2021 Movies

It's the ten year anniversary of me doing these posts. I am so tired from this year that this post is literally taking me months to complete. This year has been really underwhelming anyway, but at least we have a really clear reason. Thanks, Covid.

Movies I Still Need To See:
Possessor Uncut

May as well * the Oscar nominees this year since there really weren't many movies in general.

Previous Years: 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011


Movies I Loved:

Promising Young Woman*: Honestly, this could be favorite movie of the year. I loved the ending, I laughed, I thought, I was surprised, I was into the aesthetic and the counterintuitive casting. The end was just so much. Leave me alone.

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom*: The one play adaptation that didn't suffer from "play adaption syndrome." I loved basically everything about this movie: the acting was insane, the direction saved it from PAS, the writing was great (I mean, August Wilson), and obviously I'm a sucker for the aesthetic. Like the above film, I basically watched the last five minutes with my jaw on the floor.

Sound Of Metal*: If this movie doesn't at least win an award for audio, there's no justice. Love a good character story starring my husband, Riz Ahmed.

The Father*: If this movie doesn't at least win an award for production design, there's no justice. I actually had pretty low expectations for this movie, but the way it's structured and that dang production design is so incredible at creating a puzzle that you are trying to decipher. 

Minari*: This movie I had to sit on for a little while because slow family dramas aren't really my thing. Ultimately, I came down on thinking this one was really strong when I thought more about the themes and symbolism.

The Trial Of The Chicago 7*: A really engaging courtroom drama, made extra fun for me because I was watching it with Caroline's parents who kept fact checking it since they remembered the event.

Crip Camp*: This was one of the first docs I watched this year, and I immediately recommended it to my MV kids. This is such a fantastic documenting of the disability rights movement, and I learned so much.

My Octopus Teacher*: Yes, I will cry about an octopus. This will surprise no one.

Wolfwalkers*: The third Cartoon Saloon movie in the Irish mythology trilogy. Honestly, I didn't like it as much as Secret of Kells or Song of the Sea, but it's still great. I was pumped to hear "Running With The Wolves". 

Soul*: Existentialism in a kid's movie! I was kind of hoping for more jazz overall but I was still fascinated by the Inside Out breaking down of difficult concepts for kids.

Onward*: This movie got to me in a lot of ways. Family narratives in Pixar movies have a 

tendency to get to me (see: Coco) but I also loved the nerdy, fantasy elements being that I am a Tolkien nerd who plays D&D.

Palm Springs: I was dubious of the description, but this movie was so fun and the only kind of romantic comedy that is worth watching: a realistic feeling couple and actually funny.

His House: Love a social commentary horror movie with some culture sprinkled in. This is the kind of movie I like to discuss afterwards.

Hamilton: I feel like this doesn't count because it's just the fantastic stage show, but people keep insisting it's a movie.

What The Constitution Means To Me: I feel like this doesn't count because it's just the fantastic stage show, but people keep insisting it's a movie, part two. 

Dick Johnson Is Dead: Documentaries this year were really solid. This one was really creative and thought provoking.

Circus Of Books: Lots of family story documentaries too. The intersection of LGBT history with a family story was really touching.

The Booksellers: As a reader and former bookseller, this was a really fascinating look at a specific culture that I have barely brushed elbows with. 

A Secret Love: More family stories, in a way, but more focused on a couple.

Disclosure: This is the kind of doc I've been waiting for from a "wanting to know" stance. Instead of being more story-based, it's such a thorough breakdown of transgender representation in media as talked about by transgender people in media. 

Athlete A: Interview based breakdown of the gymnastics scandal. 

Feels Good Man: The history of Pepe did a good job of studying how the internet works.

Welcome To Chechnya: Another LGBT doc but now with much more depressing!

Movies I Really Liked:

Judas and the Black Messiah*: The direction and cinematography were so good but the editing bothered me quite a bit. I feel like I would have liked this one more if I had seen it before Chicago 7 because there's such time period overlap that they're almost competing.

Nomadland*: This movie was well made and an interesting study, but I think I wasn't in the right mood to watch it honestly. It has this very meandering feel, which is appropriate for the film but I got distracted a lot.

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm*: I genuinely enjoyed this film and have already rewatched it. The gender commentary and Trump politics study is so good, but I also really laughed a lot.

Emma*: Solid Regency romance. It's up there with 2005's Pride and Prejudice in my opinion.

Da 5 Bloods*: This movie started off strong, but it started to lose me towards the end. I feel like the themes got a bit lost in the violence, and it was maybe a smidge too long.

I'm Thinking of Ending Things: I need to watch this one again, but it was by far one of the most unique films I've watched this year.

Birds Of Prey: Man, this movie was just so joyous. It took the bad taste Suicide Squad left behind right out of my mouth. Finally, I get to see Harley as she should be.

The Old Guard: Another action movie that I just enjoyed in a really pure way. I'm happy to watch a sequel, but even as a stand alone I loved it. I think to make me care about an action movie, I need strong characters with a strong friendship or found family aspect.

Nighthawk: I wasn't sold on this movie for a while, but once it got into the imperialism themes I was on board. 

I Care A Lot: The aesthetics of this movie were flawless, and the plot was more engaging than I expected. Honestly, a decent commentary on "girl boss" culture, although I could easily see people missing the point.

The Assistant: I really loved the subtly of this movie. It's like "microaggressions" the film.

Swallow: I watched this one at around the same time so it was definitely a subtle, character study time. Representing feeling trapped by gender and class with pica was a good time.

The Half Of It: A very cute and slightly sad queer teen rom com that I really enjoyed.

Never Rarely Sometimes Always: More subtle character studies. What sold it for me was the scene in the clinic and the one in the bus terminal when the whole background really comes out.

The Boys In The Band: Suffers a little from "play adaptation syndrome" but this one felt a less slow than others probably because it was so damn brutal. The pain in this movie really made it.

The Invisible Man: Another good thought-provoking horror movie. 

Weathering With You: It's not as good as Your Name, but it's still very well made and written.

You Don't Nomi: As someone who has seen Showgirls like 7 times, it was cool to see it talked about from so many different angles.

The Social Dilemma: My mom recommended this, and I realized I really am not a fan of reenactments in documentaries. Otherwise, it was interesting enough.

Rewind: I remember thinking this one was good, but I also don't remember it so it couldn't have been that good.

Mucho, Mucho Amour: The Legend Of Walter Mercado: This was a really interesting doc from a culture perspective and from hearing more about this mysterious guy.

Becoming: I mean, I just love hearing Michelle Obama talk about stuff and that's basically the film.


Movies I Liked:

One Night In Miami*: The movie suffers a bit from "play adaptation syndrome" and got a little dry in the middle but was impeccably acted and well done. Leslie Odom Jr. as Sam Cooke makes me cry every time.

Another Round*: Overall, I like Vinterberg movies, but I usually don't love them. This one is billed as a comedy, but I really didn't see it that way. Maybe that's part of the problem.

Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets: This is a "documentary" that I kind of feel like I should have liked more. I wonder if I watched it again at a different time I might be more into it.

The Other Lamb: I'll watch any movie about a cult. This one was good.

First Cow: This movie was so, so slow. Yes, it eventually comes together, but there needed to be some editing here.

Shirley: I loved the subtle brutality of this movie, and the absolutely fascinating complexity of the relationships.  This one and the one below I feel like I maybe didn't give a fair shake to since I watched them during a tense time.

The Personal History Of David Copperfield: I love Dev Patel and I love how Iannucci made the story feel fresh and unique.

Yellow Rose: I watched it for Eva, of course, and I loved hearing her sing and the commentary on immigration, but the movie felt unfinished.

Porno: This was a fun horror movie with some hilarious religious fear mongering. 

Movies That Were Okay:

Host: Basically it's Unfriended but decent.

The Trip To Greece: This is a comedy that didn't make me laugh, but I really liked looking at Greece again and getting the occasional mythology reference.

Uncle Frank: An LGBT family drama that I ultimately found kind of dry.


Movies I Didn't Like:

The Princess Switch: Switched Again: Watched this with the first one while drinking. I got a fair amount of laughs from the ridiculous premise. Can't wait to see Vanessa Hudgens play four characters in the next one.

365 Days: It is hard to shock me, but this movie genuinely shocked me by how abusive it was and how absolutely unaware it was. I searched the internet like crazy for commentary on it and I still eat it up when I find it. I want to write an essay on this movie.

A Recipe For Seduction: Watched this at bad movie night. It's kind of funny premise-wise and thankfully short, but it wasn't so funny I'd recommend it.