Five 2020 movies to stream now
David Byrne’s American Utopia
Where to stream: HBO Max
In a year in which we have all been forced to keep our distance, it’s only fitting that the best thing I’ve seen is about the magic that happens when people get together. For all the world-weariness embedded in David Byrne’s musical style there has always been a throughline of a faith in humanity, and never more so than in this filmed production of his Broadway show, American Utopia. Combined with Spike Lee’s typically forceful direction it’s both a righteous call to action and, incredibly, the only movie that truly made me feel hopeful this year. It doesn’t hurt to sing along to classics like “Once in a Lifetime,” either.
The Trip to Greece
Where to stream: Hulu
The Trip series just keeps chugging along, with comedians Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon returning to eat expensive food and make spot-on impressions throughout Europe. Honestly, not much has changed; we may be in Greece this time but the jokes, the bickering, and the layer of melancholy are all still there. If you’ve seen the other films in this series you’ve seen this one, too. But that’s not a knock on The Trip to Greece! Coogan and Brydon are always a delight to spend an hour and a half with. I got exactly what I was expecting with this fourth Trip film, and that’s really all I wanted.
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Where to stream: Amazon Prime
It’s harder to make political comedy these days, the common narrative goes, because the people in charge are so ridiculous, and the times are so bleak, that it becomes difficult to parody. Well, nobody told Sacha Baron Cohen, because he managed to make an incredibly funny satire of American idiocy with his Borat reprisal. Just because the world already sees us as a joke doesn’t mean pointing out our failures isn’t a blast. Maria Bakalova, playing Borat’s daughter, is a revelation and seriously deserves to be in the conversation for Best Actress. I still can’t believe she didn’t break character in some of those bits.
Boys State
Where to stream: Apple TV+
An inspiring, and terrifying, examination of American democracy, this documentary follows the annual “Boys State” event in Texas, where hundreds of teenagers from across the state mimic political parties and hold an election to learn about the process of government. Just like on the much larger national stage, policy discussions give way to personal attacks, and a group trying to create positive change runs up against a system designed to reward dirty tricks. I’m not sure whether Boys State made me feel good about the future of American politics, but I was captivated by the dealmaking all the way through.
Never Rarely Sometimes Always
Where to stream: HBO Max
Never Rarely Sometimes Always has a nearly identical plot to Unpregnant, which I previously recommended: two friends travel across state lines so that one of them can get an abortion. Never Rarely Sometimes Always takes a much more somber approach, and while I’d recommend both films, this one reaches much greater heights with that style. Both Sidney Flanigan and Talia Ryder carry the movie with tremendous, restrained performances.