The last week of February might seem like an odd time to be making a post like this, but here in India, we’re only now able to watch many of the best films of 2019. Moreover, I’m sure some of the best movies of 2020 won’t be accessible to us till early 2021. What I’m saying is, Happy New Cinephile Year!
Most of my picks are films I’m excited for, less because of an intriguing premise and more because of the track records of the filmmakers behind them. That said, Sundance 2020 is over, so we also now have some idea of which movies might be indie breakout hits (like last year’s The Farewell by Lulu Wang, which you absolutely must watch if you haven’t yet). So I have tried to include a few of those. What, unfortunately, did not make it to this list is any Indian film, and so here’s a smaller list of desi movies I’m hoping will be good. (Worth mentioning that had this list been made at the beginning of January, it would have included Chhapaak.)
5. Gulabo Sitabo – Shoojit Sircar
The Shoojit Sircar-Juhi Chaturvedi(Screenwriter) team has consistently given us quirky, offbeat films like Vicky Donor, Piku and October. Their latest stars Amitabh Bachchan and Ayushmann Khurrana, is set in Lucknow, and is a dramedy. That’s all I need to know. Releasing April 17
4. Kaamyaab – Hardik Mehta
Drishyam Films has consistently made some of the best Hindi films of recent years. Their credits include Masaan, Waiting, Dhanak, Newton and Kadvi Hawa. Kaamyaab stars Sanjay Mishra as a longtime Bollywood extra about to hit a major career milestone, and I don’t know if I’m prepared for how good it will be. Releasing March 6
3. Karnan – Mari Selvaraj
Dalit filmmaker Selvaraj debuted with the critically acclaimed Pariyerum Perumal in 2018. His second film, starring Dhanush, releases this year, and while it is still months away, we already have a politician calling for its ban because it deals with caste oppression and “could incite violence.” All the more reason we must watch it when it’s out.
2. Thappad – Anubhav Sinha
Savarna Hindu man Anubhav Sinha has decided to take on various forms of discrimination through his films. What made Mulk work better than Article 15 I think was that he co-wrote the former with a Muslim screenwriter, so it’s encouraging to see that the domestic violence drama Thappad was written by Mrunmayee Lagoo Waikul. The trailer, which shows not just the violence but the gaslighting that follows, has me hooked. Releasing February 28
1. Freedom – Dibakar Banerjee
Like most other films on this list, I could leave you with just the director (who made Khosla ka Ghosla) and the cast (which includes Naseeruddin Shah and Kalki Koechlin) and my point would be made. But in the case of Netflix’s Freedom, I simply must tell you the premise: it begins 25 years into the future and “traces the history of a family in three stories that are intricately interwoven with the personal, ideological and sexual history of India and how desire plays a common role in each.”
With that out of the way, here’s my list of the most exciting films worth looking forward to for the rest of the year. Brace yourself for a list that gets whiter and male-er the higher up you go.
10. Da 5 Bloods – Spike Lee
Description: “Spike Lee directs this tale of four African American vets who return to Vietnam seeking their squad leader’s remains and the promise of buried treasure.” Worth noting that this Chadwick Boseman starrer is only the first of four Netflix originals on this list, and that’s without counting Freedom from the list above. At this point, I’m honestly more excited for Netflix films than even A24. Sue me.
9. Never Rarely Sometimes Always – Eliza Hittman
Description: “Faced with an unintended pregnancy and a lack of local support, Autumn and her cousin Skylar embark on a brave, fraught journey across state lines to New York City.” The trailer is beautiful, but what really hyped me up for this was its rave reception at Sundance. Releasing March 13
8. Minari – Lee Isaac Chung
Description: “Minari follows a Korean-American family that moves to a tiny Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream. The family home changes completely with the arrival of their sly, foul-mouthed, but incredibly loving grandmother.” While the length of this list did not let me include other upcoming A24 films like First Cow and The Green Knight, consider this Steven Yeun drama my token A24 pick.
7. Dick Johnson is Dead – Kirsten Johnson
Description: “Filmmaker Kirsten Johnson and her elderly father stage his death in various ways to help them confront his inevitable demise with humour and poignancy.” I have only recently started to realise how beautiful and emotional documentaries can be (Shirkers anyone?), and the description to this Netflix original tells me it will make for a great next step in my journey.
6. Eternals – Chloe Zhao
Description: “After an unexpected tragedy following the events of Avengers: Endgame, the Eternals – an immortal alien race who have secretly lived on Earth for over 7000 years – reunite to protect humanity from their evil counterparts, The Deviants.” I’m a Marvel fan, so the idea of a Marvel movie from the director of The Rider (who also has Nomadland starring Frances McDormand lined up) would have been exciting even if not for the diverse cast and the promise of actual queer representation. Releasing November 6
5. Soul – Pete Docter and Kemp Powers
Description: “Just when Joe Gardner thinks his dream of being a jazz musician might be in reach, a single unexpected step sends him to a fantastical place where he’s is forced to think again about what it truly means to have soul.” Pete Docter’s last film, Inside Out, is one of my favourite animated films ever, and Soul looks like it’s going to be just as good if not better. Pixar (almost) never disappoints. Releasing June 19
4. I’m Thinking of Ending Things – Charlie Kaufman
Description: “An unexpected detour turns a couple’s road trip into a terrifying journey through their fragile psyches.” If that isn’t the most Charlie Kaufman (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Anomalisa) premise, you’ve ever heard, I don’t know what is. If that isn’t exciting enough, this Netflix original stars Toni Collette in a supporting role.
3. Dune – Denis Villeneuve
Description: “Dune follows the son of a noble family entrusted with the protection of the most valuable asset and most vital element in the galaxy.” Denis Villeneuve’s science fiction films have been hit-or-miss for me, with Arrival really working (except maybe the ending), and Blade Runner 2049 not so much. What’s exciting about Dune, however, is not just its revered source material, but also the cast, which includes Timothée Chalamet, Oscar Isaac and Zendaya, and the score by Hans Zimmer. Releasing December 18
2. Mank – David Fincher
Description: “The story centers around the work of screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz, and his battles with director Orson Welles over screenplay credit for Citizen Kane.” Sure, the premise for this Netflix original isn’t as overtly exciting as the crime thrillers Fincher is usually associated with, but as he showed with The Social Network, Fincher can make even a biographical drama feel as tense and exciting as a thriller.
1. Tenet – Christopher Nolan
All we know of the premise of Tenet is what we see in the trailer. Which isn’t much. International espionage and some timey wimey mindfuckery. But here’s the thing: I’m a stickler for time travel logic, and have rarely, if ever, seen a movie which does not break its own rules. If there’s one person on the planet I trust to get it right, it’s Christopher Nolan, who is already my favourite sci-fi director with The Prestige, Inception and Interstellar. Releasing July 17
Edited by Tanvi Achwal.
THE NAVRANG JOURNAL 