Sight & Sound January 2020

Features:

The 50 Best Films of 2019

We polled 100 of our regular contributors to find the films of the year, and the results are in. Over 25 pages, we run down the top 50, and spotlight some of the themes and stories that have defined the cinema over the past 12 months. Introduction by James Bell.

The year in queer cinema

Arresting films from Guatemala, Indonesia, Nigeria and South Africa offered a fascinating glimpse of life through the lens of LGBT+ characters across the world, writes Alex Davidson.

The year in British cinema

There were plenty of local gems to be found in 2019, but in an era of such turmoil, why is Ken Loach the only director addressing the political realities of everyday life, asks Nick James.

The year in horror cinema

Kim Newman finds murderous cranks in robes have taken over the box office in 2019, alongside the usual run of nightmarish reboots – and an ongoing renaissance for Stephen King.

The year in European art cinema

Jonathan Romney laments the demise of the great European auteurs, but finds solace in a selection of brilliant idiosyncratic work from younger filmmakers.

The year in expanded cinema

A series of live visual art events and multimedia performances has sought to engage audiences in new ways in 2019, disrupting traditional ways of presenting films. By Ben Nicholson.

The year in East Asian cinema

A thrilling study of modern class conflict from South Korea and a selection of excellent Chinese films were the regional highlights of 2019, writes Tony Rayns.
Female-focused remakes, reboots, action films and gender-swap comedies were in fashion, in a record year for female directors. By Katherine McLaughlin.

The year in television

Our inaugural critics’ poll of the top ten small-screen treasures of the year offers a tantalising mix of comedy, horror and drama – and holds up a mirror to our age.

Molly Haskell on Fleabag Season 2

Plus all the usual great regular features.