My Favorite Films of 2021
A long time ago, in a galaxy called ‘downtown Dallas’, I was a film buyer for Blockbuster Video’s corporate office. I got paid to watch about 400 movies a year, which was a dream come true! I’m no longer a ‘professional’, but this year I made time to see 96 films that released in 2021. Before we get to the Top Ten, a few deserve Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order): About Endlessness (impenetrable, but every shot was like a painting), Belfast (warm and inviting despite the setting), I Care A Lot (a well-crafted chess match), No Time To Die (a fitting end to Craig’s tenure as Bond), and Oxygen (intense small-scale sci-fi).
10) Old Henry. An unashamedly old-school western, with a twist or two for good measure. Tim Blake Nelson is wonderful as always.
09) The Power of the Dog. Benedict Cumberbatch plays against type as a early 1900’s rancher with a hidden past. Beautiful, uncomfortable, and unpredictable.
08) Passing. Based on a 1929 novel about a black woman who has mixed emotions about an old friend who is now ‘passing’ as white. Strong directorial debut from Rebecca Hall.
07) My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To. A family struggles to provide for a younger brother who is very sick and only feels better when he drinks blood. Think ‘Henry: Portrait of a Lonely Serial Killer’ and you’re on the right path.
06) PG: Psycho Goreman. A 21st-century Toxic Avenger! Cartoony violence and hilarious toilet humor. It knows exactly what it is, and it’s proud to be just that.
05) Atlantis. How does one survive in a Ukranian post-apocalyptic near-future? There are only 28 edits in the entire film, and it’s not for everyone, but if you’re into works like Tarkovsky’s ‘Stalker’, it’s a must-see.
04) Procession. A documentary that follows abuse survivors using ‘drama therapy’ to write and act out scenes from their pasts. Shares some similarities to ‘The Act of Killing’, but is aimed at healing rather than persecuting.
03) Pig. A master chef-turned-recluse looks for his truffle pig. This setup could’ve gone the predictable route, but instead Nicolas Cage reminds us he can still do ‘subtle’ when he has the right script. This was the right script, and I can’t imagine anyone else in the role.
02) Drive My Car. Two damaged souls connect and come to grips with lifelong regrets that are holding them back. Three hours long, and yet it hums forward at a perfect pace. Worthy of all the praise it’s been receiving.
01) Riders of Justice. What a wonderful surprise this was! The marketing looked like a ‘Taken’-style revenge film starring everyone’s favorite Dane (Mads Mikkelsen), but what we’re given is something SO much more. It’s less about ‘action’ (although there are a couple of really good action scenes) and cares more about recovering from loss and finding a place to belong. It’s goofy at the right times, and it’s heartwarming when you least expect it. By the last few minutes, it had completely disarmed me. Don’t be fooled by the generic B-movie-looking box art, because this is a new classic.
