The "Unofficial" Best Films of 2021 (Take One)

 

2021 was an interesting year though I didn't see as many films as I wanted to given the fact that I had more access to them but other things were more important to deal with. Still, I was able to return to the movie theaters as I saw 8 films in the theaters that year which was a major improvement considering that the pandemic happened forcing movie theaters to shut down for a bit. Now that the year is over, there are many films this year that I haven't got the chance to see and hopefully will do so in the years to come. Here are the following films from 2021 that I hope to watch: The Power of the Dog, Spencer, The French Dispatch, Licorice Pizza, Nightmare Alley, No Time to Die, The Lost Daughter, C'mon, C'mon, Red Rocket, A Mouthful of Air, Drive My Car, The Souvenir Part II, Escape from Mogadishu, Lamb, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Tick Tick... Boom!, Wolf, Compartment No. 6, No Man of God, The Hand of God, Werewolves Within, Wolf, No Sudden Move, Encanto, Depiction, Plan B, The Worst Person in the World, Benedetta, Cow, The Story of My Wife, Bergman Island, France, Bergman Island, Parallel Mothers, I'm Your Man, Lorelei, Memoria, Petite Maman, The Fallout, Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn, Eight for Silver, Flee, Pleasure, Hive, Summer of Soul, CODA, The Tragedy of MacBeth, Prisoners of the Ghostland, Mass, Jockey, The Card Counter, Censor, The Velvet Underground, Swan Song, 1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything, Val, The Map of Tiny Pefect Things, The Voyeurs, Encounter, A Hero, 7 Prisoners, 14 Peaks, Dig, Passing, The White Tiger, Malcolm and Marie, Army of the Dead, Dig, Don't Look Up, and Where is Anne Frank. Here are the Best Films of 2021 that I have seen so far:

1. Titane

2. Dune-Part One

3. The Beatles: Get Back

4. Annette

5. Last Night in Soho

6. The Green Knight

7. The Sparks Brothers

8. Barb and Star Go to Vista del Mar

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

10. Cruella

11. Spider-Man: No Way Home

12. Luca

13. Black Widow

14. Twenty Something

15. When Nirvana Came to Britain

16. Zack Snyder's Justice League

17. Tiger

18. Nona

19. Ciao Alberto

20. Bitchin': The Sound and Fury of Rick James

21. Disney's Fastpass: A Complicated History

22. Ted Lasso: The Missing Christmas Mustache

23. 22 vs. Earth

24. Let me come in

Honorable Mentions: Tina, Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil, Genesis: The Last Domino?, The Melies Mystery, Listening to Kenny G, and Eternals.

© thevoid99 2022

The Year-End Reflections of 2021

 

This year was a bit better but not by much as the pandemic did slow down a bit in the middle of the year but now a new threat has emerged that is going to make this whole thing continue. Last month, my mother got COVID but managed to get through and recently got her booster shot as I will get mine next month while my 9-month old niece also got it but managed to kick its ass as well. It has been a strange year and certainly one that I’m sure a lot of us would rather not really remember considering that a lot of people died either from COVID or through horrible acts of violence. Even here in Atlanta where despite the fact that the Braves won their 2nd World Series as it is a big deal for me and the family. There are also some dumb shit that happened as well starting with what happened in January at the Capitol in Washington D.C. as that event was shameful and fuck everyone who got involved in that shit and fuck those who encouraged this type of behavior.

I now have zero tolerance for anti-vaxxers and other stupid people at this point as I hope they get fucked. Especially Eric Clapton as that overrated, racist, wife-stealing, boozy, idiotic, greedy piece of shit can get fucked as well. This was also a year that a lot of people died as COVID raged on as the new threat of the Omicron variant is also there. There were also people that unfortunately died this past November at the Astroworld festival in Houston where 10 people from the age of 9 to 27 are no longer here as Travis Scott just continued to perform and not be aware nor care about what had happened. Honestly, fuck him and fucking ugly-ass cunt girlfriend whom I’m not surprised is a Kartrashian as I hope they all get fucked.

This was a sad year given the fact that it’s not just regular people that probably all have something about them that made them special but also those who used their fame to showcase their gifts or found ways to make the world a better place or to help make us feel good. To the following: John Madden, Charlie Watts, Mick Rock, Jim Steinman, Tawny Kitaen, Tanya Roberts, Cicely Tyson, Julie Strain, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Joan Didion, Jean-Marc Vallee, Norm McDonald, Del Wilkes aka the Patriot, “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff, Jody Hamilton aka the Assassin #1, “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton, Dominic DeNucci, Shannon Spurill aka Daffney, Blackjack Lanza, Jimmy Rave, Corporal Kirchner, Jerome Young aka New Jack, “Hacksaw” Butch Reed, Joseph Hudson aka Jocephus/?, Jim Crockett Jr., Patricia Hitchcock, Melvin Van Peebles, Gunnel Lindblom, Michael Constantine, Michael Apted, Willie Garson, Gavin MacLeod, Isela Vega, Larry McMurtry, Giuseppe Rotunno, Lina Wertmuller, Marion Ramsey, Jessica Walter, Jackie Mason, George Segal, Ned Beatty, Michael K. Williams, Emi Wada, James Hampton, Richard Rush, Sonny Chiba, Clarence Williams III, Nathalie Delon, Gregory Sierra, Helen McCrory, Anthony Powell, Roger Michell, Ed Asner, Frank McRae, Dean Stockwell, Norman Lloyd, Robert Downey Sr., Jean-Paul Belmondo, Art LaFleur, Tommy Kirk, Monte Hellman, Jean-Claude Carriere, Bertrand Tavernier, Yaphet Kotto, Michael Nesmith of the Monkees, David Gulpilil, Jane Powell, Charles Grodin, Hal Holbrook, Cloris Leachman, Olympia Dukakis, Arlene Dahl, Lynn Stalmaster, Leslie Bricusse, Stephen Sondheim, Larry King, Richard Donner, and Betty White. Thank you for bringing us joy and we will miss you all.

In the year 2021, I saw a total of 278 films with 128 first-timers and 150 re-watches with 38 first-timers being films directed by women as part of the 52 Films by Women pledge. Definitely down from last year mainly due to other things in life but the content was actually incredible as some of it was devoted to TV programs which I actually enjoyed. One of the highlights of the year has been my Blind Spot Series as here is the final ranking of those films:

1. The Great Escape

2. Pixote

3. Beau Travail

4. War & Peace

5. The Hitch-Hiker

6. Daughters of the Dust

7. Perfect Blue

8. Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s BRD Trilogy (The Marriage of Maria Braun - Veronika Voss - Lola)

9. Taipei Story

10. Pink Flamingos

11. A Streetcar Named Desire

12. Werckmeister Harmonies

Here are the top 20 pre-2015 first-timers that I saw for 2021:

1. Nightmare Alley

2. Obsession

3. Il Bidone

4. Girlhood

5. Lisztomania

6. Jason and the Argonauts

7. THX-1138

8. Night Moves

9. A Most Violent Year

10. Death and the Maiden

11. Krisha

12. Death in Venice

13. Locke

14. Outrage

15. The Rover

16. Mahler

17. All My Compatriots

18. Obvious Child

19. Homework

20. Black Panthers

The year did manage to bring some good things despite all of the bad shit that has happened thanks in joining the world of streaming services as I know can watch films/TV shows legally and no longer rely on torrents. A lot of it is due to the fact that my sister and her husband have two kids allow me to watch some animated films with those kids and also show them some cool stuff. My mother really loves having these streaming services but also watch YouTube on a big TV so she can watch traveling videos as that has brought me some joy. Even as I just purchased a one-year subscription to MUBI as it’s going to make the next year hopefully much better. I’m also happy that the Atlanta Braves got another World Series as I’m able to celebrate it with my niece and nephew which makes the victory really sweet while I’m also happy that the Atlanta United and Atlanta Hawks have done well this year. Can’t say the same for the Falcons, they stink!

Then there’s All Elite Wrestling as it has been this saving grace for professional wrestling as they had provided some incredible matches as well as talent that have a lot to offer. All Out 2021 is definitely one of best wrestling shows ever in terms of the quality of matches while the company did the unthinkable in bringing CM Punk back to professional wrestling after 7 long years as the man himself is already having a good time. Given that Meekmahan-land has released more than 80 superstars from their roster with most of them due to the stupid excuse of “budget cuts kid”, some were able to come to AEW and be treated with respect. Malakai Black, Adam Cole, Ruby Soho, Kyle O’Reilly, Tony Nese, Anthony Greene, Mercedes Martinez, and Andrade El Idolo have at least been given the chance to show what they’ve got while the company has also managed to do something Meekmahan-land hasn’t been doing for a while. Creating new stars.

Tay Conti, Leyla Hirsch, Dante Martin, Alan “5” Angels, John Silver, Preston “10” Vance, Ricky Starks, Bear Country, Cezar Bononi, Jade Cargill, Red Velvet, JD Drake, Ryan Nemeth, Anna Jay, and Hook are key examples of the future while talent such as Sammy Guevara, MJF, Jungle Boy, and Darby Allin are young guys who definitely have what it takes to be the pillars of the company while Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. is definitely one of the best women’s wrestlers working today. If there is a wrestler of the year from AEW, I’m going to make it a tie in both Bryan Danielson and Thunder Rosa. The former came into AEW following his appearance on All Out this past Labor Day weekend as he had just left Meekmahan-land where he did put on some amazing matches there but came into AEW with some of the best. Matches with Miro, Kenny Omega, Hangman Adam Page, and Minoru Suzuki definitely showcase why he is a god in wrestling.

Then there’s Thunder Rosa who came to AEW late last year as she was there on loan from the NWA as she not only helped raise the game for the women’s division. She gave 2021 one of the year’s best matches in the unsanctioned Lights Out match against Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. in what is definitely an undisputed classic match. It’s not just AEW that has delivered as companies like NWA, Impact, and MLW have managed to bounce back from the pandemic and give some of the released talent from Meekmahan-land not just a new home but a new place to start over. There’s also Game Changer Wrestler which is a hardcore wrestling division that has gained a buzz with Matt Cardona (formerly known as Zack Ryder) becoming a made man by being the most hated motherfucker in the hardcore division by beating Nick Gage in a bloodbath of a fight with some help from Ricky Shane Page.

While New Japan Pro Wrestling has been struggling with a lot of injuries and other issues including that awful World Heavyweight Championship belt they created, their recent business relationships with Impact and AEW has managed to help them while NJPW Strong has been a haven for the young Japanese talent who are on excursion as well as some of the independent wrestlers with former Meekmahan-land star Fred Rosser (formerly known as Darren Young) becoming a major player there. Sadly, one notable company is likely to come to an end in Ring of Honor where despite refusing to release wrestlers last year because of the pandemic. The past few years for the company has been rough ever since the departure of key people to AEW while Bully Ray’s booking including have Matt Taven as the ROH World Champion hurt the company. With rumors about this new rebrand and reboot emerging, it is likely that ROH is done though former champion Jay Lethal has managed to find a new home in AEW as I hope that several of the talent who have left can find new work in other companies.

If I have a top 5 matches of the year. Here’s my top 5 best wrestling matches of 2021:

1. The Young Bucks vs. the Lucha Bros.-All Out 2021 for the AEW World Tag Team Championship Steel Cage Match

2. Thunder Rosa vs. Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D.-AEW Dynamite, Unsanctioned Lights Out Match (March 2021)

3. Kenny Omega vs. Bryan Danielson-AEW Dynamite Grand Slam (September 2021)

4. Minoru Suzuki vs. Bryan Danielson-AEW Buy-In on YouTube (October 2021)

5. Tay Conti & Anna Jay vs. the Bunny & Penelope Ford-AEW Dynamite, Street Fight (December 2021)

In the world of music, there hasn’t been much that interested me except for Sparks as they were the only discovery that I’ve enjoyed as I don’t listen to a lot of new music though there has been a few good songs from Olivia Rodrigo and Halsey but that’s it. Well, that is all for 2021. This was a crazy year and having to end it on a down note with the death of Betty White just weeks away from her 100th birthday. All I can say is this to 2021 and that is… FUCK YOU!

© thevoid99 2021

Blog News: Blog Plans for 2021

 

Well, this was a horrendous year as the unexpected happen in the fact that a worldwide pandemic occurred and everything went to shit. Everything I had planned for the year went to shit and I lost some momentum and I also felt stifled by everything that had happened. I don't know when I even plan on returning to the movie theaters when it is safe again as 2020 just absolutely fucking sucked. I am aware that as early into the new year, things will be just as slow as I now have a niece coming in March as I doubt I can do some big projects though I am hoping to revive some of them for the new year.

Hoping that I can get some money from whatever stimulus check I can get, I will use some of it to purchase a Blu-Ray player as it is time to catch up and watch a lot of films that aren't on DVD. Yet, there is more to offer as there's so many things coming in streaming services though I am not a fan of the new strategy that Warner Brothers and HBO Max is doing to release new films on the same day they're out in the movie theaters. Given that I have a bunch of films in my never-ending DVR list, there are also films, shorts, and docs from all of these special features from many of DVD/Blu-Rays that I own as I've made a list of these films that I also hope to watch as to diversify more. Even in some of the films that I have chosen to watch for the 2021 Blind Spot Series.

I still plan on taking part in the 52 Films by Women pledge as I hope to reach 52 films in the new year as well as the Thursday Movie Picks. Yet, there are also some unfinished projects such as re-starting the MCU is Cinema project in anticipation for the arrival of the fourth phase. Then there's the Cannes Film Festival marathon that I do every May as I was unable to do it in 2019 because of my dad and I ended up not doing it this year because of the pandemic. If there isn't going to be one for the next year, then I will focus on planning for the 2022 Cannes Film Festival marathon which will be an all Palme d'Or edition.

Usually, when it comes to planning things. There's things that I want to do as I want to start from scratch on watching The Story of Film series that I never finished while I've also thought about doing a tribute to B-movie filmmaker Andy Sidaris in re-watching his franchise of Girls, Guns, and G-Strings as he's someone in a shortlist of filmmakers I want to cover for the Auteurs series. The Auteurs series is something I hope to revive as I was forced to cancel everything in 2019 because of my dad while I was hoping to re-start everything again in 2020 but the pandemic happened. Fortunately, I do have access to a few of the films that I need to watch while searching for an obscure film or two. The one on Kelly Reichardt will happen some time between January and March and then I'll do J.C. Chandor for the spring. Then there's Michael Mann and David Lean who I also had listed for the past two years as I plan on doing those two for the second half of the new year and then I'll make plans for what will be for the 2022.

I think that is all I have been planning for the new year as I don't have any interest to create anything for my music blog in The Void-Go-Round unless bands begin to tour again. Everything right now is up in the air as I might go with these plans or it will be another duldrum year. Until then, this is thevoid99 signing off...

© thevoid99 2020

2021 Blind Spot Series Announcement

 

Another year is coming to an end and in all honesty, 2020 fucking sucked. Having now set to complete this year's Blind Spot Series with Abbas Kiarostami's Koker Trilogy, the time has come to make an announcement for the next year as God forbid we all die in this fucking pandemic. My choices for next year's series has a lot to do with wanting to take on more films around the world but also classic films and films that are considered influential. Three of these picks are films directed by women as I feel like women don't get enough exposure as one of my choices is a film by an African-American woman. I also chose an animated film this year as well as a cult movie, foreign classics, and films that are also challenging. All of these films are from the latter half of the 20th Century to the year 2000. Here are the films of the 2021 Blind Spot Series in chronological order:

A Streetcar Named Desire

The Hitchhiker

The Great Escape

War and Peace

Pink Flamingos

Rainer Werner Fassbinder's BRD Trilogy (The Marriage of Maria Braun - Lola - Veronika Voss)

Pixote

Taipei Story

Daughters of the Dust

Perfect Blue

Beau Travail

Werckmeister Harmonies

© thevoid99 2020