January 8, 2021
Well, we made it through the most likely worst year of our lives and have turned the calendar to 2021. Things are off to a great start, right? (Insert eyeroll emoji here.) I originally planned a sarcastic comment about moving forward into a better year and not wanting to look back to 2020, but I don’t think that works after the events of this week. Nevertheless, we are going to look back at 2020, but just in the world of film, so only good thoughts. Maybe just a few films that should have worked better, but we’ll mostly stick to the positive.
Despite the turmoil to the film industry, there were a large number of excellent movies released in 2020. It just took a little more work to see them, compared to years past. As theaters shut down, we saw a massive shift to video on demand (at various price points, as distributors think through pricing models), streamers scooping up content to keep subscribers happy (and subscribed), and innovative models like virtual cinemas. This last example was one that worked surprisingly easier than I expected. You’d simply rent the movie through the website with a credit card (with the option to support a local theater with your purchase), and watch the film on a tablet or computer, just like you were watching with your Netflix app.
This technology helped a number of film festivals go virtual this year, which I was thrilled to see. I saw a number of high-quality movies in the Fall during the Hamptons International Film Festival, New York Film Festival and Chicago Film Festival. I am hoping that they all keep this model available in 2021, even if they are able to have a more traditional festival structure. One of the more popular festivals, Sundance, will be offering their films through a virtual configuration this year. While the festival is a little shorter and doesn’t have as many films premiering compared to typical years, there are still a number of movies that look very good. I know I’ll be checking some out – what else will I be doing during the dead of Winter in late January? Well, I’ll be playing golf of course, as long as there is no snow on the ground. But other than that….If you are interested in learning more about the Sundance Film Festival, you can visit the main site and read about some of the more anticipated titles here.
Back to 2020. I managed to navigate all of the sources of film consumption this year to see a number of really good ones. We’re going to start this week by looking at the best documentary films I saw this year. Here goes.
#10 – A Comedic Genius Gone Too Soon – Belushi
When I first heard about this documentary about the great comedian John Belushi, I shrugged my shoulders wondering if it would be worth my time. Despite loving the work Belushi delivered on Saturday Night Live and in his classic films, I wasn’t interested in an examination of his drug use, that led to his death at the age of 33 in 1982. But then I learned that his widow, Judy Belushi, played a large part in the making of the film, including providing letters and audio recordings to the filmmakers. While Belushi’s drug use and his personal demons are covered at length, there is so much more to this film. We see a ton of great archive footage of him in film, television, and his early days before he became famous. The filmmakers also made an interesting choice by having some of the audio recordings synched up with animation of Belushi and others he is talking with during the recordings. It could have been hokey, but the type of animation they used was perfect for Belushi’s personality and I thought it added to the film. While the ending is sad for obvious reasons, you get a great appreciation for the talents of one of the greatest comedians we’ve ever seen.
#9 – Portrait of a Small Town in Crisis – Rebuilding Paradise
In my piece late last year on Ron Howard, I noted how he has been tackling different topics in recent years, including delving into documentaries. This film, about the devastating impact of forest fires on a town in Northern California, is an incredible feat of filmmaking. The opening minutes look like something out of a Hollywood disaster film, but you quickly realize that we are witnessing the destruction of ordinary people’s lives. Howard takes us on a journey to understand the mechanics of why the fires were so prevalent and introduces us to some of the citizens in the small town of Paradise, California. We meet people who are hellbent on staying to rebuild, some who can’t wait to move away, and some who are too devastated to know what to do next. By the end of the film, you will come to realize just how fortunate we all are compared to those who have suffered during this disaster.
#8 – For the Horror Film Nerd – Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist
I have never been a huge fan of horror films, but I watch my fair share now and then. Over the years, the one that stands above all for me is The Exorcist, the 1973 masterpiece from director William Friedkin. While the film doesn’t feature a large number of scary scenes, the intensity of them, especially during the last portion of the film, always had me on edge. The documentary Leap of Faith features an interview with Friedkin describing the making of the film, his inspiration for choices he made, and detailed analysis of so many aspects of the film. He is very candid throughout the film, providing insights on the development of the screenplay, casting decisions (the story of the woman who did the voice of the devil is fascinating), the score, the lighting and everything else. Intercut with the interview are clips from The Exorcist and other films that inspired Friedkin’s work. I learned a lot about the film and it gave me new appreciation for how difficult it can be to make a movie like this, especially during the early 1970s. If you are a fan of The Exorcist and like to learn about decisions filmmakers make, I highly recommend Leap of Faith.
#7 – A Story Too Bizarre to Believe – Assassins
If I were to tell you that the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim-Jong un was assassinated by two people who poisoned him with nerve gas, it probably wouldn’t come as a surprise, right? I think most of us would agree that there’s some shady shit going on in North Korea, right? What if I told you that the two women who were accused of killing him thought they were participating in a reality TV prank show? Yeah, exactly. This was a fascinating look at the story behind the assassination that captivated Southeast Asia as the details unfolded, using interviews and video evidence from the airport where the attack occurred. This was a really cool story that I’m glad I found.
#6 – The Boss is Back – Letter to You
There is most likely some serious grade inflation going on here for me to rate this film as high on my list of best documentaries, but if you’ve been reading this blog for a long time and read my post on Bruce Springsteen, you may be surprised it’s not #1. Released on Apple TV+ to correspond with Springsteen’s new album Letter to You, the companion film gives us a rare glimpse into the writing and recording process behind the new album. We get some great footage of him with members of the E Street Band, performances of most of the songs, and backstories behind the lyrics to a few of them. This wasn’t the only great music film I saw this year. Some other honorable mentions: Beastie Boys Story, The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart, and two films from Taylor Swift – Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions, and Miss Americana.
#5 – Too Soon? – Totally Under Control
Ooh boy, I suspect this film may not be for everyone, given that its topic is one we’ve all been living with for almost a year, but it’s very well done. Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney takes us behind the scenes of the U.S. government’s (lack of) response to the COVID pandemic. The title comes directly from a quote by the person who has (at most) 12 days before he hits the unemployment line. Gibney made this film largely in secret, only revealing the details shortly before its release in late October. He was adamant that it be completed in time for the election so the facts he uncovered could inform the voters. He also utilized innovative filmmaking techniques (including delivering cameras to his interview subjects) to complete the film in a safe manner. I won’t lie, this film may infuriate you, but sometimes important stories will do that.
#4 – A Loving Tribute to a Filmmaker’s Dad – Dick Johnson is Dead
This documentary has been on my radar for a long time, after it received rave reviews at the Sundance Film Festival last year. Director Kirsten Johnson pays tribute to her father, who is suffering from dementia. Mixed in with memories of her childhood told through stories, photographs, and home movies, are fun moments where she imagines different ways her dad might die. While that sounds morbid, it’s actually funny, as he sees the humor in imagining outlandish ways that he could die, and helping support his daughter’s film. For instance, when one of the scenarios is a fall down the stairs, she has to think through if his leg is bent the right way at the bottom of the staircase. Give this one a chance, it’s a nice touching story.
#3 – Infuriating but Inspiring – Athlete A
I saw this movie way back at the end of June and wrote about it in my mid-year movie report here. Even with all of the documentaries I saw this year, this one is still one of the best I watched. We learn about the horrifying story of the U.S. gymnastics sexual abuse scandal, told by the journalists who investigated the story, and the victims themselves. While the villain of this story will make you boil with rage, you will be inspired by the courage of the victims to tell their stories. As I wrote last Summer, sometimes it’s hard to watch films like this, but that’s usually the case with the most important documentaries.
#2 – A Timely Film – The Fight
I went into this film half-heartedly, not sure if I would like it, based on the description of a group of ACLU lawyers fighting a series of civil rights cases. But, I am so glad that I gave it a chance, because it pointed out the incredible injustices that people are dealing with in this country, and how much they have worsened the last four years of our long, national nightmare. Don’t worry, this isn’t about the soon-to-be-unemployed. This is about the lawyers and their clients. The filmmakers do a great job of arranging the film so that we see how the cases develop, we come to know the attorneys, and we feel genuine emotion as we see them struggle to overcome hurdle after hurdle to deliver justice for their clients. Another inspiring film in a year when we need inspiration whenever we can get it.
#1 – The Future is Now and It’s a Little Scary – Boys State
This was easily the best documentary I saw this year and it was another one that has been on the radar for a long time, after a successful premiere at Sundance a year ago. For those who are not familiar, Boys State is a program that brings together teenage boys from across a state to experience what it’s like to serve as politicians running a government. What could go wrong, right? This film focuses on the session in Texas and we meet a variety of boys from different backgrounds and political beliefs. We get to know a handful of them as they campaign for office, present their platforms, and engage in debates with their political opponents. Parts of this film will make you shake your head at what the future may hold, but there are glimmers of hope based on a few of the characters we meet. A lot of times a documentary feels like a bunch of footage thrown together, but the directors of Boys State did a really nice job of editing the film to tell a true story, with traditional arcs you’d expect in a narrative film. This one’s a winner.
Honorable Mentions
Here are a few other very good documentaries that were just outside my top 10:
Collective – A group of investigative journalists uncover a government conspiracy following a health crisis. Think you’ve seen this story in the U.S.? Nope, it’s based in Romania.
A Thousand Cuts – Speaking of close to home, here we have an online journalist fighting with a president about her coverage of his administration and threats of censorship. Nope, this one is not in the U.S. either – it’s the Philippines.
Desert One – We all know the story of how the U.S. hostages in Iran were released shortly after Ronald Reagan took office in 1981. This film tells the story of the ill-fated military attempt to rescue them almost a year earlier, told by those who lived through it.
Television Event – If you are in my demographic, you may remember the 1983 ABC film The Day After, which dramatized the aftermath of a nuclear war, focused on a small town in Kansas. This documentary is the behind the scenes story of how this film was made, including the battle among the filmmakers, the network, and the Reagan White House. Fascinating piece of 80s television nostalgia.
The Way I See It – OK, let’s end on a happier note. Want to get transported back to a more peaceful time in our country? This film tells the story of Pete Souza, who served as the White House photographer under Barack Obama. There are some wonderful anecdotes throughout the film, and the photographs are very impressive. This is a feel good story that will make you smile.
If you are interested in finding any of these films, you can search for them on Justwatch.com, or follow the link on my Film Index page here. I’ll be back next week for a look at more of my favorite films from 2020. Thanks again for reading and if you’d like to be notified of future posts, you can subscribe here.
Steve another great post that I enjoyed!!!