After watching dozens of different films, our team has decided on the 10 best films of 2020 and is eager to share them with you.
So, it's time to name those films that made the past year brighter, more interesting, and more captivating. Here are the 10 best films that premiered in Russia in 2020, according to the team of the 'After Credits' project. Can you guess who's at the top?
10th Place — Little Women
'Little Women' by Greta Gerwig is the seventh film adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's novel, and yet the director managed to present her unique vision of the story, slightly shifting its emphases and changing the ending.
This is an example of respectful treatment of the original, down to verbatim dialogues and the conveyed atmosphere of the joyful chaos in the home of the four sisters. The recreated costumes and sets are also mesmerizing. But the film brings to the forefront new personalities and performances by the actresses, especially the rising stars — Saoirse Ronan and Florence Pugh. It is also important that the film engagingly touches on themes of female self-realization and creative freedom, making it worthy of viewing.
9th Place — The Lighthouse
In an amazing way, Robert Eggers' film incorporates the works of Shakespeare, ancient myths, sea tales, the literature of H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allan Poe, and much more. The result is an explosive mixture, activated by the performances of the actors — Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson. The film frightens and excites, and it all happens amidst the captivating beauty of monochrome imagery.
8th Place — An Officer and a Spy (J'accuse)
Alas, the film suffers from the same effect as 'Mank' — viewers expect something more innovative or hypnotic from Roman Polanski. But his new drama on the theme of 'man versus system' can delight us with magnificent costumes, wonderful sets, an engaging development of the main character, and brilliant acting performances, among which Louis Garrel stands out especially brightly, stealing the viewer's attention during every one of his appearances on screen (even if there aren't that many).
7th Place — Another Round (Druk)
The favorite of the European Film Academy, the film really turned out to be as good as critics and ordinary viewers say it is. Thomas Vinterberg's film successfully balances on the edge between an outright comedy about teachers and their absurd experiment and a moralizing drama about the impact of alcohol on a person's life. A brilliant Mads Mikkelsen, killer jokes, an inspiring dance — you won't forget such a film anytime soon after watching.
In the film 'Another Round', Mads Mikkelsen reunited with Thomas Vinterberg to tell a story about how to change your life with the help of alcohol.
Open material6th Place — I'm Thinking of Ending Things
Charlie Kaufman once again demonstrated his talent for writing extraordinary scripts that are difficult to crack at a glance without a large amount of knowledge of cinema, literature, and pop culture in general. Interestingly, the numerous mysteries and references in the film do not try to hide the main message from the viewer; they serve to show what a person can go through in their struggle with their own demons, and in what unexpected form this can manifest.
The film 'I'm Thinking of Ending Things' by the author of 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' Charlie Kaufman is a smart and multi-layered film that needs some clarification for even greater
Open material5th Place — Mank
For many, the new film by David Fincher became a disappointment, because the master (almost) always made outstanding films. 'Mank' is not brilliant, sometimes even a bit boring and may lose the viewer's attention, but visually it is one of the best films of the year. The flashback narrative structure, frame composition, film processing, music, and sound — all of this amazingly recreates the atmosphere of 1930s Hollywood in detail and pays tribute to the film's main character, namely, the script for 'Citizen Kane'. Perhaps we are unlikely to want to rewatch 'Mank', but one cannot help but admire Fincher's perfectionism in cinematography.
After the premiere of David Fincher's film 'Mank', the question of the best film of the year remains open.
Open material4th Place — 1917
Director Sam Mendes and his team so effectively immersed viewers in the trenches of World War I alongside two young British soldiers that they watched the journey from point A to point B with bated breath.
The film's main feature is the effect of shooting in a single take for almost two hours. In reality, there are only two scenes in the film that are truly such, but the 'great run' from the trench will certainly go down in cinema history. Another contribution is the use of a new type of camera designed by Roger Deakins, for which he deservedly won his 'Oscar'.
The film '1917' is a case where 'words fail, only emotions remain'.
3rd Place — The Truth (La vérité)
Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda, author of the once-sensational film 'Shoplifters', this time told not a poignant but a very heartfelt story about family relationships and the value of memory in a person's life. And when Catherine Deneuve, Juliette Binoche and Ethan Hawke take a direct part in this story — it cannot be bad a priori. Do not expect any revelations from the film, but it will guaranteed give you emotions, warmth in your soul, and a long pleasant aftertaste.
2nd Place — The Trial of the Chicago 7
Aaron Sorkin has always been famous for his lively and brilliant dialogues — and 'The Trial...' certainly didn't disappoint in terms of dialog, especially given its rich factual basis. The real trial of participants in anti-war protests was a truly politically biased farce, and the antics of the defendants and the judge's disputes with defense attorneys led to additional 4-year sentences for each of the seven and both lawyers on grounds of 'contempt of court.' The film is one of the best legal dramas in recent years, and Sacha Baron Cohen deserves at least a nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
1st Place — The Gentlemen
A bright, sharp, and in every sense triumphant return of Guy Ritchie to the world of British crime comedy. There are many characters, but it's hard to get confused; each has their own unique personality and an important place in the plot. An unreliable narrator adds interest, Charlie Hunnam delivers his best work in cinema, the hilariously funny Colin Farrell becomes a trendsetter for men's tracksuits and an example of how to joke about hot-button social topics, and Matthew McConaughey finally feels in his element. Unambiguously and unanimously — the best film of 2020, which we can confidently recommend — especially considering that soon we will be treated to a series based on the film.
To mark the film's release on online platforms, we have highlighted 5 reasons for you to watch it as soon as possible.
Open materialBest regards, the 'After Credits' team
- Varvara Ulianenok
- Larisa Polshikova
- Roman Kovalev
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