DoctorIce Posted December 3, 2020 Posted December 3, 2020 (edited) Welcome to DoctorIce's Best of 2020 No Excel Spreadsheet. No Photoshop 30-day free trial. No Honourable Mentions. No Top 100. No Filler. Only Quality Tops allowed. Pop | Drum & Bass | Overall Music | Albums | TV Series | Movies | Video Games | Throwbacks | Artist Top 10 | Movies ✓ Top 10 | TV Series ✓ Top 10 | Throwbacks ✓ Top 10 | Drum & Bass ✓ Top 10 | Pop ✓ Artist Of The Year | 2020 ✓ Top 3 | Albums ✓ Top 10 | Overall Music ✓ Top 10 | Video Games ✓ Edited December 14, 2020 by DoctorIce Update
DoctorIce Posted December 3, 2020 Author Posted December 3, 2020 Worst Of 2020 | Preview Bonus Worst Of | Pop WAP - Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion "How a song as sexual as this can sound so boring, I will never understand". Savage Love - Jason Derulo & Jawsh 685 "A Nintendo Wii loading screen sounding hot mess". Worst Of | Movies
Ewan Chaos Posted December 4, 2020 Posted December 4, 2020 "A Nintendo Wii loading screen sounding hot mess" why does this description make me wanna check the song out lmao Perched by the way! Also always love seeing your avi and being reminded of the excellence of Fleabag and that iconic episode
DoctorIce Posted December 4, 2020 Author Posted December 4, 2020 5 hours ago, Ewan Chaos said: "A Nintendo Wii loading screen sounding hot mess" why does this description make me wanna check the song out lmao Perched by the way! Also always love seeing your avi and being reminded of the excellence of Fleabag and that iconic episode I can't believe it was a hit. Fleabag stans. I've rewatched it 5 times this year with different people and it never gets old, despite being so short. Thanks, let me nose around your BO2020.
DoctorIce Posted December 4, 2020 Author Posted December 4, 2020 32 minutes ago, mokitsu said: not Birds of Prey, i loved it I love Margot Robbie but the film was a damn mess. I couldn't tell you what it was even about at this point.
mokitsu Posted December 4, 2020 Posted December 4, 2020 4 minutes ago, DoctorIce said: I love Margot Robbie but the film was a damn mess. I couldn't tell you what it was even about at this point. well now that you mention it... me neither tbh! but it was an experience
taemin Posted December 4, 2020 Posted December 4, 2020 The Witches was absolutely terrible. I couldn't even make it until the end of the movie fffffff
DoctorIce Posted December 4, 2020 Author Posted December 4, 2020 (edited) Top 10 | Movies For obvious reasons it's been an awful, awful year for film. A few of these choices I watched for the first time this year but may have been released previously. #10 - The Trial Of The Chicago 7 ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ The Social Network is one my favourite ever films for two reasons: David Fincher and Aaron Sorkin. This is Sorkin's sophomore effort as a director and truthfully, he doesn't level up much here. As a writer though, this film is fulled to the brim with his snappy dialogue and witty exchanges delivered by a great cast. I wish the film felt more urgent and impactful though, given the subject matter. #9 - 1917 ★★★★★★★★☆☆ I usually dislike war movies as they are often inaccurate, morally confused and riddled with nationalistic/patriotic propaganda. This movie is an experience, however. The one-take USP turns out to be much more than a gimmick and is the driving force behind the film cinematically. 1917 isn't about kissing Churchill's ass, 'Queen & Country' or any of that BS, it's a straightforward gritty depiction of war and how adolescents were forced into an impossible situation where the only option was to grow up fast. #8 - A Beautiful Day In The Neighbourhood ★★★★★★★★☆☆ Easily the most endearing film of the year (poor Disney) and one that can effortlessly sneak past the guard of even the most ardent cynic. It manages to avoid an excess of schmalz and saccharine and remains considered and tasteful, for the most part. I can't imagine who else could have pulled off this level of likability with ease beyond Tom Hanks. #7 - Mank ★★★★★★★★☆☆ I literally watched it this morning. Another great David Fincher movie, another amazing Gary Oldman performance. As you would expect from Fincher, the film looks immaculate even in black and white. While it's not among his best films, it's thankfully not a stain on his career like Benjamin Button was. If you're interested in cinema and filmmaking generally, this is a must see. #6 - Uncut Gems ★★★★★★★★☆☆ 95% of Adam Sandler's work is bottom of the barrel 'comedy' trash, as I'm sure you know. As a producer, he just wants to make money and he's been very successful with those movies. He has little respect as an actor but every decade or so he churns out a banger of a film like this. The whole thing plays like a slow panic attack and the anxiety is infectious. It's pretty intense stuff and not what anyone is used to from its lead actor. I think the world is ready for a renADAMaissance, if he's willing to finally cut the crap and pick better projects. #5 - I'm Thinking Of Ending Things ★★★★★★★★☆☆ My kind of movie: a stylised head **** with a brain. To an extent the film does disappear up it's own ass towards the end and there's not nearly enough Toni Collette for my liking, but this is the type of slow burn mind-bender that we need more of. I haven't fully wrapped my head around it so it does beg for a rewatch at some point. #4 - Da 5 Bloods ★★★★★★★★☆☆ Yeah it's a messy and disjointed film, but it punches hard and is surprisingly funny as well. It also features one of Chadwick Boseman's last performances which happens to be one of his best. 'BlacKKKLansman' is a better and more refined Spike Lee movie overall, but this isn't far off. #3 - The Lighthouse ★★★★★★★★☆☆ From the guy who made 'The Witch', 'The Lighthouse' is another head **** of a movie. It's difficult to describe but it's ultimately about two guys stranded on a lighthouse island where they struggle to keep a grip on their sanity. It's bizarre, graphic, homoerotic, and compelling AF. How much you will like it depends on how high your tolerance is for visual storytelling and heavy allegory. I certainly haven't fully figured out this film myself yet, but I can't wait to revisit. #2 - The Invisible Man ★★★★★★★★★☆ It's a shame James Wan got so much work after the 'Saw' films and Leigh Whannell was neglected when he is demonstrably more talented as a filmmaker. Whannell snapped with this one and is now 2/2 after this and 'Upgrade' (which was poorly marketed and nobody saw). Despite Universal doing him dirty and cutting a terrible trailer for this film, it was a hit thanks to word of mouth. This is refreshingly well constructed thriller with legitimate surprises and bags of suspense. Again, fans of filmmaking should watch this. It treats the audience with respect and puts a creative and well conceived spin on a very old IP. #1 - Parasite ★★★★★★★★★★ There is just no other right answer. This is the best film of the year and frankly, any given year. Timely, visually stunning, conceptually original and as close to flawless as a film can be. A thoroughly deserving Best Picture winner that almost redeems the Academy after the **** show they gave the prize to the year before. Parasite will only become more and more relevant as times goes on. I don't like to throw around the word 'masterpiece' but seriously, where are the flaws? Where are they? ________________________________________ Edited December 5, 2020 by DoctorIce
mokitsu Posted December 4, 2020 Posted December 4, 2020 im downloading trial of the chicago 7 rn to watch later and you just made me more excited agree that 1917 was def an unique take on war movies, one i enjoyed a lot too uncut gems was a win for adam sandler (and idina, OPN and the weeknd), but i didn't care much about the plot the lighthouse was too abstract (? if that makes sense) even for me , but a flawless top 2. im glad i never watch trailers so i went into TIM blind and it really gagged me. parasite is legendary let me look into #5 it looked like a rom com from the title and posters so i never looked into it ddd
DoctorIce Posted December 4, 2020 Author Posted December 4, 2020 46 minutes ago, diogozsz said: The Witches was absolutely terrible. I couldn't even make it until the end of the movie fffffff Right? The original is a classic that traumatised me as a child just like Gremlins did. Anne Hathaway sucked hard in this film and the lighter tone didn't really suit the material, nor did the craptacular CGI. One day someone will actually do a Roald Dahl book justice on film again, hopefully.
DoctorIce Posted December 4, 2020 Author Posted December 4, 2020 5 minutes ago, mokitsu said: im downloading trial of the chicago 7 rn to watch later and you just made me more excited It's a good watch but it kind of gives you blue balls at the same time. The courtroom scenes though, he snapped with that script. 7 minutes ago, mokitsu said: let me look into #5 it looked like a rom com from the title and posters so i never looked into it ddd Netflix dropped the ball there then. It's arguably even more abstract than The Lighthouse, watch the trailer! It will at least give you an idea as to whether it's your bag or not.
DoctorIce Posted December 5, 2020 Author Posted December 5, 2020 (edited) Top 10 | TV Series #10 - Devs ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ Truth be told, this should have been better than it turned out given that it's the brainchild of Alex Garland who also wrote 'Annihilation', 'Ex Machina', '28 Days Later' and 'Sunshine'. One thing those movies all have in common is slightly disappointing third acts and that remains the case here. Still, the conceptualisation here is fascinating and the way it depicts these ideas on screen is the kind of mind-bending sci-fi that I'm drawn to. If you're prepared for a meh ending, the most annoying lead character of ALL TIME and you enjoy the movies listed above, you should like enough of this. #9 - The Flight Attendant ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ Full disclosure: I still have two episodes left to go on this show. Despite that, I'm happy for it to make this list as it's proven to be a consistently enjoyable ride. This isn't really a show to take seriously, but Kaley Cuoco is very good as a flight attendant who finds herself in the centre of a **** storm following a one-night stand who she finds brutally murdered in bed next to her the following morning. It's somewhere between 'How To Get Away With Murder' and 'Fleabag' and it's just as trashy and fun as it sounds. #8 - Love, Victor ★★★★★★★★☆☆ This isn't usually my kind of thing - high school teen dramas make me run in the opposite direction most of the time. Especially after I was burned by the horrendous '13 Reasons Why' which to me is still the worst TV series I've ever seen. I liked 'Love, Simon' enough to give this series a shot and I'm glad I did as it's actually better than the movie. The perfect white picket fence, rich, liberal, happy "we're just like you!" family in the movie wasn't a good choice. Here the friends are significantly more likeable and the family are more dimensional and relatable. There are some annoying characters but the writers give them just enough development to make them sympathetic. This is pretty much the best adolescent LGBT representation that I've seen as yet, even if it is covered in sugar. #7 - Killing Eve ★★★★★★★★☆☆ I'm a tad late to this party, I binged series 1-3 earlier this year and I'm obsessed. Series 3 however is a bit of a step down from the first two for a number of reasons. The thing that bothered me the most about this series was that it seemed to pull all it's punches. This character is dead... only joking... now this character is dead... oop, got you again... seriously though, this character is brutally dead... but they're actually alive! Way to drain the show of tension. Still, Killing Eve is like pizza, even when it's bad, it's so damn good. #6 - Homeland ★★★★★★★★☆☆ As far as I'm concerned, this show doesn't get enough credit for sustaining the same level of quality over the course of its eight seasons. The show isn't perfect, but every season is as good as the next and the tension doesn't let up until the very end. Claire Danes is flawless as a bipolar CIA operative navigating the tricky waters of US politics, warfare and her own mind. The final episode asks a lot of you in terms of suspension of disbelief, but it was a cute way to tie a bow on the show and I'm not mad at all. #5 - Mr. Robot ★★★★★★★★★☆ This damn show. It's slow, confusing, pretentious and a near masterpiece (if we ignore the rough second season, which honestly is a skip). Rami Malek is perfectly cast as deeply troubled hacker who wants nothing more than to **** society and hit the reset button in a world of high-level corruption and inequality. The final two series are incredible, but a select few episodes in particular are absolutely flawless and stand on their own as some of the best TV episodes ever made - not an overstatement. It is criminal that they were shut out of the Emmys. I really hope more people check this show out over time. #4 - The Queen's Gambit ★★★★★★★★★☆ Finally, Anya-Taylor Joy gets the smash role she deserves that is sure to lead to a brighter career than she's had so far. Like most people I'm not remotely interested in chess but you shouldn't let that stop you. This limited series is about a female chess prodigy growing up in the 60s as she deals with the loss of her parents, substance addiction and old-school misogyny (kind of, but not really). It's exciting, stylised and full of amazing characters (Marielle Heller in particular is perfection as Beth's adoptive mother). It successfully swerves every obvious cliché and trope and forges its own path. My only nitpick is that there are maybe one or two episodes more than was necessary for the story, but it's a no big deal as this is a world you will not want to leave. #3 - Better Call Saul ★★★★★★★★★★ I'm just going to say it: 'Better Call Saul' is superior to 'Breaking Bad'. Not by a huge margin, but enough for me to plead with you to give this a try if you haven't already. I can see why the show has struggled to retain a huge audience, it is sometimes a very slow moving story and has developed a bit of a reputation for its lack of incident, but it is always worth it in the end. This is the best example I can recall of a show that rewards patience and investment. Jimmy was always more likeable than Walter White, obviously, and that affords the show a more vibrant tone even when the **** hits the fan. The most recent series has given us some amazing character development, long-standing payoffs and some nerve shredding story shifts and episodes. Even thinking about the upcoming final series makes me sweat. #2 - I May Destroy You ★★★★★★★★★★ Well this came out of nowhere. I've enjoyed Michaela Coel in her two episodes of 'Black Mirror' where she stood out among the supporting cast. Chewing Gum was cute but not great, so imagine my surprise when I started watching 'I May Destroy You'. This mini series follows Arabella as she pieces together a night out in London which she thinks may have led to her being raped. I'm not going to go into detail beyond that, but this is essential viewing for everyone who is mature enough to see it. The show hits hard and is totally unflinching in every way. The two best things about this show are Michaela Coel as Arabella and Michaela Coel's script which is hilarious, upsetting, realistic and confident enough to stylise subject matter which you would think should only be depicted a certain way. Again, this show is essential. If you live in the UK the whole thing is still on iPlayer, so there is no excuse! #1 - Fleabag ★★★★★★★★★★ bUt ThAt ShOw CaMe OuT i...Shut up. I only discovered this show earlier in the year and regardless of when it came out, this is my #1 of 2020. 'Fleabag' is a fleeting show of only 12 x 30 minute episodes which follow our heroine as she comes to terms with the death of her best friend. Sounds like a barrel of laughs, right? Well that's what makes this show special. This show is masterful at both comedy and tragedy, switching seamlessly between the two like it ain't nothing. It's pretty standard to be laughing out loud one minute, tearing up minutes later, and back again. 'Fleabag' makes great use of soliloquies to provide insight into the messed up lead character (whose name we never learn) to great comic effect, and to even greater emotional effect. The spin Phoebe Waller-Bridge (both lead actress and writer) puts on breaking the fourth wall in the second season will leave you shooketh, that's all I'll say. All characters are flawlessly written, Olivia Colman is hysterical as The Stepmother (whose name we also never learn) and Sian Clifford is just as good as Claire (the star of my avi ). A third season would be amazing as these are character you will absolutely miss, but the ending was blemish free and ultimately I think it should be left as it is. A masterpiece. PWB snapped, hard. Edited December 5, 2020 by DoctorIce
Sunderland 4ever Posted December 5, 2020 Posted December 5, 2020 BETTER CALL SAUL!!!!!!!!!!! I could not agree more with you. It's a tad bit superior to BB, so that says a lot about its quality. Season 6, can't wait! I will never forget Parasite because it was the movie my wife and I watched once the lockdown period started in my country.
Into The Void Posted December 5, 2020 Posted December 5, 2020 I liked Love, Victor and I plan on watching Flight Attendant soon
Into The Void Posted December 5, 2020 Posted December 5, 2020 On 12/4/2020 at 9:40 AM, mokitsu said: im downloading trial of the chicago 7 rn to watch later and you just made me more excited agree that 1917 was def an unique take on war movies, one i enjoyed a lot too uncut gems was a win for adam sandler (and idina, OPN and the weeknd), but i didn't care much about the plot the lighthouse was too abstract (? if that makes sense) even for me , but a flawless top 2. im glad i never watch trailers so i went into TIM blind and it really gagged me. parasite is legendary let me look into #5 it looked like a rom com from the title and posters so i never looked into it ddd I'm thinking of ending things with that poster spoke of suicide, what made u think rom com lol
mokitsu Posted December 5, 2020 Posted December 5, 2020 I may destroy you was incredible, i put it in my list too. Just a 10/10 in every way. Didn't care much for Fleabag in its first season, but the second deserved EVERY award it got. Killing eve was........ okay, but they need to hang it up stat. It's becoming very Shonda Rhimes'd. Devs was just a snooze expected way better, I couldn't understand the plot at all. queens gambit & flight attendant are my next watches !!
mokitsu Posted December 5, 2020 Posted December 5, 2020 1 minute ago, Insanity said: I'm thinking of ending things with that poster spoke of suicide, what made u think rom com lol i dont know anything about it but those warm colors and the title gave me breakup romcom teas idk
DoctorIce Posted December 5, 2020 Author Posted December 5, 2020 2 hours ago, Sunderland 4ever said: BETTER CALL SAUL!!!!!!!!!!! I could not agree more with you. It's a tad bit superior to BB, so that says a lot about its quality. Season 6, can't wait! I will never forget Parasite because it was the movie my wife and I watched once the lockdown period started in my country. It's so, so good. Rhea Seehorn's lack or recognition for her portrayal of Kim is very unfortunate. Is your username a reference to the FC? I only ask because you said "wife". 1 hour ago, Insanity said: I liked Love, Victor and I plan on watching Flight Attendant soon It was cute. Most of the characters were super likeable so it's a difficult show to hate on. 1 hour ago, mokitsu said: I may destroy you was incredible, i put it in my list too. Just a 10/10 in every way. Didn't care much for Fleabag in its first season, but the second deserved EVERY award it got. Killing eve was........ okay, but they need to hang it up stat. It's becoming very Shonda Rhimes'd. Devs was just a snooze expected way better, I couldn't understand the plot at all. queens gambit & flight attendant are my next watches !! I agree that the second series is the 11/10 but 10/10 for the first isn't so bad. Killing Eve could easily slide into more trashy territory next season. I really hope they save it. I wish Pheobe Waller-Bridge would return but it seems she prefers the one-and-done approach (other than Fleabag and even then she took some convincing apprently). Regarding Devs... yeah, I did try and think if there was anything else I saw this year that could take its place on the list. It's Christopher Nolan'd in the sense that the themes of the series (parallel universes, tangents, cause and effect) are the most interesting part about it. The story and characters, maybe not. That ****ing protagonist was just so awful and unwatchable, I feel like I would have enjoyed it so much more without her. I also thought the big beautiful sci-fi sets were cool but completely unnecessary and irrelevant to the story. In hindsight, it was all a mess really but it had some really cool ideas.
Into The Void Posted December 5, 2020 Posted December 5, 2020 I havent seen any of the movies but I'm interested in The Invisible man and Beautiful Day in the neighborhood
DoctorIce Posted December 5, 2020 Author Posted December 5, 2020 1 hour ago, Insanity said: I havent seen any of the movies but I'm interested in The Invisible man and Beautiful Day in the neighborhood Definitely give them a punt, if you don't mind subtitles you should absolutely check out Parasite also.
Into The Void Posted December 5, 2020 Posted December 5, 2020 27 minutes ago, DoctorIce said: Definitely give them a punt, if you don't mind subtitles you should absolutely check out Parasite also. i hate subtitles lol
DoctorIce Posted December 6, 2020 Author Posted December 6, 2020 Top 10 | Throwbacks These are my Top 10 Throwback tracks that have been in frequent rotation this year. #10 - A.M. 180 - Grandaddy I've always loved this song, there's something comforting about its nostalgia to me. I lowkey forgot about it for a few years but I've played it a lot this year. You might recognise it from Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe and the iconic supermarket scene from '28 Days Later'. #9 - Panic - The Smiths My favourite song from The Smiths along with 'Barbarism Begins At Home' and a timeless classic that never gets old. A very appropriate year for this song to rear its head in my playlists - panic on the streets of London indeed. #8 - Point Of View - DB Boulevard Chromatica has made me revisit a lot of classic 90's house tracks this year. This is by far one of the most enduring for me and lowkey better than anything on the aforementioned album. A bop and a half, get your life. #7 - Big Bros - Joyriders ft. Bros & Big Brother Theme (Oakenfold Remix) A trance classic and one of the most iconic dance productions of all time, at least in the UK. Regardless of your opinion on the TV show that used it as its theme tune (), this is an intensely euphoric landmark of a track that still goes the **** off all these years later. #6 - Bax - Mosca The best instrumental garage track ever? This was my jam when I was a student and when I tell you I wore it out, I mean it. It's been quite a few years though and this year it's been slaying me frequently for the first time in almost a decade. #5 - No Worries - Simon Webbe It's cheesy AF but this is one of my favourite pop songs ever. He's a one-hit wonder but a wonderful hit it was. Another track that has been especially apt this year that I've gotten a lot of mileage out of. Also, he's a snack. #4 - Another Chance - Roger Sanchez When I think of 90's house I think of this song above all else, it's a thing of beauty. This is the track that Gaga's 'Rain On Me' used as a reference, it's pretty clear from its sound. Nothing touches this track in its sub-genre and the video is probably one of the best ever. #3 - So Human - Lady Sovereign & Love Me Or Hate Me - Lady Sovereign Oh boy, the way these tracks send me straight back to school. I couldn't really pick between these two as they're both nostalgic bops. It's unfortunate that she dropped off the face of the Earth after her weird unexplained beef with Jay-Z, she had potential despite her general silliness. She's all grown up now so I'm here for a comeback. #2 - Gotta Get Thru This - Daniel Bedingfield Another classic garage tune that is also appropriate for 2020. I don't think the song really gets the props it deserves given its impact back in the day. A universal track that everyone should be able to relate to in some way or another and a bop for the ages. #1 - Movin' Too Fast - Artful Dodger & Romina Johnson Yet another classic garage time capsule that sounds just as vibrant and timeless as it always did. So many people couldn't tell you what this song is by name, but as soon as they hear it they know all the words and can hum the twinkly keys in the instrumental with ease. That's talent, luv. Hopefully this sort of music makes a comeback at some point.
Recommended Posts