BBC Culture’s film critics Nicholas Barber and Caryn James pick 10 of this year’s highlights, including Da 5 Bloods, The Hunt and a blood-soaked Brazilian homage to Westerns.
Story continues below:
Da 5 Bloods
Spike Lee’s latest is a passionate, kinetic, thoroughly involving epic, combining intense drama with flashes of wit. As four black American veterans return to Vietnam to recover the body of their lost friend, as well as a cache of gold, Lee takes a long, historical view of the US and its racism. The friends are complicated individuals created with great immediacy – Oscar buzz has deservedly started for Delroy Lindo, whose character is tortured by the past and by post-traumatic stress disorder. Da 5 Bloods is one of Spike Lee’s best, which is saying a lot.
The Personal History of David Copperfield
One of cinema’s worst ever injustices is that The Personal History of David Copperfield was snubbed at this February’s Baftas. Even by the standards of its writer-director, Armando Iannucci, this joyous and endlessly inventive film is a glittering achievement that raises the bar for Charles Dickens adaptations. The clever part is that it’s a loving celebration of the author’s prose, but it is also wonderfully cinematic in its use of vibrant colours, split screens, captions, voiceovers and fantasy sequences. And while Iannucci roots it firmly in the poverty and class system of Victorian England, it’s also bracingly modern, not least in its multicultural casting (Dev Patel is terrific in the lead role). BBC Culture’s review called it “a warm and lively David Copperfield for today”.
Never Rarely Sometimes Always
This quietly profound drama follows 17-year-old Autumn (Sidney Flanigan), pregnant in a small town in Pennsylvania where abortion is restricted, as she and her cousin secretly take a bus to nearby New York City to terminate the pregnancy. Far from a message movie, writer and director Eliza Hittman’s film is an eloquent, intimate story about choices, secrets, and the sad, desperate decisions young women sometimes make to save their own futures. The camera silently captures the heartbreak on Autumn’s face, as well as the dreary texture of her town and the bright, overwhelming reality of New York. The film is wrenching in its honesty yet exhilarating in its empathy.
The Hunt
The Hunt was controversial before anyone had seen it. A comedy thriller about a gang of privileged liberals (including Hilary Swank) who kidnap some right-wing ‘deplorables’ (including Betty Gilpin) and then pick them off for sport, its release was postponed last year after two mass shootings in America, and it was condemned by US president Donald Trump on Twitter. But when it finally came out this spring, just before cinemas shut down, Craig Zobel and Damon Lindelof’s film turned out to be an exhilarating rollercoaster ride that kept you guessing as to who was on whose side and who was about to be killed. Caryn James praised it in her BBC Culture review as “a smart satire” and “a sly, acerbic, fun-to-watch send-up of the political divide in America”. So far, none of 2020’s releases has been better at eliciting whoops and winces from its audience.
Bacurau
One of the strangest, most inventive films of the year is this sly Brazilian gem, set in a poor, isolated village called Bacurau. The tight-knit community, including Sônia Braga as its often-drunk doctor, is oppressed by a corrupt politician, and confused about why Bacurau has suddenly disappeared from any map, printed or online. When the village is invaded by mercenaries, the film morphs into a blood-soaked homage to Westerns. You can analyse the movie’s subtext about Brazilian politics or just enjoy its engaging, genre-bending audacity. Directors Kleber Mendonça Filho and Juliano Dornelles have created a dazzling piece of filmmaking, which shared the Jury Prize at Cannes last year.
The Assistant
Kitty Green’s astute, tightly controlled drama is set in the drab New York offices of a predatory film mogul; no prizes for guessing who the unnamed and unseen mogul is meant to be. Structured as a day in the life, The Assistant stars Julia Garner as the lowly new employee who toils from before dawn until after dusk, answering phones, printing out scripts, unpacking bottles of water, and tidying away all the evidence of her boss’s liaisons: imagine a more authentic, low-key companion piece to The Devil Wears Prada. The Weinstein-alike CEO may be the villain of the piece, but the film looks beyond one man to focus on a wider corporate culture of sexism, condescension, and quiet complicity. There are no big speeches or explosive confrontations, but there is tension throughout as we wait for the titular assistant to rebel against her boss… or accept that she is going to keep working for him, come what may.
Emma
Did the world need one more Jane Austen adaptation? Not really, but this enchanting, colourful version is a very welcome addition. Director Autumn de Wilde doesn’t reinvent the period genre; she leans into its comforting, old-fashioned appeal. As Emma, Anya Taylor-Joy captures the heart and warmth beneath Austen’s bossy, match-making heroine. Johnny Flynn is irresistible as her gruffly charming, improbable love, Mr Knightley (younger than the novel has him). And Bill Nighy gloriously steals every scene as Emma’s comically overprotective father. De Wilde puts her career as a photographer to good use in this beautifully shot romance.
The Vast of Night
Are aliens watching us? Were they hovering in the skies above 1950s New Mexico? This small-town sci-fi mystery asks those familiar Twilight Zone-ish questions, but it answers them with so much verve and originality that they seem brand new. Set over the course of one evening, The Vast Of Night follows a local radio DJ (Jake Horowitz) and a telephone operator (Sierra McCormick) as they investigate the eerie noises that are being broadcast from somewhere nearby. The film includes some sharp commentary on the marginalising of certain social groups, but it’s the sheer technical bravura that makes Andrew Patterson’s debut such a treat. As the camera roves all over town in long, unbroken takes, and the likeable stars rattle through pages of funny and idiosyncratic dialogue, you know you’re seeing the emergence of a hugely exciting new talent.
The Painter and the Thief
This odd, compelling documentary begins when Barbora Kysilkova, a struggling Czech artist in Oslo, has two paintings stolen from a gallery. After the thief, Karl Bertil-Nordland, is arrested, Barbora seeks him out and asks to paint his portrait. She is appropriating his image just as he stole her art, but that is only the beginning of a real, sometimes spiky friendship, as the story expands to include Barbora’s relationship with her boyfriend and Karl’s drug addiction. Director Benjamin Ree followed his subjects for years to create this richly-layered, moving chronicle of inspiration, guilt and reinvention.
True History of The Kelly Gang
Justin Kurzel’s biopic of Ned Kelly, the notorious 19th-Century bushranger, is light years away from the average period drama. Adapted from Peter Carey’s novel, it’s a hallucinatory punk-rock video – a searing picture of colonial-era Australia’s blasted landscapes, endemic corruption, decadent sex and bloody violence. Kelly himself (an electrifying George MacKay) is taught to survive in this savage alien terrain by his brutal mother (Essie Davis), a rollicking bandit (Russell Crowe), an exploitative policeman (Charlie Hunnam) and a dissolute English official (Nicholas Hoult, refining the evil Hugh Grant persona he introduced in The Favourite). Under their influence, it’s almost inevitable that he should become the leader of a cross-dressing revolutionary gang. Kurzel and his team make Kelly more feral and frightening than ever, but more sympathetic, too.BBC
37 Comments
maximized
Quality рosts is the main to invite the people to pay a
quick visit the sіte, that’s what this web paցe is providing.
เว็บพนัน
I am not sure where you are getting your information,
but good topic. I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more.
Thanks for wonderful information I was looking for this information for my mission.
thomas507.kuvayimilliye2019.com/2020/12/-sports---/
I just like the valuable information you provide
in your articles. I will bookmark your blog and test
again right here frequently. I’m rather certain I
will learn many new stuff proper here! Good luck for the
next!
thomas105.frenchies-goodies.com/2020/12/22/the-greatest-solution-for-baccarat-pick-that-baccarat--that-long-end-baccarat.html
I don’t even know the way I finished up here, but I thought this publish used to be good.
I don’t understand who you’re but certainly you are going to a well-known blogger if you aren’t already.
Cheers!
คาสิโนออนไลน์
Wow that was odd. I just wrote an incredibly long comment but after
I clicked submit my comment didn’t show up.
Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyways, just wanted to say great blog!
คาสิโนออนไลน์
always i used to read smaller articles that as well clear their motive,
and that is also happening with this piece of writing which I am reading at this place.
williams551.212marttalangbanjar.com/1.html
I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own weblog
and was wondering what all is needed to get set up?
I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny?
I’m not very web savvy so I’m not 100% positive. Any recommendations
or advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers
thtopcasino.com
you’re in point of fact a excellent webmaster. The website loading speed is incredible.
It seems that you’re doing any unique trick. Furthermore, The contents are masterwork.
you’ve done a excellent job on this topic!
sm 카지노
Can you tell us more about this? I’d like to find out more details.
Vape
Excellent article. Keep writing such kind of information on your blog.
Im really impressed by your blog.
Hey there, You’ve done an excellent job. I will certainly digg it and in my view suggest to my friends.
I’m confident they will be benefited from this site.
바카라 게임
If some one desires to be updated with most recent technologies afterward he must be pay a visit
this website and be up to date everyday.
제왕 카지노
Please let me know if you’re looking for a
article writer for your weblog. You have some really great posts and I feel I would be a good asset.
If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d love
to write some material for your blog in exchange for a
link back to mine. Please blast me an email if interested.
Thank you!
카지노 사이트
Greetings, There’s no doubt that your website might be having browser compatibility issues.
Whenever I look at your blog in Safari, it looks fine however,
when opening in IE, it has some overlapping issues.
I simply wanted to give you a quick heads up!
Apart from that, fantastic website!
주소 및 쿠폰정보
Very nice article, exactly what I wanted to find.
007 카지노 가입쿠폰
I couldn’t resist commenting. Exceptionally well written!
더킹 카지노
My partner and I stumbled over here coming from a different web address and thought I
might check things out. I like what I see so now i am following you.
Look forward to going over your web page for a second time.
7Bit Casino
It is perfect time to make some plans for the future and it’s
time to be happy. I’ve read this post and if I could I wish to suggest you
some interesting things or suggestions. Maybe you can write next
articles referring to this article. I wish to read more things
about it!
퍼스트카지노
Thanks for finally talking about > The best Hollywood films of 2020 so far | The Great Bengal Today < Liked it!
더킹카지노
Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article.
I will be sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful info.
Thanks for the post. I’ll certainly comeback.
ベラジョン
Hi there friends, pleasant article and good urging commented at this place, I am truly enjoying by these.
Payday loans
Hello there I am so grateful I found your website, I
really found you by error, while I was researching on Askjeeve for something else, Regardless I am here now and would just like to say thanks for a tremendous post and a all round thrilling blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to browse it all at the moment but I have book-marked it and also added your RSS feeds,
so when I have time I will be back to read much more, Please do keep up the great
job.
007카지노
What’s up, just wanted to say, I liked this post.
It was inspiring. Keep on posting!
우리카지노
Thanks very nice blog!
솔레어카지노
I enjoy looking through an article that will make men and women think.
Also, thanks for allowing me to comment!
ブラックジャック ルール
Everything is very open with a very clear explanation of the issues.
It was really informative. Your website is very helpful. Thanks for sharing!
코인카지노
Very rapidly this site will be famous among all blogging viewers, due to it’s nice articles or reviews
Paddy Power
Its such as you learn my thoughts! You seem to know so much
approximately this, such as you wrote the book in it or something.
I believe that you just could do with a few % to power the message home a little
bit, however instead of that, that is magnificent blog.
A great read. I’ll definitely be back.
1xbet
Today, I went to the beachfront with my kids. I found a sea shell
and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She placed the shell to her ear and screamed.
There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back!
LoL I know this is totally off topic but I had to tell someone!
sexist air conditioning
Hey there I am so delighted I found your blog, I really found you
by error, while I was searching on Yahoo for something else, Anyways
I am here now and would just like to say cheers for a tremendous post and a
all round interesting blog (I also love the theme/design),
I don’t have time to browse it all at the moment but
I have saved it and also included your RSS feeds, so
when I have time I will be back to read much more, Please do keep up
the fantastic work.
빅카지노
Hi there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it’s truly
informative. I’m going to watch out for brussels.
I will appreciate if you continue this in future.
A lot of people will be benefited from your writing.
Cheers!
더나인카지노
Thankfulness to my father who stated to me about
this blog, this website is genuinely remarkable.
インターカジノ 入金
Thanks on your marvelous posting! I genuinely enjoyed reading it, you can be a great author.I will be sure to bookmark
your blog and will often come back someday. I want to encourage that you continue your great job,
have a nice weekend!
brass family instruments
hey there and thank you for your info – I have definitely picked up something
new from right here. I did however expertise a few technical issues using this site, as I experienced to reload the site lots of times previous to I could get it to load properly.
I had been wondering if your web hosting is OK? Not that I’m complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will
very frequently affect your placement in google and could damage your quality score if advertising
and marketing with Adwords. Well I’m adding this RSS to my
email and could look out for a lot more of your respective intriguing content.
Make sure you update this again soon.
free movie websites
Fantastic post however , I was wanting to know if you could write a litte more on this
topic? I’d be very grateful if you could elaborate a little bit further.
Thanks!
オンラインカジノ ボーナス
Hi there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it’s really informative.
I am going to watch out for brussels. I will appreciate if you continue this in future.
A lot of people will be benefited from your writing.
Cheers!
hat size chart
When someone writes an paragraph he/she maintains the plan of a user
in his/her brain that how a user can understand it. So that’s why
this article is great. Thanks!
Carlram
[url=http://sildenafilgenericp.online/]sildenafil mexico price[/url]