we have in Portugal, but I admire the idea of celebrating gratitude, of giving thanks to what makes our existence happy or at least tolerable. With that in mind, I'd like to express my gratitude for some wonders of cinema, TV, and pop culture, that made living through 2020 just a tiny bit easier…
- Jane Fonda's pause before announcing Parasite as the first-ever non-English speaking Best Picture winner was sublime. History was made that night, she knew it, and savored the moment. It's the first time since I started following the Oscars when the night's big champion was, in fact, my favorite picture of the year. I was euphoric and in tears, clapping along to Bong Joon-Ho's much-deserved consecration.
- In a year with no Eurovision, the Netflix movie was a delightful antidote to despair with a killer soundtrack to boot. "Husavik" should win the Oscar.
- Crystal Methyd's clowning her way through RuPaul's Drag Race and Jaida Essence Hall's marvelous victory. Look over there!
- Spending my birthday watching over 60 short films by Alice Guy-Blaché. It was the first time since I can remember when I didn't go to a cinema on this date, but the great pioneer of early filmmaking made the occasion a happy one nonetheless.
- For over a decade I've been a fan and faithful reader of The Film Experience. Writing for it and being part of the team has been a dream come true. Furthermore, the opportunity to participate in the Supporting Actress Smackdown of 1938 was like a gift from the heavens. Sorry if I sound like a fanboy, but, as a dear friend of mine and fellow TFE reader told me, it felt like being part of the Beatles for a day.
- While I loved participating in the smackdown, I was terrified and beyond nervous when it came time to record the podcast. I'd never done that sort of thing before but it wouldn't be the last time I'd do it in 2020. The wonderful Juan Carlos Ojano also invited me to talk about the 2001 Best Foreign Language Film race in his podcast, The One-Inch Barrier. We talked for longer than the length of Lagaan and it was amazing.
- Mark Cousins' Women Make Film, which sees film history and cinematic craft through a prism of female artistry. I could have listened to Tilda Swinton read the phone book, so soothing is her voice.
- Succession's main theme (three cheers for Nicholas Britell!) and the Shakespearean wrongness of the show's family dynamics. I know I'm late to the party, but binging the series before its Emmy victories was great fun.
- The transporting power of Ghost Tropic, a perfect film that warmed my soul like a loving kiss in a winter night.
- The melancholic hug of First Cow, the revelatory writings of Roads to Nowhere. Basically, I'm thankful for Kelly Reichardt.
- Getting to share my favorite achievements of the cinematic year over on Twitter as a distraction from the stress of American elections. The response to this thread has been lovely and people's recommendations have been eye-opening too. Even in these dark times, the shared love of cinema can be a blissful respite from a chaotic world.
- The bright colors of Inherent Vice, which I revisited at home earlier this month. It was one of the first features I ever watched alongside my nephew (born this year) and the adorable fellow was entranced by Paul Thomas Anderson's trippy mystery. It was probably the cinematography that did it, though he might also be a fan of the soundtrack. In case you're interested in his garbled opinions, Tomás also seems to enjoy Anna Magnani but he has little patience for Carl T. Dreyer.
