The movies are BACK. Spider-Man: No Way Home made $1.8B worldwide, shattering all pandemic era records and along with some other box office hits, signified that the world is ready to go back to the movies. And because of the holdover from movies shelved for 2020, 2021 had so many great things to choose from. Streaming services still played a huge role this year- 3 of my top 10 (and 5 of the year's 10 Best Picture nominees) appeared on streaming services simultaneously with a theatrical release. With our daughter moving into the toddler phase, it's more and more difficult to get to the theater these days, but we still made quite a few trips because of all the compelling films to see. And while Spider-Man didn't make my top 10, it was still an awesome crowd experience on opening weekend and a reminder that there's a fun energy that goes with watching a movie with a hyped up crowd.
Of my top 10, 7 were nominated for Best Picture. I didn't feel that there were any real Academy snubs this year. That is, unless you want to have the Spider-Man conversation. No Way Home was an incredibly fun and satisfying Marvel film. It gave the audience everything it could want from the multiverse and left pretty much everyone feeling good leaving the theater. But as with all Marvel movies, it was still a bit basic in its storytelling and action, and adhered to the Marvel "good but never great" formula. The only real argument in my opinion to nominate it would be to get more interest in the Awards themselves, as many casual movie goers would tune in to root for Spider-Man way more than they would a 3 hour Japanese film (Drive My Car- this year's Roma, aka a well made film in a foreign language that is painfully boring). And of course there's always the argument that no one should care about the Academy Awards anyway because it's just a bunch of pretentious out of touch Hollywoodites sniffing their own farts for 3 hours. And I can't really refute that sentiment. But the Oscars do still serve as the "pencil sketch" of movies in our culture, and if it can help encourage people to see underseen but excellent films like Power of the Dog, Nightmare Alley, and Coda, the Awards can still have value.
Here are my top 10 of 2021! Another great thing about 2021 is that almost all of these are on streaming services, right now. It's a great time to be a moviegoer!
1. Dune (HBOMax)
Dune is one of the most beautiful epic's since 2015's Mad Max:Fury Road. Gorgeous alien worlds that slightly mirror our own create a visual and sound masterpiece. There's no one that makes movies that look as consistently good as Denis Villeneuve (Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, Sicario). While the movie is only half of the story (Part 2 coming in 2023!), I was still enthralled by the intricacies of the world. The true standout of the film is Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho, punching up some of the more serious sections of the film with some movie-star charm.
2. Power of the Dog (Netflix)
A methodical, contemplative Western that explodes in the last 30 minutes, Power of the Dog will entrance you in the world of rancher Phil Burbank. Director Jane Campion explores a ton of serious themes including friendship, manhood, sexuality and courage, but most go in ways you wouldn't expect. And by the end of the film, I left feeling ways that I'm sure the filmmakers did not intend. I'll leave you to watch and decide, but PotD has stuck in my brain since I watched.
3. Nightmare Alley (HBOMax/Hulu)
This was a theater experience I won't likely forget, the enrapturing world of a late 1930's con man is as beautiful as you'll see on film. Darkly beautiful, certainly, which has led a lot of people to be turned off by having to spend 150 minutes with antihero Stan Carlisle (Bradley Cooper). But if you can let yourself be sucked into the world, it will compel for all of those minutes.
4. No Time to Die
Daniel Craig's run as Bond has finally come to an end and Cary Joji Fukunaga's lone entry into the saga will be a standout. Bond has already gone through about as many character arcs as he can in the previous 4 film's starring Craig, so really all No Time to Die had to do was send things off right. There were some brilliant mirrors to the underrated 1960's Bond On Her Majesty's Secret Service, and a lot of satisfying James Bond flair. I'm excited to see where the character goes next, but I can safely say that Craig has been my favorite Bond!
5. Licorice Pizza
I was extremely wary of this film. Not because I thought the trailer looked bad or that the cast was lousy- in fact those were the things that intrigued me. It was solely because my two previous experiences with director Paul Thomas Anderson were There Will be Blood and Punch Drunk Love, two of the more mundane movies I've ever seen. But Licorice Pizza completely overcame all that as a sweet, funny and nostalgic coming of age film. I'm a sucker for the 1970's and Anderson clearly revisited his childhood in the San Fernando Valley to create a dreamy world of young love and frustration. Bradley Cooper steals the show in an insane bit part, and the soundtrack (The Doors, Paul McCartney, etc.) is exquisite. A wonderful hangout movie that I didn't want to leave!
6. West Side Story (HBOMax/Disney Plus)
Another movie I did not expect to love but I'm not really sure why I would ever doubt Steven Spielberg. I like the original West Side Story, but it had a fatal flaw- Natalie Wood. And this isn't even a complaint for the sake of political correctness, she's just completely wrong for the part of Maria. That is completely remedied in the 2021 remake, with Rachel Zegler performing the role perfectly. The film is vibrant and moves with the sweeping pace that only Spielberg can make effortless. Several of the songs standout, but the Anita led "America" is stunning.
7. A Quiet Place Part II (Paramount Plus)
These films are the perfect example of the importance of great direction and editing. The world of the Quiet Place films start to break down if you think about them for more than 5 minutes. In fact, if you're doing it right now... (why don't they all live by waterfalls if the monsters can't hear over the sound? If you can't even whisper to each other, what happens when someone has a cough??) - stop it! These movies are about thrills and suspense and Part II is 97 minutes of just that. The opening scene alone showing how the world descended into madness is as enthralling as it gets. And the final 30 minutes of cross-cutting tension will have you wired until the end.
8. Coda (Apple Plus)
A wonderful family drama about a child of deaf parents that is a feel-good throwback. There's always room for movies about the power of love and family!
9. Belfast
Kenneth Branagh decided to make his version of Roma- a black and white drama about his time growing up in a tumultuous world. But where Roma bored, Belfast entertains with heart and humor. Like CODA, there's always room for a great family drama.
10. House of Gucci
Ridley Scott's Gucci family melodrama is one of the most hilariously over the top movies you'll ever see. Every actor in this film decides to turn into a delicious Christmas ham, but no one is more hammy than Jared Leto. I couldn't decide whether he was playing Paolo Gucci or a Super Mario brother. And yet, there's something entirely captivating about the commitment to the sensationalist source material. Plus, having been filmed on-location in Europe by one of the great director's of all time, it's a wonderful movie to look at. Your mileage may vary on this one, but I had a great time.
