2020 was a rather boring year, wasn't it? Felt like not all that much happened, huh? Psych! In all honesty - and excuse my French (in the intros of all places) but what the actual f**k was this year? I saw a funny meme that joked about God accidentally scheduling a whole decade of events into a single year due to a computer typo. Wouldn't THAT be funny if it were true? No. No it would not. And the next 9 years should be uneventful (from bad events) and enthralling (from good events) because of it. Make it happen Big Guy!
Strangely, it actually turned out to be a stellar year in 3 of these 4 categories. I connected with a lot of great music, was able to watch a lot of captivating TV (though those next seasons might be far away), and boy oh boy what. a. gaming. year! And as we're all well aware, one of COVID's biggest financial casualties was the beloved theaters, which is where I spend most of my time on this site. As is the case with most things 2020: it definitely was not a normal year.
But as humans have shown (mostly): we take our licks and we keep on. So because of that, I present you with the 10th ANNUAL (Holy S**t!) 2020 Rath Awards that may feel a little weird in the movie section, but are still going forward because the show must go on. As always, PLEASE SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS! I love hearing from those of you that read through these and agree, disagree, or are surprised by my picks. Per usual, this is a LONG post, so settle in, pour your drink of choice (or several...because 2020), and enjoy!
Previous Rath Awards can be found here: 2019 // 2018 // 2017 // 2016 // 2015 // 2014 // 2013 // 2012 // 2011
BEST IN GENRE | ALTERNATIVE / ROCK
Imploding the Mirage by The Killers
Tickets to My Downfall by Machine Gun Kelly
folklore/evermore by Taylor Swift
In the Darkest of Nights, Let the Birds Sing by Foster the People
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| Winner: folklore/evermore by Taylor Swift Runner-up: Tickets to My Downfall by Machine Gun Kelly |
This is obviously an eclectic group of artists as it was my "catch-all" for ones that didn't fit into the next two categories. As a T-Swift lover, this was an easy decision with her highly-successful dual surprise albums this year. They're some of her best work ever, and the competition was light here (though, this is the first time I've liked Machine Gun Kelly or punk rock in a long time, to his credit).
BEST IN GENRE | HIP-HOP & RAP
Funeral by Lil Wayne
Blame it on Baby by DaBaby
3.15.20 by Childish Gambino
Legends Never Die by Juice WRLD
Detroit 2 by Big Sean
Modus Vivendi by 070 Shake
Man on the Moon III: The Chosen by Kid Cudi
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| Winner: Legends Never Die by Juice WRLD Runner-up: Modus Vivendi by 070 Shake |
I've never been a huge Juice WRLD fan before this album and was really only aware of the songs on which he was featured, but I couldn't stop listening to this thing during the summer, particularly when I had my small "I guess I'm into running now?" phase. For the particular category - rap/hip-hop - the late rapper delivers one of my favorite rap albums in recent years and it's a shame that I'm only just now finding out.
BEST IN GENRE | POP
Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa
~how I'm feeling~ by Lauv
Manic by Halsey
Chromatica by Lady Gaga
Plastic Hearts by Miley Cyrus
Positions by Ariana Grande
After Hours by The Weeknd
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| Winner: Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa Runner-up: Manic by Halsey |
I love a good pop album, but there are times where the genre needs some shaking up. Things can sound too "samey" (more than usual). Dua Lipa's Future Nostalgia delivers just some quality pop that does exactly what it's supposed to do: make you tap your foot, lighten your spirits, and bob your head while maybe singing out loud. And much like the title suggests, years from now this is going to be an album with songs you look back on with fondness.
BEST HIT SONG
"Save Your Tears" by The Weeknd
"Toosie Slide" by Drake
"Be Kind" by Marshmallow feat. Halsey
"cardigan" by Taylor Swift
"Blinding Lights" by The Weeknd
"Rain on Me" by Lady Gaga feat. Ariana Grande
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| Winner: "Save Your Tears" by The Weeknd Runner-up: "Be Kind" by Marshmallow feat. Halsey |
The Weeknd gave us tons of incredible music from his album and while "Blinding Lights" was technically his biggest song by far, it's "Save Your Tears" that often makes me stop what I'm doing and dance, sing, or just listen to the effortlessly groovy beat. It ricochets through your body and is my favorite song from an album with plenty to choose from.
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Dua Lipa
Halsey
The Weeknd
Juice WRLD
Taylor Swift
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| Winner: Taylor Swift Runner-up: Halsey |
Honestly, how could it be anyone other than Swift? She's been cranking out music since 2019 with Lover and delivered TWO (2!) surprise (!) albums this year, both of which reinvented her style, were some of the best she's ever done - which is saying something - and displayed some of the most thoughtful writing we've heard from someone who's known for it. She's been taking full advantage of the creativity that a year like 2020 can provide and her combination of quality and quantity earns her this award easily.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
5 | Legends Never Die by Juice WRLD
4 | Modus Vivendi by 070 Shake
3 | folklore/evermore by Taylor Swift
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| 1| Manic by Halsey 2 | After Hours by The Weeknd |
Before getting to the winner, I should comment that it's a rarity to have a Top 5 albums of which I'd argue any of them could have won. So really this came down to the one I listened to the most in which Halsey narrowly beat The Weeknd's instant classic album. Halsey's Manic was a whirlwind of a first listen. I've grown to love pretty much everything she does in recent years and in this album she tries a little bit of everything with tons of success. Her vocals are unique, her writing is open, and her beats and melodies are memorable. Songs like "Ashley", "You should be sad", "killing boys" and basically every other song/interlude on the track has something to offer. This is probably one of my favorite albums since I started the Rath Awards 10 years ago...let that sink in.
BEST NEWCOMER
Hunters
The Outsider
Blood of Zeus
The Queen's Gambit
The Flight Attendant
Devs
Utopia
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| Winner: Hunters Runner-up: (TIE) The Queen's Gambit and Devs |
I feel like this was an underseen show, and it's hard to know if it will continue (which plays a factor in my deciding of this award) where there's many shows on this list that are one and done. Many complained about Hunters' tone swings, but what I found was a highly compelling narrative that was able to balance comedy and timely drama all in one package. Throw in an effective and significant (it's not just a cameo) performance from Al Pacino and you've got the makings of a great new series.
MOST ANTICIPATED
The Falcon & the Winter Soldier
Stranger Things Season 4
The Boys Season 3
Ozark Season 4
The Mandalorian Season 3
Better Call Saul Season 6
Brooklyn Nine Nine Season 8
Barry Season 3
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| Winner: Ozark Season 4 Runner-up: Stranger Things Season 4 |
This was a hard list to choose from! What's worse is we don't really know when some of these will actually come. Either way, I'll be tuning in on Day 1 for each of these, though given that we're entering Ozark's final, bigger season, I'm excited about how this will be wrapped up - particularly given the gruesome cliffhanger from Season 3.
BEST EPISODE
"Genre" - Westworld
"All In" - Ozark
"Whenever You're Ready" - The Good Place (Finale)
"Happy Ending" - Schitt's Creek (Finale)
"Bagman" - Better Call Saul
"What I Know" - The Boys
"Part I - Rue" - Euphoria
"End Game" - The Queen's Gambit
"The Jedi" - The Mandalorian
"The Tragedy" - The Mandalorian
"The Rescue" - The Mandalorian
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| Winner: "The Jedi" / "The Tragedy" / "The Rescue" - The Mandalorian Runner-up: "Part I - Rue" - Euphoria |
How could I give this to anything but one of these? And since these are my awards, why don't I just give it to all of them since they basically acted as a massive, complete, rousing, exciting, emotional movie? The Mandalorian cemented that, hopefully, Disney has learned how to use its Star Wars property now vs. the unplanned nonsense we got with this last trilogy. These three episodes made ties to Star Wars of old and new, while still focusing on our core characters and why we care about them so much. And it was incredibly awesome along the way too.
BEST ACTOR
Aaron Paul as Caleb in Westworld
Jason Bateman as Marty Byrde in Ozark
Tom Pelphrey as Ben Davis in Ozark
Al Pacino as Meyer Offerman in Hunters
Ben Mendelsohn as Ralph Anderson in The Outsider
Dan Levy as David Rose in Schitt's Creek
Bob Odenkirk as Saul Goodman in Better Call Saul
Toni Starr as Homelander in The Boys
Nick Offerman as Forest in Devs
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| Winner: Tom Pelphrey as Ben Davis in Ozark Runner-up: Toni Starr as Homelander in The Boys |
Another strong list and Toni Starr should not be undersold for how compelling of a character Homelander has become on The Boys. But it was truly Tom Pelphrey's bipolar Ben in Ozark that was the best performance of the year. It was a tour de force performance that made viewers hate him, sympathize with him, all while causing great stress. He was an extra dose of chaos thrown into a show with a world that doesn't allow for it, and the results were explosive.
BEST ACTRESS
Evan Rachel Wood as Dolores in Westworld
Laura Linney as Wendy Byrde in Ozark
Julia Gardner as Ruth Langmore in Ozark
Cynthia Erivo as Holly Gibney in The Outsider
Rhea Seehorn as Kim Wexler in Better Call Saul
Anya Taylor Joy as Beth Harmon in The Queen's Gambit
Kaley Cuoco as Cassie in The Flight Attendant
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| Winner: Anya Taylor Joy as Beth Harmon in The Queen's Gambit Runner-up: (TIE) Laura Linney as Wendy Byrde and Julia Gardner as Ruth Langmore in Ozark |
The Queen's Gambit seemed like the much more sophisticated (and better) "Wave 2" quarantine craze than it's Netflix cousin, Tiger King, earlier in the year. Much could be said by how much of a storm it overtook audiences by and I'm sure the renowned interest in chess is only a good thing for the world. And as good as the show was from a technical perspective, let's not undersell a captivating performance by Anya Taylor Joy in a multi-faceted role of a tortured genius. It was the anchor that held the show in place.
BEST SHOW | COMEDY
Brooklyn Nine Nine
Modern Family
Schitt's Creek
The Good Place
Big Mouth
What We Do in the Shadows
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| Winner: Big Mouth Runner-up: (TIE) Brooklyn Nine Nine & Schitt's Creek |
The argument could be made for most the shows on this list, but I feel like it's the uber-raunchy, but yet incredibly progressive and open, Big Mouth, that has taken the most significant leap forward in quality this year. The impressive voice acting cast has hit their stride and the characters are firmly defined. There's a lot of laughs to be had on this entire list, but I found the shock & awe tactics of Big Mouth to be irresistibly hilarious.
BEST SHOW | DRAMA
Ozark
Westworld
Hunters
The Outsider
Better Call Saul
The Boys
The Mandalorian
The Queen's Gambit
Fargo
Devs
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| Winner: Ozark Runner-up: (TIE) The Boys and The Mandalorian |
Clearly I cannot pick my Runner-ups well this year! But no matter, because they're both bested by Ozark. How do I know? Does this picture above give you anxiety just looking at it? It sure does me. Beyond that, Ozark had its best season yet (which is saying a lot) and is headed into the home stretch. If the quality continues at the pace it's on, we're likely going to have one of the best TV shows of all time once it's all said and done and season 3 will likely be cited as the one where it went from great to "Wow".
MOST DISAPPOINTING
Watch Dogs Legion
Marvel's Avengers
Squadrons
Cyberpunk 2077
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| Winner: Marvel's Avengers Runner-up: Cyberpunk 2077 |
With more games comes more opportunity for disappointment. Several times I found myself wishing certain games would have done more. For many, I realize Cyberpunk is far and away the most disappointing, but I firmly believe after bug fixing the masses will love it and it will have a long life. Avengers? Not so much. I enjoyed my time with it, but it was also a creative miss in terms of trying to make it a grind/loot fest vs. a compelling campaign. Add in that new heroes - which would do wonders to keep the game alive - are slow to arrive and now gamers (including myself) have moved on.
MOST ANTICIPATED
Halo Infinite
Horizon Forbidden West
Far Cry 6
Hogwarts Legacy
Cyberpunk 2077 (fixed)
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| Winner: Halo Infinite Runner-up: Horizon Forbidden West |
For me to have chosen Halo over my favorite PlayStation exclusive of the last generation is a huge testament to my hope toward the game. For starters, it'll be what gets me to buy an XSX. In addition, I believe that Microsoft knows it needs to bring the thunder this generation after getting absolutely mopped by PlayStation and Nintendo in recent years. They've made lots of moves to build their exclusives potential, but they know their old series also need some new life. Halo is their biggest and they have to make a statement with it. I anticipate it will be incredible.
BEST SOUNDTRACK / ORIGINAL SCORE
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
The Last of Us Part II
Ghost of Tsushima
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| Winner: The Last of Us Part II Runner-up: Assassin's Creed Valhalla |
Leave it to a somewhat random/lesser award to be one of the hardest ones to decide. The argument could be made for each of these games up there so ultimately I went by preference. The winner and runner-up already have been added to my "writing" playlist and they both invoke so much imagery, intensity, and emotion...they're better than most film scores from this year. Truly wonderful accomplishments.
BEST GRAPHICS
Ghost of Tsushima
The Last of Us Part II
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Cyberpunk 2077
Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Call of Duty: Black Ops - Cold War
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| Winner: Spider-Man: Miles Morales Runner-up: (TIE) The Last of Us Part II and Ghost of Tsushima |
So yeah...a theme you'll notice this year is that it was wonderful to own a PlayStation. There were major exclusives and three of them were nominated for this award. In the end though, it was playing Miles Morales on my PS5 (yes, I got one...barely) with ray-tracing and 60 frames per second that took my breath away. It's a powerful machine and this is an awesome game to show it off.
MOST FUN
Doom Eternal
Ghost of Tsushima
Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Fall Guys
Astro's Playroom
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| Winner: Astro's Playroom Runner-up: Spider-Man: Miles Morales |
While I won't/didn't do a formal review on it, let me take time to praise the free and pre-loaded game the PS5 comes with: Astro's Playroom. It's an effective blend of nostalgia (that seriously calls back memories) and shows off the new controller. The result is a Mario-quality platformer - yes, it's that good - that's cute, colorful, innovative, and gorgeous. This will forever be one of my favorite experiences on the PS5.
BEST MULTIPLAYER
Dreams
Fall Guys
Doom Eternal
Ghost of Tsushima
Among Us
Call of Duty: Black Ops - Cold War
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| Winner: Fall Guys Runner-up: Among Us |
While I've kind of fallen off playing Fall Guys (get it?), it's still incredible how it took the gaming world by storm and continues to do so. I should get back into it as I imagine some of the angering kinks have been worked out...and likely replaced with new ones. Either way it was a game that many used to stay connected with each other while in quarantine and it wasn't about shooting each other up, so I guess that's a positive!
BEST CAMPAIGN
The Last of Us Part II
Doom Eternal
Ghost of Tsushima
Call of Duty: Black Ops - Cold War
Spider-Man: Miles Morales
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| Winner: Doom Eternal Runner-up: The Last of Us Part II |
Another tough decision, but then I remember how often Doom Eternal kept presenting new and fresh things to me on top of the already-insane pace and speed. It kept me on my toes better than any game this year and was a pure shot of adrenaline with deeper gameplay than you'd expect. Each mission felt unique and fun in a new way that reminded me a lot of Titanfall 2's classic campaign.
BEST STORY
The Last of Us Part II
Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Ghost of Tsushima
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Call of Duty: Black Ops - Cold War
Watch Dogs Legion
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| Winner: The Last of Us Part II Runner-up: Ghost of Tsushima |
Once more, I want you to focus on the list there. Many PS exclusives to go along with the graphics department. There's a reason PlayStation is the place to be right now and its narratives are a big component. I'm saddened to see the [vocal minority] gaming community have such an immature reaction to this iconic follow up. If ever there was a series and world where things are not going to end with rainbows and a "good feeling", it would be this one. Many months later, I for one can't stop thinking about its intricate characters and the outcomes. It's a masterwork of storytelling, despite what some would have you believe.
GAME OF THE YEAR
5 | Spider-Man: Miles Morales
4 | Doom Eternal
3 | Assassin's Creed Valhalla
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| 1 | The Last of Us Part II 2 | Ghost of Tsushima |
BEST RETRO REVIEWED FILM
Goldfinger
The Prestige
Shutter Island
Apocalypse Now
Back to the Future Part II
The Spy Who Loved Me
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| Winner: The Spy Who Loved Me Runner-up: Apocalypse Now |
I certainly didn't skip out on the opportunity that 2020 provided to catch up on my backlog of unseen films. Overall I Retro Reviewed 22(!) films this year including 4 from Christopher Nolan, the Back to the Future Trilogy, and 10 Bond films. I enjoyed most of those 22 films, but none more than the blockbuster, top-tier Bond film, The Spy Who Loved Me. It's an effortlessly fun film.
RATH'S WRATH (aka WORST MOVIE)
The Rhythm Section
The New Mutants
Antebellum
The Lie
Evil Eye
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| Winner: Evil Eye Runner-up: The Lie |
Both of these films were just dumb, but Evil Eye does one worse and just simply has no reason to exist. Part of the Blumhouse horror anthology, these were the ones holding the other okay/good films down. Evil Eye is dreadfully dull, dumb, and offers nothing in terms of special quality. Its 3/10 is one of the lowest I've ever given.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT
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| Winner: 2020, lol |
I mean...could it have been anything else? Moving on...
BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS
Tenet
The Invisible Man
Wonder Woman 1984
Greenland
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| Winner: Tenet Runner-up: The Invisible Man |
Nolan used a lot of practical effects in Tenet, much to the film's betterment, but when it came to inverting time - something he obviously needs a little computer wizardry to execute - there was nothing (from a special effects standpoint) quite as captivating this year. Simply watching things go backwards was blowing my mind.
BEST SOUND / SOUND EDITING
1917
The Invisible Man
Soul
Extraction
Sound of Metal
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| Winner: Sound of Metal Runner-up: 1917 |
A significant part of what made Sound of Metal so incredible was the way the film plays with sound. It puts you in the shoes of Ruben - who's recently deaf - and creates active empathy for the character because you're getting a taste of what he's experiencing. There aren't many films that can say that and it was one of the more effective "gimmicks" of the year, though calling it that is doing it a disservice.
FUNNIEST FILM
An Irish Story: This is My Home
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Soul
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| Winner: Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga Runner-up: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm |
Part of me is surprised that it wasn't a year with more comedy offerings (or perhaps I missed them) in a time where we needed them most. I had good laughs from each of these films with Eurovision Song Contest being so ludicrously stupid that it's taking the win here. No other film gave us "Ya Ya Ding Dong" and it's Ferrell's funniest in a while.
BEST ACTION
1917
Birds of Prey
Tenet
Extraction
The Old Guard
Wonder Woman 1984
Mulan
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| Winner: Tenet Runner-up: Extraction |
To be fair, Extraction nearly walked away with this one because of the single take chase scene, but aside from that I found it's action "too much" and a bit generic. Tenet on the other hand gave us innovative action with time inversion and most scenes were hard hitting with thunderous punches and tenseness given the mystery behind the plot.
BIGGEST SURPRISE
The Invisible Man
An Irish Story: This is My Home
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
Possessor
Sound of Metal
Greenland
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| Winner: Sound of Metal Runner-up: The Invisible Man |
With the way 2020 played out, I was forced to seek out movies that I normally may have skipped. Sound of Metal might have been one of those in any other year and it reminded me to not judge a book by its cover (or title). I was rewarded with one of the very best - and memorable - films of the year.
MOVIE I MOST OVERRATED
Onward
Birds of Prey
Extraction
"Welcome to the Blumhouse" Horror Anthology
Mank
Wonder Woman 1984
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| Winner: "Welcome to the Blumhouse" Horror Anthology Runner-up: Wonder Woman 1984 |
The more I thought about this one, the more I realized that I didn't really take anything from any of these movies. Some of them I was brutal with (Evil Eye receiving a 3/10, for example), but even the ones I rated higher (Black Box and Nocturne) I'd probably knock down a whole point. These felt too much like forgotten TV episodes and I chalk it up to desperately wanting something to watch in 2020.
MOVIE I MOST UNDERRATED
The Gentleman
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Sound of Metal
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| Winner: Sound of Metal Runner-up: The Gentleman |
You can probably tell by now that Sound of Metal is a special film. And while I felt like I was being overly harsh to The Gentleman at a 7.5, Sound of Metal is a case of my 9/10 score feeling too low based on how much the film has stuck with me after I saw it. I'm not sure it deserves a perfect score, but damn if it's not close.
MOST ORIGINAL
The Platform
Soul
Tenet
Possessor
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| Winner: Soul Runner-up: Tenet |
Soul eeks out a win here over Tenet because its originality works just a little better. We're gifted with another Pixar classic, this time dealing with heady topics like our life's purpose, personalities, and who we are. Per usual with Pixar, it's handled with charm, humor, and thoughtfulness in a highly original (and colorful) package.
BEST SOUNDTRACK
Birds of Prey
An Irish Story: This is My Home
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
Hamilton
The Trial of the Chicago 7
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| Winner: An Irish Story: This is My Home Runner-up: Hamilton |
Sure, Hamilton set the world on fire with its music, hence the nod and runner-up nod here, but it's the covers and original songs of The Black Donnellys that was the absolute best time I had with music in a film this year. They're crazy talented and their music as the background to a much more touching and fun adventure in this documentary was a highlight of the year.
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
1917
Tenet
The Invisible Man
Nomadland
Mank
Soul
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| Winner: Tenet Runner-up: Soul |
This was a surprisingly incredible year for original scores. Each one of the nominations above got a huge "boost" because of the talent composing this music, but none more so than Tenet. With Hans Zimmer unavailable to pair with Nolan for this outing, we instead have Ludwig Goransson proving why he may actually be the next Nolan (he also does stellar work on The Mandalorian). With Tenet's OS, I legitimately couldn't stop listening to it as I worked and wrote this year; it's ever-pulsing push forward being invigorating. POSTERITY is an all time Nolan-film classic song.
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
1917
Da 5 Bloods
Tenet
Nomadland
Possessor
Mank
Sound of Metal
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| Winner: 1917 Runner-up: Nomadland |
Despite how good some of the nominees are, this is one of those "no duh" wins. Roger Deakins and a "single take" war movie with instantly iconic battles that get seared into your mind? 1917 was incredible stuff at the very start of the year and is one of the best examples across many technical categories in recent years.
BEST ENSEMBLE CAST
The Gentleman
Da 5 Bloods
Hamilton
Tenet
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Wonder Woman 1984
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| Winner: The Gentleman Runner-up: The Trial of the Chicago 7 |
The Gentleman gets to have a lot of fun due to its cast, and it probably gains the most of these films from the names on the title card. Some make more of an impact than others, but by and large they all get to create some mischief, play an interesting character, and live in Guy Ritchie's world.
BEST PERFORMANCE | ACTOR
George MacKay as Schofield in 1917
Delroy Lindo as Paul in Da 5 Bloods
Lin Manuel Miranda as Alexander Hamilton in Hamilton
Sacha Baron Cohen as Abbie Hoffman in The Trial of the Chicago 7 and Borat in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Mark Rylance as William Kunstler in Trial of the Chicago 7
Gary Oldman as Herman Mankiewicz in Mank
Riz Ahmed as Ruben Stone in Sound of Metal
Chadwick Boseman as Levee in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and Stormin Normin in Da 5 Bloods
Jamie Foxx as Joe Gardner in Soul
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| Winner: Delroy Lindo as Paul in Da 5 Bloods Runner-up: Riz Ahmed as Ruben Stone in Sound of Metal |
First off, take a look at the representation on that list of nominees! What a great year for minority performances and there was substantial competition this year. Through it all however, I couldn't stop thinking about Delroy Lindo's performance in Da 5 Bloods. It anchors so much of the film's plot and purpose, but his character is so real and genuine, thanks to Lindo's breathtaking delivery. Saying he was the best actor of 2020 is saying a lot, considering the lengthy list of nominations.
BEST PERFORMANCE | ACTRESS
Elisabeth Moss as Cecilia in The Invisible Man
Frances McDormand as Fern in Nomadland
Maria Bakalova as Tutar in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Amanda Seyfried as Marion Davies in Mank
Viola Davis as Ma Rainey in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Tina Fey as 22 in Soul
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| Winner: Frances McDormand as Fern in Nomadland Runner-up: Maria Bakalova as Tutar in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm |
As hilarious and shocking as Maria Bakalova's come-from-out-of-nowhere performance in Borat 2 was, Frances McDormand (who's won this award before) gets this for her somber, thoughtful, and authentic portrayal as a "nomad" in modern America. The film has a lot of things going for it, very much including her excellent performance.
BEST VILLAIN
Oliver Jackson-Cohen as Adrian Griffin in The Invisible Man
Ewan McGregor as Black Mask in Birds of Prey
Kenneth Branagh as Andrei Sator in Tenet
Clarke the Comet in Greenland
Pedro Pascal as Max Lord in Wonder Woman 1984
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| Winner: Kenneth Branagh as Andrei Sator in Tenet Runner-up: Oliver Jackson-Cohen as Adrian Griffin in The Invisible Man |
This is an award that suffered from the delays of bigger movies, but that shouldn't underscore how effective of a villain Branagh becomes in Tenet. I appreciated him much more the second time around and Branagh's all-in performance coupled with a sinister accent make this feel like a classic Bond villain in a Bond-esque world.
BEST HERO
George MacKay as Schofield in 1917
John David Washington as The Protagonist in Tenet
Charlize Theron as Andy in The Old Guard
Chadwick Boseman as Stormin Norman in Da 5 Bloods
Chris Hemsworth as Tyler Rake in Extraction
Liu Yifei as Mulan in Mulan
Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman in Wonder Woman 1984
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| Winner: John David Washington as The Protagonist in Tenet Runner-up: George MacKay as Schofield in 1917 |
Tenet had probably the best good vs. evil setup this year - which often comes from the bigger movies - and thus it was hard to not recognize the star central to the film. First, how cool is it that JDW's character is just "The Protagonist"? Through the film we're along for the ride with him as he figures out his mission, who he can trust, and how time inversion works (all considerably faster than the audience is able to) and he's an easy character to root for.
MOST ANTICIPATED FOR 2021
The King's Man
Dune
No Time to Die
Black Widow
The Matrix 4
Eternals
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| Winner: No Time to Die Runner-up: Dune |
Unsurprisingly, this list is not all that different than last year, the main omission being Tenet, which was last year's winner. So now, in 2021 (aka 2020 Try #2), I'm most looking forward to No Time to Die, largely because I believe it's going to be fantastic. Call it a gut feeling, or call it a law of probability as I've been catching up on old Bond films. Either way, I'm hoping that Daniel Craig's last outing is iconic - and one of the series' best (which is saying a lot).
BEST SCENES OF 2020
Normally this is a list of 15 scenes, but given that there were overall less new films this year (particularly ones with show-stopping scenes) I've decided to go with my Top 10 this year. As usual, this is one of my favorite awards to put together and organize so enjoy this list-within-a-list!
9 | Battle of the Psyches (Possessor) - Possessor is nowhere near as gory or shocking as some would have you believe, but the incredibly interesting premise comes to a head with a battle of trapped minds. This segment is trippy and features some uncomfortable imagery (see above) as these characters wrestle with each other.
8 | King George Anything (Hamilton) - Hamilton has a lot of quality scenes that could probably make their own list, but I was particularly fond of King George's dark humor, eager spittle, and fancy-pants tunes each time he came on.
7 | Single-Take Chase (Extraction) - Extraction tended to try and do too much, but this single take action sequence doesn't deserve that blame. It's executed well, with intense choreography, and keeps the stakes high while consistently changing the locale. It kept me on my toes the whole way through, wondering what would happen next.
6 | 22 Gets Her Earth Badge (Soul) - The emotional climax of Soul is just an all-around effective scene. Our characters have been on an adventure, the original score is in charge, and there's real weight. In a film with many great scenes, I found this one most powerful.
4 | Backwards Interrogation (Tenet) - There's a moment when Tenet goes from a mildly straight-forward spy film to a time-inverting Nolan extravaganza. It really kicks off with this interrogation on either side of the turn styles that instantly warps your mind and understanding of the film, kicking off an epic, pulse-pounding final hour.
3 | Realizing A Mistake (Sound of Metal) - Perhaps "mistake" is the wrong word, but that's the beauty in the closing scene of this powerful film: there's room for interpretation. The camera lingers a good long while on a Ruben who seems to have lost a lot. It's a subtle moment as he sits in the silence, made more impactful by what's come before it.
2 | Through the Trenches (1917) - Another film with many scenes that could go on this list (or comprise one of their own), 1917's first plunge into the darkness of World War I is probably its strongest. It's the first hill of a roller coaster ride that screams for the audience to buckle up & hold on.
1| Landmine Dilemma (Da 5 Bloods) - I could not stop thinking about this scene throughout the year. It's an unforgiving moment in an amazing film that turns the intensity up several notches. There's a lot of components to it, but my eyes were glued to the TV after you-know-what happened. And I audibly exclaimed, alone in my living room, "Holy s**t!!".
BEST DIRECTOR
Sam Mendes - 1917
Spike Lee - Da 5 Bloods
Christopher Nolan - Tenet
Chloe Zhao - Nomadland
Darius Marder - The Sound of Metal
David Fincher - Mank
Pete Doctor - Soul
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| Winner: Sam Mendes - 1917 Runner-up: Pete Doctor - Soul |
There's a lot of deserving names on this list, but none faced as significant of a challenge as Sam Mendes did, trying to capture a big war epic in a "single take" format. It's something that - at least from a technological perspective - will stand the test of time and be an example for future filmmakers. And the result was one hell of a movie.
BEST BLOCKBUSTER
Tenet
Hamilton
Wonder Woman 1984
Extraction
Soul
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| Winner: Tenet Runner-up: Soul |
This was a weird one this year, but I still wanted to have it. Above is a list of films that I think would have made oodles of money had they released in theaters. In a way, Tenet wins this one by default as being the best true blockbuster out of the list up there and it's one of the few theater-going experiences that I get to take with me from 2020. A booming original score, an intense narrative, and a confusing, but highly intriguing plot made it worth seeing twice - once on IMAX.
BEST INDIE / NON-BLOCKBUSTER
The Invisible Man
An Irish Story: This is My Home
Da 5 Bloods
Nomadland
Sound of Metal
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| Winner: Nomadland Runner-up: Sound of Metal |
Nomadland somewhat owes a lot to 2020. It's a great movie regardless, but the sense of loneliness among outdoor beauty hits that much harder in a year where so many dealt with this very real (and very dangerous) mental health issue. It's a film who's plot doesn't accomplish much - something that usually bugs me - but it's so well made and so poignant that it will be effective even in years when we get back to "normal". But in 2020? Yeah this one touched on something real.
RATH'S REVIEWS | TOP 10 FILMS OF 2020
This year was fairly easy to round out my Top 10 as my overall "new" movie watching went significantly down and some of the more highly anticipated films that would have likely contested for spots got delayed into a hopeful 2021. Even still, these 10 movies are worth a damn, 2020 or not, and you should seek them out when/if you have the opportunity. Some of them are the product of the year they're within and I imagine they'll hit a little different after this year. As usual, here are a handful of films I liked, but that didn't make the cut (in no particular order this year, I'm sorry):
The Gentleman -- Birds of Prey -- The Platform -- Extraction -- Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga -- The Old Guard -- The Trial of the Chicago 7 -- Possessor -- Greenland
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And just like that, 2020 and the 10th Annual Rath Awards are over! This is a post I'll never forget as I even debated at one point skipping these all together. In the end, I'm glad I didn't as this is always one of my favorite (and most therapeutic) activities of the year.
I'd LOVE to know what you think of my picks -- these are often some of my favorite conversations of the year. So please leave a comment below, hit me up on Facebook, Instagram, in person, or Pony Express :-) Let's chat about what I got right, wrong, etc.
Lastly, 2020 was a year of a lot of turmoil for many. For me, I had it comparatively easy as the biggest "hindrance" it introduced was less movies, a cancelled international trip, and permanent WFH. For others I know it was a lot worse. Let's use 2021 as a year to help each other heal. If I can help you heal in any way, please don't hesitate to reach out, even if you just need someone to listen. And hopefully, as we approach 2021 PC-19 (Post-COVID 19), we can once again meet in the theaters to enjoy these films the way they were meant to be seen: loud, big, and with others.
Love you all and thank you for the support the last DECADE!!
Wait, why is '1917' included here when it's a 2019 film?
ReplyDeleteI place movies in the year that I have access to them. For 90%+ of the population, 1917 was released in early January.
DeleteGiven that I post the Rath Awards as the first post every year, it was not a 2019 film for me.