The last movie I saw in the theater was on Thursday, Feb. 27. It was The Invisible Man. I guess it was a pretty good choice for my last movie in a theater. I mean, it made my Top 10 (see below), which is a good thing.
But, I hope, I really, really hope, it wasn't the last movie I will see in a theater forever. It can't be. Can it?
With Covid-19 running rampant around the country, movie theaters shuttered in early March. For this movie-loving cinephile, it was a sad, sad day.
Every Autumn, I made it a point to set aside some time, even take a day off work, to visit those hallowed, marooned spaces of peace and harmony and view some Academy Award considerations, independent darlings, and - of course - blockbuster fare. Sometimes with the kids. Sometimes with the wife. Sometimes by myself, which is my preferred way to view films (but don't tell my family).
But, not this year.
Hopefully, movie theaters and watching films in the theater will stage a comeback, but I'm not certain it will ever be the same.
That said, I did get to see a handful of great films in 2020. All of these films were not necessarily released in 2020, but they were movies I finally had the chance to see this year.
Keep in mind, I haven't seen a number of Top 10 critics picks as well including Tenant, The Vast of Night, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Da 5 Bloods, One Night in Miami, Wolfwalkers, Dick Johnson is Dead, Mank, The Nest or Let Them All Talk. But, hopefully the recommendations below will motivate you to check out a few that you may have forgotten or missed along the way.
Cheers to a better 2021. And fingers-crossed that my ass will be in a seat in the movie theater in the near future. Oh, yeah, don't forget to give my Twitter feed One Sentence Movie Reviews some much-needed love.
😍 Eimer's Best Movie Experiences of 2020:
'#SoulPixar ': Pixar and Dir. Pete Doctor (Up, Inside Out) completely knock this cleverly plotted film to the afterlife in one of the most creatively inspiring, visually stunning, heartfelt and humorous, must-see films of 2020 pic.twitter.com/KQmSQ1r1JV
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) December 30, 2020
' #NeverRarelySometimesAlways ': Powerful, must-see, well-acted film adeptly directed by Eliza Hittman who chose to eschew a lot of dialogue in exchange for emotional facial cues and body language to create a girl's somber, melancholy journey to get an abortion in New York City pic.twitter.com/gFtUH2mqUD
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) December 17, 2020
'#SoundOfMetal ': Fantastically-acted and well-directed slow-burn of a movie about a drummer 🥁 (Ahmed) who loses his hearing and his normal way of life, complete with inventive Sound Mixing (ahem, Academy nom perhaps?) which adds perfectly to the overall storytelling process pic.twitter.com/Mr8vU9wSGj
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) December 9, 2020
'#BadEducation ': Film class is in session as top-notch acting (Jackman,Janney), stellar direction (Finley) and screenplay (Makowsky) take center stage in this marvelous film (based on true events) about one of the biggest school embezzlement schemes in American history pic.twitter.com/eycwgWt1mD
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) December 3, 2020
'#kajillionaire ': Writer/Director Miranda July (Me & You, The Future) combines a stellar cast with a superbly creative script to create an authentically one-of-a-kind film about an oddball family of thieves planning a major heist pic.twitter.com/yU5ZzGJZxN
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) November 13, 2020
'#RelicMovie ': Much more than a haunted house flick, this creepy, melancholy, metaphorical horror movie speaks about death, regret, and fear of loss; with an ending that will leave you in contemplation days after it's over pic.twitter.com/VHQf8awPRn
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) August 11, 2020
'#GreyhoundMovie ': Don't miss the boat 🚢on this swiftly moving, well-directed, 88-minute, WW2 German U-Boats vs. American Destroyer Atlantic Ocean 🌊battle flick written and starring Tom Hanks pic.twitter.com/isRmaZS6tQ
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) July 16, 2020
'#PalmSpringsMovie ': Surprisingly entertaining, somewhat raunchy, self-aware rom-com about a couple (Sandberg and Milioti) who are stuck in a Groundhog Day'ish time loop during a wedding pic.twitter.com/jS46Z9flBA
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) July 12, 2020
‘#TheAssistant ': Timely, well-directed, somber, MeToo film highlighting a 24-hour glimpse into the life of a movie mogul’s assistant and the slimy, sleazy observations that blanket her day pic.twitter.com/TPYPjoc9Th
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) May 20, 2020
#TheInvisibleMan ': A little hokey, with some above-par jump scares, yet Elisabeth Moss's superb acting pulled this Blumhouse horror movie out of the 3-star 😱 dumpster pic.twitter.com/Vk9EzhIgLS
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) March 1, 2020
'#ThePlatformNetflix ': In the spirit of #Snowpiercer & #HighRiseMovie , Gaztelu-Urrutia creates a thought-provoking, well-acted metaphorical statement on capitalism that feeds off levels of greed and hunger in an oddly designed prison w/ plenty of 🤮 disgusting scenes pic.twitter.com/MnM5rPTLV1
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) March 25, 2020
'#ParasiteMovie ': Now I know exactly why Bong Joon Ho's fantastic social-class disparity thriller won a well-deserved #BestPicture , #BestDirector , #BestOriginalScreenplay & #BestInternationalFeature #AcademyAward pic.twitter.com/mXPZl4c0KL
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) February 11, 2020
'#SoulPixar ': Pixar and Dir. Pete Doctor (Up, Inside Out) completely knock this cleverly plotted film to the afterlife in one of the most creatively inspiring, visually stunning, heartfelt and humorous, must-see films of 2020 pic.twitter.com/KQmSQ1r1JV
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) December 30, 2020' #NeverRarelySometimesAlways ': Powerful, must-see, well-acted film adeptly directed by Eliza Hittman who chose to eschew a lot of dialogue in exchange for emotional facial cues and body language to create a girl's somber, melancholy journey to get an abortion in New York City pic.twitter.com/gFtUH2mqUD
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) December 17, 2020'#SoundOfMetal ': Fantastically-acted and well-directed slow-burn of a movie about a drummer 🥁 (Ahmed) who loses his hearing and his normal way of life, complete with inventive Sound Mixing (ahem, Academy nom perhaps?) which adds perfectly to the overall storytelling process pic.twitter.com/Mr8vU9wSGj
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) December 9, 2020'#BadEducation ': Film class is in session as top-notch acting (Jackman,Janney), stellar direction (Finley) and screenplay (Makowsky) take center stage in this marvelous film (based on true events) about one of the biggest school embezzlement schemes in American history pic.twitter.com/eycwgWt1mD
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) December 3, 2020'#kajillionaire ': Writer/Director Miranda July (Me & You, The Future) combines a stellar cast with a superbly creative script to create an authentically one-of-a-kind film about an oddball family of thieves planning a major heist pic.twitter.com/yU5ZzGJZxN
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) November 13, 2020'#RelicMovie ': Much more than a haunted house flick, this creepy, melancholy, metaphorical horror movie speaks about death, regret, and fear of loss; with an ending that will leave you in contemplation days after it's over pic.twitter.com/VHQf8awPRn
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) August 11, 2020'#GreyhoundMovie ': Don't miss the boat 🚢on this swiftly moving, well-directed, 88-minute, WW2 German U-Boats vs. American Destroyer Atlantic Ocean 🌊battle flick written and starring Tom Hanks pic.twitter.com/isRmaZS6tQ
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) July 16, 2020'#PalmSpringsMovie ': Surprisingly entertaining, somewhat raunchy, self-aware rom-com about a couple (Sandberg and Milioti) who are stuck in a Groundhog Day'ish time loop during a wedding pic.twitter.com/jS46Z9flBA
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) July 12, 2020‘#TheAssistant ': Timely, well-directed, somber, MeToo film highlighting a 24-hour glimpse into the life of a movie mogul’s assistant and the slimy, sleazy observations that blanket her day pic.twitter.com/TPYPjoc9Th
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) May 20, 2020#TheInvisibleMan ': A little hokey, with some above-par jump scares, yet Elisabeth Moss's superb acting pulled this Blumhouse horror movie out of the 3-star 😱 dumpster pic.twitter.com/Vk9EzhIgLS
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) March 1, 2020'#ThePlatformNetflix ': In the spirit of #Snowpiercer & #HighRiseMovie , Gaztelu-Urrutia creates a thought-provoking, well-acted metaphorical statement on capitalism that feeds off levels of greed and hunger in an oddly designed prison w/ plenty of 🤮 disgusting scenes pic.twitter.com/MnM5rPTLV1
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) March 25, 2020'#ParasiteMovie ': Now I know exactly why Bong Joon Ho's fantastic social-class disparity thriller won a well-deserved #BestPicture , #BestDirector , #BestOriginalScreenplay & #BestInternationalFeature #AcademyAward pic.twitter.com/mXPZl4c0KL
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) February 11, 2020😡 Eimer's Worst Movie Experiences of 2020:
'#MidnightSky ': I really wanted to like Clooney's attempt at a Best Actor nod, but I just couldn't as it sort of felt like Ridley Scott's 'The Martian', but in reverse ... and not that entertaining pic.twitter.com/B4M3tU7Ubt
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) December 28, 2020
'#TheWolfOfSnowHollow ': A great idea, but just bad execution with tones of Super Troopers but with no real stand-out comedic moments almost like Dir/Actor Cummings didn't really decide upon a definitive genre before starting pic.twitter.com/5I1FU9qZ3i
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) December 20, 2020
'#DownhillMovie ': Call in the ski patrol on this Americanized bunny slope remake of the stellar black-diamond 2014 Swedish film ‘Force Majeure’ which headed downhill at the onset due to the miscast leads (Louis-Dreyfus and Ferrell) who wiped out on a bunch of half-piped jokes pic.twitter.com/TKe6WEB4q5
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) August 13, 2020
‘#KingofStatenIsland ‘: If you like Pete Davidson, you’ll probably enjoy this movie, but if you don’t then you’re in for an unreasonably long Apatow movie filled w/ stagnant acting and un-endearing characters pic.twitter.com/b3yhhpjBXv
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) June 15, 2020
'#RiseofSkywalker ': Due to the kinetic pace, bad plot, humdrum dialogue, and that WTF ending, I want to thank my subconscious ‘Power of the Crappy Movie’ Force for warning me against seeing this last #StarWars installment at the theater pic.twitter.com/6BJuLczd9H
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) March 26, 2020
'#AfterMidnight ': I think some dude borrowed filming equipment & a rubber👹suit from his friend's production company, asked a bunch of his 'actor' buddies to join in, and then hastily made this problematic, meh comedy/horror flick in less than two days pic.twitter.com/y6ZWWPomSn
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) February 18, 2020
'#MidnightSky ': I really wanted to like Clooney's attempt at a Best Actor nod, but I just couldn't as it sort of felt like Ridley Scott's 'The Martian', but in reverse ... and not that entertaining pic.twitter.com/B4M3tU7Ubt
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) December 28, 2020'#TheWolfOfSnowHollow ': A great idea, but just bad execution with tones of Super Troopers but with no real stand-out comedic moments almost like Dir/Actor Cummings didn't really decide upon a definitive genre before starting pic.twitter.com/5I1FU9qZ3i
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) December 20, 2020'#DownhillMovie ': Call in the ski patrol on this Americanized bunny slope remake of the stellar black-diamond 2014 Swedish film ‘Force Majeure’ which headed downhill at the onset due to the miscast leads (Louis-Dreyfus and Ferrell) who wiped out on a bunch of half-piped jokes pic.twitter.com/TKe6WEB4q5
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) August 13, 2020‘#KingofStatenIsland ‘: If you like Pete Davidson, you’ll probably enjoy this movie, but if you don’t then you’re in for an unreasonably long Apatow movie filled w/ stagnant acting and un-endearing characters pic.twitter.com/b3yhhpjBXv
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) June 15, 2020'#RiseofSkywalker ': Due to the kinetic pace, bad plot, humdrum dialogue, and that WTF ending, I want to thank my subconscious ‘Power of the Crappy Movie’ Force for warning me against seeing this last #StarWars installment at the theater pic.twitter.com/6BJuLczd9H
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) March 26, 2020'#AfterMidnight ': I think some dude borrowed filming equipment & a rubber👹suit from his friend's production company, asked a bunch of his 'actor' buddies to join in, and then hastily made this problematic, meh comedy/horror flick in less than two days pic.twitter.com/y6ZWWPomSn
— 1SentenceMovieReview (@EimerFilmReview) February 18, 2020More of Eimer's Favorites:
- Eimer's Best and Worst of 2019
- Eimer's Favorites of 2018
- Eimer's Favorites of 2017
- Eimer's Favorites of 2016
- Eimer's Favorites of 2015
- Eimer's Favorites of 2014
- Eimer's Favorites of 2013
- Eimer's Favorites of 2012
- Eimer's Favorites of 2011
- Eimer's Favorites of 2010
- Eimer's Top 141 Favorite Movies of All-Time
