Mr. Reed’s Metaphysical Neighborhood Presents the Best Technical and Artistic Film Work of 2020

On December 31, 2020, I published my own list of best (and worst) films of the year, and then on January 21 of this new year I finally published my list of best actors. Now, after another long break, here is my list of favorites among the writers, cinematographers, editors, production designers, visual-effects artists, and music composers. As always, there is no need to publish a separate “best directors” list since, if the film is good, I credit the director for much of that quality (so please refer back to my “best movies” list for those I consider the best directors). As with my other lists, the hyperlinked movie title will take you to my review, if one exists (or to the movie’s Rotten Tomatoes page, if one does not). For the composers list, I link to the movie’s actual soundtrack.

In each category, I have chosen only five, and list them in alphabetical order by film. Enjoy!

Best Screenplay (adapted and original, combined):

• Capital in the Twenty-First Century: Matthew Metcalfe, Justin Pemberton and Thomas Piketty
• Miss Juneteenth: Channing Godfrey Peoples
• Never Rarely Sometimes Always: Eliza Hittman
• Nomadland: Chloé Zhao
• Space Dogs: Elsa Kremser and Levin Peter

Best Cinematography:

Best Editing:

Best Production Design:

Best Visual Effects:

[Too many people to mention all, so I have simply hyperlinked, next to the title, to the movie’s crew page on IMDb page, where you can look at the multitude of people involved in the many visual-effects teams]

• The Old Guard: IMDb crew page
• Project Power: IMDb crew page
• Sonic the Hedgehog: IMDb crew page
• Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula: IMDb crew page
• Welcome to Chechnya: IMDb crew page

Best Original Score:

[Here, the artists’ names take you to the film’s soundtrack, on Amazon.]