The 10 Best Films Of 2021

Before the end of the year we're only expecting one more highly praised film, which is Lost Daughter on Netflix. Aside from that, everything's pretty much wrapped up by now. We've seen dozens of movies in the last 12 months, but it's important to say that this year has been slightly weaker than the previous ones. Due to covid, obviously, which postponed releases of many films to 2022.

At the same time, we can't include December cinema premieres such as Spider-Man: No Way Home, West Side Story, Benedetta, Matrix and the like in this selection, since they couldn't be viewed in cinemas or on streaming platforms.

The basic rule of participation in the ranking was that the film had to premiere on streaming services or cinemas this year. And so it may happen that a film had its official premiere in 2020, but didn't reach us until 2021. We have also omitted documentaries.

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10. The Green Knight

We fully understand your initial outrage that this film has made it in our top 10. The Green Knight is an indie movie through and through. Slow shots, slightly unclear story and (almost) no action. We sat in the cinema completely alone. However, art films can also be great, and this is a great example of that from the works of director David Lowery.

Green Knight is an intoxicating work with a wonderful visual and strong storytelling. In certain parts, it does drag on a bit, but it will make up for it with the fabulous finale, disarming visuals and overall sound of the film. In the center of the action is the Knight Gawain. One day, he decapitates the mighty Green Knight, who promises to revenge on him within a year. The film then follows Gawain's voluntary journey to death.

9. Wrath of Man

Guy Ritchie made another Statham movie. In this one, he plays an angry professional assassin who wants revenge on his son's killers. He'll do everything to find and destroy them, regardless of money or anything else. All he cares about is getting to the armored vehicle thieves that they plan to rob, in hopes of running into them that way.

Wrath of Man is an excellent action thriller. If you like rough, brutal movies reminiscent of the '80s and' 90s, Wrath of Man will suit you very well. Ritchie also selected a very striking soundtrack and great actors, in a fairly high tempo, so you won't be bored for a single second. The only major setback was caused by Statham's character, who comes across as too quiet, uninteresting, and kind of dull.

8. The Trip

The unexpected Netflix hit from director Tommy Wirkol (Dead Snow, Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters) has really entertained us. It was a much better and funnier comedy than, for example, Venom 2 or Don't Look Up. The story takes place in a beautiful Scandinavian environment. In the center of it is a married couple that is going through some rough times and tries to fix their relationship with a weekend getaway in the countryside.

Unfortunately for both of them, their weekend twists in an incredible way and they become witnesses and participants in acts of  heavy violence. The story surprises you with something new all the time and effortlessly triggers both compassion and disgust towards the characters.

However, it is crucial that you don't know anything more than that and you shouldn't watch the trailer either. If you like bloody movies that can be funny, imaginative, original and well-played, The Trip will make your evening more than any other film this year.

7. A Quiet Place: Part II

THe sequel for A Quiet Place is mostly blamed for not coming up with something new. That it's basically Quiet Place 1.5. However, we do not identify with this criticism. The first movie is an impeccable film with a number of creative and original ideas due to its technical processing. All of this under the solid supervision of John Krasinsky.

The second edition follows with amazing acting performances and precise work with sound, which in itself creates more powerful scenes than most other horror movies and thrillers. Every sequel does not necessarily need to revolutionize the genre and come up with way more thoughtful approaches.

A Quiet Place 2 works great as a classic sequel, but it could possibly expand the world around the monsters. Even so, we really liked it, mainly thanks to the fabulous finale, which was masterfully edited and almost completely took our breath away. We highly recommend viewing it in the cinema, to enhance the experience.

6. Malignant

For the first half hour, we were speechless. Did the director James Wan really loose all good judgment? Quite the contrary, James Wan has managed to film probably the most daring and most original 21st century Hollywood horror. At least we don't remember seeing anything quite like it.

It's hard to explain why Malignant is such a great movie, without spoiling the experience of finding out yourself. Clear your mind before watching it and prepare for more humor than fear. James Wan disrupted the horror genre, parodied the immortal horror clichés and invented some very original-looking scenes. The police station sequence can't be called anything other than brilliant.

Whether it's the idea itself, the way it's portrayed, or flawless camera shot, it's another great comedy. However, you might not get it at all and it can easily disgust you. Just don't expect another chilling horror movie. Bravo, James Wan, and Warner Bros. studio for taking these risks.

5. The Last Duel

Ridley Scott has released two films this year. Both were disappointing in terms of sales, but one of them was excellent. We expected the House of Gucci to be better, turns out it was the historic The Last Duel that really got us. This is mainly due to the technical side of the film and its original structure. Thanks to that, we look at the main storyline of the film from three different angles.

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The story focuses on two close friends (Adam Driver and Matt Damon), whose relationship gradually becomes cold due to various disputes. The critical situation culminates when Driver's character rapes Damon's wife. Will a medieval court trust the woman or the man with power?

The Last Duel is an emotional, rough and perfectly portrayed look at a time that was very difficult for women and the fight for their honor very quickly and often led to their deaths. Few battle scenes were also pleasing, but don't expect anything like the Kingdom of Heaven. The Last Duel is a slow-paced film with many dialogues and dramatic scenes.

4. Father

The role that brought an Oscar to Anthony Hopkins. No one can object that. Hopkins portrayed a retiree suffering from dementia and possibly Alzheimer's disease. He forgets every day where he put his watch and blames the theft on the women who care for him when his daughter (Olivia Colman) is away.

The Father is a sensitive and emotional probe into the life of a person suffering from dementia and into the lives of the people around him. It is directed beautifully and it also boasts several successful scenes where the cameramen and editors have really outdone themselves. And then there's the overwhelming finale that will emotionally destroy you.

3. James Bond: No Time to Die

Director Cary Fukunaga took care of the perfect farewell to Bond. His ultimate ending was emotional, and while we kind of felt it coming, we were not ready for the great and personal way it happened. Daniel Craig said goodbye to his life role in the best way. Together with the rest of the cast, he's crafted one of the best played Bond flicks ever.

Despite the two-and-a-half-hour length, the film is quite fast paced. Some people don't like the pale locations and the concrete "tomb" in the end, but we really enjoyed the setting of the story and the visuals referring to the brand's heritage. We were also pleased that Bond was not slacking in the action line.

This is exactly what the new Matrix was lacking - top action and memorable visuals. Bond brought emotions, compelling story, great characters, and most of all stuck to being an action blockbuster that it's always been.

2. Duna

One of the best cinema experiences of our lives. Years later, Canadian director Dennis Villeneuve presented his magnum opus, and if you haven't seen it in IMAX, you'll never fully understand its uniqueness. We wrote an article on Dune earlier already, so you might know how the visuals blew us away, but we also loved the story and the characters.

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Villeneuve made a sort of an indie film for a blockbuster budget and it's evident. Long dialogues, patient construction of the world, or a disarming visual that, in conjunction with Zimmer's soundtrack, caused us to stare at the screen with our mouths open. We could analyze Dune for days, but it's important to know that, despite its complexity, it worked real well on the silver screen.

1. Quo Vadis, Aida?

Maybe a little unexpected, but Aida deserves it. No other film has connected with us on an emotional level like Aida. Director Jasmila Žbanić (by the way, she also works on The Last of Us series) delved deeply into the characters and emotions of the characters representing real people who have gone through hell.

The film captures the horrific events in the town of Srebrenica in Bosnia that was invaded by the troops of Serbian soldiers led by General Ratko Mladić in July 1995. The protagonist of the film is Aida, a translator for the United Nations.

The UN had a base near Srebrenica where civilians took refuge after fleeing Serbian troops. Commanders at the base were helpless without assistance and direct orders. They surrendered to Serbian troops, so they could do whatever they wanted.

Get ready for emotional hell. Nothing hurts like looking at real suffering. Quo Vadis, Aida? is not only another important film in terms of history, but also fantastically made, and absolutely impeccable from a technical point of view.