'Lost Daughter,' 'Licorice Pizza' top AP's best 2021 films

Lisa Taddeo Guest ColumnistFor Variety‘s Writers on Writers, Lisa Taddeo pays tribute to “The Lost Daughter” (screenplay by Maggie Gyllenhaal; based on the novel by Elena Ferrante).Since my own child was born, I must often. Pause.

Based on Elena Ferrante‘s book of the same name, Maggie Gyllenhaal‘s terrific directorial debut, the Gotham Award-winning film “The Lost Daughter” is about a woman’s beach vacation in Greece, which takes a dark turn when her obsession with a young mother forces her to confront the secrets of her past. The movie uncovers the complex notions of guilt and resentment that can build up when confronting how motherhood is all-consuming.

Olivia Wilde tightens up her ponytail while heading back to her car in Los Angeles on Friday afternoon (December 17).

Olivia Colman (The Night Manager, The Crown) has already more than secured her reputation as one of the best drama actors the UK has ever produced.

Motherhood. It’s such a rich subject for art to ponder, you’d think we’d have already seen every kind of mother onscreen.But actually we haven’t.

Thelma Adams In many of 2021’s screenplay contenders, motherhood is laid bare in all of its thorny reality.

Maggie Gyllenhaal suits up for an appearance on The View in New York City on Wednesday (December 15).

Olivia Wilde is getting all the details about The Lost Daughter from Maggie Gyllenhaal!

Editors note: Deadline’s Read the Screenplay series returns to exclusively reveal the scripts of films that will be factors in this year’s movie awards race.

The Associated Press’ film writers picks for best movies of 2021:

Maggie Gyllenhaal makes a speech on stage while being honored at the 2021 SFFILM Awards Night at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on Monday night (December 6) in San Francisco, Calif.

Dakota Johnson is all smiles while heading into Deadline’s Contenders Event on Saturday morning (December 4) in New York City.

The Lost Daughter filmmaker Maggie Gyllenhaal and actress Dakota Johnson were attracted to the hard, often unattractive truths — particularly about motherhood — that too often go unexplored in cultural conversation that the film explores.

NEW YORK -- Paul Thomas Anderson's “Licorice Pizza” has been named the best film of the year by the National Board of Review.Anderson also won best director honors and the film's stars Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman were picked for their breakthrough performances in the coming-of-age comedy.

NEW YORK -- Paul Thomas Anderson's “Licorice Pizza” has been named the best film of the year by the National Board of Review.Anderson also won best director honors and the film's stars Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman were picked for their breakthrough performances in the coming-of-age comedy.

The National Board of Review is traditionally the first “awards group” (we use that term lightly with them) to announce their honorees for the season. This year, the organization somewhat surprised by selecting Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Licorice Pizza” for Best Film and Best Director.

Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Saarsgard brought an important guest to the Gotham Awards on Monday night. The longtime couple was joined by their 15-year-old daughter, Ramona, at the annual awards show, which was held at Cipriani Wall Street. The teen looked chic in a black dress with lace embellishments, while her famous mom wore a gold sequin Rodarte dress and her dad looked dapper in a black suit.

Katherine Brodsky The Whistler Film Festival is back with a hybrid offering that includes online and in-theater screenings, alongside various talent programs, masterclasses, workshops and its Content Summit. The fest will kick off opening night with the Canadian premiere of Maggie Gyllenhaal’s “The Lost Daughter,” starring Olivia Colman, Ed Harris and Dakota Johnson.This year, the festival has received more than 1,550 submissions from all over the world.From Dec.