December 28th
Licorice Pizza
West Side Story
Delicious
The Worst Person in the World
The Matrix
The year is almost over. I've seen more movies than ever before in that space of time, many from festivals, many streaming, and many films that should have been starring in cinemas but couldn't, thanks to Covid. And as always, with Boxing Day just gone and restrictions easing, there are plenty of new films hitting the big screens. With Awards Season underway, many of the top nominees are now out there.
Now to my favorite films of 2021. I may put them in writing somewhere along the line, but meantime here it is from the horse's mouth, on the YouTube Channel Movie Metropolis, where I am interviewed by my esteemed colleague Peter Krausz.
(PS I now add West Side Story to this list!)
Licorice Pizza
Dir: Paul Thomas Anderson
Length: 133 mins
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofnXPwUPENo  |
| © Universal - fresh, intelligent, and funny |
Alana Kane (Alana Haim) is a 25-year-old photographer's assistant taking end of year photos at a school. Student, part-time actor, and teen entrepreneur, 15-year-old Gary, (Cooper Hoffman) sees her and, confident smooth-talker that he is, asks her out. Sound unlikely? Well, everything about this quirky film is unlikely, and yet it soars off the screen with charm, warmth, eccentricity and humour. Set in the San Fernando Valley in 1973, the film oozes nostalgia, and is an absolutely original coming-of-age story, the likes of which you haven't seen. The soundtrack of the era is to die for, but beyond impressive are the two lead performances. Haim's entire real-life family play her movie family, while Hoffman is the very talented son of the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. The plot meanders all over the place, with small crazy one-off episodes; one features a manic Bradley Cooper as hairdresser/producer Jon Peters, and another has Sean Penn as a has-been movie star reenacting motor-bike stunts. The Tom Waits scene seemed somewhat superfluous, but it is the continuous thread of the relationship between the two lead characters, with its ups and downs, that grounds the film and has us totally invested in what these two young people will make of their lives. The film has already had a whopping 24 wins and 68 nominations.4 - highly recommended
West Side Story
Dir: Steven Spielberg
Length: 156 mins
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5GJLwWiYSg  |
| © Disney - stunning remake |
"Tonight, tonight, I've loved this film tonight . . ." There, full disclosure up front - this Spielberg remake of the iconic 1961 movie is a rip-roaring winner! No need to tell you all about the plot, loosely based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, just to say that if you're telling yourself you don't like musicals think again and go along. The music is fabulous, the choreography mind-blowingly vibrant, and the plot has enough relevance to today's world where people are still angsting over who one should and should not associate with. Rita Moreno (whose biopic featured in my last review) has a memorable role 60 years on, while the lead actors are all so good they leap off the screen, especially Ariana Bose as Anita (Moreno's past role), and Rachel Zegler, wide-eyed and vulnerable as Maria. This latest version already has 26 wins and a mammoth 111 nominations to its name.4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended
Delicious
Dir: Eric Besnard
Length: 112 mins
Trailer: youtube.com/watch?v=AnwtTIeaXqA  |
| © Palace - a deliciously sweet and fun film |
Just before the French Revolution in the 1780s, Pierre Manceron (Gregory Gadebois) is head chef to the Duke of Chamfort (Benjamin Lavernhe). After Pierre's creative efforts are ridiculed and he is dismissed, he heads to the countryside, takes on an aspiring apprentice Louise (Isabelle Carre) and works towards setting up what became, (apparently in real life), the first actual restaurant in France. This is the sort of film the French make so well - attention to historic detail and setting, and beaucoup attention to food! The historical settings are meticulously recreated and lovingly shot with atmosphere-enhancing lighting, and the two leads conjure up such a lovely platonic chemistry as they slave away to create feasts suitable no longer only for privileged aristocrats, but for diners from all walks of life. While the audience's tummies rumble, they also get an interesting lesson in French history and how the pompous upper class were overthrown. While this is an old-fashioned sort of film, it is a real delight, but as always with foodie films a warning - DON'T GO HUNGRY!!4 - highly recommended
The Worst Person in the World
Dir: Joachim Trier
Length: 127 mins
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55M5ZgAqbWo  |
© Madman - the perils of decision-making
in your thirties! |
About to turn 30, Julie (Renate Reinsve) is studying medicine in Oslo, when she decides she doesn't want to do that, so she swaps to psychology. But that doesn't please her, so she chooses photography next. Her boyfriend, graphic designer Aksel (Anders Danielsen Lie), wants to start a family, but that spooks Julie. At a party she meets Eivin, (Herbert Nordrum) and takes up with him, leaving Aksel. Plenty more happens, all pointing to the fact that Julie really doesn't seem to know what the hell she want out of life, and when she finally does, much has passed her by. Another much-awarded film (including Best Actress at Cannes for Reinsve), this is a refreshingly non-predictable take on the sort of life issues that beset this age group. It is to the credit of all the fine actors, that is becomes easy for all age groups to relate to. Everything about the film shows typically Scandinavian subtlety, the script is intelligent and the plot nicely blends humour and poignancy.4 - highly recommended
The Matrix Resurrections
Dir: Lana Wachowski
Length: 148 mins
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNpvWBuTfrc  |
© Universal - reality or a
computer designed construct? |
This fourth film in the franchise begins with Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves) working as a video game developer, having suffered various nervous breakdowns, and grappling with memories of his past. More than that I can't really tell you, but if you are a Matrix fan you actually don't need me to tell you anything.You are either a fan or you are not, but I'm a Matrix klutz, failing, with each film, to begin to grasp the basic premises of the films. This one however seems even more convoluted than ever, with its own special esoteric vocabulary designed to delight aficionados and bamboozle the likes of me! The film seems to have divided the critics, with a few more positive than negative. Keanu is his usual intense self, the action is full on, and the special effects are, as always strong. Of course there's a big love-story sub-plot but I can't comment further, so for me it's a . . . 2.5 - maybe - depends if you're a fan or not!
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