2021 offered a smorgasbord of unique films. So unique, in fact, it’s hard to draw any conclusions about trends or new themes in my own taste. In years past, it was the coming-of-age story that was in fashion, or tales of American hardship and triumph that hit home. It would be a tall task to find a box that comfortably fit a sports documentary, an art-rock marionette baby, an Arthurian legend, and whatever descriptors you’d use for Titane. Perhaps common denominators are overrated. Eclectic in the best way. My top picks of the year each seemed to be plucked from disparate corners of the medium to form a delightful lineup with something for any mood.
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I wasn’t breaking any Letterboxd records with my new viewing habits this year. There were times when film felt inappropriate to the moment, or stood as a reminder of unbearable reality, or just didn’t play nice with new schedules. I’m glad others found inspiration, solace, and comfort in film, but admittedly it was a challenge for me to sit through a 90 minute experience. But when the mood struck, it was an interesting exercise to get so exploratory about finding new films. I look forward to a time where film feels right again, and when we’re able to enjoy it together. Until then, here are the ones that were the most important to me this year.
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Martin Scorsese is right, it’s a perilous time for cinema. A single megacorporation dominates the box office with formulaic franchise installments while the space for the individual artist to create unique and subversive pieces of art shrinks. If cinema is to persist, we need uncompromising visionaries to guide us, to keep a mirror to our contemporary society, and to drive us out of our comfort zone. Thankfully in 2019, scores of talented filmmakers did just that…
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As the year ends and I meditate on the huge amount of film I consumed, I have made the final tough decisions in organizing my ranked list of it all. I realized I had a very unconventional top 10, but I believe each piece has earned its place as what I would consider the most significant and extraordinary of the time and place that is 2018.
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