1. SOUL
It's not perfect, but it does have a soul! Disney's Soul is a mature and reflexive animated feature that deals with the "true meaning of life", always backed by a wonderful score, great voice work and beautiful visual effects. Soul is a delight for eyes, ears, mind and heart!
2. MINARI
Tender, heartfelt and sweet, Minari's biggest achievement is its ability to connect with the audience by portraying moments that easily might recall each viewer's own personal memories. It's a child's tale, the tale of a marriage on the rocks and a man's personal journey in search of the American dream while he tries to carry his family on his shoulders. Award worthy ensemble acting, a sensitive directing touch and some of the most emotional last acts of the year.
3. VITALINA VARELA
It's a movie of great beauty and a lot of detail. Leonardo Simões' cinematography work is breathtaking, making Vitalina Varela almost "painting looking". Pedro Costa excels himself in style here, but he never sacrifices the movie's narrative. It's a study about lies, fallen hopes and grief led by a phenomenal performance from... well, Vitalina Varela (the actress), who seems to be made to appear on-camera.
4. THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7
It might well be the best "most accessible movie" of the year. A Netflix movie starring an all-star acting ensemble led by Eddie Redmayne and Sacha Baron Cohen, Aaron Sorkin's The Trial of the Chicago 7 is a nice tale worth watching and the tale we need to watch these days! Full of social commentary, with a wonderful narrative pace and well-balanced acting turns, The Trial of the Chicago 7 is as enjoyable as its subject relevant.
5. SOUND OF METAL
Sound of Metal handles a very personal matter for me and I love how it works beautifully. Great work from the sound department, a sharp and sensitive screenplay and A-class acting from Riz Ahmed, Paul Racci and Olivia Cooke make Sound of Metal a movie easy to love despite its raw core that might not please those who seek a random movie.
6. DRUK / ANOTHER ROUND
Madds Mikkelsen and his boys have some fun, but then sh*t stars getting serious...! In fact, what makes Druk such a remarkable movie is its tone: it stars light and funny and it ends dark and full of drama. Mikkelsen delivers the best performance of his career after his work in The Hunt (also directed by Thomas Vinterberg) in a movie that could be a "buddy film" but rises above every audience's expectactions.
7. JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
I was not expecting Judas and the Black Messiah to be THIS good. High expectations, but Judas managed to be much more than the trailer promised me it would be. Led by fantastic performances from LaKeith Steinfield and, specially, Daniel Kaluuya (who delivers what might be this year's best performance), Shaka King's big break into big filmmaking does make an impression. A sharp script, great cinematography and editing works and an assured and precise directing hand, Judas and the Black Messiah is a triumph in the department of "historical movies". (included in this list because of the extended awards season)
8. NEVER RARELY SOMETIMES ALWAYS
It just feels real. It just feels authentic. Never Rarely Sometimes Always is a movie that might be difficult to watch if you don't pay attention to the amount of detail and no-non sense plot. It deals with a relevant issue and Eliza Hittman truly understands the tone the movie's subject requires. Newcomers Sidney Flanigan and Talia Ryder deliver career-defining breakthrough performances and they promise they are actresses we should keep under our radar. It's about female friendship. It's about a society that punishes the person and doesn't solve the problem. And it is beautiful.
9. TENET
It's not Christopher Nolan's best, but Tenet makes sure you keep thinking about it for weeks to come. It might be confusing for some people, but, overall, I think Tenet's concept and technical execution are brilliant most of the times. A mind-blowing original score, great acting from supporting players Pattinson and Debicki, jaw-dropping editing work, great visual effects and extravaganza sound work, Tenet is everything a blockbuster should be - and I was lucky enough to see it in a good theatre.
10. EMMA.
A delicious and stylish period romantic-comedy. Jane Austen's source material sure offers plenty of good material for a movie, but Autumn de Wilde's eye for a pastel narrative and for a magnetic leading lady - the great Anya Taylor-Joy - offers the audiences one of the best early releases of 2020. I'm sure it will become a cult movie as time goes by!
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
1917, for being a 2019 movie in US, but I only got the opportunity to watch it in 2020 (in Portugal).
Palm Springs, for being a surpring "not so guilty" guilty pleasure and because it made me laugh out loud
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