With several films postponed until later in the year or shelved indefinitely, the movie industry's future remains in flux, but Hollywood will almost certainly find a way to bring new releases out to the public, whether that means theaters finding a way to reopen as the recession passes or more films heading straight to stream.With that said, many great movies had already reached theaters by the time movie theaters shuttered because of coronavirus. Here's the best 2020 movies so far — and I'll continue to update the list as more is released.
The Assistant
In the aftermath of the # MeToo campaign and Harvey Weinstein's case, films are attempting to reflect the complicated and challenging perspectives of sexual abuse and harassment victims, and Kitty Green's The Assistant is really getting into the heart of this complex matter. Breakout Ozark star Julia Garner leads as the titular assistant Jane and one day in her life the film follows as she navigates the ins and outs of dealing for a strong boss. However, as she goes about her day, Jane — and the audience — realizes how messy and dark things can really get when you're covering up in serious indiscretions for a powerful man involved. Critics soundly praised Green's first dramatic attempt (she'd specialized in documentaries before), as well as Garner's main success and the unflinchingly grim look at what's really going on in Hollywood. The Assistant is a challenging but important watch if you're looking for a searing take on the # MeToo campaign and the offenders who still continue to escape justice.
The Way Back
Birds of Prey
Suicide Squad wasn't exactly an auspicious first outing for Harley Quinn, the evil, insane girlfriend of the Joker, played by Margot Robbie, but 2020 offered Robbie and Harley a second chance — and they ran with him in Birds of Prey. Subtitled ... and One Harley Quinn's Fantabulous Liberation, Birds of Prey shines the spotlight on Harley and her tough, all-female vigilante squad, which includes the Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell). As Harley evades detectives from the Police Department at Gotham City, Birds of Prey received very positive reviews from critics, who enjoyed the female-led action scenes and a closer focus on the more completely evolved Harley from Robbie. Hopefully this isn't the last we've seen of Harley Quinn's solo adventures, with a possible sequel in the works.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Mainstream American viewers may be more likely to watch subtitled films in the aftermath of Parasite's success, and anyone wanting to explore more international cinematic efforts should certainly check out the historic drama Portrait of a Lady on Fire. Directed by French director Céline Sciamma, the film stars Noémie Merlant and Adèle Haenel as young painter Marianne and Héloïse, Who is about to marry a Milanese nobleman and wants a drawn portrait. Usually, Héloïse refuses to sit for any painter, but she decides to sit for the portrait after establishing a bond with Marianne, and when Héloïse's mother leaves the remote house the two begin a romantic relationship. Thanks to Sciamma's precise and cautious direction, and the amazingly moving performances by Merlant and Haenel — all three nominated for the Cesar Awards, along with the film itself — Portrait of a Lady on Fire is an intense, thrilling journey that has received almost universal acclaim. If you want to transport yourself to France and another time without even leaving your house, cue Portrait and settle in for a love story that is profoundly moving and beautifully told.
Emma
Jane Austen's work has repeatedly been adapted for the screen, from direct interpretations such as Meaning and Sensitivity or Pride and Bigotry to contemporary takes such as Clueless, and 2020 brought the newest twist on Austen's classic work: Emma., directed by Autumn de Wilde. Emma, with Split star Anya Taylor-Joy at the lead spot. — which uses a time in its title to indicate that the film is a "period piece" — uses a whimsical and light-hearted spirit to tell Emma Woodhouse's familiar tale, finding joy for everyone she loves while neglecting her own romantic needs. But when Emma encounters the mysterious and stunning George Knightley, all of a sudden her fortunes start changing. The familiar British stars such as Bill Nighy and Miranda Hart making up the supporting cast and a steady hand behind the scenes from de Wilde, Emma. Proved to be very famous among critics. Whether you're a fan of Austen or new to the classics, everyone inside Emma will find something to love.
Onward
For decades, Pixar has made great, emotionally touching, and visually spectacular films, so it's no wonder that Onward is one of the best films of the year. Onward tells the story of two young elf twins, Ian and Barley Lightfoot (Holland and Pratt, with a voice cast that includes heavy hitters like Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tom Holland, and Octavia Spencer; Respectively) live in a world of fantasy that set out on a quest to find a magic artifact that they think could bring back their father, who passed away tragically. They try to recover their magical abilities together, and maybe revive their father. A tearjerker with plenty of heart, Onward was unsurprisingly yet another critical hit for the Disney-owned studio. If you're a fan of the previous Pixar film, Onward might not be at the top of the line along with film like Toy Story or Up, but it's certainly not going to disappoint.
Never Rarely Sometimes Always
Guided and written by Eliza Hittman, Never Rarely Often Always tells the story of the 17-year-old Autumn Callahan (Sidney Flanagan), who struggles with an unexpected pregnancy. She has provided literature on adoption rather than termination after visiting a crisis pregnancy centre, but because she still knows how she wants to approach the situation, She gets help from her cousin Skylar (Talia Ryder) and the two of them head off to New York. Trying to end her pregnancy takes Autumn through a series of challenges, from funds to secondary clinics and intrusive inquiries about her sexual history, demonstrating how difficult it can be for women to receive the reproductive health services they want and need. Never Rarely Often Critics who admired his grace and compassion and Wittman's thoughtful approach to such sensitive content often received overwhelmingly positive reviews. Even in 2020, reproductive health is still a fight, which this film beautifully depicts in a careful and sensitive manner.
The Invisible Man
If you are looking for a horror movie with a clear social message, probably The Invisible Man is for you. Based on H.G's short tale. Wells and starring Handmaid's Tale lead Elisabeth Moss, this Leigh Whannell-directed take on the classic tale focuses on Cecilia Kass (Moss), a woman stuck in a manipulative and abusive relationship. When her husband decides to commit suicide, Cecilia believes she's finally free from Adrian (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), but then she starts to see terrifying hallucinations of him, her story may not be over yet. Critics praised the film's social message and depiction of abuse as well as Moss' central performance, noting how well Whannell succeeded at blending horror and real-life trauma to tell a scarily engrossing story. The Invisible Man is not the easiest watch, but in the end it will be worth it if you are up for it.
Bad Boys for Life
The third film in the Bad Boys series, Bad Boys for Life, arrived in 2020 nearly 20 years after Bad Boys II entered theaters in 2003 — and more than two decades after the first film was released in 1995. With Martin Lawrence and Will Smith taking up their positions as Lieutenant Detective Marcus Miles Burnett and Lieutenant Detective Michael Eugene "Mike" Lowrey, The film sees Mike suffering life-threatening injuries at the start of the film, collapsing into a coma for months after Cartel Kingpin Armando Aretas (Jacob Scipio) hits Mike, who helped put Armando's father in prison. When Mike recovers, Marcus and he set out to take revenge and get to Armando before targeting anyone else.
