12 Lists of Christmas: Top Ten Films of 2021
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2021 has been a year of fantastic films. After the lockdown of last year, the cinema has been a pleasing place to go. So has my Netflix queue (I haven’t changed that much). Here are the top ten films that I watched in 2021.
10. No Time to Die
The highly anticipated Bond film that had been delayed due to the pandemic, was finally released and it did not disappoint. Daniel Craig’s final outing as the infamous spy was worth the wait.
Alongside a stellar cast – Rami Malek as an interesting villain and Lyshanna Lynch as the new 007 – the storyline rounded off this Bond era perfectly.
Read our review here.
9. Spencer
If someone told me when I was watching Twilight, that Kristen Stewart would be playing the late Princess Diana, I would’ve laughed. But Stewart’s emotional performance as Diana in the days before she decided to leave Prince Charles tugs at every single heartstring. It’s aesthetically pleasing and just an all-around impressive film.
Read our review here.
8. Dune
This is a truly thrilling and visually thrilling adaptation. Fans of the book will enjoy it for how it portrays the characters and landscape. If you haven’t, you may be lost at some points, but the plot is still very enjoyable and interesting to watch. The entire cast delivers with stellar performances, making this an excellent film to watch.
And Oscar Issac. He is more than enough to want to make me watch any film.
Read our review here.
7. Black Widow
Scarlett Johannesson’s final outing as the super-spy was another enjoyable movie. We finally got a backstory for the well-established heroine of the MCU ten years later. With amazing performances and action scenes and some comedic relief that doesn’t take away from the seriousness of the Black Widow program or the mission to save the world. I am also very excited to see Pugh’s Yelena Belova more in Hawkeye. Ten years was worth the wait.
Read our review here.
6. Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings
One of the newest additions to the MCU, Shang-Chi has it all – impressive fight scenes all characters are fleshed out, with moments of comedy that doesn’t take away from the hard-hitting story of the Ten Rings and Shang-Chi’s journey back to his family and saving his mother’s village with his sister, who is amazing.
Read our review here.
5. Eternals
My favourite of the Phase Four movies. Director Chloe Zhao doesn’t disappoint with the introduction of the Eternals. I almost forgot it was a marvel film with the amount of depth the storyline. Again, impressive action scenes, with fleshed-out characters. The relationship between the Eternals is what really broke my heart and warmed it, with how close they all are despite all their years of living. Not to mention, everyone is good-looking, so win-win.
Read our review here.
4. Passing
Rebecca Hall’s directorial debut. A heartbreaking story about racial identity in the 1920s is shown between two friends, one of whom ‘passes’ as white in order to live a perfect life. Neither friend is happy in their lives and, the ending will break your heart (I cried). A must watch.
3. The Harder They Fall
This revisionist-western is a must watch! A brilliant cast including Johnathon Majors, Regina King and Idris Elba tells the story of two rival gangs set in the Wild West. Not only are the actions scenes impressive (and historically accurate), each character is given a depth not usually seen for black characters in historical movies. With an impressive soundtrack, it makes for an entertaining watch.
2. Last Night in Soho
Edgar Wright’s thriller was definitely one to watch. It psychologically messes with you, with some scenes making you question as you follow Ellie (Thomasin McKenzie) and Sadie (Anya Taylor-Joy) through 1960s London, where everything that glitters is definitely not gold. The film draws you in with every scene and the ending is one I definitely did not see happening.
1. Judas And The Black Messiah
The shockingly true story of Fred Hampton, deputy chairman of the Chicago chapter of the Black Panther Party and his assassination rounds out this list. Daniel Kuluya and Lakeith Stanfield play the roles of Hampton and Bill O’Neil so impressively. Every minute is truly gripping as you wait for the betrayal of Hampton and will leave you thinking about it for days.