Favorite Films of 2021
Cinema has shown incredible resiliency as our world enters its second year of pandemic-era life, and 2021 has proven to be a miraculous reemergence for film culture as societies figure out how to navigate this new world safely. With the reopening of many theaters and the resumption of film festivals, movie-going culture is once again gaining momentum as a vital cultural force across the globe. The theatrical release calendar of 2021 (particularly the last half of the year) has provided no shortage of notable films to see - ranging from Hollywood Blockbusters to Arthouse films. While many are becoming accustomed to streaming new movies from the comfort of their couches, returning to theaters and seeing films in a communal space has brought back a sense of normalcy that I, as a cinephile, have found to be both inspiring and refreshing. Although 2021 has brought so many great films to my attention, here is a compilation of my favorites of the year that I support with great passion.
*At the end of this feature, you will find a list of honorable mentions and a list of the films I have not yet seen*
10. The Last Duel, Directed by Ridley Scott:
Although Ridley Scott's The Last Duel failed to gain any traction during its theatrical release, it serves as one of the blockbuster director's strongest films of recent memory. With its three-chapter structure told from each of its main character's perspectives in Rashomon style and a particular emphasis on the female perspective, The Last Duel is an exciting take on its Medieval source material. The film is most interesting in its treatment of Jodi Comer's character Marguerite, who serves as the film's moral compass despite her marginalized status and unfair treatment as a woman of the times. Building to a finale that may be one of the year's best action scenes, The Last Duel is one of the year's most impressive and engaging period films.
The Last Duel is available to rent digitally and on-demand via Disney+.
09. The Card Counter - Directed by Paul Schrader:
Schrader's The Card Counter expertly adheres to the iconic writer/director's fixation with men at moral odds with the world around them. Oscar Issac is the film's centrifugal force, subtly but skillfully portraying a character called William Tell who attempts to reconcile with the violence of his past. In unexpected turns, the film tackles the brutal modern history of America with intriguing tones, reflecting the experience of Schrader, who is still making great films at seventy-five years old. I was not particularly anticipating The Card Counter, but it surprised me and earned its spot as a favorite of the year.
The Card Counter is now available to rent and purchase digitally.
08. Spencer - Directed by Pablo Larraín:
As a longtime fanboy of Larraín's work, I knew his take on the late Princess would be far from conventional, and he surely did not disappoint with Spencer. Much more a gothic horror tale than a realistic biopic, Spencer aims to explore Princess Di's frame of mind as a young woman and mother facing a crumbling marriage in a near-impossible situation as she chooses to step away from the British Monarchy. As the Princess, Kristen Stewart delivers the best performance of her career, serving up an emotional and visceral performance that transcends the territory of most other biopics. Sumptuous in style, non-conformist in structure, Spencer is one of 2021's most idiosyncratic films.
Spencer is now playing in theaters and is available digitally.
07. Passing - Directed by Rebecca Hall:
Rebecca Hall's glorious, complex black and white feature debut, Passing, offers critical explorations of race and identity, working through a period setting to connect these crucial matters to the modern era, where society is aiming to acknowledge these issues troubling our world. Centered around characters performed by Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga, the two offer nuanced portrayals of African American women who have taken very different paths in their lives. Even upon first viewing, the intricate narrative world built by Hall in Passing was a completely immersive experience, making me question many aspects of our relationships in society - which are never black and white.
Passing is now available to stream on Netflix.
06. The Souvenir Part II, Directed by Joanna Hogg:
I wouldn't say I liked the first part of The Souvenir when it came out in 2019; I thought it was meandering and dull. However, upon revisiting the film in 2021, I loved its emotional restraint and realistic tone. Therefore, I became very excited to see The Souvenir Part II and was amazed by its liberations from the first portion as its main character Julie works through her grief and creative process. Based on Hogg's own experiences during film school in 1980's London, Part II impressively works as a coming-of-age tale that shatters the partitions between life and art. I consider A24's first sequel The Souvenir Part II to be one of the year's most polished and accomplished films.
The Souvenir Part II is currently running a limited theatrical release.
05. The Green Knight, Directed by David Lowery:
Initially slated for a 2020 release, The Green Knight was one of the films I was most excited to see this year. A profound admirer of Lowery's ability to work across all genres, the director bravely took on the source material of the fourteenth-century poem and instilled his sensibilities for style and humanistic tones to create a unique coming-of-age epic fantasy. An eclectic cast including Dev Patel, Alicia Vikander, and Ralph Ineson work together to bring relevance to modern times into the narrative, a freshness also reinforced by Lowery's orbicular screenplay. A wonderous, almost psychedelic visual feast, The Green Knight provided a distinctive cinematic experience unlike any other of the year.
The Green Knight is being re-released in theaters on December 10th and is also available digitally and on Blu-Ray.
04. Titane, Directed by Julia Ducournau:
Attending the North American premiere of Titane in the Midnight Madness section at TIFF (where a member of the audience fainted, was revived, and went right back in to finish the movie) was one of the most rewarding collective experiences of my life as a film lover. Provocative through its genre-bending and representations of gender identity, Titane is one of the most fearless and challenging films of the year. Ducournau serves up a cinematic adventure unlike any other through violence, transformation, and love. The first ten minutes of the film alone were enough to draw me into the experience, only to pull the rug out from underneath me again and again, and again! While Titane may not be a film for everyone, its wild exercises in New French Extremism and queer theory have had me raving for months now, solidifying Titane's daring narrative in my mind as one of 2021's best films.
Titane is now available to rent and purchase on digital demand.
03. Memoria, directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul:
In my eyes, Memoria was the cinematic experience of 2021. I was lucky enough to see it in the world's oldest permanent IMAX theater, arguably the best way to watch this mesmerizing film. Over two hours in length, you have to surrender yourself to Memoria, just as the film's Scottish ex-pat Jessica (played masterfully by Tilda Swinton) concedes to her alien surroundings of Bogota, Columbia. Merging history and memory with the lush natural beauty of the city, Weerasethakul works with his unique sensibility to curate something that is not just a film but a meditation, and a work of performance art. Memoria is an exceptional experience that must be seen in theaters to cast its magical spell; it had me enchanted from just one viewing.
Memoria will be in U.S theaters beginning December 26th. After that, it will take a never-ending tour of the country, playing one theater at a time.
02. The Power of the Dog - Directed by Jane Campion
Embarrassingly, The Power of the Dog is the first film I have seen by the long-respected Kiwi auteur Jane Campion. Since seeing it at TIFF's opening weekend, this film has been searing in my mind as a masterful period piece that devilishly dismantles many traditional forms of toxic masculinity. Expert direction and performances work together to form a Revisionist Western unlike any we have ever seen. Undoubtedly, The Power of the Dog will win audiences over with its slow-burn nature and incredibly satisfying narrative.
The Power of the Dog is now available to stream on Netflix.
01. Flee, directed by Jonas Poher Rasmussen:
In a year packed with anomalous, invigorating movies, Danish filmmaker Jonas Poher Rasmussen's Flee has taken the top spot as my favorite film of 2021. Animated to aid in protecting the identity of the film's subject, Amin, Flee centers around the extraordinary and heartbreaking retelling of a real person's childhood experience escaping Afghanistan during the country's Civil War. As an adult seeking refuge in Denmark, Amin shares his story for the first time through the creation of Flee, taking the audience on an unmatched emotional journey as they learn more of his inhumane experiences fleeing his birthplace. Through the retelling of his past, Amin can see how it has affected his adult life, relationships, and even his sexuality. With its fresh perspectives and daring form, Flee exists as a documentary unlike any other, one that works to great lengths to convey the importance and anguish of Amin's account. Furthermore, Flee is an emotional journey emphasizing inhuman experiences shared by millions of people worldwide.
Flee is now in a limited theatrical release that will expand over time.
Honorable Mentions:
Bergman Island
C’mon, C’mon
Lamb
Zola
Have Yet To See:
Drive My Car
Licorice Pizza
Nightmare Alley
Parallel Mothers
West Side Story