The 2020s are shaping up to be the greatest decade ever! Right guys? .... Right? .... Ok, maybe they've sucked, but at least we can all escape our problems with movies! 2021 may have only been slightly less wonky of a movie year than 2020, as theaters slowly started to reopen as the months went on, but there was still awesome stuff that came out that deserves to be applauded. So before I get to my official top ten list of 2021, here are some highlighted categories from this year in film that were some of my favorites (and least favorites). Enjoy!
BEST ACTOR - Anthony Hopkins, The Father
Anthony Hopkins may have completely stole the thunder from the Oscars this year, ending the broadcast with a shocking win over Chadwick Boseman's final role in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, but for anyone who actually watched The Father, no one can say it was unearned!
Perhaps the greatest role ever from one of the greatest actors of all time, Hopkins' portrayal of a man experiencing dementia perfectly (and horrifically) captures the feelings of confusion and time displacement that many of us have experienced with either parents or grandparents. It's also a particularly brave, self-reflective performance because Hopkins himself is an older man, and playing a role like this can probably hit close to home. The Father is a magnificent film, and it's Hopkin's performance that holds it all together. A well-deserved honoree of being the oldest Oscar-winning actor ever!
Runner-Up: Steven Yeun, Minari
Steven Yeun first came into many of our lives as Glen on The Walking Dead, but it is with Minari that I now consider him a truly GREAT actor. Playing the patriarch of a Korean-American family trying their hardest to keep it together in a new country, Yeun delivers a dramatic performance that is spot-on and authentic.
Honorable Mentions:
1. Daniel Kaluuya/LaKeith Stanfield (TIE), Judas and the Black Messiah
2. George McKay, Wolf
3. John David Washington, Malcolm & Marie
4. Simon Rex, Red Rocket
5. Colman Domingo, Zola
BEST ACTRESS - Vanessa Kirby, Pieces of a Woman
Vanessa Kirby was not on my radar until seeing her stellar performance in Pieces of a Woman early this year. The very first scene of the film is some of the best filmmaking I saw in 2021 - one unbroken shot taking viewers through a harrowing home birth, and Vanessa Kirby is incredible.
Runner-Up: Yuh-jung Youn, Minari
Earning the Best Supporting Actress Oscar earlier this year, Yuh-jung Youn made history as the first Korean actress to win an Oscar. Minari is a wonderful family drama and it's impossible not to love "Grandma Minari" (I know that's not her name, but that's what I call that character!).
Honorable Mentions:
1. Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye
2. Zendaya, Malcolm & Marie
3. Rebecca Hall, The Night House
4. Frances McDormand, Nomadland
5. Robin Wright, Land
BEST TRAILER - Judas and the Black Messiah
Trailers are always a tricky thing to pull off effectively. You want to entice the viewer to see a movie, inform them what it's about, but also not give too much away. Judas and the Black Messiah was a particularly great example of building hype without spoilers. The way Daniel Kaluuya's speech builds the suspense, and cuts to LaKeith Stanfield's unsure face - we are plunged into an intense situation right away.
Runner-Up: The Green Knight
Sometimes it's hard to articulate what makes a trailer great, but The Green Knight trailer definitely has "it." The mixture of music, sound effects, cinematography and how it's all edited together create maximum hype. Although it might make the film seem more like an episode of Game of Thrones than the arthouse flick it actually is, it's a trailer that totally works!
Honorable Mentions:
2. Candyman
BEST MUSIC SCORE - Raya and the Last Dragon, James Newton Howard
James Newton Howard is easy to take for granted, but he's scored so many legendary films: The Sixth Sense, The Dark Knight (with Hans Zimmer), The Hunger Games, King Kong, I Am Legend, Space Jam, and perhaps one of my all-time favorite scores, The Village. He's a reliable name, but I consider his work on Disney's fantasy epic Raya and the Last Dragon to be among his best work.
Runner-Up: The Green Knight, Daniel Hart
As an audio-visual piece of art, The Green Knight has no equal this year. A truly unique, beautiful film, the medieval-set fantasy epic from A24 fully transports you into its world - a key aspect of which is the sound. Daniel Hart has impressed with his collaborations with director David Lowery before, but the old school chamber music, complete with chants, makes you feel like you're in the middle ages.
Honorable Mentions:
1. Nomadland, Ludovico Einaudi
2. Pieces of a Woman, Howard Shore
3. Dune, Hans Zimmer
4. Minari, Emile Mosseri
5. Spencer, Johnny Greenwood
BEST SONG - "No Time to Die" from No Time to Die (Billie Eilish)
Not even in her 20s, and Billie Eilish has fast become one of the most popular musical artists of her generation. She also now holds the honor (I THINK) of youngest artist to record a theme song for everyone's favorite super spy, James Bond. It's fantastic and literally gives me goosebumps when I listen to it!
Runner-Up: "Welcome to the Internet" from Inside (Bo Burnham)
Bo Burnham's latest comedy special goes beyond stand-up and into the realm of experimental art. He really taps into those feelings we had during the pandemic, and "Welcome to the Internet" is a catchy, bouncy song from the perspective of "The Internet," almost like a snake oil salesman enticing you to continue scrolling. Brilliant stuff!
Honorable Mentions:
1. "Together" from Music
2. "1+1" from Music
3. "Fight For You" from Judas and the Black Messiah
4. "Vaathi Coming" from Master
5. "Audition Song" from CODA
MUSIC PLAYLIST (YOUTUBE)
BEST POSTER - Spencer
Poster designs seem to be a lost art nowadays, but for some reason, Pablo Larraín must know how to get a great poster designer (his film Jackie won this category in 2016). The poster for Spencer, a "real life fable" of Princess Diana's horrible time in the Royal Family, presents her engulfed in a fancy dress, face down, in front of a black void. Something about it is so striking - like you wouldn't bat an eye to see this hanging in an art gallery.
Runner-Up: Prisoners of the Ghostland
Full disclosure, I have not yet seen this! But a sci-fi western action movie with samurai swords starring Nicolas Cage... I'm definitely going to see it at some point! But for now I have this badass poster to spark my imagination.
Honorable Mentions:
2. Cruella
BEST ACTION SCENE - Public Bus Beatdown, Nobody
Even as a huge fan of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, I wasn't so sure about Bob Odenkirk's ability to pull off "action star" in his middle age. But the guys behind John Wick proved me wrong! And Exhibit A is this incredible bus fight scene where you WILL believe Bob Odenkirk can kick serious ass!
Runner-Up: Opening Credits Montage, Army of the Dead
Particularly known for his incredible opening credits sequences, Zack Snyder (Watchmen, Dawn of the Dead) did not disappoint with the introductory sequence for his latest zombie epic, Army of the Dead. Essentially a montage of how Las Vegas fell to the zombie apocalypse, it's a slow-motion series of setpieces that would have been enough action for one entire movie. All set to the sweet sounds of Richard Cheese's rendition of "Viva Las Vegas," this is a masterful, grandiose, show-stopping opener.
Honorable Mentions:
1. Flash's Hot Dog Moment, Zack Snyder's Justice League
2. Bus beatdown #2, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
3. Sub-zero vs. Scorpion, Mortal Kombat
4. Police Station Shootout, Malignant
5. Bank Heist, Wrath of Man
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY - The Green Knight, Andrew Droz Palermo
Nothing even really comes close to winning this award - The Green Knight for my money is one of the best-looking movies of the year. The scale is awe-inspiring considering this in an "indie" A24 movie that doesn't have the budget of a Lord of the Rings behind it. But all of the fantasy spectacle has a real weight to it - I mean, just LOOK at that shot above! Literally every frame of this film is gorgeous.
Runner-Up: West Side Story, Janusz Kamiński
While I wasn't a huge fan of this Oscar-hopeful remake from Steven Spielberg, one thing I do have to give it credit for is some incredible camerawork and shot compositions - all calibrated to perfection, especially in the dance numbers.
Honorable Mentions:
1. Titane
2. Nightmare Alley
3. Blue Bayou
4. Last Night in Soho
5. The World to Come
BEST COSTUME - Any and All Designs from Cruella
If Cruella is snubbed/doesn't win this category at the Oscars I will riot! Every one of Cruella's punk-rock infused fashion creations is a marvel to behold!
Runner-Up: Mirabel's Dress, Encanto
Although not a "real" dress, the beautifully-realized clothes the Disney animators gave Mirabel for the musical Encanto is a feat of animation. Not only does it convey her personality and culture, but the way it moves through space is ultra-realistic.
Honorable Mentions
1. Harley's Jacket, The Suicide Squad
2. Raya's Costume, Raya and the Last Dragon
3. Queen Zombie's Costume, Army of the Dead
4. Anita's Yellow Dress, West Side Story
5. Viola's spacesuit, Chaos Walking
BEST SET DESIGN - Nightmare Alley
Guillermo del Toro has an amazing eye for beautifully macabre designs, and Nightmare Alley, with its carnival setting, gives him ample opportunity to luxuriate in his wonderful style.
Runner-Up: Last Night in Soho
Just as Quentin Tarantino lovingly recreated 1960s Hollywood in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, so too does Edgar Wright bring back London in the Swinging Sixties with his awesome production design in Last Night in Soho.
Honorable Mentions
1. Escape Room: Tournament of Champions
2. The Green Knight
3. Reminiscence
4. West Side Story
5. Candyman
BEST TV SERIES - 9/11: One Day in America (National Geographic)
A harrowing historical document of that horrific day in American history, National Geographic's 9/11: One Day in America will give you ALL the feels. An important piece of history told without any political agenda.
Runner-Up: Squid Game (Netflix)
Squid Game is a phenomenon for a reason. A thrilling, well-acted Korean drama that can be universally enjoyed (at least by depraved minds like myself!)
Honorable Mentions:
1. The Underground Railroad (Amazon Prime)
2. Tiger (HBO Max)
3. WandaVision (Disney Plus)
4. Mare of Easttown (HBO Max)
5. Cobra Kai, Season 3 (Netflix)
BEST COMEDY SPECIAL - Bo Burnham: Inside
I considered abandoning this category altogether because there were barely any stand-up specials this year. COVID pretty much put a kibosh on live events, so 2021 was probably one of the driest seasons of stand-up I can remember. But I wanted to include the category literally because Bo Burnham's Inside deserves all the praise it's getting. It's more than just a comedy special - it's a legit piece of multimedia art.
Runner-Up: Louis C.K.: Sorry
Despite his abhorrent real-life behaviors, Louis CK is still a master joke-teller.
Honorable Mentions:
1. Brian Regan: On the Rocks
2. Jimmy Carr: His Dark Material
3. Michael Che: Shame the Devil
4. Tig Notaro: Drawn
WORST MOVIE - Tom and Jerry
Exposing your child to this film should get you reported to CPS. A mind-numbing, cringeworthy failure of a corporate product without any charm.
Runner-Up: Halloween Kills
The worst Halloween movie in my opinion.
Dishonorable Mentions:
1. Music
2. The Forever Purge
3. Locked Down
4. The Matrix Resurrections
5. Werewolves Within
"ROTTEN, MY A**!" AWARD - Malcolm and Marie (57%)
This category is proof that you shouldn't always listen to critics! From the showrunner of Euphoria comes this intimate drama starring Zendaya and John David Washington that is a fantastic showcase of their acting skills. It may have been made out of creative frustration due to the pandemic, but the results are electric!
Runner-Up: Wolf (39%)
Wolf is about a strange conversion therapy center that deals with youths who truly believe they are animals. George McKay delivers a stunning performance as a lost soul who feels like a wolf trapped in a human body. Unsettling and thought-provoking.
Honorable Mentions:
1. Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel (50%)
2. Don't Look Up (55%)
3. Venom: Let There Be Carnage (59%)
4. Mortal Kombat (55%)
5. Chaos Walking (24%)
BEST RETRO FIRST-TIME WATCH - The China Syndrome (1979)
For this category I'm going with my favorite "classic" movie I saw for the first time this past year. To qualify, a movie has to be at LEAST 20 years old (meaning released in 2002 or before, which might make some of you feel old, sorry).
My favorite retro watch this year was The China Syndrome, a 1970s disaster film about a news crew exposing a possible cover-up at a nuclear power plant where they almost had a meltdown. Jack Lemmon received the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival that year, and the film was nominated for four Oscars. This movie was incredibly tense, and even though conspiracy theory movies were big in the 70s following the Nixon administration, it's sadly relevant today with COVID cover-ups.
Runner-Up: Class of 1984 (1982)
A cynical, 80s exploitation version of the "inspirational teacher" movie, where the kids are monsters. A new favorite!
Honorable Mentions:
1. Hands on a Hardbody (1997)
2. Mikey and Nicky (1976)
3. Seconds (1966)
4. The Circus (1928)
5. Star 80 (1983)
Thanks for reading, guys! I appreciate it, and look out for my Top Ten of the year coming very soon! And check out my YouTube channel and Letterboxd profile for more good stuff!
No comments:
Post a Comment