2021 was definitely a disappointing year in a lot of ways, and one of the harder ones to deal with in many others, but honestly… forget how I ended my last list: For all the bad that happened, I’m glad that 2021 happened the way it did. I went through a lot of difficulties with my own work and life situation, true, but the latter half of the year had me reaping the rewards for the previous eleven years’ worth of grinding I’ve put into this little endeavour of mine. Not only did Universal Studios start contacting me directly to go to preview screenings, but I finally stopped being an intern with FilmInk as I have been for the last few years, and became a paid contributor. After spending so long doing all of this, resigning myself to this just being a hobby, I achieved one of my life goals and have made it as a professional writer.
In light of all that, and for as sour as my Worst list turned out, I find it difficult to really hate the last twelve months. As such, rather than doing my usual Best Worst Film Of The Year mention (which, for the second year in a row, went to an After sequel), I’m going to start this off with a quick rundown of ten things (in no particular order) that I loved seeing this year… that aren’t attached to films already in the list proper.
1. Symbolic BDSM in an R.L. Stine adaptation
3. Gay Venom
4. James Wan going completely bugfuck
5. Hugh Dennis in a James Bond movie
6. Ridley Scott releasing two of his best films in a single year
7. Chloé Zhao releasing two of her best films in a single year (Eternals was fucking brilliant, I don’t care what anyone else says)
8. In a sea of nostalgia bait, a much-needed reality check
9. A collaboration between Troma Studios and Saban Entertainment (well, damn near it, anyway)
10. A new Clint Eastwood movie that didn’t make me feel like I would rupture a major artery
Yeah, a lot of good shit happened at the movies in 2021,
when all the big fuck-off blockbusters that the studios had been sitting on for
well over a year finally saw public release, along with some killer
indie features. So, before we completely leave 2021 in the rear view, let’s
take one last look at some of the best that the year’s cinema had to offer.
Here are my picks for the twenty best films of 2021. (By the way, *SPOILERS* for Spider-Man: No Way Home ahead)
