Movies to Look Forward to in 2020
Curious about what looks cool in 2020? The Moviegoer's got you covered!
Antebellum: Opening on April 24, 2020
Produced by Jordan Peele and starring Janelle Monáe, Antebellum appears to be an intriguing follow-up to Peele’s spectacularly successful Us and Get Out. Little information beyond the following log line has been released: “Celebrated author Veronica Henley (Monáe) finds herself trapped in a horrifying reality and must uncover the mind-bending mystery before it’s too late.” From the teaser trailer and the film’s title, it seems that Monáe has been sent to the Antebellum South. I’m excited to see Peele’s approach to slavery, a topic that he often addresses metaphorically and symbolically but not directly.
-Staci
The French Dispatch: Opening on July 24, 2020
We already know Wes Anderson makes art in motion, and it’s no question his next release will be full of the stylistic elements we know and love him for. While we don’t know much yet, The French Dispatch is described as "a love letter to journalists set at an outpost of an American newspaper in a fictional 20th-century French city" with a screenplay by Anderson from a story by Anderson, Roman Coppola, Jason Schwartzman, and Hugo Guinness. Anderson tells us, “The story is not easy to explain, [It’s about an] American journalist based in France [who] creates his magazine. It is more a portrait of this man, of this journalist who fights to write what he wants to write.” The cast features regulars Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Willem Dafoe, Adrien Brody, Frances McDormand, Saoirse Ronan, and Tilda Swinton, as well as exciting newcomers to Anderson’s world Benicio del Toro, Timothée Chalamet, Henry Winkler, Kate Winslet, Alex Lawther, and Elisabeth Moss.
-Emma
Promising Young Woman: Opening on April 17, 2020
From Emerald Fennell, the acclaimed show runner for Killing Eve’s second season, comes Promising Young Woman, a film that seems to be about a woman (Carey Mulligan) luring in and then punishing date rapists...but there’s clearly much more trauma and revenge-seeking drive lurking under the surface. This premise is one of those that you hear and wonder, especially considering the current political climate, “why hasn’t this been done yet?” Early reviews from Sundance have also been pretty great, so I’d keep my eye out for this one.
-Hannah
Mulan: Opening on March 27, 2020
While some are apprehensive about a Mulan remake that is void of musical numbers and of the beloved Mushu, fans are still excited to see the live-action film. Starring Chinese-American actress Liu Yifei and directed by Niki Caro, the film will retell the classic story that we all grew up loving. The original was made in 1998, so it will be interesting to see how the remake tackles themes like sexism and misogyny in a modern era.
-Tamar
The Lovebirds: April 3, 2020
I adored 2017’s The Big Sick, which propelled comedian Kumail Nanjiani to Oscar-nominated status, so I can’t wait for the March release of The Lovebirds, starring Nanjiani and Issa Rae (known for her acting, directing, and writing work on Insecure). The Lovebirds promises a fun, action-packed plot: it follows the couple on a journey to clear their names after getting entangled in a murder mystery. Though few reviews for the April release have been published, Rae and Nanjiani are unlikely to disappoint as a comedic power duo. And if The Lovebirds happens to flop, viewers can watch the current release The Photograph starring Rae, and Nanjiani fans can catch him in the November MCU addition The Eternals.
Hayley
A Quiet Place Part II: Opening on March 20th
After the commercial and critical success of A Quiet Place, John Krasinski writes and directs A Quiet Place Part II, which aims to encapsulate the horror of the first film and the emotional attachment to its characters. Emily Blunt, Noah Jupe, and Millicent Simmons are back as the Abbott family with newcomers like Cillian Murphy and Djimon Hounsou. The trailer reveals flashbacks to the beginning of the monster invasion as well as scenes with John Krasinski’s dead character Lee. The first film tested audiences’ patience with its prolonged lack of sound, but most people found this sort of tension to work with the horror genre. I’m excited to see how Krasinski balances the past, present, and lack of sound in this world where silence is survival.
-Charlie