{"id":15639,"date":"2020-12-23T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-23T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/crookedmarquee.com\/stage8\/?p=15639"},"modified":"2024-03-02T21:17:22","modified_gmt":"2024-03-03T05:17:22","slug":"the-thirstiest-most-comforting-and-variously-joyous-moments-of-2020-in-movies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/crookedmarquee.com\/stage8\/the-thirstiest-most-comforting-and-variously-joyous-moments-of-2020-in-movies\/","title":{"rendered":"The Thirstiest, Most Comforting, and Variously Joyous Moments of 2020 in Movies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

2020 sucked. I\u2019m sorry to be that blunt, but the year is almost over, we\u2019re all fairly burnt-out, shit is still incredibly rough out there, and all I want to do is crawl under a blanket and think about the things this year that were hot enough or clever enough or just goddamn enjoyable enough to break me out of my ever-present funk. And thankfully, there was a lot of it! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the one hand, there were a lot of beautiful, insightful, emotionally heavy movies that came out in 2020 that I strongly encourage you to seek out: Nomadland<\/em><\/a>, First Cow<\/em><\/a>, One Night in Miami\u2026<\/em><\/a>, Sound of Metal<\/em><\/a>, The Assistant<\/em><\/a>, Never Rarely Sometimes Always<\/em><\/a>. But there are also a fair amount of movies this year that might not have been the best, but that offered entertainment and reassurance and just flat-out delight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are some of the cinematic moments that made me happiest this year, and I hope they bring you joy, too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s go in chronological order, baby!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THE GENTLEMEN<\/em><\/strong>
Look, The Gentlemen<\/em> is an awful movie. Guy Ritchie mimicking all his previous tricks<\/a> in a film that is barely anything more than dreadful Orientalist schlock. But uh, Charlie Hunnam looked like this in that movie. And, well. That I cannot ignore!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\"Excuse<\/a>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Did his goatee need a little trim? Sure. Couldn\u2019t have hurt; this was a little too late-season Sons of Anarchy<\/em> for my liking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\"Sons<\/a>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If we couldn\u2019t get Hunnam in that Pacific Rim<\/em> sequel, though, I guess I\u2019ll take this. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

BIRDS OF PREY (AND THE FANTABULOUS EMANCIPATION OF ONE HARLEY QUINN)<\/em><\/strong><\/a>
Have you considered that if you didn\u2019t like Birds of Prey<\/em>, you might be a misogynist? I kid, I kid. I understand that people have different tastes or whatever. But Birds of Prey<\/em> was a rollicking good time that understood something central about the DC Universe: That dude-bro misery isn\u2019t the only emotion around, and that sometimes punching one of those very dude-bros in the face is quite satisfying indeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\"Harley<\/a>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Birds of Prey<\/em> carnival fight is a feast of thirsty delights, and if you didn\u2019t get a little jazzed by that team-up, well. Huntress will sort you out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\"Harley<\/a>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bonus Victor Zsasz for all you weirdos. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\"Harley<\/a>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

THE PHOTOGRAPH<\/em><\/strong><\/a>
I was mostly underwhelmed by The Photograph<\/em>, which follows two couples at different time periods; the bifurcated approach doesn\u2019t give either romantic pairing enough attention. But the way Lakeith Stanfield looks at Issa Rae? Yes, please, why are pants?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\"Issa<\/a>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Related \u201cwhy are pants?\u201d content: Y\u2019lan Noel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\"Univesal<\/a>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

EMMA.<\/em><\/strong><\/a>
It\u2019s the hands for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\"Jane<\/a>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

FIRST COW<\/em><\/strong><\/a>
It\u2019s the clafoutis for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\"First<\/a>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

EXTRACTION<\/em><\/strong>
This movie: bad. Golshifteh Farahani\u2019s bob cut: good!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\"Disagree<\/a>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Third-best Chris, Chris Hemsworth, in sunglasses: also good!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\"Tired<\/a>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

But this movie: bad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DA 5 BLOODS<\/em><\/strong><\/a>
Yes, Jonathan Majors\u2019s arms in that tight little white T-shirt in Lovecraft Country<\/em> were an unexpected surprise \u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\"T<\/a>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u2026 But as perfect of a vibe as the dancing scene in Da 5 Bloods<\/em>? DOUBTFUL. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

WASP NETWORK<\/em><\/strong><\/a>
A reminder that \u00c9dgar Ram\u00edrez is not only very hot but also a very, very good actor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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might just release a personal top 25 of 2020 and slide \u00c9dgar right on in there. https:\/\/t.co\/bbbACuFc59<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/JtKBzTOsOS<\/a><\/p>— \u270d\ud83c\udffc roxana | \u270a\ud83c\udffc zivar | \u2692\ufe0f hadadi (@roxana_hadadi) December 13, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>