My top 10 films of 2021
The only way to end a year of film reviewing is to do a round-up of the best – so here’s mine.
10. Supernova
Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci are terrific in this incredibly moving drama, about a couple who take a tour of their favourite spots as one of them is sick. I defy you not to cry! Tissues are definitely required.
9. Another Round
The first of Mads Mikkelsen‘s two appearances on my list! This Danish comedy-drama won the Oscar for Best International Feature Film and rightly so. It follows a group of men who experiment with varying blood alcohol levels to see if it improves their daily lives. The film’s final scene brings me so much joy and I’ve watched it several times on social media!
8. Ninjababy
This Norwegian comedy-drama is brilliant. It tells the story of Rakel (Kristine Thorp), who discovers she’s pregnant, very pregnant – so pregnant that she can no longer have an abortion. With that option off the table, Rakel has to figure out what to do. This is hilarious – Rakel has no filter at all – but it also becomes surprisingly moving towards the end. As someone who doesn’t want children, I felt very “seen”.
7. Palm Springs
This time-loop romantic comedy is very entertaining. Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti play two wedding guests who replay the same day – the wedding day – over and over again. She wants to figure out how to break the cycle whereas he is happy chilling in the no-consequences zone. What an uplifting watch!
6. Riders of Justice
My next Mads Mikkelsen outing! In this Danish comedy-drama, he plays a soldier who becomes convinced his wife’s death wasn’t an accident and seeks revenge on the gang members responsible. It sounds like your average revenge thriller but it’s way better than that thanks to the involvement of some nerds who help Mikkelsen with his plan.
5. Petite Maman
The most recent entry in my top 10 is Celine Sciamma‘s gorgeous French drama. The film follows eight-year-old Nelly as she meets a mysteriously familiar girl in the woods outside her mother’s childhood home. It brought me so much joy watching the Sanz twins playing around together. Such a sweet film.
4. Luca
I had no expectations for this Pixar film and came away loving it! It tells the story of Luca and Bruno, two friends in Italy who can transform into sea creatures. It sounds lightweight and odd but I thought it was terrific and properly cried at the end!! Highly recommend.
3. The Last Duel
I only gave three films a full five stars this year and we are now in that territory. Ridley Scott‘s medieval epic didn’t appeal to me at all so I was completely surprised by how brilliant it was. It depicts the last legally sanctioned duel in France over a rape allegation. It stars Matt Damon, Adam Driver and Jodie Comer and tells the same story three times, from a different character’s perspective. This device was genius and makes Comer’s chapter all the more devastating. She deserves awards for her work.
2. CODA
What a film! This tells the story of a hearing child of deaf parents (CODA) who is torn between her duty to her family and pursuing her dreams. Emilia Jones has a gorgeous singing voice that moved me to tears! This is a great all-rounder that will make you feel all the feels. Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur are terrific as her deaf parents and they have so much personality and humour, a rarity for deaf characters.
1. The Mitchells vs. The Machines
This is the only film I’ve seen on here twice so that says a lot! This animated Netflix film has the best sense of humour and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It follows the dysfunctional Mitchell family as the world comes under attack from machines! The Live Your Life and Furby attack sequences are hands-down two of my favourites of the year.