Now that you’ve watched all of our television recommendations, it’s time to focus on movies. With thousands of films to choose from, I tried to stick to films that came out within the past three years. From action thrillers to romantic comedies, this list has it all. Stay inside and watch movies. It’s that easy.
The Unafraid Show Quarantine Binge Guide: Movies
The Pound For Pound Streaming Champ – Mission Impossible: Fallout
Mission Impossible: Fallout: 147 minutes. Watch on Hulu or Amazon Prime.
Right now, the pound for pound champ on the streaming services is Mission Impossible: Fallout. It’s rare to find a franchise that continues to improve with each new addition, but that’s exactly what Mission Impossible has done. No actor or actress understands how to physically and emotionally channel a specific role more than Tom Cruise and his portrayal of Ethan Hunt. Don’t let the death dying stunts distract you from the film’s brilliant and suspenseful story. Watching Fallout will be the best two and a half hours you spend today.
“Shallow” was the best musical moment of 2018. In 2019, Lady Gaga passed the torch to Jessie Buckley with her performance of “Glasgow (No Place Like Home)” in Wild Rose. Why didn’t we pay attention to this film more upon its release in April 2019? Unfortunately, I’m guilty as well since I didn’t see the film until January 2020. However, I’m atoning for my mistake by shouting about the brilliance of Buckley from every rooftop in New York City. Unlike most stocks on the DOW, Buckley’s stock is trending upwards thanks to stellar performances in Wild Rose and Chernobyl. Don’t believe me? Listen to her sing “Glasgow” at the 2020 BAFTAs. I dare you to tell me she’s not a star. Go ahead. Try me.
Every so often, a movie comes along that leaves you speechless. Your mind can’t comprehend what occurred onscreen and it fills you with the belief that anything is truly possible. For me, that movie is Free Solo. The film profiles Alex Honnold on his journey to perform a free solo climb of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. For those that don’t know, a free solo climb occurs when climbers don’t use any ropes, harnesses, or protective equipment. It’s you, a bag of chalk, and the rock. The visuals in Free Solo may be magnificent, but they can make you sick to your stomach. In a time where inspiration is hard to find, Free Solo will inject you with hope and optimism.
The surprise couple of 2019 was Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron. Who knew they had so much chemistry? I’m not trying to belittle the film by describing it as delightful. Long Shot is delightful because I couldn’t stop smiling and laughing throughout the movie. Maybe that’s because I was so surprised by how well it worked. Theron could turn water into wine, which is why she’s one of the best working actresses in Hollywood. However, I did not expect such a sweet and thoughtful performance from Rogen. The actor still made me laugh with his stoner persona, but it was his believable performance as a man in love with his crush that won me over.
The tagline should have been “A Quiet Place: You Will Need A Xanax To Watch.” It’s difficult to describe A Quiet Place without revealing any spoilers. Essentially, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, and their two children live in a world where blind creatures attack when they hear a sound hence why they need to be quiet. It’s a quick, entertaining horror film that’s a damn good time. Keep your chewing sounds to a minimum.
Welcome to the Maya Erskine Fan Club. Please take your seat as the meeting will begin shortly. As I wrote in this piece about rising actresses, Erskine had a great 2019. First, Erskine and her creative partner, Anna Konkle, released the charming and hilarious show, Pen15, on Hulu. Then, Erskine built on that momentum with Plus One, a romantic comedy about two friends that agree to be one another’s plus ones to future weddings. Erskine’s excellent comedic timing and strong chemistry with Jack Quaid made Plus One a contender for most underrated movie of the year. It’s one of the better rom-coms of the past five years. Go watch Plus One, and I’ll see you at the next meeting.
Rapid Fire
Let’s Blow Some Shit Up – 6 Underground. 128 minutes. Watch on Netflix. Ryan Reynolds plays Deadpool without a mask in a Michael Bay film with more explosions than Saving Private Ryan‘s opening scene. Sign me up.
You Need To See This Movie To Believe It – Midsommar. 148 minutes. Watch on Amazon Prime. Lol. That’s really all I have to say about Midsommar.
The Movie That Reignited Rom-Coms – Set It Up. 105 minutes. Watch on Netflix. Rom-coms didn’t die in the 2010s. They just took a break. Set It Up reignited the genre.
Pete Davidson Can Act – Big Time Adolescence. 90 minutes. Watch on Hulu. I really, really enjoyed this version of Pete Davidson.
Lizzo’s Lyrics As A Movie – Booksmart. 105 minutes. Watch on Hulu. I just took a DNA test turns out… You know the rest. Booksmart rules.
https://youtu.be/Uhd3lo_IWJc
Watch Parasite Before You Watch Anything Else – Parasite. 132 minutes. Rent on VOD or wait until April 8 when it streams on Hulu. Nothing else matters until you watch Parasite. It will change your life.
What movie will you be watching? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.
Are you stuck inside? Do you practice social distancing? Are you slowly losing your mind? I’ll cut right to the point. This global pandemic sucks. It’s scary and nervewracking. Be smart, stay safe and most importantly, stay inside! I’ve been working from home for well over a year so I was born from the seclusion just like Bane was born from the darkness. Since you’re inside, it’s time to binge that television show you’ve always wanted to watch, but never had the time to put in the effort? Guess what? Now is the perfect time for a quarantine binge watch.
My recommendations will be for shows that are either currently on television or premiered a season within the past year or two. I don’t need to beat a dead horse and say to watch classic shows like The Wire, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, and The Sopranos. There’s no better time than now to watch those iconic programs. For me, The Sopranos has always been my white whale. I never finished it all (shame on me), but I’m making an effort to go back and rewatch it. See, I’m flawed human, too.
Here it is. The Unafraid Show Quarantine Binge Guide: Television
The Best Show Of The Past Year – Fleabag
Fleabag / Amazon Prime
Fleabag: Two seasons, 6 episodes per season, 20-28 minutes per episode. Watch on Amazon Prime.
I’m running out of words to describe Fleabag. But, I did have a lot to say when the second season premiered this past April. Fleabag is one of the most creative shows ever made. It will make you piss your pants and cry your eyes out. Phoebe Waller-Bridge is a god.
Devs: Currently in 1st season, 3 episodes released, 50 minutes-1 hour per episode. Watch on Hulu.
The plot description for Devs is pretty straightforward. Lily Chan (Sonoya Mizuno), a software engineer, believes her boyfriend was murdered by her employer, the Amaya Company, which is run by the CEO, Forest (Nick Offerman). However, after a few minutes of the first episode, the show quickly becomes a haunting and mesmerizing thriller based around technology. Devs‘ creator is Alex Garland, the mind behind Ex Machina and Annihilation. Similar to those two movies, Devs has many twists and turns that will fuck with your mind, but it a good way.
Smoke Weed With Your Friends And Laugh Your Ass Off – The Real Bros Of Simi Valley
The Real Bros of Simi Valley: Currently in 3rd season, 4 episodes in S1/10 eps in S2/5 eps released so far in S3, 6-25 minutes per episode. Watch Season 1 on YouTube and Seasons 2-3 on Facebook Watch.
Do you even burn, bro? The weed is optional, but watching Real Bros is mandatory. Real Bros is a parody of The Jersey Shore and The Real Housewives set in Simi Valley. From truck nut obsessions to kickbacks, Jimmy Tatro created a series that is just as funny as it is ridiculous in nature. Squash your beef, get exterior, and binge the show in one sitting.
Quarantine And Chill – You
You: 2 seasons, 10 episodes per season, 41-50 minutes per episode. Watch Netflix.
Hello, you. To be honest, lifetime shows are usually not my cup of tea. They’re usually too melodramatic for my liking. However, You is different. The show highlights a creep who stalks girls and commits evil acts of violence. I wouldn’t say You is a fun show, but it was built to binge with your significant other. It’s uncomfortable at times, but it will spurn a conversation after every episode. Again, I usually wouldn’t watch this show, but it’s so damn addicting.
Watch With Me – Jack Ryan
Jack Ryan: 2 seasons, 8 episodes per season, 40-64 minutes per episode. Watch on Amazon Prime.
This is my current show of choice. I’m late to the game, but Jack Ryan is an enjoyable binge. I’ll watch a CIA political thriller about an analyst attempting to stop a terrorist attack any day of the week. The charismatic John Krasinski is the star, but Wendell Pierce’s presence creates a buddy-cop dynamic that leaves you wanting a spinoff with the two characters.
Girls Kick Ass – Killing Eve
Killing Eve: 2 seasons, 8 episodes per season, 41-55 minutes per episode. Watch on Hulu.
Fleabag might have been my favorite show of 2019, but Killing Eveowned that title in 2018. Killing Eve portrays a cat-and-mouse game between Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh), a British intelligence officer, and Villanelle (Jodie Comer), a psychopathic assassin. Oh and Comer give spectacular performances and the duo have undeniable chemistry. The “will they, won’t they” romantic narrative adds to the show’s addictive nature and suspense. Plus, Phoebe Waller-Bridge wrote the first season. Enough said.
Rapid Fire
Best Star Wars Show That Star Wars Fans And Non-Star Wars Fans Will Love – The Mandalorian. 1 season, 8 episodes, 31-46 minutes per episode. Watch on Disney+. MANDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. It’s a bounty hunting adventure that happens to be set in the Star Wars universe. Even if you hate Star Wars, The Mandalorian rules.
Think You Have It Bad? – Chernobyl. 1 season, 5 episodes, 60-72 minutes each. Watch on HBO. A reminder that acting quickly helps and every decision matters. The show may be full of existential dread, but the subject matter is important, compelling, and captivating.
Comics Are Cool – Watchmen. 1 season, 9 episodes, 52-67 minutes per episode. Watch on HBO. Give comic book adaptations a chance! Watchmen is too smart for its own good. It’s brilliantly paced and expertly thought out. Regina King is a badass. Tick tock.
Don’t You Forget About Me, I’m Still The Best Written Show On TV – Better Call Saul. Currently in its 5th season, 10 episodes per season, 42-61 minutes per episode. Watch Seasons 1-4 on Netflix and Season 5 on AMC. Like LeBron James, it’s important to appreciate greatness during its run because when it’s gone, it’s gone forever. That’s Better Call Saul in a nutshell.
Let’s Talk About Sex, Baby – Sex Education. 2 seasons, 8 episodes per season, 47-59 minutes per episode. Watch on Netflix. A raunchy sex comedy is somehow one of the sweetest and most endearing coming-of-age stories on television.
If You Know, You Know – The End of the F***ing World. 2 seasons, 8 episodes per season, 19-24 minutes per episode. Watch on Netflix. If you know, you know. Just watch this quirky and funny little show.
NoHo Fucking Hank – Barry. 2 seasons, 8 episodes per season, 26-35 minutes per episode. Watch on HBO. Once you meet NoHo Hank, you’ll be hooked. It also helps that Barry is one of the best dark comedies I’ve ever seen with Bill Hader’s best performance as an actor.
https://youtu.be/b09aJdWqVp4
Did I miss anything? Do you have more suggestions? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.
Could you defeat an invisible man? Ever since I saw The Invisible Man, which I thoroughly enjoyed, it’s the only debate that matters in my life. I read an article from Newsweek about the invisibility suit in the film and how it’s more plausible than other iterations of invisible men. That’s good enough for me to assume this could happen.
After taking some time to plan my attack, I’ve determined that I could defeat an invisible man. With the right tools and traps, I, a blogger, could outsmart a scientific genius. Here’s what I need and how I would do it.
Will include very light spoilers about The Invisible Man, but I won’t give away any major plot points.
Walk With A (Blind) Cane*
Getty Images
With an invisible man in the vicinity, I need something to try and physically feel his presence before he sneaks up on me. If he somehow gets within a foot of me, I’m history. This is where a cane comes into play. The cane potentially puts a few feet of space between myself and the invisible man. If the cane hits him, I can swing away like Merrill in Signs.
*I don’t want to offend anyone that’s blind so I’d ask the blind community if I could use this type of cane. If not, I’d just get a really long walking cane. An invisible man could kill me, but I won’t let a Twitter mob get the same chance.
Carry A Knife
Unbox Therapy
As the iconic Lil Wayne once said, “Always strapped (when there’s an invisible man on the run).” Let’s assume this invisible man has the same suit from the movie, which is made up of cameras to make the suit appear invisible. In order to render the cameras ineffective, they need to be altered or destroyed. A pocket knife can puncture the suit, but at the very least, it will break some of the suit’s cameras. The suit will malfunction, making him visible at times. Plus, if I stab hard enough, there’s a chance I could puncture his skin, causing blood to run down his body, which would give me a temporary outline of his body. For the pro-gun crowd, I would only use a gun at home, but I’d still be hesitant to bring it out. If the invisible man got a hold of the gun, I’m history. If he gets the knife, I have a fighting chance.
Water Guns Or Squirt Bottles With Paint
The Invisible Man / Universal
Using paint is not optional; it’s mandatory. In The Invisible Mantrailer, Elisabeth Moss’s character pours paint on the invisible man, which outlines most of his body. Visibility is the key to his demise so I need to have paint on me at all times. If I’m in my house, I’d rock a super soaker full of paint. If I’m in public, carrying around a tiny squirt gun or bottle should do the trick.
Hire A Police Dog
Sussex Police Dog
Logistically, I don’t expect the cops to rent their K9 to me in order to stop an invisible man. Would that be cool? Yes. Is it realistic? Probably not. That being said, having a big dog to attack the intruder would only be beneficial so if any person has a well-trained German Shephard, hit me up.
Break Glass To Track Footsteps
In Mission Impossible I, when Ethan Hunt returns to the Prague safe house after the failed mission, he breaks a light bulb and scatters the glass pieces all over the hallway leading up to his room. If someone walks over the glass, Hunt knows an intruder is close. That’s exactly the same logic I’m using to defeat the invisible man. My plan would be to hunker down in a room and scatter broken glass all over the room. If he’s in the room, I’ll hear his footsteps. Coffee, which was used in the movie, and legos will also work.
How I Would Defeat The Invisible Man
Using all of my knowledge and gear, this is my plan to defeat an invisible man. I’m assuming the invisible man is a psychopath so he’ll hunt me even if I’m stocked with supplies. Psychopaths are arrogant. If you plan it, he will come.
Pick one room in my house that has a corner with no window in the vicinity.
Shatter glass all over the room.
Have an arsenal of paint cans and water guns.
Once I know he’s in the room, light him up with paint.
Use pepper spray to temporarily blind him.
Stab him multiple times to destroy the cameras.
Call the police while he’s subdued.
Watch him rot in prison.
Seems pretty easy to me.
How you would defeat the invisible man? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.
Portrait of a Lady onFire is one of the most powerful portrayals of forbidden love you will ever see. Winner of Best Screenplay at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, the film begins with the titular portrait of a lady on fire. Marianne, played by Noémie Merlant, is visibly moved when her art students bring out the portrait unbeknownst to her. There’s significant meaning behind this vivid painting, and director Céline Sciamma expertly fills in the details, one stroke at a time
Portrait of a Ladyon Fire chronicles Marianne, an 18th-century French painter hired to paint the portrait of Héloïse, played by Adèle Haenel. Marianne travels to a remote island in Brittany at the orders of Héloïse’s mom, The Countess, played by Valeria Golino, to paint the portrait. Héloïse, who was abruptly removed from the convent, will soon be forced into a marriage with a nobleman from Milan. The Countess explains to Marianne how Héloïse refuses to sit for her portrait so she must paint in secret and go on daily walks with Héloïse in order to memorize her features. The finished portrait will be a gift to Héloïse’s future husband that she will marry soon enough.
Adèle Haenel in Portrait of a Lady on Fire / Neon
At first, Marianne and Héloïse struggle to bond as they both err on the side of caution. Héloïse feels trapped in a marriage she wants nothing to do with and Marianne wants to act on her desires but hesitates in her initial encounters. It’s a game of chicken as Marianne and Héloïse hesitate to make the first move. However, as the two women spend more time together, their chemistry is magnetic and the sexual tension is palpable. The “will they, won’t they” narrative builds whenever Marianne and Héloïse look into each other’s eyes. There’s a time constraint that lingers over the love story, but Sciamma meticulously crafts a slow burn that is in no rush to end.
PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE: Powerful love story. Stunning imagery. My theater was silent for 5 minutes after it ended. Will be thinking about the last half of the film for a long time. #PortraitOfALadyOnFire
For a film that uses little music, the silence speaks volumes. It’s the quiet moments that Marianne and Héloïse spend together on the beach and in bed that the audience will cherish. On this island, these women express themselves in any way they please. Forbidden love can’t last, but the freedom to love is more important because it’s their choice. They are not bogged down by the restraints of society and the orders of powerful men. Marianne and Héloïse challenge each other intellectually just as much as they embrace romantically. Whether debating the tragedy of Orpheus and Eurydice with Sophie (Luàna Bajrami), a maid, or pondering their impending futures, Marianne and Héloïse create a world to themselves even if it’s only for a few days.
Thanks to stunning imagery and a brilliant script, Portrait of a Lady on Fire will move you in ways you didn’t think were possible. The final scene will leave you motionless and short of breath. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and Portrait of a Lady on Fire is as beautiful as it gets.
4.5/5 Stars
Note: My goal is to see more foreign films in 2020. I absolutely loved Parasite, which was my favorite film in 2019. As Bong Joon-ho said, “Once you overcome the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.” Neon produced Parasite as well as Portrait of a Lady on Fire so it’s clear the studio has good taste. I encourage everyone reading this to at least go into 2020 with an open mind when it comes to movies. See anything and everything, but at the end of the day, just see something.
2021 Oscars? It’s never too early! Going into the 2020 Oscars, I expected all of the favorites to win. 1917 and Sam Mendes would win Best Picture and Best Director, respectively. Joaquin Phoenix, Renée Zellweger, Brad Pitt, and Laura Dern would win in their respective acting categories. I would have been fine with all of those decisions.
Hearing “Parasite” still gives me goosebumps. Parasite not only won Best Picture, Best Orginal Screenplay, and Best International Feature, but Bong Joon-ho shocked the world when he won Best Director. I’m here to firmly state that Parasite is the real deal. It was my favorite movie of 2019 and it deserved every major award and then some.
Slowly but surely, I'm creating my Top 10 movies of 2019. That being said, I guarantee that Parasite will be in my Top 3. Not only one of the movies films of the year, but it will eventually go down as one of the best films of the decade. #Parasite
That being said, it’s time to look ahead to the 2021 Oscars. It may be considered “downtime” for award season movies, but I’m always looking towards what’s on the horizon. I did this same article last year and my predictions were rocky, to say the least. It’s bad, but I’ve definitely seen worse. Here were my predictions in Feb. 2019.
*Did not pick supporting categories
After I clean my mouth of vomit from those predictions, I’ll move on. So what’s on tap for 2020 that we could see at the 2021 Oscars? Three heavy hitters come right to mind: Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, and Denis Villeneuve’s Dune. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck reunite as writers for the first time since Good Will Hunting in The Last Duel. Guillermo del Toro should be releasing his followup to the Oscar-winning The Shape of Water. Sofia Coppola, Wes Anderson, Spike Lee, David Fincher, and Aaron Sorkin all have films coming out in 2021. A lot can change from now until next February. However, here are my way-too-early (and reckless) predictions for the 2021 Oscars.
Best Picture
Dune
The French Dispatch
Hillbilly Elegy
Mank
Nightmare Alley
Nomadland
Tenet
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Untitled David O. Russell film
West Side Story
Best Actor
Adam Driver, The Last Duel
Anthony Hopkins, The Father
Christian Bale, Untitled David O. Russell film
Denzel Washington, Macbeth
Gary Oldman, Mank
Best Actress
Amy Adams, Hillbilly Elegy
Ana de Armas, Blonde
Cate Blanchet, Nightmare Alley
Frances McDormand, Macbeth
Jennifer Hudson, Respect
Best Supporting Actor
Bill Murray, On the Rocks
Chadwick Boseman, Da 5 Bloods
David Strathairn, Nomadland
Mark Rylance, The Trial of the Chicago 7
Willem Dafoe, Nightmare Alley
Best Supporting Actress
Glenn Close, Hillbilly Elegy (If this movie gets positive reviews, expect a HUGE campaign for Close for Best Supporting Actress. Once again, if the movie is well-received by critics, Close will finally win an Oscar.)
Jodie Comer, The Last Duel
Octavia Spencer, The Witches
Rita Moreno, West Side Story
Saoirse Ronan, Ammonite
Best Director
Chloe Zhao, Nomadland
David Fincher, Mank
David O. Russell, Untitled film
Steven Spielberg, West Side Story
Wes Anderson, The French Dispatch
If I get more than 5 of these predictions right, I’ll be happy. See you next February.
Do you agree or disagree with my predictions? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @danny_giro.
Ready for the 2020 Oscars? First, I gave you my picks. Now, I want to make you some money. Betting the Oscars is not a typical bet. It’s not like a sports bet where the result is determined live. Oscar bets are voted on by the Academy so essentially, we’re betting on how a group of people voted. It’s not easy, but there are some keys to look for while betting the 2020 Oscars.
Use Results From Other Award Shows As Guide – It’s very rare for an award winner to come out of nowhere. Usually, each category has one to three contenders. In most cases, these contenders won awards at major shows like the Golden Globes, SAGs, or BAFTAs. Furthermore, for technical awards, there are guild awards given out for crafts like writing, editing, and cinematography. The more awards won at the guilds, the better the chances of winning an Oscar.
Favorites Win A Lot – This doesn’t help when it comes to making money, but it does pay off to pick favorites if you are doing an Oscars pool where you have to pick winners without odds.
Look For Bets With The Best Value – The bets I’m suggesting to make are not “locks.” Most of them are underdogs and long shots. They may not win, but it’s your best chance of making money. Try to avoid categories where the favorite is significantly out of reach.
Bet At Your Own Risk – I’m not legally obligated to say this, but I’m going to say it anyway. Have fun, but be smart!
*Odds taken from Draftkings at 5:30 PM EST. Subject to change.
My picks do NOT reflect who I believe will win. They reflect the best bet you can make to win the most money.
Best Picture
Great value here for the top three spots. 1917is the favorite because of Best Picture wins at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and PGAs. Right on its tailis Parasite, which won the Best Ensemble Award at the SAGs and will win Best International Feature Film. My pick is 1917 because the PGA winner has won 8 of the last 10 Best Pictures at the Oscars. Plus, it has great odds for a frontrunner. I’d bet on both 1917 and Parasite. If you have extra money to blow, sprinkle a little cash on Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. The Academy loves Tarantino and they love movies about Hollywood. 10 to 1 odds make for a great payout.
Bets To Make: 1917 in Best Picture -125 and/or Parasite in Best Picture +150
Every Acting Category
Do you like lighting your money on fire? If so, then you’ll love betting on the acting categories. I’m trying to make a case for any actor not named Renée Zellweger, Joaquin Phoenix, Brad Pitt, and Laura Dern, but I can’t do it with a straight face. All four actors are heavy favorites and have few losses on their resumes this season. Even though I don’t believe this will happen, if I had to pick one upset, it would be Scarlett Johansson in Best Actress. I can’t advise anyone to place a bet on an underdog in any of these categories, but Scar Jo in Marriage Story would be my play.
Bet To Make: Scarlett Johansson in Best Actress +1000
Best Original Screenplay And Best Adapted Screenplay
Two categories, two underdogs that have legitimate shots at winning. Let’s start with original screenplay. Parasite is the favorite because of wins at the WGAs and BAFTAs. However, right on Director Bong’s heels is Mr. Quentin Tarantino. You can never count out Tarantino in the original screenplay category because of his two previous wins for Pulp Fiction and Django Unchained. I would never blame someone for betting on Tarantino. In adapted screenplay, Jojo Rabbit also picked up wins at the WGA and BAFTAs. However, Greta Gerwig wrote the best adaptation of Little Women to date. Do not count her out, butTaika Waititi and Jojo is the best bet to make.
Bets To Make: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood in Best Orginal Screenplay +150 // Jojo Rabbit in Best Adapted Screenplay -177
Best Sound Editing And Best Sound Mixing
The 1917 domino starts in the technical categories. If it wins in both sound editing and sound mixing, then 1917 is due for a huge night. That’s a possibility that may end up happening. However, for betting, Ford v Ferrari as a slight underdog in both categories is juicy. Ford v Ferrari is a very loud and effective film. If I had to choose which category Ford v Ferrari will win, I’m going with sound mixing.
Bet To Make: Ford v Ferrari in Best Sound Mixing +125
What are your best bets for the 2020 Oscars? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet us, @unafraidshow.
Oh, happy day! The 2020 Oscars are finally here. I love the Oscars. I always see people complaining about how it’s boring or too long on Twitter. I’m in the opposite camp. Make the ceremony 10 hours long and I’ll watch it from start to finish.
Will tonight be all chalk or will history be made? 1917 could clean up in all of the technical categories along with wins for Best Director and Best Picture. Parasite could become the first foreign film to win Best Picture. All of the acting categories include huge favorites, but the technical categories are up for grabs. Overall, I’m excited for tonight.
Without further ado, here are my picks.
BEST PICTURE
Ford v Ferrari
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Little Women
Marriage Story
1917
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Parasite
The biggest award of the night is a two-horse race. 1917 is the favorite thanks to Best Picture wins at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and PGAs. However, Parasite, my favorite movie of 2019, is making a late push thanks to its win at the SAGs. If Parasite wins Best Picture, it would be the first foreign film to ever accomplish this feat. However, 1917’s win at the PGA was significant since 10 of the last 12 PGA winners went on to take home Best Picture at the Oscars. My pick is 1917.
P.S. The wild card in this race is Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Quentin Tarantino has a lot of support in the Academy. It’s a movie full of stars during the Golden Age of Hollywood. It’s right up the Academy’s alley. Plus, OUATIH has multiple acting nominations. The last film to win Best Picture without an acting nomination was Slumdog Millionaire in 2009. (1917 and Parasite both have zero acting nominations.) If Tarantino wins for original screenplay, look out for OUATIH.
P.S.S. Enough with the narrative that 1917 winning Best Picture is boring. It’s an achievement in filmmaking that people are going to remember for a while.
Who Should Win:Parasite Who Will Win: 1917
BEST DIRECTOR
Martin Scorsese – The Irishman
Todd Phillips – Joker
Sam Mendes – 1917
Quentin Tarantino – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Bong Joon-ho – Parasite
Take my Best Picture argument and apply the same principles to Best Director. Mendes has won practically every directing award on the awards season circuit. However, people (including me) love Director Bong and Parasite. Tarantino is on the outside looking in. However, 1917 is in for a big night and Mendes will pick up his second win for Best Director.
Who Should Win: Bong Joon-ho – Parasite Who Will Win: Sam Mendes – 1917
BEST ACTOR
Antonio Banderas – Pain and Glory as Salvador Mallo
Leonardo DiCaprio – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood as Rick Dalton
Adam Driver – Marriage Story as Charlie Barber
Joaquin Phoenix – Joker as Arthur Fleck / Joker
Jonathan Pryce – The Two Popes as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio
I wish this category was more of a competition between Adam Driver and Joaquin Phoenix. I preferred Driver’s performance because of his ability to capture the emotional trauma and brutal truth of what happens during a divorce. However, Joaquin’s physical and mental transformation in Joker was undeniably good. I like Joaquin and I enjoyed Joker so I have no problem with him winning.
Who Should Win: Adam Driver – Marriage Story as Charlie Barber Who Will Win: Joaquin Phoenix – Joker as Arthur Fleck / Joker
BEST ACTRESS
Cynthia Erivo – Harriet as Harriet Tubman
Scarlett Johansson – Marriage Story as Nicole Barber
Saoirse Ronan – Little Women as Josephine “Jo” March
Charlize Theron – Bombshell as Megyn Kelly
Renée Zellweger – Judy as Judy Garland
Confession: I never saw Judy. I had the opportunity to watch it on a plane, but I chose to watch The Peanut Butter Falcon instead. Renée Zellweger hasn’t lost in this category all season and I don’t expect that to change. However, I’d love for Saoirse Ronan to win. She’s probably the best actress of her generation and it sucks that she’s going to have to wait a little longer to win an Oscar.
Who Should Win: Saoirse Ronan – Little Women as Josephine “Jo” March Who Will Win: Renée Zellweger – Judy as Judy Garland
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Tom Hanks – A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood as Fred Rogers
Anthony Hopkins – The Two Popes as Pope Benedict XVI
Al Pacino – The Irishman as Jimmy Hoffa
Joe Pesci – The Irishman as Russell Bufalino
Brad Pitt – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood as Cliff Booth
Brad Fucking Pitt. This is the speech I’m looking forward to the most.
Once Upon Time in Hollywood / Sony
Who Should Win: Brad Pitt – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood as Cliff Booth Who Will Win: Brad Pitt – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood as Cliff Booth
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Kathy Bates – Richard Jewell as Barbara “Bobi” Jewell
Laura Dern – Marriage Story as Nora Fanshaw
Scarlett Johansson – Jojo Rabbit as Rosie Betzler
Florence Pugh – Little Women as Amy March
Margot Robbie – Bombshell as Kayla Pospisil
I love Florence Pugh and she’ll be a force for years to come, but it’s time for Laura Dern to collect some hardware. No arguments here.
Who Should Win: Florence Pugh – Little Women as Amy March Who Will Win: Laura Dern – Marriage Story as Nora Fanshaw
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Knives Out – Rian Johnson
Marriage Story – Noah Baumbach
1917 – Sam Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – Quentin Tarantino
Parasite – Bong Joon-ho and Han Jin-won
Toughest category to predict. All five of these scripts are stellar. However, this will come down to Tarantino and Bong. Tarantino has the experience thanks to his two previous wins in this category. That being said, Bong won at the Writers Guild Awards (Tarantino was not eligible) last week, but I still believed Tarantino would win at the Oscars. Fast forward to the BAFTAs and Bong beat Tarantino head-to-head in this category. Because of that, I’m going with Bong by the slimmest of margins.
Who Should Win:Parasite – Bong Joon-ho and Han Jin-won Who Will Win: Parasite – Bong Joon-ho and Han Jin-won
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Irishman – Steven Zaillian based on the book I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt
Jojo Rabbit – Taika Waititi based on the novel Caging Skies by Christine Leunens
Joker – Todd Phillips and Scott Silver based on characters created by Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and Jerry Robinson
Little Women – Greta Gerwig based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott
The Two Popes – Anthony McCarten based on his play The Pope
Once again, another early frontrunner came back to the pack. This should be Greta Gerwig’s first Oscar win because Little Women was brilliant. Unfortunately, I don’t think she wins here. Taika Waititi has all the momentum in the world thanks to two wins over Gerwig at the WGAs and the BAFTAs. Taika walks home a winner.
Who Should Win:Little Women – Greta Gerwig based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott Who Will Win: Jojo Rabbit – Taika Waititi based on the novel Caging Skies by Christine Leunens
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World – Dean DeBlois, Bonnie Arnold, and Brad Lewis
I Lost My Body – Jérémy Clapin and Marc du Pontavice
Klaus – Sergio Pablos, Jinko Gotoh, and Marisa Román
Missing Link – Chris Butler, Arianne Sutner, and Travis Knight
Toy Story 4 – Josh Cooley, Jonas Rivera, and Mark Nielsen
When in doubt, Pixar at the Oscars. When in even more doubt, Toy Story at the Oscars.
Who Should Win:Toy Story 4 – Josh Cooley, Jonas Rivera, and Mark Nielsen Who Will Win: Toy Story 4 – Josh Cooley, Jonas Rivera, and Mark Nielsen
BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM
Corpus Christi (Poland) in Polish – Directed by Jan Komasa
Honeyland (North Macedonia) in Turkish and Macedonian[9] – Directed by Tamara Kotevska and Ljubomir Stefanov
Les Misérables (France) in French – Directed by Ladj Ly
Pain and Glory (Spain) in Spanish – Directed by Pedro Almodóvar
Parasite (South Korea) in Korean – Directed by Bong Joon-ho
Who Should Win:Parasite (South Korea) in Korean – Directed by Bong Joon-ho Who Will Win: Parasite (South Korea) in Korean – Directed by Bong Joon-ho
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
American Factory – Steven Bognar, Julia Reichert, and Jeff Reichert
The Cave – Feras Fayyad, Kirstine Barfod, and Sigrid Dyekjær
The Edge of Democracy – Petra Costa, Joanna Natasegara, Shane Boris, and Tiago Pavan
For Sama – Waad Al-Kateab and Edward Watts
Honeyland – Ljubomir Stefanov, Tamara Kotevska, and Atanas Georgiev
Flip a coin between American Factory and Honeyland. I’ll back the Obama-produced American Factory.
Who Should Win:American Factory – Steven Bognar, Julia Reichert, and Jeff Reichert Who Will Win: American Factory – Steven Bognar, Julia Reichert, and Jeff Reichert
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Joker – Hildur Guðnadóttir
Little Women – Alexandre Desplat
Marriage Story – Randy Newman
1917 – Thomas Newman
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – John Williams
Five really good scores. If any person in this category won, I’d be happy. It’s a win-win-win-win-win for me. One of my favorite scores of the year belongs to Randy Newman, who has never won in this category. However, Hildur Guðnadóttir’s haunting score was the co-MVP of Joker.
Who Should Win:Marriage Story – Randy Newman Who Will Win: Joker – Hildur Guðnadóttir
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
“I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away” from Toy Story 4 – Music and Lyrics by Randy Newman
“(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from Rocketman – Music by Elton John; Lyrics by Bernie Taupin
“I’m Standing with You” from Breakthrough – Music and Lyrics by Diane Warren
“Into the Unknown” from Frozen II – Music and Lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez
“Stand Up” from Harriet – Music and Lyrics by Joshuah Brian Campbell and Cynthia Erivo
This should have happened at the Oscars. It’s a damn shame. Since it’s not happening, I’ll always root for Elton John.
Who Should Win: “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from Rocketman – Music by Elton John; Lyrics by Bernie Taupin Who Will Win: “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from Rocketman – Music by Elton John; Lyrics by Bernie Taupin
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
The Irishman – Rodrigo Prieto
Joker – Lawrence Sher
The Lighthouse – Jarin Blaschke
1917 – Roger Deakins
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – Robert Richardson
Roger “The God” Deakins.
Who Should Win:1917 – Roger Deakins Who Will Win: 1917 – Roger Deakins
*Note: The difference between sound editing and sound mixing at the Oscars is confusing and I still don’t understand it. However, if you said 1917 wins all of the technical categories, I wouldn’t blame you. That being said, Ford v Ferrari might split with 1917. I’m honestly not sure and I’ll stop talking.
BEST SOUND EDITING
Ford v Ferrari – Donald Sylvester
Joker – Alan Robert Murray
1917 – Oliver Tarney and Rachael Tate
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – Wylie Stateman
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – Matthew Wood and David Acord
Who Should Win:1917 – Oliver Tarney and Rachael Tate Who Will Win: 1917 – Oliver Tarney and Rachael Tate
BEST SOUND MIXING
Ad Astra – Gary Rydstrom, Tom Johnson and Mark Ulano
Ford v Ferrari – Paul Massey, David Giammarco, and Steven A. Morrow
Joker – Tom Ozanich, Dean Zupancic and Tod Maitland
1917 – Mark Taylor and Stuart Wilson
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – Michael Minkler, Christian P. Minkler, and Mark Ulano
Who Should Win:Ford v Ferrari – Paul Massey, David Giammarco, and Steven A. Morrow Who Will Win: 1917 – Mark Taylor and Stuart Wilson
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
The Irishman – Production Design: Bob Shaw; Set Decoration: Regina Graves
Jojo Rabbit – Production Design: Ra Vincent; Set Decoration: Nora Sopková
1917 – Production Design: Dennis Gassner; Set Decoration: Lee Sandales
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – Production Design: Barbara Ling; Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh
Parasite – Production Design: Lee Ha-jun; Set Decoration: Cho Won-woo
Who Should Win:Parasite – Production Design: Lee Ha-jun; Set Decoration: Cho Won-woo Who Will Win: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – Production Design: Barbara Ling; Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh
Bombshell – Kazu Hiro, Anne Morgan, and Vivian Baker
Joker – Nicki Ledermann and Kay Georgiou
Judy – Jeremy Woodhead
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil – Paul Gooch, Arjen Tuiten, and David White
1917 – Naomi Donne, Tristan Versluis, and Rebecca Cole
Who Should Win:Bombshell – Kazu Hiro, Anne Morgan, and Vivian Baker Who Will Win: Bombshell – Kazu Hiro, Anne Morgan, and Vivian Baker
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
The Irishman – Sandy Powell and Christopher Peterson
Jojo Rabbit – Mayes C. Rubeo
Joker – Mark Bridges
Little Women – Jacqueline Durran
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – Arianne Phillips
Who Should Win:Little Women – Jacqueline Durran Who Will Win: Little Women – Jacqueline Durran
BEST FILM EDITING
Ford v Ferrari – Andrew Buckland and Michael McCusker
The Irishman – Thelma Schoonmaker
Jojo Rabbit – Tom Eagles
Joker – Jeff Groth
Parasite – Yang Jin-mo
Who Should Win:Parasite – Yang Jin-mo Who Will Win: Parasite – Yang Jin-mo
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Avengers: Endgame – Dan DeLeeuw, Matt Aitken, Russell Earl, and Dan Sudick
The Irishman – Pablo Helman, Leandro Estebecorena, Stephane Grabli, and Nelson Sepulveda
The Lion King – Robert Legato, Adam Valdez, Andrew R. Jones, and Elliot Newman
1917 – Guillaume Rocheron, Greg Butler, and Dominic Tuohy
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – Roger Guyett, Neal Scanlan, Patrick Tubach, and Dominic Tuohy
Who Should Win:Avengers: Endgame – Dan DeLeeuw, Matt Aitken, Russell Earl, and Dan Sudick Who Will Win: 1917 – Guillaume Rocheron, Greg Butler, and Dominic Tuohy
Note: I’m a novice when it comes to shorts at the Oscars so these predictions are based on what I’ve read.
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT
In the Absence – Yi Seung-Jun and Gary Byung-Seok Kam
Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl) – Carol Dysinger and Elena Andreicheva
Life Overtakes Me – John Haptas and Kristine Samuelson
St. Louis Superman – Smriti Mundhra and Sami Khan
Walk Run Cha-Cha – Laura Nix and Colette Sandstedt
Who Should Win:Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl) – Carol Dysinger and Elena Andreicheva Who Will Win: Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl) – Carol Dysinger and Elena Andreicheva
BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
Brotherhood – Meryam Joobeur and Maria Gracia Turgeon
Nefta Football Club – Yves Piat and Damien Megherbi
The Neighbors’ Window – Marshall Curry
Saria – Bryan Buckley and Matt Lefebvre
A Sister – Delphine Girard
Who Should Win: Brotherhood – Meryam Joobeur and Maria Gracia Turgeon Who Will Win: Brotherhood – Meryam Joobeur and Maria Gracia Turgeon
BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM
Dcera (Daughter) – Daria Kashcheeva
Hair Love – Matthew A. Cherry and Karen Rupert Toliver
Kitbull – Rosana Sullivan and Kathryn Hendrickson
Memorable – Bruno Collet and Jean-François Le Corre
Sister – Siqi Song
Who Should Win:Hair Love – Matthew A. Cherry and Karen Rupert Toliver Who Will Win: Hair Love – Matthew A. Cherry and Karen Rupert Toliver
Do you agree with these predictions for the 2020 Oscars? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.
Criticisms of Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez
Not Enough Focus
At times, the docu-series felt extremely sporadic. Yes, it was still compelling as they “uncovered” the secrets in Hernandez’ life. Nonetheless, each episode lacked focus. It bounced around too often and didn’t allocate time well. If “Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez” stuck to its focal points better in each installment, the documentary would improve.
Too Much Speculation and Not Enough Facts
Even though the documentary spanned 200 minutes, many aspects of “Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez” were shallow. It left viewers wanting more. Again, this was most likely due to the editing and story-line choices. With a better episode-by-episode focus, his story would unfold.
Additionally, Netflix’ access to speakers on the subject were likely very limited. This story involved high school, collegiate and professional football suspicions. Those are accusations against the giants of sports. Because of football’s power, it’s probable that many remained silent. With an underrepresented sources, the story can’t be completely told. For that reason, the docu-series hurt.
Dennis Sansoucie “Star Quarterback”
Speaking of sources, Dennis Sansoucie earned heavy criticism. He’s been called a liar, fake, greedy or just another looking for the spotlight. Coming from Dennis Sansoucie himself, Aaron Hernandez and him were both friends and young lovers. At one point, Sansoucie delcared that he and Hernandez were the two best players on the field. Quarterback and tight end. That point received the most condemnation.
When I heard about the Aaron Hernandez and Dennis SanSoucie little love story I went to max preps and searched up Bristol central hs and selected the 2006 roster and Dennis SanSoucie didn’t play QB (#11) like he said saying they had a special relationship from it. I smell cap. pic.twitter.com/cYGbY0GD9J
In his four years of high school, Sansoucie only managed four starts at quarterback. But, each of those starts came at the start of the 2005 season. He was their starting quarterback for four games. In those, he threw 11 touchdowns, nine of which went to Aaron Hernandez. On his short resume, Sansoucie also posted one start with nearly 300 yards (297) and five touchdowns.
Sep. 16, 2005
New Britain Golden Hurricanes
L 23-53
Sansoucie Completions
Passing Yards
TD-INT
Hernandez Receptions
Receiving Yards
Touchdowns
8-22
170
2-0
3
105
2
Sep. 23, 2005
Bloomfield Warhawks
W 28-7
Sansoucie Completions
Passing Yards
TD-INT
Hernandez Receptions
Receiving Yards
Touchdowns
7-17
101
2-1
4
89
2
Sep. 30, 2005
South Windor Bobcats
W 9-12
Sansoucie Completions
Passing Yards
TD-INT
Hernandez Receptions
Receiving Yards
Touchdowns
13-18
297
5-1
7
164
3
Oct. 7th, 2005
Hartford Public Owls
L 13-39
Sansoucie Completions
Passing Yards
TD-INT
Hernandez Receptions
Receiving Yards
Touchdowns
10-25
205
2-0
6
166
2
Oct. 16th, 2005
Maloney Spartans
W 40-13
Sansoucie Completions
Passing Yards
TD-INT
Hernandez Receptions
Receiving Yards
Touchdowns
N/A
N/A
N/A
9
258
3
Matt Coyne Completions
Passing Yards
TD-INT
14-24
375
5-0
Moreover, additional speculation came out surrounding Sansoucie’s junior season.
You dont remember freshman year when aaron and dennis got caught "smoking weed" in the lockerroom and dennis got kicked off the team and aaron didnt? Sansoucie was the QB and coyne took over when he wss kicked off
This would explain why Dennis Sansoucie felt that he was a star of the team, yet lacked a full season as quarterback. Whether or not this story is true, it gives light into Sansoucie’s reasoning. There are certainly many adults that look back into their high school days with glory. If Sansoucie lost his starting job because of an off-field issue, he would still think of himself as the star.
Strengths of Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez
After its January 15th release, “Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez” immediately gained popularity and intrigue. The three-part Netflix true crime documentary explores court cases and circumstances that could lead to those.
Overall, it was well received. “Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez” boasts:
On first watch, “Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez” is highly entertaining. It’s certainly binge-worthy and captures your attention immediately. We all want to know the whole story. Aaron Hernandez’ psyche is a an enthralling reason. There’s no watching just one episode. Instead, it compels every viewer to watch all three episodes in a row. For that, the Netflix documentary succeeds.
Access to Prison Phone Calls
Without a doubt, the highlight of “Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez” is hearing the phone calls from prison. Those phone calls give us a greater insight into Hernandez’ character. They’re personal, private, unfiltered. Viewers hear him talk to his fiance, daughter, mother, agent. It added a layer of realism to the story.
Most Importantly, Aaron Hernandez’ Story Raises Questions and Concerns
Homophobia in Football Culture
In the series, Dennis Sansoucie and Ryan O’Callaghan both discussed the plight of growing up as closeted gay men. Sansoucie talked about his and Hernandez’ fathers as men that would beat the gay out of a kid. And although the documentary speculated that Aaron Hernandez was “gay” instead of acknowledging other sexual orientations like bi-sexuality, it was still an important subject. Mental health is a massive issue in our society. Denying your own identity out of fear would derail anyone.
CTE
It’s the NFL’s biggest Boogie Man: CTE. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. The disease continues to appear in professional football. In a 2017 study published in the medical journal JAMA, the results were shocking. Of the 111 post-mortem brains of former NFL players, 110 had CTE. CTE plagues the well beings of current and former players. It’s symptoms include:
Memory Loss
Confusion
Impaired Judgment
Impulse Control Problems
Aggression
Depression
Parkisonism
Progressive Dementia
Suicidality
Do any of those symptoms sound like Aaron Hernandez? Completely. Does CTE excuse his actions? Of course not. However, would he be a murder if he didn’t have CTE? That is the million-dollar question. And that’s important not only for the lives of football players, but to the victims of criminal acts by those players.
Yes, the NFL says it’s doing its best to get ahead of this issue. But, as pointed out in this documentary, it starts long before the NFL. Additionally, how often has the league ignored player health and safety?
College and NFL Teams Make Injured Players Play
“My body is so fucked up… They banned that shit from the league saying you can only get that if you have a serious injury,” he said. “Guess who they gave that shit to every fucking game? Me.”
Aaron Hernandez, prison call with his fiance
Fill them up with pills or injections and put them out on the field. It’s a part of the game. Organizations want wins. Players want money. No player wants to be labeled as injury prone or soft. Adding to that, the next man up could always be the replacement. Injured players need to heal. Instead, due to a lack of integrity by teams, they are pushed onto the field to play sports most brutal game.
Football wrecks bodies. It’s a gladiator’s sport. Understanding it’s brutality, coaches and team medical staff need to support players. Player health and safety should be a top concern. But, wins secure jobs for coaches and staff. As a result, players need to play. Irregardless of injury. Why else would teams constantly refer to injuries as a “pain-tolerance” issue?
It becomes an especially-jarring concern when Aaron Hernandez stated that the Patriots gave him Toradol every single game. Again, the case of Aaron Hernandez showed why NFL players deserve better advocates. Whether it is mentoring mental, emotional or physical health, these athletes need help. They shouldn’t have to ask. And they certainly should have to commit suicide before football anwers.
The year in film for 2019 is about to close after the Oscars on February 9. Once that happens, we’re officially onto 2020 (Read that with a Bill Belichick voice). 2020 is going to be an interesting year. There are no Star Wars films and Disney is only releasing one live-action remake (Mulan). Most likely, the box office is going to be down, but that doesn’t mean the quality of films will diminish. Christopher Nolan, David Fincher, and Denis Villeneuve will all release films. Plus, Black Widow and Wonder Woman return to the center of pop culture. Here are the 10 most anticipated movies of 2020.
I tried to mix it up and include a variety of movies from different genres. I could have easily put both Marvel films, the new Fast and Furious (this is my personal favorite), and every awards season contender on the list. However, I tried to include one movie every couple of weeks so movie nerds like myself have something to look forward to every month.
The Invisible Man – February 28
Blumhouse has significantly changed the horror industry with how films are made and released. Low budgets and huge returns are the Blumhouse special. Since 2017, Blumhouse has produced four films that have grossed over $240 million: Split, Get Out, Halloween, and Glass. The next potential hit could be February’s The Invisible Man. Directed by Leigh Whannell (Saw writer), The Invisible Man stars Elisabeth Moss as Cecilia Kass, an abused ex who leaves her partner. However, when Cecilia’s ex commits suicide and leaves his fortune to her, Cecilia believes her ex is still alive as an invisible man, wreaking havoc in her life. Do not be surprised if The Invisible Man quickly grosses $100 million.
A Quiet Place Part II – March 20
A Quiet Place was phenomenal. Can A Quiet Place Part II live up to the hype? To be honest, I have no idea what to expect. The sequel revolves around the Abott family, led by Emily Blunt, and their fight for survival in the outside world. John Krasinski wrote and directed the sequel so he’s earned our trust. Don’t forget to pack a Xanax.
No Time To Die – April 10
Goodbye to my favorite Bond, Daniel Craig. Sign me the hell up for Craig’s final James Bond film. There’s no need to hype up a film that doesn’t need my help drumming up interest. I need another long tracking shot from Cary Joji Fukunaga more than I need air.
Wonder Woman 1984 – June 5
It took some time to find its footing, but DC found its first critical and financial hit with Wonder Woman in 2017. The 80s are hot right now so I support the decision to set the Wonder Woman sequel in 1984. 2020 and 2021 are going to make or break the future of the DCEU. In succession, the DCEU will release Bird of Prey, Wonder Woman 1984, The Batman, The Suicide Squad, and Black Adam over the next two years. Your move, Marvel.
Tenet – July 17
Christopher Nolan, espionage, and time travel. Do I need to say anything more? Christopher Nolan movies are the only original movies in Hollywood that can be advertised as events. Prepare to be mind blown.
The French Dispatch – July 24
As I tweeted out earlier, “Cast. Stacked.” The French Dispatch is Wes Anderson’s first live-action film since 2014’s The Grand Budapest Hotel. Not much is known about Anderson’s latest film, but it’s described as a “love letter to journalism.” That cast is enough for me to buy a ticket.
Last Night In Soho – September 25
Edgar Wright’s follow up to Baby Driver will be Last Night In Soho. This is all I have on the film and it’s from Empire: In 1960s London, Eloise (Thomasin McKenzie), who may or may not live in the decade, starts an unusual friendship with Sandy (Anya Taylor-Joy). It’s described as a psychological horror, but look for Wright to add his typical comedic spin like he’s done in the past films like Shaun of the Dead and Baby Driver.
Do you remember the 2015 Twitter thread about the tale of a stripper and her crazy friend? It is WILD. Turns out, Twitter threads make good movies. Zola, which is based on the thread, premiered to positive reviews at Sundance. I don’t want to spoil anything for you. Whether you read the thread or go in blind, Zola will be insane.
Mank – TBD
David Fincher's first movie in six years (#Mank) and Charlie Kaufman's first film in five years are both coming to Netflix in 2020.
David Fincher has not directed a film since 2014’s Gone Girl. During the 6-year absence, he essentially became the godfather of Netflix thanks to his work on House of Cards, Mindhunter, and Love, Death & Robots. Fincher will still be working with Netflix, but this time, it’s for a film called Mank, which centers around Herman J. Mankiewicz (Gary Oldman), and his battles with Orson Welles over the screenplay credit for Citizen Kane. I don’t see a world where Mank is not a huge part of next year’s awards season.
This is the big one. This will determine if Denis Villeneuve, who I believe had the best decade for a director in the 2010s, can join Christopher Nolan and create films that become events. The movie is Dune, which revolves around the son (Timothée Chalamet) of a noble family entrusted with the protection of the most valuable asset and most vital element in the galaxy. It’s based on the 1965 novel of the same name. It’s noteworthy that David Lynch also adapted the novel into a feature film in 1984. I’m most curious about its release date and box office performance. This will be the first time since 2014 where December will not have either a Star Wars or superhero movie on its release schedule. Can Dune fill this void and become a giant blockbuster?
What is your most anticipated movie of 2020? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.
As Jim Cramer might say, “buy, buy, buy.” I’ll be first to admit that I’m horrible with financial stocks. I pretend to know what I’m saying when it comes to IPOs and annual reports, but I’m actually clueless. That being said, when it comes to scouting acting talent, I’d like to think I can spot a few superstars in the making. I had my chips in early on Saoirse Ronan and Jennifer Lawrence and those bets have paid off significantly. For these four actresses, superstardom is on the horizon.
It’s not Mount Rushmore season, but here are my four actresses to watch in 2020.
Florence Pugh
Florence Pugh in Little Women / Sony
Breakout Star of the Year starts and ends with Florence Pugh. Lamar Jackson is a close second. From the end of 2018 to 2019, this is Pugh’s run: Outlaw King, The Little Drummer Girl, Fighting with My Family, Midsommar, and Little Women. Soon, Pugh will become an international superstar in the upcoming Marvel film, Black Widow. Pugh has such a strong and commanding presence that she seems to steal the show in every film she’s in. Look at what Pugh did in Little Women. Amy was famously the most hated March sister. Thanks to a brilliant script from Greta Gerwig, Pugh brought Amy from the outhouse to the penthouse and even picked up her first Oscar nomination for the performance. All aboard the Florence Pugh Hype Train.
LITTLE WOMEN: For the 7th adaptation, Greta Gerwig somehow made her version seem so fresh and original. Jumping back and forth between timelines was brilliant. Saoirse, as always, delivers. Florence Pugh is going to be the biggest star on the planet one day. #littlewomen
Maya Erskine delivered one of the sneaky-best / most enjoyable performances of the year as Alice in Plus One. The film stars Erskine and Jack Quaid as two friends who decide to attend weddings together as each other’s date in order to avoid the fact that all of their friends are getting married. If you’re in your late 20s, this movie is not a work of fiction, but rather, a documentary. Erskine is hilarious and charming in one of the better rom-coms of the past five years. Plus, along with Anna Konkle, Erskine co-created and starred in Hulu’sPEN15, the hysterical series about the trials and tribulations of middle school in the early 2000s. Konkle and Erskine star as 13-year-old versions of themselves, which provides countless laughs and cringeworthy moments. Binge now to bask in Erskine’s comedic genius before season 2 arrives in 2020.
Jessie Buckley
Jessie Buckley is on a rocketship to superstardom. It is a CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY that “Glasgow (No Place Like Home)” did not receive a nomination for Best Orginal Song. The world was robbed of an all-time Oscar moment because Buckley will not be able to perform this beautiful song at the Dolby Theatre. For now, go watch Wild Rose on Hulu. Wild Rose stars Buckley as Rose-Lynn Harlan, an aspiring country singer from Glasgow who dreams of moving to Nashville and becoming a star. It’s a delightful film with a knockout performance from Buckley. The talented actress also starred in Chernobyl as the pregnant wife of the fallen firefighter. Buckley is joining my must-see list, where I’ll watch anything that a certain actor or actress is in regardless of the subject matter. Buckley has a packed 2020 including a starring role in Fargo season 4 and the latest film from Charlie Kaufman, I’m Thinking of Ending Things.
Ana de Armas
Ana de Armas in No Time to Die / Universal Pictures
Once I saw Ana de Armas in War Dogs, I was sold. As Stevie Wonder sings, “Signed, sealed, delivered, I’m yours.” If you didn’t see War Dogs, Knock Knock, Hands of Stone, your first introduction to de Armas could have been Blade Runner 2049. However, her true breakout role with American audiences happened in Knives Out, one of the best films of 2019. Knives Out proved to me that de Armas could star in big productions and deliver memorable performances. De Armas’s profile is about to skyrocket when she portrays a CIA agent in the new Bond movie, No Time to Die. Furthermore, de Armas will play the iconic Marilyn Monroe in Blonde. There’s no stopping the Cuban-Spanish actress.
Do you agree with this list? Do you want to add anyone? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet me, @danny_giro.
