That I could put any sort of list together for 2020 is a huge surprise and relief. Obviously with so many films delayed this meant I saw very few new releases but the good news is, the next year or so should be stacked!
Even with so few films to enjoy, I still missed a bunch as they were released in limited runs or via online services I don't have. That's why I'm posting this in March; partly because I finally got access to some releases and I've also got a one year old who keeps me busy in a wonderful way.
As new films were in short supply, I decided to catch up on some classics from the golden era of film, in particular the 1920's - '50's. I will add a short list of my recommendations below. I will also add a few of the TV shows that helped get me through lockdown.
Here you go, these are my favourite films of 2020 - with notes on my top nine (sadly there weren't enough to make a Top Ten) and why I chose them. I hope you enjoy my list. Please let me know which films you think I should check out from last year.
Here are my Fave Films of 2020:
1. 1917
"I hoped today might be a good day. Hope is a dangerous thing"
Director Sam Mendes and Cinematographer Roger Deakins unite
for the fourth time to bring us this absorbing war story of two young soldiers
who have a daring (some would say suicidal) mission across enemy lines to save
1600 fellow troops including the brother of one of the men.
What makes this so
good is that the camera never leaves our two young men wherever they go. And
the scenery and setting make that incredibly impressive. It’s an essentially a
“one shot” movie but as we learned from Birdman among others that’s never
entirely true. Using a super light camera set inside a rig that can be held or
connected to all manner of vehicles or dollies that fully immerses you in the
action. I cannot even imagine the sort of blocking and detail that must have
gone into the planning of this film. And the vast sets are draw dropping, from
trenches to farms and stunningly lit demolished towns - they are going for it
and you can’t help but notice.
We find Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Andrew Scott
and Benedict Cumberbatch filling out the roles of the higher ups in the British
army - all superb in their brief moments on screen. But this is Dean-Charles
Chapman (Blake) and George MacKay’s (Schofield) story, and they are brilliant.
We barely know them but care about them instantly. You find yourself fearing
their every step, especially early on as silence and dread build until danger
reveals itself. By the end you will be grateful, as it barely let’s up and
there isn’t any respite to the horrors of war.
This is a marvel of modern
filmmaking and needs to be seen on the biggest screen possible. The action is relentless,
and you feel every part of it! If you liked this then check out Peter Jackson’s
truly remarkable documentary of the First World War - They Shall Not Grow Old -
which he restored both visually and audibly.
2. Tenet
"Don't try to understand it. Feel it."
Nolan’s latest time thriller or film based
around the idea of time or lack of it (see Memento, Inception, Dunkirk,
Insomnia) is possibly his most ambitious and creative to date. What features on
the screen is so unique and like nothing I’ve ever seen before. It’s bold,
incredibly loud, relentlessly kinetic and will not slow down for you to keep
up.
As with all Nolan’s work there is a high level of expectation that
you, the viewer, will follow along, even when the exposition is complicated to
comprehend. Tenet is no different but if anything, it is amped up to the max
and I was left struggling to understand what was going on. Even though I
missed lines and struggled with everyone’s motives, I loved what I
was seeing.
Tenet is as brilliant as it is confusing. With
incredible action set pieces, fine performances from its leads and an intricate
plot, this is a film that only Nolan could make. And it was like his version of
James Bond with John David Washington as his dashing, confident lead man,
jet-setting all over the planet and taking on a world ending maniac. Those similarities aside, this
was still more creative than anything else out there. For me it’s art over
substance as this is pure spectacle from start to finish. Tenet is an event movie.
"Whatever you did, your life is still meaningful."
Justice. We all want justice and hope for mercy. For
Walter McMillian a man wrongly accused of murder, he received none and was
placed on death row before his trial even took place. It was all too easy to
arrest, try and sentence a young black man to death for the heinous
crime. It is here where we are introduced to Bryan Stevenson a new lawyer
fresh from Harvard with a passionate desire to fight for those the system has
overlooked. He takes on McMillian’s case and is faced immediately by
corruption, intimidation and what seems like an insurmountable obstacle the
very legal system.
This monumental struggle in and out of the courts is
exhausting, frustrating and leaves you feeling defeated at times. You are left
hoping that the law will eventually reveal the truth and bring about
justice. Pleasingly this is not a sensational or grand standing piece
although if you are a fan of courtroom dramas you will love this. But this is
no John Grisham story this is based on real life and that makes this even more
powerful. The outcome of this matters.
Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx are
incredible as Stevenson and McMillian respectively. I was with them every step
of the way and they made me feel the hopelessness of death row/prison and how
evil and flawed the death penalty is. I am so thankful for this powerful
true story. Being a white male, I know little to nothing of racism, bigotry and
injustice. But films like this capture so vividly the struggle and fear that men of colour face every day.
This film champions their rightful cause for equality and justice, and I hope
that this will highlight that enormously important message in these
divisive days.
"Baaaaaaa!"
The geniuses at Aardman have done it again. Creating a
charming and whimsical film based on sheep that this time encounter alien life.
As you would expect they tip their hat to all the Sci-Fi film greats including:
Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T. and The X-Files. It’s all done so
lovingly too as the animators clearly adore those cinema masterpieces.
The
fact that they do this without words and via the painstaking skill of Stop
Motion Animation is simply incredible. Every frame is full of Easter eggs,
sight gags or something special that would have taken weeks or months to create
yet is over in seconds. That’s what makes Aardman such a standout as they go
the extra mile. The stories they tell are touching, hilarious and unique and
this is no different. Compare this to any other children’s film and you will
see how impressive (and silly) it is.
"You can't crush a soul here. That's what life on Earth is for."
Although this didn't meet my high
expectations, there was a lot to admire not least taking on the subject of death, the afterlife
and the meaning of existence, wow! Hats off to Pixar and Pete Doctor (the
director of three of my all-time faves; Inside Out, Up and Monsters Inc)
for accomplishing so much in a family film. Soul is certainly high concept and
tackling such big themes and ideas without doing the obvious is
impressive.
We are introduced to Joe (Foxx) a NYC middle school music teacher with a dream to become a Jazz
pianist. Just when he gets his chance to impress, he falls down an open manhole
to his death. Here he has to come to terms with this new reality, but he is
unwilling and does all he can to return to earth and fulfill his dream. The
powers at be aren’t so keen to break the rules but with the help of “22” (Fey) he gets a chance but it’s not as simple as he hoped.
This is a
complex film and bravely bites off more than it can chew, unfortunately the
different sections were jarring which affected the pace and convoluted the
narrative at times. However, whenever we are with Joe in NYC I
was enthralled. Not least because it is so visually stunning that I
thought I was in NYC as the sun was getting low in the sky and piercing through
tree leaves and in between skyscrapers. Every time Joe interacted with someone
in his life like his barber, a student, his mum it was so engaging. And when he
played music (John Baptiste in real life) with his long fingers and entered
“the zone” it was superb.
I also have to mention the films highlight and
that was when Joe and 22 return to earth but have swapped bodies well Joe is
now his cat! All of those scenes were hilarious and observed beautifully. There
were also some great lessons if you were listening carefully, how the pursuit of fame and
success doesn’t satisfy. Unfortunately, even with a lot of talk about one’s “spark” and purpose, they didn’t offer any real answers. Plus I really think they should have made Joe’s purpose/spark to be an inspiring
mentor and music teacher to young people. They implied he was, but
then dropped that part of the story and that was a shame as it would have had a
greater emotional payoff than the rather shallow and abrupt end we got.
"Close your eyes and think of everything that is happy and stop thinking about your worries."
The best on screen depiction of friendship (through
adversity) that I have seen in a long time. The title character “Rocks” is a
warm presence who is left with more responsibility that any teen should be.
When her Mum leaves her to take care of herself and her young brother
Emmanuel. At first, she gets by but as money drys up and the power gets cut off
she becomes more desperate. It’s really hard to watch at moments as you see the
mounting pressure to take care of herself and Emmanuel is too much to
bear. You would think that would make this a miserable watch, but it is
anything but, in fact it’s surprisingly upbeat and full of humour and hope.
This is down to the gang of friends that Rocks has. They are encouraging, kind,
thoughtful, empathetic, loyal, generous and willing to act or speak the truth
to Rocks when no one else will. They are the lifeblood of this film and every
time they are hanging out it’s so joyful and fun. I cannot recommend this film enough.
And yes, you will probably shed a tear or five watching this and it doesn’t
resolve things neatly, but it is beautifully and honestly depicted (almost like
a documentary) and is so full of heart. You will wish you could go back to
school if you had friends like Rocks!
"I never had a dad, but I always had you."
I love it when Pixar give us one of their unique stories
that isn’t a sequel. Onward stars Chris Pratt and Tom
Holland as elf brothers in a fairytale world of unicorns, pixies and magic.
They are invited into a quest for a special gem that will enable them to spend
one full day with their deceased father. Their awesome Mum is not far behind
them and enlists the help of powerful ally. On their journey the brothers must
overcome many obstacles and in doing so grow closer, their bond is the
heartbeat of this fun adventure. Although not top shelf Pixar this is a really
enjoyable story with love-able characters and nods to classic movies which is
always a winner in my book.
"I hope one day you can see in me the man that you hoped I would be."
A grittier more realistic take on the down on his luck high
school coach. A schlubby Ben Affleck plays former basketball star Jack
Cunningham, a man who has turned to drink to cover all his pain. I won’t go into
the detail of his suffering, as that is an important part of the film and his
story but what I will say is that, it has left him as an angry shell of his
former self.
Out of the blue he is offered a chance to coach at his former
high school and maybe even some redemption. But this is no Disney sports movie, that keeps things light. No, this film is more adult and focuses on Affleck and
his journey rather than the actual players. This is on purpose, as there is way
more at stake here than winning a basketball game. Affleck’s Jack is at a
critical point in his life, and it could go either way. It is worth the time to
see how it turns out.
"He said that wherever I went, he would find me, walk right up to me, and I wouldn't be able to see him."
Two hours of nerve shredding terror! I was on edge from the
very first act which introduced us to Elizabeth Moss’ character Cecilia as she
escapes from her abusive boyfriends’ house in the middle of night.
Every noise or movement had me on tender hooks as I thought she might wake him,
and that level of tension never let up. This was a deeply effective
horror/thriller and had me looking through my fingers when it all got too
much. Yes, you have to suspend disbelief at the very idea of an invisible man,
but I thought they handled that well.
The whole film was masterfully directed
as the angles, the blocking and especially the framing of shots throughout left
me searching for a figure, an outline, movement...anything. That very simple
technique was powerfully utilized and left me the viewer unsettled and nervous
in almost every scene. This was a brilliant modern take on a very old idea, but I did find it a bit too
traumatic at times. I am not a Horror aficionado but do dabble occasionally.
But as there was lots of psychological abuse, it was not easy to watch, and I
felt how powerless and hopeless Cecilia felt.
The Best of The Rest:
Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula, Extraction, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm and The Trip to Greece.
So So Movies with Moments of Magic... Just Not Enough:
The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special.
Disappointing, was hoping for so much more:
Bad Boys for Life, Ava, The Hunt and The Outpost.
Truly Awful, What Were They thinking!?
The Tax Collector, Bill and Ted Face the Music.
Yet To See:
News of the World, Wolfwalkers, Beastie Boys Story, Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), Wonder Woman 1984, Our Friend and Sound of Metal.
* denotes I have now seen that film since I first wrote this.
What were your fave films of 2020?
Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula, Extraction, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm and The Trip to Greece.
So So Movies with Moments of Magic... Just Not Enough:
The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special.
Disappointing, was hoping for so much more:
Bad Boys for Life, Ava, The Hunt and The Outpost.
The Tax Collector, Bill and Ted Face the Music.
Yet To See:
News of the World, Wolfwalkers, Beastie Boys Story, Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), Wonder Woman 1984, Our Friend and Sound of Metal.
What were your fave films of 2020?
Classic Film Recommendations:
An utterly joyous experience from start to finish. Harold Lloyd is a genius, and this 70-minute cinematic treat is physical comedy gold. Not to mention how incredible the stunt work is on the side of the building that he ascends “free solo” like Alex Honold. To think that in 4 years this legendary piece of Hollywood filmmaking will be 100 years old is mind-blowing. This is perfect for the romantic, comedy loving, dreamer, climber and free-runner in your life!
Modern Times (1936)
A complete delight, Chaplin is at the top of his game and this mix of silent movie and talkie works on so many levels. The first 20 minutes are superbly entertaining and hilarious but there is so much more to this story than chaos on the factory floor. There is heart and lots of it as the little tramp befriends a homeless woman and they both dream of full-time jobs and owning a house. Will they see that dream fulfilled or will it end poorly for this couple on the run who seem to attract trouble? Well, you will have to watch and see for yourself, you won’t regret it either!
City Lights (1931)
Another certified classic. Chaplin once again demonstrates his comedic genius at the same time revealing an emotional depth and narrative that drives this picture. We are introduced to “the Tramp” aloft a new town monument at its unveiling. Chaplin takes full advantage immediately in showing off his sympathetic side as well as his breathtaking physical comedy, as he attempts to obey the cops and get down. He later has two human interactions that will change his life. The first a beautiful blind flower seller who he falls for but doesn’t think she will be interested in him once she finds out his identity. The second is a drunk millionaire who Charlie saves from taking his own life. The wealthy man immediately makes Charlie his new best friend and showers him with expensive luxury items and takes him drinking. Their night out is a standout and one full of immaculately timed pratfalls and slapstick interactions. But having rich friends doesn’t make you rich and so Chaplin is determined to make a man of himself and get a job. He tries his hand at a great many things including the famous scenes where Charlie steps into the ring for a boxing match in the hope of a payout. Those scenes are an absolute joy and so witty and unexpected. His efforts to make something of himself often go awry and yet he still hopes to help the young lady pay her rent and woo her. This a must watch for cine-files and one that will leave a smile on your face long after it has ended!
Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928)
The reason to watch a Chaplin, Lloyd or in this case a Keaton film is to watch without a doubt their physical comedy and death-defying stunts. And Steamboat Bill, Jr. is one of the very best as Buster Keaton literally throws his body around for our amusement. Keaton plays Bill Jr. who comes back from college in Boston to help out his father on the river. His rough and tumble father has fallen on bad times, as local moneybags J.J. King has just launched his new steamboat thereby taking all his competitors’ business. The two men hate each other yet Bill Jr. has fallen for Mr. King’s daughter Kitty and they won’t be kept apart despite their parents’ feud. What ensues has to be seen to be believed. This 1928 silent film has gone down in cinematic history for the famous scene of a building falling around Keaton’s ears and narrowly missing him. But there is so much more to enjoy. I personally loved the more low key, yet hilarious hat scene plus the storm at the end gives Buster a chance to show off his pratfalls and then some. This is a must watch for cinema lovers.
Bringing Up Baby (1938)
A classic screwball comedy with two stars at the top of the craft. Showcasing their talent for the hilarious, daft and who are often utterly painful to watch. You might even find yourself screaming at the screen (as I did) especially when Katherine Hepburn gets going as the flighty, irritating yet delightful Susan. Opposite her is the charming yet weak willed David who just can’t seem to get to his own wedding, as this insistent nuisance bleeds his time dry. Throw in a pet leopard, many pratfalls, superb fast paced dialogue, incredible physical comic elements and you have this treasure of a film. And even when it’s this silly and far-fetched you go with it as it’s so fun.
A classic screwball comedy with two stars at the top of the craft. Showcasing their talent for the hilarious, daft and who are often utterly painful to watch. You might even find yourself screaming at the screen (as I did) especially when Katherine Hepburn gets going as the flighty, irritating yet delightful Susan. Opposite her is the charming yet weak willed David who just can’t seem to get to his own wedding, as this insistent nuisance bleeds his time dry. Throw in a pet leopard, many pratfalls, superb fast paced dialogue, incredible physical comic elements and you have this treasure of a film. And even when it’s this silly and far-fetched you go with it as it’s so fun.
The Philadelphia Story (1940)
The romantic comedy that has possible disaster and scandal at every turn. Katharine Hepburn has some big decisions to make when her ex-husband Cary Grant turns up with journalist James Stewart the day before her wedding to the boring John Howard. Verbal sparring and cloaked niceties are exchanged all the while the family gather for the big day. Seeing Grant, Hepburn and Stewart on screen together was a thrill, especially when they engaged in some verbal jousting and playful banter. Jimmy Stewart brought home an Oscar for his portrayal of a novelist come journalist who falls for the subject of his magazine’s scrutiny. And he thoroughly deserved it - my favourite scene occurs when he turns up at Cary Grant’s place absolutely plastered, he’s hysterical! Cary Grant on the other hand is super dry yet still humorous and Katharine Hepburn who was nominated for an Oscar, played her wealthy, controlling and opinionated lady to perfection. Although no good can come from these unwanted visitors arriving the day before the wedding, I am enormously glad they did as the farce that unravels before your eyes is as joyous as it is painful to watch. This is a seminal piece of cinema and maybe the titular romantic comedy that so many have stolen from since.
The romantic comedy that has possible disaster and scandal at every turn. Katharine Hepburn has some big decisions to make when her ex-husband Cary Grant turns up with journalist James Stewart the day before her wedding to the boring John Howard. Verbal sparring and cloaked niceties are exchanged all the while the family gather for the big day. Seeing Grant, Hepburn and Stewart on screen together was a thrill, especially when they engaged in some verbal jousting and playful banter. Jimmy Stewart brought home an Oscar for his portrayal of a novelist come journalist who falls for the subject of his magazine’s scrutiny. And he thoroughly deserved it - my favourite scene occurs when he turns up at Cary Grant’s place absolutely plastered, he’s hysterical! Cary Grant on the other hand is super dry yet still humorous and Katharine Hepburn who was nominated for an Oscar, played her wealthy, controlling and opinionated lady to perfection. Although no good can come from these unwanted visitors arriving the day before the wedding, I am enormously glad they did as the farce that unravels before your eyes is as joyous as it is painful to watch. This is a seminal piece of cinema and maybe the titular romantic comedy that so many have stolen from since.
Singing in the Rain (1952)
What a glorious example of cinema bringing joy to all who view this classic. Of course, everyone recalls the title song and dance, but this film has so much more to offer thanks to the stellar cast that includes Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor. These three were so energetic, playful and talented they made this an easy watch and gave me smiles galore! Set during the pivotal time when Hollywood was moving from silent movies to “talkies”. We go on the journey with some of the old guards most famous stars as they stumble and fumble their way into the future. Making things harder than they need to be is Lina Lamont played by Jean Hagen whose ironic catchphrase “what’s the matter, am I dumb or something?” is genius. Not only is she a whole heap prettier than she is smart, she also thinks she and her co-star Don Lockwood (Kelly) are an item which they most certainly are not. Something Don stresses almost daily! This is a feast for your eyes as well as your ears as this MGM musical is in brilliant techni-color and one of the most vibrant films I’ve ever seen!
What a glorious example of cinema bringing joy to all who view this classic. Of course, everyone recalls the title song and dance, but this film has so much more to offer thanks to the stellar cast that includes Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor. These three were so energetic, playful and talented they made this an easy watch and gave me smiles galore! Set during the pivotal time when Hollywood was moving from silent movies to “talkies”. We go on the journey with some of the old guards most famous stars as they stumble and fumble their way into the future. Making things harder than they need to be is Lina Lamont played by Jean Hagen whose ironic catchphrase “what’s the matter, am I dumb or something?” is genius. Not only is she a whole heap prettier than she is smart, she also thinks she and her co-star Don Lockwood (Kelly) are an item which they most certainly are not. Something Don stresses almost daily! This is a feast for your eyes as well as your ears as this MGM musical is in brilliant techni-color and one of the most vibrant films I’ve ever seen!
His Girl Friday (1940)
This 1940 classic screw-ball comedy is set
around a ruthless newspaper editor (Cary Grant) and his sharpest reporter and
ex-wife (Rosalind Russell). Grant and Russell’s pace of dialogue is simply
mesmerizing and hilarious as they trade insults. But even as they do bicker,
you can tell they both care deeply for each other. I did feel awful for Ralph
Bellamy’s (Randolph Duke from ‘Trading Places’) sweet schmuck ‘Bruce’ who
doesn’t deserve what’s coming to him.
TV Show Recommendations:
The Queens Gambit (Netflix)
Stylish, entertaining, and thoroughly engrossing in a way that I didn’t think was possible with Chess. Anya Taylor-Joy has done terrified before (see The VVitch and Split) but she has never shown such range. She owned every frame and scene and was utterly fascinating to watch her develop her skills on the board and gain insight, wisdom, and humility in her own journey. This is well worth the watch for her performance alone but the cast, sets, storyline were all superb. I won’t lie it was odd to see the little boy from Love Actually (the one who falls for the American girl at his school) as well as Dudley Dursley from the Harry Potter films play such prominent roles, but they were both great too.
All or Nothing: Tottenham Hotspur (Amazon Prime)
An in depth look behind the scenes of the football team that I have supported almost my whole life. It was fascinating and incredible to see what only the players and coaching staff usually see and hear. I loved it!
The Mandalorian - Season 2 (Disney+)
Disney's flagship Star Wars show looked superb and had some fun action and characters. But this space western serial always felt light on story and the dialogue was often pretty wooden. My biggest frustration though, was the over reliance on tying the whole Star Wars universe together and all the pandering fan service that didn't enhance the show in my opinion.
I know this has been around a while and I am about 10 years late but this is superb, creative and funny. Just got done with season 3 so I have 3 seasons to enjoy - cool, cool, cool!
Last Chance U - Season 5 (Netflix)
The documentary that follows Junior College football players through a season as they try to get a shot at going to a big University and hopefully the NFL after that. The games are exciting but I found the personal lives of the student athletes, more engaging, inspiring and heartbreaking. An incredible insight into the lives of these young men and their families.
Tiger King (Netflix)
This documentary is proper bonkers! Almost every person portrayed in this “show” is delusional, drug fueled, egotistical, crazy or leading a cult of some kind. Throw in wild animals, guns, meth, backstabbing felons, dynamite, death threats, abusive powerful men with terrible haircuts, polygamy, blackmail, dirty money, political campaigns and you have Tiger King. It’s a car wreck you can’t help but look at. Even though there is no one to root for, as every single person highlighted is reprehensible. They have no problem screwing others over for their own gain even those who are loyal and love them. You can’t believe what you are seeing in the first few episodes but that level of crazy wanes as it goes on. My interest and ”enjoyment” did too.
This documentary is proper bonkers! Almost every person portrayed in this “show” is delusional, drug fueled, egotistical, crazy or leading a cult of some kind. Throw in wild animals, guns, meth, backstabbing felons, dynamite, death threats, abusive powerful men with terrible haircuts, polygamy, blackmail, dirty money, political campaigns and you have Tiger King. It’s a car wreck you can’t help but look at. Even though there is no one to root for, as every single person highlighted is reprehensible. They have no problem screwing others over for their own gain even those who are loyal and love them. You can’t believe what you are seeing in the first few episodes but that level of crazy wanes as it goes on. My interest and ”enjoyment” did too.
Hamilton (Disney+)
The hype got me sadly. That’s not to say it wasn’t good because it is a phenomenal musical that is at its best is ingenious, funny and dripping with style all while teaching US history lessons. That is no mean feat and of course Lin Manuel Miranda deserves humongous props, but everyone involved in this 2016 recorded performance is also bringing this story and its characters to life spectacularly. Then there’s the music and songs which elevate this once again, but I was rarely stirred. I did love the lyrical dexterity and playfulness of the raps and enjoyed their references to real artists’ work. At times sections, call and refrains sounded similar to the Beastie Boys, Jurassic-5 and Blackalicious to name but a few. Having said all that, the highlight for me was Jonathan Groff as King George. He was hilarious and his songs have stuck in my head and won’t leave Da-da-da-dat-da Dat-da-da-da-ya-da!
The hype got me sadly. That’s not to say it wasn’t good because it is a phenomenal musical that is at its best is ingenious, funny and dripping with style all while teaching US history lessons. That is no mean feat and of course Lin Manuel Miranda deserves humongous props, but everyone involved in this 2016 recorded performance is also bringing this story and its characters to life spectacularly. Then there’s the music and songs which elevate this once again, but I was rarely stirred. I did love the lyrical dexterity and playfulness of the raps and enjoyed their references to real artists’ work. At times sections, call and refrains sounded similar to the Beastie Boys, Jurassic-5 and Blackalicious to name but a few. Having said all that, the highlight for me was Jonathan Groff as King George. He was hilarious and his songs have stuck in my head and won’t leave Da-da-da-dat-da Dat-da-da-da-ya-da!
