Top 20 Films of 2021

• Ken Jones, Chief Film Critic

Things began to normalize in 2021 with the release of a lot of movies that were delayed from 2020. There were so many towards the end that I did not get a chance to see that I still want to (The Tragedy of Macbeth and Red Rocket come immediately to mind), but here are my favorites from what I was able to see. Enjoy.

20. Luca - Enrico Casarosa
A nice ode to the childhood friendships that push our boundaries and expand our view of the world that the best of friends can do for us. Also, to be more accepting of the “other” and how misperceptions can impact our relationships with others. I wouldn’t put this amongst the best if Pixar’s work, but even average Pixar is better than most.

19. A Quiet Place Part II - John Krasinski
A suitable expansion of a world that was developed in the original film. I’m not sure we need a third entry here, but it was fun to enter this world again where soundscape is so important. And I continue to want more roles for Millicent Simmonds.

18. Raya and the Last Dragon - Don Hall, Carlos Lopez Estrada, John Ripa, Paul Briggs
For my money, the best animated film of the year. It relies on tried-and-true Disney methods of storytelling set in a fresh milieu with strong themes of overcoming division and learning to trust others that are surprisingly timely without being preachy.

17. The Lost Daughter - Maggie Gyllenhaal
An impressive debut directorial feature from Maggie Gyllenhaal, this adaptation weaves its low-key psychological drama through a gorgeous Mediterranean vacation spot, as well as back and forth through flashbacks. Has any actress ascended as much as Olivia Coleman has in the last few years?

16. The Card Counter - Paul Schrader
Oscar Isaac in the lead as gambler who takes a troubled young man portrayed by Tye Sheridan under his wing. Plus Tiffany Haddish in a serious role giving a terrific supporting performance. Plus, it is written and directed by Paul Schrader. Isaac’s restraint is riveting. And one of the most beautiful scenes of the year is Isaac and Haddish on a date, taking a walk through the Garden Glow at Missouri Botanical Garden.

15. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings - Destin Daniel Cretton
When it came to Marvel in 2021, a lot of the content felt like it was running in place, waiting for the next big thing to happen and kickstart the post-Endgame narrative. To its credit, Shang-Chi was less interested in the overall MCU (minus its efforts to redeem The Mandarin), and more interested in investing in the story of Shang-Chi and his own adventure. Added bonus of wider audiences getting to appreciate Tony Leung.

14. Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar - Josh Greenbaum
Easily the biggest surprise of the year was this comedy from Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, who wrote and co-star as the titular Barb and Star. Admittedly, I wasn’t sure what I was watching for the first 20-30 minutes, but the movie won me over with it sheer absurdity and silliness. A movie that is too dumb to be actually dumb. Props to Jamie Dornan for turning in a performance I’ve never seen from him before too, the yin to Tiffany Haddish’s yang in terms of playing against type.

13. Pig - Michael Sarnoski
How do you describe this film to someone? I could say it is the arthouse John Wick of foodie movies, but as accurate as that description may be, it also fails to do the film justice. Nicholas Cage gives one of his best performances in recent memory as a chef living off the grid who has his pet pig stolen and he returns to the city to get it back. Carefully paced, the film is a quiet powerful film about living with the past and reconciliation. Also, the scene in the contemporary restaurant is one of the best scenes from any film this year.

12. Belfast - Kenneth Branagh
Writer-director Kenneth Branagh’s tribute to the time and place he grew up in as a child in 1969 Belfast. It’s a emotionally powerful story of community and tension between family roots and the need to provide a safe space for your family when current circumstances feel untenable. Jaime Dornan and Caitriona Balfe are terrific as the parents of newcomer Jude Hill’s Buddy. Especially moving are the performances from Ciaran Hinds and Judi Dench as the grandparents.

11. Spider-Man: No Way Home - Jon Watts
By far the biggest movie of 2021, No Way Home was simply fan service done right. Giving audiences what they wanted while also taking care to do it respectfully to the franchise and the iterations of the character than have come before. With great power comes great responsibility, and Marvel did well with the responsibility it was given here.

10. Zola - Janicza Bravo
Y’all wanna hear a story? Zola is one of the most unique films of the year, with its origins in an epic tweet thread of a weekend trip to Florida gone wrong in 2015. It’s also one of the most inventive films of 2021 too. It captures the spirit and energy of its source material better than anyone could expect, and is nothing short of a gonzo odyssey to the most surreal Florida experience since Spring Breakers.

9. The Last Duel - Ridley Scott
Ridley Scott sword and sandal epics are hit or miss. This one was a bit hit for me, adapting a Rashomon-style to tell its tale of power, betrayal, insecurity, politics, misogyny, and more through the eyes of its three main characters portrayed by Matt Damon, Adam Driver, and Jodie Comer (who genuinely outshines her co-stars). And yes, hate them if you want, but I thought the mullets were glorious and their presence alone made the film 5% better.

8. In the Heights - Jon M. Chu
When I think back on seeing In the Heights over the summer, the first thing I think of is energy. This film is bursting with energy. It has a joy and exuberance that is undeniable, from the singing to the dancing to the acting and even the cinematography. Love the magical realism when they start dancing on the side of the building during “When the Sun Goes Down.”

7. West Side Story - Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg’s first musical is a remake of a beloved classic, and you can count me among those who think his version is an improvement on film that won Best Picture in 1962. It is a fresh and thrilling update to the Sondheim classic, with the added context of the ultimate futility of the two gangs fighting for control of a rapidly diminishing territory actually adding to the tragedy of the tale. Also, Rachel Zegler is nothing short of a revelation.

6. C’mon C’mon - Mike Mills
I haven’t seen all of Mike Mills’ filmography, but I have seen Beginners and now C’mon C’mon. Based on these films, I believe Mike Mills is one of the most empathetic writer/directors. While his sister focuses on getting her mentally unstable husband the help he needs, Joaquin Phoenix’s NPR reporter takes his nephew on a cross-country trip where they connect and bond in a way that is good for both of them, but also challenges and grows them. Woody Norman is a natural child actor.

5. The Power of the Dog - Jane Campion
A western psychological thriller from Jane Campion, using the gorgeous vistas of New Zealand as a substitute for 1920s Montana. Outstanding performances from Benedict Cumerbatch, Jesse Plemons, Kirsten Dunst, and Kodi Smith-McPhee. Beware of Chekov’s *redacted*.

4. Dune - Denis Villeneuve
I am no fan of David Lynch’s 1984 adaptation, and I am a huge Villeneuve fan, so I was eagerly anticipating this film, and it delivered. High-level sci-fi with beautiful cinematography and special effects that bring this world to life. In a year full of Chalamet, this was his best performance. Can’t wait for Part 2.

3. Licorice Pizza - Paul Thomas Anderson
Was expecting something quirky like Punch-Drunk Love, but this is not that kind of movie. PTA delivers a coming of age dramedy with only aspirations toward romance some of the time. Mostly it is the story of two people, who seems perfectly suited for one another in some ways and ill-fitting for one another in a few others, spending the entire film trying to figure themselves out. In other words, they’re messy and flawed like real people are. That this is the first film roles for leads Cooper Hoffman (son of the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman) and Alana Haim (of Haim) is breathtaking; they’re naturals.

2. The French Dispatch - Wes Anderson
Of course, an anthology film is kind of perfectly suited to Wes Anderson’s sensibilities. The fictional magazine from which the film derives it title is the skeleton that Anderson uses to hang a series of eccentric vignettes for our viewing pleasure that vary in length. It features the regulars of the Wes Anderson repertory players (Owen Wilson, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, et al.), plus a few outstanding additions like Benicio del Toro and Jeffrey Wright.

1. The Green Knight - David Lowery
Nothing stuck with me like David Lowery’s adaptation of the Arthurian tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Visually, it is sumptuous. Story-wise, I was reminded of the quote from Three Kings about fear and courage: You do the thing you’re scared s***less of, and you get the courage after you do it, not before you do it. Dev Patel’s Gawain wants to be a great knight like the ones he has seen and the tales he has been told of them. But at nearly every turn he is found lacking in several areas that would be considered the virtues of a knight: mainly integrity. When confronted with possibly dying with honor or living as a coward, Lowery affords Gawain a glimpse at a life in taking the cowards way out of his fate. None of us are afforded this foresight in reality, but we have these fables and tales as markers to remind us that even if it looks imperceptible to us, there is a difference between the right choice and the easy way out.