Watch or Pass's Top 10 Movies of 2020: Weathering With You, Onward, All About Who You Know, The High Note, Host, Emma, Fishbowl, Sword of God, Gutterbug, Soul

2020 has been a unique year and one that has brought lots of hardship and challenges, but also some titanic changes in the movie industry.  With theaters essentially closed this year, the risse of digital distribution and indie films filled the void that theaters used to fill.  Here are my top 10 movies I saw this year. 

Weathering With You
My absolute favorite movie of this year!  It came out right at the start of 2020 but was such an amazingly beautiful, heartfelt animated film that it stuck with me all year.  It is absolutely the film I watched the most in 2020 and its lessons about burdening future generations is an important one.  For more information, check out the review!

Onward
One of the first casualties of theaters closing, Onward opened at the absolute worst time and led to an early Disney+ release.  It ushered in a more digital focus for releases and led to hours and hours of entertainment for kids and adults stuck at home.  And as a nerd, the fantasy modern setting and wonderfully heartfelt and heart wrenching story cast a spell over me from the first time I saw it.  For more information, check out the review!

Emma

What a wonderful burst of color right before the pandemic started.  Emma was a wonderful retelling of the Jane Austin classic with some amazing performances and a confident costume design that brought the story to life.  It was an enjoyable film even if you have no experience with the story and had an absolute charm that brought a smile to my face throughout.  For more information, check out the review!

All About Who You Know

This wonderful film was the first indie I saw this year to knock my socks off.  In a year that saw a huge uptick in indie films, this movie was such a refreshingly different love story that I had to take notice.  The characters, the writing, the acting, and the overall anit-Hollywood take on romantic films was so much fun to see and has held up on repeated viewings.  For more information, check out the review!

The High Note

This film had the combination of wonderful characters, performances, and some truly amazing music.  A chance for Tracie Ellis Ross to show that she is both an amazingly funny actor and wonderful singer, this film had so much heart and a soundtrack that I listened to for months after the film was over.  For more information, check out the review!

Host

No film captured the pandemic quite like Host.  A film that was filmed completely during the early months of lockdown, Host showed what could be done even without the ability for people to gather on a set.  Filmed completely remotely, the movie had an amazingly modern take on life because it was filmed during that time.  The references were timely and the effects were still exciting and scary.  For more information, check out the review!

Fishbowl

Few movies this year spoke to me like this one did.  From the wonderful shot choice and fantastic characters, to the focus on small town and religious angst, this movie touched on some weighty topics with a dramatic and sometimes darkly comedic style.  The film is a special one and so smartly done.  It is a master of telling you about the story without overtly saying it, and the iconography and cinematography are truly amazing.  For more information, check out the review!

Sword of God

I called this a devoutly atmospheric masterpiece and I stick by it.  The movie has a horror aesthetic that is more primal than supernatural, but it just does everything so well.  It has a smart use of colors to really make the intense scene pop, and a story that evolves slowly as you learn more and more about this situation.  And the sets and costumes are perfectly done, completely transporting you to this unsettling medieval village.  For more information, check out the review!

Gutterbug

What a high energy film about mental illness and youthful rebellion, Gutterbug is fueled by an amazing performance by Andrew Yackel and a confident filmmaking that belies the indie nature of this film.  And underneath this all, it tells a very human story about many of societies vices and issues, and the trouble with coming to terms with your choices and changing your life.  For more information, check out the review!

Soul

What a way to close out the year.  In a year filled with so much uncertainty, we were given a hopeful, beautiful film about finding your purpose in life.  And it also marked a milestone being Pixar's first film with a black lead character and a wonderful animated portrayal of black culture.  But it also showed the beauty in the world, for a year with so much ugliness just stopping to appreciate what is around you and our short time on Earth is a gift in itself.  For more information, check out the review!

Sword of God Unboxing Video Thanks To Film Movement

Unboxing video for the DVD version of Sword of God thanks to our friends at Film Movement. Details of the film below.

Sword of God:

Two men in the early Middle Ages come to a pagan land: one to bring Christianity, the other to find his way of living. They choose two different ways of reaching the pagans. Their conflicting approaches cause issues between themselves and their new flock, and might result in consequences that neither of them anticipated. Cast: Krzysztof Pieczynski, Karol Bernacki, Wiktoria Gorodecka, Jacek Koman Director: Bartosz Konopka Writers: Bartosz Konopka, Przemyslaw Nowakowski, Anna Wydra

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What to Watch This Weekend: I Met a Girl, The Devil All The Time, Sword of God, Trolls World Tour, Queen & Slim, Burnt Orange Heresy, #Alive, Fighting With My Family

For The Hopeless Romantic -  I Met A Girl (Digital)

I Met A Girl has a moving performance by its charismatic lead, a wonderful bright style, and plenty of highs and lows in this story about love and mental illness.  For more information, check out our review!

For The Religious Fan of Great Actors - The Devil All The Time (Netflix)

The Devil All The Time has amazing performances, deep characters, and tempts you with its exploration of faith, religion, and choice.  For more information, check out our review!

For Devout Horror Fan - Sword of God

Sword of God is a devoutly atmospheric masterpiece, with an amazing setting, wonderful, immersive effects and costumes, and an otherworldly aesthetic that will have you praying for more.  For more information, check out our review!

For The Horror Survival Fan - #Alive (Netflix)

This Korean zombie drama offers a refreshing take on the zombie isolation horror.  As a lot of people are isolating for other reasons, this film is a sign of life in the genre.

 

For The Wrestling Fan - Fighting With My Family (Amazon)

Fighting With My Family gives you a heartwarming story, filled with thoroughly enjoyable characters and action, that takes some creative liberties but still tells a solid tale.  For more information, check out our review!

For The Kids - Trolls World Tour (Hulu)

Trolls World Tour keeps the same style and characters that made the first movie a surprise hit, and adds a bunch of new and interesting music trolls and locations to the band, while also providing an avenue to talk to your kids about diversity and tolerance.  For more information, check out our review!

For The Dramatic Art Student - The Burnt Orange Heresy (Redbox)

The Burnt Orange Heresy paints an interesting picture, with fantastic performances and some very good writing, but the overall experience is hurt by a story that goes off the rails.  For more information, check out our review!

For A Realistic Take On The Black Experience - Queen & Slim (HBO)

Queen & Slim gives a window into racial injustice in America, told through stellar performances, strong writing, and a commitment to realism that preaches a powerful message.  For more information, check out our review!

Sword of God Review: A Devoutly Atmospheric Masterpiece

Release date: April 14, 2020
Running time: 102 minutes
Starring: Krzysztof Pieczynski, Karol Bernacki, Wiktoria Gorodecka, Jacek Koman

Two men in the early Middle Ages come to a pagan land: one to bring Christianity, the other to find his way of living. They choose two different ways of reaching the pagans.  Their conflicting approaches cause issues between themselves and their new flock, and might result in consequences that neither of them anticipated.

Sword of God is just a masterpiece.  It is so insanely well done in all aspects that it really transports you into this alternate world.  The setting is amazing and otherworldly.  It fully immerses you in this fictional but authentic seeming medieval village.  It feels like the setting of the old Micheal Crichton novel, Eaters of the Dead.  And on top of the setting, the costumes and cast are phenomenal as well.  The costumes look authentic for the time, with realistic looking armor and weapons for the two devout visitors, and the inhabitants of the strange land covered in furs and bones.  The two visiting Christian missionaries have a serious, pious mentality that is slightly different for each of them but thoroughly convincing.  And the native inhabitants are fantastic, with their actors completely dedicated to their beliefs and mannerisms.  On top of how they act, the pagans are also covered in a white paint that gives them an otherworldly look that is fascinating and disturbing to see.  Seriously, this just an amazingly done film that truly transports you to this fantasy setting.  

This is all helped by a determined, well chosen color palate and cinematography that sells this as an otherworldly endeavor.  The movie starts with this wonderful washed out and matte color setup that is beautiful and perfectly tuned for the setting.  And the cinematography does an amazing job to highlight this, with wonderful shot choices and camera angles that emphasize the colors and lighting.  It also emphasizes the horror aspects of this, with fog and lighting that really puts you on edge.  And all of this is helped with by a general lack of CG, so nothing on screen distracts you from this wholly engrossing film.  Sword of God features some really amazing sounds as well.  It starts off right with the sound of rushing water filling your ears, and just goes from there.  The dialogue of the natives keeps you on edge, and many sounds and effects are added to give you an uneasy feeling.  And the music is very well done, filling the scene when needed and drowning out the other sounds at times for dramatic effect.  

Along with everything else about this film, the story of Sword of God does not disappoint.  It starts off simple enough, but quickly adds complexity and twists that keep you guessing what will happen next.  There are some really interesting character changes that add fuel to this religious fire, and the overall ending is a surprise and ultimately satisfying.  Sword of God does everything right and if you are slightly interested in fantasy, historical drama, or horror, then this is one to check out.

Sword of God is a devoutly atmospheric masterpiece, with an amazing setting, wonderful, immersive effects and costumes, and an otherworldly aesthetic that will have you praying for more. 

Watch it.

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