Top 10 Movies That Will Blow Your Mind in 2020
#10: “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” (2020)
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When “Midsommar” came out in 2019, it was described as both a horror movie and a breakup movie. “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” is another film that will bring out the terror in troubled relationships. Based on Iain Reid’s acclaimed debut novel, this thriller stars Jessie Buckley as a woman considering calling it quits with her boyfriend, played by Jesse Plemons. On a trip to meet his parents, they take a detour full of philosophical conversations and psychological twists. From “Being John Malkovich,” to “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” to “Anomalisa,” writer/director Charlie Kaufman has given us some of the most mind-bending films ever made. He’s never tackled straight-up horror, however, which will make this Netflix movie all the more unpredictable.
#9: “The Many Saints of Newark” (2020)
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Over a decade later, fans are still analyzing the ambiguous ending of “The Sopranos.” We may never get a sequel series, but this prequel movie will give us a glimpse of a young Tony Soprano, played by the late James Gandolfini’s son Michael. Of course, this crime drama is just as much about Tony’s father Giovanni Francis “Johnny Boy” Soprano, played by Jon Bernthal, and Christopher’s father Dickie Moltisanti, played by Alessandro Nivola. Taking place during the 1967 Newark riots, the screenplay is being penned by “Sopranos” creator David Chase and Lawrence Konner. “The Sopranos” was already a very cinematic series, but “The Many Saints of Newark” should be especially worthy of the big screen with “Game of Thrones” director Alan Taylor behind the camera.
#8: “Mank” (2020)
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It’s no secret that Orson Welles directed, produced, wrote, and starred in “Citizen Kane.” Yet, people sometimes forget that this cinematic masterpiece had a second writer who was just as integral: Herman J. Mankiewicz. This biopic shines a spotlight on Mankiewicz, played by the great Gary Oldman, and the various problems he confronted while developing what’s widely considered the greatest film ever made. “Mank” should be a deeply personal film for director David Fincher, seeing how it was scribed by his father Jack prior to his passing in 2003. Fincher previously directed the pilots for “House of Cards” and “Mindhunter,” delivering two hits for Netflix. “Mank” promises to be another winning combination between the streaming service and a filmmaker at the top of his game.
#7: “Zola” (2020)
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We know that Hollywood will make a movie about anything, but a Twitter thread? It may sound like the industry is grasping at straws, but if you’re familiar with Aziah “Zola” Wells, you know why her unbelievable story needs to be adapted for the silver screen. Janicza Bravo’s film centers on a waitress named Zola, who spontaneously decides to take a road trip to Florida with a woman she just met. The two intend to make some quick cash by stripping, but Zola soon finds herself wrapped up in a plot involving an unstable boyfriend, a trigger-happy pimp, and “trapping.” If the early reviews coming out of Sundance are any indication, “Zola” should be every bit as wild and crazy as its source material.
#6: “Blonde” (2020)
Marilyn Monroe & Ana de Armas Side by Side - Blonde (2022) VS Real-Life
Although Marilyn Monroe is arguably the most iconic blonde in cinematic history, she ironically dyed her hair. With that in mind, perhaps it’s fitting that Monroe is being portrayed here by Ana de Armas, who’s naturally a brunette. The Cuban-Spanish actress has risen to popularity in recent years with her supporting role in “Blade Runner 2049” and lead performance as caretaker Marta in “Knives Out.” De Armas looks completely unrecognizable as the blonde bombshell in this Netflix movie. Don’t sit down expecting to watch a conventional biopic, though. Writer/director Andrew Dominik instead offers a fictionalized depiction of Monroe’s life, based on the novel by Joyce Carol Oates. Real or fantasy, we’re expecting a fascinating exploration of the woman behind Marilyn, Norma Jeane Baker.
#5: “Annette” (2020)
“Annette” marks the first film in nearly eight years from French director Leos Carax, who previously brought us “Holy Motors.” Adam Driver plays a standup comic while Marion Cotillard stars as his wife, an opera singer. It’s not uncommon for talent to run in the family, but their daughter Annette is born with an especially extraordinary gift. The plot has otherwise been kept under wraps, but that setup alone already has us hooked. Ron Mael and Russell Mael of the rock band Sparks wrote the screenplay and the songs for this original musical. Between Cotillard’s music track record and Driver’s surprisingly solid singing chops, “Annette” should carry a unique tune, to say the least.
#4: “Last Night in Soho” (2020)
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Although “Shaun of the Dead” is often billed as a comedy, it also works as a legitimate zombie movie. Director Edgar Wright’s knack for horror will be on full display in “Last Night in Soho,” which he co-wrote with “1917’s” Krysty Wilson-Cairns. The premise sounds a bit like “Midnight in Paris” with a psychological thriller twist. Thomasin McKenzie from “Jojo Rabbit” plays a woman who travels back to the 1960s where she meets her idol, an aspiring singer played by Scream Queen Anya Taylor-Joy. 60s London isn’t quite what she pictured, however, taking her to places reminiscent of “Repulsion” and “Don't Look Now.” Following “Baby Driver,” “Scott Pilgrim,” and the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy, we’d be shocked if Wright ruined his perfect track record now.
#3: “The French Dispatch” (2020)
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Considering that writer/director Wes Anderson has yet to produce a true critical dud, it’s not surprising that he would make a “love letter to journalists.” His latest film takes place in a fictional French city during World War II, chronicling a series of stories from The French Dispatch magazine. Anderson’s usual suspects are on board, including Frances McDormand, Jason Schwartzman, Willem Dafoe, Tilda Swinton, Saoirse Ronan, Adrien Brody, and of course Bill Murray. The film also marks Anderson’s first collaboration with Timothée Chalamet, Christoph Waltz, Jeffrey Wright, Benicio del Toro, Elisabeth Moss, and Kate Winslet, who seem well-suited for the wonderful world of Wes. “The French Dispatch” is poised to be the ensemble piece of the year from a filmmaker still in his prime.
#2: “Tenet” (2020)
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Christopher Nolan’s name alone is more than enough to get any film fan excited. Likewise, Nolan is one of the few filmmakers working today who could secure a $205 million budget for an entirely original idea. From “Memento,” to “Inception,” to “Interstellar,” the maze of time has always played a key role in Nolan’s films. So, it was only a matter of time until he made a time travel espionage thriller. “Tenet” centers on a man who sets out to prevent World War III from happening. John David Washington of “BlacKkKlansman” plays the agent selected for this task in a cast that also includes Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, and Michael Caine. Although it possesses echoes of Nolan’s previous work, “Tenet” looks anything but familiar.
#1: “Dune” (2020)
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If David Lynch’s 1984 version of “Dune” seemed to prove anything, it’s that Frank Herbert’s epic sci-fi novel is simply unfilmable. Of course, we never expected to see a “Blade Runner” sequel that lived up to its predecessor. Yet, director Denis Villeneuve exceeded expectations, proving that he was the right filmmaker to finally do “Dune” justice. Bringing together an all-star cast that includes Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, and Oscar Isaac, amongst others, the film transports the audience to a bleak desert planet overrun with massive sandworms. The story follows its heroes on a perilous journey to obtain the Spice, the universe’s most coveted substance. Even if you’ve never heard of the books or previous adaptations, we guarantee you’ll hear a lot about “Dune” going forward.
