Top 10 Films of 2021 + Personal Summary of 2021 in Film

So, the end of another year has come. 2021 has, overall, been a fairly mixed year for films in my opinion. Obviously, it was wonderful to have many highly anticipated films that've been delayed due to COVID finally see the light of day, and it was also great to be able to see many of them in cinemas. Overall, it felt like we were moving towards some form of normality after all the disruption. However, the films themselves and what they represent hasn't been so consistently good. Today, I'm going to do my usual round-up of the best of the best from this year, but, in doing so, I'm also going to discuss my specific feelings about the year, which is a mixture of good and bad. So, let's get going!

10. No Time to Die

For the tenth spot on this list, it was between this and Shang-Chi. While I may prefer the latter a tad more, I think the former means a lot more and is worth praising more. This is generally labelled as the film that kicked off the delays due to COVID, and it received numerous delays even after its initial one. So, to finally see it hit the big screen was really exciting, even though I'm not a die hard James Bond fan. While I think No Time to Die doesn't convey the atmosphere of an epic conclusion as well as it could have nor does it have the most refined story, it has everything you could want from an outing with 007 through its action and performances. So, because of that and what it represents, a space on this list was certainly earned.

9. tick, tick... BOOM!

Well, this film sure came out of nowhere, didn't it? While randomly scrolling through new releases for Netflix one day, I saw an upcoming musical starring Andrew Garfield and directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda. So, naturally, I had to give it a watch, and surprise surprise, it was terrific. Garfield is magnetic in the lead and gives his second best performance of the year (because, you know), and he navigates a story with some really thoughtful and powerful themes, some of which really resonated with me. As a musical, while none of the songs stood out to me as anything amazing, the musical numbers were all very competently crafted and solid. So, overall, a great film that I'd happily revisit any day. This also leads into one of my biggest joys of 2021 films, that being that we saw so many musicals! This genre isn't the most common nowadays, yet this year alone we got so many, and most were a delight! With this, West Side Story, Vivo, and a few upcoming entries on this list, it's been a rather nice year in this area.

8. Spencer

This is, without a doubt, the biggest surprise of the year, and I say that because it's really one of the only surprises of the year. One thing that was sad about 2021 is that there was a deficiency in films that exceeded my hopes / expectations. This doesn't mean there were many disappointments per se, as there were plenty of films that I expected to be great and turned out to be just that, but there weren't many things that I came out of and was really surprised by. Luckily, despite this, we at least got Spencer, which in itself is one of the biggest surprises in recent years to be honest. I never would've imagined myself loving a bleak, biographical period piece drama, yet I absolutely did. The mesmerising central performance and masterful filmmaking made this rather exceptional. I don't know if I'd instantly want to watch it again, but when I did, I thought there was plenty to admire. 

7. Raya and the Last Dragon + Encanto

It's a Disney double bill! For the last month or so, I've considered 2021 a relatively weak year in terms of animated features. Not because we saw much bad stuff but just because we didn't see much amazing stuff, it all mostly seemed to be solid and nothing more. This has been one of the more unfortunate aspects of this year for me because I love animation ever so much, and every year for the last two decades or so has given us at least one amazing animated film, even 2020, which was a fairly rough year for films otherwise. Because I really wanted at least one to make this list, I rewatched a few of this year's animated offerings and realised that, although there hasn't been anything especially outstanding, we've still had some pretty damn good stuff, and one studio that managed to deliver not one but two really solid animated features in 2021 was Walt Disney Animation Studios, and I feel both are worthy of a spot. Raya and the Last Dragon is one of them; I really admire how mature this film is - a lot of the dialogue as well as what unfolds onscreen and within the story such as the action feels very bold and stands out compared to lots of other contemporary animation. It isn't perfect for sure, as it could've done with less childish humour, a lot more subltety, and perhaps even some more ambiguity in its themes, but it at least shows elements of something audacious, which I can't help but respect. Additionally, it has stunning animation and a beautiful score, as you've come to expect. As for Encanto, after giving it another go upon its Disney+ release, it worked a lot more for me. Sure, I still don't think it's anything groundbreaking, but it just does what it does so damn well, with some wonderful animation, a loveable cast of characters, all of whom have such terrific designs, and an excellent selection of songs. I still believe 2021 could've been far better in terms of animation overall, but I'm glad we at least got these gems and that they were able to rank among the year's best.  

6. Last Night in Soho

This was another film I was really looking forward to, and of course it didn't disappoint. Edgar Wright is my favourite director of all time, and even though he steps out of his usual snappy and comedic territory with this film, it was still brilliant. The deliciously twisted and hypnotic atmosphere combined with two phenomenal performances from two of the best actresses working today made Last Night in Soho thoroughly engaging. While the filmmaking generally lacks a lot of the attractive aspects of Wright's style, it's still a really strong film on its own. It isn't his best work, but considering that almost all of his other films are bordering on perfection, that's hardly an issue. I can't wait to see what this man does next because I just don't think I can imagine him ever putting a foot wrong. 

5. In the Heights

While maybe not one of the best films of the year, this is undeniably one of the most joyful watches I've had in 2021, so it had to make the list. This is more proof of how musicals have been thriving as of late, and for that I couldn't be happier. From the electric and upbeat musical numbers to the magnificently feel-good and celebratory tone alongside some really compelling stories and characters, In the Heights is an absolute joy from start to finish. I just got the DVD for Christmas and it was so nice to spend another two and a bit hours smiling, laughing, and tapping my toes. Great stuff, and I kind of feel like it's been forgotten by many as the year has progressed, which is a real shame.

4. The Green Knight

My oh my, what a film. What. A. Film. Of all the films released this year, none have left me with as much to chew on as The Green Knight has. The neverending rabbit-hole of thematic elements to dissect and think about make this easily one of my favourites from 2021. I remember my walk home from the cinema consisting of me just trying to comprehend what I'd just witnessed, and many of those thoughts are still lingering in my head. It also looks great and is very well acted, so there's an awful lot to praise. I'm sure I'll be coming back to this for years to come, as there's so many ways one can interpret it, so I'll be eternally transfixed by each and every aspect it offers and finding new meanings.

3. A Quiet Place Part II

If you're still a little confused by what I meant when I discussed films being unsurprising yet still good, allow me to draw you to maybe the best example. Obviously A Quiet Place Part II delivered, how could it not? Despite losing an ounce of the tight and concise nature of its predecessor in the nature of being a sequel, this retains all the thrill and tension of that film with some more nerve-racking sequences, including an outstanding opening scene, and excellent performances. How do I know this film is so good? Because I rewatched it on a tiny, poor-quality TV in my university dorm and I'd still say the was experience as immersive and tense as it was on a giant cinema screen. All that's left to say is keep it up John Krasinski and co.

2. Dune

Part of me wants to say this was unsurprisingly good too, but another part of me recognises that this could've been a dud. Bringing to life the first half of a long, arduous novel that consists of mostly chit-chat and exposition in a plain, desert setting could've easily been one of the most dull experiences of the year, yet it was absolutely extraordinary. There's nothing more to be said about Dune to be honest, but if there's one other thing I would like to flag up, it's another one of the great things about film in 2021 - that being that we didn't just return to cinemas this year, but lots of the films we saw in them were truly designed for such a way of viewing. Films like Dune and even A Quiet Place Part II are the sorts of films that are made for the experience offered by viewing a film in a cinema, and at a time when cinemas have been struggling, it's ever so good to see some films making them feel worthwhile, because they absolutely are. Also, I'm ever so happy that we're getting more of this, it's ridiculous that it wasn't guaranteed from day one.

1. Spider-Man: No Way Home

Yeah, there was no competition for the top spot whatsoever. I was tempted to slap Dune in the number one slot because it is probably the single best film of the year, but then I realised that, even though it's mostly personal factors that make me love Spider-Man: No Way Home so much, it still deserves this just as much, if not more. While certainly imperfect, this is another enormous yet remarkably cohesive and satisfying outing from Marvel Studios. It has the stellar action and charm we've come to expect, but also a lot more maturity and seriousness that we don't usually associate with them. It also brings together the previous iterations of this character in the most perfect ways possible. This is also more proof as to why cinemas ought to be protected, as the viewing of this film in the presence of many other fans like myself at ten o'clock in the morning on opening day with clapping and cheering throughout is something truly special that I don't ever want to stop experiencing. I thought Avengers: Endgame was an unbelievable achievement that could never be replicated, yet the geniuses over at Marvel have managed to deliver another film on the same level. It may be big, sugary, blockbuster nonsense, but it's that sort of stuff at its finest. So, Spider-Man: No Way Home definitely, comfortably sits at the top of the ladder that is cinema in 2021. 

So, those are what I believe to be the best films of this year, and they also summarise a lot of my feelings about this year overall. With experiences that lend themselves to cinemas, many marvellous musicals, and highly anticipated films finally surfacing, it's been jolly good. But, at the same time, with a lack of surprises and a relatively weak selection of animated content, it hasn't been so good. 2022 is upon us and there's lots to look forward to, so let's hope that, now the film industry seems to be back on its feet, we get an amazing year of output. Speaking of which, here's a quick rundown off all the bits and pieces I have my eye on:

Death on the Nile - still waiting to see that glorious moustache again

The Batman - hopefully another great DC film with a definite article in the title

Turning Red - looks as generic as anything but... it's a Pixar movie so should be good?

The Northman - Robert Eggers does a fantasy historical epic, how can I say no?

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness - Intriguing genre shift in a Raimi / Marvel reunion

Jurassic World: Dominion - DINOSAURS    

Lightyear - It ain't anything new or original but should be cool

Thor: Love and Thunder - More of Taika and Thor, yes please

Don't Worry Darling - Booksmart was great so let's hope Olivia can do it again

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Part One - Spidey fans are getting spoiled right now and I love it

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever - I wonder where they're going to go

Super Mario Bros. - odd casting choices but I'm optimistic

Babylon - Mr Chazelle, we've missed you, this frankly can't come soon enough

The Matrix Resurrections - Movie Review - Nostalgia, lots of nostalgia

Happy New Year all! In keeping with tradition, I've got a list of my favourite films of the last year on its way, but I've still got a few things I'd like to see before publishing it, so it'll probably be ready by the end of this week. As for now, here's another review of something I saw recently.

I'm not a massive fan of the Matrix movies. I really like the first one - from it's bold, philosophical themes to its distinct, stylised action, it's just awesome. As for the sequels, not so much. The Matrix Reloaded is alright, but it's overloaded with boring action and has little thematic intrigue, and the The Matrix Revolutions is just a headache in the form of a film. I cannot recall a single thing that happened, except for the cool final fight, and I was so bored throughout. So, you may be wondering why I'd want to see the next entry in the franchise. The truth is, I don't really know either, but I thought it looked decent and I'm always open to movies winning me over even when previous outings haven't. So, I thought I may as well give it a go.

In the film, Thomas Anderson (also known as Neo) is living a supposedly normal life as a game designer. But, after a series of strange visions, he realises that reality is, once again, not what it seems.

I realised shortly into the film that my optimism was almost definitely misplaced, as this is just another Matrix sequel in the same league as the previous two. The biggest problem with it is a problem faced by all sequels made over a decade after their predecessors - repetition. This movie retreads so much familiar ground, both in terms of plot and themes. Most of the time it just feels like we're going through the motions and it's kind of boring to be honest. What makes The Matrix so great is its themes; the fact that one leaves the cinema with food for thought and ponders questions they perhaps never thought of before. So, when you simply rehash that original film as they have here, you instantly lose that aspect because nothing being said is new or intriguing, it's all familiar and thus kind of dull. Additionally, it feels far less subtle than the original in how it conveys these ideas, which makes it even worse. 

What's also problematic are the new elements of the film. There are obviously some differences from the original as it is a sequel, but everything that's new does little to benefit the film. There's a lot of complicated reasoning behind why things are the way they are which means that almost every scene that isn't an action scene is an arduous exposition dump. You can tell that the filmmakers likely didn't know exactly how to excuse making another sequel after how the last film ended, as much of what is said feels like waffle and doesn't make a ton of sense. I mean, I'm sure someone somewhere could explain it all to me, but the film couldn't. It's also really long, and it definitely feels that way. So, I often found myself really unengaged and unable to follow along with the film.

Okay, so the film is a bit flimsy in its themes / plot, but the other defining aspect of The Matrix is its action, so how's that in this movie? Not much better. It's all fine and perfectly serviceable, but nothing special. Again, when you finish watching The Matrix, you can pinpoint almost every action scene because it's all so distinct. Whether it be the iconic dodging the bullets, the opening chase, the subway fight, or the hotel lobby shootout, all of it is so well-crafted and memorable. Here, as is the case with the other sequels, the action all feels very homogenous and is rather forgettable. Not terrible by any means, but just nothing noteworthy. This may be due to the fact that The Matrix was a pivotal point in movie history as much of what it brought to the table was so new and refreshing, but nowadays we've naturally come to expect this sort of stuff, so it all just seems highly workmanlike.

One thing I will praise about the movie is the visuals. While the original Matrix has aged rather well, the second and third films haven't because of their extreme overreliance on CGI that wasn't really ready to pull off the desired effects at the time. But, because of how far technology has evolved in the last two decades or so, this universe feels like it has finally been given justice from a visual standpoint - it's all very arresting. Additionally, it's all well acted. Keanu Reeves is mostly the same as Neo, and he's still very likeable, but some performances I very much enjoyed were Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as a new interpretation of Morpheus, Jonathan Groff giving a new take on Smith, and Jessica Henwick as a new character called Bugs, all of whom made the most of what they were given and were very enjoyable, keeping the movie afloat. 

All things considered, I'm not so keen on The Matrix Resurrections. I don't think it's a bad film at all as it looks great and parts of it are enjoyable, but its repetitive nature and continued absence of thematic intrigue and memorable action weakens it quite severely. I'm glad I saw it and I do think it's better than the last two sequels, but that isn't really saying much. If anything, it's more proof that the original should've just been left as it was, because it was perfectly satisfactory and complete on its own. 

I'm going to give The Matrix Resurrections a 6.0/10

The King's Man - Movie Review - Different look, same bonkers fun

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas. I was able to catch one new release and haven't had much time to give a proper, in-depth review, so I'll just be brief here.

I really like the Kingsman movies. The first one is definitely one of my favourite films of all time and the second one, while not as good, is still thoroughly enjoyable. So, I was ever so excited for a return to this world with The King's Man, even if it wasn't to involve the characters we know and love and would explore many different aspects. In the film, after a group of baddies led by a mysterious figure prompt the beginning of the First World War, a small independent team of British individuals attempts to foil their plans and restore order in some form. 

Despite being very different from the previous two films in a variety of ways, The King's Man retains much of what made them so much fun. The action is still an utter delight, and the historical setting enables the bonkers nature of the franchise to be applied to more distinct situations. Whether it be jumping out of biplanes or old fashioned sword fights, it's still as chaotic as ever but feels refreshing and new at the same time, which I liked. The performances are also still very enjoyable despite a new cast of characters. The plot is less of an over-the-top take on the spy genre here as it is more of a comedic take on historical events, and it is quite funny. It offers a fictionalised account of events involving certain figures during the First World War, and some of it is very entertaining. If I have any issues with the movie, my biggest one is the pace. The first forty-five minutes to an hour of the film are really dull, and are mostly just setting the scene. However, once past that point, it really gets going and is a consistently enjoyable ride. So, I think I can sufficiently look past that. Overall, I really enjoyed The King's Man. It's differences from what we're used to don't stop it from being the same level of manic action and chaos.

I'm going to give The King's Man an 8.0/10

Spider-Man: No Way Home - Movie Review - Spidey packs the biggest and best punch of the year (SPOILERS)

Spider-Man has been on the screen for many years and has had several different interpretations. Most recently, he's been a part of the MCU, and it's this iteration of the character that I have the biggest connection to. The films in this version have definitely been good; Homecoming has unfortunately got worse for me with time though it is still solid, and Far From Home is still as awesome as it was when I first saw it. But, now, the character is back, and it's bigger than ever, in No Way Home. Obviously, I was really excited for this movie. The possibilities of what could unfold in this were just insane, and I could not wait to witness what was in stall. I haven't been this excited for a new film since, well, probably Avengers: Endgame. 

In the film, after having his secret identity revealed, Peter Parker's life is turned upside down. He seeks Doctor Strange for help but, after attempting to cast a spell to fix things, an array of characters from all over the multiverse start to arrive.

This movie was ridiculously good. I'm afraid I cannot discuss my thoughts without going into spoilers so do not read ahead if you haven't seen the movie. If you want to know my overall opinion though, you can safely skip to my conclusion as that won't contain any specific plot details. So, SPOILER ALERT!!!

There's so much that works about No Way Home, I don't actually know where to begin. I think what's best about it is that it takes this iteration of the character to places we haven't seen before. This film is dark, and it takes a lot of what happens very seriously, and best of all, it has actions that have consequences. With the ending of Peter accepting that he has to let everyone forget who he is, it would've been so easy and so Marvel for the filmmakers to act as if it's a great big sacrifice but promptly undo all the consequences in favour of a sweet ending. But, no, they take a very mature route by having Peter accept what he's had to do because it's his responsibility, which ties into the core idea of Spider-Man, that being that with great power comes great responsibility.

Obviously, one of the more exciting aspects of the film is seeing a bunch of characters from previous iterations of Spider-Man in film making a return, and boy was this awesome. Most significantly, the Spider-Men played by Tobey Maguire from the original Sam Raimi trilogy and Andrew Garfield from the Amazing Spider-Man films are back, as we all hoped. When they entered, my audience erupted into applause and cheering, which is the sort of thing I love in cinemas, and was especially amazing here considering it was ten o'clock in the morning! The way they interacted with Tom's Peter was too perfect, whether it be in comedic ways such as comparing all the things they've encountered while being Spider-Man, or in dramatic ways when they offer some of their wisdom and guidance to prevent him from making mistakes they made. I honestly could not have asked for more in this aspect of the film.

The villains are also many from Spider-Man past, including Alfred Molina's Doc Ock and Willem Dafoe's Green Goblin, and they were all very entertaining and satisfying to see back on screen once again, and the way they also interacted with each other and MCU characters was tons of fun. The action scenes in this movie were also just awesome; the first encounter with Doc Ock (which parts of have been shown in the trailer) was so smooth and flowing alongside some dialogue interaction that was such a joy. The sequence set in the mirror dimension was also really cool, placing us back in a really inventive setting we haven't seen much of, and throwing Spider-Man in there too. The climax was also just as terrific, and the sight of seeing all three Spider-Men working alongside each other and quipping with their familiar enemies was simply marvellous, if you'll pardon the pun. 

My one issue with the movie was the second act, specifically the section where Peter attempted to cure all the villains. This part was a little uninteresting because you know that they'll eventually turn on him so you're just sat waiting for that moment, which I was. However, I am willing to look past it as the way it tied into the rest of the narrative was highly appropriate, and it led to the beautifully heartbreaking scene that was Aunt May's death, which I honestly didn't see coming. It was really great to hear her deliver the iconic great power comes great responsibility line too. 

I'm kind of lost for words. Spider-Man: No Way Home was just absolutely magnificent. It blew me away with how perfectly it executed each and every aspect of this story, so much so that I don't really think it could have done it any better way. Sure, it has its flaws, but none that I'm unwilling to overlook as they still enable this masterpiece to function as it does. Overall, the best MCU film ever except for Avengers: Endgame, which I do have some more issues with but I feel had a much harder task to pull off and thus is a bit more impressive, though only by a small degree. This is also the best Spider-Man film ever aside from Into the Spider-Verse, just because that is obviously a bit more audacious. A remarkable piece of work for sure and the best film of 2021 for me. 

I'm going to give Spider-Man: No Way Home a 10/10

Yeah, I rarely give a perfect score to a film on my first viewing, and this isn't perfect, but I don't care. I'm too stunned.

West Side Story - Movie Review - Steven's got a knack for musicals as well

I know nothing about West Side Story. It's a name I obviously recognise but that's where it ends for me. I understand that it's a take on Romeo and Juliet but I don't know any specifics of the plot and I cannot name a single one of the songs. I've not seen the original stage musical nor the 1961 original film. So, with that in mind, why on earth would I want to see this new version? Well, it's quite simple, actually. I love me a good musical, which this obviously is, and I'm a big fan of Steven Spielberg. So, there was enough to convince me to catch the new West Side Story upon release. 

As I'm sure you may know, the story involves two rival gangs in an area of New York City, one consisting of white Americans and the other consisting of folks from Puerto Rico. On one side, there's Tony, and on the other, there's Maria. Despite coming from two opposing sides, they fall in love and are determined to stay together, thus facing many obstacles in doing so. 

One of my main draws to seeing this film was the fact that it's a musical, and on the musical side, it delivered for sure. The musical numbers are all really well executed with some excellent choreography and wonderfully vibrant / exciting visuals (most of the time). Not every song hit the mark, but more often than not they did. My favourites were America, a delightfully upbeat tune that, as it happens, I actually did know but didn't realise was from this musical, and Tonight, a beautiful duet. Spielberg has already established himself as a very versatile director, delving into action and adventure, sci-fi, drama, fantasy, history, thriller, war, and some other genres, but this only furthers that by showing he can very competently helm a musical as well, and I'd love to see more of this from him. 

I also thought that, despite the story being something we've seen time and time again, it didn't feel repetitive and it also had dramatic beats that were still able to be really powerful even if they were predictable. Usually remakes or retellings etc. lose the impact of the work they're derived from as you know exactly where they're heading and they can seem a bit narratively uninteresting. Here, while parts did feel as if we were going through the motions of a typical take on Romeo and Juliet, most of it successfully swept me up. I especially believed in the chemistry between Tony and Maria and felt their longing for one another, helped in no small part by some very solid performances from Rachel Zegler (in an amazing debut performance) and Ansel Elgort. 

In terms of issues, I think the pacing is quite off. Some less interesting parts feel overly dwelled on, while others feel more appropriate. My overall interest sort of flucuated throughout where I spent some time quite unengaged, mostly in the first thirty to forty minutes before it really gets going, and others really wrapped up. Not a major problem but still a bit of an issue. I'm sure that some of this might be in the nature of the stage musical thus making it not necessarily the film's fault, but I'm unfamiliar with it so I can't really say.

All in all, West Side Story was really good. It tells its story well and had a solid batch of songs sprinkled throughout. Can't say how it compares to either the stage musical or the original film, but I can't imagine this being considerably worse than anything, unless they're both absolutely extraordinary. Even if you're unfamiliar with this content much like I was, still go and catch it if you like a good musical, because this absolutely is just that. 

I'm going to give West Side Story a 7.5/10

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to resume counting down the mere days left until I see Spider-Man: No Way Home. Please oh please oh please don't let it disappoint...

House of Gucci - Movie Review - A Ridley Scott film lacking the Ridley Scott-ness

Ridley Scott is obviously one of the most influencial directors of all time, though he's not one of my favourites. I've only seen a few of films, though I do really like what I've seen. Alien is a really well crafted sci-fi / horror movie, Gladiator is also really terrific, and The Martian is honestly one of my favourite films of all time, and may even crack the top ten if I ever made one. So, I wasn't especially keen to see his new film House of Gucci because of him, but rather because I just thought it looked good. I mean, it looked very competently helmed and well acted from the trailers, and it also details a story that I know absolutely nothing about, so I thought it would be worth a go. 

The film chronicles the marriage of Patrizia Reggiani and Maurizio Gucci and their turbulent relations while trying to run the iconic fashion company alongside other members of the Gucci family. 

The best thing about the film by far is the acting, it's all rather perfect. Lady Gaga absolutely smashes it as Reggiani; I was rather ambivalent about her breakthrough performance in A Star is Born, but here, I thought she was just on fire. She looks the part, and she conveys this manipulative and conniving character so well. Definitely the standout in the ensemble. Adam Driver is also terrific, though we've come to expect greatness from him so it's less surprising. He's definitely one of the most consistently great actors I've seen over the last five or so years. Everyone else was mostly pretty good too, although I'm not sure how I felt about Jared Leto in the film; he's clearly going over the top and being a very overtly stereotypical Italian, and while it certainly was entertaining, I don't think I liked it overall. 

Production-wise, this was expectedly fabulous. The costumes were all stellar as you may expect from a film where fashion is a crucial aspect, and most of the settings and locations were pleasant and well captured. The film is also very long, at least two and a half hours, but it didn't drag most of the time and was a reasonably well-paced watch. My interest in what was going on did fluctuate a lot of the time but that's kind of inevitable when it comes to any film of this length. 

My main issue I suppose is that a lot of it just felt ordinary; I struggle to believe that this was helmed by Ridley Scott as most of it just feels quite workmanlike and plain, with little about the filmmaking and direction that really stood out to me. This isn't a big deal, but it is a shame when a film doesn't offer much distinction to help form its own identity. 

All things considered, House of Gucci was pretty good. A terrific array of performances make what is ultimately quite an unremarkable piece of filmmaking consistently solid. Probably won't be rushing to catch this again but there's plenty to admire.

I'm going to give House of Gucci a 7.5/10

Encanto - Movie Review - Disney Animation delivers more of the same

Walt Disney Animation Studios are obviously one of the most significant animation studios of all time. They practically invented the game with feature length animation way back in the day and have managed to persevere and maintain their relevance and skill at their craft with time, despite some dark spots here and there. However, in recent years, I can't help but feel like they've just been making the same sorts of films over and over, and while most of them still end up being good, their general commitment to a formula does make a lot of their output feel repetitive and predictable. The trailers for Encanto did not give any hope that they would stray from the age-old Disney formula and give us something surprising, but they did at least show a film that looked good in and of itself, so I went in expecting a jolly good time at the very least while also hoping that maybe it would have something unexpected up its sleeve.

The story centres on a magical family called the Madrigals where each member possesses a special and unique ability. However, this isn't the case for one member named Mirabel, who is not respected by those around her and is seen as a disappointment because of this, not least by her Grandmother, who obtained the source of the magic many years ago and seeks to preserve it at all costs. But, when it seems as if this magic at the centre of the family is in danger, Mirabel might just be the key to saving it. 

Well, first of all, I have to say that, much like how nice it was to see a new MCU movie in the cinema after a long time earlier this year with Black Widow, it was rather lovely so be sat in a cinema watching a new animated film released by Disney. The last one I saw was Onward just before COVID kicked off, and every subsequent one has been a Disney+ watch for me. So, there was a rather pleasant feeling in seeing that logo in front of an animated film in a cinema for the first time in... what feels like forever!

As I suspected, Encanto is very formulaic; it hits all the beats of a standard Disney Animation film and doesn't really have any surprises in that regard. But, on top of that, as you may have guessed from that summary, it also has a very familiar story. We've all seen a story about an outcast within a group who constantly fumbles and is disrespected only to eventually prove everyone wrong and be accepted. You know where it's going to go right from the start and every turn the film takes is highly predictable. While this isn't inherently a bad thing, it did make the film thematically and narratively uninteresting for me as it offered very little nuance. However, I've always believed that a film can get away with being unoriginal as long as it's well executed, and that's definitely the case with Encanto. It thrives off of how well a lot of its elements are executed.

As with any Disney production it has wonderful visuals. The film completely uses the animation to its advantage and manages to find many unique ways to be creative. The best example of this is with the house that the Madrigals live in  - it's personified and brought to life in a way similar to the ocean from Moana, which led to some really inventive moments in terms of how each bit of the architecture conveyed a different feeling or emotion. There's also a really creative choice involving each member of the family living in a space that revolves around their ability, and this gave way for a variety of beautiful and distinct environments encountered throughout the film, such as a vast jungle filled with animals, or a haven covered in flowers. 

I also love how the characters were animated; not only are the designs top-notch, but they all felt so human. When the film isn't being frantic and cartoony, the movement and behaviours of the characters all felt so realistic, making it so easy to emphathise with them. There's one moment where Mirabel picks up a fallen roof tile and cuts her hand in doing so, and each and every aspect of it felt so real. I'm also always amazed at just how much emotion can be expressed on an animated character, a single frame of one of their faces truly speaks volumes. These are very little things for sure, but I find that the little things tend to be the most admirable in an animated feature, as you know careful attention to detail is applied to each and every aspect.

The film is also a musical, and the songs are all really terrific. They weren't the most instantly memorable bunch and they certainly felt very familiar to songs from other Disney films, with the establishing opening number, the protagonist's 'I want' ballad, the goofy side character song, and so on, but they all managed to work really well. I mean, when I got home from the cinema I listened to and downloaded most of the soundtrack while eating my dinner, which is usually an indicator of some pretty damn good stuff. I don't know if I could single out a favourite as I think each of them had something great to offer. 

Additionally, as conventional as it may be, it's hard to get to frustrated by the story in the film as it definitely means well. It's a film all about family and not losing sight of your love for others, as well as understanding how everyone has their own place in the world, which are of course very amiable ideas. They didn't really reach me emotionally, but I can see how they might do for others. 

The only issue I had aside from the predictable nature of the film was the humour. Again, in sticking to the classic Disney formula, the film of course has to throw in some comedy. Unlike some of their other films, it isn't ill-fitting here as the film is deliberately wacky a lot of time, but lots of it was still very toe-curling for me. I've had this issue with many recent Disney and Pixar films, and it may well be because I'm getting older, but a part of me does think that the comedy itself isn't all that good. 

You might be wondering what it is that I want to see from Disney Animation going forward. Well, it's quite simple, I just want to see more unconventional things from them. They've proven time and time again that they can make a solid family film with a sweet message, and while they don't make bad films of that nature, they are very unsurprising, which is making me slowly lose interest in seeing what comes next. Films like The Lion King, Zootropolis, and Fantasia all prove that they can stray from their formula with films that dare to be audacious, rich, and mature, so I know they're capable of doing so, and I'd just like to see more. This is their 60th animated feature, which they proudly show at the start of the film, and I think it's about time they change things up. 

Overall, Encanto doesn't bring anything new to the table and offers very few surprises, but in and of itself, it's a perfectly satisfactory film with some splendid animation, solid musical numbers, and a story that definitely has its heart in the right place. It's about on the same level of quality as Luca, the Pixar film from earlier this year, another predictable yet sweet and charming film. I'd obviously like to see Disney venture into new territory with their animated features after over eighty years of them mostly doing the same thing, but if they can still manage to deliver perfectly good movies, I can't complain too much. 

I'm going to give Encanto a 7.5/10