40. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019, UK)
The great Chiwetel Ejiofor takes the directorial reins on this straightforward and inspiring tale of invention. He also stars as a man struggling to keep his family and village together in the face of disaster, but the focus is his son — the boy of the title — who sees the urgency, the need, and the possible answer to the problems at hand. It’s a simple story, but there’s an inspirational undercurrent that leaves viewers feeling its positive vibes.
39. First They Killed My Father (2017, Cambodia)
Angelina Jolie‘s work here as director and co-writer draws most of the attention, but the film stands on its own as a heartbreaking drama — a true story based on a survivor’s memoir — of one child’s journey. It’s at times harrowing, inspiring, and uncomfortable, and like too many stories of children forced into situations they should never encounter it’s a reminder that humanity has a long way to go.
38. Extraction (2020)
The plot behind this action film was dismissed by some as simplistic and others as problematic, but it’s ultimately effective regardless. Chris Hemsworth stars as a soldier on a mission that goes sideways, and the action is pretty terrific as he works his way through an unfriendly jungle and an army of pursuers. There’s not much else to it, but when it comes to action movies there really doesn’t need to be.
37. A Twelve-Year Night (2018, Uruguay)
The sins of the past are too often at risk of being forgotten and repeated, and that alone is enough of a reason to see them dramatized. This look at the true story of political prisoners isolated in an attempt to drive them insane with loneliness and abuse highlights the cruelty of a military regime while also celebrating the strength of the human spirit. Their journey through hell lasted twelve years, and the film explores their low points and the things that held them together. It’s an inspiring and necessary watch for those who suspect the world isn’t too far away from repeating these particular sins.
36. Always Be My Maybe (2019)
Ali Wong‘s stand-up comedy blends very funny jokes with some wonderfully over the top crassness, but she leaves the latter behind (mostly) for her first leading film role in this otherwise light and sassy romantic comedy. Randall Park is her co-lead (and co-writer), and together they make for a wonderful pair of oddballs finding love unexpectedly within their friendship. It’s light as can be, but the laughs are frequent, Keanu Reeves’ cameo is a blast, and it’s a welcome rarity as a rom-com with Asian American leads.
35. I’m No Longer Here (2019, Mexico)
One of the things films can do so well is to introduce viewers to peoples and cultures they’d otherwise never experience. Writer/director Fernando Frias‘ drama about displacement and the importance of finding a home does just that with a subculture of Mexican immigrants to the US. The film splits itself between Monterrey, Mexico and New York City with its story of a young man forced to flee the former. We’re made witness to his life as part of a group enamored by cumbia music complete with some very unique hair styles, but the interruption of criminal elements alters his journey — temporarily.
34. Okja (2017, South Korea)
Bong Joon-ho‘s best film is Memories of Murder (2003) while his most acclaimed is the Academy Award-winning Parasite (2019), but his weirdest is most likely this tale of a young girl and her super pig-like creature, Okja. Comedy, drama, corporate intrigue, animal rights, and a gloriously unhinged Jake Gyllenhaal are just some of what the film has to offer. It might not all work as well as intended, but there’s absolutely no denying the imagination, ambition, and go for broke attitude on display.
33. Gerald’s Game (2017)
Stephen King has seen numerous adaptations from his novels and stories, but this novel from the early 90s was always viewed as “impossible” to translate to the screen. The bulk of the tale takes place in a cabin with only a dead man on the floor and a woman handcuffed to the bed, but Mike Flanagan takes that challenge and turns it into something that’s both loyal to the book and capable of standing on its own two feet. Sure the final ten minutes or so are iffy, but Carla Gugino takes center stage throughout with a stellar performance about a woman deciding her survival both in life and in life & death situations is a priority.
32. My Happy Family (2017, Georgia)
Plots don’t need to be elaborate or all that detailed, and one need look no further than this captivating and serene drama for exhibit A. Manana lives with her husband, her children, and her parents in a crowded home, and one day she decides she’d rather live alone — she’s not looking for divorce, she’ll still take care of her family duties, but she wants a space all to herself. That’s it, that’s the plot, and the result is a compelling look at a person’s desire for “me time” in an increasingly busy and crowded world. Her decision draws criticism and conflict, but it’s worth it for what she craves.
31. Disclosure (2020)
Representation matters, and if that’s not clear to you then odds are you’re white and therefore used to seeing “you” on the big and small screen throughout your life. This excellent and honest documentary blends trans creatives and experts talking about their experiences seeing themselves on television and in the movies. Men dressed as women were presented mostly for laughs or as victims of violent crimes, and trans men were mostly non-existent, but times change slowly. Personal stories, breakdowns of scenes the rest of us most likely viewed as innocuous, and highlights from scenes that offered positive messaging all come together showing the difficult journey trans people have seen when it comes to that necessary representation. It’s an informative doc and an affecting one offering insight that most of us never even knew we needed.
Related Topics: Netflix
