Nomadland (2020)

In all the years I've reviewed movies on the main show (posted here more recently) I've never given a perfect 10 out of 10 to a new release film before Nomadland. It's so much more than the grim, cinema verite, politicized look at America's post global financial crisis economic situation I expected. Instead I got the most insanely beautiful and artistic poem about heartland America, an optimistic world of people who'd escaped the "tyranny of the dollar" for an enrichingly soulful existence, that never needs to bang any drum, and gives wonderful characters effected by economic hard times but never formed by them. Front and center, Francis McDormand, who creates a character as likeable, alienated and unknowable as Harry Dean Stanton in Paris Texas - a film I found myself frequently referencing. Director Chloe Zhao shows complete mastery of the form and never makes a single misstep, even the cinematography and music are stunning. I'd feel comfortable calling it the best picture, director and actress Oscar winner, though it will certainly pic up nominations for the screenplay, supporting actor, score and cinematography, so that list maybe too short. A modern masterpiece.