2020 thru November

I keep doing these updates partly because I haven’t written actual reviews for all the new movies I’ve watched from the very strange 2020 movie year, but it’s worth keeping track of them before I settle on formal rankings (which I informally did in August, before watching a lot of what will be covered here). So here’s a summary of things I’ve so far caught:

Ava - Wonderful spotlight for Jessica Chastain and Colin Farrell mixing action with drama.

Bad Boys For Life - Puts the spotlight firmly on Will Smith in this follow-up, Gemini Man without CGI shenanigans.

Birds of Prey And the Fabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn - Just the right amount of spunk.

Bloodshot - Better than a would-be superhero franchise starter has any right to be.

The Burnt Orange Heresy - Old school throwback featuring Elizabeth Debicki.

Capone - Tom Hardy in another sensational showcase.

Downhill - Hilarious and uncomfortable midlife Will Ferrell.

Emperor - Slave drama that diverges into fresh territory by dramatizing John Brown and focusing on a little-known true story around him.

The Gentlemen - An early favorite featuring an all star cast.

The Last Full Measure - Another old school drama that would’ve gotten far more attention previously, with an all star cast of aging Hollywood stars.

Legion - Critics seem positively allergic to Mickey Rourke, but his few scenes in this one absolutely emphasize all the right thought-provoking elements.

The New Mutants - Last of the original X-Men movies.

The Night Clerk - Yet another old school Hollywood production that deserves greater and better attention.

The Rhythm Section - Blake Lively has turned into one of the most fascinating actors we have. This spy drama only further emphasizes that.

Robert the Bruce - An improbable late follow-up to Braveheart.

Sonic the Hedgehog- Jim Carrey returns to form.

Tenet - Christopher Nolan. Doing what he does.

True History of the Kelly Gang - The leading contender for runner-up in best film of the year.

Waiting for the Barbarians - My leading contender for best film of the year.

The Way Back - Another great sports drama.

And there will be more watched later, by the end of the year itself and the usual lingering assortment in the months and years to come...Already at this point I think 2020 speaks well for itself. As I’ve said before clearing out the kind of material that has come to dominate Hollywood at least in the past decade has helped make room for movies that have become easy to ignore, which of course is what’s still happening to them. But the void they inhabit now might make them easier to rediscover later. This might yet become known as a renaissance year.