Belated Film Review Round-Up: 2020 Documentary Edition

Welcome back to another belated film review round-up, where I give my (brief) thoughts on some recent films I’ve seen! There have been a LOT of strong documentaries released so far this year, and I took the time to watch as many as I could over the past week or so. Enjoy my thoughts on Time, Feels Good Man, Athlete A, The Social Dilemma, and Totally Under Control!

Best Picture Power Rankings: October 2020 Edition

Major film festivals like Venice, TIFF and AFI are now behind us, which means we have a much clearer picture of which prestige films will be contenders than ever before! Who will be our champion this year at the 2021 Oscars? Which films will shoot up the rankings and surprise like Parasite did last year? Let’s take a snapshot of our current moment so we can get a sense for how each film moves from month to month!

‘On the Rocks’ Film Review: Sugary, But Goes Down Easy

On the Rocks (2020) is the latest Sofia Coppola film and her first collaboration with Bill Murray since 2003’s standout Lost in Translation. The rom-com stars Murray and Rashida Jones as a father-daughter pair who embark on a journey across NYC to stalk Jones’ husband, suspecting him of cheating. It enjoyed solid reviews at this year’s (online) New York Film Festival and released on Apple TV+ this Friday. Is it a return to form for Coppola and Murray, or is it yet another disappointment from the filmmaker?

‘Borat Subsequent Moviefilm’ Review: Cringe Comedy for a New Era

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime For Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation Of Kazakhstan (2020) is the sequel to the 2005 film Borat, with Sacha Baron Cohen returning in the lead titular role. The film sees the iconic character returning to America with his young daughter, where he has to deal with many more problems such as COVID-19 and the presidential election. Even before this film came out it caused quite a stir, with several high-level government officials like Rudy Giuliani forced to release statements defending their actions in the film. Can this achieve the same level of success and cultural impact as the first?

‘Nine Days’ Film Review: Life After Loss

Nine Days (2020) is a science fiction drama film from writer-director Edson Oda in his feature film debut. It stars Winston Duke as a man who interviews prospective candidates for a chance to be born into life. It debuted at Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, where Oda won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award, and it is scheduled for an awards-qualifying January release. Will this be able to transcend genre bias and win voters over?

‘One Night in Miami’ Film Review: On Race, Influence, and Tiny Hotel Rooms

One Night in Miami (2020) is the directorial debut of actress Regina King, best known for her Oscar-winning turn in Barry Jenkins’ If Beale Street Could Talk. Adapted from a stage play, it tells the story of four famous black men – Cassius Clay, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke and Jim Brown – who meet up to celebrate a night out on the town. It screened at TIFF and Venice earlier this year to strong reviews and will debut in theaters this December. Is this going to be a major Oscars player?

‘Minari’ Film Review: A Love Letter to the American Dream

Minari (2020) is a drama film written and directed by Isaac Lee Chung. It stars Steven Yeun as a Korean father who moves his family to Arkansas to start a farm. The film debuted at Sundance earlier this year, where it won both the Jury Prize and the Audience Award, and is slated for release later this year. Can this break the mold and win over Academy voters this winter? Join me and let’s discuss the film’s merits!

‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’ Film Review: And Justice For All

The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020) is the latest courtroom drama from writer-director Aaron Sorkin. It features an ensemble cast including Sacha Baron Cohen, Eddie Redmayne, Mark Rylance, Frank Langella and many more in the true story of a group of Vietnam War protesters on trial for their role in violent clashes with police forces. Originally scheduled for theatrical release by Paramount Pictures, it moved to digital platforms in the wake of COVID-19 and dropped on Netflix this Friday. Is this as big of an Oscars player as everyone has hyped it up to be?

‘Charm City Kings’ Film Review: Influence Corrupting Innocence

Charm City Kings (2020) is a drama film directed by Angel Manuel Soto and written by Sherman Payne, produced by Will Smith & Jada Pinkett Smith with a story co-written by Barry Jenkins. Based on a 2013 documentary, it tells the story of a black teen named Mouse who joins an infamous group of Baltimore dirt-bike riders known as the Midnight Clique. It premiered at Sundance Film Festival earlier this year and dropped on the HBO Max streaming service last weekend. Is it worth the watch?

‘The Forty-Year-Old Version’ Film Review: A Star Is Born

The 40-Year-Old Version (2020) is the directorial debut of playwright Radha Blank, who also writes and stars in the film. The comedy follows a fictionalized version of herself as she struggles to make it as a hip-hop artist in New York City. The film won the Best Director award at this year’s Sundance Film Festival before dropping on Netflix this past weekend. Is this the world’s introduction to a fresh new voice in entertainment?