2021 brought us some carryover films originally slated for 2020, along with some films made or wrapped up with Covid-19 protocols impacting the process. The amazing feat of completing a work of art, when the format and process that's been implemented for over a hundred years is altered so dramatically, is not lost on me this year. 2021's list contains some mega blockbusters and some small, intricate and highly personal independent films.
In a year filled with uncertainty, I managed to get to the theatre in person 9 times after they reopened just in time for the summer season (before re-closing once again in early 2022). I managed to see 32 "new releases", which for the sake of this list means either in theatrical release, digital new release rental, or Crave (movie network) channel premiere. Surprisingly, that's not a huge drop off from years past, but I have filled this blog with a LOT of older films I've caught up on in the meantime.
Enjoy the ten best and five worst films out of the 32 films I did see in 2021:
10.
The White Tiger; One of the more refreshing aspects of streaming services taking over the mantle of funding films in that mid-range budget is how their offerings speak to a more global audience. A film like this would rarely see development from the traditional Hollywood studios, and we would be at a loss on account of that sad fact. An adaptation of a fairly recent text that looks at the dichotomy (or maybe even blending would be the better word) of old India and new India comes across vividly and fluidly on the screen. The energy and pacing is on the level with some of the most dynamic filmmakers or our time, and the acting throughout the film demonstrates how there are international movie stars out there, ready to give amazing performances when the opportunity is presented. We can only hope that more impressive stories come out of streaming studios in the way The White Tiger offers an experience too often forgotten or not represented as much as it is enjoyed and appreciated.
9.
The Suicide Squad; From the well that keeps on giving, James Gunn continues to produce over the top comic book spectacles featuring lower tier characters we never cared this much about before, yet by the end of Gunn's films, we're emotionally invested and impacted. Thank Marvel for opening up a window for Gunn to apply his extraordinary skills to the DC universe, and applause to DC for getting out of the way and letting Gunn play with the toy box any way he saw fit. Also, it's awesome how egoless so many of these actors are to take on the roles that they did, allowing lesser known actors shine alongside them. Every actor excels and brings a passion that bursts forth from the screen. Plus, who knew that John Cena would give us not just this movie, but an entire series of Peacemaker that carries us on the fun, insane ride of what's in Gunn's mind? From the elaborate action scenes, to the emotional backstories, to the stunning visuals and the seriously catchy soundtrack, The Suicide Squad is just as much fun on repeat viewings, while we await what Gunn has next for us.
8.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings; Marvel's next genre film style to tackle delivers one of its best films to date. The line between kung fu film and Marvel universe spectacle is so expertly blended. We get a Jackie Chan style fight sequence on a bus (an instantly memorable moment), a Rush Hour style fight that takes place inside AND outside a building, and an early, poetic dance between two film legends reminiscent of the beauty of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. None of these scenes feel deriviative or outside of the scope of the film. Simu Liu is perfect at honouring the spirit, the humour, the emotion, and intelligence of the title role and is an exceptional find for Marvel going forward. He is surrounded by a stellar cast that doesn't get lost in the spectacle, which is tough to do in a Marvel movie.
7.
Raya and the Last Dragon; Overshadowed by the later release of Encanto, during a much less Covid impacted time, Raya and the Last Dragon may (and should) go on to become one of Disney's more beloved and respected films, not unlike Tangled, Zootopia and other Disney films overshadowed by its own studio's films of the same year. It doesn't have catchy music to hook you, rather relying on the exquisite animation and storytelling to draw you in. It's quite a feat of a film, in how it does what some of the best animated films do, and that's use the medium to tell its story rather than attempt to conform to animated expectations or misrepresentation as a children's genre. This is a tale that lends itself to the art form, appeals to young audiences, but certainly strives to encapsulate a mythical story appealing to all walks of life.
6.
Last Night in Soho; A psychological thriller from the creative, film loving mind of Edgar Wright, this film surprises, thrills and chills like no other in 2021. An intriguing exploration of nostalgia and how it raises up the pleasantries of the past when in fact, the reality that birthed these moments has a much darker side to them that is often forgotten by the collective consciousness. Ana Taylor-Joy was used to sell and promote the film but it's the hypnotic Thomasin McKenzie (equally captivating in Jojo Rabbit) who offers a riveting, award worthy performance. The clever layering of ideas and plot are a wonderful display of Wright's own abilities to fully embrace elements of filmmaking to serve the tone and storytelling of his films. An exceptional entry into the genre of psychological horror with a bit of a period/era aspect to it.
5.
In the Heights; Given the attention paid to West Side Story, Encanto, and even tick, tick...BOOM! by year end awards panels, I'm a bit shocked and dismayed how little love was given to In the Heights. I certainly enjoyed it more than West Side Story (from a freshness perspective) and it reconfirms the promise and talent of Jon Chu as one of today's more adept directors. Filled with a cadre of young and soon-to-be stars, the filmed version of the musical's energetic songs pops off the small screen and I can only wish I could have seen this in a theatre proper to have that audio visual experience of even just the 96 000 number. On first viewing, several moments gave me that feeling of wanting to hit play another time to start this all over again and it lives on our PVR for revisiting whenever we're feeling a need for an expression of joy and life and celebrating the dream and promise of youth.
4.
In & Of Itself; It's hard not to feel swindled by Derek DelGaudio's filmed reconstruction of his performance space, when it takes a reconstruction of his own life path and sketches it on top of the lived experience of audience members, night after night, while simultaneously reflecting the universal of each viewer's own existence. It all seems like a magic trick, with what feels like an unbelievable, mind blowing reveal that doesn't hit you like a surprise burst, but rather a slow build, ton of bricks to the chest. Sincerity seems to have become a rarity, cherished much more in light of the pandemic, and to have a shared experience in the manner that DelGaudio constructed for the theatre, subsequently translate to a filmed version that allows us to be there, not once, but night after night, is a clever trick that tickles the mind as much as it tugs at the heart.
3.
Free Guy; Full transparency, this film has bounced off and on my list and could be replaced by Spider-Man: No Way Home for me on any given day. Its deeper elements reflecting on existential themes through the lens of an avatar becoming sentient and navigating the grand masters' design of our world continually intrigue and warrant revisiting and rewatching for reading it with that line of thinking. However, the pure enjoyment of the humour and entertaining, action packed sequences take over the viewer's response, which is in itself a comment on life and everyday events serving as a distraction from death. Leave it to Ryan Reynolds to craft a character and film that on the surface appears to be cut from the typical cloth yet has an emotional arc and depth under the surface that's not caught at a glance. Like a NPC, the details are there if we care to take a closer look at it.
2.
Encanto; There's a moment where pop culture and media take over an entity and transform it into something more than what it was to begin with, skewing the original impression and morphing it into something larger and different from the material. Despite Encanto's chart topping musical infection on ears across the planet, remember the source of these songs and the simple, sweet story being told of Mirabel and the family Madrigal. Marvel at the movie's ability to balance a multitude of characters and how the relationships in this film are fractured and healed in under 100 minutes. It does wrap up rather fast considering its theme of historical trauma, but the strength of the singing and songwriting coupled with the beautiful, colourful animation means we will be joyfully revisiting this family's life, over and over again for years to come. An instant classic.
1.
Bo Burnham: Inside; No film in 2021 captured what the past year was like than Bo Burnham's Inside. When historians attempt to convey what 2020 was all about, they will be referencing and pointing to Burnham's work for its reflection of society through the lens of a solitary artist confined to his makeshift studio, living with the pressure of relevance, mental wellness, whiteness, and ongoing global illness. The fact is that Burnham channels Carlin as much as he emulates Weird Al, while owning his own lane of deeply personal introspective thought provoking comedy, in the highest form. This film is profound on so many levels, historically, comedically, culturally, while being so ridiculously entertaining that it can be packaged and released as an audio album. We are fortunate to have someone like Bo Burnham to turn a camera on ourselves in order to laugh through our tears.
For a year where I only saw 32 new films, there was a lot of gold in that crop. Selecting the best 10 wasn't easy. Here's the honourable mentions from 2021. Don't sleep on them:
A Quiet Place II, Beans, Black Widow, Chaos Walking, Cruella, Don't Look Up, Eternals, Jungle Cruise, Luca, Spider-Man: No Way Home, tick, tick...BOOM!
Unfortunately, there was some dreck in 2021. Not exactly five films that were horrendous, but rather five that just weren't worth the time. You may think otherwise but here's the Worst 5 Films of 2021:
5.
No Time to Die; I'm what I think would be considered a James Bond fan. I've seen all of them, many of them multiple times. One of my earliest memories of movies is peeking out of the back seat at the Drive-In at the other screen showing For Your Eyes Only. I haven't seen that many Bond films in the theatre, but I'm hoping that my small screen experience of this latest instalment was much better for those that finally got to see this in cinemas. It felt underwhelming in so many ways. I don't know if it was intentional to NOT try and top previous stunts and to focus on a more emotional story arc, but it didn't satisfy and it may be a knock on allowing an actor to continue to portray the character with the same director and parts of the creative team versus telling one shot stories with no continual story threads. Which is not something I would have said going into this film.
4.
Thunder Force; It's such a shame to see talented people wallow in horrible premises. Because they continue to be funny in spite of the material. This film is a train wreck from almost the first frame. Yet I continued to watch it on account of McCarthy and Bateman's presence and ability to deliver a line or give a comedic reaction that's pure gold. Spencer is a new entry into comedy (for me, at least) and performs well; this flop is definitely not on her. It feels like quality control went out the window somehow and maybe a better hand needed to guide the other departments to make this a more cohesive comedy. Everyone will survive this unaffected, as it has quickly become what would have been bargain bin filler back in tha day, relegated to a streaming footnote of content filler that you pass with one click.
3.
Dune; Bored.
2.
Freaky; What is really a fun romp and truly what you'd expect from what you see in the trailers, Freaky actually delivers on its horror comedy promise. Only I was hoping for more, something unexpected or different from the typical genre conventions. Apart from the casting of Vince Vaughn, there isn't much inspired decision making elevating this film. Kathryn Newton is great, as are her fellow cast mates, so the film doesn't as much fail to deliver an enjoyable experience, than it fails to deliver on the promise of offering something fresh or new. I would be interested to hear what horror genre fans think of this film, and if it is a worth entry into the sub genre of horror comedy, or if it's tagging along for the ride of an influx of horror films in the past decade or so.
1.
Space Jam: A New Legacy; A new legacy, indeed. If the years have cemented the legacy of Michael Jordan and the guilty pleasure turned genuine affection for the original Space Jam (and its
classic website!!), then LeBron's attempt to live up to that legacy with his own Looney Tunes adventure is a whole NEW legacy...a legacy of ultimate SUCK. If there were any question of Jordan's acting ability, James' wooden (and recent Razzie winning) performance makes Jordan look like DiCaprio in comparison. What's worse though is how little the Looney Tunes come across as the amazingly funny, irreverent, inspired stars they can and deserve to be. To wait this long for a sequel or second shot...we truly could have waited longer and spent our time exploring that awesome website a little longer.
So there you have it...ten good films and a few misfires for you to view, dismiss, discuss, dispute. Comments are always open, share your thoughts, your best of 2021, your thumbs up or your thumbs down. So happy that theatres are open once again, so go watch movies and support your local theatres!!
*Note: This was completed on March 27, 2022 before the Oscars and after the Razzies. It is reverse dated to fit on the end of 2021 on the blog.
Sorry to Bother You; Social commentary by way of creepy comedy that busts conventions in shocking ways. It’s a capitalist critique for our times with some cutting barbs while being equally entertaining on account of a great cast; A-
Cool Hand Luke; Slow moving homoerotic existential Christ parable speaks to the mixed bag this film is. Talent involved is undeniable but for every stylish shot & superbly subtle performance there’s a heavy handed oddly framed head scratcher. Would rather read than watch this; C+
The Big Lebowski; Cult films always seem to mean more to devout followers than the average film viewer. Coens’ insane cadre of characters make for a fun diversion but it’s not nearly as hilarious or profound as many proclaim. Some great laughs and inexplicable performances; B
Departures; Fascinating story about a disillusioned man who unwittingly becomes an encoffiner. The elegance and artful skill of a maligned profession is dutifully explored with some added family melodrama. Insights into a rural cultural practice are intimately interesting; B+
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb; A tour de force from Sellers & Kubrick, aided by an amazing cast, expertly conveys the tone of absurdity that comes with MAD military policy gone wrong. Satire at its finest that may be lost on today’s youth; A
Don’t Look Up; Fine art of satire expertly applied by all involved. Actors relish the comedic bite in their respective roles while hilariously critiquing the media and politics of our times. Every bit as meaningful as it is delightful, while simultaneously sad in its accuracy; A-
No Time To Die; Substitutes stunt spectaculars for emotional storytelling, which isn’t quite what a casual Bond audience wants. Barely a memorable action sequence, wasting this talented cast on this franchise when they could be portraying better characters elsewhere; C+
Run Lola Run; Exhilarating tale of time and circumstance, tightly written, playfully directed and exquisitely composed. The subtle changes are expertly crafted to thrust a slightly new narrative twist to the same life events. A film worthy of rewatching, a shot of adrenaline; A
The Great Beauty; Incomprehensible interludes propped up by stunning cinematography. The mere fact that people like this exist in the world is troublesome, but that doesn’t mean we want or need to look at them. A film like this seems solely to cater to film critics’ interests; C-
Spider-Man: No Way Home; Much more emotional than action packed, the theme of making the most out of second chances is well played out by the entire cast. Mirror verse imagery and multiverse possibilities make for some fun dynamics. Final credits are super cool too; A
In & Of Itself; A meditation on life, who we are, who we are meant to be, and finding oneself, disguised as a filmed account of a live magic performance over several evenings. The emotional weight given to magic setups is truly astounding and will resonate well beyond viewing; A
McCabe & Mrs. Miller; A film exceptional for its elements but not so great as the sum of its parts. Camera work, inspired musical choices, realism of set design and wintry locale can’t overcome a cast of characters not worth caring for or about; B
Red Notice; With the three most charismatic leads working today and some exciting action sequences, who needs a decent plot? The trio elevate the material above standard action fare and seem to be having as much fun, if not more, than the audience; B
Sun Children; Heartbreaking yet mesmerizing tale of street kids exploited and manipulated for their perseverance and unique, acquired skills. Child actors offer fine performances spinning a believable quest to rise above their circumstances and trappings; A-