I'm an amateur film lover, as I'm sure many of the folks in /r/movies are. I will be the first to also admit that I was also one of the lucky ones last year to have 'boredom' as one of my biggest problems, and so to everyone reading this I hope you have a far better 2021.Watching lots of movies isn't necessarily something new to me, especially in such a vast quantity, I watched a lot in 2019 as well and it's something that works for me. I know some people say they don't like watching so many in quick succession for various reasons, and that's cool, just know that this works for me and I like to think I have a fairly good memory of almost everything I've watched (certainly all of the ones that I've enjoyed). And I can safely say I don't feel burnout coming on either...at least not yet, fingers crossed.I also feel we're incredibly lucky to live in the era that we live in, watching films has never been easier than it has now, there's so many ways, both legal and illegal. Just this year alone, we've had four major classics receive Blu-rays for the first time ever, Satantango, Los Olvidados, Roman Holiday and Beau Travail. I can't even begin to imagine how frustrating it must have been to be an amateur movie lover in previous decades without the conveniences we have today and without access to the benefits of being in film industry circles.As a result, it becomes a case of, the more you watch, the more great movies you realise are out there and the 'never-ending watchlist syndrome' becomes a real thing. But I take that as a positive knowing that this isn't some tick-box exercise and that watching movies is a life-long journey. After all, we all watch movies for different reasons, sometimes to laugh, to kill time, to make us better people, for catharsis and various other purposes.To keep this relatively short for the main post (I can detail further in the comments if anyone's interested) I'll post my top 5 (in no particular order) for each calendar month of 2020, varying from popular favourites to ones I feel like deserve way more attention in the general conversation.Jan 2020Le Cercle Rouge (1970) - The first film of the year I saw and only fitting because I adore Melville's work. Anyone who loves a good heist movie should absolutely do themselves a favour and watch this.Seven Chances (1925) - Every Buster Keaton movie I watch, i'm more and more impressed with how much mileage he managed to get out of everything, from cameras, to sets, to space in the frame. The blackface is definitely not okay though.Little Women (2019) - Greta Gerwig made the best adaptation of a book that has had like 8 adaptations before it, and some of them really good, she's a genius. That's all I have to say.Mon Oncle (1958) - Tati's sense of humour is exactly my kind of humour. The production design in his films could have a book written on them. There's so much effort put into his films and watching them is a joy.Certain Women (2016) - Kelly Reichardt is one of the greatest American filmmakers working today and even though I haven't seen First Cow yet, I can safely say that it's hard to find many working right now more consistently good than her.Feb 2020L'Argent (1983) - the best exploration of money, its corrupting effects, Bresson's one of my all-time favs.Landscape in the Mist (1988) - I had a funny experience with Angelopoulos, i saw The Travelling Players first and it really bored me, then I saw this and Eternity and a Day and now he's one my all time favourite directors. One of the greatest child performances I've ever seen.The Big City (1963) - Ray's direction in this is overwhelmingly good tbh. There's a scene where Ray uses mirrors which is so, so good.Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) - The last movie I saw in cinemas. Also Celine Sciamma, idk where I've been all this time, but I'm glad I've finally been introduced. I could go on and on about this movie.Bullitt (1968) - Think I could count on one hand the number of great car chases that exist in cinema, Bullitt is one of them. McQueen's just effortlessly good in this.March 2020Intolerable Cruelty (2003) - I really want this to get a critical re-appraisal. Maybe its because I'm a Coen Bros diehard but I find this hysterical and George Clooney bringing back Cary Grant's ghost from the past is a thing of beauty.The Assassin (2015) - Don't mistake this for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2.0 and you'll enjoy this.Toy Story 4 (2019) - I've been disappointed with Pixar in the last decade but this is proof that they won't drop the ball on the thing that made them iconic.Eternity and a Day (1998)Apr 2020Raw (2016) - I'm not a horror enthusiast, but this is definitely one I would recommend to everyone. Made me a bit queasy at times even though I'm not easily scared. The themes are explored in such a unique way.The Koker Trilogy - Cheating a bit here, but I'm a sucker for meta cinema and Kiarostami's an all time great for me. They're all short in runtime but what they explore is enough for two trilogies let alone one.Faces Places (2017) - Agnes Varda's a national treasure.Down by Law (1986) - Jim Jarmusch is the king of the hangout movie. Idk how he does it, one day I'll understand how he makes such low stakes movies seem so compelling but I'm not there yet.Beetlejuice (1988) - I miss peak Tim Burton. I know Kevin Kline's Oscar that year is one of the few rare occurrences where a comedic performance won but Michael Keaton deserved it way more in my opinion. Without him, there is no movie. And the music choices are fantastic.May 2020Secrets and Lies (1996) - This could've been really silly in the wrong hands, its the kind of premise I might expect from an Adam Sandler comedy and yet it's genius.Minding the Gap (2018) - The depiction of domestic violence in this is so honest and raw and the way it's cut together is so fantastic. I'm so glad Bing Liu got the recognition he deserved for this.Dogville (2003) - in a career full of provocations, von Trier's Dogville is maybe his greatest provocation. An experiment that pulled off and then some and so dense you could write a paper on this movie alone.Faust (1926) - one of the absolute best silent films out there. Murnau's a goddamn master. Feels so modern, and for a tale that's been done to death, I do urge people to check out the first cinema adaptation because it's still fresh.Man with a Movie Camera (1929) - I will admit, my stamina with experimental films is pretty limited but this was a blast, and it has more innovations in like 70 minutes than most decades of cinema do. The Michael Nyman score with this is highly recommended.June 2020Beau Travail - The ending to this is one of the best endings ever. I won't spoil for anyone who's not seen it. Definitely more austere and slower-paced for some but for those who sync with the rhythm, it's well worth it.Scenes from a Marriage - In a well-worn subgenre, maybe the best movie about marriage and divorce ever?What's Up Doc? - Really makes me wish the screwball comedy genre wasn't dead. Someone bring it back.Da 5 Bloods - Honestly I really thought this was a blast, and another case of an auteur smuggling a great film into a genre flick.A Hidden Life (2019) - I've not seen To the Wonder, Song to Song or Knight of Cups yet, but I'm just glad Terrence Malick is still making great movies. James Newton Howard and Jorg Widmer need way more recognition for their work on this.July 2020The Square (2017) - So apparently this is one of the more hated Palme d'Or winners but I loved it, Ruben Ostlund's keeps making movies and I'll keep watching them. I thought this was hilarious and really well acted.Shoah (1985) - If there's a film on here I could get everyone to see, it would be this, but I have no misguided expectations considering the runtime and the material. But you could break it up into parts, there are clear stopping points in this. I would say it's the best thing I've seen this year.OJ Made in America (2016) - For a subject matter that has been written about ad nauseam with dozens of on-screen adaptations, docs and God knows what else, Ezra Edelman performed a goddamn miracle making something as good as this. One of the best examinations of how America reached the point that it's at right now.Carlos (2010) - Cheating a bit here with this one, but seriously, Olivier Assayas what the fuck? How did you make something like this? Genuinely baffles me how Edgar Ramirez has been wasted ever since this movie came out. One of the best biopics I've ever seen and I think I had my heart in my mouth for the entire OPEC raid.The Right Stuff (1983) - The editing in this is flawless, so many remarkable choices in the cutting department. Definitely one to check out for any sci-fi or space movie enthusiasts. The satire in this is razor-sharp as well.Aug 2020Birth (2004) - Honestly feel like the flack for this was undeserved, Jonathan Glazer needs to be better funded. So well-shot, there's a long take in this that feels like it inspired Portrait of a Lady on Fire's ending. Nicole Kidman sells this as well, could've been bad in the wrong hands.Winter Sleep (2014) - I'm a sucker for Nuri Bilge Ceylan's dialogue, he writes like no one I've ever seen. This film should feel long and yet it doesn't. I love the climax to this film, one scene in particular and what it has to say about class and social differences.An Elephant Sitting Still (2018) - Honestly this was 4 hours long but it felt like 2. RIP Hu Bo.Happy Hour (2015) See above except 5 hours. This is a must-watch for Ozu/Koreeda/Rivette fans. The workshop sequence is weirdly hypnotic and such a genius way of setting up the lead characters.Life is Sweet (1990) - One of the great films about food and the love of it. Mike Leigh makes it look easier than it is.Sept 2020I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2020) - Not gonna write too much on this as it's quite recent and quite popular on here. But Charlie Kaufman shows no signs of slowing down. As long as people give him the money, seriously someone keep giving him money.Tomboy (2011) - I'm kinda convinced that in the two decades Celine Sciamma has been working, she might be one of the best needle droppers in cinema ever.A Face of Another (1966) - A film that never wastes its high concept premise, a stunning lead performance (considering the impediments), and a director who deserves praise equal to some of the other Japanese greats.Muriel's Wedding (1994) - Ridley Scott said he saw this 6 times and that was enough to convince me. I hope it's enough for anyone reading this too. Best use of ABBA in a movie (sorry Mamma Mia fans).Mommy (2014) - Best use of montage in the 21st century I've seen. I had a weird experience with this movie in that I found it quite irritating (I know Steve is supposed to be irritating) and then when the montage happened, everything clicked and it was an all-time favourite.Oct 2020Drug War (2012) - Johnnie To's direction in this is so meticulous, it's like watching competence porn. The action scenes are back-loaded but they're worth the wait. The movie builds to its climax so effortlessly and it's a tight script, not a minute wasted. At 104 minutes, you could do a hell of a lot worse for an action movie.Ryan's Daughter (1970) - Feel like this deserves a bit more respect than it already gets in the David Lean canon. It's a case of it being compared to Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago which I feel like is why it's hard done by. The music by Maurice Jarre is fantastic and the central romance is fantastic.The Heiress (1949) - In a career full of masterpieces, William Wyler's The Heiress stands at the top for me. I gave this a watch after Olivia de Havilland's passing this year and her performance is so so good. The ending is an all-timer for me.The Vanishing (1988) - If you love thrillers, you owe it to yourself to watch this. Most people have seen it recognise it for the classic it is. The structure of the story takes a more innovative and different turn to how a more conventional movie would set this up.The Gospel According to St. Matthew (1964) If you ever wanted an interesting take on a religious story, then a take by a homosexual, an atheist and a Marxist might just be the one to watch. Very respectful of the source and proof that religious movies can be great.Nov 2020Magic Mike XXL (2015) - Yeah honestly this slaps. This is another one of those sequels sort of akin to Mad Max Road Warrior and Fury Road, and Evil Dead 2 where it's not burdened by having to set up everything up, it's really low-stakes, doesn't take itself seriously at all and technically it's really well put together.A Bride for Rip Van Winkle (2016) - One of those movies where you will never be able to guess where it ends up based on how it begins.Blue Collar (1978) - For anyone who was a fan of the portrayal of class differences in Parasite, this is definitely worth a watch. Genuinely one of the best directorial debuts I've seen and the ending is a classic. Every character's motivation is so fleshed out and maybe features one of the more morbid death scenes in cinema as well.The Counsellor (2013) - Yes I also enjoyed this as well lol. This is so hypnotic if you're in the right mood. This is probably one of the most cynical mainstream movies I have ever seen and you'll know within a few minutes if the dialogue is your type of thing. I did see the extended cut for this as I heard it was better than the theatrical version which seems to be a consistent thing with Ridley Scott. Bardem gives a wild performance too.The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013) - Lord is the animation in this stunning. Also this is the best adaptation of the Superman story of 2013, don't @ me.Dec 2020Terms of Endearment (1983) - I know the Best Picture winners of the 80s seem to get the most flack from the more recent decades, which is why I, for silly reasons, put this off for so long as I have also fallen victim to caring more about the perceived hype around a film and the awards it gets rather than just assessing a film for what it is. This is a deeply touching, heartfelt movie with I guess you could call an ensemble cast that I think honestly almost anyone could enjoy. What's great is how it avoids easy chances for melodrama and it doesn't villainise anyone in the movie, it only asks us to understand where they're coming from. For anyone Jack Nicholson fans, this is a must-watch.Sound of Metal (2019) - This is such a compassionate and sensitive film right down to how it was cast, some of the best use of sound design I've seen in a movie in a long time. Again another movie that could've opted for easy choices in writing to create drama between Riz Ahmed and Olivia Cooke's characters or at Paul Raci's community. Parts of it are telegraphed and expected and yet they still hit you with the force of a train.Centre Stage (1991) - Maybe Maggie Cheung's career-best performance? The movie itself shows how paint-by-numbers most biopics are by juxtaposing scenes of the actual cast and crew of the film discussing their own the story of the subject with scenes of the recreation of the history. I'm not sure if this was influenced somewhat by Kiorastami's Close-Up from the year before, I can't imagine it as there's only a one year gap, but regardless, very impressive. Great use of music as well.Another Round (2020 I feel like enough has been said about this already, it's certainly blowing up. Vinterberg and Mikkelsen need to work way more than they already do, The Hunt is one of the best of the last decade, and Another Round will be one of the best of this decade. The use of music is phenomenal and the movie makes me wish ensemble awards for acting existed at the Oscars because this everyone is perfect. Maybe one of the best modern movie endings I've seen.The Up series (1964-present) - This is sort of a collective nomination as I have yet to finish it but if anyone found the central conceit of Boyhood fascinating then this is one to watch. Maybe one of the greatest social examinations conducted ever. Probably not recommended to binge it as video clips from previous installments do get re-used for context because of how they were aired 7 years apart for audiences.For anyone wondering if I'm going to list my most hated movies, unfortunately for those lot that's not something I'm going to do, as I feel like this sub already dumps on a lot of movies as it is and I don't feel the need to add onto that any further.If you have any questions or thoughts you'd like to share, please do; a big thing that kept me going was the conversation it let me have with others.Thanks for reading. via /r/movies https://ift.tt/34ZNHw4
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