December 2020 Review: The Best Movies I Saw Last Month
Originally published February 4, 2021
Okay, I realize it has been way too long since I last updated this, and I still have to write for January too. December as a month was not as relaxing as I had hoped and some films that I really wanted to like ended up being total clunkers. I wanted to do an in-depth analysis of what I watched this year but truthfully, I did not have the time. Some cool stats I did want to share include the following:
Total films watched in 2020: 520
Films watched by decade: 2020s (107); 2010s (242); 2000s (49); 1990s (56); 1980s (48); 1970s (17); 1960s (1).
Month with the highest number of first-time watches: May (61)
Month with the lowest number of first-time watches: February (25)
Highest rated first-time watch: 9/10 for The Invisible Man (2020); Noroi: The Curse (2005); and Audition (2000)
Lowest rated first-time watch: 1/10 for Amityville Island (2020)
For December, however, I saw 41 films. Here are my picks for the best and the worst of that month. Hope you enjoy!
BEST #3) Three... Extremes (2004); Director: Fruit Chan, Takashi Miike, Chan-wook Park; Hong Kong/Japan/South Korea
Three... Extremes is an anthology film consisting of three short stories. The first story deals with a famous dumpling cook helping a wife appeal more to her husband. The next tale depicts a successful film director and his wife held hostage by one of his actors in their large and illustrious living room on a film set. Last, the film ends with the tale of a woman returning to the exact spot where her sister died many years ago. This selection of East Asian shorts films is an eclectic and engaging bunch. Upon release it was considered rather daring and violent, which still rings true in some ways today. This is particularly true for “Dumplings” and “Cut” which are by far the more memorable and engaging parts of this anthology. These two shorts make up for the fact that “The Box” is plodding and predictable. One interesting thing to note about this film is that the order of the shorts change depending on where you watch it, so please do not take this review as law for which short airs first! A revered and solid classic in its own right, Three... Extremes is a must watch for fans of Asian horror cinema.
Overall Score? 8/10
BEST #2) Lost Highway (1997); Director: David Lynch; France/United States
A man is plagued by bizarre visions before and after he is accused of killing his wife. Another young man is caught in a dangerous game whilst having an affair with a married woman. Lost Highway is a hard film to describe without giving away what makes it special. I found myself drawn to the striking characters, eye-catching cinematography, and engrossing plot. It’s hazy, non-linear storytelling and lack of clear answers may turn off viewers, but please give this film a chance before writing it off completely. I especially appreciate Pullman’s ability to command the screen in intense and dramatic sequences; he absolutely steals the scene and leaves little hints at the deeper horror of his predicament. Bill Pullman’s performance is a standout rivaled only by Patricia Arquette doing double duty with two different personas. While it is never an easy film to watch, Lost Highway presents a dizzying and deceptive journey into the unravelling of one man on a journey to discover what really happened to his wife. Fans of films that beg to be taken apart and re-assembled like a puzzle will delight in the cryptic and thematically rich storytelling while those who crave shocks and thrills will revel just the same in Lost Highway.
Overall Score? 8/10
BEST #1) The Dark and the Wicked (2020); Director: Bryan Bertino; United States
