Top 10 Films of 2021

I saw more movies than ever before in 2021, screening 292 titles, my most ever in a calendar year. I’m excited that my top ten films, which were hard to select, were all actually released in 2021, though I saw half of them at festivals (and six in person!). I’ll be “handing out” my AFT Awards, my annual film awards, next month, but for now, here are my favorite films of 2021. Click the title to read my review and follow the link after each to find out where to watch!

#10: C’mon C’mon (VOD)

#9: Together Together (Hulu)

#8: How It Ends (VOD)

#7: Licorice Pizza (Theaters)

#6: Dune (VOD)

#5: Encanto (Disney+)

#4: The French Dispatch (VOD)

#3: Belfast (VOD)

#2: Malcolm and Marie (Netflix)

#1: CODA (Apple TV+)

AFT Awards: Best Director

This is the twentieth and final category of the 14th Annual AFT Film Awards to be announced. The AFT Awards are my own personal choices for the best in film of each year and the best in television of each season. The AFT Film Awards include the traditional Oscar categories and a number of additional specific honors. I’m drawing only from films that were either released or playing at a film festival in the 2020 calendar year. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them. Click here to see previous years of this category.

Honorable mentions (in alphabetical order):
George C. Wolfe (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom), Chloé Zhao (Nomadland), Regina King (One Night in Miami), Darius Marder (Sound of Metal), Carlos López Estrada (Summertime), Radha Blank (The 40-Year-Old Version)

Runners-up:
Heidi Ewing (I Carry You with Me)
Aaron Sorkin (The Trial of the Chicago 7)
Lawrence Michael Levine (Black Bear)
Edson Oda (Nine Days)
Angel Manuel Soto (Charm City Kings)

The winner:
David Fincher (Mank) guided a marvelously invested and deeply compelling portrait of young Hollywood and all of its complex elements.

Other nominees:
Benh Zeitlin (Wendy)
Robert Machoian (The Killing of Two Lovers)
Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman)
Jan Komasa (Corpus Christi)

AFT Awards: Best Ensemble Cast

This is the nineteenth category of the 14th Annual AFT Film Awards to be announced. The AFT Awards are my own personal choices for the best in film of each year and the best in television of each season. The AFT Film Awards include the traditional Oscar categories and a number of additional specific honors. I’m drawing only from films that were either released or playing at a film festival in the 2020 calendar year. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them. Click here to see previous years of this category.

Honorable mentions (in alphabetical order):
Ellie and Abbie (and Ellie’s Dead Aunt), Herself, Pink Skies Ahead

Runners-up:
The King of Staten Island
Summertime
Wendy
Nine Days
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

The winner:
The Trial of the Chicago 7 assembled a stunning array of talent to bring to life a stirring story of activism made even more electric by all of its contained performances.

Other nominees:
The Best Years
Mank
One Night in Miami
Blast Beat

AFT Awards: Best Foreign Film

This is the eighteenth category of the 14th Annual AFT Film Awards to be announced. The AFT Awards are my own personal choices for the best in film of each year and the best in television of each season. The AFT Film Awards include the traditional Oscar categories and a number of additional specific honors. I’m drawing only from films that were either released or playing at a film festival in the 2020 calendar year. For this category, I consider eligible only films that were released or played at film festivals in the United States within the past year. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them. Click here to see previous years of this category.

Honorable mentions:
Collective (Romania), Les Miserables (France), And Then We Danced (Sweden), Ema (Chile), Honeymood (Israel), Sky Raiders (Israel), Welcome to the USA (Kazakhstan), The Art of Waiting (Israel), Asia (Israel)

The winner:
Corpus Christi (Poland) conveyed the story of a man so enraptured by

Other nominees:
Alice Junior (Brazil)
A Thousand Cuts (Philippines)
Once Upon a Time in Venezuela (Venezuela)
The Best Years (Italy)

AFT Awards: Best Documentary

This is the seventeenth category of the 14th Annual AFT Film Awards to be announced. The AFT Awards are my own personal choices for the best in film of each year and the best in television of each season. The AFT Film Awards include the traditional Oscar categories and a number of additional specific honors. I’m drawing only from films that were either released or playing at a film festival in the 2020 calendar year. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them. Click here to see previous years of this category.

Runners-up:
The Prophet, A Common Goal, A Crime on the Bayou, Beautiful Something Left Behind, Blue Code of Silence, Boys State, Calendar Girl, Coded Bias, Dick Johnson Is Dead

Finalists:
Welcome to Chechnya
Time
Collective
The Dilemma of Desire
Crip Camp

The winner:
A Thousand Cuts told a vital story of intellectual resistance to a totalitarian regime and the continued defense of the freedom of the press.

Other nominees:
Francesco
Once Upon a Time in Venezuela
Whirlybird
#Unfit: The Psychology of Donald Trump

AFT Awards: Best Animated Feature

This is the sixteenth category of the 14th Annual AFT Film Awards to be announced. The AFT Awards are my own personal choices for the best in film of each year and the best in television of each season. The AFT Film Awards include the traditional Oscar categories and a number of additional specific honors. I’m drawing only from films that were either released or playing at a film festival in the 2020 calendar year. Nominees are pictured in the order in which I’ve ranked them. Click here to see previous years of this category.

Honorable mentions:
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, Onward

The winner: 

Weathering with You told a wonderful and magical story of the power of friendship and belief in the extraordinary.

Other nominees: 

Wolfwalkers
Over the Moon
Soul
Lupin III: The First

AFT Awards: Best Visual Effects

This is the fifteenth category of the 14th Annual AFT Film Awards to be announced. The AFT Awards are my own personal choices for the best in film of each year and the best in television of each season. The AFT Film Awards include the traditional Oscar categories and a number of additional specific honors. I’m drawing only from films that were either released or playing at a film festival in the 2020 calendar year. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them. Click here to see previous years of this category.

The winner:
Greyhound fascinatingly constructed a treacherous adventure at sea without the use of any water and made it feel frighteningly real.

Other nominees:
Tenet
The Midnight Sky (read my interview)

Sky Raiders
The Call of the Wild

AFT Awards: Best Makeup and Hairstyling

This is the fourteenth category of the 14th Annual AFT Film Awards to be announced. The AFT Awards are my own personal choices for the best in film of each year and the best in television of each season. The AFT Film Awards include the traditional Oscar categories and a number of additional specific honors. I’m drawing only from films that were either released or playing at a film festival in the 2020 calendar year. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them. Click here to see previous years of this category.

Honorable mentions:
The Prom, The Glorias, The Personal History of David Copperfield, Ammonite

The winner:
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom matched its time period and carefully made each of its characters look and feel exactly as they should. Read my interview with the Oscar-winning team!

Other nominees:
Pinocchio (read my interview)
Mank
Promising Young Woman
The Trial of the Chicago 7

AFT Awards: Best Sound

This is the thirteenth category of the 14th Annual AFT Film Awards to be announced. The AFT Awards are my own personal choices for the best in film of each year and the best in television of each season. The AFT Film Awards include the traditional Oscar categories and a number of additional specific honors. I’m drawing only from films that were either released or playing at a film festival in the 2020 calendar year. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them. Like the Oscars, I’m combining the sound and sound editing races this year. Click to see previous years of these two categories.

Honorable mentions:
Mank, News of the World, The Midnight Sky, Sky Raiders, Run

The winner:
Greyhound calibrated a captivating audial experience that amplified its isolated setting.

Other nominees:
Sound of Metal
Tenet
Ema
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

AFT Awards: Best Original Song

This is the twelfth category of the 14th Annual AFT Film Awards to be announced. The AFT Awards are my own personal choices for the best in film of each year and the best in television of each season. The AFT Film Awards include the traditional Oscar categories and a number of additional specific honors. I’ve embedded the nominated songs below. Click here to see previous years of this category.

Runner-up:
Wuhan Flu (Borat Subsequent Moviefilm)

The winner:

Other nominees:

AFT Awards: Best Original Score

This is the eleventh category of the 14th Annual AFT Film Awards to be announced. The AFT Awards are my own personal choices for the best in film of each year and the best in television of each season. The AFT Film Awards include the traditional Oscar categories and a number of additional specific honors. I’ve embedded a sample track from each finalist and nominee for your listening pleasure. Click here to see previous years of this category.

Finalists:
Weathering with You
Soul
News of the World
Mank
Minari

The winner:
Nomadland (Ludovico Einaudi) may not have had original music composed specifically for the film, but it was beautiful, haunting, and perfectly suited.

Other nominees:
Wendy (Dan Romer and Benh Zeitlin)
Tenet (Ludwig Göransson)
Ammonite (Dustin O'Halloran and Volker Bertelmann) 

Summerland (Volker Bertelmann)

AFT Awards: Best Film Editing

This is the tenth category of the 14th Annual AFT Film Awards to be announced. The AFT Awards are my own personal choices for the best in film of each year and the best in television of each season. The AFT Film Awards include the traditional Oscar categories and a number of additional specific honors. I’m drawing only from films that were either released or playing at a film festival in the 2020 calendar year. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them. Click here to see previous years of this category.

Honorable mentions:
Black Bear, Corpus Christi

Runners-up:
Charm City Kings
Alice Junior
Greyhound
I Carry You with Me
Mank

The winner:
Promising Young Woman (Frédéric Thoraval) tied together a series of memorable moments into an outrageously effective and wildly thrilling rollercoaster ride.

Other nominees:
Ema (Sebastián Sepúlveda)
Time (Gabriel Rhodes)
The Killing of Two Lovers (Robert Machoian)
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Alan Baumgarten)

AFT Awards: Best Costume Design

This is the ninth category of the 14th Annual AFT Film Awards to be announced. The AFT Awards are my own personal choices for the best in film of each year and the best in television of each season. The AFT Film Awards include the traditional Oscar categories and a number of additional specific honors. I’m drawing only from films that were either released or playing at a film festival in the 2020 calendar year. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them. Click here to see previous years of this category.

Runners-up:
Mank
One Night in Miami
The Personal History of David Copperfield
Ema
Kajillioinaire

The winner:
Sylvie's Love (Phoenix Mellow) clothed its lovers and those in their orbit with vivid, colorful outfits that added layers to their personalities and dynamics.

Other nominees:
I'm Your Woman (Natalie O'Brien) – my interview with Natalie
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (Ann Roth)
Promising Young Woman (Nancy Steiner)
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Susan Lyall)

AFT Awards: Best Production Design

This is the eighth category of the 14th Annual AFT Film Awards to be announced. The AFT Awards are my own personal choices for the best in film of each year and the best in television of each season. The AFT Film Awards include the traditional Oscar categories and a number of additional specific honors. I’m drawing only from films that were either released or playing at a film festival in the 2020 calendar year. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them. Click here to see previous years of this category.

Runners-up:
Wendy
Mank
Alice Junior
Ema
The Trial of the Chicago 7

The winner:
Sylvie's Love (Mayne Berke) made its city setting come alive with the passion of its two romantic partners from one location to the next.

Other nominees:
I'm Your Woman (Gae S. Buckley) – my interview with Gae
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (Mark Ricker) –my interview with Mark
News of the World (David Crank) – my interview with David
Promising Young Woman (Michael Perry)

AFT Awards: Best Cinematography

This is the seventh category of the 14th Annual AFT Film Awards to be announced. The AFT Awards are my own personal choices for the best in film of each year and the best in television of each season. The AFT Film Awards include the traditional Oscar categories and a number of additional specific honors. I’m drawing only from films that were either released or playing at a film festival in the 2020 calendar year. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them. Click here to see previous years of this category.

Runners-up:
Mank
Charm City Kings
Dear Comrades
The 40-Year-Old Version
Tenet

The winner:
Nomadland (Joshua James Richards) tapped into the perspective of its main character, capturing the beauty around her and conveying it beautifully to the camera.

Other nominees:
News of the World (Dariusz Wolski)
I Carry You with Me (Juan Pablo Ramírez)
The Killing of Two Lovers (Oscar Ignacio Jimenez)
Wendy (Sturla Brandth Grøvlen)

AFT Awards: Best Adapted Screenplay

This is the sixth category of the 14th Annual AFT Film Awards to be announced. The AFT Awards are my own personal choices for the best in film of each year and the best in television of each season. The AFT Film Awards include the traditional Oscar categories and a number of additional specific honors. I’m drawing only from films that were either released or playing at a film festival in the 2020 calendar year. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them. Click here to see previous years of this category.

Runners-up:
Nomadland
The Tobacconist
The Father

The winner:
One Night in Miami (Kemp Powers) constructed a superbly engaging narrative for its four main characters to come alive and argue about their beliefs.

Other nominees:
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (Ruben Santiago-Hudson)
Charm City Kings (Sherman Payne, Chris Boyd, Kirk Sullivan, and Barry Jenkins)
Downhill (Jesse Armstrong, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash)
Martin Eden (Maurizio Braucci and Pietro Marcello)

AFT Awards: Best Original Screenplay

This is the fifth category of the 14th Annual AFT Film Awards to be announced. The AFT Awards are my own personal choices for the best in film of each year and the best in television of each season. The AFT Film Awards include the traditional Oscar categories and a number of additional specific honors. I’m drawing only from films that were either released or playing at a film festival in the 2020 calendar year. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them. Click here to see previous years of this category.

Honorable mentions (in alphabetical order):
Alice Junior, Breaking Fast, Ema, Herself, Honeymood, Mank, On the Rocks, S#!&house, Sound of Metal, Summertime, The Best Years, The Killing of Two Lovers, Welcome to the USA

Runners-up:
Dating Amber
Ellie and Abbie (and Ellie’s Dead Aunt)
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Nine Days
Blast Beat

The winner:
The 40-Year-Old Version (Radha Blank) was wonderfully fresh and totally committed to its main character’s enthralling and marvelous journey.

Other nominees:
Promising Young Woman (Emerald Fennell)
Palm Springs (Max Barbakow and Andy Siara)
The Climb (Michael Angelo Covino and Kyle Marvin)
The King of Staten Island (Judd Apatow, Pete Davidson, and Dave Sirus)

AFT Awards: Best Actress in a Supporting Role

This is the fourth category of the 14th Annual AFT Film Awards to be announced. The AFT Awards are my own personal choices for the best in film of each year and the best in television of each season. The AFT Film Awards include the traditional Oscar categories and a number of additional specific honors. I’m drawing only from films that were either released or playing at a film festival in the 2020 calendar year. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them.. Click here to see previous years of this category.

Honorable mentions:
Amanda Seyfried (Mank), Lily Collins (Mank), Maude Apatow (The King of Staten Island), Zazie Beetz (Nine Days), Ellen Burstyn (Pieces of a Woman)

 
Runners-up: 

Marsha Stephanie Blake (I'm Your Woman)
Alma Noce (The Best Years)
Saoirse Ronan (Ammonite)
Gayle Rankin (The Climb)
Freya Mavor (The Keeper)

The winner:
Sarah Gadon (Black Bear) subtly crafted a marvelously compelling character who wasn’t what she seemed and then became something else entirely.

Other nominees:
Shira Haas (Asia)
Bel Powley (The King of Staten Island)
Eve Hewson (Tesla)
Aubrey Plaza (Happiest Season)

AFT Awards: Best Actor in a Supporting Role

This is the third category of the 14th Annual AFT Film Awards to be announced. The AFT Awards are my own personal choices for the best in film of each year and the best in television of each season. The AFT Film Awards include the traditional Oscar categories and a number of additional specific honors. I’m drawing only from films that were either released or playing at a film festival in the 2020 calendar year. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them.. Click here to see previous years of this category.

Honorable mentions:
Arliss Howard (Mank), Bill Burr (The King of Staten Island), Bill Murray (On the Rocks), Charles Dance (Mank), Jens Albinus (My Little Sister), Kim Rossi Stuart (The Best Years)

Runners-up:
Aldis Hodge (One Night in Miami)
Eddie Redmayne (The Trial of the Chicago 7)
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (The Trial of the Chicago 7)
Glynn Turman (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom)
Frank Langella (The Trial of the Chicago 7)

The winner:
Alan Kim (Minari) was the heart of his movie, affectionately conveying his youthful experience through curiosity, rebellion, and heartwarming interactions with his family members.

Other nominees:
Sacha Baron Cohen (The Trial of the Chicago 7)
Orion Lee (First Cow)
Leslie Odom Jr. (One Night in Miami)
Colman Domingo (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom)

AFT Awards: Best Actress in a Leading Role

This is the second category of the 14th Annual AFT Film Awards to be announced. The AFT Awards are my own personal choices for the best in film of each year and the best in television of each season. The AFT Film Awards include the traditional Oscar categories and a number of additional specific honors. I’m drawing only from films that were either released or playing at a film festival in the 2020 calendar year. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them.. Click here to see previous years of this category.

Honorable mentions:
Laure Calamy (My Donkey, My Lover and I), Kiera Allen (Run), Zora Howard (Premature), Emily Skeggs (Dinner in America), Frances McDormand (Nomadland), Jessie Buckley (I'm Thinking of Ending Things), Jo Ellen Pellman (The Prom), Madeline Grey DeFreece (Tahara), Rachel Brosnahan (I'm Your Woman), Saltanat Nauruz (Welcome to the USA), Sarah Paulson (Run), Sophia Loren (The Life Ahead), Sophie Hawkshaw (Ellie and Abbie (and Ellie’s Dead Aunt)), Tessa Thompson (Sylvie's Love), Vanessa Kirby (Pieces of a Woman), Viola Davis (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom)

Runners-up:
Avigail Harari (Honeymood)
Aubrey Plaza (Black Bear)
Radha Blank (The 40-Year-Old Version)
Alena Yiv (Asia)
Cristin Milioti (Palm Springs)

The winner:
Clare Dunne (Herself) delivered a wonderfully endearing portrait of a young mother desperate to do whatever she could to protect her family. You can watch my great interview with her here.

Other nominees:
Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman)
Anne Celestino Mota (Alice Junior)
Lola Petticrew (Dating Amber)
Micaela Ramazzotti (The Best Years)