Best films of 2020

For what it's worth, I used to make yearly lists of the best films of each year, since I started this blog in 2006. When Covid happened in 2020, it upended release cycles, and changed the entire world as we know it, and these lists seemed to be so insignificant in the grander scheme of everything taking place. 

However, now that life has found a new momentum, I've decided to go back to the concept of lists and refine a bit of how I've been organizing them, add a few different categories as well, and provide a bit of a personal opinion on what I've seen for that year. Here's what I compile of the best for the year 2020.

Nomadland

Director: Chloe Zhao

Soul

Director: Pete Docter

The Invisible Man

Director: Leigh Whannell

Sound of Metal

Director: Darius Marder

Palm Springs

Director: Max Barbakow

Mank

Director: David Fincher

Favorite Performance of the Year: Frances McDormand ("Nomadland")

Favorite Supporting Performance of the Year: Maria Bakalova ("Borat Subsequent Moviefilm")

Favorite Cinematography: Joshua James Richards ("Nomadland")

Favorite Score of the Year: Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Jon Batiste ("Soul")

Favorite Production Design of the Year: Donald Graham Burt ("Mank")

Favorite Costume Design of the Year: Trish Summerville ("Mank")

Favorite Director of the Year: Chloe Zhao ("Nomadland")