BOT Top 25 movies of 2020 | Countdown complete

[grim22]

#16

 

Spoiler

One Night In Miami

Have I watched it? NO

 

What do I think the plot is then? Four very famous people meet in Miami for a night and have conversations about life, the universe and everything.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Actual Plot: A fictional account of one incredible night where icons Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown gathered discussing their roles in the Civil Rights Movement and cultural upheaval of the 60s.

 

Didn't know this was fictional. Really thought this was based on actual conversations between the men involved. Regina King apparently makes a really good directorial debut here as well.

 

Tomatometer: 98% with 310 reviews

 

Rankings: 19 lists, 3 number 1 rankings, 9 top 5 rankings. 

 

BOT User Reviews:

 

We all know Regina King can do no wrong as an actress, and it's pleasing to discover she's just as talented behind the camera is she is in front of it. Plays-turned-movies are always at risk of coming across as little more than filmed recordings, but King overcomes those issues here by adding the right amount of cinematic flair to a story that takes place mostly in a motel room. Helps that her quartet of actors (Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge, Leslie Odom Jr.) carry the movie with their excellent performances. Along with Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and The Boys in the Band, stage-to-screen adaptations were among the few things to have a good year in 2020. A- @filmlover

 

This was fantastic, great performances all around.  @cax16

 

[grim22]

81-100

 

81	Enola Holmes
82	Martin Eden
83	The Painted Bird
84	Shithouse
85	The Grand Bizarre
86	The Wild Goose Lake
87	7500
88	Monster Hunter
89	Run
90	The Devil All The Time
91	Feels Good Man
92	The Empty Man
93	News of the World
94	Lupin III: The First
95	Shadow in the Cloud
96	Spree
97	Time
98	Uncle Frank
99	Underwater
100	To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You

[grim22]

#15

 

Spoiler

Bacurau

Have I watched it? Yes

 

What do I think the plot is then? First Blood, but with an entire village defending themselves.

 

 

 

 

 

Actual Plot: After the death of her grandmother, Teresa comes home to her matriarchal village in a near-future Brazil to find a succession of sinister events that mobilizes all of its residents.

 

A very well made and highly tense movie which is like a non-stop western standoff throughout the running time. I enjoyed watching this one. Good performances by everyone and the atmosphere set up is so good.

 

Tomatometer: 92% with 157 reviews

 

Rankings: 22 lists, 4 number 1 rankings, 7 top 5 rankings. 

 

BOT User Reviews:

 

None

 

[SLAM!]

Holy crap at Bacarau getting in! 😮

[grim22]

#14

 

Spoiler

Small Axe: Mangrove

Have I watched it? NO

 

What do I think the plot is then? The title feels self-evident - there is a guy with a small axe who wants to cut down Mangrove forests, and environmentalists have to stop him from doing so. A deep and dark character study.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Actual Plot: Mangrove tells this true story of The Mangrove Nine, who clashed with London police in 1970. The trial that followed was the first judicial acknowledgment of behavior motivated by racial hatred within the Metropolitan Police.

 

Small Axe falls in a weird area where no one is quite sure if it is a movie or not. Can't say I have seen any of the episodes, but this one got a lot of love on the countdown.

 

Tomatometer: 99% with 124 reviews

 

Rankings: 19 lists, 0 number 1 rankings, 10 top 5 rankings. 

 

BOT User Reviews:

 

The Trial of the Mangrove 9 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The Trial of the Chicago 7 Sucks that this is going to be an awards contender while Mangrove won't when it's better than this film in every single regard. @lorddemaxus

 

[Blankments]

 very shocked but pleasantly surprised mangrove made it so high 

[Ethan Hunt]

holy crap. this list is legit insane

[SLAM!]

Most. Exciting. List. Ever.

[SchumacherFTW]

50 minutes ago, grim22 said:

#14

 

  Hide contents

Small Axe: Mangrove

Have I watched it? NO

 

What do I think the plot is then? The title feels self-evident - there is a guy with a small axe who wants to cut down Mangrove forests, and environmentalists have to stop him from doing so. A deep and dark character study.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Actual Plot: Mangrove tells this true story of The Mangrove Nine, who clashed with London police in 1970. The trial that followed was the first judicial acknowledgment of behavior motivated by racial hatred within the Metropolitan Police.

 

Small Axe falls in a weird area where no one is quite sure if it is a movie or not. Can't say I have seen any of the episodes, but this one got a lot of love on the countdown.

 

Tomatometer: 99% with 124 reviews

 

Rankings: 19 lists, 0 number 1 rankings, 10 top 5 rankings. 

 

BOT User Reviews:

 

The Trial of the Mangrove 9 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The Trial of the Chicago 7 Sucks that this is going to be an awards contender while Mangrove won't when it's better than this film in every single regard. @lorddemaxus

 

Really don't agree with TV being eligible for a movie list. 

[grim22]

#13

 

Spoiler

Bill and Ted Face The Music

Have I watched it? Yes

 

What do I think the plot is then? Bill and Ted return and travel through time to save themselves, the universe and their family.

 

 

 

 

 

Actual Plot: Once told they'd save the universe during a time-traveling adventure, 2 would-be rockers from San Dimas, California find themselves as middle-aged dads still trying to crank out a hit song and fulfill their destiny.

 

A way too late sequel which actually adds to the mythos of the franchise rather than one which would be ignored by the fans. Was great to see everyone look like they genuinely wanted to be there and having fun on set rather than treating it as an obligation.

 

Tomatometer: 82% with 252 reviews

 

Rankings: 24 lists, 3 number 1 rankings, 3 top 5 rankings. 

 

BOT User Reviews:

 

I caught it last weekend and enjoyed the hell out of it. Much like the first one, it got a big, dumb smile on my face within the first couple minutes, and that smile stayed there until the credits rolled. @Webslinger

 

[Ethan Hunt]

What in the hell is this list holy shit

[Plain Old Tele]

24 minutes ago, grim22 said:

#13

 

  Reveal hidden contents

Bill and Ted Face The Music

Have I watched it? Yes

 

What do I think the plot is then? Bill and Ted return and travel through time to save themselves, the universe and their family.

 

 

 

 

 

Actual Plot: Once told they'd save the universe during a time-traveling adventure, 2 would-be rockers from San Dimas, California find themselves as middle-aged dads still trying to crank out a hit song and fulfill their destiny.

 

A way too late sequel which actually adds to the mythos of the franchise rather than one which would be ignored by the fans. Was great to see everyone look like they genuinely wanted to be there and having fun on set rather than treating it as an obligation.

 

Tomatometer: 82% with 252 reviews

 

Rankings: 24 lists, 3 number 1 rankings, 3 top 5 rankings. 

 

BOT User Reviews:

 

I caught it last weekend and enjoyed the hell out of it. Much like the first one, it got a big, dumb smile on my face within the first couple minutes, and that smile stayed there until the credits rolled. @Webslinger

 

Way too low. 

[grim22]

#12

 

Spoiler

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Have I watched it? NO

 

What do I think the plot is then? 

 

 

 

 

 

Actual Plot: During a recording session, tensions rise between Ma Rainey, her ambitious horn player and the white management determined to control the uncontrollable "Mother of the Blues".

 

 

Tomatometer: 98% with 275 reviews

 

Rankings: 26 lists, 0 number 1 rankings, 7 top 5 rankings. 

 

BOT User Reviews:

 

Really dug this. Viola and Chadwick are getting all the love here and for good reason. I do want to highlight Glynn Turman as Toledo however. The way he played off Chadwick during so many monologue sequences was just gut-punching, and I really hope he gets some love this awards season too. I also was impressed by how they managed to make the film feel cinematic enough while also not ignoring its stage roots. Really excited for Denzel's other Netflix/Wilson productions. @Eric Gardner

 

[grim22]

#11

 

Spoiler

The Vast of Night

Have I watched it? Yes

 

What do I think the plot is then? Aliens, but not how you expect them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Actual Plot: One night in New Mexico, in the late 1950s, a switchboard operator and radio DJ discover a strange audio frequency which could change the future forever.

 

A very methodically paced movie about weird goings on in a small town in the 50s. Mainly advanced through dialogue as opposed to visuals, the movie takes a less is more approach. It is very low tech for the most part, but still engaging.

 

Tomatometer: 92% with 241 reviews

 

Rankings: 27 lists, 0 number 1 rankings, 6 top 5 rankings. 

 

BOT User Reviews:

 

None

 

[Ethan Hunt]

OMG YESSSSSSS

[Jake Gittes]

[grim22]

#10

 

Spoiler

The Invisible Man

Have I watched it? Yes

 

What do I think the plot is then? John Cena's autobiography. How he triumphed over the fact that no one could see him.

 

 

 

 

 

Actual Plot: When Cecilia's abusive ex takes his own life and leaves her his fortune, she suspects his death was a hoax. As a series of coincidences turn lethal, Cecilia works to prove that she is being hunted by someone nobody can see.

 

A new beginning to the DARK UNIVERSE with Leigh Whannel going the complete opposite direction from  The Mummy 2017. A central performance by Elizabeth Moss keeps the movie going even when things get completely cuckoo for cocoa puffs.

 

Tomatometer: 92% with 403 reviews

 

Rankings: 38 lists, 0 number 1 rankings, 4 top 5 rankings. We are getting into the more watched movies now, every movie in the top 10 was in at least 31 lists, more than half the submissions.

 

BOT User Reviews:

 

I mean yeah, were there plot holes in this? Sure, absolutely (my god, towards the end of the movie where the jail scene was taking place, I literally was eye rolling and getting so annoyed at how over the top it was the entire time), however did it detract my enjoyment of the film? No, I very much was enthralled with the movie from start to finish. I think the biggest jump scares/thrills (as it wasn't necessarily a jump scare in the traditional terms) was the first and biggest being when she poured the paint on him and finally for the first time seeing she is not crazy. Sooooooo extremely well done there, I literally JUMPED off my seat at that. And of course the other being when he slashed the sister's throat in the restaurant, that wasn't so much jump worthy but more "wtf" and slick (of course, the big argument I literally said when it happened was yeah, he's invisible but he's not "untouchable". So you mean to tell me in that packed place that A). Not ONE person bumped into him, I mean he's not the biggest whipped dude in the world but in that suit he's a pretty big build, it seems weird that a waiter/waitress or a busier or hell even a patron wouldn't have bumped into him; and B). when the knife was in mid air before it struck, not one person would have seen it? Again, some would just negate it, but realistically I feel like a knife in mid air in a packed place like that would attract SOMONE's attention. I mean there was a table right next to them, if I was sitting there I DEF would have noticed an airborne knife 2 feet away from me). 

 

With that said, yes there are many flaws and many eyeballs, but hey I appreciate the story and what the director did here. Created huge fucking suspense (not just physically but mentally, the biggest for me to grapple was, was it all "real", or was it all in her mind? The film really made you guess a long time which it was, which I really loved). I'd give this an A, 8.8/10 @K1stpierre

 

[Blankments]

Huh, I honestly thought not enough people would’ve seen bill and Ted lol

[grim22]

Last one for the day 

 

#9

 

Spoiler

Emma

Have I watched it? Yes

 

What do I think the plot is then? Clueless gets a period piece adaptation.

 

 

 

 

 

Actual Plot: In 1800s England, a well meaning but selfish young woman meddles in the love lives of her friends.

 

2020 was the year of Anya Taylor-Joy between Emma, Queen's Gambit and New Mutants. Emma was another good adaptation of the book which has been adapted like a million times now and she managed to bring a different dimension to the character through her performance.

 

Tomatometer: 87% with 249 reviews

 

Rankings: 36 lists, 0 number 1 rankings, 11 top 5 rankings. 

 

BOT User Reviews:

 

There’s a very good chance you already know the story of Emma. Maybe you’ve read Jane Austen’s acclaimed 1815 novel, one of four she published in her lifetime. Maybe you’ve seen one of the handful of films and miniseries based on the novel, starring such actresses as Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Beckinsale. Or at the very least, hopefully you’ve seen Clueless, which is actually a fairly faithful modern adaptation of the novel. If not, you should definitely fix that and this new adaptation is a pretty good place to start.

 

Emma. (period included) follows Emma Woodhouse (Anya Taylor-Joy), described as “handsome, clever, and rich … [who] had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with little to distress or vex her”. Living at the Hartfield estate in Regency Era England with her widowed father (Bill Nighy), Emma has very little responsibility or worry, and almost no desire to get married. However, she does enjoy playing matchmaker for her friends. Taking on young Harriet Smith (Mia Goth), Emma hopes to find the right husband for her new companion, but finds that not everything goes to plan and comes to some realizations about herself in the process.

 

With this novel, Austen ingeniously took what could have been a very standard love story and made it so much more. The title character is not meant to be likable. In fact, in most stories from that time period, she likely would have been an antagonistic supporting character. But Austen, who was unarguably way ahead of her time, recognized the potential for a complex character study of Emma Woodhouse and turned the novel into one of not just romance, but maturity, self-awareness, status, and class relations. And I’m glad to say that this film captures the story and all of its themes wonderfully.

 

When adapting a Jane Austen novel, it is crucial to remember that one of the greatest reasons for her success is her writing style. Therefore, it is important to have a director behind the wheel that can properly capture that style and tone. Autumn de Wilde, though it’s her first feature film, proves herself an excellent choice. She keeps the proceedings light, letting the natural humor of screenwriter Eleanor Catton’s adapted dialogue shine, but also lets the more serious moments sink in. De Wilde has a history as a photographer and it shows. Everything is staged remarkably, and cinematographer Christopher Blauvelt provides a nice, clear shot that results in some simply beautiful imagery, always synced with the tone of the scene and almost always looking worthy of a photograph. The production designers, costume designers, and hair and makeup specialists also deserve praise for wonderfully recreating early 19th century Britain, as do Isobel Waller-Bridge (sister of Phoebe) and David Schweitzer, who provide a memorable period score.

 

And of course, you can’t make a good Emma. without a good Emma. Thankfully, Anya Taylor-Joy makes a great one. Known for her parts in films such as The Witch, Morgan, Split, and Thoroughbreds, Taylor-Joy has a gift for bringing out a character's darker side, while still maintaining an illusion of innocence. Her Emma Woodhouse can manipulate with just her eyes and a smirk, and even though you know how sinister she can be, you’ll still find yourself endeared to her. Taylor-Joy also has a lot of talent around her to work off of. Mia Goth is a scene stealer, capturing the goofy innocence of Ms. Smith, while Johnny Flynn and Callum Turner respectively make for a wonderfully irritable George Knightley and devilishly charming Frank Churchill, two prospective suitors. Bill Nighy and Miranda Hart bring their usual talents in strong supporting roles, as well. Every actor is fantastic here, from Emma herself to the supporting cast to the silent workers in the background. Every performer has the perfect body language to capture their character as best as possible.

Now for all the praise I’ve heaped on this film, there is one thing it lacks, and that’s originality. Between films, TV, and even a web series, this is the eight major adaptation of Emma, and they’ve all been decent to good. This might just be the best one yet, and it is quite faithful to the novel, but it doesn’t bring anything particularly fresh to the table. The story may not connect with all viewers, but fans of the novel are sure to love what Autumn de Wilde and Anya Taylor-Joy have done with the tale, and even for those unfamiliar, Emma. will be a nice treat for any fan of period pieces, romantic comedies, or simply quality filmmaking.

 

A-  @nick64

 

[Ethan Hunt]

what in the hell