About Cassidy:

Cassidy Cruz is a Business Immigration Analyst with a particular fondness to all things film-related. Cassidy is a proud graduate of the University of California, San Diego and currently lives in Washington, DC.

As we come to the end of another unique yet utterly bizarre year, I believe it is important to look back on all of the ways we choose to escape from the insanity of the real world this year. I’ve always been a huge fan of movies and have always looked forward to attending midnight premieres of my most anticipated feature films. While this may no longer be a feasible case (due to a few external factors which I will not mention), my eagerness and excitement to explore the vast world of cinema has yet to wane. 2021 saw the release of a multitude of unique, compelling movies that range from sprawling, fantastic new worlds to stimulating, thought-provoking introspections. Here are a few films that have left an incredible lasting impression on me and have helped me get through the hardships of 2021:

11. The Mitchells vs. the Machines

I did not expect to enjoy this movie as much as I did. Though I am not a usual viewer of animated films, I decided to give this one a shot due to the incredible acclaim it received upon release. The movie follows a family as they embark on a cross-country road trip. What started out as a farewell trip as Katie Mitchell (Abbi Jacobson) starts her first year in college becomes a fight for survival as a vindictive A.I. begins a robot uprising. This film was incredibly funny and had amazing pacing from beginning to end. The heart and humor of this film was especially elevated by the wonderful artistic direction which kept me engaged and entertained throughout every minute. The over-the-top zaniness of the story is balanced out with the relatable sub-story of a dysfunctional family that loves each other but has a hard time expressing that. Also, who doesn’t love adorable, animated pets like Monchi the pug?

10. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

This was easily one of my most anticipated movies of 2021. A Marvel film exploring an Asian American hero featuring cultural phenoms like Tony Leung and Michelle Yeoh? Sign me up. This film follows Shang-Chi (Simu Liu), a young man who runs away to San Francisco to escape his past but is forced to confront his family’s dark history when his father, Wenwu, draws him back with the help of the Ten Rings organization. This was an amazing action flick with mesmerizing action sequences and some of the best fight choreography in all of the MCU’s catalog. Despite being held back by some of Marvel’s notoriously formulaic story-telling, this film does away with the typical origin story and provides a refreshing take on family and identity. The opening sequence has to be one of the most beautiful scenes I’ve seen in a Marvel film as it pays tribute to wuxia cinema, complete with the hauntingly expressive eyes of the enigmatic Tony Leung. 

9. Eternals

I adore this movie. Truly. Despite the poor critical response this movie received upon release, I entered this film without any expectations and came out overjoyed with what Chloé Zhao has done with this story. Eternals follows a group of ancient, alien beings as they reunite after hundreds of years to prevent the cataclysmic end of the world. I absolutely loved each of the characters and their interactions with each other throughout the film. The cinematography was gorgeous and the use of natural light in each of the set pieces truly set it apart from the rest of Marvel’s typically bland color scheme to the point that I nearly forgot I was watching a Marvel film. I am particularly fond of the moments where the film focused on the dysfunctional group dynamics and the introspection of morality. Of course, this film is not without issues and the attempt to cram 10 new characters into a single film does drag down the quality and pacing of the film. Would this story have done better as a mini-series rather than a movie? Perhaps. However, the elements I loved from this movie definitely outweighed the weaknesses present throughout. 

8) Judas and the Black Messiah

Judas and the Black Messiah brings to life the painful betrayal and death of the revolutionary leader of the Black Panthers, Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya), at the hands of the FBI with the help of Bill O’Neal (Lakeith Stanfield). Shaka King exploration into the world of the Black Panthers and the dynamic relationship between Fred and Bill paints the picture of true tragedy and aching. King’s focus on Bill’s struggle between his goals of infiltration and morality are excellently portrayed throughout the film as well as the development of Fred as a truly passionate and dynamic young leader. The complex nature of this film could not have been held together as well as it was without the inclusion of Daniel Kaluuya and Lakeith Stanfield’s amazing performances as Fred and Bill. A truly bittersweet movie, but one that has remained with me throughout the duration of 2021.

 7. Encanto

As mentioned above, I don’t typically watch animated movies. Aside from Soul (2020), the last Disney/Pixar movie I saw was Coco (2017). Though I had low expectations going into this film, I was pleasantly surprised by how engaged I remained throughout. Encanto centers around a young woman, Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz), who has no discernable “gifts” among a family known for having extraordinary powers. This movie truly resonated with me as it hones in on the undiscussed impact of generational trauma. This film follows a non-conventional story where there is no typical “villain” or world-spanning journey, but introspectively on our role in our family and the impact of the pressures placed on us to be something we are not. This multi-generational tale is uplifted with the vibrant animation style, relatable family dynamics, and incredibly catchy and fun musical numbers. While there are a few holes in the plot surrounding the mythology and logic behind the Encanto family, it’s easy to forget when I’m singing along mindlessly to “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.” 

6. The Suicide Squad

James Gunn achieved a near-impossible feat by creating a DC film that is as humorous, engaging, heartfelt, and visually appealing as The Suicide Squad. Given a blank slate and an array of nearly unknown, C-tier characters, Gunn did an excellent job writing characters that we genuinely care about and love to see on the big screen. The action was bloody and spectacular, the dialogue had me laughing nearly to tears, and the color and composition of each scene was just so magnificently insane and addicting to watch. With an ensemble cast comprised of Polka Dot Man (David Dastmalchian), King Shark (Sylvester Stallone), Bloodsport (Idris Elba), and Peacemaker (John Cena), we are given wonderfully cartoony and violent performances that came a time when nearly all hope was lost on the future of the DCEU. Gunn has shown us that there is a corner of the cinematic world where DC can truly shine, and it only took a massive failure of a previous movie (Suicide Squad) and a major risk to studio execs to see it.

5. No Time to Die

I remember watching Casino Royale in theaters for the first time back in 2006. I was still in elementary school at the time, but I was so enthralled by this sleek, stylistic, and brutal portrayal of James Bond that I had yet to see. I was familiar with previous incarnations of the character (particularly Pierce Brosnan), but I absolutely fell in love with the series with Daniel Craig at the wheel. Fast forward 15 years, we see the chapter close on a wonderful, character defining era of James Bond. This film explores the lore of James Bond unprecedented in it’s 60 year long lifespan and establishes Bond’s legacy in an emotionally-satisfying finale. The action scenes of this film are astounding and every shot of this film was a cinematic masterpiece. Of course, this film does fall apart upon closer inspection of the world-ending nanobot/virus subplot, it’s easy to push it aside as we follow 007 through a journey that reunites him with old friends and new companions. Craig’s Bond will always hold a special place in my heart, and I couldn’t think of a better send off for such an amazing character than this film.

4. Pig

I thought I had an idea of what this movie was before I watched it. Taken but with a pig. John Wick but a truffle farmer. Sure, there are these analogous labels that other reviewers have used to label this film, but Pig delves so much deeper than what a surface level comparison can provide. The movie follows Rob (Nicolas Cage) as he returns to the city and retraces his past to recover his pig, which was stolen from him in the dead of night. While sparse in dialogue, this movie delves heavily into themes of loss and grief. If there was ever any doubt I had of Nicolas Cage’s acting skills, it has been completely eradicated by this film. Cage truly shines in this film as a man who has internalized his grief and carries this somber burden in silence. This film explores the many ways that we all deal with grief, whether it is from the death of a loved one, death of a relationship, or a dream unfulfilled. The cinematography is absolutely beautiful and the way in which this film slowly unravels Rob’s past and the mystery of the stolen pig. 

3. The Green Knight

An excellent, modern adaptation of an Arthurian tale that circumvents traditional storytelling tropes and presents us with a fresh look at an unlikeable, cowardly “hero”. The Green Knight tells the tale of Gawain (Dev Patel) as he challenges the Green Knight on Christmas Day in a conditional battle that leads him on a year-long journey to the Green Chapel. This film does an amazing job in establishing an unrighteous protagonist through a journey where he is tested and fails to live up to the expectations set before him. This unconventional portrayal of a main character works well in deconstructing the lore of Gawain and contemplates the choices one makes (or chooses not to make) as they embark on a hero’s journey. This movie had some of the most vivid and beautiful cinematography I’ve seen in years and left me in awe of this story’s meditation of what truly makes a person “great.” Though the movie may be slow in a few scenes, I never grew tired of watching every second as each frame truly felt like a beautifully drawn painting. 

2. Dune

As a fan of the book series, this film had such a high bar and a lot stacked against it. The story of Frank Herbert’s Dune is an incredibly complex tale and a near-impossible feat to portray accurately on screen. Denis Villeneuve achieved a nearly insurmountable feat in creating a vast universe that truly feels alive and sprawling with peril and wonder. We are given amazing performances from the ensemble cast composed of Oscar Isaac, Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Jason Mamoa, and so much more. The set design is utterly jaw-dropping and the backdrops of these worlds actually look and feel real. Not a second is wasted throughout the runtime of this film as each scene is layered with so much context and world-building information that can be missed on initial viewing. It’s this exact method of “Show, don’t tell” that highlights the greatness of this film. This film has achieved what few other franchises have been capable of doing and truly transported me to this new world. Though I am familiar with the story and the subtle changes made through the translation of book to film, I was floored at its accuracy and the pure visual spectacle that this movie provides. In a year where we were all looking for an escape from the insanity and relentlessness of the real world, this movie truly provided that escape. 

1. Spider-Man: No Way Home

Though I may be critical of Marvel’s artistic and directorial choices, make no mistake that I am a huge Marvel fan. I have watched every single MCU film at least twice in theaters along with every Fox and Sony-produced Marvel film. That being said, this movie was everything I could have wanted from a Spider-man film and more. This movie was as much a celebration of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s Spider-man series as it was a celebration and evolution of Tom Holland’s turn at the helm. This film was packed with spectacular action sequences, wonderful character building, and insane comic-book imagery that would’ve given a younger version of myself a near heart attack to see on screen. While we are given amazing performances from the entirety of the cast, in particular Willem Dafoe as the Green Goblin, I must praise Tom Holland’s latest portrayal as Peter Parker. While I was not a fan of the previous two Spider-man films, I am shocked at some of the emotional sequences that Holland has given us throughout the movie. Here is a Peter Parker that is experiencing true pain, hardship, and struggle in a way we have not seen throughout his time in the MCU. This direction towards such huge character development for Peter truly changed my mind on how I view Holland’s Spider-man and has retrospectively improved my opinion of the last two Spider-man movies. This film was truly a wonderful and monumental end to this arc of Jon Watt’s Home trilogy and a beautiful way to end this year in film.