This is my own (albeit updated) ballot found within the Best of 2020 critics poll, which was published on this site a few months back. Contrary to what many have said about 2020, this year has not been a total wash, in terms of quality cinema, it can’t be that bad when we live in an age where platforms such as VOD, and Netflix exist - not to mention three months worth of theatrical releases (January-March) before everything shut down on March 11th.
Going by U.S. release date, although I made an exception for the Polanski since it likely won’t be released anytime soon, I’ve assembled a list of 25 movies that have been or will be released in 2020. Curiously, I have a list of 10 undistributed films that I’d like to reveal in a separate article.
(1) J'Accuse (2) Bad Education (3) The Truffle Hunters (4) Never Rarely Sometimes Always (5) The Invisible Man (6) Lovers Rock (7) Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets (8) Young Ahmed (9) Pieces of a Woman (10) Palm Springs (11) Bacurau (12) White Lie (13) Spree (14) David Byrne’s American Utopia (15) The Nest (16) The Father (17) Promising Young Woman (18) The Assistant (19) Incitement (20) Trial of the Chicago 7 (21) Possessor (22) The Devil All the Time (23) The Lodge (24) Horse Girl (25) First Cow
Having now seen “Mank,” “Ammonite,” “Hillbilly Elegy,” and “The Sound of Metal,” there isn’t much left to be screened before this list is finalized. I will be watching most of the titles needed in the coming days and those include “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “News of the World,” “Happiest Season,” “Minari,” “Coming 2 America,” “Midnight Sky,” and “Pixar’s Soul.”