BOT Top 25 movies of 2020 | Countdown complete

[SchumacherFTW]

7 minutes ago, grim22 said:

Last one for the day 

 

#9

 

  Hide contents

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

 

Huh

[Plain Old Tele]

Is this Phase 1 of a new Austen Cinematic Universe?

[Tower]

3 hours ago, grim22 said:

Last one for the day 

 

#9

 

  Reveal hidden contents

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

 

Uhh, are you sure you are not combining the votes for Emma and Ema? If not then it's surprisingly high.

[lorddemaxus]

7 hours ago, grim22 said:

 

92	The Empty Man

Anyone else vote for The Empty Man? Or was it just me?

[dxmatrixdt]

LOL @ The Gentlemen making it that high on the list.

Hallelujah @ Wonder Woman 1984, but the first one competed with Dunkirk and TLJ in 2017?

[grim22]

#8

 

Spoiler

Wolfwalkers

Have I watched it? No

 

What do I think the plot is then? Game of Thrones spinoff. After the death of the Night King, the Wolf King takes over. The threat beyond the wall now is werewolves instead of zombies. Jon Snow fights the werewolves by riding the dragon at the end.

 

 

 

 

 

Actual Plot: A young apprentice hunter and her father journey to Ireland to help wipe out the last wolf pack. But everything changes when she befriends a free-spirited girl from a mysterious tribe rumored to transform into wolves by night.

 

There's werewolves, so partial credit. Looks fine, and I have Apple TV+, so I might give this a watch

 

Tomatometer: 99% with 154 reviews

 

Rankings: 32 lists, 4 number 1 rankings, 16 top 5 rankings. 

 

BOT User Reviews:

 

None

 

[grim22]

#7

 

Spoiler

Promising Young Woman

Have I watched it? NO

 

What do I think the plot is then? I'm going to guess the title is ironic, like "She was a promising young woman before...", so my guess is this will be about a woman who gets into sex-work and meets unsavory characters while descending into depression.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Actual Plot: A young woman, traumatized by a tragic event in her past, seeks out vengeance against those who crossed her path.

 

Carey Mulligan is getting a lot of great press for this, and i can see why based on the trailer. Not sure I will see this till it gets to streaming somewhere.

 

Tomatometer: 91% with 327 reviews

 

Rankings: 34 lists, 4 number 1 rankings, 14 top 5 rankings. 

 

BOT User Reviews:

 

Absolutely loved this, Emerald Fennell juggles the different tones perfectly, going from comedy to romance and thriller (and not necessarily in that order) without it ever feeling jarring, and it’s a gorgeously colourful film too. Carey Mulligan is practically unrecognisable and Bo Burnham isn’t getting anywhere near as much attention as he deserves for his part. I am kind of surprised to see the film getting awards talk though, not because it doesn’t deserve awards, but because this type of film isn’t what Oscar voters tend to gravitate towards.

 

Avoid spoilers like the plague though, going into this blind without even seeing the trailer was a hell of a ride. The ending is just *chefs kiss*. @SnokesLegs

 

 

 

[grim22]

#6

 

Spoiler

Sound of Metal

Have I watched it? NO

 

What do I think the plot is then? I know its about a drummer who goes deaf but not much besides that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Actual Plot: 

A heavy-metal drummer's life is thrown into freefall when he begins to lose his hearing.

 

Tomatometer: 96% with 221 reviews

 

Rankings: 37 lists, 5 number 1 rankings, 15 top 5 rankings. 

 

BOT User Reviews:

 

Do not watch this open-captioned. No open caption, i MEAN it. The only way to watch it is closed captions. @Blankments

 

This is pretty great. A nuanced look at deafness we don't see much of in the movies. Riz Ahmed gives the best performance of his already strong career so far and should receive an Oscar nomination. Phenomenal use of sound design too. A-

 @filmlover

 

[Blankments]

What even is an open caption lol

[Plain Old Tele]

1 minute ago, Blankments said:

What even is an open caption lol

The opposite of closed (ie, they’re burned in and you can’t turn them off).

[WrathOfHan]

3 minutes ago, Blankments said:

What even is an open caption lol

"Open captions always are in view and cannot be turned off, whereas closed captions can be turned on and off by the viewer."

[Blankments]

1 minute ago, Plain Old Tele said:

The opposite of closed (ie, they’re burned in and you can’t turn them off).

AMAZON KILLED THE DREAM

[grim22]

#5

 

Spoiler

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Have I watched it? Yes

 

What do I think the plot is then? Borat is back, with a feminist viewpoint and in the year 2020 when politics has become a sideshow full of over the top and crazy characters.

 

 

 

 

 

Actual Plot: Borat returns from Kazakhstan to America and this time he reveals more about the American culture, the COVID-19 pandemic and the political elections.

 

Borat 2 arrived at the perfect time in the national discourse, and became the national discourse with the Giuliani scene. Cohen and Bakalova give it their all and incorporate everything from CPAC to the pandemic to ant-lockdown rallies into the plot of the movie, almost getting killed a couple of times along the way. This was a movie America definitely needed at the time it came out.

 

Tomatometer: 85% with 273 reviews

 

Rankings: 37 lists, 3 number 1 rankings, 12 top 5 rankings. 

 

BOT User Reviews:

 

I was pleasantly surprised by this. Expected it to be a cheap cash in. But I accepted from the start that it wasn't going to be on par with the TV show, and that is fine.

 

Plenty of laughs, even if they are easy targets. For the first half of the film I felt like everything was played by actors, but at around the half way point I realised that actually most of it was real. 

 

The Rudy Giuliani scene is as disturbing as it has been suggested in the news. But this is a comedy, and Sacha is at his comedic best when he's getting people to do/say stupid stuff... not when he's getting them to do sexual stuff.

For me the highlight is definitely the rally. The Wuhan Flu song is catchy as fuck.

 

Like said above, this was quite heartfelt. Particularly the black lady & the Jewish ladies, that came off as very genuine and sincere. It's a nice contrast, between the people who get "duped" and the people who can't be duped because there is nothing bad for them to get exposed. They are just good people.

 

OBAMA, WHAT WE GONNA DO? INJECT HIM WITH THE WUHAN FLU! 

INJECT HIM WITH THE WUUUHHHAAANNN FLU!

 

HILLARY CLINTON, WHAT WE GONNA DO? CHOP HER UP LIKE THE SAUDIS DO!

CHOP HER UP LIKE SAUUUUDIIIIIS DO! @Avatree

 

Great Success! @Rorschach

 

[Ethan Hunt]

Wtf. How is the surprise film still left

[Plain Old Tele]

10 minutes ago, Ethan Hunt said:

Wtf. How is the surprise film still left

 

look

[grim22]

#4

 

Spoiler

Bad Boys For Life

Have I watched it? Yes

 

What do I think the plot is then? Will Smith and Martin Lawrence need to fend off a revenge mission by Will Smith's Mexican son and his jilted ex. A lot of good action follows.

 

 

 

 

 

Actual Plot: Miami detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett must face off against a mother-and-son pair of drug lords who wreak vengeful havoc on their city.

 

A movie so much better than it had any right to be, a too late sequel releasing in January with Martin Lawrence who hasn't exactly been on a hot streak and not directed by Michael Bay. It managed to capture the Bay spirit while having a plot which gave the movie an emotional core to tap into while getting really good performances from Smith and Lawrence. This was the surprise of 2020 for sure.

 

The best cameo of 2020 as well

 

 

Tomatometer: 77% with 261 reviews

 

Rankings: 39 lists, 0 number 1 rankings, 22 top 5 rankings. The highest placing movie to not be #1 on a single list, but was the movie with the third-most Top 5 placements.

 

BOT User Reviews:

 

I did not expect this to have the same plot as Gemini man.  @CoolioD1

 

I enjoyed it quite a bit. The Smith's son reveal stuff was too much imo and I didn't really buy into it. But the action was pretty great, and Smith and Lawrence did really great together. Overall really great first 2 acts, with a third act that went a bit too far.

 

I actually jumped and put my hands to my mouth when the captain died. Also, was that a Michael Bay cameo during the wedding? I also liked that right after Vanessa Hudgens was introduced Smith calls them (something along the lines of) "High school musical bullshit" @DAJK

 

Surprisingly loved this. I was worried it would be a significant step down from the awesome Bad Boys 2, but it exceeded my expectations (2 is still the best though). Action wasn't bad, but was more on the level of 1 than 2. The story, though not original, was surprisingly heartfelt and Smith and Lawrence are still in great form.

 

Honestly I thought the son reveal was good. It made perfect sense to me considering the kind of character Mike is, and it added a nice layer of personal stakes to the conflict. That helped overshadow how generic the final act action was. Hopefully BB4 will up the spectacle to BB2 level while keeping the solid emotional hooks of this one. @Menor

 

 

[Eric Atreides]

Oh gosh Sonic's gonna be #1 isn't it?

[Jake Gittes]

well at least the 200m grossing january movie was not discriminated against. whew

[grim22]

Been trying to post the rest of the "missed the list" movies, but for some reason the excel data pastes here as an image on a Mac. So I will type out 26-35 later, but we will have to wait till I get to my PC on Monday to get the rest of the list pasted over.

[grim22]

#3

 

Spoiler

Palm Springs

Have I watched it? Yes

 

What do I think the plot is then? Groundhog day, but its 2 people stuck in nice California weather. Not too bad a deal all things considered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Actual Plot: When carefree Nyles and reluctant maid of honor Sarah have a chance encounter at a Palm Springs wedding, things get complicated as they are unable to escape the venue, themselves, or each other.

 

The best rom-com of 2020 (to be fair, not much competition there), Palm Springs put enough of a spin on the Groundhog day formula to stand out and become the biggest Sundance acquisition at the time. Great performances by Samberg and Milioti and extended cameo by JK Simmons carry the movie. One of the lighter touch movies of the year, would have likely done well at the box office in an alternate universe instead of going straight to Hulu.

 

Tomatometer: 94% with 216 reviews

 

Rankings: 35 lists, 2 number 1 rankings, 17 top 5 rankings. 

 

BOT User Reviews:

 

Watched this earlier tonight and absolutely loved it. It’s laugh out loud funny in places and surprisingly touching. The chemistry between Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti is great. Best rom-com I’ve seen in years. 

 @SnokesLegs

 

Probably my favorite movie of the year @Eric Gardner