The 13 best new movies of 2021 and where to watch them
I hate year-end best lists. I love year-end best lists.
That is, I love reading other people’s lists. The best serve as a historical document, a look at a slice of time and what meaningful was happening artistically during it.
And elsewhere. That's certainly true of this year's list. In 2020 when the pandemic hit, it seemed we'd never go back to theaters. Even now it's a slow return. Some of these films were delayed. That's resulted in a glut of good movies from directors like Steven Spielberg and Ridley Scott, and neither of them even made the cut.
It's also made for an eclectic year at the movies. Musicals and music-related movies loom large. When two Westerns pop up, things are different. This list shows how.
'In the Heights'
Talk about hitting right. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s pre-“Hamilton” musical got the big-screen treatment, just when it seemed as if the pandemic might loosen its grip. It wasn’t, but ah, it was nice to think so. Jon M. Chu’s joyous direction lets Anthony Ramos, Leslie Grace and Melissa Barrera unleash their talents in this story of belonging, no matter where you are.
Where to watch: Streaming on HBO Max.
'Summer of Soul (… Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)'
“The Beatles: Get Back” is getting a lot of notice, mining a mint of unseen footage. In this, Questlove combs through hours of footage of the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival and comes up with absolute magic. Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight and the Pips and a killer Sly and the Family Stone tear the place down. But when Mahalia Jackson and Mavis Staples duet on “Take My Hand, Precious Lord,” it’s transcendent.
Where to watch: Streaming on Hulu.
'CODA'
The title is an acronym for Children of Deaf Adults. That’s who Emilia Jones portrays in Sian Heder’s remake of the French film “The Belier Family.” She’s the only hearing person in her family, which struggles with a fishing business and depends on her to keep things going. But she’s a tremendous singer, perhaps good enough to earn a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music. Ah, cruel irony. Can she leave her family? We’re in feel-good film all the way. But it feels really good.
Where to watch: Streaming on Apple TV+.
'The Card Counter'
Oscar Isaac gives a searing performance as a veteran who became the public face of the torture at Abu Ghraib. Now he’s a wandering gambler, a card counter, exercising self-control at all costs. Then he’s approached by Tye Sheridan. The two embark upon a kind of revenge quest that veers into the surreal. Director Paul Schrader mines something similar in the great “First Reformed,” but this makes a brilliant companion piece.
Where to watch: Available for purchase on Amazon Prime.
'Mass'
Not the most fun you’ll ever have watching a movie but that’s not the point. Jason Isaacs, Martha Plimpton, Ann Dowd and Reed Birney navigate an emotional minefield. They play parents involved in either side of a fatal school shooting. Harrowing only begins to describe it. But the acting, and Fran Kranz’s direction in his feature debut, is so assured that you’re carried along through the tragedy. The best ensemble piece of the year. Of many years.
Where to watch: Available for purchase on Dec. 28.
'The Harder They Fall'
Black cowboys are an overlooked reality of the West and of Westerns; director Jeymes Samuel’s film goes a long way toward making up some ground. A fictional story involving some real-life characters, it’s a blast from start to finish. Idris Elba as the main villain isn’t in it as much as you might guess, but Jonathan Majors makes a compelling protagonist and Regina King is flat-out scary. Delroy Lindo is always a welcome presence, but LaKeith Stanfield steals the film, something he makes a habit of.
Where to watch: Streaming on Netflix.
'Spencer'
Director Pablo Larraín’s film announces itself as a “fable from a true tragedy.” Larraín leans in hard on the fable part, to great effect. Kristen Stewart is mesmerizing as Princess Diana, miserable on a Christmas holiday with the royal family. A fairytale story hasn’t worked out that way, and through Stewart’s intense portrayal we see and feel the disintegration of that dream.
Where to watch: In theaters or on demand.
'Belfast'
Kenneth Branagh’s bittersweet love letter to his hometown is also one of his most affecting films. Jude Hill is adorable and occasionally heartbreaking as Buddy, the young Branagh stand-in. The violent opening scene makes the Troubles hit home hard, setting the tone for a story of love for a place where you know you can’t stay. It's filmed in black and white, which adds to the bittersweet feel.
Where to watch: In theaters.
'Passing'
Rebecca Hall’s directorial debut is also shot in black and white, enhancing the stunning beauty of 1920s Harlem. Based on Nella Larsen's 1929 novel, the film follows the relationship between Irene (Tessa Thompson) and Clare (Ruth Negga), two Black women, one of whom passes for white. Thompson and Negga are outstanding in different ways, but both involve longing for a truer sense of self that will lead to tragedy.
Where to watch: Streaming on Netflix.
'C'mon C',mon'
A third film on the list shot in black and white, this one from director Mike Mills. Joaquin Phoenix tones it down as an uncle bonding with his nephew (an affecting, genuine Woody Norman) as they travel the country. Gaby Hoffman plays Norman's mother, helping her husband through a mental-illness crisis. Phoenix and Norman are so good together, making everything about their struggles and successes seem believable.
Where to watch: In theaters or on demand.
'tick... tick… Boom!'
Lin-Manuel Miranda — him again — in his feature debut as a director gets a phenomenal performance out of Andrew Garfield, riveting as Jonathan Larson. Larson would go on to write “Rent” and die before he could see its success. But this is before all that, when Larson spent years trying to make it as a writer of musicals, at the expense of most everything else in his life. Garfield captures the sense of sacrifice but also selfishness, as well as the gargantuan talent.
Where to watch: In theaters and streaming on Netflix.
'The Power of the Dog'
If there’s a better performance than Benedict Cumberbatch strutting across the American West as a too-macho cowboy, I haven’t seen it. Director Jane Campion’s first feature since 2009 is a beautiful, brutal tale of sadness, secrets and revenge. Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons and Kodi Smit-McPhee are also quietly confident. This film is a powerhouse. So are its actors.
Where to watch: In theaters and streaming on Netflix.
'Licorice Pizza'
You don't have to have grown up in the San Fernando Valley in the early 1970s to appreciate Paul Thomas Anderson's gorgeous valentine to the time and place. Cooper Hoffman (Philip Seymour Hoffman's son) and especially Alana Haim (of the band Haim) make astonishing feature debuts as an odd kinda-sorta couple wandering the scene. Haim deserves an Oscar nomination, no question, for her performance. And the film itself is as comfortable as an old Stones concert T-shirt, one with a scratchy tag in the back to keep you on edge a little.
Where to watch: In theaters.
Reach Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com. Facebook: facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm. Twitter: @goodyk. Subscribe to the weekly movies newsletter.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: The 13 best new movies of 2021 and where to watch or stream them
