My Year in Film (2021)

Welcome to my seventh annual movies-of-the-year list! Here I will rank every 2021 release I watched from worst to best. Each one will include an average score out of 10, and be placed into respective tiers. I will also include a watch-list of films I haven't gotten around to yet. I saw 111 films that released in the calendar year. More and more companies opted to put films straight to streaming services. And many others shortened the time-frame from exclusive theater distribution to digital on-demand release.

Awful:

111) Space Jam: A New Legacy (1.5/10) - I can hardly believe I made it through the hour and fifty-five minute run-time. The first third of the movie is nothing but shameless promotion of Warner Brothers intellectual property. LeBron James isn't the problem here, it's the horrendous writing. James' character arc is best summed up as "dad wants his kids to be exactly like him, then has an epiphany that he should allow his kids to forge their own path."

110) Coming 2 America (1.5/10) - This isn't the first long awaited comedy sequel to end up being a total dud (Dumb and Dumber To). The humor is virtually nonexistent and the plot is a bland retelling of the original story.

109) Mortal Kombat (2/10) - While I am a Mortal Kombat fan and was extremely excited about this movie, it left a lot to be desired. The opening fight sequence was fun, but it went all downhill from there. Go watch the recent animated Mortal Kombat movie, Scorpion's Revenge, if you're looking for a fun adaptation of this video game franchise.

108) Don't Look Up (2.5/10) - Adam McKay is the new M. Night Shyamalan. Both had great directorial debuts, but failed to evolve and ended up trying and failing to recapture that initial magic. While I agree with McKay's political leanings, I can't say his films have anything new or productive to say. The lighthearted tone also doesn't jive with the seriousness of the drama, causing failure on both fronts.

107) Cruella (2.5/10) - The opening scene tells you all you need to know about the quality (or lack thereof) of the film you're about to watch. Emma Stone does an admirable job in the lead, and while I don't ever plan on watching it again, it did have a few fun moments.

106) Ghostbusters: Afterlife (3/10) - The first two-thirds of the film were fairly standard, watchable material. The last act is an abomination, committing every conceivable sin a sequel can commit.

Below Average:

105) Shadow in the Cloud (3.5/10) - I actually loved the first thirty or so minutes of this Sci-Fi war drama. The dialogue and mystery pulls you in, and Chloe Grace Moretz is a captivating presence. The sub-genre of films where one character is confined to isolation in a claustrophobic space is ripe for introspective character development (Buried/Locke). Unfortunately, the payoff is horribly executed, and the small budget becomes readily apparent.

104) Eternals (3.5/10) - The reviews for this Marvel film were mixed to say the least (it's the lowest rated MCU film on RottenTomatoes at just 47%). I didn't find it to be as bad as some claimed, but having seen this in theaters when it came out in November, there's not a character, scene, or moment that has stuck with me a mere three months later.

103) Black Widow (3.5/10) - Scarlett Johansson the actress, as well as her character, Black Widow, deserved a film in the MCU probably as early as 2015 (a year after Captain America: The Winter Soldier). It would have been a lot more effective to do it then as opposed to doing a prequel after the events of phase three. We did get Florence Pugh though, who is wonderful and will inevitably make any future MCU projects better by association.

102) The Oak Room (4/10) - Another low budget indie film that tries to use a dialogue heavy approach. Similar to Shadow in the Cloud, the method of withholding information from the audience helped maintain a level of intrigue. But when that missing context finally arrives, it is a giant letdown.

101) Bad Trip (4.5/10) - Suspension of disbelief is a requirement to enjoy this prank based comedy film. Like, am I really supposed to think none of these civilians recognize Tiffany Haddish? I found it to be reasonably funny, but the plot is incredibly bare-bones.

100) The Boy Behind The Door (4.5/10) - This horror film from Shudder is solidly crafted and executed. The script just doesn't feature anything original beyond the fact that the main characters are young boys.

99) Slaxx (4.5/10) - I never thought we would have a film that uses a killer pair of jeans as a metaphor for the horrors of child labor, but here we are. It's obviously an intentionally ridiculous premise, and the joys of that wear off rather quickly.

Average:

98) The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (5/10) - While Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga continue to deliver the goods in the third film in this horror series, the disparate elements fail to live up to the standards of its predecessors.

97) House of Gucci (5/10) - This was the second film released in the same calendar year by 84 year old legendary director Ridley Scott (Alien). I found this one to be relatively mediocre, although his other film from 2021 will appear much higher on this list.

96) Candyman (5/10) - Nia DiCosta (Little Woods) is one of the best young directors in the business. Her newest film is beautiful to look at, albeit not particularly scary.

95) Godzilla vs. Kong (5/10) - I loved the Godzilla films when I was young (I'm not referencing the 1998 Matthew Broderick film), but I've been completely and totally underwhelmed by almost every effort to restore the franchise. There are moments here that make the newest installment at least watchable, but nothing to induce a re-watch or be excited for future endeavors.

94) Passing (5.5/10) - Ruth Negga gives a spectacular performance as a black woman "passing" as white in New York in the 1920's. Rebecca Hall directed and opted to make it a black-and-white film. Similar to other films like Loving, Detroit, and The Post, I found the messaging to be all encompassing, leaving little room for emotional engagement.

93) The French Dispatch (5.5/10) - Wes Anderson's newest film is perhaps his most ambitious project to date. He ramps up his trademark style to newfound heights. His intention here is meant to emulate a magazine, and in many respects he succeeds in that quest, but in the process loses the connective tissue that would make the film rewarding for the audience.

92) Fear Street: 1994 (5.5/10) - The first installment in this Netflix horror trilogy is perfectly adequate. It's relatively fun, it establishes characters, and sets the stage for the follow-ups. I like the idea of these types of projects, releasing multiple films in the same series in weekly installments to create a buzz similar to that of popular television programs.

Above Average:

91) Malcolm & Marie (6/10) - This features electric performances from both Zendaya and John David Washington. The director, Sam Levinson (Euphoria), keeps things lively despite the entire plot taking place in one location.

90) Greenland (6/10) - An entertaining disaster movie that focuses on the chaos and panic that occurs before any actual disaster even transpires. I would watch this 100 times before I would watch Don't Look Up again.

89) Fried Barry (6.25/10) - If you're looking for a good movie to watch on edibles, this would probably be it. The basic premise involves an alien taking over the body of a drug addict. It's weird, it's fun, and features an outstanding physical performance from Gary Green.

88) Boss Level (6.25/10) - Frank Grillo stars in this "Edge of Tomorrow/Groundhog's Day" like narrative. This is really enjoyable and would be much higher on this list if it weren't for Mel Gibson being in it and the writers pushing their far right-wing ideology.

87) Werewolves Within (6.25/10) - Video game company Ubisoft promoted this film at the last Electronic Entertainment Expo. Given the history of video game adaptations, I didn't have very high expectations. I am happy to report that this is a competent and well written horror/comedy. You'll probably recognize actress Milana Vayntrub (she's really good in this role), who has been the face of AT&T commercials dating back to 2013.

86) American Underdog (6.25/10) - The Kurt Warner story is a great example of perseverance and chasing after your dreams. Looking past the awful title, the movie is a good time if you're looking for that sports fix.

85) Free Guy (6.25/10) - While it doesn't have the greatest grasp of video game culture or much of an appreciation for the medium, the script features fun action sequences and a likable cast (Ryan Reynolds/Jodie Comer).

84) The White Tiger (6.5/10) - A perfectly fine crime film based on a 2008 novel of the same name. The story follows Balram, a poor boy in India who slowly but surely begins to provide for himself and his family through any means necessary.

83) Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (6.5/10) - Martial arts films, when well executed, make for incredibly compelling cinema. The fight scene on the bus is one of the best action sequences in the history of the MCU. Unfortunately, the writers completely forgot to include martial arts for the last hour of the movie.

82) Happily (6.5/10) - The plot of this thriller goes in a bunch of unexpected directions. This is a case of an original idea that is adequate in about every sense, without ever fully seizing the audience's attention.

81) The Night House (6.5/10) - This scary movie features a powerhouse performance from Rebecca Hall. Hall portrays a grieving widow, who must come to terms with her husband's suicide. She begins to notice some unusual occurrences around the house, and begins to unravel some secrets her husband left behind.

80) Last Night in Soho (6.5/10) - The premise of the newest film from Edgar Wright is delightful, and the coming of age elements are spot on. The issue I had with the film mainly revolves around the resolution of said premise. It's an ambitious idea and Wright is known for juggling multiple genres in the same film (Hot Fuzz), but here it feels muddled and poorly executed.

79) The Vigil (6.75/10) - A horror film that relies as much on the audiences imagination as it does actually showing anything on the screen. The basic premise involves a man being hired as a "Shomer," and he must spend the night looking after a recently deceased man and his widow, who is dealing with Alzheimer's disease.

78) Fear Street: 1978 (6.75/10) - The second film in this Netflix horror trilogy continued the era appropriate costumes, hairstyles, and soundtracks. It also utilized the same cast in new roles.

77) Fear Street: 1666 (6.75/10) - The final installment was also my favorite. It manages to be it's own thing for the first hour or so, and then manages to tie all the threads from the previous two films together in a pleasing manner.

76) Together Together (6.75/10) - Ed Helms is normally a very likable presence given he's usually cast as the "nice" guy. That isn't the case here, as he plays a rather obnoxious individual that wants to become a father. He hires a surrogate and ultimately develops a platonic relationship with her in the process. While his character never really grows out of his particular quirks, the film manages to make them more charming as the plot progresses.

75) Untold: Malice at the Palace (6.75/10) - This Netflix documentary explores one of the craziest skirmishes in the history of sports. They get all the notable people to break down the events, and Jermaine O'Neal makes an especially fun interviewee.

74) A Quiet Place Part II (6.75/10) - The opening scene is thrilling, but the rest fails to live up to that standard or to the standards of Part 1. There are multiple decisions by characters that are so moronic that you can't help but let out a sigh.

73) Stowaway (6.75/10) - If you can look past the far-fetched premise, the ensuing drama and complications lead to a very entertaining space flick. The cinematography by Klemens Becker moves the camera fluidly through the different compartments of the spacecraft and replicates the movement of the astronauts.

72) West Side Story (7/10) - The direction from Steven Spielberg in this remake is flawless. My issue with the movie has nothing to do with him, but rather the original story. Because it's a musical with songs that people expect to hear, it makes it nearly impossible to make any major changes to the plot.

71) Wife of a Spy (7/10) - This Japanese spy thriller tackles political opposition and committing treason in the face of government atrocities. Like #31 coming up later, this film shows how challenging and frightening it can be to try to escape persecution.

70) No Time to Die (7/10) - Daniel Craig's run as James Bond ends on a relatively high note. The cinematography and action set pieces have been the highlight of the Craig run. The final shot got me in the feels. My main complaint is something that most of the Bond films struggle with - - a villain with murky motivation.

69) I Care a Lot (7/10) - Rosamund Pike can inhabit truly heinous individuals (Gone Girl) and boy is her character quite despicable here. Some viewers may find this movie too bleak, but I was able to look past that given the dark comedy and the wonderful performances.

68) Malignant (7/10) - I don't really know what to say about this. It's not scary, at all. It has some baffling performances that make you wonder if this is some student film project. But, I think it's pretty good? It largely comes down to intention, and I want to give director James Wan (The Conjuring) the benefit of the doubt. I found the movie hilarious at times, and truly bad-ass at others.

Good:

67) The Mauritanian (7.1/10) - A legal drama about a man wrongfully held at Guantanamo Bay for 14 years. The screenplay has a few issues, but overall it's a solid work with good performances.

66) Wild Indian (7.1/10) - An intense drama that highlights ongoing cycles of abuse. Two kids who grow up together as friends end up going down very different paths after an inciting incident.

65) The Hand of God (7.2/10) - Much like #26, this Italian coming of age story finds director Paolo Sorrentino (The Great Beauty) using his own experiences from childhood to make a personal and bittersweet film. Sorrentino is especially skilled at incorporating location into his stories, with Rome being the site of The Great Beauty and Naples being the center for The Hand of God.

64) Luca (7.2/10) - Another solid, yet unremarkable effort by Pixar. It is great to see how many people in the LGBTQIA community feel seen with this film, even if Disney refuses to admit the characters in this film aren't hetero-normative.

63) In the Heights (7.3/10) - Lin Manuel-Miranda's first major musical hit finally got adapted to the big screen. While it's certainly no Hamilton, it's a fun time. The music and choreography are sublime, as you would expect.

62) Till Death (7.3/10) - This would make a great companion piece to Gerald's Game. Both feature a female protagonist that gets put in a rather challenging predicament by their husbands. This is by far my favorite Megan Fox performance.

61) Zola (7.4/10) - You might remember the Twitter thread back in 2015 about a wild weekend trip to Tampa, Florida involving a waitress and a stripper. This is the movie based off of the 148 viral tweets. Riley Keough is glorious as a dense stripper who gets the main character (Zola) in quite the bind.

60) Encanto (7.4/10) - Apparently the song "We Don't Talk About Bruno" has been #1 for quite some time of the pop charts. I didn't actually find the music in this newest Disney hit to be THAT good, but I compare almost every animated musical to Moana at this point, which is certainly a high bar. The visuals and story were both great, I particularly appreciated the message of inclusion and acceptance of people that go their own way and/or accomplish things at their own pace.

59) The Dig (7.5/10) - This British drama focuses on a 1939 excavation near Suffolk, England. Everything surrounding the excavation itself is marvelous. My main issue was one of the B plots involving a romantic relationship with several of the people involved in the project. It felt forced and a bit manipulative.

58) Oxygen (7.5/10) - Like Shadow of the Cloud, this is another example of a single character confined in a tight space. Melanie Laurent stars as a woman in a space pod who is slowly running out of oxygen. She must use whatever resources she has at her disposal including communicating with the computer program installed in the vessel.

57) Vicious Fun (7.6/10) - As the title suggests, this Shudder original is an absolute blast. A man gets in way over his head after he stumbles into a AA like group for serial killers. It's filled with gore and splendid dark comedy.

56) The Humans (7.6/10) - Based on a play of the same name, Stephen Karam adapts his own one-act production for his directorial debut. It takes place on Thanksgiving, as a family gets together and more or less gets on each others nerves. You can feel the tension and animosity in the air. The screenplay is excellent, and Beanie Feldstein's peformance is littered with passive-aggressive jabs and the desire to be seen and appreciated.

55) Titane (7.7/10) - I loved Julia Ducournau's previous film Raw (2017), which is one of my favorite horror films of all time. Her newest picture, Titane, also has horror elements and maintains her propensity for vivid and disturbing content. The narrative is a bit muddled, but I can guarantee this movie will not bore you.

54) Ascension (7.7/10) - A documentary out of China that shows a bunch of disconnected shots that, when combined together make for a voyeuristic view of work culture and the beauty and dangers of companies' reliance on automation.

53) Ron's Gone Wrong (7.8/10) - The first of two animated films discussing the role of technology in our lives (#7 is the other). Zach Galifianakis is perfect as the voice of the defective robot turned best friend.

52) The Lost Daughter (7.8/10) - Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley both earned Academy Award acting nominations for their portrayal of the same character at different stages of her life. The script is excellent, examining issues related to motherhood, including withdrawal and abandonment. I can't wait to see what Maggie Gyllenhaal (the director) does next.

51) The Harder They Fall (7.8/10) - A western with an all black cast and an unexpected twist. Director Jeymes Samuel knows exactly what people want out of a western - - shootouts and witty banter, and he delivers both in spades.

50) The Courier (7.9/10) - I would describe this movie as the British version of Bridge of Spies. It's a good spy thriller and Benedict Cumberbatch is excellent portraying the fear and anxiety that comes with an operation having literal life or death consequences.

49) Pieces of a Woman (7.9/10) - The first half hour of this film is absolutely breathtaking. Vanessa Kirby is transcendent as a pregnant woman going through the process of doing a home birth. It's honestly worth watching for that segment alone and I don't want to elaborate beyond that to avoid spoilers.

48) The Card Counter (7.9/10) - Director Paul Schrader (First Reformed) makes another very dark and disturbing film starring Oscar Isaac. Schrader uses score and plot masterfully to indicate impending doom. Isaac plays a former inmate that spent his time behind bars perfecting card playing of all kinds.

47) Nobody (7.9/10) - Bob Odenkirk turns into an action star in this John Wick like universe. Odenkirk plays Hutch, who decides to stop getting pushed around after a home burglary makes him appear weak in front of his family. Some of the action here is truly phenomenal, including a scene where Hutch takes on a half dozen guys on a bus.

46) Raya and the Last Dragon (7.9/10) - Despite the obvious connection to Avatar: The Last Airbender (which former Youtuber Lindsay Ellis got criticized for suggesting), this was still an absolute blast to watch. Animation visuals these days are just astounding.

45) Violation (8/10) - Not for the faint of heart, but absolutely a must watch for fans of gory, revenge horror. This is the first of two high quality Canadian scary movies (next one just 5 spots up) that were not only nightmare inducing, but thought provoking as well.

44) Licorice Pizza (8/10) - This is far and away the most romantic and sweet film of Paul Thomas Anderson's career. But don't worry, there's still all of the style and period detail that audiences have come to expect from PTA. Most of his films are character studies (There Will Be Blood/The Master). And while many of his characters are not likable, the fact that the leads in this romantic comedy are not likable makes it hard to get emotionally invested.

43) Tick, tick....BOOM! (8/10) - Lin Manuel-Miranda directed this musical drama based on the life of Rent creator Jonathan Larson. The movie focuses on the creative process, and how devoting all of ones times and energy to accomplishing career oriented goals can lead to great success, but create many social obstacles.

Really Good:

42) Drunk Bus (8.1/10) - Part of the joy of making this list is highlighting more obscure releases that are worthy of recognition, and this fits that description. This coming of age drama/comedy embraces getting out of ones comfort zone. It has a rewarding main character arc and plenty of quality humor. Despite never seeing him, Will Forte is hilarious as the obnoxious boss on the other end of a talk-radio.

41) Spider-Man: No Way Home (8.1/10) - I went to see this movie on a random Wednesday, some two plus weeks after the initial release. That was done in an attempt to avoid the crowds. It ended up being a sold out showing. In retrospect, the biggest Marvel film of the year was always going to be a box office beast, and it was nice to experience it with a crowd. I did an entire podcast episode on this movie if you'd like to know more of my thoughts.

40) The Last Duel (8.2/10) - While I referenced earlier Ridley Scott's other film from 2021, House of Gucci, this historical drama was the far better theater experience. With three distinct chapters that focus on different characters' perspective, we get an engaging and insightful glimpse into human psyche.

39) Come True (8.3/10) - While I didn't care for the ending of this Canadian horror film, this is a perfect example of the journey being more important than the destination. Director Anthony Scott Burns focuses on sleep and dreams to concoct an incredibly creepy, vivid, and unsettling experience.

38) King Richard (8.3/10) - Will Smith shines in his role as Richard Williams, father of Venus and Serena Williams. While it feels a little strange that Venus or Serena weren't the focus in a movie about the Williams family, this succeeds in showing the trials and tribulations that are necessary to make a satisfying sports biopic.

37) Spencer (8.4/10) - Kirsten Stewart is marvelous in the role of Princess Diana. Director Pablo Larrain, like with his 2016 film Jackie, puts a public figure under the microscope at perhaps the most tumultuous time of their life. While this method isn't particularly easy to watch, it's captivating material. I will also state that having some knowledge about the subject makes it easier to absorb.

36) Lapsis (8.4/10) - In an alternate future, this Sci-Fi drama tackles issues like capitalism and technology, and how that impacts our humanity. If you're experiencing sequel, reboot, and superhero fatigue, this is a unique story that is trying to talk about important and relevant issues with our society.

35) Supernova (8.5/10) - Stanley Tucci and Colin Firth have unquestionable chemistry as a couple dealing with one partner having dementia (there's another film on this topic coming up shortly). It's a touching portrait of love and appreciating whatever time we have with one another, while also coming to terms with losing ones sense of identity.

34) Plan B (8.5/10) - This is probably the best pure comedy film of the year. That's not to say there isn't emotional depth and important messaging at work, merely that the laughs are pretty much nonstop for the entire 107 minute runtime.

33) Attica (8.6/10) - 2021 happened to be the fifty year anniversary of the 1971 prison riot in Attica, New York. In what is still considered the largest prison revolt in history, Showtime examines the tensions that built leading up to the uprising, as well as the horrific response from the local police force and the National Guard.

32) Dream Horse (8.6/10) - Feel-good movies are necessary to get through trying times, especially as we all continue to deal with a pandemic as well as a war going on in Europe. This true story stars Toni Collette, a woman who feels stagnant and is worried she's going through the motions of life. She takes a financial risk to breed a race horse, and with help from her community, finds a new passion that re-invigorates her life.

31) Flee (8.7/10) - This animated documentary is nominated in the Best Animated, Best International Feature, and Best Documentary categories at this year's Oscars. The film uses animation to reconstruct a refugee's experiences fleeing Afghanistan without revealing his identity.

30) Drive My Car (8.7/10) - Some may find the three hour runtime to be too daunting, especially given it's mostly dialogue intensive. But for patient viewers who can appreciate beautiful scenery and outstanding screenwriting, there's incredibly powerful messaging and multiple entrancing exchanges.

29) Nightmare Alley (8.8/10) - Aside from a few pacing issues, this epic from legend Guillermo Del Toro features magnetic performances (Bradley Cooper in particular), a compelling story, and immersive world building.

28) Censor (8.8/10) - A brilliant horror flick based in England in the "Video Nasty" era. Niamh Algar plays Enid, a censor that stumbles across a film that brings a past trauma to the surface. The film oozes style, and Enid's life quickly unravels to the point where it becomes hard to differentiate the movies she edits and the real world she inhabits.

27) High Ground (9/10) - An Australian western that spans over a dozen years (1919-1931). After an operation goes south and results in the slaughter of an aboriginal tribe, the man responsible for the operation must return to the scene of the crime after a surviving member of the tribe has begun to seek revenge. It's a film about race, trust, and colonization.

26) Belfast (8.9/10) - This Northern Ireland Screen production is a stunning reflection on being raised during political conflict and turmoil. Director Kenneth Branagh uses his own experiences to craft a true to life, extremely specific take on the 1969 conflict known simply as "The Troubles." Ciaran Hines is brilliant in the role of grandfather to main character Buddy (Jude Hill).

Great:

25) Red Rocket (9/10) - Director Sean Baker continues his tour examining the underbelly of the United States with his newest indie gem. This is his second feature film to have a main character that is involved in the adult film industry (Starlet). Red Rocket takes place in Texas City, while previous projects had him working in Kissimmee Florida, New York City, San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles, California. Baker extracts natural performances out of mostly amateur actors and manages to showcase poor neighborhoods and communities with grace and affection.

24) Summer of Soul (...or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televisived (8.9/10) - This documentary from Questlove chronicles the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, an event that featured many notable black artists and yet somehow fell into obscurity. While the music is worth the price of admission on its own, the interviews sprinkled in give added weight to the proceedings and clarify just how special the experience was to the people that attended.

23) The Father (9.1/10) - Anthony Hopkins won an Oscar for his portrayal of an elderly man dealing with dementia. The film can be somewhat frustrating to watch, and that is completely intentional. Director Florian Zeller shows the audience the perspective of Hopkins, and uses different tricks to emulate the confusion and dissociation that a person with dementia would experience.

22) 76 Days (9.1/10) - This is a great companion piece to the 2020 documentary Totally Under Control, which showed the incompetence of the American response to the pandemic. 76 Days showcases the response by Wuhan and it's local hospitals. The film follows several patients recovering from COVID-19 and their struggles dealing with the symptoms of the disease as well as the isolation from their family and friends. The hospital staff as well as the patients gave me a sense of hope for humanity.

21) Our Friend (9.1/10) - Utilizing a non-linear structure, this drama based on a true story delves into how a cancer diagnosis impacts a family unit. Jason Segel plays a loyal friend who uproots his life to support his friends during an incredibly difficult chapter in their lives. It's a bittersweet film that utilizes the shifting time frame to show all the characters at different stages of life, pre and post diagnosis. Casey Affleck, Dakota Johnson, and Segel are all terrific.

20) Shiva Baby (9.2/10) - I could almost describe this as a horror film, but all that happens is a young woman attends a gathering during Shiva. The direction here is propulsive, ramping up the anxiety, awkwardness, and tension as the event wears on. Danielle (played by Rachel Sennott), has to navigate family, friends, exes, and clientele all while trying to remain respectfully mournful. Anyone that is an introvert will feel the pain and discomfort of Danielle's plight on a visceral level.

19) CODA (9.2/10) - This Best Picture nominee from Apple TV+ is one of my favorite coming of age stories of recent vintage. CODA stands for "Child of Deaf Adult." Ruby (Emilia Jones) has to balance vying for her own happiness and success while also being responsible for translating business communication between her family and the local fishing community. It's a gorgeous film with a musical element that offers more than a few emotionally resonant scenes.

18) Saint Maud (9.2/10) - For all the horror aficionado's out there, this film out of the UK comes in as my top scary movie of the year. Like Censor, this is another story about a woman slowly unraveling. You could probably infer based on the title, but religion plays a big role in the thematic storytelling. The entire cast is excellent, and director Rose Glass uses closeups, disturbing inner dialogue, and an eerie score to keep the audience on edge throughout the eighty-four minute runtime.

17) The Green Knight (9.3/10) - Director David Lowery is someone I've had a sort of love/hate relationship with over the years. I thoroughly enjoyed his film, Old Man and a Gun (Robert Redford's final performance), but despised his very belabored and frankly pretentious film A Ghost Story. While The Green Knight still features some of his foibles (like A Ghost Story, there's an entire scene of exposition dedicated to telling the audience exactly what the movie is supposed to be about), I found the eccentricities of this film to be quite enthralling, and there's no doubting Lowery's eye for shot composition and his ability to elicit fantastic performances from his cast (Dev Patel is excellent as the lead Gawain).

16) Procession (9.3/10) - This was a solid year for documentaries, but this Netflix film about the Catholic church's rampant abuse of children tops the list. The children that are the subjects of the film have grown up and are now middle aged, and they opt to try acting therapy to help reckon with and cope with the horrific moments of their past.

15) No Sudden Move (9.4/10) - In a career best performance by Don Cheadle, director Steven Soderbergh (Magic Mike/Contagion) transports us to Detroit in the 1950's for an incredibly and engaging heist thriller. The heist genre doesn't get a lot of new entries these days, but Soderbergh clearly loves making them (Ocean's Eleven/Logan). This is just a fun way to spend a Friday night and the film oozes style.

14) Slalom (9.4/10) - This French drama offers a harrowing glimpse into the culture of abuse with young female athletes and their coaches/trainers. Through the perspective of young talented skier Lyz (Noee Abita), we see all the stages of grooming, including induced isolation, emotional manipulation, financial dependency, and sexualization of the relationship.

13) The Power of the Dog (9.5/10) - Director Jane Campion concocts a dark and chilling western and elicits great performances from her ensemble cast (Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, and Kodi Smit-McPhee). The mood is eerily reminiscent of There Will Be Blood, which makes sense given the composer of that film (Johnny Greenwood) also did the score for this Best Picture contender.

12) Minari (9.5/10) - This slice of life film about a Korean family in Arkansas in the 1980's is an examination of the challenges families endure not only due to culture shock, but also the stress of moving and dealing with financial hardship. Han Ye ri is a revelation in the role of Monica, who is on the emotional brink due to her husband's risky business ventures and the social isolation from living in America.

11) The Dry (9.5/10) - This Australian murder mystery features gorgeous scenery and a script that will keep you guessing until the very end. Eric Bana stars as a man who is investigating a recent murder in his former hometown, while also reflecting and coping with an incident that occurred there when he was a child. There aren't many murder-mystery films these days, so if that's your jam, I can't recommend this highly enough.

Masterpieces:

10) The Novice (9.6/10) - Anyone that knows me is aware Whiplash is one of my favorite films of all time. I hadn't started making my lists yet in 2014 (I started the following year), but needless to say it would've been my #1. This film is in the same mold. It follows a young woman who rows crew and becomes obsessed with being the best. Isabelle Fuhrman is electric in the lead role, and Amy Forsyth (CODA) plays the passive-aggressive rival.

9) C'mon C'mon (9.6/10) - Joaquin Phoenix found a perfect companion piece for his previous film Her. While that film focused on loneliness and relying on technology in ones social life, C'mon C'mon tends to prioritize the human to human connection between a parent or guardian and a young, impressionable child. It's a beautiful film that shows the ups and downs of parenting as well as reckoning with growing up and trying to hold on to that childlike sense of wonder.

8) Riders of Justice (9.7/10) - This film from Denmark is as ambitious as it gets. It's at times an action film, at other times a comedy, and at its center it's a drama about grief. Mads Mikkelsen (who is probably my favorite current actor) stars and gives a fabulous performance. The tone obviously shifts at times to navigate the different genres, but it does so with ease. There aren't too many films that I could recommend to just about anyone, but this is one of them.

7) The Mitchell's vs. The Machines (9.7/10) - I didn't think there would ever be an animated film that came close to touching Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. This fellow Sony Pictures animated film is a touching and heartfelt road trip, Sci-Fi, coming of age hybrid that has a gripping and emotional father-daughter relationship at its core. Like Into the Spider-Verse, the digital effects team does a great job of using visual flair to enhance the humor and the story-telling. P.S. - Its not as good as Spider-Verse, but that was also my #1 film of 2018.

6) Nine Days (9.7/10) - This is my favorite film of the year. I've described it to anyone who'll listen as a live action version of the Pixar movie Soul (minus the body swapping bits). Winston Duke is a man who previous lived a life and is now in charge of interviewing unborn souls to determine who will be the next to experience what life has to offer. It's a bittersweet film with a beautiful score and a great performance from the aforementioned Duke as well as Zazie Beetz.

5) Dune (9.8/10) - Denis Villeneuve being snubbed in the Best Director category at this year's Oscars is a complete and total sham. What he accomplished with this project is astonishing, from the natural lighting, to the visual effects, to changing the perspective of the source material, and incorporating a theme based score to simplify the story-telling and limit the exposition. Dune being even semi-comprehensible is all due to his overarching vision and brilliance. That's before we mention that he is still producing art-house films that also appeal to a broad audience.

4) Mass (9.8/10) - This is my pick for best screenplay of 2021. The film focuses on two couples that are meeting for the first time in many years to confront and heal from a past tragedy. The performances by Reed Birney, Ann Dowd, Jason Isaacs, and Martha Plimpton are simply extraordinary. The four characters are mostly confined to a single room. The direction is subtle but effective, knowing when to pan and use close-ups, as well as when to hone in on a character delivering dialogue versus receiving it.

3) Nomadland (9.8/10) - This film won Best Picture and Best Director (Chloe Zhao) at last year's Oscars. Zhao crafts a beautiful, moving, and nuanced take on a marginalized community. It's a rare experience to watch something and empathize with a person's plight, as well as feel a sense of awe at the experience of living in nature and forging your own path.

2) Pig (9.9/10) - While many people thought this was going to be another John Wick replica, the genius of the film is how it subverts every revenge trope. While it lacks the exciting action sequences of a John Wick, it makes up for that and then some with engrossing psychological drama. The film-making is superb, Nicholas Cage is excellent as the lead, and there are multiple scenes that take your breath away.

1) Judas and the Black Messiah (9.9/10) - Daniel Kaluuya (Fred Hampton) and LaKeith Stanfield (Bill O'Neal) are outstanding in their respective roles (Kaluuya won an Oscar for his portrayal of Hampton). The direction from Shaka King is exemplary, and the choice to largely focus on O'Neal's role in the events allows for the film to examine racism, activism, camaraderie, and betrayal from every conceivable angle.

Watchlist:

Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn

Beginning

Benedetta

Bergman Island

Bloodthirsty

Blood Red Sky

Blue Bayou

Days of the Bagnold Summer

Dead Pigs

Escape From Mogadishu

Holler

I Blame Society

Jakob's Wife

Lamb

Little Fish

Lorelei

Lucky

Moffie

Palmer

Preparations to be Together for an Unknown Period of Time

Rose Plays Julie

Skull: The Mask

Some Kind of Heaven

The Beta Test

The Djinn

The Killing of Two Lovers

The Many Saints of Newark

The Matrix: Resurrections

The Paper Tigers

The Power

The Queen of Black Magic

The Souvenir Part II

The Tragedy of Macbeth

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