We are getting to that time, new years day, where one puts together their list of films. While I’m no Barack Obama, this list should provide a good indicator of what one could have watched and could look for upon a DVD release. Apologies to some films I didn’t see yet Fighting with My Family, Sorry I missed You, The Souvenier, Pain and Glory, The Two Popes and Ford vs Ferrari amongst many others which may have gone into the list had I had the time, but that doesn’t make the twenty any less worthy.

All twenty are from all over the world and provide a variety of genres, so hopefully there is something which takes your fancy. Each one is a brilliant piece of work which gave me enormous satisfaction. There were other good ones which weren’t included. Just because a film is at 17/18/19/20 doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it. It just means there were others which I also enjoyed more or in a different way. Apologies in advance to Marvel fanboys and here is to 2020.

Eight of these films are on Prime/Netflix UK so there is no excuse to not watch them. Enjoy!

20) Birds Of Passage

The Colombian equivalent of The Godfather, this film shows the impact on poor Colombian communities of the drug trade. Birds of Passage has a spiritual beauty within the harsh typical gang story. Oh, and it’s available on Netflix UK and has a mighty fine review which I realise now I never published. Maybe I’ll get to it soon.

19) The Farewell

While this film can drag a bit during the middle, The Farewell is a film full of heart which will make you laugh and cry. The protagonist’s grandmother has terminal cancer and nobody will tell her, as is custom in China. The family sort out a sham wedding as a chance to say goodbye to the oblivious grandmother. However, you also wonder how much she has worked out. I actually published this review.

18) Green Book

It’s a pretty damning indictment of 2018/early 2019 when its best picture only just sneaks into the top 20 here. However, that shouldn’t detract from the film being a fun comedy about Don Shirley’s jazz tour in the deep south with driver Tony Vallelonga. The film which shows Tony and Don’s relationship and focuses on race is a fluff piece, yet it’s a sweet, fun experience carried brilliantly by Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen. Available on Prime? Of course it is.

17) The Last Black Man In San Francisco

A brilliant film about the gentrification of San Francisco and one man’s desire for everything to stay the same, maintaining the house his grandfather built, even though strangers live in it. Jimmie Fallis and Jonathan Majors both put in wonderful performances in this steady, enjoyable film.

16) Eighth Grade

Bo Burnham’s coming of age story made for the twenty-first century generation, this story is one of the few which captures the essence of growing up in the digital generation. It’s funny, it’s awkward and it feels very very human. In fact, you can see my review right here.

15) Happy As Lazzaro

An Italian quirky film which I never got around to reviewing (Should’ve gotten a B+), Happy As Lazzaro is at worst a weird fairytale and at best a serene tale of freedom and belief which transcends time. Innocent Lazzaro lives through a life in an isolated farm and an impoverished city family. Stylistically shot meditation in a movie. I found this for free on Prime Video and loved it the second time.

14) Toy Story 4

It was familiar yet different. I really was scared that I wouldn’t like this one as the trilogy was pretty darn good. However, with a new fun set of characters and beautiful animations, Toy Story 4 got much more right than wrong. Previous review here.

13) The Peanut Butter Falcon

My Mum’s film of the year was certainly a worthy winner. An abandoned young man with down syndrome escapes from an old people’s home and teams up with a redneck fisherman getting over the death of his brother in his quest to meet a wrestler. A buddy film with every cliche in the book, it should make one roll their eyes, yet it is so charming.

12) I Lost My Body

Netflix really upped their game this year, providing three of the top twenty films of the year. The first of these is the best animation on this list. I Lost My Body is a beautiful looking and sounding story about romance, detachment and memories as a hand tries to reunite with the body from which it was severed. It sounds odd because it is, yet it works. You can read my review here and if that takes your fancy, you can watch it on Netflix.

11) Little Women

The last film I watched at the cinema on this list is one that I haven’t got around to writing a review of as I simply haven’t had time to do so. However, it is well worth watching, a charming and empowering story of Meg, Joe, Amy and Beth focuses on dreams, money and love. Brilliant performances from Ronan, Watson, Pugh, Dern, Streep and Chalamet carry you along on this wonderful adventure which focuses on both childhood and adulthood.

10) The Last Tree

A British independent gem by Shola Amoo about a young black boy who goes from growing up in rural Lincolnshire to the rough streets of London. Stylistically wonderful with some brilliant acting, this film has been billed as the British “Moonlight” and it isn’t difficult to see why. Full Review Here.

9) Us

Jordan Peele’s second foray into Horror may not be remembered as well as his first, however this piece’s more subtle approach to social issues will leave you thinking about it for weeks. Lupita Nyong’o’s performance is an absolute stand out. A smart approach with minimal jump scares and easy horror tropes, this and Get Out are the best ways to introduce a snowflake into the horror genre. Read my full review here.

8) Border

Winner of the weirdest sex scene of the year, Border was a Guillermo Del Torro Film for adults. Focusing on a weird Swedish border guard’s relationship with someone she detains who is just like her, this film is a dark messed up piece, yet one of the purest pieces of the year at the same time. I also wrote a full review about it.

7) The Irishman

Netflix’s best bet on winning a Best Picture Oscar (and my prediction), Scorcese’s (possibly) last film is certainly full of quantity (at 3 hours 30 minutes) and is equally full of quality. With lots of action and human emotional moments, this film has everything you could ever want with top performances from De Niro, Pesci and Pacino. Can be seen on Netflix and a review is here.

6) Capernaum

A Lebanese film centring around a boy suing his parents for bringing him into the world, Capernaum is a bleak view of the life of a boy brought into a world of poverty, for whom life gets worse when he has to look after the baby of an immigrant woman. This film will make you feel anger and cry rivers of tears. Full review available and the film is free for prime members.

5) Marriage Story

The best Netflix original around, Marraige Story follows Adam Driver and Scarlet Johansson’s characters through a rocky divorce. Both are on top form in the honest, heated film. See my review here and then watch it on Netflix yourself.

4) We The Animals

A film which many people have tragically overlooked, We The Animals is a wonderful coming of age story looking at poverty, masculinity and sexuality in a unique art style. The film follows three brothers through their childhood with issues such as depression, abandonment and domestic violence all on the agenda, yet seen through a child’s eyes. Read my review here

3) If Beale Street Could Talk

An intimate love story and tragedy rolled into one, we see a young black couple, Tish and Fonny. fall in love and she becomes pregnant. However, when Fonny is falsely accused of rape, Tish and her family need to do everything they can to help get an increasingly desperate Fonny out of jail. Mark Jenkins’ second film is a slow hypnotic piece and somehow wasn’t nominated for an Oscar Best Picture. My word, it should have been. You can check for yourself if you have Amazon Prime.

2) Burning

I spent most of the year believing that Burning would remain uncontested as my film of 2019. A korean murder mystery see’s Lee Jong-Su work out whether Hae-Mi’s new mysterious friend Ben killed her. Cleverly written with lots of layers, you can cut the tension with a knife when you first watch it.

1) Monos

In few cinematic experiences do you mentally need to remind yourself to breathe. Therefore when about an hour through I required a gasp of Oxygen to keep me conscious, I knew Monos was working a treat. A group of teenage soldiers kept in the mountains or in a jungle guarding a hostage should all be predictable, yet this film flings you in any direction it feels. The mysterious Kubrick-esque cinematography only makes it better. An essential cinematic experience, I only hope it translates well into home viewing. Read my review here.