Happy new year!

With plenty of spare time during the numerous lockdowns throughout a challenging 2020, I watched more films and television than ever before.

I actively used social network site Letterboxd for logging everything I watched throughout the year.

The number of films that have flown under my radar has been eye-opening and I am still discovering the more I dig through people’s lists on the site. Out of the 305 films I logged last year, I have recommended a total of 158 with my monthly blog posts on here.

I have decided for 2021 to change my format and transition over to quarterly blog posts as opposed to every month.

My recommendations from last month are films I have watched on subscription-based streaming and rental streaming for under £5.

I have decided to do a top four instead of the traditional three, due to the number of fantastic films I watched in December:

Soul (2020)

Rating 9/10

The Pixar juggernaut continues with another wonderfully animated film from the Disney powerhouse.

Middle school band teacher Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx) has dreams of making it as a Jazz musician. Following a successful rehearsal with renowned Saxophonist Dorothea Williams (Angela Bassett), Joe has an accident which results in his soul separating from his body into the Great Beyond.

Foxx brings Joe to life with his versatile vocal attributes but its Jon Batiste’s performance that gives the film its spark.  Batiste, credited with the jazz compositions and arrangements, provided insight into the life of a musician which shaped the way the story was written.

The score is an integral part of Soul, with its mix of jazz and electronic music to separate the two worlds.  Sound designer Ren Klyce and his connection with David Fincher opened the door to the collaboration with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. The result of this is unlike anything I have heard in a Pixar film before.

In an interview, co-director Pete Docter stated that:

…this film is an unpacking or an investigation into ‘What is it to live?’…

Docter has been part of the writing team for my favourite Pixar films (Toy Story, Monsters Inc, WALL-E & Up) and Soul is another hit.

The deep themes might not click with the majority of a younger audience, but this knocked the wind right out of me.

You can stream Soul on Disney +

Education (2020)

Rating 9/10

Steve McQueen’s final instalment of Small Axe could well be my favourite of this excellent anthology.

12-year-old Kingsley (Kenyah Sandy) is struggling with dyslexia at school. His headteacher advises his mother (Sharlene Whyte) that he is to be sent to a “special school” after an IQ test result. We follow the aftermath of this decision and the effects it has on both Kingsley and his family.

Education is a small-scale, but highly effective, look at the history of discrimination in the British education system and an exploration into schools for the “Educationally Subnormal” (ESN) from the 60s and 70s.

The story is influenced by experiences McQueen had as a school pupil in the 80s and this is his most personal film to date. Each Small Axe film has had an authentic feel of the time-period and exceptionally acted and Education is no different.

This film is tightly compacted into just over an hour and has standout performances from Kenyah Sandy and Sharlene Whyte. This was Sandy’s first lead performance, having come from a theatre and dance background. He described McQueen as a supportive and calm director who helped him perform out of his comfort zone.

You can stream Education on BBC iPlayer

Wolfwalkers (2020)

Rating 9/10

A film seven years in the making from Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon, completing Tomm Moore’s “Irish Folklore Trilogy”.

Set in 17^th century Kilkenny, young Robyn wishes to follow in the footsteps of her wolf hunting father until she meets Mebh and the wolf pack in the mystical forest outside of the Irish town ruled by Lord Protector Cromwell.

Co-director Moore stated that inspiration came from Studio Ghibli’s expressive hand-drawn animation The Tale of The Princess Kaguya and Cartoon Saloon’s previous work The Secret of Kells and Song of the Sea.

The overall result of the animation is jaw-dropping. The contrasting styles of the town and the forest combine beautifully with the engaging storyline.

I loved the voice acting and the score from composer Bruno Coulais and Irish folk group Kila.

Without question, I will be looking into watching Cartoon Saloon’s previous releases mentioned above.

You can stream Wolfwalkers on Apple TV +

David Byrne’s American Utopia (2020)

Rating 9/10

David Byrne’s hit Broadway show has come to the big screen in collaboration with the legendary Spike Lee.

In an interview, Lee explained that he and Byrne’s connection is growing up in the same era of art, music, and independent film in New York. After being approached by Byrne and seeing the show in Boston, Lee jumped at the chance to work with him.

The most impressive aspect of the film for me is that the band members are wireless throughout, which is a technical feat.

It had the same effect on me as Lovers Rock, in the way that I cannot wait to experience live music again. This is not your run-of-the-mill concert film, I found this to be a joyous and uplifting experience.  If you are a fan of Talking Heads, it would be silly to sleep on this.

You can rent David Byrne’s American Utopia on Prime Video, Google Play & YouTube

Honourable mentions:

Clemency (2019) Rating 8.5/10

Alfre Woodard plays Warden Bernadine Williams, who is battling her inner demons over the imminent execution of death row prisoner Anthony Woods (Aldis Hodge). This intensely acted, slow-burn character study explores the regularly debated subject of capital punishment.  Chinonye Chukwu’s well-crafted drama picked up the Sundance “U.S. Dramatic” Grand Jury Prize in 2019. This achievement marks Chukwu as the first-ever black female recipient of the prestigious award.

You can stream Clemency on NOW TV.

Midnight Family (2019) Rating 8.5/10

Luke Lorentzen’s edge of your seat documentary follows the Ochoa family around Mexico City with their privately-owned ambulance. At the time of filming, there are only 45 government-operated ambulances in a population of 9 million. It is an eye-opening and hectic experience with insight into the Mexican healthcare system, police bribery and the Ochoa family trying to make ends meet.

You can rent Midnight Family on Prime Video, Google Play & YouTube.

Les Misérables (2019) Rating 8/10

Its policeman Stephane’s (Damien Bonnard) first day in the hectic Parisian commune of Montfermeil. After being assigned to ride along with Chris (Alexis Manenti) and Gwada (Djebril Zonga), Stephane becomes overwhelmed with the job’s intensity and his new colleague’s questionable methods. I found Ladj Ly’s French crime thriller a captivating watch with nods to numerous crime films. The diverse casting from the youths to the gang members is impressive. The standout performance comes from Manenti playing the hot-headed Chris.

You can stream Les Misérables on Netflix.

Babyteeth (2019) Rating 8/10

Australian coming of age drama from Shannon Murphy looks at terminally ill Milla (Eliza Scanlen) and her topsy-turvy relationship with drug addict Moses (Toby Wallace). It took me a while to get into the scattered flow, but it hits its stride with its powerful final act. The films strengths are its fleshed-out characters and the brilliant lead performances from Scanlen, Wallace, Ben Mendelsohn, and Essie Davis.

You can stream Babyteeth on Netflix.

Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993) Rating 8/10

I had not heard of Woody Allen’s 90s comedy-mystery until a recent late-night browse through Netflix. The film is Allen’s eighth collaboration with Diane Keaton, and both are on form as a married couple who suspect their neighbour of murdering his wife. I enjoyed the sharp and witty dialogue that accompanied this fun and engaging crime-caper.

You can stream Manhattan Murder Mystery on Netflix.

The Parallax View (1974) Rating 8/10

Warren Beatty plays reporter Joseph Frady, who is investigating the murders of key witnesses to a political assassination. Alan J. Pakula’s conspiracy thriller is an interesting ride with plenty of twists and turns. The films strength is Gordon Willis’ superb cinematography throughout. Pakula’s 1971 thriller Klute is now on my watchlist.

You can stream The Parallax View on Prime Video.

Alex Wheatle (2020) Rating 8/10

Steve McQueen’s fourth instalment in the Small Axe anthology explores the early life of British novelist Alex Wheatle. Wheatle grew up in the care home system, but the focus of the film is on his time in London as a teenager and his eventual arrest following the 1981 Brixton riots. Like Education, it has a tight run time of just over an hour, but it manages to cover a lot of ground. The film hits the right notes, like all the Small Axe films mentioned previously, with its authenticity and strong performances.

You can stream Alex Wheatle on BBC iPlayer.

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020) Rating 8/10

Set in 1920s Chicago, emotions run high as “Mother of the Blues” Ma Rainey (Viola Davis) is recording her new record. Levee (Chadwick Boseman) has dreams of going solo as a trumpeter and conflicts begin to rise within the group. Boseman bows out with an exceptional performance in this chamber piece based off August Wilson’s play. I would not be surprised to see Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Oscar nominations for both Boseman and Davis.

You can stream Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom on Netflix.

Days of the Bagnold Summer (2019) Rating 7.5/10

When teenager Daniel’s (Earl Cave) trip to Florida is cancelled, he is faced with a summer holiday at home with his mum (Monica Dolan).  This charming British debut, scored by Belle and Sebastian, works with Cave and Dolan’s authentic teenager/parent relationship. It is very relatable, witty and I liked that the film takes its time to explore both characters perspectives.  This is a promising directorial debut from Simon Bird.

You can rent Days of the Bagnold Summer on Prime Video, Google Play & YouTube.

You can find all my film ratings on my Letterboxd account.

See you all in April with my quarterly recommendations from January to March.

Alex