Movies
5) The Social Dilemma -- the Herman's Head/Inside Out bits were cheesy and poorly acted, but in between is talking heads discussing quite possibly the biggest issue of our time. The scariest movie I saw all year.
4) Borat 2 – not as good as the original, but I did laugh hard many times when it wanted me to, so I guess it succeeded at its mission in a way Tenant or WW84 did not. In 2020, I’d take the laughs where I could get them.
3) Onward – Grown on me since I first saw it, mostly due to that out-of-left-field third act. A very different film than I anticipated, to Pixar’s credit. The wall-to-wall D&D/LotR Easter eggs for nerds of a certain age add to the movie’s charm as well.
2) Hamilton – I guess this is a movie technically? Anyway went into it with little knowledge of the show (tho plenty of knowledge re: the title character), ended up really enjoying it. Prefer the first act over the second, and the Lin-Manuel Miranda is the weak link in the otherwise amazing cast, but catchy songs and a largely accurate re-telling of history that also manages to tell a very personal story of tragedy.
1) Trial of the Chicago 7 -- Stellar cast, dialogue up there with "A Few Good Men." Watched it back-to-back with "Borat 2" and, funny as it was, it's a shame the latter is what Sacha Baron Cohen will be remembered for, because he absolutely nails his role as Abby Hoffman. 10 minutes in, he wasn't Borat anymore, he was Hoffman. Also credit to Newt from Fantastic Beasts. He plays Tom Hayden as a generic California white guy--because he basically was, so accurate--but no clue it was him (or even a Brit actor) until the credits.
TV
5) The Undoing (HBO) – stellar cast, beautifully shot around NYC. A couple of the end-of-episode twists genuinely made me gasp. Up until the finale, this was almost a lock for #1. But that final episode is a “WTF” mess that will forever mar the series. Seems to happen quite a bit to HBO series now that I think about it (“WestWorld,” “The Night Of”). Still worth a binge to see Donald Sutherland’s performance.
4) South Park Quarantine Special (Comedy Central) – Somehow hit on everything in 2020 and tied it altogether. Laugh out loud funny. Pulled no punches. That cathartic release we needed this late Summer.
3) The Mandalorian (Disney+) – could have done with one or two less back-door pilots but I stand by what I said last year: the Star Wars I’ve been waiting for since 1980. Baby Yoda and all the ‘memberberries are fun but ultimately Favreau delivering an old-fashioned TV Western and making it work decades after it was last cool.
2) Mrs. America (F/X) – an immersive, balanced look at the fight over the ERA in the 70s. Would be easy to paint Phyllis Schlafly as a cartoonish villain but instead this is a nuanced, sympathetic (but not too sympathtic) performance. At the same time, “warts and all” portrayals of Betty Friedan (by Tracey Ullman!) and Gloria Steinem made them feel like real women, not icons. For anyone under 45, an interesting history lesson in how our political scene got the way it is currently.
1) The Boys (Prime) – raucous humor mixed with social satire. As I saw in someone else’s tweet this year, managed to brutally satire the “A-Force” moment in Endgame, only to do that scene right in its finale. To me that sums up the tightrope the show managed to walk. Karl Urban and Antony Starr just own the screen whenever they are on it.
HM: Tiger King (trash TV but well done trash TV—there’s a reason it created so many memes); The Good Place (a low-key but heartfelt finish to the best comedy of the century)
Live Action Culture (apologies to Seth K)
5) Universal Mardi Gras Parade – cut short and probably forgotten by now, but the floats were amazing and the cast was always energetic. Should’ve appreciated it more at the time.
4) Phantasmagoria Live Streams – the two leads of the show did weekly stories, poems and songs in full dress from their gothic home. Usually culminating in some fire-dancing on their front lawn along a quiet residential street. I burned out on live streams pretty quick—ultimately made me even more depressed seeing such talented people busking in their living rooms—but I need to applaud the effort that went into these.
3) Scream & Stream – an innovative drive-through haunt from a former HHN house manager turned out-of-work AV guru. Both the scare actors and ops crew were on point, sets and costumes were well-done, and the whole middle-of-nowhere location gave it a suitably creepy vibe. Bonus points for an engaging social media presence. Not sure it will ever return (the Christmas follow-up proved a bust), but will always remain a reminder of this crazy year.
2) Bride of Frankenstein Lives – yeah, yeah, the hype factor Legacy talks about is real. Still, immersive sets, costumes that hid the facemasks, a killer cast, Universal monster cameos, and the first house I can remember since Dead Exposure to tell a full three-act story with a satisfying ending. I stand by this being a top 5 house this decade, and truly hope those who missed it this year can experience it as intended in 2021.
1) Give Kids the World Night of a Million Lights – simply breath-taking. The most beautiful Christmas display I’ve ever seen. Must have walked a least a mile, everything is decorated. The name is a misnomer, there are literally millions of lights. Despite being sold out, social distancing was not a problem, they kept the crowds light. Another event I’m not sure returns next year—I’d rather the venue be used for its intended purpose—but if it does, grab tickets early.
HM: Beetlejuice (last minute cast still made a it work, a promising house); the character boats in DAK (hopefully those remain a thing); Earl the Squirrel's Tree Farm