It wasn’t the best movie year, but we did get
some gems. Like every year, I created 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 2021, but came out in 2022 in The Netherlands. And if you miss
some movies, it’s possible that it won’t be released here until 2023 or I just haven’t
seen it. Since I don’t get to see EVERY film made in 2022. Here is my list, the
20 best films of 2021, according to moi!
20. Hustle
Sports movies are not my go-to subgenre, but “Hustle” was a surprise for me this year. We follow basketball scout Stanley Sugarman (Adam Sandler) who discovers a diamond in a rough on the streets of Spain and then tries to get the boy ready for the NBA. It’s not the most innovative story when it comes to sports, but it is a very strong film that shows us again the range that Adam Sandler in fact has. Click HERE for my full review.
19. Nightmare Alley
America, 1939. Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) is a man with a dark past, desperate for a better future. Among the “freaks” at a carnival, he finds peace for a while, but he does not become truly satisfied or happy, and soon he wants more. After which he moves to the big city with Molly (Rooney Mara). A wonderfully sinister fairytale about deceit and how people want to be deceived. Directed by Guillermo del Toro, so you know what you’re in for. HERE is my full review.
18. Don’t Worry Darling
The team behind the successful teen comedy “Booksmart” (director Olivia Wilde and screenwriter Katie Silberman) returns for this ambitious thriller about a picture-perfect neighborhood called Victory, where people still live like they did in the 1950s. The man goes to work obediently every day and the woman is a happy and obeying housewife. But something is not right, as Alice (Florence Pugh) soon discovers. And her husband Jack (Harry Styles) cannot be trusted so it seems. It’s a curious mix of “The Stepford Wives”, “Black Mirror” and “Get Out”, which looks wonderful and is very ambitious. Read my full review HERE.
17. Werewolf By Night
The first special by Marvel came out for Halloween. A short film which is an homage to the classic monster movies of the 1930s and 40s. A group of monster hunters come together for a game. But one of them has a secret. The use of black and white images and a lot of practical effects, create a great atmosphere, which is even a bit remiscent of the work of Boris Karloff in the original “Wolfman”. A great Marvel film just over fifty minutes. HERE is the full review.
16. Barbarian
In “Barbarian” we meet Tess (Georgina Campbell), who booked a Airbnb in a neighborhood in Detroit. When she arrives, a man named Keith (Bill Skarsgård) is staying at the home and they realize that it was double booked. Keith offers to sleep on the couch so Tess can take the bed, since it’s the middle of the night and there is no chance that she will find a different place to stay for the night. When Tess is asleep, her door suddenly opens and she finds it harder and harder to trust Keith. The best way to experience this film, is to know as little as possible. This film surprises, shocks and disturbs. A creepy horror thriller. You can read my full review HERE.
15. The Guardians of the
Galaxy: Holiday Special
The second Marvel special, this time Christmas themed. Drax (Dave Bautista) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff) believe that Peter (Chris Pratt) could use some cheering up, so they think of the best Christmas present they can get him. Like the other “Guardians of the Galaxy’ films, this one is filled with humor. It focuses on Drax and Mantis this time and the story has some crucial plot points. The film has a lot of heart and I really enjoyed the 40+ minutes it was playing. You can find my full review HERE.
14. See How They Run
The story revolves around a murder mystery behind the scenes of “The Mousetrap”, an Agatha Christie play, in 1950s London. Where Inspector Stoppard (Sam Rockwell) and his partner Constable Stalker (Saoirse Ronan) investigate this murder, which is filled with references to the play, sharp dialogues and amusement. A fantastic whodunit that nobody is talking about. And I simply don’t understand why. My full review is HERE.
13. Avatar: the Way of Water
We only had to wait thirteen years for this sequel, but it was worth it. Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) have made a life together, now parents of four. When their life is threatened, Jake needs to protect his family, which means moving away from their beloved home. The film focuses on the children and the family connections, which gave it great emotional layers. Again, the film looks stunning and the 3+ hour runtime is no punishment whatsoever. HERE you can read my full review.
12. Im Westen Nichts Neues
This is the third adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque’s famous war novel “All Quiet On the Western Front”. Unlike many other war movies, which present soldiers as heroes, director Edward Berger chose to show only the horror, futility and misery of war. We follow Paul Bäumer (Felix Kammerer) during the final months of World War I as he sinks deeper and deeper into the misery of the trench battle. Visually stunning, but also somewhat bravely filmed according to genre conventions war dramas. Click HERE for the full review.
11. Bullet Train
On a high-speed train from Tokyo to Kyoto, there is a motley crew of international assassins. All of them on a mission, with something in common. Director David Leitch previously made “Deadpool 2”, so if you didn’t like that action and humor, you can skip this. This film was so entertaining and really surprised me in how much I eventually liked this film. You can read my review HERE.
10. Everything Everywhere All
at Once
Chinese-American Evelyn (Michelle yeoh) is a jaded fifty-something who runs a laundromat with her husband. One day she discovers that she is able to visit parallel universes in which she has made very different life choices. This is without a doubt the weirdest film I have seen this year, but this kind of bizarre is good. It has pop culture references, life lessons and social criticism and is a wild ride. HERE is my full review.
9. The Batman
Yet another film featuring vigilante Batman, which I was skeptic about when I heard that Robert Pattinson was going to play the dark knight. It’s a very solid and strong film, with an intriguing mix of neo noir and whodunnit. And I never would have thought Pattinson would make such a great Batman. Read my full review HERE.
8. Belfast
The Troubles in Northern Ireland, where a bloody battle took place between Catholics and Protestants starting in 1969, seen through the eyes of a nine-year-old boy. That boy’s name is Buddy. He comes from a Protestant family and lives in Belfast. Writer/ director Kenneth Branagh based the film on his own childhood memories and thus zooms in not on the political circumstances, but on Buddy’s world. Thus we witness not only the chaos and the misery of the conflict, but also Buddy’s first crush, his parents' fiery but shaky marriage and the warm affection of his grandparents. This film was so heartwarming and beautiful. HERE you can read my full review.
7. Nope
Jordan Peele is doing so well as a horror movie director. “Get Out” and “Us” were both very successful, original and innovative for the genre. And “Nope”, although my least favorite of the three, does it again. But “Nope” is much more, because it has science fiction elements as well. OJ Haywood (Daniel Kaluuya) and his sister Em (Keke Palmer) raise horses on a remote farm just outside Los Angeles. Business is bad, but then OJ spots a something in the clouds. If they just get a sharp image of whatever is in those clouds, their money trouble would be solved. So they think. Again, you’re in the dark for a long time and the story is innovative and new. But Peele also manages to say some important things about the danger of attention, greed, family ties and more. Read my full review HERE.
6. Top Gun: Maverick
The sequel no one thought they needed. The 80s film “Top Gun” wasn’t all that great, especially when you revisit it so many years later. “Top Gun: Maverick” did something that a lot of sequels never succeed at: surpass the original. In this sequel (made 36 years after “Top Gun”) Maverick (Tom Cruise) is still pushing the envelope as a top naval aviator, but must confront ghosts of his past when he leads Top Gun’s elite graduates on a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those chosen to fly it. Great visuals and more understanding of Maverick as a character. HERE is my full review.
5. The Unbearable Weight of
Massive Talent
Nicolas Cage amusingly ridicules his own career and image in this meta-comedy that cleverly balances between comedy and homage. The eccentric Hollywood star plays a variation of himself who travels to an island for lack of money to attend the birthday of a wealthy fan (Pedro Pascal). However, the millionaire in question turns out to be a gangster, and Cage is employed by the CIA to spy on him. This film was fantastic and it had been a while since I laughed so hard over a film, when it actually is hilarious and a fun time. Nicolas Cage and Pedro Pascal are amazing in this film. Check HERE to read my full review.
4. The Northman
Young Viking Prince Amleth sees his father murdered by his half-brother Fjölnir. Years later, Amleth now a well-trained fighter, finally gets the change to carry out his plans to avenge his father, save his mother and kill Fjölnir. It’s a Norwegian heroic tale, which inspired Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”. David Eggers has yet to disappoint me with a film, his films are remarkable. It’s a very violent, bloody film, so not for the squeamish. Read my full review HERE.
3. Help
In a nursing home in Liverpool, young Sarah (Jodie Comer) turns out to be perfect as a caretaker for dementia patients. With the relatively young Tony (Stephen Graham) she gets along very well. Then, in March 2020, come the first reports of the Covid 19 virus. A drama with great performances by Comer and Graham, that sows us the initial ignorance, growing unrest and panic faced with the British healthcare system, that lacked funding and manpower, which made everything considerably more difficult. Every year there is that one movie that leaves me speechless. This was the one for 2022. Click HERE to read my full review for this film.
2. Glass Onion: A Knives Out
Mystery
In this sequel to the successful murder mystery “Knives out”, Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is the only recurring character. When he is invited to a game of live Clue on the private island of a pretentious billionaire (Edward Norton), it soon turns out there is a real killer on the loose. Murder mysteries really are my jam, I always love a good whodunit. The non-linear storytelling, sharp and satirical script, fantastic cast and ingenious plot make for yet another amazing murder mystery starring one of my favorite new movie detectives Benoit Blanc. The movie did everything I was hoping for, did not disappoint and made me love it just as much as “Knives Out”. And Janelle Monáe is fantastic in this film by the way. Check out my full review HERE.
1. Boiling Point
An hour and a half from the hectic life of restaurant owner and chef Andy (Stephen Graham), who on the busiest night of the year has to keep an awful lot of plates in the air in his East London restaurant. The film was shot in one long, uninterrupted take, which only adds to the already hectic pace. The film changes perspectives, we follow different people during the shift. “Boiling Point” might not be the most spectacular or exciting film on this list, but in my opinion it was the best film of 2022. Click HERE for my full review.
Honorable mentions: Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, Enola Holmes 2, I Came By, The Tinder Swindler,
Elvis
Sports movies are not my go-to subgenre, but “Hustle” was a surprise for me this year. We follow basketball scout Stanley Sugarman (Adam Sandler) who discovers a diamond in a rough on the streets of Spain and then tries to get the boy ready for the NBA. It’s not the most innovative story when it comes to sports, but it is a very strong film that shows us again the range that Adam Sandler in fact has. Click HERE for my full review.
America, 1939. Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) is a man with a dark past, desperate for a better future. Among the “freaks” at a carnival, he finds peace for a while, but he does not become truly satisfied or happy, and soon he wants more. After which he moves to the big city with Molly (Rooney Mara). A wonderfully sinister fairytale about deceit and how people want to be deceived. Directed by Guillermo del Toro, so you know what you’re in for. HERE is my full review.
The team behind the successful teen comedy “Booksmart” (director Olivia Wilde and screenwriter Katie Silberman) returns for this ambitious thriller about a picture-perfect neighborhood called Victory, where people still live like they did in the 1950s. The man goes to work obediently every day and the woman is a happy and obeying housewife. But something is not right, as Alice (Florence Pugh) soon discovers. And her husband Jack (Harry Styles) cannot be trusted so it seems. It’s a curious mix of “The Stepford Wives”, “Black Mirror” and “Get Out”, which looks wonderful and is very ambitious. Read my full review HERE.
The first special by Marvel came out for Halloween. A short film which is an homage to the classic monster movies of the 1930s and 40s. A group of monster hunters come together for a game. But one of them has a secret. The use of black and white images and a lot of practical effects, create a great atmosphere, which is even a bit remiscent of the work of Boris Karloff in the original “Wolfman”. A great Marvel film just over fifty minutes. HERE is the full review.
In “Barbarian” we meet Tess (Georgina Campbell), who booked a Airbnb in a neighborhood in Detroit. When she arrives, a man named Keith (Bill Skarsgård) is staying at the home and they realize that it was double booked. Keith offers to sleep on the couch so Tess can take the bed, since it’s the middle of the night and there is no chance that she will find a different place to stay for the night. When Tess is asleep, her door suddenly opens and she finds it harder and harder to trust Keith. The best way to experience this film, is to know as little as possible. This film surprises, shocks and disturbs. A creepy horror thriller. You can read my full review HERE.
The second Marvel special, this time Christmas themed. Drax (Dave Bautista) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff) believe that Peter (Chris Pratt) could use some cheering up, so they think of the best Christmas present they can get him. Like the other “Guardians of the Galaxy’ films, this one is filled with humor. It focuses on Drax and Mantis this time and the story has some crucial plot points. The film has a lot of heart and I really enjoyed the 40+ minutes it was playing. You can find my full review HERE.
The story revolves around a murder mystery behind the scenes of “The Mousetrap”, an Agatha Christie play, in 1950s London. Where Inspector Stoppard (Sam Rockwell) and his partner Constable Stalker (Saoirse Ronan) investigate this murder, which is filled with references to the play, sharp dialogues and amusement. A fantastic whodunit that nobody is talking about. And I simply don’t understand why. My full review is HERE.
We only had to wait thirteen years for this sequel, but it was worth it. Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) have made a life together, now parents of four. When their life is threatened, Jake needs to protect his family, which means moving away from their beloved home. The film focuses on the children and the family connections, which gave it great emotional layers. Again, the film looks stunning and the 3+ hour runtime is no punishment whatsoever. HERE you can read my full review.
This is the third adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque’s famous war novel “All Quiet On the Western Front”. Unlike many other war movies, which present soldiers as heroes, director Edward Berger chose to show only the horror, futility and misery of war. We follow Paul Bäumer (Felix Kammerer) during the final months of World War I as he sinks deeper and deeper into the misery of the trench battle. Visually stunning, but also somewhat bravely filmed according to genre conventions war dramas. Click HERE for the full review.
On a high-speed train from Tokyo to Kyoto, there is a motley crew of international assassins. All of them on a mission, with something in common. Director David Leitch previously made “Deadpool 2”, so if you didn’t like that action and humor, you can skip this. This film was so entertaining and really surprised me in how much I eventually liked this film. You can read my review HERE.
Chinese-American Evelyn (Michelle yeoh) is a jaded fifty-something who runs a laundromat with her husband. One day she discovers that she is able to visit parallel universes in which she has made very different life choices. This is without a doubt the weirdest film I have seen this year, but this kind of bizarre is good. It has pop culture references, life lessons and social criticism and is a wild ride. HERE is my full review.
Yet another film featuring vigilante Batman, which I was skeptic about when I heard that Robert Pattinson was going to play the dark knight. It’s a very solid and strong film, with an intriguing mix of neo noir and whodunnit. And I never would have thought Pattinson would make such a great Batman. Read my full review HERE.
The Troubles in Northern Ireland, where a bloody battle took place between Catholics and Protestants starting in 1969, seen through the eyes of a nine-year-old boy. That boy’s name is Buddy. He comes from a Protestant family and lives in Belfast. Writer/ director Kenneth Branagh based the film on his own childhood memories and thus zooms in not on the political circumstances, but on Buddy’s world. Thus we witness not only the chaos and the misery of the conflict, but also Buddy’s first crush, his parents' fiery but shaky marriage and the warm affection of his grandparents. This film was so heartwarming and beautiful. HERE you can read my full review.
Jordan Peele is doing so well as a horror movie director. “Get Out” and “Us” were both very successful, original and innovative for the genre. And “Nope”, although my least favorite of the three, does it again. But “Nope” is much more, because it has science fiction elements as well. OJ Haywood (Daniel Kaluuya) and his sister Em (Keke Palmer) raise horses on a remote farm just outside Los Angeles. Business is bad, but then OJ spots a something in the clouds. If they just get a sharp image of whatever is in those clouds, their money trouble would be solved. So they think. Again, you’re in the dark for a long time and the story is innovative and new. But Peele also manages to say some important things about the danger of attention, greed, family ties and more. Read my full review HERE.
The sequel no one thought they needed. The 80s film “Top Gun” wasn’t all that great, especially when you revisit it so many years later. “Top Gun: Maverick” did something that a lot of sequels never succeed at: surpass the original. In this sequel (made 36 years after “Top Gun”) Maverick (Tom Cruise) is still pushing the envelope as a top naval aviator, but must confront ghosts of his past when he leads Top Gun’s elite graduates on a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those chosen to fly it. Great visuals and more understanding of Maverick as a character. HERE is my full review.
Nicolas Cage amusingly ridicules his own career and image in this meta-comedy that cleverly balances between comedy and homage. The eccentric Hollywood star plays a variation of himself who travels to an island for lack of money to attend the birthday of a wealthy fan (Pedro Pascal). However, the millionaire in question turns out to be a gangster, and Cage is employed by the CIA to spy on him. This film was fantastic and it had been a while since I laughed so hard over a film, when it actually is hilarious and a fun time. Nicolas Cage and Pedro Pascal are amazing in this film. Check HERE to read my full review.
Young Viking Prince Amleth sees his father murdered by his half-brother Fjölnir. Years later, Amleth now a well-trained fighter, finally gets the change to carry out his plans to avenge his father, save his mother and kill Fjölnir. It’s a Norwegian heroic tale, which inspired Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”. David Eggers has yet to disappoint me with a film, his films are remarkable. It’s a very violent, bloody film, so not for the squeamish. Read my full review HERE.
In a nursing home in Liverpool, young Sarah (Jodie Comer) turns out to be perfect as a caretaker for dementia patients. With the relatively young Tony (Stephen Graham) she gets along very well. Then, in March 2020, come the first reports of the Covid 19 virus. A drama with great performances by Comer and Graham, that sows us the initial ignorance, growing unrest and panic faced with the British healthcare system, that lacked funding and manpower, which made everything considerably more difficult. Every year there is that one movie that leaves me speechless. This was the one for 2022. Click HERE to read my full review for this film.
In this sequel to the successful murder mystery “Knives out”, Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is the only recurring character. When he is invited to a game of live Clue on the private island of a pretentious billionaire (Edward Norton), it soon turns out there is a real killer on the loose. Murder mysteries really are my jam, I always love a good whodunit. The non-linear storytelling, sharp and satirical script, fantastic cast and ingenious plot make for yet another amazing murder mystery starring one of my favorite new movie detectives Benoit Blanc. The movie did everything I was hoping for, did not disappoint and made me love it just as much as “Knives Out”. And Janelle Monáe is fantastic in this film by the way. Check out my full review HERE.
An hour and a half from the hectic life of restaurant owner and chef Andy (Stephen Graham), who on the busiest night of the year has to keep an awful lot of plates in the air in his East London restaurant. The film was shot in one long, uninterrupted take, which only adds to the already hectic pace. The film changes perspectives, we follow different people during the shift. “Boiling Point” might not be the most spectacular or exciting film on this list, but in my opinion it was the best film of 2022. Click HERE for my full review.
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