2021 was one hell of a year for movies. We had some great blockbuster movies like No Time to Die, starring Daniel Craig, and Marvel gems Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Black Widow.
We were also treated to some great little independent movies like Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog and Wes Anderson’s new film The French Dispatch.
All of these are great movies but none of them had the same impact on me as a viewer as the following four did.
4: King Richard
King Richard is both an amazing portrait of one father’s passion for his kids’ success and a riveting portrait of success in itself. The movie is based on the true story of Richard Williams; he isn’t perfect by any means, but despite of all of the controversy and his imperfections, he still managed to raise two of the greatest tennis players of all time: Venus and Serena Williams.
What I really like about this movie is how it explores its subject’s strengths and weakness. Williams is far from the typical dad, as you will see, but his eye is always set on doing everything in his power to make sure his girls reach their full potential.
Will Smith gives his best performance in years; not only was this the best performance I saw from any actor last year, I’m ready to predict this is the role that will finally lead him to his Oscar win come Oscar Sunday.
3: Belfast
Kenneth Branagh’s film Belfast is a cinematic joy to watch. Based on the director’s experience growing up in a Belfast in conflict, this move is a sight to behold. With this film, Branagh proves that he can still make really great films when he puts his mind to it.
From the terrific acting performances to the pleasant, uplifting ending (despite the dark subject matter), everything in Belfast works, and it’s easily one of the best movies of last year.
2: Dune
This film is truly a sight to behold. Denis Villeneuve continues to prove why he’s considered to be one of the finest filmmakers of his generation, and, as I already said in a previous column, the killer cast really knocks it out of the park. This is a marvellous adaptation of Frank Herbert’s classic philosophical sci-fi novel, and I’m eagerly awaiting part two, due out in fall 2023.
1: Tick, Tick… Boom!
This is a rarity for me because I’m not a big fan of musicals and am a huge advocate for the cinematic experience. Putting that aside, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s feature debut Tick, Tick… Boom! really hit me. Based off of playwright Jonathan Larson’s semi-biographical musical play of the same name, this movie follows most of Larson’s time as a struggling playwright in New York City.
Why I adored this movie so much is the relatability factor that Miranda and crew put in the film and the songs. Everybody under 30 can relate to someone who’s afraid of turning 30 and having nothing to show for it. Heck, I would argue that most of you reading this right now are struggling with those same kind of feelings every day, too. It’s this kind of relatability, and Andrew Garfield’s mesmerizing performance as Larson, that makes this the number-one movie of 2021.
I want to thank you readers for a heck of a year doing this column, and I wish you all a very happy new year.
See you at the movies.