The Mosley Review: Best Films of 2021

Well we've made it through 2021! Man did 2020 screw up everything in the realm of Hollywood and all of our viewing habits have evolved. I didn't do a best films of 2020 list because the world shutdown and so did the theaters. Most of the films were pushed to this past year so we all had to adapt. But just for the hell of it, my choice for best film of 2020 is Da 5 Bloods. Watch that film on Netflix. Now, I know why you’re here and I won't delay any longer! Here's my list of the best films of 2021! Click the title of each film if you want my full review of each film.

Malignant: What can I say? This film was wild! James Wan is a master of delivering something fresh and insanely original to everything he does. He made his mark on the horror film genre and then took a brake to do more blockbuster films and now he's back. This film took a concept that is mostly saved for heart wrenching dramas, but he takes it into a new violent, interesting and retro style that gore fans will love and action fans will drool over. This film was the best of both worlds and shows that James Wan can do no wrong.

America: The Motion Picture: I love alternate takes on American history. We all know the bloodshed, twists and betrayals, but that doesn't mean you can't take the true history and have a little fun with it. Much like the creators of this, the dark, zanny and incredibly obnoxious humor sometimes writes itself with history. I loved every bit of this film and the outrageous revisionist comedy that ensues over some of the most violent moments in American history. If you love the team behind the 21 Jump Street films, then you will love this stupid action comedy. I'll never look at Paul Revere and his horse the same way and Benedict Arnold was the first American Werewolf! Fight me on that if you will!

Fear Street Trilogy (1994, 1978,1666): 2021 was such a great year for horror! All 3 of these films had their own unique charm and I loved that the entire cast had a part to play in each film in an American Horror Story style of reusing the actors. Each entry was an homage to the great horror films of each time period and the darker stories of the past. From the Salem Witch trials to late 70's and 80's classic teen slashers to iconic 90’s hit Scream, this was so compelling across the entire scope of the central plot. I read a number of Goosebumps books from R.L. Stine, but I never knew about the books these films are based on. I may have to read more.

A Quiet Place Part 2: In this day and age, the art of the sequel is almost gone. Very few can actually get it right in not going so far away from what made the original so great. This film is that rare occasion where not only does it stay consistent with the original, but it gives you the experience of seeing the invasion begin. It is done in such a vast, but small and personal way that didn't require insane explosions, news reports or anything like that. The core of these films are the characters and that continues in this generously expansive masterpiece. I can't wait to see where the family goes next.

No Time To Die: The Bond franchise has gone through many changes, but the one thing that has been consistent is that each era takes our favorite British spy on new and engaging adventures regardless of the quality of film. Just like Sean Connery, Daniel Craig's era of James Bond has does something ground breaking for the character. For the first time, James Bond has gotten a full story arc from the first film that has come to an emotional and jaw dropping finale. Daniel Craig has redefined the character and given such a growth that was so unexpected and beautiful. The Daniel Craig era of Bond, is the best Bond I've ever seen and I couldn't have asked for a more perfect ending.

The Harder They Fall: It has been so long since I have had fun in the Western genre. Not since Young Guns have I had so much fun with the characters on screen and the action they find themselves in. The vengeance story arc is a classic and if you can infuse some flavor into the mix, you may have something special. The fact that this is the first all Black action western where none of the characters are currently or formerly owned slaves was something truly amazing. This film was full of style, blood, comedy and I even loved the villains more than the heroes and that's rare! The soundtrack was the chef's kiss that complimented the visual feast this film was. This is a must see to believe!

The Suicide Squad: Well if this isn't the ultimate definition of a dramatic turn around. The first film was a travesty to say the least and didn't really live up to the scope it deserved. Enter James Gunn! He single handedly revitalized a franchise with his freshly dark, violent and joyfully creative mind. His style of comedy and his Troma film background truly came in handy with this group of villains and he delivered some of the best action the DCEU has ever seen. Every character had their moments to shine whether it be taking out a camp of sleeping commandos or explaining who a character sees when they're killing. This film had so much heart to its wonderful story and visually this film was gorgeous. Now give me a King Shark and Ratcatcher 2 film with Milton making a cameo please?!

The Mitchells vs the Machines: We have seen the family road trip film a dozen times, but what makes them interesting is the driving force of the bond between the children and their parents. Knowing what has disconnected the bond and then seeing the parent striving to reconnect with their child is always compelling but when you add a threat to the world, it creates a moment for everyone to take in account of what's really important. That's what I loved about this film and it worked so well. The animation was astounding, beautiful and compelling. The villain I empathized with as the A.I. showed that we have become so content on focusing on the newest thing and not be happy with what we have. I thoroughly loved the many subplots and themes of this film and it shouldn't be missed. It was a sleeper hit in my opinion and I'm glad I didn't sleep on it. Monchi is King!

Spider-Man: No Way Home: If you truly haven't seen this film already then what the hell are you waiting for?! There was so much riding on this film to be great with all the characters that it was juggling and it worked. Every character had a complete story and I loved that every villain had a form of redemption in the most heartwarming and heartbreaking ways. As a Spider-Man fan, I have always hoped to see the perfect big screen version of the character and it finally happened. Tobey Maguire did great and I really liked Andrew Garfield, but this is the most complete character growth of Peter Parker / Spider-Man I've ever seen. Tom Holland has taken the character on a journey and it all comes together. The action in this film was amazing and the moments where we get to see all 3 live action Spider-Men interact and so organically was truly the best fan service anyone could ask for. This was the greatest live action Spider-Man film and the most fulfilling ending to a spectacular trilogy.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife: I will say it to till the day I die! This film will always be Ghostbusters 4 to me. For decades Ghost Heads and casual movie goers alike have been waiting for the longest time for a proper live action sequel and it has finally arrived. This film saved the franchise from abysmal lie of a remake and decided to scale it back to a small and personal story about the genius Egon Spengler and his granddaughter. The legacy of the Ghostbusters was entrusted to the son of the original director Ivan Reitman and Jason Reitman did right by what was established years ago. This was a true love letter to the fans and the swan song to not only Egon, but to the great Harold Ramis. This film was beautiful and I felt like a child again on an adventure to trap ghosts and stop a paranormal entity from destroying the world. This was everything I hoped it would be. I want a actual podcast interview with Podcast and Ray Stanz to be officially made! MAKE IT HAPPEN GHOST CORPS!

And now we've come to that magical moment you've reading along to get to. There were alot of great films of 2021, but I had to choose the one that I loved the most. The best film of 2021 is.....

The Green Knight: The legends of Arthur are famous across all mediums, but one that stuck to me like glue was the story of the Green Knight. It was an epic story of inner strength and self discovery that I truly loved from beginning to end. The slow burn of this film is not for everyone, but I loved its ethereal atmosphere and haunting visuals. The score to this film is so magical, haunting and yet soothing. Dev Patel was excellent as Sir Gawain, but Ralph Ineson's powerful voice rattles the sound scape and carries such weight with every word spoken as the Green Knight. The practical make-up used to bring the Knight to life was out of this world and felt right in the world. He looks exactly like something you would summon and I was blown away by his sound design. This was one of my most anticipated films of the year and it did not disappoint. This is a must see if you have an itch for a great grounded and haunting medieval film.

And that's it ladies and gentlemen! That is my list for the absolute best films of 2021! Here's to 2022 and the next list of great films to come out of the year! Tell me your list of best films or what you thought of my list in the comments below. Thanks for reading!