Favorite Movies 2021
Let's talk about the year in movies.
Hello! Welcome to Working Title’s roundup of the movies we liked this year! This has been quite a year for anyone who likes movies and Films and that certainly applies to us. With several movies from last year pushed to this year, we had a full slate of things to watch, both in theaters and through the myriad of streaming services that find their way into our homes.
I am once again joining forces with Steph Mill, who you might remember from our Most Anticipated Movies newsletter earlier this year, to talk about our favorites, our not-so favorites, and the movies we missed and wished we hadn’t.
Below you will find our lists in the categories I listed above. Favorites our movies we liked, the Hall of Shame is for movies we thought were bad for one reason or another, and movies we missed is, well, the movies we missed.
These lists are usually organized as some sort of numbered affair (usually a Top 10) but this isn’t exactly that. These movies will be listed in a loose order, but this isn’t a list of a certain length. It’s more of a chance to highlight movies we feel deserve to be highlighted and discussed (or dunked on because they suck.) We have some crossover among these movies and some of them one of us has seen while the other has not. It’s a nice list.
On a final note, before we get started with our list here, I would just love to extend a thank you to anybody who has read this newsletter and definitely to anybody who subscribed. I didn’t write this newsletter as much as I would have liked this year because of, well, *gestures vaguely at everything* but there were definitely people who I saw reading this every time I did get around to pounding out my dumb thoughts on movies in here. I really, truly hope to write more next year and I hope you’ll join me! If you like what you’ve read here this year, there’s a subscribe button at the bottom of this issue. Just click that button and you’ll get this newsletter in your inbox whenever I write one.
Let’s get to the movies of 2021
2021 Favorites
Film: Werewolves Within
Where You Can Watch: rent anywhere, but it’s cheapest on Apple
This movie is a very charming one and a good argument that we, as a society, need to put Sam Richardson in everything we possibly can. This movie passed pretty quietly in and out of theaters, but it’s a very funny romp with a very good ensemble cast and it is only 97 minutes long. It’s also based on a card game, which rocks. - Saul
Film: Tick Tick Boom
Where You Can Watch: Netflix
Despite this being potentially the worst title for a film, this caught me by surprise. I genuinely enjoyed myself through this entire thing, almost exclusively due to Andrew Garfield, who did NOT need to go that hard. I laughed, I teared up, I tapped my toe then caught myself tapping my toe and stopped even though I was fully watching it alone. - Steph
Film: Anette
Where You Can Watch: Amazon Prime
Just what the doctor ordered: another Adam Driver movie where he sings about his failing marriage. I know I’m such a sucker for a musical, but I did not know I’d be a sucker for a musical starring an animatronic baby. I guess that’s just showbiz! - Steph
Film: Bad Trip
Where You Can Watch: Netflix
While we, unfortunately, didn’t get to revisit the world of Jackass like we were supposed to, Eric Andre’s Bad Trip fills in admirably and more than meets the occasion. I still flip on this movie just to watch certain scenes, especially the scene at the bar and the Army recruitment table. The pranks are always at the expense of Eric Andre and never any innocent bystanders who, for the most part, want nothing more than to help Eric or one of his accomplices (Lil Rel Howry, Tiffany Haddish). Also, the running bit of the film being obviously filmed in LA but labeled as other places is genuinely very funny. - Saul
Film: The Mitchells vs The Machines
Where You Can Watch: Netflix
There is usually one animated film that really gets me every year and The Mitchells vs The Machines is this year’s winner. Done by the same team as Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse this movie is extremely well written, features some very fun voice roles (Danny McBride, Abbi Jacobson, Maya Rudolph, Eric Andre) and some very funny gags that only animation can provide. It also features the funniest nutshot I’ve seen in a movie. That alone will get you on this list. - Saul
Film: We Need To Do Something
Where You Can Watch: Hulu
This movie has a fairly simple setup. A family seeks shelter from a tornado in their bathroom. The storm strikes, leaving them trapped in the bathroom with no discernable means of escape. Weird shit starts to happen outside their door that they can’t see. Like I said, simple but effective. As you know from the previous newsletter, I’m not a horror guy, but this one was just a very well-done movie. - Saul
Film: Malignant
Where You Can Watch: Rent wherever, will eventually return to HBO MAX
James Wan made fucking Aquaman then threw his blockbuster money immediately into this beautiful trainwreck and for that, I am thankful. This movie starts in the soapiest, most dramatic, ghost-y way possible before going absolutely balls to the wall, with weirdo 80s grindhouse, Cronenberg, and Argento elements. I applaud any director who does what the fuck he wants, however he wants to do it, because it’s his money, and not yours. - Steph
Film: No Sudden Move
Where You Can Watch: HBO Max
Nobody does a heist movie like Steven Soderburgh. This movie was a sneaky one. I watched it and thought “that was pretty good.” And then I watched it a few more times because it rewards that sort of rewatching experience. It features a very fun cameo at the end and Don Cheadle is always worth watching, IMO. - Saul
Film: Benedetta
Where You Can Watch: Rent wherever.
What’s better than this? It’s 17th-century nuns being lesbians. And based on a true story. I can’t believe Paul Verhoeven made this. The dude is responsible for Total Recall and RoboCop. And that, ladies, is why this is my Joker. - Steph
Straight up can’t believe I didn’t write this review ^ - Saul
Film: Zola
Where You Can Watch: Hulu/Prime through the Showtime extension, or rent wherever.
Another of my most anticipated of the year, and yes, it lived up to the hype. This is truly such an ‘extremely online’ movie, every cell phone buzz and Twitter chirp keeps you so in the moment, you feel like you’re reading the story on your feed in real-time. Good acting all around, even if Cousin Greg is a weird choice for what should’ve been Pete Davidson (I’m SORRYYY I love Succession I promise). - Steph
”Y’all wanna hear a story about why me and this bitch here fell out?” The tweet thread that became a movie. One of the most stressful, visually striking, and funny movies I saw this year all rolled into one. It also features Cousin Greg from Succession in an incredibly weird role as a BF way out of his depth. Riley Keough is always good for some chaos. - Saul
Film: Shiva Baby
Where You Can Watch: HBO MAX
Speaking of stressful movies, I don’t know that I’ve seen a more stressful movie than Shiva Baby. I mean that sincerely. Yes, I’ve seen Good Times and Uncut Gems, and both of those made me squirm in my seat, but nowhere near the level that this film did. Rachel Sennott gives an incredible starring performance. I like movies that make me feel things intensely and Shiva Baby absolutely foots that bill. - Saul
Film: Azor
Where You Can Watch: Amazon Prime
I’m a sucker for a debut film and a political thriller and films that aren’t made in America. Check, check, and check. Directed by the Swiss filmmaker Andreas Fontana, this movie is decidedly unstylish, un-sleek, and quite frankly, that’s what makes it work. A banker heads to Venezuela in the midst of a dictatorship to find his partner, who is missing and the subject of some very strange rumors. I know it’s sometimes hard to find these non-American films, but I can’t recommend this one enough. One of the best debuts I’ve seen. - Saul
Film: Worst Person In The World
Where You Can Watch: Despite my best efforts, I cannot find a place to watch this movie in America currently. It is available in other countries so maybe use a VPN or move. Your call. It will be out soon somewhere I imagine.
In a nutshell, this movie made me feel not alone. It ended and I kinda felt the way I felt after I watched Ladybird for the first time, except not crying, just content. Also, I’ve never had a desire to upheave my life and move to Oslo but I’m suddenly now considering it? I don’t even know what it is in Oslo? - Steph
Film: West Side Story
Where You Can Watch: in theaters and will be on VOD soon.
I’m just as surprised as you that a musical that is a remake of an already beloved, Oscar-winning film is on this list, but the heart wants what it wants. This remake is a really fun reimagining of a classic that features some really dynamic choreography, camera movements, and just enough of an update to make it culturally relevant. It’s been a minute since I enjoyed a Steven Spielberg film in full and it was nice to experience that again. - Saul
Film: Spider-Man: No Way Home
Where You Can Watch: In Theaters. Will be on Disney Plus eventually.
Listen, I’m not here to tell you that you have to like Marvel movies or to have a big important discourse about Marvel and its effect on the Movie Industry. You can go on Twitter for that. I’m just here to tell you about movies that I liked this year and hot damn, I really liked this movie. Marvel’s other offerings fell short for me this year for one reason or another, but this one hit the mark with some incredible payoffs and nods to its own legacy and some actually good acting(??) from everyone involved. Sometimes you just want to have a good time at the movies. No Way Home offers it in spades. - Saul
Film: Spencer
Where You Can Watch: Rent wherever
I’m going to be honest: This one didn’t do it for me right off the bat. However, upon further thinking (of both the movie and of Kristen Stewart as a whole person), I’ve decided I dug it. At first, I thought maybe they were painting her out as a bit of a “crazy lady” but I keep being reminded of the two heavy dialogue scenes - on the beach with Sally Hawkins and at night with her sons - and I think WOW I love movies. I was so engaged in these quiet, intimate moments that it made up for anything I didn’t like. Also, Jonny Greenwood makes the best fucking scores. - Steph
Film: The Card Counter
Where You Can Watch: Rent wherever
If there’s one “film bro” thing about me is I love Oscar Issac and I love a “tortured man” and that phrase is taken quite literally here. Do not go into this movie expecting a good gambling movie or a particularly subtle one. You will find neither. You will find a man dealing with his trauma and the ripple effects that has on the world around him, not all of them for the better. - Saul
Film: The Green Knight
Where You Can Watch: rent wherever
This movie was not what I was expecting, but that’s not always a bad thing. Dev Patel is brilliant as always and the journey he must carry out sustains this movie until the very end. Lots of beautiful shots and surreal imagery. Another strong addition to the A24 catalog. - Saul
Film: Judas and the Black Messiah
Where You Can Watch: HBO Max
This is maybe a little bit of a cheat because I guess this movie technically came out in December of last year, but also it was widely released in February of 2021? I don’t know. Logistics aren’t important. What is important is that Daniel Kaluuya and Lakeith Stanfield give two of the most electrifying performances of the year. It honestly is shocking to me that this movie was made and I am grateful it was. - Saul
Film: Minari
Where You Can Watch: Hulu/Prime through the Showtime extension, or rent wherever. (A24 seems to have some sort of relationship with Showtime. That’s where a lot of their releases end up.)
This quiet film ended up being one of the best movies I saw this year. I was expecting to like it (it takes place in NW Arkansas, shoutout) but I am fully in the Steven Yeun Hive. This film is remarkable in its simplicity and performances and I cannot recommend it enough. - Saul
Film: The Power of The Dog
Where You Can Watch: Netflix
An anti-western Western. One of the most beautifully landscaped and shot films of the year. I like Marvel movies but I also like a movie that’s intricate and literary. This is a slow burn of a film and it does indeed take a while for the plot to kick in, but once it does it’s a humdinger. Incredible performances all around from Benedict Cumberbatch, Kodi-Smit McPhee, Kirsten Dunst, and my absolute guy Jesse Plemmons. Catch this one when you can. - Saul
Film: The French Dispatch
Where You Can Watch: Rent wherever
There’s something to be said about familiarity and comfort. A known product. I wasn’t prepared for this film to launch another round of Wes Anderson Discourse™️ but it was silly of me to think it wouldn’t. That said, the more I think about this movie, the higher it climbs on my Wes Anderson rankings (another issue of this newsletter will tackle those at some point). I found this film quite entertaining and funny and good. I kept seeing it described as “lower tier Anderson” and I disagree with that assessment pretty strongly. This is one of Anderson’s best and one of my favorites of the year. I particularly enjoyed Geoffery Wright’s vignette and look forward to more Wes Anderson in the future. - Saul
Film: Titane
Where You Can Watch: Rent wherever
I am still trying to find the words to describe how I felt about this movie. It’s a punch to the gut 100 times over, then several kicks for good measure. Haven’t felt such a physical reaction to something on a screen maybe ever. Layers and layers of anger and fear and frustration and rage all peeling off like mad until we arrive at such an unexpectedly warm, human interior. It’s bloody fucking disgusting, but eventually, you realize it’s simply about love and acceptance, and that’s all we need at the end of the day. Film of the year for me. - Steph
Film: Licorice Pizza
Where You Can Watch: In Theaters
I think if you read this newsletter or my tweets or just kind of looked at a picture of me or saw me in public you’d say “here’s a guy who likes Paul Thomas Anderson” and reader, you’d be extremely correct. I’m in the bag for PTA and have been from the first time I saw Boogie Nights. This is another discourse movie, but again, I’m not here for that. This is PTA’s most accessible, funny, and fun movie he’s ever made. It’s a great time and a joy to watch. I encourage you to do so ASAP. - Saul
Film: DUNE
Where You Can Watch: Theaters. Will eventually be back to HBO MAX, but for now, you gotta rent it full price from somewhere online.
I was actually extremely nervous to finally see this in theatres (in IMAX, with a THC-infused sparkling water, thank you) because if the trailer made me cry, but the movie ended up sucking, I would’ve been devastated. Lucky for me and most of the general population, this rocked, and I will remain chaste (not reading the books) until Part 2 arrives in the next several years. Also, I just need to note how hilarious it is that Zendaya was on this huge press tour doing dozens and dozens of interviews as if she was in the movie for more than 9 minutes. Kudos to her PR rep. - Steph
There’s something fun about a big blockbuster movie also being good as hell. Sometimes people conflate a movie being big as it also being good and that’s not always the case, but it is most certainly the case here. Dune is big, loud, exciting, smart, fun, and a million other adjectives. I always try to keep expectations low for projects that I really want to see but this one knocked it out of the park. Desert Power. - Saul
Hall of Shame
Film: Reminiscence
This movie looked like it could have maybe been fun at some point, but it just ended up being a big soggy mess of genre cliches. It’s Inception without the action, Total Recall without the lady with three boobs. It’s bad. - Saul
Film: Don’t Look Up
I apologize in advance, this is a repeat entry in the AMKSCU (Adam McKay Kinda Sucks Cinematic Universe) online debate but I gotta echo my fellow millennials: this is such an ‘old man yells at cloud’ movie. It thinks it’s saying so much but it’s really just begging you to admit it’s edgy for bringing attention to something everyone already knows about. Leo shouts this kinda shit at every awards show already (when he’s presenting mostly, because, y’know, the boy is lacking), and on top of that, isn’t this a few years too late? Is it still as powerful and poignant to mock Trump a year after he’s been out of office? Seriousness aside, who is the head of the hair department? I would like a word. - Steph
Film: The Guilty
My expectations for this were already low-ish but I really didn’t expect it to be this bad. I guess I don’t really care for movies that take place in a single setting, and I KNOW I don’t care for angry cop guy movies so I suppose I did set myself up for failure here. I’m actually now trying to remember why I even thought I’d like this in the first place and I’m drawing a blank. - Steph
I usually like a movie where Jake Gyllenhall is slowly losing his shit. He’s great at that. This movie doesn’t offer him any subtlety to play with as he does in his other performances. He’s just a cop who’s mad on the phone. It doesn’t work. He just comes off as a dick and the movie suffers for it. The ending is also insane but at the same time not surprising which doesn’t make any sense, much like this entire movie. - Saul
Film: Red Notice
This was allegedly a movie. It allegedly was on Netflix. According to my profile, I allegedly watched it! I couldn’t tell you one thing about that movie. The thing I remember most about it was all the actors in the movie tweeting about how well it was doing which has extreme CIA “we investigated ourselves and found we did nothing wrong” energy. There will for sure be 5 sequels to this movie - Saul
Film: OLD
I read a review of this that said “it’s almost like every actor was given a different interpretation of what the beach actually means mentally and physically” and I have not stopped thinking about that. Every single godforsaken actor in this movie was reading a different version of the script or was given a different tonal direction or something. I simply refuse to believe otherwise. - Steph
I thought this movie was Good, Actually™️ - Saul
Film: Being The Ricardos
This was probably the worst movie I saw all year. God Bless Aaron Sorkin, but he’s gotta let other people direct his movies. Bad casting, insane choices, no actual I Love Lucy moments for the most part, which I get is the point, but still sucks. Worst ending to a film I’ve seen in a long time. Not great, Bob! - Saul
Film: Last Night In SoHo
I had really high hopes for this one, and I must preface this by saying that Anya Taylor-Joy did the best she could with what she was given. She looked amazing, the 60s fashion rocked, but otherwise, this was such a flop for me. It had me in a chokehold for all of 45 minutes unit it turned into a male feminist ode to nothing. Misogyny sucks? No freaking way man. Had no idea! - Steph
The first hour of this movie rocks and then it turns into a flaccid, boring movie about how it’s bad to treat women poorly. Yeah, man. We know. It doesn’t beat you over the head with its message as much as the previously mentioned Don’t Look Up but it’s not that far behind. Edgar Wright usually treats his audience like they’re smart. Not in this one. - Saul
Film: Antlers
Jesse Plemons deserves the world, or like, at least a Game Night sequel, or something. He does not deserve this. He was fighting for his life trying to make it through this script. His boredness is PALPABLE. I guess that’s what happens when the ‘monster’ you’re hunting down is unresolved trauma. I wouldn’t wanna solve that shit either…. - Steph
Movies We Missed That We’re Sad We Missed
Steph
Licorice Pizza :(
My fav pop culture crossover is Paul Thomas Anderson directing all the Haim music videos so this is essentially the next level of that aka right up my goddamn alley. I’ll be seeing it the first week of 2022 and for that, I have no one to blame but my own time management skills for missing it in 2021 by a hair.
West Side Story :(
To me, this is the ultimate type of popcorn movie. Something I would have little patience for on my own tv at home, but I could be fully engaged in if watched on a large screen with a bucket of popcorn in my arms. Unfortunately with Ontario’s current covid restrictions, I cannot do that, so I will continue to live my life having not seen this flick. I have MANY things to be upset about and this is lower on the scale, but definitely still on the scale.
Macbeth :(
Another highly anticipated one that I’ll be catching first week of January. Since time doesn’t really matter these days, I’m continually wondering why production companies are still waiting until Christmas to release movies. Just set them free when you finish them. The right people will catch them. I promise this is not the family-watching-a-movie-on-Christmas-eve top choice of 2021. Those folks still be watching Home Alone for the 20th year in a row.
The Green Knight :(
This doesn’t technically fall under the “popcorn movie” category but it does fall under the “big screen” category. I kinda felt like I cut my losses since theatres were closed here in Toronto when this had its big release and I’ve kinda accepted I’ll just… never see it because I can’t see it big? Unless anyone has a 100” screen in a private home theatre they’re willing to let me borrow for 3 hours? Actually, make that 6 hours. I still haven’t seen Gravity for the same reason.
Saul
Drive My Car :(
I have been hearing over and over and over again about how good this movie is and how much I would like and how it would make a year-end list like this. I somehow still didn’t see it. I plan on remedying that, possibly right after I hit publish on this newsletter or at the very least, in early 2022.
The Worst Person In The World :(
Steph already laid out quite eloquently why I think this movie looked and sounded incredible. What if making the wrong choice didn’t ruin your life? What if it was just choices among the thousands of other choices you make in a day? Can’t wait to finally get my eyes on this one.
The Souvenir Two AKA Twovenir :(
I loved The Souvenir. It was very, very good. I have no doubt that the sequel is very, very good. Again, this is one that I had on my list that just kept slipping through the cracks by no one’s fault but my own.
The Tragedy of Macbeth :(
Another one that sits squarely on my shoulders. This movie is available right now on Apple TV+. I could stop writing this newsletter right now and hit play and I could take this movie off this section of the list. It’s got Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand. It’s directed by a Cohen Brother (singular). I should have watched this movie the day it came out. I didn’t. I make no excuses. I’ll see it soon.
Benedetta ;)
It’s the lesbian nun movie by Paul Verhoeven. Of course, I want to see it.
Thanks again for reading this newsletter, especially if you read this entire edition! It was a long one. A special thanks to everyone who’s been here since I started this thing back in February! Tell your friends, subscribe below, and I’ll see you in 2022!