My 25 Favorite Films of 2021
I’ll be honest… 2021 was a pretty terrible year, but there were plenty of good movies.
Here are my 25 favorites of 2021:
No one could ever imagine Bob Odenkirk starring in an action flick, but he defied all odds in Nobody. He manages to bring humor to a gun fight as a family man who gets tangled with the Russian mob. With the well-choreographed fight scenes and the unapologetic violence, Nobody is one the most bad-ass films of the year.
Indie filmmaker Sean Baker (Tangerine, The Florida Project) is back with perhaps his best film yet. Red Rocket follows a washed-up porn star trying to reboot his life in his Texas hometown. Simon Rex returns out of nowhere in a potential comeback role as the selfish but charming Mikey Saber who tries taking every advantage of the people in his life to get ahead. Red Rocket is wild, raunchy, and quite memorable.
One of the only imaginative blockbusters of 2021, Free Guy takes audiences into the video game world where avatars discover the infinite possibilities of free will. Ryan Reynolds stars in his best film in years as the happy-go-lucky Guy who realizes that he’s more than just a background character. This film offers a ton of action and a ton of laughs the whole family can enjoy.
The perfect summer movie of 2021, In the Heights is a fresh film adaption from musical giant Lin-Manuel Miranda. Director Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians) managed to take the lively music from the Broadway hit and match it with dazzling visuals plus he put together such a strong ensemble. In the Heights will put a smile on your face and have your feet tapping.
A rare successful video game-to-film adaptation, Werewolves Within is a fun murder mystery comedy where a classic whodunnit is given a supernatural spin. Sam Richardson is widely known for his comedic supporting roles in various projects, but rarely is he given the chance to be the leading man, which this comedy proves he can certainly do. He does benefit from a rich ensemble cast that will keep you laughing throughout.
20. The Tragedy of Macbeth
It’s no surprise that Joel Coen, Shakespeare, and Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand are a winning combination. The Tragedy of Macbeth is one of the year’s most visually striking films. Between the stunning cinematography, the haunting production design and a pair of powerhouse performances from two of the greatest actors of our generation, this is perhaps one of the greatest film adaptation of any Shakespearian play.
Jane Campion, the Oscar-winning filmmaker behind The Piano, returns to the film director’s chair after over a decade with The Power of the Dog, a haunting western drama filled with powerhouse performances from Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, and rising star Kodi Smit-McPhee.
Joaquin Phoenix and newcomer Woody Norman both give raw performances in a road-trip family drama masterfully written by Mike Mills (Beginners, 20th Century Women). Phoenix plays a journalist who rekindles a relationship with his estranged nephew during a family emergency. C’mon C’mon almost feels philosophical the way it tackles complicated family dynamics, which Mills handles tenderly as the director.
The Harder They Fall is a bold, fun, exciting western featuring a powerhouse cast of nearly every trending Black actor in Hollywood from Idris Elba, Regina King, Jonathan Mayers, Zazie Beetz, LaKeith Stanfield to Delroy Lindo. This Netflix film is an adrenaline rush from start to finish with some of the year’s best choreographed action sequences. It appears filmmaker Jeymes Samuel may have gifted the streaming giant with a promising new franchise.
16. Zack Snyder’s Justice League
The fans have spoken and they finally received the long-awaited “Snyder Cut” of Justice League, which was utterly butchered in 2017 by Warner Bros. and Joss Whedon. Zack Snyder’s artistic vision was able to flourish in what was really a superhero epic. And the inclusion of Superman’s supergalactic foe Darkseid, who was completely cut out from the original release, makes Thanos look like he came from Sesame Street. The Snyder Cut is an Olympian triumph that sadly did not get the proper treatment it deserved years ago. And if you watched the four-hour film uninterrupted like I did, pat yourself on the back.
Nicholas Cage gives his best performance in decades as a truffle hunter in search of his beloved pig who was kidnapped from his secluded home in the wilderness. While comparisons to John Wick are common, Pig is actually quite a moving drama from newcomer Michael Sarnoski.
The Green Knight is a visually-stunning medieval fantasy adapted from a 14th-century poem about the nephew of King Arthur and his quest to confront a life-or-death challenge from a mythical being. Dev Patel reminds audiences that he is an actor capable of any genre.
One of the most underrated films of the year was Nine Days, a thought-provoking drama that tackles the concept of life itself. Winston Duke proves he has the dramatic chops to be a leading man playing a man who interviews candidates to become human souls to be born. He’s joined by a strong ensemble which includes Zazie Beetz, Benedict Wong, Tony Hale, and Bill Skarsgârd. Nine Days is a deep, emotionally-enriching feature debut from writer-director Edson Oda.
Never has a film franchise go from absolutely horrible with its first installment with truly awesome with its sequel. The Suicide Squad is an unpredictable, action-packed hilarious entry into the DC Cinematic Universe thanks to writer-director James Gunn, who helmed the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. Margot Robbie returns with her best outing yet as Harley Quinn and is joined by a brilliant roster of B-list villains with standout performances by Edris Alba, John Cena, and Sylvester Stallone.
Laugh-out-loud comedies have sadly become so rare, but Netflix’s Bad Trip filled the void this year that replicates the formula made famous by Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa, where a central plot weaves together real-life pranks on unsuspecting individuals. Eric André and Lil Rel Howery star in this cross-country buddy comedy which also features a hilarious Tiffany Haddish. If you’re looking to cry with laughter, look no futher.
Edgar Wright is back with yet another imaginative gem. Last Night in Soho is a psychological murder mystery thriller about an aspiring fashion designer who somehow transports herself into 1960s London where she begins living vicariously through an aspiring singer, putting both their lives in danger. Thomasin McKenzie and Anya Taylor-Joy anchor this film from beginning to end and the late Diana Rigg blessed the world with one final brilliant performance. Between a wonderful soundtrack and nonstop intrigue, Last Night in Soho will keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
Dune is the latest example that filmmaker Denis Villeneuve should be entrusted to every sci-fi franchise in Hollywood. He managed to adapt a film that had a semi-hokey 1980s predecessor into a beautifully-crafted work of art that would make Star Wars blush. The extemely-high production value and the intense action only increase the anticipation for Part Two.
Steven Spielberg successfully revived West Side Story in modern age of cinema with his signature filmmaking style. The stunning cinematography and well-paced editing enhance one of the greatest American musicals. The ensemble is filled with fresh talent including outstanding performances from Rachel Zegler and Ariana DeBose as well as Rita Moreno, who won the Oscar for playing Anita in the 1961 film and returns as a new character, the widow of the drug store owner who serves as a mother figure for Ansel Elgort’s Tony.
Will Smith gives the performance of his career in King Richard as the father of two tennis prodigies in the making, Venus and Serena Williams. The pursuit of the American dream is at the center of this sports drama. Even clocking it at nearly 2.5 hours, King Richard keeps you captivated from beginning to end.
Mass is a devastating yet brilliant film about two sets of parents, one whose son died from a school shooting, the other whose son pulled the trigger. Martha Plimpton, Jason Isaac, Ann Dowd, and Reed Birney all give heartbreaking performances balancing grief and and anger with realistic restraint that prevented this sensitive film from feeling melodramatic. What feels like a one-act play, Mass is takes a difficult subject and allows the human condition to flourish naturally, thanks to actor-turned-filmmaker Fran Kranz.
Part coming-of-age comedy and part period romance, Paul Thomas Anderson’s Licorice Pizza is refreshing in so many ways, one of them being that it stars two non-movie stars, one being Cooper Hoffman, the son of the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, playing charismatic teenage child actor Gary Valentine, and Alana Haim (of the band Haim) who plays a fiery twenty-something who tries fending off his unrelenting effort to win her heart. Licorice Pizza is a charming film that features big names like Bradley Cooper, Sean Penn, and Maya Rudolph, but Hoffman and Haim brilliantly carry it on their shoulders, a rare feat for two leads making their acting debut.
Zola was one of 2021′s rare pieces of truly unique filmmaking and perhaps made history as the first-ever feature based off of a viral Twitter thread. Director-writer Janicza Bravo’s sophomore film is trippy, dark, unpredictable, and down-right hilarious. Taylor Paige gives a strong breakthrough performance as the title character, Colman Domingo steps in as a chilling villainous X, Nicholas Braun (of Succession fame) provides amazing comic relief and Riley Keough continues to be a rising star in a role that should (but will unlikely) earn an Oscar nomination as the manipulative Stefani.
Kenneth Branagh’s greatest film is also his most personal. Belfast is essentially his childhood memoir about his upbringing in war-torn Northern Ireland and how the cinema was true escapism for young Buddy as his parents strive for a better life for the family. Beautifully shot and terrifically acted, Belfast is a remarkable time capsule that also serves as a love letter to both Branaugh’s hometown and to film itself.
Perhaps the most surprising film of the year is Lin-Manuel Miranda’s feature debut. tick, tick… BOOM! is an adapted autobiographical musical from Jonathan Larson, best known for his Broadway smash hit Rent, but the focus is on struggles of getting his unproduced musical off the ground. Andrew Garfield gives the performance of his career as the genius playwright and composer who is also a remarkable singer. tick, tick… BOOM! is an inspiring film that benefits from Miranda’s artistic vision, a talented ensemble, and really good music.
AppleTV+ has gotten a lot of praise for its Emmy-winning comedy Ted Lasso, but its film CODA is by one of the best things on the streaming service still in its infancy. The title, which is an acronym for “child of death adults,” follows a high schooler struggling to achieve her dream of becoming a singer as her family, all who are deaf, rely on her to keep their fishing business afloat. CODA is soul-nurturing with good laughs and tugs at the heartstrings. Emilia Jones leads the cast with a remarkable breakthrough performance while Oscar-winner Marlee Matlin, Tony Kotsur, and Daniel Durant all elevate the film. CODA will renew your faith in good story-telling, which is what movies should be about.
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