Michel barnier says it is the moment of truth for both sides to agree on a deal. Next, the first of our series of films looking back on the year. From theatre screenings to sofa screenings, mark kermode takes a look at the releases, on both the big and Small Screens, and how the Film Industry has had to adapt in the year in film. Hello and welcome to this review of this year in film. Im mark kermode and over the next 30 minutes ill be rounding up the highs and lows of whats proved a challenging but also surprisingly creative year for cinema. 2020 seemed to start so well with the uk releasing injanuary the personal history of David Copperfield. A superb reimagining of dickens classic which brought 21st century colourblind casting to this 19th century tail with genuinely timeless results. Your mama is ill. How ill is she . Very ill. Dangerously ill. Shes dead. Patel seemed to be channeling the pathos of chaplain as he led a thrillingly diverse cast you through this wonderfully comedic, absurdist and hugely entertaining adaptation. 0h donkeys this is a donkey free zone remarkable woman. Very kind. In early february came the oscars. Where south korean maverick bong joon ho made history. With his genre crossing gem parasite not only picked up the award for best International Feature but also beat sam mendes is fast bafta and golden globe winner 1917 to become the first Foreign Language film to win best picture. To the horror of soon to be ex President Donald Trump who complained to his supporters about south koreas triumph and how bad the Academy Awards work this year. He even pleaded, can we get gone with the wind back, please . Other significant wins this year included Renee Zellweger winning best actor for playing the divine ms. Garland in judy. And Joaquin Phoenix taking best actorfor his memorising performance in the divisivejoker. Although for my money the best performance in that movie was given by icelandic composer Hildur Gudnadottir who rightly claimed the statuette for best score. Then as february slid into march we were treated to the uk cinema release of portrait of a lady on fire. French film maker and ra pturing manifesto about female gays which she had won the canne screenplay prize in 2019. With stunning performances and paintily visuals this was another bona fide masterpiece from the creator of girlhood one of my favourite films from the 21st century. It all seemed to be going so well and then in the middle of march lockdown came. And cinemas around the uk closed their doors with no clear idea of when they would open again. There had of course been warning signs. At the beginning of march the producers of the bond movie, no time to die which had already been delayed due to the departure of original director danny boyle announced that the films release would be pushed back to november. At the time this seemed like a drastic move. But it soon became clear that bond was just the first of a string of blockbusters that wouldnt be hitting the big screen anytime soon. And so began the great home viewing boom of 2020. Woke up in the Morning Light today is the day that i do everything right. In april Trolls World Tour the phosphorescent sql to the 2016 animated hit became the first major studio movie originally intended for widespread Theatrical Release to go straight to streaming services in the uk as a direct result of coronavirus. It was a pattern that would continue even as cinemas reopened with other high profile movies like disneys live action mulan which had made headlines as the most expensive movie ever directed by a woman. Going straight to disney plus in september where it was available to rent forjust shy of 20 quid in addition to the cost of channel subscription. Some other blockbusters however, were determined to keep that big screen buzz. Can you see him . Hes catching up. During the first lockdown trailers for unhinged proudly posted that this Russell Crowe road rage have been released in theatres with studio head calling it the canary in the coal mine for cinema reopening. Hes not a friend 0k . Indeed at the end ofjuly unhinged became one of the big movies to test the waters and recently reopened uk cinemas offering a dumb but nonetheless entertaining meld of duel and falling down. With Russell Crowe doing angry in the way that only Russell Crowe can. We were expecting you an hour ago. Sorry. Frank, this is your new guardian. I dont want him. We all got to do our bit. That same week also saw the uk cinema released of summerland. A lovely, heartfelt film about matters of life and death with Award Winning playwright Jessica Swale with great performances. And some beautiful cinematography by lori rose that really benefited from being seen on the big screen. We have believed weve run into the burning building. And until we feel that heat we can never know. But when it came to blockbusters the real standout of 2020 was of course tenant. Head scrambling palindromic thriller that became the closest thing we had to a summer tent pole release when it opened in uk cinemas in august. John david washington whod done such sterling work and spike lees and spike lees black klansman made an International Ensemble cast through movie so ambitious, so overwhelming and lets be honest about this, so baffling that many viewers had to go and see it twice or even three times to figure out what on earth was going on. Well, ive seen too much. If youre still confused they are not itjust come out on blu ray. So you can spend the entire holiday starting at frame by frame to figure out exactly what that means. Tennent aside blockbusters remain thin on the ground in what turned out to be in unprecedentedly difficult year for cinema. In october the same month that the first big screen bond, sean connery died. The latest bond movie announced yet another delay. This cancellation coincided with city world and picture how cinemas closing their doors while other chains abandoned weekday screenings. Setting alarm dale bells ringing about the future of cinema itself. As for bond 25. It earned itself the marketing name no time to open. Its currently for release in april 2021. Yet for some this final daniel craig 007 outing already feels like yesterdays news. History isnt kind to men who play god. While cinemas have clearly suffered from the dearth of big releases this year one unpredicted affect of the absence of big blockbusters has been that audiences and critics alike had turned their attention toward smaller movies that might otherwise have been overlooked. Movies like the whalebone box from british maverick andrew cotton which premiered on the streaming service in april and followed two journeys. One a pilgrimage to return the box to the outer hebrides the other into the dreams of eden artist and daughter come use of andrew. No one makes movies like carding. Although you can find a Kindred Spirit of cornish film maker markjenkin who won a bafta for bait in february. Are you 0k . Yeah, im fine. Whats wrong . Girl problems. May saw uk release of eliza hitmens never really sometimes always. A drama that blends the gritty authenticity of a documentary with the poetic sensibility of pure cinema. I know this is hard. The narrative explores an often hidden story of reproductive rights yet the film is best described as an astute trail of female friendship. A coming of age tale with road movie inflerctions. Listen. Oh my god is this. 0h, we love this song this is our song. In june writer directors feature introducing us to screen newcomer roxanne scrimshaw who starred alongside seasoned professional as two friends torn apart in the wake of personal tragedy. Having won numerous law audits for his short films he established himself as a major new voice in british cinema. While scrimshaw who was scouted through facebook is clearly a star in the making. I want to be like p diddy and 50 cents. 0ther impressive screen newcomers this year included the teenage star of rocks about a 15 year old east lender who returns home from school to discover that her mother has abandoned her and your young brother. Rocks was a uniquely collaborative production born out of workshops with young people and introducing a wealth of talented players. Bravo. From drama to documentary. White riot, an award winner at last years at london Film Festival which opened in 20 20 by a string of screenings and virtual 0 a is. A timely look back at the birth of rock against racism in the 70s. We werent superheroes. We were just ordinary people. We were ordinary antiracist citizens. Born in response to infamous tirade by eric clapton in 1976. Rock against racism set out the challenge of tide of bigotry epitomised by the rise of a National Front using music that could unite black and white youth in a fight for equality. Mixing contemporary interviews with a wealth of archived footage this film captures the sheer energy and passion in which rock against racism attempted to change the world or at least the uk. Meanwhile over the us, documentary time focused on an African American family torn apart by imprisonment. No, we dont have anything. Alrighty, thank you so much. My twins will be 18 next month. They have absolutely no idea what it means to have a father in the house. Drawing on a wealth of home video footage shot aka fox ridge there is profoundly affected film shows the total incarceration takes not only upon those inside but also outside the prison walls. The subject matter may be tough but time is as uplifting as it is eye opening. Success is the best revenge. When you get them home they get a pay they pay they can pay. It is ordered a judge and decreed that Walter Mcmillan is to face by electrocution. The same could be said ofjust mercy. The real life drama adapted from 2014 by activists stevenson. Un quit yet . Nocera. Nocera. A moving tale of struggle to lend boys to the silence and dispossessed inmates of death row. Just mercy open injanuary publicised with posters of blazoned with quotes justified the extolling oscar winning performances. And its absent from the academies nominations injanuary demonstrated that the oscars so white hashtag which dates back to 2015 still had legs in 2020. Get on the ground keep your hands we can see them. What is your badge number . Just chill, just chill im reaching for my cell phone there was no 0scar recognition eitherfor queen and slim, with eye catching leads and rising star Jody Turner Smith as outlaws on the run against a backdrop of racially divided modern america. Thank you thank you for bringing us this far. Thank you for this journey. Police no matter how it ends. And in a year when the 0scar best director nominations were all male there was nothing male there was nothing in 2019 became the first black woman to win the grand jury prize at sundance for her film clemency. Do you have any family that would like to claim your body . A low key death row drama, clemency boasted no Perfect Performance from Alfre Woodard and an erie ambient by catherine bostic. How do you keep doing it . I do myjob. Released here injuly it addressed the terrible impact of the Death Penalty upon all those it touches. From prisoners to wardens to society at large. An issue that seems particularly relevant at the moment. I dont see how its gonna work. Living with an empty shell of a wife. I will never get over see in this june cleaning toilets. 0na more on a more upbeat note ms. Juneteenth could be in the running for next yea rs could be in the running for next years 0scars. Could be in the running for next years oscars. The date was june 19. 0pening years oscars. The date was june 19. Opening to rave reviews in uk seminaries in september of this quietly political charmer features bihari as turquoisejones. A one time beauty queen who desperately wants her headstrong daughter to win the titular pageant celebrating the belated freeing of slaves in texas onjune 19, celebrating the belated freeing of slaves in texas onjune19, 1865. Two and half years after the emancipation proclamation. Whats her problem . I beat her. 20 20 also saw the release of two netflix it back to films featuring Chadwick Bozeman who we sadly lost in august. You can currently see him in his final screen roll a barnstorming performance as an upcoming trumpet player in mart raineys black bottom. Adapted from the play by august wilson. Is it fair as some of the white americans here are . Nothing is more confused. Early in the air bozeman costarred in spike lees the five bloods which followed a group of vietnam vets returning to the country in which they fought the american war. They come to recover the remains of a fallen comrade lost in battle but theyre also on the trail of gold. A stash in which they buried all those years ago and now hope to retrieve. I see ghost. Having won his first competitive 0scar as co writer of black klansmen last year lee has been particularly productive across a range of genres. His latest film david burns american utopia is a concert movie that recently opened in the uk on vod. Meanwhile, you can see echoes of lees classic do the right thing and another of this years best releases. Les miserables no, not that want but a contemporary urban drama which was 0scar nominated for best International Feature. Written and directed by lee the film largely plays out immortalising hugos novel. Where a new member of the anti crime unit learns about that neighbours crime faction by collea g u es that neighbours crime faction by colleagues whose methods blur the line between policing and harassment. Les miserables also ca ptivates harassment. Les miserables also captivates his 1995 french masterpiece which got a 25th anniversary read the lease this year and looks more transient than ever. For more recent International Fair 2020 saw the uk release of the county. A tragicomic jump 2020 saw the uk release of the county. A tragicomicjump from icelandic filmmaker. Having bittersweet life into a tale of feuding sheep farming brothers in rams it peels back another layer of nordic culture as ingo finds her voice amid the often chilly silence of agrarian life. Heartfelt pain lending with absurdist humor. From finland came dogs dont wear pants. About a middle age heart surgeon whose life falls apart in the wake of tragedy. He finds it unlikely it from grief in the rituals of pain. Despite the title which in english at least has unintended overtone of carry on buffoonery. The result is sometimes shocking often funny but ultimately redemptive and uplifting with director taking us tumbling down a rabbit hole with unexpected results. Stranger still was patrick. Which i think i can safely say was the best belgian nudist tragicomedy of the year. Set in a remote naturist campsite it tells the story ofa naturist campsite it tells the story of a young man worrying about the loss of first his hammer and then his father. The fact that all this plays out in the nude is actually the least remarkable thing about this beautifully deadpanned movie. A vetera n this beautifully deadpanned movie. A veteran of tv shows like pt blinders and legion whose cast ranges from dutch stage and screen actor to new zealand comedian musician dues to enactjermaine clement. Zealand comedian musician dues to enact jermaine clement. Sometimes to get what you want you have to not wa nt get what you want you have to not want what you want. Think about it. The biggest chinese film to be released this year was the 800. A historical war drama is set in chang has a warehouse in 1937. Dubbed the chinese dunkirk theres had spectacle to spare. Shot on fast cameras. They may have made little impact here but in china the 800 was a resounding box office hit. 0utperforming tenant and providing a huge boost for chinas cinema industry. On the animation front saloon teamed up with luxembourg productions for both walkers. Some things happen to me. Yeah, i can see that. Set in 17th ireland tom moore and ross to its gym runs in the tradition of princess mononoke e. 0r wolves children. A treat for all ages. T . Meanwhile from australia came relic. A heartbreaking psychological thriller that examined the reality of alzheimers through the language of alzheimers through the language of fa ntasy. Of alzheimers through the language of fantasy. Everything all right grand . I thought this was where it got in. Who . This is a horror movie with a heart. A profoundly emotional experience. My own favourite films of the year included a pair of saints. Do you have a boyfriend . No. Do you have a boyfriend or a girlfriend . No. Then we have something in common. St francis asa versus self determined manifesto such as menstruation and reproductive rights. In the close of a ditzy bittersweet comedy about midlife disappointment. Mod is looking out for me, lucy. To save my soul. If i understand correctly. Looking out for me, lucy. To save my soul. Ifi understand correctly. And from the uk came saint mod. An electrifying debut feature which announced the writer director is a thrilling new force in british cinema. Bless her mind which is shrouded in darkness. So great and David Copperfield is mesmerising as the newly religious nurse determined to save the soul of her patient. Plate with equal force byjennifer ely. This is really travelling score help make this a real modern classic. Where does this all leave us . Clearly the way in which people view movies has changed irrevocably. In the events of 2020 have accelerated the rise of streaming releases. Worth noting too that this yea rs releases. Worth noting too that this years london Film Festival opened with Steve Mcqueen the man grow. The first instalment in a five part anthology may for a Bbc Television which further blurs the line between cinema and tv. Just because uk audiences watch red white and blue at home and it premiered on bbc one does that mean it is in a film . 0r that it could also be enjoyed in a cinema . As ive been saying for yea rs, cinema . As ive been saying for years, simultaneous releasing is the future whether you like it or not. And we are increasingly moving toward a situation where audiences will be able to decide where and how they watch movies. Whether its on they watch movies. Whether its on the phone, computer screen, tv or up there on the big screen. Personally i think the cinema experience is profound and important enough to survive this change. Like many people i know that i get something from seeing a movie in a movie theatre that i cannot get it home. And nothing can ever replace that thrill of sitting in a dark auditorium watching a movie in the best possible environment. Yes, the world is changing but cinema is forever. Lets leave things on a high note from the bill and ted face the music. The belated prequel that put a smile on my face amid the darkness of 2020. In the us the film was released simultaneously and theatres and on demand. Where is in theatres and on demand. Where is in the uk it was cinemas only coming later. Having watched them both big and Small Screens on the can tell you is that i grinned like an idiot from start to finish. In both formats. And in testing times like these, thats a real treat. Formats. And in testing times like these, thats a realtreat. No formats. And in testing times like these, thats a real treat. No way. Hows it going bill and ted . Tonight at ten. Hospitals across the south east of england begin cancelling nonurgent surgery is the number of Covid Patients continue to climb. Some hospitals now have more coronavirus patients than they did in the spring. We are now at a really dangerous point where we could tip into finding it incredibly difficult to manage. Tonight, downing street sources have said there is fresh concern about the new variant of covid amid fears that its making the virus harder to contain. Also tonight. Mass testing for millions of School Pupils in england at the start of next term is undeliverable, say head teachers and unions. The chief constable of Greater Manchester stands down after the force englands second largest is placed into special measures