The Best Movies of 2021
Movie Details
Although we all went into 2021 hoping that it would be a significantly better year than 2020, that wasn’t exactly the case. The COVID-19 pandemic continued to rage on throughout the world, and even now, in December of 2021, we are still dealing with the pandemic.
Gratefully though, we had plenty of films to see this year to keep us all entertained and distract us from the terrifying real world that we all live in. As I’m sure you all can expect, I try to see as many movies as possible in a year, and in 2021, I saw more movies than I’ve ever seen in any calendar year. I saw one-hundred-and-fifty-five new releases, which to me, is staggering. I’ll make a separate article this week ranking every new release from worst to best, but for now, this article will focus on my top twenty-five favorites of the year.
At this point, it should be common sense but I’ll say it anyway – this is my personal opinion. Some of the films on my list may be ones that you loathe, and that’s okay. It’s honestly beautiful that films can be discussed and debated upon. Additionally, I want to make it clear that I haven’t seen every major release in 2021. Films such as Licorice Pizza and Nightmare Alley won’t be on my list. I haven’t seen them as I didn’t receive screeners for either.
But for now – let’s delve straight into my twenty-five favorites of the year.
25. The Mitchells vs. the Machines
Young Katie Mitchell (Abbi Jacobson) embarks on a road trip with her proud parents, younger brother, and beloved dog to start her first year at film school. But their plans to bond as a family soon get interrupted when the world’s electronic devices come to life to stage an uprising. With help from two friendly robots, the Mitchells must now come together to save one another — and the planet — from the new technological revolution.
It’s the definition of a feel-good family comedy that also delivers the goods when it comes to the emotional elements. Katie Mitchell is essentially a child prodigy when it comes to filmmaking. She’s been making fun little short films with her brother and dog ever since her toddler years and she knows that the film industry is where she belongs. She knows that it is calling to her.
A lot of us are still at home with nothing to do, but gratefully, we have plenty of amazing choices for films and television shows to watch to keep us busy. And if you are looking for something terrific to watch this weekend, The Mitchells vs. the Machines is absolutely one of the best viewing options out there in 2021.
24. The Green Knight
King Arthur’s headstrong nephew Sir Gawain (Dev Patel) embarks on a daring quest to confront the Green Knight (Ralph Ineson), a mysterious giant who appears at Camelot. Risking his head, he sets off on an epic adventure to prove himself before his family and court.
This is the definition of an acid-trippy movie – sometimes things will happen on-screen that will make your eyes bug out of your head and you’ll feel like you’re dreaming because it’s the only logical explanation. But, alas, you’re not dreaming. You’re simply watching the work of a genius writer/director at work and one that’s lightyears ahead of his craft. It’s all further propelled by an absolutely masterful performance by Dev Patel in the role of Sir Gawain who not only delivers the best performance of his career here but also one of the best performances I have seen in years. Sadly I can’t see the Academy nominating him for Best Actor since this is a genre film, but I genuinely hope that his hard work does not go unnoticed here because it’s a thing of beauty.
The Green Knight is nothing short of a masterpiece. It’s easily one of the most bizarre and unrelentingly tense movies I’ve seen in years and, simply put, a movie I will never, ever forget. David Lowery proves yet again he is one of the best filmmakers working today, crafting a film that asks so much from its viewers – something I love.
23. The Many Saints of Newark
Young Anthony Soprano (Michael Gandolfini) is growing up in one of the most tumultuous eras in Newark, New Jersey, history, becoming a man just as rival gangsters start to rise up and challenge the all-powerful DiMeo crime family. Caught up in the changing times is the uncle he idolizes, Dickie Moltisanti (Alessandro Nivola), whose influence over his nephew will help shape the impressionable teenager into the all-powerful mob boss, Tony Soprano.
Easily the scene-stealer here is Alessandro Nivola as Dickie Moltisanti who took me by complete surprise here. I haven’t seen too much of his work but after watching his electrifying and genuinely terrifying performance here as a ruthless man who stops at nothing to get what he wants, I will absolutely be on the lookout for him in future roles. To be honest, every single one of the cast members could be up for Academy Award nominations – they’re that good. Nivola owns every scene, Gandolfini is a revelation, and Vera Farmiga portrays Livia Soprano so well it’s actually kind of staggering.
Many fans of the series are going to be in for quite a delight at all the small easter eggs and callbacks to The Sopranos in this movie – scenes that are so small but are able to put a smile on your face. Some will call it a ton of fan service, but I don’t think so. Yes, there are definitely moments where the film pulls at the nostalgic strings but it’s not a problem really, because at its core, The Many Saints of Newark has a great story, front and center. It’s two hours long and yet, whenever the goosebump-inducing credits start to roll, I wanted to see two more hours of it. This film definitely has the makings of a Varsity athlete.
22. King Richard
Armed with a clear vision and a brazen, seventy-eight-page plan, Richard Williams (Will Smith) is determined to write his two daughters, Venus (Saniyya Sidney) and Serena (Demi Singleton), into history. Training on tennis courts in Compton, California, Richard shapes the girls’ unyielding commitment and keen intuition. Together, the Williams family defies seemingly insurmountable odds and the prevailing expectations laid before them.
Smith’s performance as Richard Williams just may be the best of his career. He is so charismatic and lovable here. Flawed yet skilled. He feels like the type of guy you’d love to sit down and have an hour-long conversation with about life, sports, and the world around you, and Smith couldn’t have done a better job portraying this man. Don’t be surprised if you see Smith’s name on the Best Actor nominee list in the coming months.
King Richard does follow some tried-and-true formulas of sports biopic dramas, and that’s to be expected. Sometimes, you just have to include some of these ingredients in order to complete the recipe. This movie does utilize the painfully tired montage sequence where we watch somebody start off iffy before they ultimately become great, and it’s a bit frustrating. But, the ending did take me by surprise because of how unpredictable it was. It’s not the best movie of the year, but it is one of them, and it reminded me of how much I love sports biopics.
21. C’mon C’mon
Johnny (Joaquin Phoenix) is an emotionally stunted and softspoken radio journalist who travels the country interviewing a variety of kids about their thoughts concerning their world and their future. Then Johnny’s saddled with caring for his young nephew Jesse (Woody Norman). Jesse brings a new perspective and, as they travel from state to state, effectively turns the emotional tables on Johnny.
The story is simply heartwarming by nature thanks to Joaquin Phoenix and Woody Norman’s incredible performances. Here, they have absolutely terrific chemistry together and make for such a believable duo. By watching this film, you’d swear that Norman is Phoenix’s nephew in real-life. They go through tons of turmoil in the film but their love for one another always comes out on top. It’s nearly impossible to not smile at least a dozen times while watching them in C’mon C’mon.
By the time Mike Mills’ C’mon C’mon comes to a close, you’ll find yourself wrapped up in tons of emotion. You’ll have a gigantic smile on your face, and you’ll wish the film was two hours longer. You’ll want to stick around and watch the adventures of Johnny and Jesse forever, but, of course, that’s not possible. I’m just grateful that I got to spend one-hundred-and-eight minutes with them, because it was some of the best one-hundred-and-eight minutes I’ve spent watching a film all year.
20. Ghostbusters: Afterlife
When a single mother – Callie (Carrie Coon) – and her two children Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) and Phoebe (Mckenna Grace) move to a new town, they soon discover they have a connection to the original Ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind.
The best addition to the cast here is without a doubt Mckenna Grace who portrays the lead character, Phoebe. Not only is she the most well-written character in the franchise to date, but she also packs in a ton of charm and likability. She has quite an intriguing and detailed past, and it’s a genuine treat to get to learn more about her as the story progresses. Grace manages to deliver her best performance to date and is overall one of my personal favorite performances of the year so far.
Some are going to walk out of Ghostbusters: Afterlife feeling a bit disappointed because there is a ton of nostalgia, whereas others are going to walk out with a huge smile on their face because they feel as though they just witnessed a delightfully entertaining, emotionally charged, and magical experience. Personally, I fall into the latter group of people.
19. A Quiet Place Part II
Following the deadly events at home, Evelyn (Emily Blunt), Regan (Millicent Simmonds), and Marcus Abbott (Noah Jupe) must now face the terrors of the outside world as they continue their fight for survival in silence. Forced to venture into the unknown, they quickly realize that the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats that lurk beyond the sand path.
Of course, Emily Blunt does a phenomenal job in the role of Evelyn Abbott once more. It’s genuinely insane just how easy Blunt makes acting look. But one of the most surprisingly good performances here was from Millicent Simmonds as Regan Abbott. In the first film, she didn’t really get all that much to do but the same thing cannot be said here. She essentially gets a front-and-center role here and I am extremely glad that she did.
At the end of the day, there genuinely was not a single element in A Quiet Place Part II that I did not fall in love with. It’s a masterpiece of the horror genre and is now my favorite movie of the year. Hats off to John Krasinski and the rest of the cast and crew for creating a sequel that defies the odds.
18. Black Widow
Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), also known as Black Widow, confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy, and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.
The moment Black Widow ended, I honestly wanted to watch it again immediately. It’s a nearly two-and-a-half-hour movie but I felt like I could have watched two-and-a-half hours more. I am just so incredibly ecstatic that we finally live in a day and age where characters like Natasha Romanoff are getting their time to shine in the spotlight. My only wish is that this film came out before Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, because I feel as though a trilogy focusing on this character would have been phenomenal. Scarlett Johansson and Florence Pugh have never been better.
But even though we are getting a Black Widow solo movie prequel after we already know she dies later on down the road, I am still glad that we got it because it’s a film that floored me in ways that I didn’t expect. Even if you’re not necessarily a big Marvel fan, seek out Black Widow, because I think it’ll surprise and inspire you as well.
17. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) must confront the past he thought he had left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization. The film also stars Tony Leung as Wenwu, Awkwafina as Shang-Chi’s friend Katy and Michelle Yeoh as Jiang Nan, as well as Fala Chen, Meng’er Zhang, Florian Munteanu, and Ronny Chieng.
A large part of why this movie was so great is the cast. Simu Liu is an actor I’ve heard only a bit about throughout the years, but I can say wholeheartedly that he was the perfect choice to play the titular character. He is the embodiment of a charming, badass, and heartfelt warrior and it’s nearly impossible not to smile whenever he’s on-screen. His beliefs and core values are going to speak to a lot of kids around the world. If Brie Larson‘s Captain Marvel is a symbol for girls out there, then surely Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi will be a symbol for boys around the world. Liu and Awkwafina have terrific chemistry here as well, never once feeling awkward off one another. It’s clear that these two are incredibly talented actors and they felt like actual people in this movie instead of actors portraying fictional people.
To pass Shang-Chi off as nothing more than mindless, popcorn entertainment would be a grave mistake because it’s so much more than that. Yes, it’s a superhero movie and you can probably predict some of the things that are inevitably going to go down in the third act, but the journey along the way is strikingly beautiful and one of the best in recent years, and in the entirety of the MCU. Shang-Chi is an emotionally powerful, action-packed journey and one that I’ll truly never forget.
16. Halloween Kills
The nightmare isn’t over as unstoppable killer Michael Myers (James Jude Courtney, Nick Castle) escapes from Laurie Strode’s (Jamie Lee Curtis) trap to continue his ritual bloodbath. Injured and taken to the hospital, Laurie fights through the pain as she inspires residents of Haddonfield, Illinois, to rise up against Myers. Taking matters into their own hands, the Strode women – Laurie, Karen (Judy Greer), and Allyson (Andi Matichak), as well as other survivors, form a vigilante mob to hunt down Michael and end his reign of terror once and for all.
Aside from the absolutely terrific story and its handling of grief and loss, the film also boasts some truly incredible performances. Jamie Lee Curtis takes more of a backseat this time around and serves as more of a side character this time around, but I actually didn’t mind that too much because of her circumstances and plus, her scenes in the hospital were the epitome of emotional. Anthony Michael Hall is a revelation as Tommy Doyle, delivering a nuanced and layered performance that I truly didn’t know he was capable of delivering.
And what kind of Halloween movie would it be without an eerie and atmospheric score? John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter, and Daniel Davies all teamed up to compose the score for this film, and it’s absolutely haunting in all the best ways. There were so many moments in this film that legitimately gave me goosebumps because of how well-executed they were, and the score was just the cherry on top. Halloween Kills is a devilishly bloody and riveting film that takes the franchise to extravagant new heights with huge emotional payoffs throughout.
15. Eternals
The Eternals, a race of immortal beings with superhuman powers – consisting of Sersi (Gemma Chan), Ikaris (Richard Madden), Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani), Sprite (Lia McHugh), Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry), Makkari (Lauren Ridloff), Druig (Barry Keoghan), Gilgamesh (Don Lee), Ajak (Salma Hayek), and Thena (Angelina Jolie) – have secretly lived on Earth for thousands of years, and now must reunite to battle the evil Deviants.
At this point, we are so used to the MCU films giving us a certain formula and we have to just roll with it, whether we like it or not. They all sort of follow the same path albeit with different storylines and characters. Sometimes when you watch an MCU movie, you just get that feeling like you’re back in the universe. Back at home. This is not the feeling one gets while watching Eternals. Everything about this film breaks the MCU mold – it doesn’t open up with the epic Marvel Studios theme song and credits but rather, a Blade Runner 2049-esque text crawl that lets us in on what we are about to watch.
The only real complaint I have with Eternals is that at times, it can be a bit muddled, and sometimes you’ll be left a bit confused as to where the story will ultimately go. But once things get more clear, you will be in for quite a special treat. Eternals isn’t going to be everybody’s cup of tea, but there’s also no denying just how brave, daring, and ambitious it truly is. In the MCU, a movie this bold is practically non-existent which makes me even more glad this film even exists in the first place.
14. Candyman
In the present day, a decade after the last of the Cabrini towers were torn down, Anthony McCoy (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) and his partner Brianna Cartwright (Teyonah Parris) move into a loft in the now gentrified Cabrini. A chance encounter with an old-timer exposes Anthony to the true story behind Candyman. Anxious to use these macabre details in his studio as fresh grist for paintings, he unknowingly opens a door to a complex past that unravels his own sanity and unleashes a terrifying wave of violence.
Horror films like this one truly don’t come around often and sadly, whenever they do, not many people go to see them. Candyman has one of the most unique approaches to the genre I’ve witnessed in years. Instead of being an in-your-face horror slasher, it instead focuses a great deal on the world around the Candyman and how the legend of the feared villain has affected so many people in the Cabrini-Green area. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is asked to do so much here and yet he rises above and beyond the occasion. He absolutely owns this role and you can feel every emotion he is trying to portray. He is most definitely a rising star in the making and I can only hope he gets more famous as the years go on.
Bringing a Candyman sequel to life would be a difficult task for any director to do, no matter how accomplished they are, but DaCosta truly makes it look easy here. We don’t get movies like this one often. It’s the rare type of horror that’ll get people talking and one that will stay in your head for a long time. It’ll also make you afraid of looking into the mirror. Just don’t say Candyman five times. Or maybe you should do it. I’ll leave that choice up to you.
13. Spencer
The marriage between Princess Diana (Kristen Stewart) and Prince Charles (Jack Farthing) has long since grown cold. Though rumors of affairs and a divorce abound, peace is ordained for the Christmas festivities at the queen’s estate. There’s eating and drinking, shooting and hunting. Diana knows the game, but this year, things will be profoundly different.
To be able to live and simply, just… live, is a bit boring after a while for Diana. She wants to get out there and see the world for what it really is and not just what’s been told to her. Steven Knight‘s script for this film is absolutely marvellous and does a terrific job at exploring Diana’s mindset during her life. There are so many sequences in this movie that are flawlessly crafted and it’s without a doubt one of the most impressive movies of the whole year. If this doesn’t get nominated for Best Picture at the upcoming Academy Awards ceremony, it would be ludicrous.
Speaking of Academy Awards… Kristen Stewart. This actress has always been talented. Yeah, I don’t mind her in Twilight even. Seriously. But people seem to think that her role as Bella Swan is the only thing she’s ever done which is just ridiculous. She’s done plenty of tremendous things as an actress ever since then and yet her role as Princess Diana in Spencer is the best of her whole career thus far. Spencer is a marvelously gripping film directed beautifully by Pablo Larraín and featuring a masterful performance from Kristen Stewart. It’s such a simplistic film but that’s kind of what I love about it so much. This is exactly the type of movie that reminds me of why I love movies.
12. The Suicide Squad
Welcome to hell–a.k.a. Belle Reve, the prison with the highest mortality rate in the USA. Where the worst Super-Villains are kept and where they will do anything to get out–even join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X. Today’s do-or-die assignment? Assemble a collection of cons, including Bloodsport, Peacemaker, Captain Boomerang, Ratcatcher 2, Savant, King Shark, Blackguard, Javelin, and everyone’s favorite psycho, Harley Quinn. Then arm them heavily and drop them (literally) on the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese.
James Gunn’s new superhero outing is the movie that the first Suicide Squad should have been and so much more. It’s unapologetically vibrant and insanely fun with not a single dull moment in sight. Whether it’s the team getting into an all-out brawl with a group of villains or getting into hilarious arguments with one another, there’s something of entertainment value happening in every passing moment. It’s also gleefully gory and violent, unlike any comic book movie I’ve ever seen. Some of the kills in this movie make the Saw movies look tame in comparison. Heads come off shoulders and bodies convulse in this sick and twisted movie but it’s never done in a way that seems like they’re trying to show off. It simply feels like a genuine and honest comic book movie that isn’t afraid to show how some kills would really happen in these scenarios.
The Suicide Squad is a movie that you absolutely must check out if you’re looking for a good time at the movies, and honestly, who isn’t? This year has been fairly good for movies so far but up until this point, nothing has even come close to reaching the heights of what James Gunn and company have delivered here. I’m just so glad that we live in a world where we finally have a Suicide Squad movie that actually does the team justice.
11. Drive My Car
Two years after his wife’s unexpected death, Yusuke Kafuku (Hidetoshi Nishijima), a renowned stage actor and director, receives an offer to direct a production of Uncle Vanya at a theater festival in Hiroshima. There, he meets Misaki Watari (Toko Miura), a taciturn young woman assigned by the festival to chauffeur him in his beloved red Saab 900. As the production’s premiere approaches, tensions mount amongst the cast and crew, not least between Yusuke and Koji Takatsuki, a handsome television star who shares an unwelcome connection to Yusuke’s late wife. Forced to confront painful truths raised from his past, Yusuke begins — with the help of his driver — to face the haunting mysteries his wife left behind.
It’s one of the only films from 2021 where I truly felt moved by the time it was over. Usually, when I watch a film as long as this one, I get incredibly bored midway through because, more often than not, films with that length are filled with scenes that quite literally feel pointless and only exist just to pad the running time out more. But there’s legitimately not a single scene in Drive My Car that feels like it could’ve been removed to make the story flow better. Every frame here is worth looking at. Every frame tells a story and every line of dialogue means something too.
Drive My Car is very similar in style and tone to Edward Yang‘s Yi Yi – one of my favorite films of all time. Both films are incredibly long and feature endless scenes of people talking and living out their day-to-day lives. But the script is so clean and precise, the story is so simple yet so heartwarming and emotionally powerful, that I’d dare say it’s impossible not to feel wrapped up in Drive My Car by the time it comes to a close.
10. Zack Snyder’s Justice League
Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s (Henry Cavill) selfless act, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) enlists newfound ally Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) to face an even greater threat. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to recruit a team to stand against this newly awakened enemy. Despite the formation of an unprecedented league of heroes — Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman (Jason Momoa), Cyborg (Ray Fisher), and the Flash (Ezra Miller) — it may be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.
The initial Justice League from 2017 felt way too comedic and it felt like it never really took itself seriously which was made all the more strange when you consider the fact that the film is about an evil creature known as Steppenwolf who wants to destroy humanity as we know it. Sure, a couple of jokes here and there would have been okay and tolerable, but it felt like the entire movie was ridiculously light and tame. Thankfully, the same thing cannot be said about Zack Snyder’s film. Here, we understand the stakes and how humongous they are. There’s never a moment here when you feel as if the task the Justice League is trying to accomplish isn’t too important like in the original film. Snyder ensures that the viewer is hooked into this story and makes sure the audience understands that the stakes are high and if they fail their mission, humanity is literally doomed.
The only thing that’s genuinely depressing about Zack Snyder’s Justice League is that, by the time it comes to a close, you come to the unfortunate realization that we are never going to get a follow-up to it. The DC Extended Universe and Warner Bros. have moved on from this storyline and are trying different things now. After watching Whedon’s Justice League, that was understandable and many people didn’t really blame them for wanting to move on from it. But I guarantee that after you watch Zack Snyder’s Justice League, you’re going to want so much more. It’s just a shame that we will never get anything quite like this again. However, that does not mean we shouldn’t relish this film, because we absolutely should. It’s a celebration of a filmmaker who was finally able to showcase his vision for the film he has always wanted to make. And it’s beautiful.
9. Malignant
A young woman named Madison (Annabelle Wallis) is terrified by visions of the murders of strangers. Later, Madison decides to find and save the victims. Malignant does not feel manufactured and overruled with corporate greed and control like so many films in the genre that plague it today – this is Wan’s zany vision and he brings it to life with so much skill and inspiration. This movie feels like a perfect throwback to 80s and 90s horror while also feeling like a fresh new spin on supernatural slashers, chalked full of absolutely insane moments that will leave you truly speechless. I’ve seen hundreds of horror movies in my life and yet, somehow, Malignant does things that I have never seen done before. It’s part thriller, part slasher, part supernatural, and part action film at times. But it never feels like too much, either.
Nothing about Malignant feels too long or too short. I genuinely feel like if certain scenes were removed, the film wouldn’t have had that extra bit of oomph it has especially in its final twenty minutes. It’s also masterfully acted, especially by Annabelle Wallis who commits to the role of Madison all the way. This script asks her to do so much and yet she rises to the occasion in every scene. She one-hundred-percent feels like an actual woman who is going through a terrifying scenario and you always feel for her in every scene – the horror feels so grounded and yet so crazy.
Malignant also features some truly state-of-the-art cinematography from Wan’s longtime collaborator Michael Burgess, as well as a bone-chilling score from Joseph Bishara that makes every single scene so much creepier. This is exactly the type of movie I wish I could’ve made – it’s simply genius. It also contains one of the most insane endings I have seen in any movie in years. Wan has big plans in the future, creating an Aquaman sequel and he’s also producing Insidious 5, but I can only hope that he makes more films in this universe because it’s wild and I love it.
8. The Last Duel
Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon) is a respected knight known for his bravery and skill on the battlefield. Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver) is a squire whose intelligence and eloquence makes him one of the most admired nobles in court. When Le Gris viciously assaults Carrouges’ wife Marguerite de Carrouges (Jodie Comer), she steps forward to accuse her attacker, an act of bravery and defiance that puts her life in jeopardy. The ensuing trial by combat, a grueling duel to the death, places the fate of all three in God’s hands.
Whenever you place Scott behind the director’s chair and when he shows that he is passionate about something, the end result is almost always going to be terrific, and The Last Duel is certainly no exception. Some will inevitably be a little on-edge about the film’s two-and-a-half-hour running time, and I don’t blame you. Before I saw the movie, I was a little bit worried as well. After all, how can you make a film about one topic interesting enough to grab your attention for that long and never let go? But against all odds, screenwriters Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Nicole Holofcener did exactly that. It’s genuinely remarkable how well-written this script is. You may have a good understanding of where the story is going at one second, only for things to be completely flipped upside down the very next. The Last Duel is truly a film that will keep you glued to the screen for all one-hundred and fifty-three seconds.
There honestly isn’t anything I can say I disliked about Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel. It’s a seriously shocking and incredibly uncomfortable watch but every single scene gets more intense than the last, building up to a finale that had my heart beating rapidly through my chest. Watching The Last Duel reminded me why I fell in love with movies in the first place. If a movie is really, really good, it will make a lasting impression on you. I know wholeheartedly that I will never forget this film.
7. Last Night in Soho
An aspiring fashion designer named Eloise (Thomasin McKenzie) is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s, where she encounters a dazzling wannabe singer named Sandie (Anya Taylor-Joy). However, the glamour is not all it appears to be, and the dreams of the past start to crack and splinter into something far darker.
Thomasin McKenzie – delivers a truly Oscar-worthy performance here. She sells every single scene and delivers such a raw and visceral performance that you’d swear you watched footage of a real person going through hell, not a trained professional. The same thing can be said about the always-electric Anya Taylor-Joy, who seems to be getting nothing but terrific roles lately. Last Night in Soho truly has a way of messing with your head and getting so deep under your skin to the point where you feel as though you are almost begging for answers – which is a very, very good thing. I hate it when movies hold your hand along the way because then, you are basically getting spoon-fed answers to things instead of the filmmaker finding clever and unique ways to tell their story.
Edgar Wright has never been a filmmaker that’s taken the conventional route and I’m so glad that he continues this style of filmmaking with Last Night in Soho because we honestly need more movies like this one. I know some audience members are going to find this one a bit too much to deal with at times and that’s totally fine – after all, not every movie is going to be for everyone. But it’s my belief that Last Night in Soho is truly a phenomenal piece of art and I can only hope that we get more films like this one down the road.
6. No Time to Die
James Bond (Daniel Craig) is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica after leaving active service. However, his peace is short-lived as his old CIA friend, Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright), shows up and asks for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond on the trail of a mysterious villain named Lyutsifer Safin (Rami Malek) who’s armed with dangerous new technology.
It should go without saying but Daniel Craig continues to dazzle yet again in the role of James Bond here. He is so effortlessly charming when he needs to be, and yet whenever the scene calls for him to be deadly and serious, Craig is able to do it with ease. Léa Seydoux delivers what is quite possibly the best performance of her career here as Madeleine Swann, who gets a ton of things to do in this story. The places they take her character took me by complete surprise, and by the end of the film, I was totally invested in everything that happened with her. And if there’s one actress who deserves to get all the praise in the world and should get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, it’s Ana de Armas.
Practically every single frame of No Time to Die looks beautiful. Billie Eilish‘s title song is also an excellent way to open up the film on a somber but thrilling note. No Time to Die is not only one of the best movies of the year but also a genuinely riveting film that delves deep into James Bond’s psyche, while also delivering the dazzling action that fans have come to adore.
5. West Side Story
Love at first sight strikes when young Tony (Ansel Elgort) spots Maria (Rachel Zegler) at a high school dance in 1957 New York City. Their burgeoning romance helps to fuel the fire between the warring Jets and Sharks — two rival gangs vying for control of the streets. Legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg is obviously a household name and it’s for good reason. Throughout the course of his decade-spanning career, he has been at the helm of some of the most popular films known to humankind including E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Jurassic Park just to name a select few. He’s directed a large heap of films and yet he has never made a musical for some reason – until now, in the form of West Side Story. I’m not totally sure why he waited this long to make a musical because this is without a doubt one of the best musicals I’ve ever seen and easily one of the best movies of the year. And, yes, it even surpasses the beloved original.
Rachel Zegler is an absolute show-stopper in the role. To think that this is her feature film debut is truly staggering because it’s crystal clear that she is not only extremely talented but that she will also have a thriving career in both the film and music industry. She has already been confirmed to have a starring role in Shazam!: Fury of the Gods and is also set to portray Snow White in an upcoming feature as well. The future has never been brighter for Zegler.
When you really boil it down, it’s hard to find anything to truly dislike about Steven Spielberg’s version of West Side Story. It has absolutely everything you could ever hope for in a musical and so much more. At long last, the movie theatre experience has returned.
4. Bo Burnham: Inside
Stuck in COVID-19 lockdown, US comedian and musician Bo Burnham attempts to stay happy by writing, shooting, and performing a one-man comedy special whilst going through struggles within his personal life. His latest comedy special feature Inside is not only the greatest thing that Burnham has ever had his name on, but it’s also the best film of the year so far. Inside is one of those rare movies that, when the credits roll, you’ll be sitting down staring at the screen in awe for several minutes. Even after the credits are officially done, you’ll still be finding yourself in a state of shock and amazement.
One minute you’ll find yourself in hysterics laughing at the amazingly funny lyrics of one of Burnham’s songs and then the next, you’ll find yourself having to hold back some tears from streaming down your cheeks. And even though the film runs at only eighty-seven minutes in length, it never feels too short and it never feels too long either. Each and every single minute in Inside feels meaningful and by the time the credits rolled I truly felt as though I just watched a director’s magnum opus.
To get into too much detail about the film would do it a disservice. I don’t want to get into spoilers obviously but what I will say is that this film is not only a hilarious journey into the insanely weird, but it’s powerful and moving in ways that I didn’t expect. If you are not doing anything for about ninety minutes, there is really no better movie to watch right now than Inside.
3. The Night House
Reeling from the unexpected death of her husband, Beth (Rebecca Hall) is left alone in the lakeside home he built for her. She tries as best she can to keep together-but then the dreams come. Disturbing visions of a presence in the house call to her, beckoning with a ghostly allure. But the harsh light of day washes away any proof of a haunting. Against the advice of her friends, she begins digging into his belongings, yearning for answers.
This is not an easy movie to sit through by any means. The themes that this movie deals with are absolutely going to be too realistic and hard-hitting for many viewers and that’s totally okay. But if you feel comfortable enough watching a film with this sort of subject matter, I can almost guarantee you that you’ll be just as thrilled as I was. Rebecca Hall is an actress that I’ve liked for some time but I’ve never been blown away by any of her performances – until now. As Beth, Hall transforms into an absolute titan of an actress, delivering what is, in my opinion, the strongest film performance since Florence Pugh in the aforementioned Midsommar. Hall is equal parts haunting and emotional throughout the course of this movie. Nothing about this performance felt fake – it felt as if I were watching an actual grief-stricken woman going through hell.
The Night House is one of those rare movies that I won’t forget anytime soon at all. A film that I will want to rewatch over and over again just to feel that burst of excitement that I got from my first initial viewing. It’s going to be the gift that keeps on giving.
2. Dune
Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe – Arrakis – to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence, only those who can conquer their own fear will survive.
From the moment Dune begins with an extremely haunting voiceover that lets you in on what’s going on in the world, it hooks your attention and ensures that you never have a moment to breathe. But I must reiterate what I said earlier. Dune is absolutely not an action movie. Are there sequences of knife fights and big explosions every once in a while? Yes, there are. But it is by no means a Star Wars movie, and what I mean by that is that Dune is one-hundred percent a movie that is driven by dialogue and character.
We don’t get movies like Dune too often. This is without a doubt one of the most ambitious movies I have ever seen and also, yes, one of the best I have ever seen. Please go and support this movie so we can get that sequel. After watching this movie, I am almost certain that you, too, will be clamoring for it as well.
1. Spider-Man: No Way Home
With Spider-Man’s (Tom Holland) identity now revealed, our friendly neighborhood web-slinger is unmasked and no longer able to separate his normal life as Peter Parker from the high stakes of being a superhero. When Peter asks for help from Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), the stakes become even more dangerous, forcing him to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man.
There were many plot lines and emotional beats in this film that truly took me by surprise in all the best ways. It was so satisfying to see a film featuring Holland’s Spider-Man that finally made his actions have consequences. Trust me when I say that there are a handful of moments that will come as a surprise to even the most veteran of movie-goers. Holland delivers the best performance he’s ever given as Spider-Man / Peter Parker here, as well. He truly feels emotionally distraught this time around, and you truly feel for him in every single scene. This script asked a lot of Holland and yet he did everything he could to make this outing as Spider-Man his best. He succeeded.
Talking about No Way Home without mentioning spoilers is hard, but don’t worry, that’s not going to happen here. But what I will say is that there are a couple of moments in this film that are certain to make you gasp and squeal with excitement. My theatre was erupting with cheers and clapping many times throughout, and it was a magical experience to simply be back in a theatre with a crowd that was just as excited as I was. Spider-Man: No Way Home is an emotional gut-punch of a film, jam-packed with tons of goosebump-inducing moments that are sure to make the biggest fans of the web-head squeal with delight.
