Movies of 2020

2020 was a year to forget for many people. The COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe, affecting everyone in some way. It has been hard. But during this time, we have still been able to look to media for comfort. During lockdown, movies and television kept us secure, providing us with that sense of comfort, and remained reliable during this time. Whilst many titles got shifted around and even delayed, we still were subjected to some of the best entertainment in recent years. Today I will be talking about my five favourite films of 2020. I tell you what it was hard to narrow them down, but these five films are ones you don’t want to miss. So, in no particular order here are my five favourite films of 2020.

The Empty Man - an unconventional pick for sure, but one that has stuck with me. ‘The Empty Man’ is not your typical horror film. It delves into the occult in a modern setting, dealing with the concept of groupthink and how dangerous this can really be in a society that really is on the brink of collapse. We jump onto the latest trends; we conform quite easily and that is what ’The Empty Man’ explores. At its core though, it is a horror flick, and it is a great one as well. James Badge Dale delivers a fantastic performance in the lead, Director David Prior also creates some of the more memorable horror set-pieces as well that are oozing with atmosphere and tension. I adore this film and applaud everyone to check it out. 

Soul – Disney and Pixar’s collaborations have produced some of the best entertainment over the past 20 years. Their output 2020 was no different delivering ‘Onward’ and ‘Soul’. But my pick here is ‘Soul’. This film delves into what it really means to be human. In that timely Pixar fashion, the film gets quite emotional, ultimately exploring what a ‘soul’ is. I adored the exploration into passion as it really makes you inspired to follow yours. The film is gorgeously animated, with the photo-realistic backdrops creating a real and lived-in world. I loved the characters as well, they are all fantastic with Joe played by Jamie Foxx being the stand-out. He is honestly brilliant and a really likable lead. I adored him and loved the direction the film takes his character. Check out Soul on 4K UHD or Blu-Ray today. 

Trial of The Chicago Seven – ‘Trial of The Chicago Seven’ was one of the best dramas I have seen in recent years. Populated with brilliant performances from its cast which includes Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baron-Cohen, Mark Rylance, Jeremy Strong, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Michael Keaton. The film delves into the real-life story fantastically, respectfully, highlighting the movement that these seven men started and the values they stood for. Written and Directed by the brilliant Aaron Sorkin (writer of Molly’s Game & The Social Network). Sorkin has a way with dialogue, where he creates a realistic setting, writing dialogue that best suits the characters on-screen. It feels real and organic, and no one writes like he does. The film is now streaming on Netflix. 

The Invisible Man – After the failed attempt to re-launch the monster verse with 2017’s ‘The Mummy’ Universal Pictures started it up again in 2020 with their re-telling of ‘The Invisible Man’. Directed by Leigh Whannel, this iteration of the film deals heavily with the idea of emotional abuse, giving the ‘invisible’ concept a double meaning. The film is creative, utilising its small budget to its advantage, creating genuine tension and moments of horror that feel grounded and real despite its fantastical elements of heightened realism. Elizabeth Moss is brilliant, delivering an Oscar-worthy performance as Cecilia. The film is clever, slick, and superbly crafted. This is one of the best horror films in recent years that delivers on the scares whilst still telling a compelling story. Without a doubt, this is one of 2020s best. Pick this one up on 4K UHD, Blu-Ray, or DVD today! 

Tenet – Even during a pandemic, we were still subjected to some of the best blockbusters as well in recent years. Christopher Nolan is one of the best filmmakers in cinemas history, delivered one of his best with ‘Tenet’. The film deals with time travel and inversion, two concepts that are confusing on the surface, but due to Nolan’s expert craftsmanship and nuance, he explores the concepts with ease, without dumbing the film down to the audience. The film has amazing sound design elevated by the brilliant score from composer Ludwig Goransson. The film also has a great cast, led by the talented John David Washington. I had a blast with ‘Tenet’ and this film was easily the best from the blockbuster genre in 2020. Pick up your copy today on DVD, Blu-Ray or 4K UHD. 

2020 was a strange year, a troubling year, but there were still some highlights that were worth remembering. These five films had a positive impact on my life and were a big part of my 2020. When times are tough, I always turn to my passion which is film and these titles did not disappoint. Be sure to check them all out today! 

Christopher Pattison wrote this blog post for Sanity. See more from Chris here