Although this year is just as weird as last
year, I did get to go to the theater a lot more then in 2020, but also saw a
lot of new releases in the comfort of my own home on streaming services and on VOD.
And I did see some gems (and some turds). Like every year, I create a list of
my 20 favorite films. It’s based on Dutch release dates, so you might see some
movies on this list that are originally from 2020, but came out in 2021 in The
Netherlands. And if you miss some movies, it’s possible that it won’t be
released here until 2022 or I just haven’t seen it. Since I don’t get to see
EVERY film made in 2021. Here is my list, the 20 best films of 2021, according
to moi!
20. The Last Duel
Just how important it is to hear from all involved is demonstrated in this exciting historical drama, based on a true 14th century story. About two befriended French knights: Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon) and Jacques LeGris (Adam Driver). Who will eventually duel to the death, with the stakes being whether or not Jean’s wife Marguerite (Jodie Comer) was right to accuse Jacques of rape. The knightly tale, told through their three perspectives, gets off to a somewhat slow start, but then offers smooth entertainment alongside surprising points of view. FULL REVIEW HERE
19. Godzilla Vs. Kong
18. Cruella
I love Emma Stone and she can do no wrong, but I wasn’t excited for this film that much. But it pleasantly surprised me. An origin story for one of Disney’s most cruel villains: Cruella de Vil. It makes her more human and you see the path that she had to walk before growing into the devilish fashion queen. Emma Stone is really good in her role, a delicious role. FULL REVIEW HERE
17. Nobody
A skillful action thriller about Hutch Mansell, a man living a routine life in an eventless marriage. After being robbed in his own house, and not doing a thing about it, he is looking for revenge eventually. And the real Hutch is anything but a nobody. A violent film, which would have been your standard revenge action film if it weren’t for the atypical action hero Bob Odenkirk in the lead. FULL REVIEW HERE
16. The Kid Detective
In his teens, Abe Applebaum (Adam Brody) was a prodigy of his own kind: a child detective who solved the most diverse mysteries for the whole school. Now Abe is 32, he spends his days as a private detective with meaningless cases, and he loses himself in alcohol and self-pity night after night. Until suddenly a real murder case lands on his desk, and he finally gets around to the real action. But murder turns out to be of a slightly different order than missing cats and stolen piggy banks. Debuting director Evan Morgan turns it into a deliciously ironic neo-noir, with a smart script and an excellent cast. FULL REVIEW HERE
15. Love and Monsters
Joel Dawson (Dyln O’Brien) is one of the sparse survivors of the apocalypse. For seven years he has been living in an underground bunker, where he takes shelter from the giant monsters that have taken over the planet. Since he is quite scared he never sets foot outside the door, but that changes when he discovers that his childhood sweetheart is still alive. An entertaining adventure film that I liked way more then expected. It has beautiful effects and Dylan O’Brien makes for a great lead. FULL REVIEW HERE
14. Seaspiracy
Passionate about ocean life, a filmmaker sets out to document the harm that humans do to marine species – and uncovers alarming global corruption. What “Cowspiracy” did for meat, “Seaspiracy” does for seafood. And if you still want to eat fish or visit sea aquariums after watching this, then you really didn’t get the message. FULL REVIEW HERE
13. Encanto
The Madrigal family is magical. Everyone has a gift, except for Mirabel. Disney brought us a few animations this year, but “Encanto” is the only one that made it on my list. A magical story, beautiful visuals, an original story and an old-fashioned musical. A fun time for the entire family. FULL REVIEW HERE
12. Promising Young Woman
A young woman is hanging out at the bar, drunk. And in no time a couple of ‘nice guys’ swarn around her and want to take her home. But the lucky one who does get to take her home, and actually wants to be rewarded for his good deed, is in for a surprise. Because the young woman, Cassie (an excellent Carey Mulligan), is not drunk at all. Revenge film from debut writer/ director Emerald Fennell is a feminist mix of comedy, thriller and topical #MeToo issues. Sometimes hilarious, sometimes suspenseful and sometimes inspiring. FULL REVIEW HERE
11. The Suicide Squad
After the disappointing “Suicide Squad”(2016), about a bunch of supervillains who have to save the world, DC Comics takes another shot at their franchise. With success, because “The Suicide Squad” is fantastic from start to finish: the clever script manages to surprise on several occasions, there are numerous bizarre and hilarious characters and the final fight is actually worthwhile. By far the most important improvement: director James Gunn, who is also responsible for “Guardians of the Galaxy”. He stays far away from the grim style of the original and turns it into a frenzied, brightly colored and completely deranged comedy. FULL REVIEW HERE
10. Pieces of a Woman
The daughter of Martha (Vanessa Kirby) and Sean (Shia LeBeouf) dies seconds after being born. Sean then seeks refuge in alcohol, sex and a lawsuit against the midwife, while Martha hides her grief and refuses to talk about it. This intense, raw drama is mainly good because of Vanessa Kirby’s fantastic performance and becomes a movie that will haunt you for a long time. FULL REVIEW HERE
9. Minari
In this largely autobiographical drama, director Lee Isaac Chung looks back fondly on his childhood in a Korean-American family in rural Arkansas. While father and mother do mind-numbing work at a poultry farm, dreaming of a future as vegetable growers, grandmother looks after the children at home. The drama remains otherwise modest, but is extremely nuanced and poetically crafted, with just the right mix of down-to-earth realism and nostalgic wonder. South Korean star actress Yuh-Jung Youn won an Oscar for her role as the eccentric grandmother. FULLREVIEW HERE
8. Nomadland
Poetic film by director Chloé Zhao about the American Fern, a sixty-something who, after the death of her husband, leaves everything behind and travels from place to place as a real nomad in a camper van. She is looking for temporary jobs, because otherwise she cannot make ends meet financially. And she is not the only one, because along the way she meets many people who have also opted for an existence as a modern nomad. Little plot, but a lot of atmosphere, beautiful images and an impressive leading role by Frances McDormand. FULL REVIEW HERE
7. The French Dispatch
The wonderful universe of filmmaker Wes Anderson is getting busier and busier. Instead of one film, he has now made five. Technically “The French Dispatch” is one movie telling a handful of separate stories, cleverly knitted together as articles that appeared in The French Dispatch: a magazine like The New Yorker, but from Kansas. Beautifully designed, quirky as we know from Anderson, and full of brilliant ideas as in any Anderson film. And needful of a second watch, because so much happens in this film. FULL REVIEW HERE
6. Druk
A comedic drama about four jaded teachers who embark on a daring experiment: a sip of alcohol every day before class. Because, according to a Norwegian psychologist half a promille of alcohol in your blood removes inhibitions, making us more fun, confident and creative. The first results are certainly encouraging, especially for history teacher Martin (Mads Mikkelsen). But it doesn’t stop at one sip, where the men start crossing boundaries. An excellent film from Thomas Vinterberg, who is also behind the phenomenal “Jagten”. FULL REVIEW HERE
5. Don’t Look Up
Researcher-in-training Kate (Jennifer Lawrence) and her professor Randall Mindy (Leonardo DiCaprio) spot a huge comet and calculate that it will strike Earth in six months. With the force of a billion atomic bombs. But no one takes them seriously. Director Adam McKay gives “Don’t Look Up” some sharp commentary on the climate crisis and the polarized and opportunistic world in which we now live. This vicious comedy about the end of the world, is a political satire and mocks society. FULL REVIEW HERE
4. Dune
It’s the year 10191 and to explain how the relationship of the universe are then you need a whole book or two films, because director Denis Villeneuve is only halfway through the book with this film. Technically it’s called “Dune Part 1”and is about the hero’s journey of the noble Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), who on desert planet Arrakis must take on rebellious Fremen, troops of the intergalactic emperor and giant sandworms, among others. Not one second boring and beautifully filmed. FULL REVIEW HERE
3. A Quiet Place Part II
The unexpected blockbuster “A Quiet Place”(2018) was a strong little horror film about a family threatened by blind monsters with dangerously sharp hearing. Making just the slightest sound can literally kill you. The film didn’t cry out for a sequel, but got one anyway. And this is a sequel I didn’t think I would need, but was so happy with when I finally saw it. Sequels to successful horror films don’t have the best reputation, so it’s very unique that “A Quiet Place Part II” is just as good as the first film. And even with having to replace the leading man John Krasinksi (who also excellently directed both films) by a new leading man, Cillian Murphy, who does an amazing job too. FULL REVIEW HERE
2. The Father
French director Florian Zeller adapted his successful play “Le Père” into this English-language drama, in which Anthony Hopkins plays the demented Anthony, who loses control of his life in a London apartment. In terms of setting, theme and uncompromising tone, “The Father” is very similar to “Amour”, with the main difference being that all logic is gradually abandoned here, so that the viewer is drawn to Anthony’s confusion. This has an oppressive effect. Anthony Hopkins proves once again why he is one of the greatest out there, by showing us an extreme range of emotions. And nice counterplay from Olivia Colman. A heartbreaking film. FULL REVIEW HERE
1. Tick, Tick… Boom!
Adrew Garfield is amazing as American composer Jonathan Larson, who died in 1996 at the age of 35, just before the first performance of his groundbreaking musical “Rent”. The film zooms in on the period around his 30th birthday, when Larson is trying to get his ambitious sci-fi rock musical Superbia off the ground. Meanwhile, he can barely pay the bills, his girlfriend threatens to leave him and several of his friends turn out to have HIV. An energetic, inspiring ode to making art against the odds. Directorial debut of Lin-Manuel Miranda, who himself achieved success on Broadway at a young age with musicals “In the Heights” and “Hamilton”. My favorite of the year and a movie I loved from the first minute. I’m glad modern musicals aren’t dead yet. FULL REVIEW HERE
Just how important it is to hear from all involved is demonstrated in this exciting historical drama, based on a true 14th century story. About two befriended French knights: Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon) and Jacques LeGris (Adam Driver). Who will eventually duel to the death, with the stakes being whether or not Jean’s wife Marguerite (Jodie Comer) was right to accuse Jacques of rape. The knightly tale, told through their three perspectives, gets off to a somewhat slow start, but then offers smooth entertainment alongside surprising points of view. FULL REVIEW HERE
I love Emma Stone and she can do no wrong, but I wasn’t excited for this film that much. But it pleasantly surprised me. An origin story for one of Disney’s most cruel villains: Cruella de Vil. It makes her more human and you see the path that she had to walk before growing into the devilish fashion queen. Emma Stone is really good in her role, a delicious role. FULL REVIEW HERE
A skillful action thriller about Hutch Mansell, a man living a routine life in an eventless marriage. After being robbed in his own house, and not doing a thing about it, he is looking for revenge eventually. And the real Hutch is anything but a nobody. A violent film, which would have been your standard revenge action film if it weren’t for the atypical action hero Bob Odenkirk in the lead. FULL REVIEW HERE
In his teens, Abe Applebaum (Adam Brody) was a prodigy of his own kind: a child detective who solved the most diverse mysteries for the whole school. Now Abe is 32, he spends his days as a private detective with meaningless cases, and he loses himself in alcohol and self-pity night after night. Until suddenly a real murder case lands on his desk, and he finally gets around to the real action. But murder turns out to be of a slightly different order than missing cats and stolen piggy banks. Debuting director Evan Morgan turns it into a deliciously ironic neo-noir, with a smart script and an excellent cast. FULL REVIEW HERE
Joel Dawson (Dyln O’Brien) is one of the sparse survivors of the apocalypse. For seven years he has been living in an underground bunker, where he takes shelter from the giant monsters that have taken over the planet. Since he is quite scared he never sets foot outside the door, but that changes when he discovers that his childhood sweetheart is still alive. An entertaining adventure film that I liked way more then expected. It has beautiful effects and Dylan O’Brien makes for a great lead. FULL REVIEW HERE
Passionate about ocean life, a filmmaker sets out to document the harm that humans do to marine species – and uncovers alarming global corruption. What “Cowspiracy” did for meat, “Seaspiracy” does for seafood. And if you still want to eat fish or visit sea aquariums after watching this, then you really didn’t get the message. FULL REVIEW HERE
The Madrigal family is magical. Everyone has a gift, except for Mirabel. Disney brought us a few animations this year, but “Encanto” is the only one that made it on my list. A magical story, beautiful visuals, an original story and an old-fashioned musical. A fun time for the entire family. FULL REVIEW HERE
A young woman is hanging out at the bar, drunk. And in no time a couple of ‘nice guys’ swarn around her and want to take her home. But the lucky one who does get to take her home, and actually wants to be rewarded for his good deed, is in for a surprise. Because the young woman, Cassie (an excellent Carey Mulligan), is not drunk at all. Revenge film from debut writer/ director Emerald Fennell is a feminist mix of comedy, thriller and topical #MeToo issues. Sometimes hilarious, sometimes suspenseful and sometimes inspiring. FULL REVIEW HERE
After the disappointing “Suicide Squad”(2016), about a bunch of supervillains who have to save the world, DC Comics takes another shot at their franchise. With success, because “The Suicide Squad” is fantastic from start to finish: the clever script manages to surprise on several occasions, there are numerous bizarre and hilarious characters and the final fight is actually worthwhile. By far the most important improvement: director James Gunn, who is also responsible for “Guardians of the Galaxy”. He stays far away from the grim style of the original and turns it into a frenzied, brightly colored and completely deranged comedy. FULL REVIEW HERE
The daughter of Martha (Vanessa Kirby) and Sean (Shia LeBeouf) dies seconds after being born. Sean then seeks refuge in alcohol, sex and a lawsuit against the midwife, while Martha hides her grief and refuses to talk about it. This intense, raw drama is mainly good because of Vanessa Kirby’s fantastic performance and becomes a movie that will haunt you for a long time. FULL REVIEW HERE
In this largely autobiographical drama, director Lee Isaac Chung looks back fondly on his childhood in a Korean-American family in rural Arkansas. While father and mother do mind-numbing work at a poultry farm, dreaming of a future as vegetable growers, grandmother looks after the children at home. The drama remains otherwise modest, but is extremely nuanced and poetically crafted, with just the right mix of down-to-earth realism and nostalgic wonder. South Korean star actress Yuh-Jung Youn won an Oscar for her role as the eccentric grandmother. FULLREVIEW HERE
Poetic film by director Chloé Zhao about the American Fern, a sixty-something who, after the death of her husband, leaves everything behind and travels from place to place as a real nomad in a camper van. She is looking for temporary jobs, because otherwise she cannot make ends meet financially. And she is not the only one, because along the way she meets many people who have also opted for an existence as a modern nomad. Little plot, but a lot of atmosphere, beautiful images and an impressive leading role by Frances McDormand. FULL REVIEW HERE
The wonderful universe of filmmaker Wes Anderson is getting busier and busier. Instead of one film, he has now made five. Technically “The French Dispatch” is one movie telling a handful of separate stories, cleverly knitted together as articles that appeared in The French Dispatch: a magazine like The New Yorker, but from Kansas. Beautifully designed, quirky as we know from Anderson, and full of brilliant ideas as in any Anderson film. And needful of a second watch, because so much happens in this film. FULL REVIEW HERE
A comedic drama about four jaded teachers who embark on a daring experiment: a sip of alcohol every day before class. Because, according to a Norwegian psychologist half a promille of alcohol in your blood removes inhibitions, making us more fun, confident and creative. The first results are certainly encouraging, especially for history teacher Martin (Mads Mikkelsen). But it doesn’t stop at one sip, where the men start crossing boundaries. An excellent film from Thomas Vinterberg, who is also behind the phenomenal “Jagten”. FULL REVIEW HERE
Researcher-in-training Kate (Jennifer Lawrence) and her professor Randall Mindy (Leonardo DiCaprio) spot a huge comet and calculate that it will strike Earth in six months. With the force of a billion atomic bombs. But no one takes them seriously. Director Adam McKay gives “Don’t Look Up” some sharp commentary on the climate crisis and the polarized and opportunistic world in which we now live. This vicious comedy about the end of the world, is a political satire and mocks society. FULL REVIEW HERE
It’s the year 10191 and to explain how the relationship of the universe are then you need a whole book or two films, because director Denis Villeneuve is only halfway through the book with this film. Technically it’s called “Dune Part 1”and is about the hero’s journey of the noble Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), who on desert planet Arrakis must take on rebellious Fremen, troops of the intergalactic emperor and giant sandworms, among others. Not one second boring and beautifully filmed. FULL REVIEW HERE
The unexpected blockbuster “A Quiet Place”(2018) was a strong little horror film about a family threatened by blind monsters with dangerously sharp hearing. Making just the slightest sound can literally kill you. The film didn’t cry out for a sequel, but got one anyway. And this is a sequel I didn’t think I would need, but was so happy with when I finally saw it. Sequels to successful horror films don’t have the best reputation, so it’s very unique that “A Quiet Place Part II” is just as good as the first film. And even with having to replace the leading man John Krasinksi (who also excellently directed both films) by a new leading man, Cillian Murphy, who does an amazing job too. FULL REVIEW HERE
French director Florian Zeller adapted his successful play “Le Père” into this English-language drama, in which Anthony Hopkins plays the demented Anthony, who loses control of his life in a London apartment. In terms of setting, theme and uncompromising tone, “The Father” is very similar to “Amour”, with the main difference being that all logic is gradually abandoned here, so that the viewer is drawn to Anthony’s confusion. This has an oppressive effect. Anthony Hopkins proves once again why he is one of the greatest out there, by showing us an extreme range of emotions. And nice counterplay from Olivia Colman. A heartbreaking film. FULL REVIEW HERE
Adrew Garfield is amazing as American composer Jonathan Larson, who died in 1996 at the age of 35, just before the first performance of his groundbreaking musical “Rent”. The film zooms in on the period around his 30th birthday, when Larson is trying to get his ambitious sci-fi rock musical Superbia off the ground. Meanwhile, he can barely pay the bills, his girlfriend threatens to leave him and several of his friends turn out to have HIV. An energetic, inspiring ode to making art against the odds. Directorial debut of Lin-Manuel Miranda, who himself achieved success on Broadway at a young age with musicals “In the Heights” and “Hamilton”. My favorite of the year and a movie I loved from the first minute. I’m glad modern musicals aren’t dead yet. FULL REVIEW HERE
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