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zelda-cooper · 10 months

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Jim Starling's Backstory (Negaduck's Backstory)

Disclaimer: This is a story that my writer friend Comic and I CREATED, it's not official and doesn't stand a chance of being. It's just our interpretation with our headcanons. The art above is by Annie (aka @anniesilveratl2) and those on paper are my authority. Also sensitive topics and triggers for people with divorced parents, alcohol addiction and abandonment. Be warned and aware of this... Stick with the story.

Jim Starling's childhood is difficult to interpret correctly, as well as the other characters (since many don't focus on their childhoods or the life they had in the first place), but we do have something of the same. In fact, Jim has always been interested in the arts, specifically film and acting. He wanted to rise to the top of fame as a successful actor and be immortalized in history, working hard from the beginning until the moment arrived. However, as they say... Things look more interesting looking from a window and when you can, they don't look so extraordinary. That's what Jim thought of himself, even with his career consolidated as the "Darkwing Duck" and winning an award, he still felt bored... It was in this situation, looking at the stars, that he met Martha Bryant.

Martha, unlike Jim, stuck to the simplest things in life, and even though she was an established and talented hairdresser, she didn't dream any higher than that. That more "loose" way of the girl left him intrigued, with them talking a little before the actor was called for the award. They met a few more times, only occasionally or professionally when the hairdresser was called in to help with costumes and haircuts. Over time, they grew closer and more intimate, until they finally started dating and eventually got married.

From this couple's union, Cristine Starling was born, a sweet and kind girl. In fact, as long as he lived with the two of them, Jim Starling was a good man. However, over the course of his acting career, the success and recognition he gained made him move away from the family and everything got worse when his wife was falling into alcoholism on account of the dismissal of her job and the immense stress he had with her caused innumerable arguments between them and poor Cristine , so small at that time, did not know what to do.

All these negative factors and his agent's threat to Jim to start focusing on work, led him to abandon his wife and daughter in exchange for focusing on his career, despite seeing his daughter begging him to stay with them. Even with this shock, Martha and Cristine continued to try to move on with their lives as before, even with the young woman's mother giving in to alcohol addiction, until she paid the prisoner. Martha went into an alcoholic coma and, after a few hours, died.

Cristine, unfortunately, found herself alone... However, she still had hope of finding her father and was willing to at least have a family to lean on and love. But... What will that result? Well... that's a story for another day...

#negaduck #jim starling #martha starling #cristine starling #darkwing duck #darkwing duck au #ducktales #tapas comic #dwd oc #darkwing oc #darkwing duck oc #ducktales oc #darkwing duck purple union #oc x canon #backstory #art

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erintoknow · 1 year

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And what have i read this year?

a fuck ton of YA books to be frank - as a YA librarian, I kind of feel like it’s my job to focus my reading within my ‘field’ so to speak so I can try to provide better advisory to kids. It’s a fool’s errand of course, because like, the field is fucking huge as hell and anything i can read is a drop in the bucket but still!!

Of the YA titles I’ve read this year, I’d have to give a shout out to Andrew Joseph White’s Hell Followed With Us, a post-apocalyptic zombie survival story about a trans boy named Benji who may or may not be the foretold second coming that will finally end humankind’s existence on earth

Wendy Heard’s She’s Too Pretty to Burn is a fun sapphic thriller involving some avant garde activist art gone to far.

If you liked Malin Ryden’s Fallen Hero interactive fiction story, you might be down for Tess Sharpe’s The Girls I’ve Been, where the bisexual daughter of a serial con-artist is held up at a bank and forced to come clean about her past.

Special mention to Cristin Bishara’s Vial of Tears, Laura Sibson’s Edie In Between, and Mary McCoy’s Indestructible Object. All worth a look if you want something in the YA space to read.

I was able to fit in some quote unquote adult fiction as well. Robert Jackson Bennett’s Founders Trilogy staring a sapphic woman with the unique ability to ‘hear’ the spellwork writing that her world uses to do magic with was a fun read.

The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donaghue deserves special mention here too. Set in Ireland during the Spanish flu, a young woman working as a nurse and caretaker for her brother who suffers severe PTSD from the war meets and falls in love with another woman who shows up at the hospital one day as a volunteer. Equal parts heartwarming and tragic book, the ending broke my heart into a thousand pieces, 5 stars.

I also finally got to get started on the Locked Tomb series after bouncing off the first book hard a year ago. I’ve only read the first two and found them both extremely engaging, at times funny, in other parts heartbreaking. These two poor girls. I can see why the caught on in Tumblr so hard. Extremely homestuckian movements going on in there.

And of course Ryka Aoki’s Light from Uncommon Stars, a tale of a transgender runaway violinst, the legendary teacher who needs her to sell her soul to the devil in order to get own back, and the alien refugee running the doughnut store down the way said violin teacher falls in love with remains by far my favorite thing I’ve read this year. Please go read this, I beg you.

Finally I want to mention two ongoing serial fiction works I’ve been reading, one is Unjust Depths by Madiha Santana. What if Gundum, but under the ocean and also they’re communists? I’ve only read through the first arc so far – Arc 3 is currently under way as I type, I believe. It’s been a fun read and I intend to get back to it soon.

The other is a bit more unconventional, and that would be Nora [LastNameHere]’s Blood in the Bosphorus Paradox Megacampign Let’s Play. Which started as a let’s play following the eastern roman empire through an increasingly alternate history and has transformed into some kind of amazing communism versus fascism war epic. Nora’s writing and approaching LP updates through various in and out of universe textual perspectives have been extremely enjoyable to follow with over the years with a creativity, humor, and humanity I don’t often see even in published books never mind a screenshot let’s play and I consider it something of a personal victory to have gotten my partner, who has never touched the something awful forms (probably for the better on the whole) into reading it now too.

#books #reading 2022 #go read books #do it #2022

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ash-and-books · 2 years

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Rating: 1/5

Book Blurb: Bridgerton meets Illuminae in this explosive, romantic space opera where danger and deception lurk behind glamour and wealth. Vika Hale longs for a better life than that of a barmaid on a struggling planet, but her dreams have always seemed out of reach despite the mysterious benefactor who bankrolled her education. When the elusive billionaire dies and names Vika in his will, she’s whisked away to a glittering and glamorous new world as the ward of his heir. Suddenly, her wildest dreams don’t seem so impossible. But when someone targets the will’s heirs in a series of terrifying bombings, Vika’s new life is thrown into uncertainty. Knowing that she may be next, Vika teams up with the one person she’d rather keep at arm’s length—her guardian’s mysterious new assistant, Sky Foster. She doesn't trust Sky, but he may be the only one who can help her discover the bomber’s identity before she becomes the next victim. As Vika grows closer to Sky, she realizes she may not escape these new threats unscathed. Sky is keeping a secret and it's one that could unravel everything. In The Stars Between Us, Cristin Terrill sweeps readers away to a world where secrets are currency and love is the most dangerous risk of all.

Review:

A girl who has been poor all her life finds herself as the candidate to be a bride for a billionaire’s son. Vika Hale is a barmaid, her family is poor and she dreams about so much more for herself. One day she discovers that she was named in the will of an elusive billionaire who has just died. She is named as the bride candidate to his son, Leo... except Leo Chapin has also just been killed in a bombing. Vika is then whisked away by the new heirs of the will to live with them, where she will experience luxury and opulence. In her new life she will get everything she’v ever wanted... except there is her employer’s new assistant Sky Foster who keeps watching her. She doesn’t trust him and despite the fact that the new heirs are also under attack and Sky is the only person who can help her find the identity of the bomber before the next victim. The closer she grows to Sky the more she realizes that there’s more to him and that he is hiding something. Sky Foster is hiding his real identity and he’s falling in love with the one girl he never expected. Together they’ll have to navigate this new playing field as well as solve a mystery that could place them both in danger. While the premise has potential the execution of the story was lacking for me, I think my biggest issue was Vika. She is extremely shallow and it’s hard to read from her or sympathize with her, while Leo on the other hand was a much more compelling and interesting character and even though we get to read from both their perspectives, I wish the story was more focused on his journey. Yes I can understand how Vika, a character who has grown up poor, would be selfish and cave under the luxury and wealth that’s landed in her lap, but she was just a bit much for me. The romance was eh, I would have rather them end up as friends instead but that’s just me feeling the lack of chemistry between them. Overall, this story didn’t work out for me but definitely give it a try if you’re looking for a romance with a splash of mystery.

*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

#book review #bookish #book #ya romance #ya book

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nintaendo · 2 years

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multiverse of madness spoilers!

"I'm not a monster, I'm a mother" mannnn it's a really poor time to be releasing a movie in which THOSE are the only two options. just like it was in really poor taste to have natasha sacrifice herself for clint because he had kids so he was more "worthy to live"???? never mind that he was a mass-murdering psychopath by then. we'll just hand-wave that away and give him his own tv show. but natasha? dead. gamora? dead. wanda? presumably dead. AND ANOTHER THING. stephen telling cristine "i love you in every universe" and then five minutes later the writers give him a new rebound bitch??? so stephen can give up the person he loves and immediately get rewarded with a new one, but wanda gets NOTHING, deserves NOTHING??? eat my entire asshole. i'm so fucking sick of this.

#doctor strange #multiverse of madness #marvel #hannah talks #i'm so fucking pissed dude lmao

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grcdlrs-bsu · 1 year

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Survey of community issues/problems among citizens

Findings:

The most common problem for the residents of Vista Verde, Caloocan is the rough and narrow roads. The poor road construction led to another major problem which is traffic. Alongside it is the drainage system which always either overflows or does not work at all. Next is the poor security system.

The biggest issue is the subdivsion's system of communicating with their residents. A lot of them have complained about rude and poor management, as well as inadequate and slow progress for requesting and processing files like clearance or meralco.

This survey was conducted by Cristine Grace D. Camacho of BAJ 2A

For Privacy Purposes, the pictures of the respondents can only be accessed through this link with the University's Email.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-HNeordSv3iM2aQ2NXlnG9M1Em5-KgubnGysEaFXaKo/edit?usp=drivesdk

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bellamygateoldblog · 2 years

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n she leaves WITHOUT her hat bc she fuckin lost it and the little bird is like oh em gee princess in the brothel????? N she's like running to her room like bro I can't BELIEVE this bitch just DID TTHAT..... and fucking poor cristin is like bro how the fuck she DO THAT. WHERED SHE COME FROM I NEVER SAW HER LEAVE????this show is fucking hysterical

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tessatalksbooksblog · 2 years

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The Stars Between Us by Cristin Terrill #BookReview #YA #scifi #mystery

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theobviousparadox · 2 years

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Review: The Stars Between Us by Cristin Terrill

The Stars Between UsCristin TerrillWednesday BooksAugust 2, 2022 Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads About The Stars Between Us There’s always been a mystery to Vika Hale’s life. Ever since she was a child, she’s had an unknown benefactor providing for her and her family, making sure that Vika and her sister received the best education they could. Now, Vika longs for a bigger life than one as a poor…

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#Cristin Terrill #Dickensian #inheritance #murder mystery #netgalley #Romance #The Stars Between Us

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publishedtoday · 2 years

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The Stars Between Us - Cristin Terrill

There’s always been a mystery to Vika Hale’s life. Ever since she was a child, she’s had an unknown benefactor providing for her and her family, making sure that Vika and her sister received the best education they could. Now, Vika longs for a bigger life than one as a poor barmaid on a struggling planet, but those dreams feel out of reach. Until one day Vika learns that her benefactor was a billionaire magnate who recently died under suspicious circumstances, and Vika has shockingly been included in his will. Invited to live on a glittering neighboring planet, Vika steps into a world she can hardly believe is real. The only blight on Vika's lavish new life is the constant presence of Sky Foster, a mysterious young man from Vika's past who works for her benefactors. She doesn't like or trust Sky, but when she narrowly escapes an explosion and realizes someone is targeting the will's heirs, Vika knows Sky is the only one who can help her discover the identity of the bomber before she becomes their next victim. As Vika and Sky delve into the truth of the attacks, they uncover a web of secrets, murder, and an underground rebellion who may hold the answers they've been looking for. But Sky isn't who he seems to be, and Vika may not escape this new life unscathed.

#the stars between us #Cristin Terrill #wednesday books #august 2 2022

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iamleisuring · 4 years

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youtube

Hope you get better soon, @simplynailogical!

#simply nailogical #rip simply facelogical #beyyyn #poor cristine #cristine and ben #cristine rotenberg #cristine with no h #Youtube

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zelda-cooper · 10 months

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Quackerjack: NO!!! NO NO NO NO!!! CRISTINE, MY DOLL!!!! HOW IS IT POSSIBLE?!?! WHY?!?!?!

Bushroot: P-Pumpkin...? No... NO NO NO- I KNEW THAT DRINK WAS NOT NORMAL!!!

Liquidator: Girl...? SH*T NO!!! HOW DID THIS HAPPEN!?!?! PLEASE CRIS, WAKE UP!!!

Megavolt: KIDDO!!!!! NO!!!!!!

Died of diabetes, poor Cristine... 😞✊

#cristine starling #fearsome four #fearsome five #darkwing duck #darkwing duck au #ducktales #dwd oc #darkwing oc #darkwing duck oc #ducktales oc #darkwing duck purple union #grimace meme #the grimace incident #grimace milkshake #grimace shake #negaduck #jim starling #art

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paradisobound · 4 years

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Phil... did you not learn anything from Cristine, the Holo Queen? That tote is multichrome, not holographic haha

But it’s cute and I bought it anyway lol

#phan #amazingphil #phil lester #big sigh lol #poor cristine lol

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raindrop-on-a-spiderweb · 3 years

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Just met your match Patience 🤣🤣

#certain #but for real poor baby 😓#tbh ben and cristine are such a great couple 🤣#reminded me of a situation #OH GOD #submission #meme

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time-to-write-and-suffer · 5 years

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I’m not saying we should cancel each beauty guru individually (although some of them do deserve it lmao), but the whole “influencer” culture. It needs to go. Like. Yesterday.

#i do feel a bit bad for jimbo #poor bastard is only 19 #tati has always freaked me out ever since i saw her collab with cristine #a 40-something woman trying to defame a literal teenager #even if i don't personally like him #is #highkey alarming #don't even get me started on jeff #anyway this whole thing ??#needs to go #all of it

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joeygoeshollywood · 3 years

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My 25 Favorite Films of 2020

Well, this was quite the crazy year, especially for movies. While many films that were slated to be released this year were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year still provided some laughs, tears, and thrills both in theaters and in the living room.

(NOTE: Due to the delayed awards season calendar and postponed Oscar bait films that are unavailable to be seen before the end of 2020, this list will eventually be updated after having seen the following films: The Father, Minari, News of the World, Nomadland, One Night in Miami, Pieces of a Woman, Promising Young Woman)

Here are my 25 favorite films of the year:

25. Kajillionaire

Quirky filmmaker Miranda July is back with her first feature in nearly a decade. Kajillionaire is a bizarre but captivating tale about a family of criminal grifters and how the daughter reevaluates her strained relationship with her parents after an outsider is welcomed into the fold. Evan Rachel Wood takes what could have easily been dismissed as a goofy caricature in Old Dolio (yes, that’s her name) and turns into a heartfelt portrayal of a woman whose lifestyle of freeloading dictated by her parents (played by Debra Winger and Richard Jenkins) becomes her own crisis. In many ways, Kajillionaire feels like a fantasy that keeps people asking, “What on earth is going on?” And this time, it’s for the best.

24. Freaky

Revamping decades-old plots like the body-swapping antics from Freaky Friday can either result in a predictable failure or a surprising success. Thankfully, Freaky falls into the latter category. In this horror comedy, a deranged serial killer (played by Vince Vaughn) swaps bodies with his victim, a timid teen girl (played by Kathryn Newton). What makes the film work though are the dedicated lead performances, particularly by Vaughn, who is pretty convincing as young girl trapped in a grown man’s body. With a few good laughs and decent thrills, Freaky is worth the watch.

23. The Outpost

The Outpost is an intense film about the real-life story of small group of US troops isolated by surrounding mountains in Afghanistan, under the constant threat of the Taliban, which ultimately comes to a head in the Battle of Kamdesh. The film captures the harrowing experiences of these soldiers with heart-pounding action sequences, which are fueled by a solid cast including Scott Eastwood, Caleb Landry Jones, and Orlando Bloom.

22. Uncle Frank

Paul Bettany may be best known for playing The Vision in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but he should be celebrated as his title character in Uncle Frank, a touching dramedy set in 1973 about an NYU professor who returns home to his estranged family for his father’s funeral while his niece, played by rising star Sophia Lillis, idolizes him for teaching her to be her authentic self while he keeps his sexuality a secret. Bettany brilliantly balances the coolness of his stature with the internal agony that ultimately hits a boiling point, which is counterbalanced by Peter Macdissi’s fun performance as Frank’s happy-go-lucky lover who accompanies him back home despite his wishes.

21. Hillbilly Elegy

Hillbilly Elegy was panned by critics over politics that had absolutely no role the film. Based on the best-selling memoir by J.D. Vance, the newest feature from Ron Howard shows the journey of a boy who despite all odds growing up in a poor family that constantly struggled with abuse and addition managed to get into Yale Law School and achieve the American dream. While both Gabriel Basso and Owen Asztalos hold the film together as the younger and older Vance in the present and flashback scenes, Amy Adams as the impulsive, irresponsible mother and an unrecognizable Glenn Close as the no-nonsense inspiring grandmother that turn Hillbilly Elegy into an acting tour de force.

20. The Trial of the Chicago 7

Oscar-winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin sits in the director’s chair once again in this courtroom drama about the real-life protesters who showed up in Chicago during the 1968 Democratic National Convention. With themes that resonate today, The Trial of the Chicago 7 benefits from its sharp screenplay, well-paced editing, and an outstanding ensemble cast that includes Eddie Redmayne, Mark Rylance, Yahoo Abdul-Mateen II, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jeremy Strong, Frank Langella, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Michael Keaton.

19. Yellow Rose

Broadway actress Eva Noblezada makes her film debut as an aspiring country singer on the run after her mother, an illegal immigrant, is obtained for deportation. Yellow Rose presents a nuanced depiction of US immigration, but at the heart of it is a heartbreaking story of a young woman who struggles between putting her family or her dreams first. Between Noblezada’s powerful performance and solid original music, Yellow Rose hits all the right chords.

18. Palm Springs

Move over, Groundhog Day. While the Bill Murray classic has largely monopolized the time loop film genre, Palm Springs gives it a run for its money. Andy Sandberg and Cristin Milioti star as the unlikely duo who are stranded reliving the same dreaded wedding day involving mutual acquaintances and their desperate efforts to escape the seemingly inescapable. The Hulu comedy stands on its own two feet for the good laughs, the chemistry between the two leads, and the film’s emotionally-grounded plot.

17. Let Him Go

Kevin Costner and Diane Lane reunite on the big screen after playing farmer parents in Man of Steel to rancher grandparents in Let Him Go, although this time they are able to display their full acting chops. In this period dramatic thriller, they set out to find their only grandchild following the death of their son only to discover that the widowed daughter-in-law remarried into an infamous crime family. While both Costner and Lane tug at the heartstrings, it’s Lesley Manville, who plays the ruthless matriarch of the family, that really takes command of the screen. Ultimately, Let Him Go is all about family and the lengths one is willing to go to protect it.

16. Unhinged

In a year plagued by the pandemic, Unhinged led the way to the revival of movie theaters back in August and perhaps in some ways it was meant to be the film to do so as the themes of a rage-fueled society and the lack of human connection carry weight. Russell Crowe stars, as the title suggests, as an unhinged psychopath whose road rage torments a woman and her adolescent son. Unhinged is the epitome of pure entertainment and is why we go to the movies. While it’s not quite the most sophisticated thriller of the year, it’s still one helluva ride.

15. Emma

Anya Taylor-Joy has had quite the year with both highs (The Queen’s Gambit) and lows (The New Mutants). But it began before the pandemic with the release of Emma, which she stars as the iconic Jane Austen title character, a socialite who meddles in the love life of others while refusing to acknowledge her own shortcomings in that department. Supported with a strong ensemble cast, beautiful production design, and comedic charm, Emma is not to be missed.

14. The Invisible Man

ln the era of remakes and reboots, very few are as good as Universal’s latest monster flick revival of The Invisible Man. Elisabeth Moss stars as a woman who believes she’s being haunted by her abusive ex-husband, someone she becomes convinced faked his own death and is stalking her without being able to be seen. Filmmaker Leigh Whannell, the writer behind the Saw and Insidious horror franchises, generates good thrills and high-wire tension with the help of high production value and a terrifyingly-good performance from Moss.

13. Dick Johnson is Dead

Documentarian Kirsten Johnson filmed a beautiful, intimate tribute to her father Dick Johnson, who has been suffering from Alzheimer's in the final years of his life. However, instead of dreading his death, both daughter and father embrace it by having him acting out several scenes of his over-the-top demises. Dick Johnson is Dead may focus on the subject manner of death, but this documentary actually celebrates life and the laughs that happen along the way.

12. The Wolf of Snow Hollow

Perhaps one of the littlest-known films of the year, The Wolf of Snow Hollow is not your conventional indie comedy horror flick. Writer/director Jim Cummings stars as an overly-heated police officer who attempts to get to the bottom of a string of murders in his small, snowy Utah town by what appears to be some sort of werewolf, though he remains unconvinced. Featuring one of the final performances from veteran actor Robert Forster, The Wolf of Snow Hollow uses its quirky sense of humor to stand out from the rest of the pack.

11. The Gentlemen

The Gentlemen is a fun, action-packed, crime caper from Guy Ritchie about the London turf war of drug kingpins. Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Henry Goulding, Michelle Dockery, and Colin Ferrell all round out the strong cast, but its Hugh Grant that really steals the show as the comedically manipulative Fletcher, whose only allegiance is to himself. If you like a stylish film with well-choreographed violence and a fast-paced plot, The Gentlemen should be your cup of tea.

10. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Some of the best play-to-film adaptations are the films that feel like you’re watching a play, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is one of them. Produced by Denzel Washington, Viola Davis gives a transformative performance as Ma Rainey, known as the “mother of the blues” and the clash she had with a pair of White music producers, but she also butts heads with her trumpet player (played by the late Chadwick Boseman), who also has his own music ambitions. While Davis obviously gives other Oscar-worthy performance, it was Boseman who was able to show how incredibly gifted he was as an actor. And while the world lost him far too soon, at least his last role ended up being his greatest.

9. The Kid Detective

One of the biggest surprises of the year was how good a movie starring and produced by Adam Brody was. Brody plays a washed up former kid detective who attempts to revive his once-celebrated career of solving mysteries by getting to the bottom of a murder in his hometown. The Kid Detective is a brilliant dark comedy from newcomer writer/director Evan Morgan with good laughs, plenty of plot twists, and a career-best performance from Brody, who proves he’s more than just the pretty face from The O.C. we all know him as.

8. Mank

Citizen Kane is widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made and Mank is a worthy tribute. Gary Oldman stars as the title character Herman “Mank” Mankiewicz, the Oscar-winning screenwriter behind the iconic film. David Fincher (The Social Network, Gone Girl) managed to capture the epic scale of the 1941 classic that would make Orson Welles proud.

7. Soul

Soul is one of those rare existential Pixar films that goes beyond being children’s entertainment. Following in the footsteps of 2015′s Inside Out, Soul depicts what happens to the soul of a jazz musician who’s convinced his time on Earth isn’t over. While the universe created to explain how souls work and the plot that went along with it falls short of its emotions predecessor, Soul is still high-caliber among Pixar films and a great movie for both kids and adults alike.

6. Another Round

Perhaps the greatest work from Swedish director Thomas Vinterberg to date, Another Round follows four unsatisfied middle aged men who decide to take a theory of task from a Norwegian psychiatrist, who concluded that maintaining a blood alcohol level of 0.050 will enhance their mental and psychological state. Mads Mikkelsen, who’s best known to American audiences as Hannibal Lecter in the short-lived NBC series Hannibal and the Bond villain in Casino Royale, offers a strong, nuanced performance as one of the four educators who embraces this drinking challenge in a film that provides an equal balance of chuckles, cringes, and emotional gut punches.

5. I’m Thinking of Ending Things

From the crazy mastermind of Charlie Kaufman, the writer behind Being John Malkovich, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and Anomalisa, his latest on Netflix is too a mind-bender. I’m Thinking of Ending Things is a surreal, zany, and at times disturbing examination of the human condition as the nameless female protagonist played by an incredible Jessie Buckley mulls over breaking up with her boyfriend (played by Jesse Plemons) while visiting his parents’ house. Accompanied with a stellar production design and a crazy-good performance from Toni Collette as “Mother,” Kaufman newest cerebral feature lives up to his iconic reputation of filmmaking.

4. Da 5 Bloods

Spike Lee is one of the few genius filmmakers who is able to blend multiple genres together and his latest film is no different. Da 5 Bloods is an action adventure, buddy comedy, dramatic character study, and war movie all wrapped up into one about a group of Vietnam War veterans who return to the former battlegrounds to find the remains of one of their fallen soldiers as well as some treasure that they kept hidden years ago. With a strong ensemble cast that includes the late Chadwick Boseman, its longtime character actor Delroy Lindo who steals the show with his powerful performance. Da 5 Bloods is easily one of Netflix’s strongest films to date.

3. The Assistant

One of the first #MeToo-era films, The Assistant offers the day in the life of a low-level female staffer of a production company who is haunted by the presence of her Harvey Weinstein-like boss (who never actually appears in the film). However, rather than depicting the dramatics of sexual misconduct, The Assistant uses the common subtleties and nuances of the workplace yet maintains the same tension and heartbreak. Anchored by the remarkable, devastating performance by up-and-comer Julia Garner (Ozark), The Assistant is as important as it is well-done.

2. Sound of Metal

Riz Ahmed gives the performance of his career as a heavy metal drummer and former addict whose sudden battle with going deaf upends his life. Sound of Metal is an incredible experience that gives a rare glimpse in the American deaf community which is enhanced by the remarkable sound design that helps the audience actually hear what the musician is going through. It’s truly one of the most rewarding films of the year.

1. The Climb

The Climb takes the generic “man sleeps with his best friend’s fiancé” storyline and turns it on its head. In his feature debut as writer and director, Michael Angelo Covino leads as the not-so-apologetic adulterer Mike and Kyle Marvin, who co-wrote the film, is the good-hearted Kyle who struggles to whether or not to forgive his best friend’s ultimately betrayal. Not only is The Climb is quirky and hilariously written, it’s a remarkably well-made comedy with some of the year’s best cinematography. Between a strong cast, a superb screenplay, and the extremely-high production value, The Climb is at the top of the mountain of 2020′s best films.

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