Another hectic year of delayed releases, minimal trips to the cinema, streaming virtually everything... In another year I probably would have seen all the Oscar contenders by Christmas, now I am still struggling to see some of the Best Picture nominees (Drive My Car might have to wait for my 2022 list if it lives up to the hype). I find it curious how the pandemic has shifted my view of going to the movies. I feel less urgency to see new releases, I'm more highly critical of those movies I see. I will say that 2021 was leaps and bounds better than 2020 - both in terms of creativity and variety of storytelling. I posted a similar list on another social media profile - but now having a more well-rounded sense of what was released, here is my top 10 (only 2 months late)....
RUNNERS UP:
- THE MITCHELLS V THE MACHINES
- THE FRENCH DISPATCH
- IN THE HEIGHTS
- KING RICHARD
- WEST SIDE STORY
10. THE RESCUE
Not the only documentary on this list. The follow-up from the makers of "Free Solo," here is a more intimate and dare I say thrilling story about the rescue of a group of boys trapped miles underground in a Thai cave, slowly filling with water. In terms of superhero movies, I don't think Marvel even holds a candle to the heroism on display by the rag-tag group of divers who came together to get these boys out. Unbelievable in every way.
9. PIG
Absolutely not what I expected given the recent slate of Nicolas Cage's filmography. Where I expected a wild, twisted story ala 'Mandy,' here was a somber, beautiful story of loss, heartbreak, and passions. The story of a hermit who hunts for truffles with the help of his pet pig - what unfolds is a story of this man's past and what would lead him to a life of solitude in the West Coast mountains. Cage surprises in almost every scene he is in (particularly an unforgettable moment in a restaurant). His stub at the Academy Awards is (shockingly) disrespectful.
8. THE GREEN KNIGHT
One of the last movies of the year I saw, hesitant to see it at first, but ultimately wowed by a broad production that produced one amazing set-piece after the other. Dev Patel continues to make interesting choices where he could otherwise be a romantic lead or star in A-list action movies. This is a movie of writing, development, and utter beauty. I can't go too much into plot, but just saying that it is a fantasy wonder should be enough.
7. TICK, TICK... BOOM!
Up until December I genuinely thought this would end up as my #1 of the year. A stunning debut from Lin-Manuel Miranda about the life and times of Broadway composer Johnathan Larson. It's a remarkable musical and charismatic performance by Andrew Garfield, who should be taken seriously as a threat to win Best Actor despite the film's shortcomings. It's a play with in a play within a movie within a memory. It's so intricately assembled and yet so wonderful to follow on its journey.
6. DON'T LOOK UP
I was disturbed by the lack of general praise this film received, as I thought it was a razor-sharp satire that again and again had me full of dread thinking "yup, this is what would happen." A commentary on global warming, on COVID, on conservatism. I love Adam McKay's ear for dialogue and razor sharp editing that is oftentimes shocking and so apparently rough around the edges. The film concludes on such a somber and beautiful note - if it wasn't so funny it might drive me to tears. I will go to my grave saying that Mark Rylance gives the year's absolute best performance as a tech guru from some psychedelic corner of Hell.
5. CODA
It's a story I've seen a million times, and is as predictable as it is utterly charming. For one reason or another, this is a movie that works on almost all fronts. I can barely think of a flaw. A child of deaf adults (CODA) wants to go away to college, while her deaf family struggles to run a fishing business on the east coast. The cast is as good as any movie in many years. The ending is a whopper that simply draws tears from my eyes at the simple thought of it. Troy Kotsur will be an Oscar winner, mark my words, or the Oscars will lost much credibility. It's the feel-good movie of 2021.
4. SUMMER OF SOUL
WOW WOW WOW. This is a movie not to miss - documentary or not. The insane footage of a predominantly black and Latino music festival in Manhattan - the same year as the moon landing - footage largely buried since distributors didn't have an interest in "Black Woodstock." This is a documentary to end all documentaries. Dynamite clips of some of the best musicians of all time. Questlove assembles this movie both with love and a curiosity about the times of this moment. MLK was just assassinated. The anger was palpable. Yet here, in a park, thousands of people gathered to join in a mass celebration of the power of music.
3. MASS
This was my #1 movie of the year when I prematurely made my list on instagram. An insular story told largely in one room with 4 actors. The story of healing after a school shooting - where the parents of the perpetrator and one of the victims come together to talk, to argue, and to hopefully move on. It's the best cast of the year. Our female leads (Ann Dowd and Martha Plimpton) were robbed of Oscar wins, forget the nominations. You will not see a better-written movie this year, nor will you be more heartbroken by the end. There is a building tension that is resolved by one of the most cathartic moments between two characters - a simple embrace changes almost everything we have come to expect. Not to be missed.
2. THE POWER OF THE DOG
I'm so excited to see Jane Campion finally win Best Director and Best Picture (I think her movie "The Piano" is one of the greatest movies ever made). This is a stunning western that defies all the rules, and it a dangerous assemblage of tension with scene after scene that is razor sharp and so beautifully crafted. What can be said that hasn't already been said? You watch this movie all the way through and immediately want to start it again. Not a moment is out of place. The writing is crisp and the cast is undeniable. With each rewatch I've found new gems (and I'm already up to viewing #4). Not for everyone, but certainly a movie that people need to see to understand the power that movies can have.
1. THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD
If this isn't your favorite movie of the year I can't believe that you even love movies. In every way, this is a stunning achievement of writing, acting, storytelling, comedy, drama, and plot. It was in no way what I expected, and yet I left the theater realizing that this was exactly what I needed it to be. Like "Parasite" a few years ago, this movie runs the gamut of emotions from side-splitting humor to self-reflection to a deep and utter sadness that left me in a puddle. Renate Reinsve is a megastar. This is Amelie for 2021. I can't stress enough how much this movie has changed my life. Don't worry about the language barrier either - this is a story that will leave everyone thinking "how does this writer know so much about my life?"
