And I thought 2020 was a terrible year!
For whatever reason, I watched fewer movies this year than last. I was back at work for most of 2021, so there was less time to watch. That still doesn’t explain why I came in so far under my movie-a-week goal. There were 49 weeks where I schedule a movie review. That excludes the final three weeks of the year. This post is one of those weeks, my annual Christmas media recommendations is another, and I take the week between Christmas and New Year’s off. Somehow, 49 weeks turned into only 38 movie reviews. That’s depressing to me. Next year will be better. I can feel it.
But let’s look at the crop from 2021. As is my custom, I limit myself to my Top Nine. As always, these are my ratings based on my personal standards for movies. I love storytelling over extravagance, and appreciate wonderful acting over all the rest. I’m not a movie scholar, just a fan. That’s how I approach all the movies I watch.
Before we get there, let’s note the real turkeys of the year. Sadly, my beloved science fiction genre led the way. Science fiction movies can lose themselves in out of this world scenery, and a belief that more special effects are best. Three of my four lowest rated movies (all four got 2 stars) were there. “Annihilation” (2018) looked like it could succeed. A female cast exploring a strange distortion zone created by aliens on Earth. Visually stunning, it reduced me to shouting at the screen. Every dumb decision male characters made, so did the ladies. Idiotic. “Alien-Covenant“ (2017) was a “I have no one to blame but myself” mistake. I HATED this movie’s predecessor, “Prometheus.” Somehow I convinced myself this one HAD to be better. It isn’t. Another “What are you idiots doing?!?!?!?” kind of movie. “The Last Days On Mars“ (2013) is a low budget mediocrity that does just enough to be interesting. ‘Nuff said.
The only non-scifi movie to get a two star rating was “once Upon A Time in Venice” (2017), a brain dead Bruce Willis paycheck film that wastes a decent cast. The ending makes the whole thing even worse.
So, don’t waste your time with these. If you can’t resist the urge, try the two low budget ones (“Venice” and “Mars”). You have been warned.
Now, on to the main event. My Top Nine Movies of 2021 (based as always on my movie queue):
Just missing the list is “Lady of Burlesque“ (1943) with Barbara Stanwyck. She brings her brand of fiery independent female blazing onto the screen. “Brief Encounter“ (1945) is a claustrophobic, doomed romance between two people who meet in a train station. It rings a little on the modern creeper scale than it did back then, but an outstanding set of performances. And 2017’s “The Shape of Water“ is a wonderful, semi-magical movie about love and otherness.
Now? Is it time NOW for your list?
Yes.
From the four-star category (in no particular order):
Scarlet Street (1945) – One of two Fritz Lang movies on the list this year. The other is the one most movie fans think of when they hear Lang’s name. This is a wonderful noir thriller with a brilliant cast! Edward G. Robinson is the victim of a pair of grifters played by Joan Bennett and Dan Duryea. It was everything I WASN’T expecting when I saw the director’s name on it.
The Red Violin (1998) – The final violin created by one of the great instrument makers, the legendary Red Violin brings gifts and curses with it. It disappears from public view soon after its maker dies, but we see all the places it goes. This is an interesting story told in a non-traditional manner. All of it is gorgeous to watch.
Metropolis (1927) – THE Fritz Lang film. If you’ve ever taken a film history course, I bet they mentioned this one. Lang brings German Expressionist film theory, Biblical references, social struggle, and wealth disparity together to create an epic. The best part of the movie is the stunning visual approach. The worst is the length. There are great moments spread through it all. It feels like a perfect fit for the world a century after its debut as well.
The American Friend (1977) – Wim Winders is a name that you hear first from people who are into “cinema.” I’m not saying he doesn’t deserve his reputation. Winders is brilliant, but not well known to the average moviegoer. Add in Patricia Highsmith’s character Tom Ripley (played by Dennis Hopper) and you have more than enough to keep you glued to your seat. With the incredible work by Bruno Ganz, this becomes one of the standout movies for me this year.
The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973) – Here’s my “Why I Liked It” note from my review: “Mitchum is pitch perfect as a man trapped by his own life.” That’s everything you need to know. Mitchum plays a small-time crook who wants to get away from the life he’s led. His friends make that problematic. Great cast, Peter Yates is another director’s name you may not recognize, but you’ll know his movies. All the pieces fit. This surprised me. I liked it a lot.
Desk Set (1957) – This is a cute romance starring two great stars, Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. The real life love between the two is Hollywood legend, and they do a great job here. This is a silly puff piece centered on the relentless march of progress, with computers taking over the world. Without these stars, it’s a fluffy bit of fun. Here’s an example of star power. They make this fun and watchable. Not the kind of movie I usually fall for, but it’s stuck in my head since I saw it.
A Night in Casablanca (1946) – Here’s an instance of me outsmarting myself. Most of the later movies in the Marx Brothers filmography don’t live up to the classics. So I’ve given them a cursory look. I’d overlooked this one all together. My loss. While not quite up to the best, this one shows the brothers in full flight of foolishness. Made to pay back Chico Marx’s debts, it’s a late addition to the classic list.
Only two movies got my top, five star, rating:
Won’t You Be My Neighbor (2018) – Am I biased in favor of fellow Pittsburgher Fred Rogers? Certainly. Released a year before Tom Hanks’ biopic, this is a documentary on the life of this amazing man. A nice person with an surprising impishness in his sense of humor, Rogers was more than a kiddie show host. He made bold statements on topics like race and death without ever losing track of his audience. A movie that made me feel like there was more I could do to make the world a better place.
High and Low (1963) – A great story told by a great cast and led by a great director. Akira Kurosawa directs a modern story (for its time) of business, ambition, and family. The original story is from crime procedural icon Ed McBain, and Japanese screen icon Toshiro Mifune plays the lead. The movie is sub-titled, but if you let that push you away, you will miss something wonderful.
So that’s this year’s list. I’m already lining up 2022’s movies and it looks to be a great year. What were the best movies you saw this year? Let me know in the comments!
Have a great year at the movies!
Stories Are My Life 
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