Most Anticipated Movies of 2021 (Part VI)

I do apologize for the delay in posts for this year's list.  I sustained two critical injuries all within a month- both of which sent me to the ER- that made it difficult for me to type and update my blog.  Thankfully, it's been a slow movie year, so there's still plenty of upcoming releases to look forward to.  Hope you are all enjoying my picks.  Thanks for reading! 

THE TOP 50

PART VI (50-41)

50) Stowaway

Director: Joe Penna (Arctic)  Cast: Toni Collette, Anna Kendrick, Daniel Dae Kim, and Shamier Anderson.

I love it when a debut film comes along from a new director that leaves you completely blindsided by how unexpectedly exceptional it is.  Such was the case for me when I watched Joe Penna's Arctic, a minimalist indie gem that still managed to feel epic in scope thanks to its powerful, humanistic drama, gorgeous photography, and a riveting performance from Mads Mikkelsen.  Truthfully, I had only walked into the film to begin with because I was excited to watch Mikkelsen, but when I walked out I found myself also excited about what to expect from Penna in the future.  Up until Arctic, Penna had only directed a handful of short films, but his feature-length debut really made the case that he is talented filmmaker to watch, and I was really impressed by his sophisticated level of restraint that allowed the story to breathe and unfold so naturally, as well as his control of tone, atmosphere, and pacing that helped it all unfold in just the right ways.  Like Arctic, Stowaway is also a survivalist drama set against unforgiving elements, trading the harsh, stark landscapes of the snowy tundra for the dangerous unpredictability of space as it follows a crew's mission to Mars and the series of unintended consequences they face when they discover a stowaway on board.  2020 was a hard year for films like Stowaway, which generally set their sights on prestigious festival premieres to attract buyers and build hype, so I'm happy that Netflix was able to pick this up for US distribution and give it such a large and recognizable platform, but am also a little disappointed that I won't get to experience it in a dark room on a large screen.  Hopefully, Penna is able to replicate most of the beats that made Arctic so compelling while still exploring a rich new territory of themes and emotions.

Release: April 22nd.

49) Paris, 13th District

Director: Jacques Audiard (Dheepan, Rust and Bone)  Cast: Lucie Zhang, Noémie Merlant, Makita Samba, and Jehnny Beth.

Watching directors venture outside of their comfort zone can be really fun, surprising, and even rewarding, which is a huge part of the reason I enjoyed Jacques Audiard's last feature, The Sisters Brothers, which saw the French director go almost completely against archetype with an English-language American western about two assassins that explored themes such a familial bonds and missed opportunities in a way that felt truly in the vein of its director, while still being wildly fresh and fascinating.  Even more so, I also enjoy watching directors I love collaborate with other directors and artists I admire, which brings us to Audiard's upcoming drama, Paris, 13th District, which sees the auteur teaming up with Portrait of a Lady on Fire writer/director, Celine Sciamma (who helped pen the film's screenplay.)  Set in Paris' 13th District (as per the title suggests), the story follows four young adults who fall in and out of being friends, lovers, and sometimes both, and is based on a collection of graphic short stories called Killing and Dying from New Yorker cartoonist, Adrian Tomine.  When speaking in an interview for Variety, Nicolas Brigaud-Robert of Playtime (who owns international distribution rights to the film) described Audiard's new feature as "a beautiful love story grounded in the 21st century [which] speaks about the way men and women relate to each other today, and apprehend their own gender, feelings, sexuality and the concept of fidelity."  It sounds very French (which fits perfectly within both Audiard and Sciamma's aesthetic), and it's totally the type of film that Cannes will be drooling over to include in their lineup this summer.  In fact, it may be the most "indie-sounding" film on this entire list, which is likely to aggravate some of my readers, but we all have our tastes and guilty pleasures, and you can give me a French coming-of-age romantic drama shot in seductive black & white cinematography ANY time of the year and I'll be satisfied.

Release: TBA.

48) Malignant

Director: James Wan (The Conjuring, Insidious)  Cast: Annabelle Wallis, Jake Abel, George Young, Jacqueline McKenzie, Mckenna Grace, Maddie Hasson, and Michole Briana White.

It's easy to see why James Wan has become such an incredible force in Hollywood.  He's a reliable director that knows how to deliver genre thrills with a strong visual eye to match it, and his involvement in a range of tentpole films with very recognizable IPs- from action blockbusters (like Aquaman and Fast and the Furious) to horror blockbusters (such as The Conjuring universe and Saw)- has made him too busy for almost anything else.  That's partly why his upcoming film, Malignant, has such an exciting allure to it.  Wan says the new film was originally intended to be his "little horror/thriller" he did in between the bigger projects, a sort of passion pet project that would see him returning to his indie roots with a hard R, gallons of blood, visceral violence, and old-school, practical effects.  And while the plot details are being kept under a tight veil secrecy, Wan has not stopped short of divulging just how excited he is for his original new film, which he describes as a genre-bending ode to the horror/thrillers he grew up with and unlike anything else he's directed thus far.  Back in January, audiences were treated to a three-second sneak peak of the movie during the promotional trailer for HBO Max's 2020 slate of content, which was followed up a few weeks later with Wan's official statement on Twitter complimented with a picture of a leather gloved-hand clutching an ornate, ancient-looking knife.  Many fans (including myself) noted that the early look into the film gave off very giallo-like vibes, which I am beyond excited about.  Giallo, an Italian sub-genre of horror/thrillers that was made popular by directors such as Mario Bava and Dario Argento, is one of my favorite genres of film (Suspiria being one of my all-time favorite movies, with lots of love for Deep Red and Black Sunday as well), and if Malignant bears any of the hallmark influences of the genre's best offerings, than I can totally see why James Wan is so excited to unveil this to audiences, and it will definitely be unlike anything we've seen from him before.

Release: September 10th.

47) Prisoners of the Ghostland

Director: Sion Sono (Why Don't You Play in Hell, Love Exposure)  Cast: Nicolas Cage, Sofia Boutella, Nick Cassavetes, Ed Skrein, Bill Moseley, Yazuka Nakaya, and Tak Sakaguchi.

While most audiences probably have no idea who Sion Sono is, he has certainly made an impression on those who have seen his work.  A true auteur if ever there was one, the Japanese director has established himself as one the most idiosyncratic and subversive directors of his generation, and his films are known for exploring sociopolitical and philosophical themes while using a combination of grotesque violence, extreme eroticism, and fever-dream surrealism that is truly singular in its vision.  They're like the pulpy Asian films of the 70s on acid and cranked to a 10, and he's basically a demented, stylish provocateur in the same camp as Tarantino, but with a lot more interesting things on his mind.  So when I heard that his English-language debut would star Nicolas Cage as a notorious criminal who is sent into dark, supernatural universe to rescue a governor's missing daughter by breaking an evil curse, I immediately knew this was something I HAD to see.  And trust me, the hype is real.  Cage has called the film "[possibly] the wildest movie he has ever made," which is quite the statement seeing that the last couple years have given us some of craziest and most outstandingly weird offerings of the actor's career, such as Mandy and Color Out of Space.  Perhaps that's why RLJE Films (which also released those two films) scooped it up following its recent premiere at Sundance.  Hopefully, this lives up to the writing on the wall, because it sounds friggin awesome!

Release: TBA.

46) Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon

Director: Ana Lily Amirpour (A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night)  Cast: Kate Hudson, Craig Robinson, Ed Skrein, Jeon Jong-seo, and Evan Whitten.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night has proven to be quite the calling card for new auteur Ana Lily Amirpour.  Her hypnotic debut opened doors to gigs directing episodes of hit television series such as Legion, Castle Rock, and The Twilight Zone, and although her sophomore feature, The Bad Batch, was received less favorably, she's still considered one of the most audacious and exciting new talents working today.  Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon looks like it will be another wildly insane addition to her filmography, which finds the filmmaker directing a New Orleans-set fantasy-adventure about a girl with unusual powers who goes on the run after escaping a mental asylum.  Definitely getting vibes of cult 80s films such as Scanners and Firestarter, as well as recent indie sensations like Midnight Special and Fast Color, and I can't wait to see how that's filtered through Amirpour's radically unique vision.  Amirpour has said that she was attracted to the idea behind her next feature because she wanted to tell a "stylized fairytale [in a] unique place where there is so much history and hedonistic debauchery that is led by pleasures of the flesh," and that she "thought it was an interesting place to set a story about a girl [whose] disturbing abilities" have hindered her ability to "acclimate to society, and [yet] learns to be with people in such a chaotic place."  Oscar-winning producer Josh Lesher (Birdman) has called the film a "visual odyssey" that's "not to be missed," while executive producer Thorsten Schumacher described it as a "mind-blowing ride."  Did I mention the film also stars Jeon Jong-seo, the breakout Korean actress from Chang-dong Lee's Burning?!  Really really looking forward to this!

Release: TBA.

45) Antlers

Director: Scott Cooper (Out of the Furnace, Hostiles)  Cast: Keri Russell, Jesse Plemons, Jeremy T. Thomas, Graham Greene, Scott Haze, Rory Cochrane, Amy Madigan, Cody Davis, Sawyer Jones, and Arlo Hajdu.

I feel as though we've been seeing the trailers for Antlers for years now (it's actually been over a year), but thanks to COVID, its just been another film that's had to suffer a series of pushbacks while the studios bide their time waiting for a shot at a better box office.  Thankfully, the box office seems to be recalibrating itself as theaters slowly begin to open back up again, and I think it's safe to say that the movie's October release is here to stay; not to mention rife with the potential to be a profitable success, as horror films generally are during the month of Halloween.  And Scott Cooper's debut in the horror genre seems to bear all the ingredients of a genuinely terrifying hit!  Set in a rural Oregon town, the story follows a middle-school teacher (Keri Russell) and her sheriff brother (Jesse Plemons) who become embroiled with her strange, enigmatic student- a young boy who harbors a dark secret that leads them to a horrifying encounter with a legendary ancestral creature.  Previews have teased a gory and nightmarish mystery, and the film is produced by Guillermo Del Toro, who knows a thing or two about horror and how to deliver an epic, scary monster.  Who knew that a monster movie-collaboration between Cooper and Del Toro was something I needed in my life, but I'm so glad it exists and I can't wait for this!

Release: October 29th.

44) Next Goal Wins

Director: Taika Waititi (Hunt for the Wilderpeople, What We Do In the Shadows)  Cast: Michael Fassbender, Elisabeth Moss, Frankie Adams, Kaimana, Oscar Kightley, David Fane, Beulah Koale, Armie Hammer, Lehi Makisi Falepapalangi, Semu Filipo, Uli Latukefu, Rachel House, Rhys Darby, Angus Sampson, Chris Alosio, Sisa Grey, Hio Pelesasa, David Tu'itupou, and Ativalu Scanlan.

Although Taika Waititi had never dreamed of directing a sports movie, it's easy to see why he was attracted to the story behind Next Goal Wins.  Based on a documentary from Mike Brett and Steve Jamison, the movie tells the story of how a Dutch-American football coach named Thomas Rogen helped lead an American Samoan team from being the world's worst to becoming an elite FIFA contender.  Waititi excels at delivering enduring comedies about underdog characters, packing them with loads of inventive humor and tremendous heart, so this should find him perfectly within his element.  The original documentary was a huge crowd-pleaser, and if he's able to recreate any of that infectious energy with his signature stamp, he'll have a winning formula.  Recent allegations of sexual assault that have been made towards Armie Hammer (who has a supporting role in the film) are deeply troubling and upsetting, so I'm curious to see if they hinder the release of the film is any capacity.  But hopefully this controversy doesn't distract from the hard work of the rest of the talented cast and crew, and the incredible story they collaborated on to tell.

\Release: TBA.

43) Rebel Ridge

Director: Jeremy Saulnier (Blue Ruin, Green Room)  Cast: John Boyega, Don Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, Emory Cohen, James Badge Dale, Zsane Jhe, and James Cromwell.

Jeremy Saulnier knows how to deliver a taut, gritty, razor-sharp thriller.  After the one-two punch of Blue Ruin and Green Room, he's quickly established himself as one of today's most notable indie genre filmmakers.  His upcoming Rebel Ridge (which is set to begin filming this month) is described as a modern-day "high-velocity thriller that explores systemic injustices through bone-breaking action sequences, suspense and dark humor," and showcases a solid cast led by John Boyega playing an ex-marine who takes on a group of dirty cops! (Sold!)  After an emotional rollercoaster of a year that witnessed the largest movement against racial injustice in American history, Rebel Ridge is likely to serve a strong dose of tough medicine that hardly anyone in this country probably wants right now (especially us white folks), but one that we absolutely need and which meets the demand of this critical moment.  In fact, it's poetically fitting that Saulnier would go from pitting his group of ragtag protagonists against a murderous bunch of Neo-Nazis in Green Room, to directing a thriller that sees the main character go up against some racist cops.  The director's last feature, Hold the Dark, wasn't able to make up for it's disappointing shortcomings, but hopefully this next movie will be an improvement that gets people excited about his work again.

Release: TBA

 

42) Voyagers

Director: Neil Burger (The Illusionist, Limitless)  Cast: Tye Sheridan, Lily-Rose Depp, Fionn Whitehead, Colin Farrell, Chanté Adams, Isaac Hempstead Wright, Viveik Kalra, Archie Madekwe, Quintessa Swindell, Archie Renaux, and Madison Hu.

Given that Neil Burger's more recent track record has had quite a few duds, it's likely I will regret placing this as high on the list as I did.  That being said, I think the main issue with his last couple films has been the material (which he had no hand in writing), and not necessarily his directing.  The Illusionist remains his best film yet, and like the upcoming Voyagers, it was something he both wrote and directed, so I'm hoping that it's a sign of a "step up" for him.  Perhaps I might be reaching out on a limb here, buts it's hard to resist when the subject is sci-fi and the premise is essentially Lord of the Flies set in space, as it chronicles the journey of 30 young men and women on a multigenerational mission who descend into madness as they begin to question their reality.  I also really like the cast, which includes Tye Sheridan and Colin Farrell, as well as Game of Thrones alumni Isaac Hempstead Wright and Dunkirk breakout Fionn Whitehead, and the neon-soaked, synth-scored trailer definitely recalls the style of Burger's Limitless.  Let's just say, my fingers are crossed.  I would love for Burger to make a great film again.

Release: April 9th.

41) The Stars At Noon

Director: Claire Denis (White Material, High Life)  Cast: Robert Pattinson and Margaret Qualley.

I think one of the most fascinating things about Claire Denis right now (and truthfully, she's always been a fascinating and provocative artist) isn't so much that she's shown no signs of slowing down at 74, but rather that she's taking much more exciting risks at this stage of her career.  The French filmmaker, who has been a pioneer in indie cinema and a trailblazer for female directors, has a rich filmography that includes modern French classics like Beau Travail and White Material.  Critics have praised how her films recall the lyricism of early French cinema while never shying away from the harsh face of the contemporary culture that she so often explores, and her work continues to influence and contribute to the identity of European cinema today.  She's known for frequently collaborating with French actors (as well as a lot of the same ones, like Juliette Binoche and Isabelle Huppert) and crafting dramas that address themes such as colonialism, imperialism, and the economic and political issues of modern-day France.  So imagine everyone's surprise when she decided to make High Life, an English-speaking sci-fi odyssey about criminals sent into space as part of a government experiment involving the study of black holes.  Of course, the film is so much more than that and finds the director exploring the recurring themes that have become the hallmark of her work, but in new and mind-blowing ways that transform and build about her established aesthetic.  Her next film definitely looks like a continuation of her growth as an artist, which will reteam her with her High Life star Robert Pattsinson along with Margaret Qualley as they adapt Denis Johnson's, The Stars At Noon.  Johnson’s strange and poetic novel is perfect material for Denis (similar enough to her aesthetic, while still being fresh and different), which is set in 1984 against the backdrop of the Nicaraguan Revolution and chronicles a relationship between a mysterious young woman and a wealthy Englishman that’s filled with romance, espionage, and philosophical allegory.  A24 (who also released High Life) have partnered with Denis for the upcoming adaptation, which is just icing on the cake.

Release: TBA (rumored to begin filming this month.)

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