Tag: Art House Film Wire’s Top 20 of 2020

AHFW’s Top 20 Films of 2020: #8 ‘One Night in Miami’

Jeff Mitchell

8. “One Night in Miami” – On Feb. 25, 1964, Cassius Clay (Eli Goree) knocks out Sonny Liston to become the heavyweight champion at age 22.  Afterward, Cassius, Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge), and Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.) get together at the Hampton House Hotel for an evening of conversation.  Believe it or not, these four icons truly did meet that night, and screenwriter Kemp Powers (based on his play) imagines their discourse in a mesmerizing, intricate feature that leaves you hanging on every word.  Director…

AHFW’s Top 20 Films of 2020: #9 ‘Bad Education’

Jeff Mitchell

9. “Bad Education” – The United States’ education system has rightfully taken its share of lumps over the years (and decades, right?), and director Cory Finley (“Thoroughbreds” (2017)) delivers pummeling blows on Roslyn High School.  Based on an infamous true story, more than a smidge of corruption has plagued this Long Island institution, although no one would know it from an initial look at the brick, mortar, and friendly teachers and staff.  Geraldine Viswanathan plays an upstart teenage reporter who digs into hidden spaces far from the busy hallways, as…

AHFW’s Top 20 Films of 2020: #12 ‘Sound of Metal’

Jeff Mitchell

12. “Sound of Metal” – Riz Ahmed delivers an Oscar-worthy performance as a 30-something heavy metal drummer who reinvents himself, but not because of a new band.  Ruben (Ahmed) loses his hearing, as director/writer Darius Marder’s character study follows his lead’s journey to find acceptance and peace with his new reality.  Olivia Cooke and Mathieu Amalric play key supporting roles, and Ruben’s mentor Joe (Paul Raci) is a much-needed lifeline.  Ahmed wore auditory blockers on-set to simulate complete hearing loss, and Marder plays with sound that sometimes reproduces Ruben’s world-perspective. …