HLS Top Movie of 2020 Part 2! 80-51
Welcome back for Part 2 of my Top Movies of 2020 list! If you missed Part 1 here is a link HLS Top Movies of 2020 Part 1 . In this blog I will be going through 80-51, this is the section that ranges from controversial to sometimes just blah movies that should have been better.
Now with every movie I am going to be putting what I personally think is the safest grading scale out there, the IMDB user rating score:
80. The One and Only Ivan (Disney+) - IMDb Score: 6.7
This is just a simple heartfelt Disney movie that is essentially just a tv movie given a higher budget so it could afford bigger actors like Bryan Cranston, Sam Rockwell, Angelina Jolie, Helen Mirren and Danny DeVito. Simple and fun, do not expect anything life changing.
79. Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (Netflix) - IMDb Score: 6.5
Forest Whitaker might be one of the lowest people on my list to think to star in a musical but they did it and honestly wasn't that bad. Madalen Mills was just delightful as Journey the granddaughter of the world's greatest toy maker Jeronicus Jangle (Forest Whitaker). Pretty typical Christmas story tropes mixed with a musical that I really wish I saw this on stage instead of on Netflix.
78. Holidate (Netflix) - IMDb Score: 6.1
Emma Roberts and Hemsworth long lost cousin Luke Bracey are the stars of the Netflix movie dealing how to stop your family from asking you why you are single at every family get together for the holidays. Just a simple romcom that honestly could be lower but I just loved Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey's chemistry. This would have made a funny subplot and reoccurring joke in a New Girl/How I Met Your Mother type show staring these two.
77. Sonic the Hedgehog - IMDb Score: 6.5
This movie is pure nostalgia fun for adults who played sonic growing up that also loved Jim Carrey. Those of you who do not fall into that category with me might not have enjoyed this movie much at all, but I do and Ben Schwartz (voiced Sonic, you may know him as Jean-Ralphio on Parks and Rec) I am convinced is about to skyrocket into be one of the IT guys for comedy movies (and movies in general).
76. The Old Guard (Netflix) - IMDb Score: 6.6
Okay, this movie is significantly lower on my list than some others I have seen people do (I've seen it top 25 which is crazy) and I have a simple reason for it, it could have been SO much better. Imagine this same movie but with John Wick action, it would've been amazing. The action in this movie is GOOD do not get me wrong. In a post John Wick world your purely action movie cannot get away with average action. I deducted points for what it could've been, and we know Netflix is capable of hiring the right people to pull of the type of action needed (hint hint to a movie in my top 30).
75. My Spy - IMDb Score: 6.3
Peter Segal is the same director who gave us 50 First Dates, Get Smart, and The Naked Gun, that is the type of movie you should be expecting going into this. Dave Bautista has such charm and charisma while still being this big brooding force of nature which makes it just hilarious having him interact with Chloe Coleman's Sophie. Chloe really is the star of the show here I can't wait to see her in more big projects going forward in her career.
74. Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (Prime) - IMDb Score: 6.7
Okay to get out ahead of this one again, I have seen people having this in their top 10-15 movies of the year and that is just asinine. Sacha Baron Cohen and Maria Bakalova are both great in this movie, specifically Maria, but people REALLY need to simmer down when it comes to people saying these were award worthy performances. They both did great just nowhere near the top tier performances of the year. To the actual movie, this movie felt even more like a skit show than the first movie while also, I do not want to say failing but it did, failed to be even near as funny as the first movie.
73. Hubie Halloween (Netflix) - IMDb Score: 5.2
Having this back to back with Borat 2 might not help my case for saying what is and isn't funny, but I loved this movie for what it is. Adam Sandler just got the gang together and delivered what he possibly could have been referring to back in 2019 "the worst movie ever in revenge" for not get nominated for an Academy Award for Uncut Gems. This movie is one of the dumbest things I have ever watched but it is done so purposefully and has some hilarious callbacks to previous Sandler films that people are now, jokingly, calling for a "Into the Sandler-Verse" movie connecting his previous films. I for one, would be watching it night one if they ever did that. Also shout out whoever made that movie poster that is awesome.
72. Bloodshot - IMDb Score: 5.7
This movie is patently ridiculous at times but so are some Valiant comics, I mean it is about a former soldier who is killed then brought back to life using technology that helps him heal from nearly anything. Little PSA Marvel and DC are not the only people making superhero comics you should branch out and enjoy some of the amazing comic content out there that isn't just apart of the big two. Vin Diesel is very Vin Diesel in this movie, what else could we want or expect but I am very interested and want a sequel to give more screen time for Eiza Gonzalez and Lamorne Morris characters KT and Wilfred.
71. Scoob! - IMDb Score: 5.7
This section might as well been labeled, "Movies about things I loved growing up" and Scooby-Doo definitely falls into that category. This movies 5.7 rating was shocking to me, I may be completely out of left field here but this movie is just a goofy fun ride that honestly was in my running for best animated movie of the year. I loved it, it is basically just an hour and a half episode of the original show rescripted and animated for today's audiences.
70. The Call of the Wild (Disney+) - IMDb Score: 6.8
Man I forgot this fun little family movie came out in 2020, definitely could have convinced me this movie came out in December of 2019 not February of 2020. This movie is of course based on the Jack London short adventure novel published in 1903(!). Harrison Ford is the "star" in the movie delivering most dialogue and voiceover for the movie but the movie is of course about the loveable dog Buck. From house pet to stolen and sold as a sled dog, Buck learns to embrace "The Call of the Wild".
69. The Wretched - IMDb Score: 5.8
The Wretched was written and directed by the Pierce Brothers, Brett and Drew, and is about a teenager who goes to stay with his dad and uncovers a thousand year old witch killing and possessing the neighbors. Definition of low budget horror movie that was still very enjoyable.
68. An American Pickle (HBOMax) - IMDb Score: 5.7
Whew man did I disagree with seemingly most people about this movie. Seth Rogan plays both Herschel and Ben Greenbaum in this witty comedy about a great grandfather (Herschel) being ridiculously "pickled" after falling into a pickle vat and having the pickle factory close and be boarded up until 100 years later when he is found alive. This is just a silly dumb movie about different generations of family connecting to each other. This was HBOMax's first original movie.
67. The Midnight Sky (Netflix) - IMDb Score: 5.6
Yet again another so so Netflix movie that has the bones of something much better than the final product. This project definitely could have benefitted being a mini series instead of a movie. It is constantly so jarring showing the astronauts in space without telling the audience hardly any information about them or their trip, or the original reason they left etc. Bones of the story is there, just zero details of it. The amazing cast of actors and characters are there, just no backstory for them. The visuals actually look great, but the visuals and camera work for this movie might be the only solid points in it. Should probably be lower on my list but I am a sucker for Clooney and space movies.
66. Birds of Prey - IMDb Score: 6.1
Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn might possibly have an argument for top 3 DC movie since the Dark Knight trilogy but sadly that is not that very high of a bar to cross. Margot Robbie and Ewan McGregor both put on incredible performances that if they had been in a better movie might have been up for some smaller awards. Director Cathy Yan did an outstanding job with this script it is full of color and craziness and has the best action sequences in the maybe ANY DC movie ever.
65. Vivarium - IMDb Score: 5.8
This is pure weird art house madness that I am still not entirely sure what it is actually about. Jesse Eisenberg and Imogen Poots Tom and Gemma are a young couple looking to buy their first home together and get trapped in this creepy cookie cutter labyrinth of houses that is never ending. It looks beautiful and real and fake and is just a weird trip of a movie. I needed so much more online chatter about this movie it left me with so many questions.
64. The Assistant - IMDb Score: 6.2
This is the prototypical Hollywood movie about something that happened within Hollywood that became a big news story and because this movie is competent critics will rave and promote it as "ground shaking" "breath taking inside look" blah blah blah. This is the Harvey Weinstein movie essentially. What he did was absolutely horrible and I really do not want to see the "behind the scenes" look at how executives like him have been taking advantage of people for years. This movie is shown as a day by day in the life of the assistant that learns the insidious truth about her boss without ever showing or naming him in the movie. Julia Garner is great as Jane but this movie is honestly just good enough that no one can call it bad, but not well done enough to be great.
63. You Should Have Left - IMDb Score: 5.4
Man it is hard transition to this movie like I didn't just kind of trash a movie that some people believe should be up for awards then talk about a Kevin Bacon horror movie but here we go. Kevin Bacon and Amanda Seyfried star in this movie about a family looking to just unplug for awhile and go on vacation renting this house in the country. It does not take too long to realize there is something wrong with this house that seems to have different demi on the inside than the out, and with the martial relationship of our two stars.
62. Project Power (Netflix) - IMDb Score: 6.0
This and the next two movies on this list are prime examples of movies being awarre of what they are and just being dumb fun action movies. This one in particular Netflix had to shell out a pretty penny to nab both Jamie Foxx and Joseph Gordon-Levitt but it had its unpredictable 5 min super power shine in the limelight at the top of Netflix where reviews were very split. This is a story that would benefit with a movie prior to this one setting up and explaining things, and or a sequel that can dive into the characters and the story more.
61. Spenser Confidential (Netflix) - IMDb Score: 6.2
Dumb action popcorn movie that I actually loved. Peter Berg and Mark Wahlberg team up for what has to be the 200th time this time with Winston Duke costarring and Iliza Shlesinger and Alan Arkin in supporting roles, in this movie about a bop from where? You guessed it Boston who recently just got out of prison for something that he feels correct about only to find out that there might be a bigger conspiracy than he realized when he gets out and two Boston police officers are killed. Fun movie bring popcorn.
60. Guns Akimbo (Prime) - IMDb Score: 6.3
You know what is a horrible synopsis for this movie? What is on IMDb, "a guy relies on his newly-acquired gladiator skills to has his ex-girlfriend from kidnappers." Here is a proper one, Miles, played by Daniel Radcliffe, is an online troll and couch potato who unknowingly pisses off the man who runs a live stream gladiator murder fest, after getting tracked down Miles is forced into the arena. Popcorn action movie filled with beautiful visuals and humor.
59. Uncorked (Netflix) - IMDb Score: 6.2
Uncorked is a movie that really flew under the radar that is significantly better than 90% of the garbage movies Netflix puts out every year but sadly I do not think it ever reached the front page of Netflix. The film follows Elijah, Mamoudou Athie, a son who all he wants to do is become a master sommelier but family pressures have kept him working for his family's Memphis BBQ restaurant. A heartfelt story about family values and aspiring for one's own dreams.
58. Trolls World Tour - IMDb Score: 6.1
Trolls was a movie about the semi creepy looking toy that was gigantic in the 60s then had blips of popularity in the 70s-90s, however in the world they made that into a fun poppy, I hate myself for that pun but it really is the best fit, movie series for kids. Trolls World Tour takes place after the original movie and deals with the musical strings that are definitely not just infinity stones from marvel because this time they represent types of music and once combined they can turn all the other musical trolls into one zombie form.
57. All Day and a Night - IMDb Score: 5.8
A brutal look at life and history repeating itself as Jahkor Abraham Lincoln, Ashton Sanders, turns to a life of crime unknowingly following in his fathers footsteps only to end up in prison right next to him. Jeffery Wright plays his father, James Daniel Lincoln 'JD', and does an amazing job as always. Another one of the movies that is actually pretty good but was not pushed by Netflix's front page so it fell through the cracks.
56. Underwater - IMDb Score: 5.8
I really do not know why people hated this movie so much. Were they just expecting this serious dramatic award movie about people drilling at the bottom of the ocean to only discover sea monsters that hunt them down?? This is a dumb popcorn monster movie and this movie excels at being just that.
55. Radioactive (Prime) - IMDb Score: 6.2
This movie is weird for me, I believe Rosamund Pike was an outstanding Marie Curie and this movie was very good but there was just something missing, an IT factor. Maybe it is just missing a big name star that elevates the movie based on their gravitas alone? I hope one day Rosamund Pike and others from this movie are giant award winning movie stars and this movie is a hidden gem.
54. Come to Daddy - IMDb Score: 6.0
After not seeing him since he was a very young child Norval Greenwood's, Elijah Wood, absent father reaches out to him he travels out to his very remote cabin to spend time with him. I can not really say too much else about this movie's story without spoiling it. Let's just say this Mystery/Horror/Comedy is something you will not forget watching.
This movie follows a man seemingly alone in the world working at a remote lab in the woods, secretly working to create AI technology and an android body to be reunited with his wife who passed. This movie I feel like could have been a little better but it still does a good job questioning what life is and what it means to be alive.
52. Wonder Woman 1984 - IMDb Score: 5.5
Whew.. Okay people bring it in, this movie is not near as bad as some people are making it out to be. This movie is just not what superhero movies have proven to be capable of being, this movie blatantly ignores previous films continuity purposefully or not, but more importantly it ignores all logic and continuity within itself, the action and CGI are just not up to snuff. I enjoyed it had a blast watching it safely at my local theater but there are just too many mistakes to not have it outside the top 50.
51. Mulan (Disney+) - IMDb Score: 5.6
Mulan is a weird one, there was so much controversy surrounding this movie that I am not going to go into but to say it doesn't play into peoples perspective of this movie is crazy. This movie is actually very well made and looks great, nothing stunning or groundbreaking just so hard to separate it from the Disney classic so the entire movie I was just sitting their thinking this movie would be so much better with the original music and Mushu.
Thank you so much for reading stay tuned for 50-26 coming soon! I ask you please remember these things are just my opinion so do not get too worked up. But I will also remind you that my opinion is right so if you want to argue better come prepared to come yell at me here .
