Top 10 Most Anticipated Films of 2020
Now Iâve got my embarrassingly late âBest of 2019âČ list out of the way, I can finally proceed to the list thatâs probably more exciting - my most anticipated films of 2020!
This list excludes films that have already been screened at festivals (otherwise, stuff like Saint Maud would be here). Itâs also somewhat analogous to groping about for a light switch in the dark - these lists very rarely accurately predict my ultimate favourites for the year, so itâs more of a fun speculative exercise. Hopefully this puts some intriguing-looking films on your radar for the year ahead!Â
1. Dune (dir. Denis Villeneuve)
Plot: The story of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people.
Why be excited? The reasons to be excited about Dune should be pretty self-evident - itâs directed by one of the greatest filmmakers working today (Villeneuveâs Incendies and Blade Runner 2049 are all-timers for me), and is based on one of the best science-fiction novels ever written. The cast - TimothĂ©e Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Javier Bardem, Charlotte Rampling, and more - is absolutely stacked with talent. Thereâs every reason to believe that this will be something special, and I couldnât be more pleased that Villeneuve is the man responsible for filling that Star Wars-shaped hole in the December release schedule.
2. Annette (dir. Leos Carax)
Plot:Â A stand-up comedian (Adam Driver), and his opera singer wife (Marion Cotillard), have a two-year-old daughter with a surprising gift.
Why be excited? You may not have heard of him, but Leos Carax is one of the most exciting directors working - he only makes around one film a decade, but the films he does make tend to be very special. Iâve only seen one film of his - Lovers on the Bridge - but that was filled with such ecstatic romance and wondrous visuals that it made me tremendously excited for Annette. Annette is a top-to-bottom musical with songs by American duo Sparks (if you know them for anything, it will be âThis Town Ainât Big Enough for the Both of Usâ), and said songs will be delivered by Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard. It goes without saying that both actors are extremely talented performers with great voices (see Driver in Marriage Story and Cotillard in Nine for evidence), and Iâm looking forward to seeing how they demonstrate their talents here.
3. Last Night in Solo (dir. Edgar Wright)
Plot:Â A young girl (Thomasin McKenzie), passionate in fashion design, is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s where she encounters her idol, a dazzling wannabe singer (Anya Taylor-Joy). But 1960s London is not what it seems, and time seems to fall apart with shady consequences.
Why be excited? Iâm not the biggest Edgar Wright fan, but I admire him greatly and the premise of Last Night in Soho is like cat-nip to me. Speaking to Empire, Wright explained the story as follows:Â âIâm taking a premise whereby you have a character who, in a sort of abstract way, gets to travel in time. And the reality of the decade is maybe not what she imagines. It has an element of âbe careful what you wish forâ.â Iâm a sucker for a good, old-fashioned high concept, especially when said films play with genre and really challenge the viewer. The two female leads - Thomasin McKenzie (JoJo Rabbit, Leave No Trace) and Anya Taylor-Joy (The Witch, Emma) - are among the very best young actors working today, and the supporting cast features absolute legends such as Diana Rigg and Terence Stamp. Whether itâs successful or not, this film feels like a genuinely original prospect and Iâm eager to see how it turns out.
4. The Green Knight (dir. David Lowery)
Plot:Â A fantasy re-telling of the medieval tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
Why be excited? There has been a sad lack of films based on mythology in recent years - or, to be more accurate, there has been a sad lack of films that attempt to honour what the myths were actually trying to convey. The stunning trailer for Green Knight promises a film that genuinely engages with its source material, and is just as interested in the psychological truths of the tale as the spectacle of its fantastical scenarios. Dev Patel is an extremely talented actor coming off another great movie in The Personal History of David Copperfield, and the supporting cast (Alicia Vikander!) appear to be fully committed to their parts. Iâm excited to see a true myth on the big screen again, and David Lowery (A Ghost Story, The Old Man & The Gun) can be trusted to give an old tale a new sense of vitality.Â
5. The French Dispatch (dir. Wes Anderson)
Plot:Â The staff of a European publication decides to publish a memorial edition highlighting the three best stories from the last decade: an artist sentenced to life imprisonment, student riots, and a kidnapping resolved by a chef.
Why be excited? Itâs a Wes Anderson movie! Of course Iâm excited! In all seriousness, the trailer was all I needed to get hyped about this. Itâs clearly Andersonâs quintessential style, but it also shows flashes of some very bold and striking compositions (yes, Iâm thinking of Chalamet on the back of that motorcycle) that you wouldnât necessarily think of in relation to him. Iâm intrigued by the prospect of there being stories nested within a story, which feels like the perfect choice for the structure of a film about a newspaper. The cast features all of Andersonâs old favourites (Swinton! Murray! McDormand!), as well as some exciting new additions (TimothĂ©e Chalamet, Elisabeth Moss, Christoph Waltz, among others) that feel so well-suited to his style itâs surprising they havenât worked together before. Bring on all those immaculately composed shots and exquisite colour palettes.
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