FAVOURITE FILMS OF 2021 |
3 February 2022
This article is a look at my favourite films of 2021. |
MY TOP 27 FAVOURITE FILMS OF 2021
27. JAGAME THANDHIRAM
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A gangster film that packs a political wallop.
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26. GUNPOWDER MILKSHAKE
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The first 25 minutes are a collection of annoying affectations, false starts, and sub-JOHN WICK world building. Then the action sequences kick in and it’s a blast. Even though full of clichés. Like KATE [2021], a female assassin protecting a child of someone she killed?! What’s up with supposedly sinister organisation called either “the “firm” or “the syndicate”? She even has a Ryan Gosling-DRIVE-style jacket. Some fun set pieces.
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25. NIGHT IN PARADISE
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Writer-director Park Hoon-jung is such a talented depicter of crime through thrilling orchestration of narration and mayhem.
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24. THE WHITE TIGER
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Not as witty, but nearly as scathing as the novel.
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23. C’MON C’MON
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Being an uncle, living in this world.
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22. MALCOLM & MARIE
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Use of space. Cutting dialogue. Zendaya’s performance.
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21. WHAT HAPPENED TO MR CHA?
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So cringe. An absence of mawkishness prevents any softening of the awkwardness. Fans of comedy centred on a lack of self-awareness will relish. So many ace plot/stylistic choices.
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20. BOSS LEVEL
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A violent GROUNDHOG DAY. Some crunching sequences and enjoyable dialogue. Everything is over-the-top, verging on the gonzo. Blockbuster action cinema should learn from its chutzpah.
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19. ARMY OF THE DEAD
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As high concept movies go, why wasn’t there a mash-up of the heist and zombie genres sooner? As mindless blockbusters go, this is a riot. Winning casting and buckets of gore are integral parts of the fun.
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18. BAD TRIP
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Part film, part prank show. BORAT levels of funny. So excruciatingly uncomfortable, I had to keep pausing it. Weirdly also reaffirms faith in the kindness of individuals.
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17. THE GLORIAS
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Compelling fusion of biopic, historical analysis, and political call to action.
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16. SHADOW IN THE CLOUD
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Part way through, I was unimpressed, but becomes so bonkers it won me over.
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15. SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS
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Actual action sequences that aren’t run of the mill superhero fisticuffs. Apart from the rubbish CGI landscapes, this was engaging. I enjoyed myself.
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14. RUROUNI KENSHIN: THE BEGINNING
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What a franchise! The fifth instalment is a prequel. Most prequels are redundant, but not with this series.
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13. 14 PEAKS: NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE
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I'm really getting into mountaineering documentaries. This one delivers in spades.
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12. THE FABLE
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A hilarious action-comedy that unusually mixes in a dark theme.
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11. SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME
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At last Marvel steps up their storytelling game. (BLACK PANTHER was an aberration.) Shame again about the tiresome murky CGI climax. The ending is an emotional gut-punch.
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10. RARE BEASTS
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What a stylish, energetic rom-com! Gripping and at times dazzling. Though, a shame about the lack of cast diversity, made all the worse by being set in London.
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9. DELIVER US FROM EVIL
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No country does crime-action-thrillers like South Korea. A hitman tears apart Thailand for a kidnapped girl, while himself being pursued by a vengeful criminal.
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8. DEATH OF ENGLAND: FACE TO FACE
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National Theatre adaptation. Written by Clint Dyer and Roy Williams, and starring Neil Maskell and Giles Terera, the dialogue and acting are electric. I cannot recommend this highly enough. One of the best films of 2021.
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7. PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN
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This blew me away. And stayed with me.
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6. PALM SPRINGS
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I thought I’d be tired of GROUNDHOG DAY-style movies. However, with this and BOSS LEVEL, the subgenre is alive and well. A brill romantic-comedy. Who knew Andy Samberg could act?!
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5. RIDERS OF JUSTICE
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What a vengeance movie! What a Christmas movie!
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4. RUROUNI KENSHIN: THE FINAL
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The fourth instalment in the Japanese samurai franchise. I didn’t think another movie was necessary, but it more than justifies its existence. The superlative swordplay choreography repeatedly wows. If only the Star Wars universe applied such exhilarating, crunching artistry to its make-up.
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3. LOCKED DOWN
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A propulsive rom-com crime caper that reminds of the heyday of screwball comedies.
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2. THE SUICIDE SQUAD
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It was so good I kept rewinding to soak up the jokes and bonkersness.
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1. THE HARDER THEY FALL
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Like all the best revenge flicks, the price paid is not worth it. What a Western! Charisma overdrive. Constantly playing with genre and expectations. Brilliant stuff.
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