Big New Movies to Watch This Year
By: Claire Wong ‘23
COVID-19 has been an interesting period for movies. Movies have been digitally released this year because theaters across the nation are closed. And without the theater experience, watching movie is not as appealing. Movies have been very much marketing their films differently this season and you may have missed some. Here are some of the best movies released this year!
Promising Young Woman
A great film for thriller and comedy fans and anyone interested in a fun movie.
Promising Young Woman is director Emerald Fennell’s debut film. The film follows main character Cassie’s wickedly smart, tantalizingly cunning personality and her secret double life. Cassie has an unexpected encounter and gets a chance to right the wrongs from the past. (rottentomatoes.com).
This film is nominated for a Golden Globe and is expected to be nominated for an Oscar as well. Promising Young Woman intertwines the genre of thriller with comedy and develops an exhilarating story perfect for mainstream audiences.
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Now on Netflix)
A great film for history buffs, drama fans, and anyone interested in learning more about the trial of the Chicago 7.
Directed by Aaron Sorkin (who has also directed the Social Network, Steve Jobs, A Few Good Men), the film is based on a true story and explores the stories of the seven defendants charged with Conspiracy due to their roles in the protests in Chicago at the 1968 Democratic National Convention (rottentomatoes.com).
This film is nominated for a Golden Globe and suspected to be nominated for an Oscar as well. The Trial of the Chicago 7 stars familiar faces such as Eddie Redmayne and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and is quite engaging yet educational and more mainstream than its other Golden Globe nominees.
Malcolm & Marie (Now on Netflix)
A great film for Zendaya fans, drama lovers, and anyone curious in a different perspective of a relationship
Starring Zendaya and Denzel Washington’s son, John David Washington, Malcolm & Marie is the story of a filmmaker on the brink of Hollywood glory and his girlfriend. They find themselves pushed towards a reckoning as a single tumultuous night decides the fate of their relationship (rottentomatoes.com).
Malcolm & Marie really dives into the development of the characters and their relationship from an interesting dynamic not many audience members experience firsthand.
Nomadland(Now on Hulu)
A great film for non-fiction lovers, independent film enthusiasts, and anyone interested in modern day nomads.
Directed by Asian American filmmaker Chloe Zhao, Nomadland follows the story of a woman as she embarks on a journey through the American West after losing everything during the recession (rottentomatoes.com).
This independent film is nominated for a Golden Globe and is expected to be nominated for an Oscar as well. While this is not the fastest paced movie, it beautifully examines the story and lifestyle of modern day American nomads.
Mank (Now on Netflix)
A great film for filmmakers but not appealing to many audiences outside of film enthusiasts.
Mank is a biography that reevaluates 1930s Hollywood through the eyes of scathing wit and alcoholic screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz (rottentomatoes.com). It was nominated for a Golden Globe and is expected to be nominated for an Oscar as well.
This film discusses film history very heavily. It is not for everyone, but may be interesting to those who love filmmaking.
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