2020 was probably the most surprising year of all-time. If anyone predicted how that year would have gone, they would be lying. However, 2021 was still reasonably surprising too. And while one could harp on the year itself, here at MXDWN Movies we are more interested in the year in film. There are many surprising films that have come out this year, some for better and some for worse.
Here is our list for the most pleasant and most disappointing surprises for films in 2021. This list was created by votes from all of our writers and editors at MXDWN Movies, it is also not a ranked list and therein is not in any particular order.
Pleasant- Power of the Dog
“I did not think I would like The Power of the Dog as much as I did. I do not usually enjoy the Western genre, but this film exceeded my expectations. The general story in this film was a delight to watch. Benedict Cumberbatch’s work was unmatched in this film. He created a compelling cowboy character with a rough exterior; however, he was filled with affection to give, as the film progressed, towards Kodi Smit-McPhee’s character. McPhee’s performance was also amazing! His mannerisms and facial expressions were perfect. The patriarchal atmosphere where a man cannot show the slightest inkling of societally deemed “femininity” is also wonderfully shown here. The costume design, production design, cinematography, and the script were my favorite parts!” –Nicole Dwyer
Disappointing- Spider-Man: No Way Home
Pleasant- The Card Counter
“I had little to no interest in watching The Card Counter. In fact, I haven’t heard much of it before or after I saw it. Paul Schrader’s direction was my main incentive, and while he has penned some of the best screenplays in film history, his directorial efforts don’t live up to his written back catalogue. Against all odds, this turned out to be a pretty good find this year. Of course, Oscar Isaac and Willem Dafoe never disappoint, but I never thought I’d see Tiffany Haddish acting in a serious movie, let alone a good one. I find card games an incredibly boring subject for a film, and Schrader cleverly avoids lengthy poker scenes, in favor of a thrilling revenge story.” –Nacho Pajín
Disappointing- Last Night in Soho(SPOILERS)
“I was very excited for Last Night in Soho, but it did not meet my expectations. I was intrigued by the story and the concept, but the film did not deliver what I wanted it to. After the plot twist with Miss Collins being Sandie, the film went downhill. The chaos, narrative, and performances beyond that point were all subpar. Before that point, there were a few aspects I could nitpick, but they did not take away too much from my viewing experience. For example, Terence Stamp’s character was a little too on the nose and persistent at points. If he was more subdued, an added layer of mystery would be there. All in all, this movie was not terrible, but it definitely missed my expectations.” –Nicole Dwyer
Pleasant- Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City
“There isn’t a person in this world that can convince me that Resident Evil from 2002 is a good movie. It is complete trash and after five sequels, a reboot was announced with a notable horror director attached to the project. The result was a movie that featured suspense, genuine scares, and actually respected the source material from the video game that it was based off of. Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City isn’t a perfect film, nor a great one, but is a step in the right direction for making video-game movie adaptations work. I love the style, the references to the ’90s, and the sheer sense of fun that this movie offered, none of which was seen in the 2002 film. When comparing this reboot to the 2002 film, Welcome to Raccoon City is gold while the 2002 version is a tin can laying deep a galvanized garbage can in a poor neighborhood.” –Rick Rice
Pleasant- West Side Story
Disappointing- The Many of Newark
“Prequel films are always a difficult bet to make by studios. On the one hand, there’s a pre-established fanbase who is guaranteed to watch the film and enjoy it solely because it’s a beloved IP. On the other hand, prequel films almost never live up to the expectations based on the caliber of the originals. The Many Saints of Newark, although a decent film, just could never have lived up to the precedent that The Sopranos set. It could have used more time to create something that would have been very solid and enjoyable to The Sopranos fanbase, but it suffered the same fate as many other prequels.” –Eric Johnson
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