My Top 20 Films of 2021
To say that 2021 was a tough year would be an understatement. It has been one of the most difficult years I have ever had to go through. From March up until December I was in my final course of license class to be a Nuclear Reactor Operator. Due to the pandemic and many delays our schedule was very condensed which ended with not being able to take a single day of leave till the course was over. Couple that with long working hours, and changing between day/night shift throughout the course, it was exhausting. Even with all those obstacles I saw more films in 2021 than any of the last three years. Due in part to my stubbornness of exclusively watching movies with a proper setup disappearing quite quickly when all the work started to pile on. I was fine with watching movies on my phone now. My work situation doesn’t allow me to have the freedom of watching a movie on my TV with a surround system. That’s the price I have to pay for working in a remote powerplant four hours away from my home. But all is well because I managed to find a new appreciation for movies this year due to all of the struggle I went through. In 2020 I found so many of what I now consider to be my favorite movies of all time. While I did not find as many perfect films in 2021, I broadened my horizons way more and explored genres and directors that I had been waiting to watch for so long. All in all, 2021 was a tough year for me, I haven’t been myself at all but I am trying to bounce back and find that passion that has always lived inside me.
Honorable Mentions
Before We Forget [قبل أن ننسى]
Dir. Nawaf AlJanahi
A solid effort from Emirati filmmaker Nawaf Al Janahi. A simple film that holds a lot of depth. It’s a story that has been told many times yet it manages to feel genuine to the Arabic experience that many have gone through. It touches upon important topics such as masculinity, responsibility, and fatherhood. I will be closely following Nawaf’s journey moving forward to see what he does next.
Titane
Dir. Julia Ducournau
Winner of this year’s Palme d’Or and best director, Titane is definitely a unique experience. Unlike anything I have seen in my life. I have been interested in Ducournau since 2016’s Raw which I loved. Titane on the other hand did not connect with me as Raw did. The sudden shift that happens halfway through the movie was jarring and took me a while to get used to. It is definitely one that needs another viewing, but I can’t deny its unique story and style.
Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar
Dir. Josh Greenbaum
They honestly don’t make movies like this anymore. Absolutely ridiculous and nonsensical but that’s what makes it so great. It’s seriously stupid but I can’t deny it made me laugh more times than I care to admit. It’s one of those movies that won’t make billions of dollars but it doesn’t need to. It’s just out there having fun, which is why many don’t get made anymore. I really hope we see more movies that don’t take themselves seriously and are just out there to have a good time.
Top 20
#20
The Lost Daughter
Dir. Maggie Gyllenhaal
Gyllenhaal’s directorial debut is a solid effort. She is aware of what she wants to convey and how to effectively do it. Olivia Colman carries most of the film with her stellar performance but that does not minimize Gyllenhaal’s efforts. She was able to capitalize on Colman’s vast range of emotions by heavily focusing on close ups. Furthermore the desolate setting coupled with the constant shift between present and past add to the entire theme of loneliness that is felt by the main character. It is a promising start to a hopefully fruitful career as a director.
#19
Red Rocket
Dir. Sean Baker
I truly believe Sean Baker is one of the great directors of our generation. His way of utilizing real people coupled with a very intimate approach to cinematography is incredibly effective at creating an environment where its very easy to connect with the characters. Yet in Red Rocket I lacked that connection with many of the side characters which is why this is not higher on the list. Regardless, I loved everything about Simon Rex’s portrayal of Mikey. He dominated every scene he was in and was the biggest surprises in terms of performances in 2021. Simon Rex was not the only great thing about Red Rocket but Baker’s raw portrayal of people who live in such a chaotic way. It never feels forced, and is always believable. I just wish I loved it more than I do, but that does not minimize my appreciation for Baker, it just makes me want to watch his next feature even more.
#18
Flee [Flugt]
Dir. Jonas Poher Rasmussen
The immigrant experience has been the subject of many films throughout the year. Flee is one of those films that really know how to convey the experience as well as putting the viewer in the shoes of those people running away for their freedom. The decision to use animation was a brilliant one as Jonas was able to capitalize on the medium to truly immerse us into what Amin was feeling. The art style was beautiful and I truly can’t imagine a film like this going with anything but such an artistic direction. It is a powerful story but one that is unfortunately being experienced by thousands of people across the globe to this day.
#17
The Mitchells Vs The Machines
Dir. Michael Rianda / Jeff Rowe
The Mitchells Vs The Machines is goofy. Its a silly movie. But it is so charming and fun. It is funny, heartwarming, and hits very close to home. It is cheesy a lot of the time but that just falls right into its charm. It never overstays it welcome and I hope it will be remembered as one of the great animated films of the 2020s. Also lets not forget about the absolutely stellar animation. When I saw the creators of Into The Spiderverse were involved in this project I had to see it. I was glad that it did not disappoint because the animation is beautiful and a sight to see. Even if such films don’t interest you, just watch it for the animation alone, you will not be disappointed.
#16
Judas And The Black Messiah
Dir. Shaka King
Coming out very early in the year, Judas and the Black Messiah managed to leave a lasting impact. It is a biopic that gets everything right. From solid writing to powerful performances, the film is great through and through. It doesn’t really innovate in the genre but it doesn’t have to. It presents an important tale that needed to be told. Daniel Kaluuya was masterful as Fred Hampton. Shaka King delivers a solid film that gets to the point immediately and never lets up. It’s pacing is perfect for such a project as it never felt like a slog to get through.
#15
Pig
Dir. Michael Sarnoski
Looking at the poster for Pig I expected this to be another intense experience from Cage. I was ready to be weirded out and disturbed. What I got was the total opposite of all of my expectations. Pig is an extremely subtle film, and Cage manages to showcase his versatility once again with this performance. I read online some parallels between the story of Pig and that of the Greek legend Orpheus. The similarities are eye opening and further elevates the story into one that needs more attention. It is such a simple film yet once you look into it more you will find so much depth.
#14
Petite Maman
Dir. Céline Sciamma
Simplicity at its finest. I wont ruin the “twist” that happens halfway through the story but it was delightful to see. It is just a warm experience yet it does not let that stop it from shying away from more serious topics. The colors are beautiful even with the minimal settings and backgrounds. Sciamma managed to pull so much from so little. Surprisingly I have seen this and Girlhood yet I still haven’t seen her most popular movie Portrait of a Lady on Fire. I should get on that. In the meantime if you want a simple and joyful experience just give this one a go
#13
Quo Vadis Aida?
Dir. Jasmila Zbanic
On the total opposite end of the emotional spectrum from Petite Maman, this film is absolutely devastating. Zbanic does not go easy on the viewer as she goes all out telling this heart wrenching story about a Serbian translator trying to protect her family from upcoming doom. It is not an easy watch, but it is an important one that must not be ignored. Jasna Djuricic’s performance as Aida was the most overlooked in last years award season and it was a damn shame because she was brilliant in every way. The raw emotions that she displayed was felt through the screen and it never felt over the top even with the dire situation she was in. Give this one a shot, but be warned its not easy to get through.
#12
The Rescue
Dir. Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi / Jimmy Chin
You know a documentary is good when it manages to keep you at the edge of your seat despite knowing what happens at the end. Going into this I knew the outcome of the cave dive. I knew the fate of those boys. It all didn’t matter, because just having this footage is a miracle on its own. I was in awe of everything I saw and it still feels like a fantasy. If you want to watch any documentary this year just watch this and be amazed at what human beings can do when they work together towards one goal.
#11
Annette
Dir. Leos Carax
A strange and divisive film. I came into Annette not knowing much aside from its a Leos Carax movie. I absolutely loved his last film Holy Motors (it was placed high on my top films of the decade). So I knew it would be weird but I never expected this. As soon as the film started and I saw a lot of singing I was confused. It definitely took me a while to get used to. But somehow it all just clicked and realized I was seeing something special. It does have a lot of shortcomings but they do not outweigh all the brilliance that is presented here by Carax. Adam Driver is brilliant in his role as well as Cotillard. Everyone is talking about Speilberg’s West Side Story as the musical of the year, but to me nothing beats a floating singing baby.
#10
C’mon C’mon
Dir. Mike Mills
C’mon C’mon is such a warm, fuzzy, and lovely film. That is not to say it is all sunshine and rainbows. It actually deals with many serious and sometimes difficult subject matters. However, due to its very realistic feeling characters it never feels like a burden to go through. Utilizing both real people and actors was a brilliant choice that paid dividends. Another key aspect to making this film feel authentic is the natural writing. When siblings are having a conversation I believe that they really are siblings with years of history behind them. Also the choice to go black and white was perfect as it allowed the viewer to focus solely on the characters and what they were trying to say.
#9
The Power Of The Dog
Dir. Jane Campion
The Power of the Dog is, no pun intended, powerful. It is a masterfully crafted movie that subverts all expectation. As I was watching it I expected something to happen only to be suddenly pulled to the other side as the story twists and turns to unexpected territories. It is extremely subtle in its delivery to the point where you can literally blink and miss a crucial moment of the story. The performances are all stellar but especially from Cumberbatch. The vision is grand yet it manages to feel that way with only a couple of settings. Campion’s control over the direction of the movie is impeccable and I can’t wait to see what more she is able to come up with in the future.
#8
Drive My Car [ドライブ・マイ・カー]
Dir. Ryusuke Hamaguchi
If there is one word I can use to describe Drive My Car it’s “effortless”. At 3 hours the movie flows unlike anything I’ve seen. Just as the Saab effortlessly cuts through Japanese highways in the movie, its pacing also flows as easily. I never felt like it dragged on even though I could not understand many of the hidden meanings behind its story. Yet it still managed to grab my attention throughout the entire duration. It made me feel things that I haven’t felt from any other movie of this year. The characters really connected with me and I felt every emotion that they went through during the entire span of the story. It is a special film, one that needs a deeper dive into to fully appreciate. I haven’t seen anything else from Hamaguchi but this has definitely encouraged me to go through his back catalogue and see what other gems he has directed.
#7
Inside
Dir. Bo Burnham
Inside is my most watched movie of 2021. It manages to perfectly encapsulate the feeling of frustration and struggle that came as a result of the COVID pandemic. This film really connected with me not only because of Bo’s insane ability to be introspective, serious, and funny all at the same time. But because I have been watching this guy for more than 14 years. What started as some kid making YouTube videos became one of the most creative minds of our generation. His film Eighth Grade showed how talented he really is but Inside cemented that fact clearly. The music is great and I still listen to it to this day. Yes some of the jokes lose their punch fast but you can’t deny how infectious and catchy his music is. But the music alone doesn’t do it justice, the visuals that he was able to create in such a tiny space was mind boggling. Each song felt so different stylistically because of what he was able to do visually with a few cameras and lights. It’s the type of movie that I always wished I could make but was never able to. Aside from the laughs Bo dives deep into his subconscious and lays it all out there for us to see. He is honest and vulnerable just as we all were during lockdown. It made me think of what the world had gone through over the last two years and I truly understood that all of this was a collective experience that we had to go through.
#6
Spencer
Dir. Pablo Larrain
I don’t care if this is way too early to say, but Jonny Greenwood is one of the greatest film composers to ever live. Every single composition he has done has blown me away. Every time I watch a movie he is involved with I am blown away by how brilliantly he is able to add emotional depth through his music. It honestly feels like his score is another character in the movie. This is especially true in Spencer as Greenwood’s score is integral in setting the tense tone that is much needed to tell this story. I am usually not a big fan of biopics because they are always done in a safe way that are usually there to nab awards for big studios. Spencer is a biopic done right. Rather than just focusing on events like a glorified Wikipedia article, it keys in on only three days in the life of Princess Diana. By forgoing telling her whole story Larrain was able to focus on her as a person. This is coupled with absolutely stunning cinematography that manages to make so much from a single setting. The colors combined with the intense music and stunning performance by Kristen Stewart creates a gold standard that should be followed for future biopics.
#5
The French Dispatch
Dir. Wes Anderson
Wes Anderson is simply brilliant. He has crafted such a unique style throughout his career through a very clear progression. The French Dispatch has been a divisive film for Anderson fans. Some believe it is a brilliant step forward stylistically, while others feel this direction disconnects them from the characters. Though both sides have a point, I obviously fall in the latter category. This film is so bold stylistically. The best way I can describe it is that it feels like a live action Claymation film. Which is counterintuitive when you think about it. Yet it seriously feels like I’m watching concepts that are usually seen in Fantastic Mr. Fox or Isle of Dogs but in real life. His shots are much more static than dynamic and that allows him to add so much detail into each scene. This film would require multiple watches just so that you are able to fully experience all the brilliant details he was able to place into every shot. The story and structure may seem disjointed from one another but it honestly plays into the entire style of the film. The messy and bombastic aesthetic pairs perfectly with such a disjointed story filled with many characters. It is not a movie that will be liked by all, but I honestly loved my time with it and I can’t imagine how Anderson can go past this.
#4 (Opinions Changed*)
The Worst Person In The World [Verdens verste menneske]
Dir. Joachim Trier
For a very short period this was number 1. I recently watched it but it left a big impact on me. Julie was the most emotionally connected character for me in 2021. I felt everything she went through. The great thing about this film is that she is a very very flawed character. Yet you are still deeply connected to everything she does. Not in that you are rooting for her and her flawed actions. Rather that feeling where you are connected to a friend even if they make errors in judgement. The scene that involves the picture in the poster was one of the most memorable of the year. Truly a beautiful experience to watch. The pacing was perfect and did not overstay its welcome at any point. The idea of making into chapters was clever as it gave each part meaning and context throughout the entire story without the need to tie them together forcefully. It’s one of those movies that I feel like will stick with me for a very long time.
#3
The Green Knight
Dir. David Lowery
The Green Knight is ethereal. It is a magical quest unlike many I have seen before. With such a small budget for a fantasy film, Lowery was able to create one of the best in the genre. No film has captured my interest as much as The Green Knight did in 2021. As soon as I left the theater I was reading about the original poem and everything about the legend of The Green Knight. My eyes were glued to my screen and I kept wanting to know more and more. I have been obsessed with dissecting evert scene of this movie. Lowery manages to make every sequence meaningful and full of depth. From the way it was shot to the minor details. Everything about this movie was perfectly crafted to create a memorable adventure. Dev Patel’s performance as Gawain was brilliant and needed to round out everything. The entire movie felt grand without the need to go to the scale in which Dune went to. I would argue that The Green Knight is grander than Dune by miles due to the amount of depth each scene holds. Not only does the film look good but its thematic messages are perfectly interwoven into every aspect of the movie. Bravery, responsibility, faith, and destiny are just some of the impeccable themes that are talked about in The Green Knight. I’ve seen many who did not enjoy the barebones approach that Lowery went for, but for me this was the perfect decision as it allowed for so much interpretation while still having a clear structure to go on.
#2
Shiva Baby
Dir. Emma Seligman
“Anxiety”. That’s surprisingly the best way to describe this movie. While Hit The Road may have been the biggest surprise in 2021, Shiva Baby was the biggest subversion of expectation I experienced last year. I went into this thinking it would be this lighthearted indie comedy. I came out of it with palms sweating and happy but also sad that it was over. Its the same sort of anxiety you got when watch Uncut Gems or Hereditary, but its about a girl in a Shiva. It’s one of the strangest films to watch for the first time. But this movie is perfectly edited and everything is timed amazingly. Every beat hits hard. The jokes are so clever. It may not be the laugh out loud sort of comedy but its that style that’s witty and smart. Rachel Sennott is an absolute legend and she is going to be huge one day if she keeps this up. This is my number one mainly due to how good it turned out to be versus my expectations. I had nothing in mind going into it but I was blown away by how tightly everything was executed. It may not have the best cinematography, music, or performances of the year. What it does have is perfect execution of a tense chaotic comedy that is so difficult to pull off. I can’t explain as elaborately why this is my favorite movie of the year, it just is. I kept thinking about it so many times even though I saw it early on in the year. It just feels right, and that’s all I need to decide that its the best of 2021.
#1 (Opinions Changed*)
Hit The Road [جاده خاکی]
Dir. Panah Panahi
The biggest surprise of 2021. Hit The Road tugged at my heart strings in more ways than I could have imagined. It is so raw and dense in meaning that I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I believe Panahi used many real people (based on their IMDb page), which is a brilliant decision. I believed every word that came out of them, it all felt natural. The movie gave me feelings of euphoria, melancholy, laughter, joy, and devastation all throughout a 90 minute span. Road trip movies are not a special thing, in fact they have been doing them since the early days of cinema. But Hit The Road just executes everything perfectly. The story is simple yet it does not spoon feed you every bit of information. Panahi is aware that the viewer is able to infer certain aspects while interpreting others. The cinematography was absolutely gorgeous way more than what it should have been for such a film. There was a scene near the end of the movie that I won’t spoil. But if you have seen the movie you know what I’m talking about. It was absolutely magical. This film was honestly the biggest shock of the year. I went into it knowing very little. It was playing at our local independent theater and I thought I would give it a go. In 90 minutes I was taken on a wonderous ride full of laughter and heartbreak. It is something you should all experience if you can.
