Best Films Of 2021
Despite the widespread chaos and uncertainty this year, there were many standout films released; more than I was able to fit onto this list. Every year there will always be films that don’t make it onto a top 10, despite being great. 2021 marked the return to theaters after their closure in 2020. Not everyone felt safe going out to a crowded space too often, myself included. It felt strange going back to the theaters for the first time in many months. I remember walking into the Laemmle North Hollywood to see The Sparks Brothers. It wasn’t a packed audience, but I still felt nervous and uncomfortable.
That feeling hasn’t entirely left. Seeing films in theaters for me is still a compromised experience. The future of the theater experience is up in the air. Many people will want to see films on the big screen; but as home theater experiences become less expensive, there will be a substantial amount of people who will prefer to stay home. Denis Villeneuve’s Dune was released in theaters and on HBO Max simultaneously and it did well enough to have a sequel greenlit.
That may be the future of new releases: putting them out on streaming and in theaters simultaneously. There have been times when I didn’t want to go out and deal with the possibility of an obnoxious audience spoiling the movie theater experience. A few rowdy idiots can ruin the joy of seeing a film with a crowd. Nobody knows what the landscape will look like moving forward. No matter how topsy-turvy 2021 was, there was a tremendous amount of quality films to help get me out of my head. Here are my top 12 of the year.
1. Annette
This was something special. I still remember the vivid details of seeing Annette at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, then seeing Sparks perform live. After being stuck inside for so long, that night was a welcome cathartic experience. Everything in this film is magical, from the sensational performances by Adam Driver, Marion Cotillard, and Simon Helberg, to the wonderful music by Sparks. I was transported to the transcendental reality where the rest of the world didn’t exist. When it ended, I immediately wanted to see it again.
2. C’mon C’mon
This one took me by surprise. I enjoyed the director Mike Mills’ previous films, but I wasn’t expecting this film to punch me in the heart. There are so many moments that do not even feel like they’re from a movie. I was just observing the lives of these real people and their struggles. The dynamic between Joaquin Phoenix’s character Johnny and his nephew Jesse, played by Woody Norman is genuine in a way I rarely see. This was the film I was the most moved by this year.
3. Benedetta
I just posted a review of Benedetta, so I’ll keep this short. Paul Verhoeven took on this story in a way nobody else could have. It is outlandish, intense, bizarre, and beguiling in the best ways.
4. Censor
80’s nostalgia has grown tiresome and repetitive over the years. Censor manages to overcome that issue and cut right to the bone with a brilliant and visceral vision with a phenomenal performance by Niamh Algar. Prano Bailey-Bond’s film is one of the best debuts I’ve seen in years. I look forward to seeing what she does next.
5. Spencer
A heartbreaking portrayal of Princess Diana with a stunning performance by Kristen Stewart. Royal traditionalists may be put off by its unconventional approach to the story, but for me, it was an uncompromising and unique film.
6. The Tragedy Of Macbeth
Since I just reviewed this one too, I won’t ramble too much. Joel Coen has created a magnificent adaptation of a classic Shakespeare play. The story has been done plenty of times before, but never with this level of cinematic ecstasy.
7. The Sparks Brothers
One of the best music documentaries I have seen in ages. Edgar Wright brings a fantastic conversational approach brought to the story of the Sparks brothers. I have been listening to them since I was a wee lad, so this was a treat to see them talk in-depth.
8. The Last Duel
A brutal and intense film that deserved to do better at the box office. It is difficult to watch at times, but that is the point of this disturbing story. Ridley Scott shows he still can make grand period epics grounded in emotional turmoil like nobody else.
9. The Green Knight
A surreal Arthurian tale that makes fantasy feel fresh again. We are so overstimulated by fantastical worlds; it is rare to see a film that transports you to somewhere that feels genuinely breathtaking. David Lowery is proving to be one of the most interesting directors in Hollywood.
10. The Card Counter
This is a potent and unsettling film that creeps under your skin. Paul Schrader creates a slow burn atmosphere that builds to a gut punch. tremendous performances by Oscar Isaac, Tye Sheridan, and Tiffany Haddish ground the unrelenting story and made me feel connected to these characters.
11. Titane
Titane has lingered in my mind ever since I saw it. Some narrative moments confused me at first, but the film stuck with me. There is a profound and twisted beauty to Julia Ducournau’s unconventional story. At its heart, the story is about universal love and connection that transcends suffering and hardship.
12. Last Night in Soho
Two Edgar Wright films in one year! Last Night In Soho is a magnificent roller coaster that deconstructs the way nostalgia can twist reality. Thomasin McKenzie’s performance is one of the best of the year. The film is adept at balancing real emotional trauma with extraordinary visuals.
