Top 20 of 2021
IT may not have been the best of years – in many ways – but 2021 was still a good one for cinema.
It was also the year of streaming for me when, for perhaps the first time, I saw more new releases at home than out on the big screen
I watched 243 films during 2021 including 160 new releases, 77 of those at the cinema and 83 at home.
In case you’re interested, 28 were watched via Prime, 16 via Netflix, 10 via Apple TV, seven via Shudder, six via Foxtel, two via Paramount and one via Stan.
Another six were streamed from the Melbourne Film Festival and four from the Sydney Film Festival.
Enough of that; here’s my top 20:
1 Titane (France). No other viewing experience came close to this French assault on the senses.
2 Dune (US/Canada). The most complete and technically dazzling film of the year.
3 Riders of Justice (Denmark). Once again Madds Mikkelsen is in one of my films of the year.
4 Nitram (Australia). Fascinating and chilling.
5 Wild Indian (US). One of many terrific directorial debuts
6 Annette (International). The surreal, complex musical has remained in my mind.
7 Collective (Romania). One of the best documentaries I have seen.
8 The Last Duel (US/UK). Ridley Scott’s under-rated period drama.
9 Nowhere Special (International). The only film that made me cry this year.
10 Wrath of Man (US/UK). Mike Richie back in top form with this story of evil men.
11 Power of the Dog (International). Jane Campion back in top form as always.
12 The Card Counter (US). Nobody makes films like Paul Schrader.
13 Last Night in Soho (UK)
14 Wildland (Denmark)
15 Cherry (US)
16 The White Tiger (India/US).
17 Corpus Christi (Poland)
18 In The Heights (US)
19 Minamata (US/UK)
20 Cross The Line (Spain)
Worst: Possessed, The Girl and the Spider, The Ice Road, The Scary of 61st.
Most Disappointing: Halloween Kills, Wonder Woman 1984.