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  1. International Politics
10 December 2020updated 14 Sep 2021 2:09pm

The ten best films of 2020

New Statesman critic Ryan Gilbey chooses his top movies of the year. 

By Ryan Gilbey

Director Bong Joon-ho, won an Academy Award for Parasite on 9 February 2020 (Photo By Getty)

Parasite (15)

dir: Bong Joon-ho

For once, the Best Picture Oscar really did go to the best picture: this witty, cunning upstairs-downstairs thriller.

 

Babyteeth (15)

Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com Our Thursday ideas newsletter, delving into philosophy, criticism, and intellectual history. The best way to sign up for The Salvo is via thesalvo.substack.com Stay up to date with NS events, subscription offers & updates. Weekly analysis of the shift to a new economy from the New Statesman's Spotlight on Policy team. The best way to sign up for The Green Transition is via spotlightonpolicy.substack.com
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dir: Shannon Murphy

Teenager with cancer falls for junkie ne’er-do-well. Moving Australian debut with a perfect cast.

[See also: The best films for Christmas 2020]

 

End of the Century (18)

dir: Lucio Castro

Time and memory play tricks during a gay hook-up. Think Last Year at Marienbad.

 

The Invisible Man (15)

dir: Leigh Whannell

Toxic masculinity goes unseen in an exemplary horror, with Elisabeth Moss at her terrorised best.

[See also: How Netflix changed the channel]​

 

Dark Waters (12A)

dir: Todd Haynes

Contamination and corruption, part one: Mark Ruffalo versus chemicals giant DuPont in a chilling conspiracy thriller.

 

Collective (15)

dir: Alexander Nanau

Contamination and corruption, part two: crusading journalists versus Romanian healthcare in a sobering documentary.

 

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (15)

dir: Céline Sciamma

Eighteenth century artist and sitter experience a brush with obsession.

 

Mank (12A)

dir: David Fincher

All is not Welles: the writing of Citizen Kane.

[See also: The ten best TV shows of 2020]

 

Lynn + Lucy (15)

dir: Fyzal Boulifa

Tragedy, blame and betrayal imperil the bond between two Essex school-friends in a controlled, disturbing drama.

 

His House (15)

dir: Remi Weekes

Highly original horror about south Sudanese asylum seekers trapped in a haunted house.

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This article appears in the 08 Dec 2020 issue of the New Statesman, Christmas special

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