Me and the @JumpCut_Online fellas were challenged by @FionaUnderhill to watch #52FilmsByWomen in 2020. All first-time watches. Here’s my attempt in a year-long thread:
1. ATLANTICS (2019)
Directed by Mati Diop

Not a great start to the challenge. I know I’m in the minority here, but I found this to be really drab and lifeless. A poorly paced, style-over-substance piece with some lovely shots, but no charisma or spark.

5 out of 10
2. HIGH LIFE (2019)
Directed by Claire Denis

A bold and original take on the sci-fi genre which tackles some immense concepts, and wraps it up in a visually stunning package. Not without its faults, but you have to admire the risks taken by the filmmaker.

7 out of 10
3. LITTLE WOMEN (2019)
Directed by Greta Gerwig

An utterly delightful, charming film. The level of my investment in these characters is testament to the writing, performances and direction. At times hilarious, in others, heart-breaking, but always mesmerising.

8 out of 10
4. BIRDS OF PREY (2020)
Directed by Cathy Yan

An exciting and stylish action movie with splashes of solid comedy throughout. The characters are likeable, interesting and fresh, and despite some structural issues, this is a solid, fun film.

7 out of 10
5. LITTLE JOE (2020)
Directed by Jessica Hausner

A film brimming with stylish shots and an impressive score, is severely let down by a narrative which does very little to excite or intrigue and ultimately trudges along into nothingness.

5 out of 10
6. ANIMALS
Directed by Sophie Hyde

Although labelled as a comedy, I was most impressed by how gripping and authentic this story was. There are laughs to be had, sure, but it’s the characters and their emotional journey that make this film so strong.

7 out of 10
7. TIGERS ARE NOT AFRAID
Directed by Issa López

An incredible depiction of childhood and grief, cleverly crafted into a revenge fairytale. This is truly bold and brutal storytelling, and is exactly my kind of film.

8 out of 10
8. REVENGE
Directed by Coralie Fargeat

I’m not usually one for gore, but when the violence is this brutal and this satisfying it’s hard to resist. Vibrant visuals, a killer score and a heroine to genuinely root for make this more than just your average thriller.

8 out of 10
9. HUSTLERS
Directed by Lorene Scafaria

I totally underestimated this one. Brilliant acting, riveting story and a fantastic soundtrack to boot. It’s no exaggeration to say this deserves to be in the same discussions as films like Goodfellas and Wolf Of Wall Street.

8 out of 10
10. PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE
Directed by Céline Sciamma

First of all, this is absolutely stunning visually. A love story which moves so delicately and entangles you in every stolen moment, until it well and truly breaks your heart. I can’t wait to watch it again.

9 out of 10
11. THE BLING RING
Directed by Sofia Coppola

I really don’t know what to say. I was so close to turning this film off, and I regret not doing so. Utterly pointless and repetitive. Cringeworthy performances all around, and characters I didn’t care about at all.

1 out of 10
12. BLOW THE MAN DOWN
Directed by Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Krudy

A brooding, sharp crime thriller with a folk feel. Perfectly captures the claustrophobic atmosphere of a tight-knit community, with a taut script, authentic characters and a bleak aesthetic.

8 out of 10
13. BLINDED BY THE LIGHT
Directed by Gurinder Chadha

A breezy, cheesy, fun flick with humour and heart. Some of the musical moments and stylistic choices were a little jarring for me, but on the whole a very harmless film which made me happy.

6 out of 10
14. PREVENGE
Directed by Alice Lowe

What started off as a unique and entertaining premise became very tired very quickly. The motivations and emotions of the protagonist didn’t feel convincing at all, and the moments of comedy aren’t enough to salvage this.

5 out of 10
15. GASCOIGNE
Directed by Jane Preston

Exactly what a documentary should be; insightful, entertaining, stirring and heartbreaking. It’s refreshing to see a wonderful yet troubled man celebrated like this, digging deeper than the surface level scandal we all assume.

8 out of 10
16. AMERICAN FACTORY
Directed by Steve Bognor and Julia Reichert

I’m baffled as to why this documentary even exists, never mind winning an Oscar. The subject matter is simply uninteresting, and the whole thing plays out like some kind of bloated training video.

3 out of 10
17. DESTROYER
Directed by Karyn Kasuma

Despite being a little slow in places, and perhaps overdoing it with jumps back and forth in time, this is a brooding and stylish crime thriller with a twist I didn’t see coming. Kidman knocks it out of the park, of course.

7 out of 10
18. FREE SOLO
Directed Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin

As tense as any thriller, as scary as any horror and as awe-inspiring as any sci-fi. To get so close to a momentous triumph of the human spirit in this way is incredible documentary-making.

8 out of 10
19. FAST COLOR
Directed by Julia Hart

Starts off as a gripping thriller and ends as a poignant and endearing family drama. Absolutely stunning cinematography, an electric score and great performances make this a fascinating twist on the superhero genre.

7 out of 10
20. BLACKFISH
Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite

A damning and sickening indictment of the whole animals for entertainment industry. This documentary is both infuriating and heartbreaking, and I never want to watch it again for both those reasons.

7 out of 10
21. THE INVITATION
Directed by Karyn Kasuma

A thriller which grabs you from the very first moment and refuses to let go. Despite its predictability, the big conclusion is still shocking and all that incredible tension that came before it pays off.

8 out of 10
22. UNBROKEN
Directed by Angelina Jolie

Decidedly slow in places, perhaps intentionally, but when this film hits, it hits hard. Jack O’Connell is brilliant, as always. An epic story of the human spirit. Truly inspiring stuff.

7 out of 10
23. TOMBOY
Directed by Céline Sciamma

A fine example of how compelling and convincing drama can be when exploring the intricacies of what makes us human. Short and sweet, yet unflinching. The child actors’ amazing performances are key to the success of this film.

8 out of 10
24. POINT BREAK
Directed by Kathryn Bigelow

I’ve always been wary of watching this film, believing it to be a ridiculous concept. But honestly, the outlandish nature of this storyline, the action pieces and the characters was so much fun. What a wild ride!

9 out of 10
25. PET SEMATARY
Directed by Mary Lambert

Rather dated, and some pretty shoddy acting too, but on the whole this is a solid Stephen King story with fun elements. Not particularly scary, but there are some grim moments, and the finale is entertaining enough.

6 out of 10
26. LITTLE WOODS
Directed by Nia DaCosta

A solid debut from a promising filmmaker who clearly has a great handle on storytelling. Tessa Thompson excels as always, and Lily James does good work in a grittier role than we’ve come to expect from her. Bring on Candyman!

7 out of 10
27. RAFIKI

Directed by Wanuri Kahiu

A vibrant and stylish love story told within social boundaries I’ve never really explored before. The playful and charming tone makes way for harsh realities as the boundaries close in, and you feel every ounce of fear and pain.

8 out of 10
28. THE MATRIX

Directed by Lana and Lilly Wachowski

With interesting concepts and impressive effects and stunts it’s easy to see why so many love this film. But for me, it’s all style over substance, and the narrative ends up playing second fiddle to showmanship.

5 out of 10
29. THE RIDER

Directed by Chloé Zhao

A melancholic and delicate portrayal of trauma and recovery and the struggles of a young man coming to terms with his limitations. This is one of those beautiful films that really grows on you as it saunters along its journey.

8 out of 10
30. HONEY BOY

Directed by Alma Har’el

A raw and powerful dissection of a father son relationship which offers so much honesty and vulnerability it’s hard not to get enveloped in the emotions. Beautifully made, delicately crafted, driven by exceptional performances.

9 out of 10
31. HOW TO BUILD A GIRL
Directed by Coky Giedroyc

I almost feel bad for saying this, because the film is pleasant and harmless enough but I just didn’t care about the story or characters. And I don’t understand why they cast Feldstein instead of a British actress.

5 out of 10
32. CAPERNAUM
Directed by Nadine Labaki

I can’t stop thinking about this film. Absolutely unflinching in its visceral depiction of poverty, Zain’s story is heartbreaking and moving. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to bring myself to watch this again though.

9 out of 10
33. ADULT LIFE SKILLS
Directed by Rachel Tunnard

Another case of a perfectly harmless film, but one suffering from a lacklustre story and characters I just couldn’t get invested in. I wasn’t entertained and didn’t feel anything about the more emotional beats either.

4 out of 10
34. THE NIGHTINGALE
Directed by Jennifer Kent

A brutal and blistering tale of revenge which manages to be both satisfying and extremely uncomfortable. Francoisi is phenomenal and Claflin delivers a career best performance.

8 out of 10
35. QUEEN & SLIM
Directed by Melina Matsoukas

Despite a couple of dubious plot points, I found this to be a gripping and entertaining story. The way Matsoukas directs the camera is simply mesmerising, and the accompanying score was stunning too.

8 out of 10
36. 12 HOUR SHIFT
Directed by Brea Grant

*reviews under embargo*
37. LUCKY
Directed by Natasha Kermani

*reviews under embargo*
38. MORVERN CALLAR
Directed by Lynne Ramsay

One of those interesting films I often like where we follow one person on a unique and gritty adventure which somehow is both oddly mundane and yet so outside of the realm of what we experience ourselves.

7 out of 10
39. CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?
Directed by Marielle Heller

Sharp writing, delicate direction and a great performance from Melissa McCarthy which finely balances the humour, the harshness and ultimately the heart of her character.

7 out of 10
40. SKATE KITCHEN
Directed by Crystal Moselle

An enthralling exploration of femininity which goes way beyond just skateboarding, but also friendship, motherhood, sexuality and a feeling of purpose and belonging. Beautifully shot and refreshingly real.

7 out of 10
41. THE ASSISTANT
Directed by Kitty Green

The brilliantly understated performance by Julia Garner anchors this timely and uncomfortable story. My main gripe is that the plot was a little bit thin, but with a short run time it still keeps your attention.

6 out of 10
42. ROCKS
Directed by Sarah Gavron

A brilliantly genuine and gritty examination of womanhood and familial responsibility. I didn’t expect the harrowing levels of anxiety and trauma, but it all added to the lasting effect of this impacting and important story.

8 out of 10
43. YOU’VE GOT MAIL
Directed by Nora Ephron

Oh to live in a time where capitalism and cat-fishing can’t kill romance. A charming, feel-good film with lots of harmless fun and comforting predictability. Bonus points for the nostalgia of the dial-up internet, too.

7 out of 10
44. A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
Directed by Marielle Heller

Just as lovely and heart-warming as I anticipated, but I didn’t expect the interesting stylistic approach and the real emotional depth to the story. The kind of film that just makes you smile.

8 out of 10
45. FROZEN II
Directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck

Doesn’t quite hit the heights of the original, which is understandable, but is still a charming and fun tale. Great music, great animation and great characters. Much darker than the first film, but I liked that.

7 out of 10
46. ARTHUR CHRISTMAS
Directed by Sarah Smith

Always happy to see original approaches to the Christmas story. Never really excelled in any one area, with the comedy, animation and characters just being “okay” but I definitely enjoyed watching and would watch again.

7 out of 10
47. EMMA.
Directed by Autumn de Wilde

Not exactly unique or original, but I definitely didn’t care. Anya Taylor-Joy is supremely watchable and anchored the whole film perfectly. Sweet, stylish and sharply written. Got to credit the phenomenal production design, too.

7 out of 10
48. NEVER RARELY SOMETIMES ALWAYS
Directed by Eliza Hittman

Unflinchingly raw and authentic. Relentlessly uncomfortable. Everything from the visuals and the music to the natural dialogue and acting is wonderfully crafted.

8 out of 10
49. THE HOLIDAY
Directed by Nancy Meyers

Somehow I had only ever seen the first 10 minutes of this before. Not really my thing but I guess it wasn’t terrible. Light and fun entertainment which does exactly what it sets out to do.

5 out of 10
50. YES, GOD, YES
Directed by Karen Maine

A playful look at the absurdity of Christian camps which was both entertaining and surprisingly thought-provoking. Had a lot of fun with this.

7 out of 10
51. THE FORTY YEAR OLD VERSION
Directed by Rhada Blank

One of the most original and bold directorial debuts I’ve seen all year. Stylish, subversive, funny and razor sharp. Completely surpassed my expectations.

8 out of 10
52. WONDER WOMAN 1984
Directed by Patty Jenkins

Bittersweet moment as I complete the challenge but do so in such disappointing fashion. Hard to think of any redeeming features for this mess. A dire script and lacklustre action set pieces being the worst elements.

3 out of 10
53. SHIRLEY
Directed by Josephine Decker

A fantastic ensemble cast are on top form to bring to life a sharp and surprisingly complex script. The whole film looks great too, with stylish production and costume design.

7 out of 10
54. THE MATRIX RELOADED
Directed by The Wachowski Sisters

I guess this franchise just isn’t for me. And reader, this annoys me as much as it annoys you, trust me.

5 out of 10
55. BABYTEETH
Directed by Shannon Murphy

Raw, unflinching, gritty and absolutely beautiful nonetheless. The emotional stakes could not be higher and the whole cast are incredible in making this convincing, especially Eliza Scanlen.

8 out of 10
56. THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS
Directed by The Wachowski Sisters

Huh, maybe I was wrong? Apparently the worst of the series but by far my favourite of the franchise and has actually made me think I will watch them all again now it all makes a bit more sense to me.

7 out of 10
So, I did it. And then some. It’s been an absolute pleasure taking on this #52FilmsByWomen challenge and here are my top 5 films that I discovered last year.

1. Portrait Of A Lady On Fire
2. Capernaum
3. Point Break
4. Gascoigne
5. Honey Boy
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