Top Ten Films of 2021
After the film drought of 2020, 2021 began with further uncertainty as to the survival of cinemas. The pandemic led to raised concern as to the safety of cinemas and the reliance of streaming services over multiple lockdowns wore down the desire to head back to the theatres. However, with blockbuster heavyweights such as A Quiet Place Part 2, No Time to Die and Spider-Man: No Way Home, cinemas were given a second wind and have managed to thrive once again. Due to the backlog of unreleased films, cinemas had plenty of smaller films to show throughout the year too, and, in a welcome twist, more streaming services adopted a dual release strategy giving people the chance to see The Green Knight, Nomadland, The Power of the Dog and Sound of Metal all on the big screen. 2021 was a brilliant year for film and with so many entertaining and wonderful titles, it became tricky to whittle this list down to just ten films. So before the main the list, here are some other films definitely worth your time.
Honourable Mentions
No Time to Die - Daniel Craig’s final outing as 007 was worth the wait. With beautifully shot set pieces, a fun and emotional script and Craig’s engaging performance, this is a swan song that defines what blockbuster action cinema can be.
The Tragedy of Macbeth - Joel Coen’s abstract vision of this Shakespeare classic is atmospheric and timeless in its aesthetic. While the cast is terrific, it is Denzel Washington who steals the show as the mad king Macbeth.
West Side Story - Spielberg’s remake of this broadway classic marks one of his best films in years. The energetic choreography and cinematography captivate as much as the wonderfully talented cast, with Rachel Zegler and Mike Faist being the true standouts.
C’mon C’mon - Perhaps the most understated film of the year, C’mon C’mon is sweet, endearing and inquisitive of the human experience. Joaquin Phoenix follows up his showy Joker performance with something entirely more natural and endearing.
The Top Ten
10. After Love - Aleem Khan’s first feature film is a brilliant debut. After the death of her husband, Mary soon discovers that her husband was someone else entirely. After Love brings into question if we can ever truly know a person, even those closest to us. This existential quandary is conveyed excellently by Joanna Scanlan in this bold leading performance.
9. Spencer - Pablo Lorraine’s ‘biopic’ of the late Princess Diana turns the genre on its head and is all the better for it. By focussing solely on Diana, rather than events surrounding her, we get a far more interesting and introspective look into the psyche of the late Princess. Kristen Stewart excels in the title role, while cinematographer Claire Mathon gives the film a wholly dreamlike quality.
8. The Nest - This 80s infused drama feels like a product of its time in all the right ways. Seedy and eerie in parts, this slow-burn highlights the damage of familial deception, while Jude Law steals the show as one of the most watchable, yet detestable characters of the year in Rory O’Hara.
7. Dune - Director Denis Villeneuve has brought Frank Herbert’s sci-fi classic to life in the most visually stunning film of the year. From the solid cast, air tight script, transportive score and imaginative production design, every aspect of filmmaking comes together brilliantly making the world of Arrakis seem entirely real and tangible. This is just another affirmation that Villeneuve is one of the best directors working today.
6. The Green Knight - Both classical and modern in nature, David Lowery’s adaptation of this Arthurian fable is an abstract journey that questions the meaning of manhood and consequence. Even with a limited budget, Lowery and crew have made this fantastical odyssey immersive and emotionally poignant.
5. Censor - After viewing a film that mirrors a tragic event in her past, Enid, a film censor, tries to unravel the mystery as to the disappearance of her sister. Censor is a mind bending horror that engages from the get go that is kept consistent through Prano Bailey-Bond’s dark direction and Niamh Elgar’s tormented central performance. Along with themes of objectification and obsession, Censor is the most intriguing horror film in years.
4. The Power of the Dog - With some of the most conflicting characters of the year, Jane Campion’s feature manages to manipulate and call into question our own judgements and asks where true power actually lies. Benedict Cumberbatch plays the lead, Phil Burbank, with both viciousness and a shielded tenderness that layers and complicates the film in excellent ways.
3. Another Round - Mads Mikkelsen turns in a career best performance in this exceptional tragicomedy. Suffering from a self-crisis, Martin and his friends partake in an experimental theory that states human beings need a small percentage of alcohol in order to be truly whole. Thomas Vinterburg’s latest feature packs it all. From humour to heartbreak and an interesting premise to boot; Another Round uses its multifaceted nature to express the importance of finding life’s balance.
2. Drive My Car - Stage actor/ director Yusuke Kafuku is forced to come to terms with himself and the meaning of his marriage after the death of his wife. Set across the scenic Hiroshima, Drive My Car is contemplative and beautiful. A wonderful film that expresses the power and importance of storytelling, how it can bring us closer, or express that which we cannot say.
1. Sound of Metal - Recovering addict and heavy metal drummer, Ruben, has his life thrown asunder as his hearing rapidly deteriorates. This short synopsis does not do Darius Marder’s astounding directorial debut justice. Through inventive sound design and beautifully human script, Marder envelops us within the deaf experience. Riz Ahmed’s Oscar worthy performance as Ruben is vulnerable and his battle to retain his hearing is desperate and utterly tragic. For, at its core, Sound of Metal is about acceptance and it explores this through a sincere and genuinely emotional story. No amount of buzzwords can sell this film more and I cannot recommend this highly enough. Sound of Metal is my pick for the best film of 2021.