Ali McGhee’s Top 5 films of 2020 Posted on January 1, 2021January 7, 2021 by Ali McGhee Xpress critics look back on the year in film.
Starring: Emily Blunt, Jamie Dornan, Jon Hamm, Christopher Walken Wild Mountain Thyme Reviewed by Ali McGhee on December 15, 2020December 14, 2020 The latest feature from Moonstruck screenwriter John Patrick Shanley is primed to completely bewilder you this holiday season.
Starring: Sarah Paulson, Kiera Allen, Onalee Ames Run Reviewed by Ali McGhee on November 17, 2020November 16, 2020 Sarah Paulson stars in this predictable yet entertaining thriller.
Starring: Keira Knightley, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Jessie Buckley Misbehaviour Reviewed by Ali McGhee on September 22, 2020September 21, 2020 This fact-based feminist tale tries to juggle too many details.
Starring: Charles Bukowski, Silvia Bizio You Never Had It: An Evening with Bukowski Reviewed by Ali McGhee on August 4, 2020August 3, 2020 Though more an extended interview than a documentary, the film is nevertheless a testament to the late writer's entertainment value.
Starring: Mary Steenburgen, Alice Walker, Tommy Lee Jones Flannery Reviewed by Ali McGhee on July 14, 2020July 13, 2020 Delve deep into the life and writing of Flannery O'Connor with this excellent new bio-doc.
Starring: Bill Nighy, Sam Riley, Alice Lowe Sometimes Always Never Reviewed by Ali McGhee on June 16, 2020June 15, 2020 Bill Nighy leads this quiet but frequently hilarious film about a missing son and games of Scrabble.
Starring: Issa Rae, Kumail Nanjiani, Paul Sparks The Lovebirds Reviewed by Ali McGhee on May 26, 2020May 26, 2020 Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani put a fresh spin on rom-com tropes — with help from a murder mystery.
Starring: Jean Dujardin, Adèle Haenel, Albert Delpy Deerskin Reviewed by Ali McGhee on May 5, 2020May 4, 2020 Quentin Dupieux's latest absurdist winner stars Oscar-winner Jean Dujardin as a man with an odd obsession.
Starring: Maeve Higgins, Barry Ward, Will Forte Extra Ordinary Reviewed by Ali McGhee on March 10, 2020March 9, 2020 The Irish horror-comedy is heaps of fun, but a bit too silly for its own good.
Starring: Richard Armitage, Riley Keough, Alicia Silverstone The Lodge Reviewed by Ali McGhee on February 19, 2020February 24, 2020 The first great horror film of 2020 is here, courtesy of the filmmakers behind "Goodnight Mommy."
Starring: Mackenzie Davis, Finn Wolfhard, Brooklynn Prince The Turning Reviewed by Ali McGhee on January 28, 2020January 27, 2020 The latest Turn of the Screw adaptation is nicely atmospheric — until a sudden ending ruins the experience.
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Joely Richardson, Tommy Chong Color Out of Space Reviewed by Ali McGhee on January 21, 2020January 20, 2020 Ali McGhee and Josh McCormack discuss the latest Nicolas Cage experiment.
Starring: Andrea Riseborough, Demián Bichir, John Cho The Grudge Reviewed by Ali McGhee on January 7, 2020January 6, 2020 It's a mystery why or how this tedious remake of the J-horror classic got made.
Starring: Bruce Balden, Lynn Johnson, Nicholas Hitchon 63 Up Reviewed by Ali McGhee on December 24, 2019December 23, 2019 The latest installment in Michael Apted's documentary series is a cinematic gift.
Starring: Song Kang-ho, Jo Yeo-jeong, Park So-dam Parasite Reviewed by Ali McGhee on November 12, 2019November 11, 2019 Bong Joon-ho’s Palme d’Or-winning, genre-defying film is an extraordinary look at class disparity.
Starring: Masataka Kubota, Jun Murakami, Nao Ohmori First Love Reviewed by Ali McGhee on October 15, 2019October 14, 2019 Takashi Miike injects his latest violent flick with welcome doses of humor and heart.
Starring: Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader It Chapter Two Reviewed by Ali McGhee on September 10, 2019September 10, 2019 The conclusion of the beloved Stephen King story is a major step down from the previous installment.
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood Reviewed by Ali McGhee on July 30, 2019July 29, 2019 Quentin Tarantino's 1969-set revisionist history makes superb use of Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and the setting's creative potential.
Starring: Elizabeth Banks, David Denman, Jackson A. Dunn Brightburn Reviewed by Ali McGhee on May 29, 2019May 29, 2019 Adolescence and superhuman powers clash in this horror/sci-fi hybrid.
Starring: Jex Blackmore, Nicholas Crowe, Lucien Greaves Hail Satan? Reviewed by Ali McGhee on May 7, 2019May 7, 2019 The misunderstood social activists of the Satanic Temple get the respect they deserve in Penny Lane's joyful documentary.