Best of 2020
It has been QUITE a year, but finally, 2020 is over. Here’s some of my favorite media from the past year, and here’s hoping that the next 12 months will be better than the last 12.
Books
Like last year and many unwritten ones before it, this year wasn’t great when it comes to books. That’s not to say that good books didn’t come out, rather, I didn’t read them. Honestly with quarantine suddenly happening back in March, I thought I would take the seemingly extra time that was dumped on me to pick up reading again. Alas, this didn’t happen, so this section is quite short.
1. Red, White, & Royal Blue — Casey McQuiston
Never before, as a grown person, have I wanted more to jump into a fictional world. Casey McQuiston does such an incredible job of building a fictionalized version of America that’s still rough around the edges yet also so much more hopeful than what we currently have that I found myself wishing that Ellen Claremont was our president more than once while reading this book. This novel, to me, also is an example of the intersection between adult and young adult fiction that I’ve been looking for. Don’t get me wrong, in no way is this a YA book, but I’ve noticed that a lot of “adult” books can get quite tiresome for me. Of course I absolutely loved novels like A Little Life and The Goldfinch, but RWRB’s casual relationship with social media, the reader, and interpersonal relationships is something that I personally find much more relatable and realistic to the world I live in than anything else I’ve read. If you, like me, are utterly exhausted when you turn on the news and want 400 pages of escapist fiction, I will endlessly recommend this novel to you.
2. The Secret History — Donna Tartt
This year I, perhaps late, discovered my absolute love for the genre of dark academia (though I do have some Thoughts™ about it, which you can read about here). Whether in films like Kill Your Darlings or novels like The Secret History, something about this genre has the ability to grab me by both shoulders and keep me intensely interested. The events of this novel are expertly woven by Tartt, who creates a vivid and rich world filled with eccentric characters. I often found myself feeling shocked reading this novel. Nothing that happens seems out of character or too far-fetched, yet I still was kept on my toes. If you like dark academia or want to like it, read this book.
3. They Both Die at the End — Adam Silvera
The title of this book is a spoiler for the end yet it still hurt so much when I got to it. I read this novel in just a few hours but the world and characters that Silvera built is so gripping it felt like I couldn’t look away. I won’t lie and say this isn’t a sad book, but it’s also happy and hopeful in a way that only works that deal with death can be. I’ve always felt that stories about death are really about life, and that idea is epitomized in this novel.
Music
You already know what this section is.
1. In a Dream EP — Troye Sivan
My love for Troye Sivan has known no bounds since 2013 and I don’t think it will any time soon. In a Dream is Sivan’s first EP since his very first release under a label, TRXYE. The songs on this album feel honest, and raw with emotions. Despite not actually giving listeners enough context to understand the specific situations Sivan sings about, the lyrics are incredibly personal and introspective. These songs feel like a perfect mix of the signature songwriting and musical quality that fans have grown to love and almost expect from Sivan whilst also toeing the line into a new, almost house-y sound. None of Troye Sivan’s albums sound the same but they all somehow distinctly sound like him, fitting together like puzzle pieces to form the person he is, and In a Dream is no exception.
2. Fine Line — Harry Styles
Even though 8 years ago I would have balked at the thought, at age 20 I’m not even slightly ashamed to announce that I’m a Harry Styles fan. I thoroughly enjoyed Styles’ first solo, self-titled album, and although Fine Line is a very different album, it too has a place in my heart. Where the first album had a nostalgic, warm, and crackly feeling to it accompanied by rock influences, Fine Line is much more by-the-book pop, maybe with the exception of the guitar portion in “She.” That’s not to say that Fine Line is better or worse, just, different. Although this album sounds different it’s still distinctly a Harry Styles record, as seen in the songwriting. I think the switch from happier songs in the first half of the record to more melancholic ones in the second half is ingenious, and the transition happens seamlessly. This album was meant to be sung at the top of your lungs, but since concerts are on hold for the time being, maybe doing it alone in your house will have to do for now.
3. Chip Chrome & the Mono-Tones — The Neighbourhood
The Neighbourhood is one of those bands I feel like I’ve been listening to forever. Well, 7th grade, to be exact, but same difference. This band might not have taken over my life in the same capacity as the regulars in the emo phase line-up, but they’ve always just kind of been there. For nearly a decade, they’ve created a solidly monotone aesthetic for themselves, literally, with almost all their visual content being in black and white. This album is a departure from that precedent, and the music sounds different too, but in a good way. I’ve always said The Neighbourhood sounds distinctly Californian, and this album feels like laying in a quiet patch of grass in the middle of LA on a perfect afternoon.
4. Wasteland, Baby! — Hozier
This album came out in 2019 and I genuinely do not know how I neglected to include in last year’s list. There’s that well-circulated meme about how hearing “Take Me to Church” on the radio for the first time when it came out felt like your spine was being ripped out, but listening to Hozier just has that affect. He’s not exactly the most prolific creator, with two albums out thus far, but honestly with his track record thus far of just absolutely incredible works, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Listening to Hozier just takes me to another place, somewhere in the middle of a rainy forest, maybe, or perhaps underwater, and that’s something I think we’ve all desperately needed this past year.
Television
To be honest, ever since I stopped regularly watching TV shows on an actual television, I’ve had no clue what people are currently watching. Of course I know when shows drop on Netflix, Hulu, and the like, but choosing to watch shows pretty much exclusively on streaming services has resulted in me seeing things that didn’t necessarily come out this year.
1. Fleabag
This show absolutely destroyed me. I don’t know how else to describe it. It’s been months since I finished it and I don’t think I’ve gone a single week without thinking about it. Phoebe Waller-Bridge is an actual comedic genius and she shines so brightly in this show. I’ve been mildly in love with Andrew Scott’s work since I was 10 years old, and he’s an absolute gem in his role as a priest. Despite the ending of this show being an utter punch in the gut when I saw it, in retrospect I love it so much. Every aspect of Fleabag seems meticulously and intentionally thought out and implemented. It’s brutally honest and hilarious and heartbreaking, relatable and not, and one of the best TV shows I’ve ever seen.
2. Avatar: The Last Airbender
Okay, I know I’m late to this show. In my defense, when it first aired on TV I was still firmly planted in my PBS kids phase, so it kind of happened outside the realm of my consciousness. That said, I watched Avatar this past summer and absolutely loved it. I know that there’s some criticism of it based on its depiction of Asian cultures by primarily non-Asian creators, but personally this wasn’t a major issue for me and I just thoroughly enjoyed seeing my own culture as well as many other Asian cultures and traditions displayed in such a positive and wholesome way. The main gaang (yes I am calling them that) is comprised of such lovable characters who are relatable in their own unique ways, and the show’s strong yet veiled critique of imperialism and colonialism was unexpected but welcomed on my part. My favorite character is definitely Zuko (although I did take a quiz a while back and apparently I’m Sokka) but if anyone asks it’s Appa.
3. Ramy
Oh, Ramy. I remember this show doing well at an awards show about a year ago, but after that I kind of forgot about it, beyond occasionally seeing it in my recommended list on Hulu. But then I had to see the pilot for my TV Writing class this past semester, and it just fully sucked me in. I think I saw the first season in two days. I might not be Egyptian or Muslim (or from New Jersey), but this show was still relatable in ways I just was not expecting. I won’t lie, it is a little slow moving at first, and it did take me a second to warm up to the actors, but after I did, it just flew by, and I couldn’t recommend this show enough.
4. Peaky Blinders
I had been meaning to watch Peaky Blinders for ages. Or at least since sophomore year of high school. With just five seasons each with 6 hour-long episodes, this isn’t exactly a long show, but watching each season really does feel like you’re watching a very long, broken-apart movie. Everything about this show is just cinematic, there’s really no better word for it. And don’t even get me started on the music choices. Basically, if gang politics in Britain in the 1920s interests you at all (or even if it doesn’t, and you just like pretty shots and cool clothing), please watch this show.
5. Julie & the Phantoms
I…did not intend to watch this show. At least, I had heard about it but was putting it off because one, the second season isn’t confirmed yet, and two, I’m pretty sure the target audience is 12 year old girls, and I very much am not that. That being said, I flew through this show in one day after needing a break from the heavier material in Peaky Blinders, and it was just such a heartwarming, wholesome experience, and somehow this story about a 16-year-old kid and her three ghost best friends made its way into my heart.
5. Derry Girls
Ah, yet another show I had heard about and had been meaning to watch but didn’t get around to. Finally what got me to sit down and press play was seeing the cast of this show on a recent holiday episode of The Great British Baking Show, where they were all just so off-the-cuff hilarious that I knew the show would be the same. And not only was I right, if I hadn’t seen the show I wouldn’t have been gifted with the absolutely metaphor-ready material that is James attempting to clean a window only to realize he had been using mayonnaise. Very 2020, if I’ve ever seen it.
Movies
Alright, so, for obvious reasons, 2020 has been a little rough on the movie front. While I do love a good made-for-streaming film, I definitely miss the magic of going to see a film in theaters and getting to forget about the entire outside world for two and a half hours, only to emerge when it’s dark and a little brisk outside. I miss that experience terribly, and I can’t wait to (safely) do it again. As much as I want to see films like No Time to Die, Dune, The French Dispatch, and The Green Night. I can and will wait to see them either at home or safely in a theatre, I don’t care what Christopher Nolan thinks. All this to say that many of the films on this list (which are in no particular order) did not come out this year, but that’s nothing against them.
1. 1917 (2019) — Sam Mendes
In high school my friends and I always joked about making a film that’s all one shot, so to see that (essentially) happen in 1917 is absolutely wild. I have a weird relationship with 1917 in that usually, I hate watching a movie and being aware of certain things like cinematography, color, and music. Usually I prefer to just watch a movie for what it is, and I tend to like the movie less if I find myself noticing the technical aspects. That said, despite consistently noticing technicals in this film, I absolutely love it, partly because it wouldn’t be what it is without these aspects. Honestly, the story in 1917 is pretty straightforward, and many like it have been told before. The single moving shot and the colors and ingenious lighting is what makes it what it is, and they really can’t be separated. I loved this film for its visuals, music, intense dedication to perfection, and forefront acting by people I personally hadn’t seen before.
2. Little Women (2019) — Greta Gerwig
I loved this film way more than I thought I would, or frankly, even intended to. I can’t even compare it to the books or to past film iterations because honestly I haven’t read or seen any of them. All I know is that this film, in all of its hoop skirts and yearning and complicated relationships to the self and others, spoke to me. I think it’s absolutely gorgeous, both in writing and visuals, stunningly acted, and perfectly scored. To be completely honest, while I do think Greta Gerwig is undoubtedly a talented filmmaker, I usually can’t fully connect to what she makes (whether that be because of how, for lack of better words, white, her films are or some other reason is besides the point) but Little Women broke precedence. I could watch and talk about and write about this film endlessly, and I couldn’t more highly recommend it to anyone.
3. Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) — Céline Sciamma
The last film I saw in theaters before lockdown was this one, and for that I’m grateful. I haven’t seen a lot of French film straight out of France, so I kind of didn’t know what to expect. That said, this movie is a dream. It’s beautifully shot and drawn out in an extensive but lovely way. I can’t say it’s for everyone, because frankly it does move very slowly, but personally I think that’s one of its strengths. The fact that this film takes its time with everything ensures that you get lost in the isolated world it builds, so much so that walking out of the theatre, my friends and I were in a daze.
4. Parasite (2019) — Bong Joon Ho
This film’s existence on this list shouldn’t be a surprise. It feels like just yesterday that this film took the world and then every single awards show by storm. You’ve probably already read about how beautiful this film is, how well acted and directed and written it is, how it’s a stunning portrayal of class disparity and environmental issues and inequality. So I won’t talk about that. What I will say is, you need to see this film. Yes, you. Don’t say “oh, I don’t really like horror or thrillers,” because honestly, neither do I. I simply cannot watch horror movies and thrillers very rarely, but this film, one, is not a horror movie, and two, is such a perfect balance of thriller and drama and comedy that you shouldn’t let the label sway you from watching this film. Don’t let the sticker on the IMDb or the one inch barrier of subtitles get in your way, because this film is worth it all.
5. Venom (2018) — Ruben Fleischer
Another movie about a parasite, technically! Okay, before you think I’ve absolutely lost my mind, let me just say that I know this isn’t a “good” movie. Venom isn’t poetic cinema or whatever the kids are calling it these days, but it deserves a spot on this list just because of how much unadulterated joy and excitement it gave me when I watched it. This movie is just fun. I don’t think I’ve ever smiled more while watching something. Tom Hardy put 100% into his role and the movie benefits tenfold because of it (and the lobster tank scene now lives in my mind rent-free). If you’re just looking for an exciting, funny (feel-good, dare I say?) movie, just watch Venom. You know you want to.
6. Palm Springs (2020) — Max Barbakow
Ah, the only movie on this list that actually came out this year. Palm Springs is the perfect quarantine movie. Not just because it’s light-hearted, funny, and wonderfully distracting from the chaos of the world, but because you too can relate to the fact that the characters have to relive the same day every day. I saw this movie in a digital watch party with my friends, and it was honestly just so fun. Andy Samberg is always wonderful, and his performance in this movie is no exception.
7. Good Time (2017) — Josh & Benny Safdie
If there’s any word that perfectly encapsulates the Safdie brothers’ work (or at least the two movies of theirs that I’ve seen — this and Uncut Gems), it’s “chaotic.” This film is insane, intense, and just so compelling. The high-blood-pressure-inducing music that freaked me out at first in Uncut Gems became familiar and almost welcomed in Good Time. Stylistically this film is so strong, in everything from cinematography to production design, and Robert Pattinson is absolutely phenomenal in this role. Watching this film after having seen Uncut Gems was also super interesting because there’s a few moments that you can directly connect between the films, and it’s also just really cool to see how the brothers have grown as filmmakers in the time between these releases. This movie definitely might not be for everyone in terms of the absolute craziness that occurs in its mere 1 hour and 40 minutes, but this list would be incomplete without it on it.
8. BlacKkKlansman (2018) — Spike Lee
Okay, so, we all know this film is incredible and Spike Lee is an actual genius and a creator of work that has been and continues to be relevant for decades, so I won’t talk about that, because I don’t have anything to add to the conversation in that regard. What I will talk about is something I’ve not seen a single person talk about, and that’s the music. This film’s score is so good and not once have I seen that be acknowledged. Beyond that, though, it’s so well made and well-acted, and I hadn’t seen John David Washington in anything before (though now I have seen him in Tenet which turned my brain into scrambled eggs) but he’s incredible in this film. Watch this film for all the proper reasons you should, but also watch it for a gorgeously cinematic score that sets the tone perfectly for the whole movie.
9. Zodiac (2007) — David Fincher
Our favorite guy, David Fincher, is back! Well, not really back, because this movie’s a bit old, and not necessarily favorite, though I absolutely do love all his work. Zodiac is very long but still builds up almost unexpectedly. It’s very well acted (with a stellar cast, I might add) and keeps you on your toes the whole time. As a Bay Area native it was kind of fun and also unnerving to spot familiar locations in this film. (Also, did anyone have “decoding one of the Zodiac Killer’s cyphers” on their 2020 bingo card? Because I sure didn’t, yet here we are).
10. Inception (2010) — Christopher Nolan
So, disclaimer, I have seen this film (multiple times) before, and despite the mild shade thrown at Christopher Nolan at the preface to this section, I’d be a liar and a fool to say that this film isn’t one of my favorites of all time. I think I’ve seen this four times now and I still find new things in it every time and love it more each time. No matter how many times I see it, I feel the same, unabashed joy and excitement that I did the first time around. This film, to me, is the perfect example of well-placed (and paced!) confusion. Inception is mind bending but as soon as you accept what’s happening and simply sit back for the ride, everything falls into place. Not only do I recommend this film to everyone, I have an open invite to anyone I know personally that I will rewatch this movie with you.
That’s a Wrap
2020 has felt like it aged us all 50 years. I’m not going to proclaim that next year will be better for fear that I’ll jinx it, but we can all hope. At the very least there’ll be new books, music, TV, and movies for me to compile into a list next December. Have a safe & healthy holiday season, y’all.
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