Colin Tobin
Chief Copy Editor
2021 was another interesting year for movies as it saw the release of several long-delayed projects and films produced during the pandemic. It was tough for me to make this list without leaving off some films that I really enjoyed from this year. Some of my honorable mentions include: “C’mon C’mon,” “Titane,” “West Side Story,” “Pig,” “The Last Duel” and “Drive My Car.”
- “Spencer” – Kristen Stewart carries this movie in the role of Princess Diana as she reaches her breaking point with her role in the Royal Family. Stewart brings home the themes of loneliness and restraint in her (hopefully not award-snubbed) performance.
- “The Tragedy of Macbeth” – Shot in black and white with impressive use of shadows and contrast, combined with a strong lead performance by Denzel Washington, this feels like the definitive adaptation of the iconic play. The biggest barrier to entry is the original Shakespearean dialogue that the film uses. I can see it being difficult to follow if you aren’t familiar with the source material.
- “tick, tick…BOOM!” – Say what you will about Lin-Manuel Miranda, but he was the perfect person to adapt “Rent” creator Jonathan Larson’s autobiographical musical, and it was refreshing to see him direct something that he didn’t write or compose. Andrew Garfield gives his best performance since “The Social Network” and deserves to be one of the Best Actor frontrunners.
- “The Green Knight” – Dev Patel stars in this trippy, hypnotic and visually striking adaptation of the Arthurian legend of Sir Gawain. Very much a slow burn, this film gives an introspective look into the psyche of Gawain and his commitment to his chivalric ideals.
- “The Power of the Dog” – This seems to be the frontrunner for Best Picture at this year’s Oscars and rightfully so. Packed with subtext and undertones, writer/director Jane Campion’s story feels like a completely different film the second time around. I didn’t think it was possible to make Benedict Cumberbatch intimidating but this movie pulls it off.
- “Judas and the Black Messiah” – Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield show, once again, why they are two of the best, most charismatic actors working today. This film serves as a powerful reminder of the shortcomings in the American education system when it comes to Black history.
- “Spider-Man: No Way Home” – Some of the first movies I remember watching are Tobey Maguire’s trilogy and ever since, Spider-Man has been one of my favorite fictional characters. Watching this in a packed, opening-night theater is an experience I’ll never forget. I never thought anything like this would ever exist, but I’m thrilled that it does.
- “Dune” – Denis Villeneuve crafted the most immersive film of the year with his vision of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi novel, which should be a shoo-in for all the major technical awards this year. I’d been not-so-patiently waiting for this since it was announced back in 2017 and it delivered on my high expectations. “Dune” has anything you could ever want in a movie: witches, bagpipes, betrayal, desert hallucinogens and even a giant sandworm.
- “Bo Burnham: Inside” – When we look back at the pandemic years from now, I think this will serve as a perfect time capsule for the collective anxiety and isolation that most people felt. Burnham takes being an auteur to the next level, being the only person behind literally every aspect of production. The songs “All Eyes On Me” and “That Funny Feeling” in particular have stuck with me.
- “The French Dispatch” – Wes Anderson’s celebration of storytellers is a meticulously crafted and expertly directed piece of filmmaking. Containing everything you’d come to expect from a Wes Anderson film, like its symmetrical framing, ensemble cast and endless dry humor, I loved it even more the second time. I feel like I’ll never get tired of watching this movie and picking up on more of the overwhelming details on every rewatch.
