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The Thirstiest, Most Comforting, and Variously Joyous Moments of 2020 in Movies

Dec 23rd, 2020 Roxana Hadadi
The Thirstiest, Most Comforting, and Variously Joyous Moments of 2020 in Movies

2020 sucked. I’m sorry to be that blunt, but the year is almost over, we’re 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! 

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, First Cow, One Night in Miami…, Sound of Metal, The Assistant, Never Rarely Sometimes Always. 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. 

These are some of the cinematic moments that made me happiest this year, and I hope they bring you joy, too. 

Let’s go in chronological order, baby!

THE GENTLEMEN
Look, The Gentlemen is an awful movie. Guy Ritchie mimicking all his previous tricks 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!

Excuse Me What GIF by The Gentlemen - Find & Share on GIPHY

Did his goatee need a little trim? Sure. Couldn’t have hurt; this was a little too late-season Sons of Anarchy for my liking.

Sons Of Anarchy No GIF by The Gentlemen - Find & Share on GIPHY

If we couldn’t get Hunnam in that Pacific Rim sequel, though, I guess I’ll take this. 

BIRDS OF PREY (AND THE FANTABULOUS EMANCIPATION OF ONE HARLEY QUINN)
Have you considered that if you didn’t like Birds of Prey, you might be a misogynist? I kid, I kid. I understand that people have different tastes or whatever. But Birds of Prey was a rollicking good time that understood something central about the DC Universe: That dude-bro misery isn’t the only emotion around, and that sometimes punching one of those very dude-bros in the face is quite satisfying indeed.

Harley Quinn Bop GIF by Birds Of Prey - Find & Share on GIPHY

The Birds of Prey carnival fight is a feast of thirsty delights, and if you didn’t get a little jazzed by that team-up, well. Huntress will sort you out.

Harley Quinn Film GIF by Birds Of Prey - Find & Share on GIPHY

Bonus Victor Zsasz for all you weirdos. 

Harley Quinn Film GIF by Birds Of Prey - Find & Share on GIPHY

THE PHOTOGRAPH
I was mostly underwhelmed by The Photograph, which follows two couples at different time periods; the bifurcated approach doesn’t give either romantic pairing enough attention. But the way Lakeith Stanfield looks at Issa Rae? Yes, please, why are pants?

Issa Rae Look GIF by The Photograph - Find & Share on GIPHY

Related “why are pants?” content: Y’lan Noel.

Univesal GIF by The Photograph - Find & Share on GIPHY

EMMA.
It’s the hands for me.

Jane Austen Hands GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

FIRST COW
It’s the clafoutis for me.

First Cow GIF by A24 - Find & Share on GIPHY

EXTRACTION
This movie: bad. Golshifteh Farahani’s bob cut: good!

Disagree Chris Hemsworth GIF by NETFLIX - Find & Share on GIPHY

Third-best Chris, Chris Hemsworth, in sunglasses: also good!

Tired Chris Hemsworth GIF by NETFLIX - Find & Share on GIPHY

But this movie: bad.

DA 5 BLOODS
Yes, Jonathan Majors’s arms in that tight little white T-shirt in Lovecraft Country were an unexpected surprise … 

T Shirt Hbo GIF by Lovecraft Country - Find & Share on GIPHY

… But as perfect of a vibe as the dancing scene in Da 5 Bloods? DOUBTFUL. 

WASP NETWORK
A reminder that Édgar Ramírez is not only very hot but also a very, very good actor.

might just release a personal top 25 of 2020 and slide Édgar right on in there. https://t.co/bbbACuFc59 pic.twitter.com/JtKBzTOsOS

— ✍🏼 roxana | ✊🏼 zivar | ⚒️ hadadi (@roxana_hadadi) December 13, 2020

EUROVISION SONG CONTEST: THE STORY OF FIRE SAGA
Why is Rachel McAdams so perfect, like, all the time? I do not understand it. BUT I APPRECIATE IT.

Rachel Mcadams Dancing GIF by NETFLIX - Find & Share on GIPHY
You Got This Rachel Mcadams GIF by NETFLIX - Find & Share on GIPHY
Rachel Mcadams Thank You GIF by NETFLIX - Find & Share on GIPHY

IRRESISTIBLE
The only relatable thing about this movie when was when Steve Carrell showed an entire blueberry pastry in his mouth and nearly had an orgasm from the sheer carb-laden America of it. But I can’t find a gif of that moment, so here, have Rose Byrne licking his face instead. IF YOU’RE INTO THAT SORT OF THING.

Irresistible GIF by Focus Features - Find & Share on GIPHY

THE OLD GUARD
Yes, Joe’s declaration of love for Nicky was incredibly passionate and lovely. 

Charlize Theron Kiss GIF by NETFLIX - Find & Share on GIPHY

You know what else was hot, though? Every other goddamn thing Marwan Kenzari did in this movie. YOWZA.

Charlize Theron Tog GIF by NETFLIX - Find & Share on GIPHY

But especially spitting out bullets.

Angry Charlize Theron GIF by NETFLIX - Find & Share on GIPHY

TENET
All I understood about Tenet was that Christopher Nolan outfits all his male characters like they are retired bocce players just hanging out with the boys, and that look PARTICULARLY benefits Himesh Patel. Yowza.

at least one thing in TENET'S favor is that himesh patel is unsettlingly hot in it and he makes a joke shrugging about the western media's obsession with brown people doing ~tErRoRIsM~, so. I at least appreciated that. pic.twitter.com/dQHtOGlfni

— ✍🏼 roxana | ✊🏼 zivar | ⚒️ hadadi (@roxana_hadadi) September 1, 2020

PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD
DEV PATEL AS BOND, WHEN??? Look at this grimy hair flip! My man has range!

Surprised Excuse Me GIF by Fox Searchlight - Find & Share on GIPHY

THE BROKEN HEARTS GALLERY
Karaoke rom-com scenes? The familiar goofiness I needed to keep me going in 2020!

GIF by The Broken Hearts Gallery - Find & Share on GIPHY

ON THE ROCKS
Sofia Coppola’s latest has been growing on me since I first watched it, and that’s because the connection between Rashida Jones and Bill Murray is so perfect. His very extra New Yorker-ness, and the way he’s able to leverage all his privilege as a white man to get whatever he wants—even out of a speeding ticket. Her very wary reaction to all his affectations, even as she admittedly still loves and wants to spend time with him. There’s a real oppositional dynamic here that works and provides most of the film’s emotional catharsis, and I’m not sure any other two actors could have captured it better. 

Bill Murray Plastic Surgery GIF by Apple TV - Find & Share on GIPHY

VAMPIRES VS. THE BRONX
Can Method Man be in more refreshingly silly coming-of-age comedic horror movies, please? I think my man found his niche! 

Watching Method Man GIF by NETFLIX - Find & Share on GIPHY

FREAKY
No, Christopher Landon’s body-switch horror-comedy Freaky wasn’t as transgressive as it liked to think. But the amount of very clear fun Vince Vaughn and Kathryn Newton are having as a teenager stuck in a serial killer’s body, and vice versa? It was infectious! 

Vince Vaughn Dance GIF by Freaky - Find & Share on GIPHY
Vince Vaughn Horror GIF by Freaky - Find & Share on GIPHY

LET THEM ALL TALK
Dianne Wiest’s character giggling about a threesome she had in college with her professor and his wife? That’s chef-kiss shit right there! Thank you, Steven Soderbergh!

still thinking about the perfection of this. pic.twitter.com/s7tQwJkF0Q

— ✍🏼 roxana | ✊🏼 zivar | ⚒️ hadadi (@roxana_hadadi) December 21, 2020

HAPPIEST SEASON
There was no other way this list could have wrapped, honestly. May Aubrey Plaza portend better things for us all come 2021.

Aubrey Plaza Christmas GIF by HULU - Find & Share on GIPHY
Aubrey Plaza Christmas GIF by HULU - Find & Share on GIPHY
 
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Roxana Hadadi

Roxana Hadadi

Roxana Hadadi writes about film, television, and culture with sides of judgment and thirst. She is a Tomatometer-approved critic on Rotten Tomatoes and a member of the Washington DC Area Film Critics Association, the Alliance of Women Film Journalists, and the Online Film Critics Society. She holds an MA in literature and lives outside Baltimore, Maryland.

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