‘Phil’s Quick Capsule Review’ (a nod to legendary comedian Bill Hicks who coined the phrase when he reviewed ‘Piece Of Shit’ movie Basic Instinct)… where a perfect 10 is rarer than a rain free British summer!
Written by Phil Hobden – UK based podcaster, writer and former filmmaker. Part of the All Things Film network…
So this is my semi-regularly updated of the BEST and WORST of the films from 2020 (2020 Films), as well as the best films I missed from last year and those I just couldn’t finish.
All in my very humble opinion…
BEST Films Of 2020… So Far:
Uncut Gems
Parasite
Queen & Slim
1917
The Gentleman
Honourable Mentions: Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn),Color Out of Space, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
WORST Films Of 2020… So Far
Dolittle
In The Line Of Duty
Countdown
Richard Jewell
Dis-Honourable Mentions:
The 2020 Films I just couldn’t Finish…
Great Films Of 2019 That I saw In 2020:
Hitsville: The Making of Motown, Dolemite Is My Name, Ford V Ferrari, One Cut Of The Dead, American Factory
Phil Hobden is the former Film Editor & Writer for renowned martial arts focused COMBAT MAGAZINE in the UK. He is also a filmmaker in his own right, having produced two cult Independent action films in LEFT FOR DEAD and TEN DEAD MEN. He was the host for the award nominated Filmsploitation podcast for 4 years, currently co-hosts Ross And Phil Talk Movies and is a writer/editor for his own blog Phil’s Quick Capsule Review…
Phil’s Quick Capsule Review: Dolittle is a film that promises very little yet still manages to underdeliver, made in such a way it seems like the director cant wait for the film to end. Something which we both had in common. In truth Dolittle is the sum of its parts – numerous reshoots, director issues, script changes and, it seems, a desire by star Downey Jnr to ‘Do Something Different’… which in this case was to deliver a performance almost totally lacking in charisma. Oddly Dolittle is a film that skews narrative structure and convention in such as way you’d think it was an arthouse film. But it’s not. It’s a $100+ million dollar film that should’ve been a tent pole summer blockbuster, but instead dumped into January. The best thing about Dolittle was it’s brief run time. This said Kid 1 enjoyed it so what do I know…
Best Bit: Urm… it was pretty short.
Buy, Stream, Avoid: Avoid
If You Liked this Try: Doctor Dolittle (1998), Zookeeper, Babe
Phil Hobden is the former Film Editor & Writer for renowned martial arts focused COMBAT MAGAZINE in the UK. He is also a filmmaker in his own right, having produced two cult Independent action films in LEFT FOR DEAD and TEN DEAD MEN. He was the host for the award nominated Filmsploitation podcast for 4 years, currently co-hosts Ross And Phil Talk Movies and is a writer/editor for his own blog Phil’s Quick Capsule Review…
On this episode of the podcast we talk about the upcoming movies for 2020 in our, urm, 2020 Movie Preview! Month by month we look at the big releases then pick our Top 3 films we can’t wait for across the next 12 months. Warning: This podcast contains Top Gun!
Hosted by Award winning filmmaker Ross Boyask and blogger/writer/failed former filmmaker Phil Hobden.
Discussed: Top Gun: Maverick, No Time To Die, Wonder Woman 1984, 1917, Bad Boys For Life, Gretel and Hansel, The Rhythm Section, Bad Boys For Life, Like a Boss, Birds of Prey: The Emancipation of Harley Quinn, Dolittle, Sonic the Hedgehog, Fantasy Island, Brahms: The Boy II, The Call of the Wild, Emma, The Invisible Man, Pixar’s Onward, The Way Back, Bloodshot, The Informer, My Spy, A Quiet Place: Part II, Mulan, The New Mutants, Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway, No Time To Die, The Secret Garden, Trolls World Tour, Black Widow, Legally Blonde 3, The Organ Donor, Scoob!, Fast & Furious 9, Artemis Fowl, Wonder Woman 1984, Candyman, King of Staten Island, Pixar’s Soul, Top Gun: Maverick, In the Heights, Free Guy, Minions: The Rise of Gru, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, The Purge 5, Tenet, Jungle Cruise, Bill & Ted Face the Music, Escape Room 2, Morbius, The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, The King’s Man, Monster Hunter, Venom 2, Death on the Nile, Halloween Kills, Snake Eyes, The Eternals, Godzilla vs. Kong, Coming 2 America, Dune, News of the World, The Irishman, The Tomorrow War, Tom and Jerry, Stone Cold, Ip Man 4, Under Siege, The Gentleman
For more on Ross Boyask search @RossBoyask on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. Also check out @EvoFilmsUK online.
For more on Phil Hobden check out www.philhobden.co.uk , Twitter (@PhilQuickReview) and Instagram (RossAndPhilTalkMovies
Phil’s Quick look at what’s wetting his whistle for the upcoming year in films…
2019 was a good year all in all, with many smaller movies standing out from the crowded franchised blockbuster arena. That said Marvel killed it again and Star Wars Skywalker saga drew to a close. So here’s the films I’m most looking forward to in 2020. And a few that I’d be happy to miss.
The Must See’s
Most Excited: Top Gun: Maverick The sequel to my second favourite film of all time, with a launch trailer that stuck the landing and an epic cast… okay so it will probably suck but I could not BE any more excited.
2.1917 Following up the dire Spectre with a big budget World War 1 film, Mendes looks to be striking gold on a film that’s already getting Oscar buzz. And teh single take idea really intrigues me.
3.Wonder Woman 1984 With Marvel having a quieter year it’s down to DC to deliver the goods this year and Wonder Woman 1984 may well be the film to do just that. The best thing in all the DC movies to date and with a well regarded film already under her belt, Wonder Woman returns to battle new bad guys. This time without Zack Snider’s influence.
4. The Many Saints of Newark The Sopranos is my favourite TV show of all time. This feature length look at a young Tony Soprano (played by Gandolfini’s own son) could go either way. But, much like Top Gun, nostalgia runs high here.
5. No Time To Die A risky choice for sure but No Time To Die promises lots. A great director, Craig reinvigorated (well that’s what he says) and a different story featuring a retired Bond dragged back into action. Every other Craig film has been good so the odds are in it’s favour.
Bubbling Under: Tenet (Nolan is back, always worth a watch ), Bill & Ted Face The Music (Excellent! ), A Quiet Place 2 (The original was superb ), Last Night In Soho (Edgar Wright. Say no more. ), Halloween Kills (The last Halloween was genuinely good ), Ghostbusters 2020 (a risk but with the original cast returning… maybe. Just maybe), Black Widow (Only a fool would bet against Marvel)
The Must Nots
Stinker Of The Year: The New Mutants Shooting Fish in a barrel this one. So the trailer looked okay, the property it’s based on is solid and the cast & crew impressive… so why am I not keen? Simply this should have come out two years ago, it’s had delays, reshoots and is rumoured to be dumped direct onto Hulu. If it even comes out.
Also Dreading: Birds of Prey (Robbie will be great but the film will not, sadly ), Bad Boys 4 Life (Michael Bay – so will be long and a slog) , Fast & Furious 9(No Rock, No Stath, No Walker. Just Vin ), Godzilla Vs Kong (I think we are done with Godzilla now ), Dolittle(A film we don’t need), Minions 2 (The last DM film was weak and teh Minions film equally a let down), Coming To America 2 (Murphy has had VERY little to offer of late)
Last Year…
So how did I do last year?
This is the time of the year when I look back at my picks of the good, the bad and the ugly from 2019 and see how close I was (or as it often is the case, how far!)…
For best: I tipped Toy Story 4, Captain Marvel, Hobbs & Shaw, Star Wars: Rise Of Skywalker, Once Upon A Time In Hollywoodas my most anticipated of 2019. Toy Story 4 was good but not in my top 5 of the year with Captain Marvel following suit. Hobbs & Shaw was a bust but Once Upon A Time In Hollywood delivered in spades. As for Star Wars: Rise Of Skywalker… it was good but not great but still a great watch!
As for the rest? Avengers Infinity War Part 2 was really good and closed off the saga in spectacular fashion, IT: Chapter Two was better than most gave it credit (but still not on par with Chapter One). Wonder Woman 1984 never came out and has been added to 2020’s list. Glass was good fun but Godzilla: King of the Monsters died on it’s arse.Spider-Man: Far From Home could well be the best Marvel film of 2020 whilst Joker was simply awesome. Jumanji: The Next Level was good fun as expected, even if it as a step down from Welcome to the Jungle, & The Irishman was everything I wanted it to be (other than maybe a few minutes shorter)
As for the Stinkers? Terminator: Dark Fate was actually okay (and certainly not the bomb I expected), The Lion King remake was also pretty good fun, Pet Sematary was weak and Pokemon Detective Pikachu was great fun (think Deadpool for kids). Never watched What Men Want , Aladdin 2019 was solid and X-Men: Dark Phoenix was pretty much what I expected. Rubbish. John Wick: Chapter 3 was a return to form but both Alita: Battle Angel & Men in Black Spin Off both failed as expected.
Phil Hobden is the former Film Editor & Writer for renowned martial arts focused COMBAT MAGAZINE in the UK. He is also a filmmaker in his own right, having produced two cult Independent action films in LEFT FOR DEAD and TEN DEAD MEN. He was the host for the award nominated Filmsploitation podcast for 4 years, currently co-hosts Ross And Phil Talk Movies and is a writer/editor for his own blog Phil’s Quick Capsule Review…
