The Best Film Performances Of 2021

2021 was one of the best years for books about film in recent memory, a statement I make with no self-interest whatsoever. As noted in our holiday gift guide, the year yielded must-have explorations of genre cinema, behind-the-scenes exposés, and book-length celebrations of filmmakers like David Fincher, Spike Lee, and Gus Van Sant; if you’re paying any attention at all, your to-read stack (or your Wishlist) is piled high already.

Best Picture: “Drive My Car” (48 points)Runners-up: “Petit Maman” (25), “The Power of the Dog” (23)Best Actor: Hidetoshi Nishijima, “Drive My Car” (63)Runners-up: Benedict Cumberbatch, “The Power of the Dog” (44); Simon Rex, “Red Rocket” (30)Best Actress: Penelope Cruz, “Parallel Mothers” (55)Runners-up: Renate Reinsve, “The Worst Person in the World” (42); Alana Haim, “Licorice Pizza” (32)Best Supporting Actor: Anders Danielsen Lie, “The Worst Person in the World” (54)Runners-up: Vincent Lindon, “Titane” (33); Mike Faist, “West Side Story” (26) and Kodi Smit-McPhee, “The Power of the Dog” (26)Best Supporting Actress: Ruth Negga, “Passing” (46)Runners-up: Ariana DeBose, “West Side Story” (22); Jessie Buckley, “The Lost Daughter” (21)Best Director: Ryusuke Hamaguchi, “Drive My Car” and “Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy” (46)Runners-up: Jane Campion, “The Power of the Dog” (36), Celine Sciamma, “Petite Maman” (28)Best Screenplay: Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Takamasa Oe, “Drive My Car” (46)Runners-up: Pedro Almodovar, “Parallel Mothers” (22); Paul Thomas Anderson, “Licorice Pizza” (20)Best Nonfiction Film:Runners-up:Best Cinematography: Andrew Droz Palermo, “The Green Knight” (52)Runners-up: Ari Wegner, “The Power of the Dog” (40); Sayombhu Mukdeeprom, “Memoria” (35)Special citation for film awaiting U.S. distribution: “Returning to Reims,” Jean-Gabriel PeriotFilm Heritage Award: Bertrand Tavernier and Peter BogdanovichFilm Heritage Award: Maya Cade for the Black Film Archive

The National Society of Film Critics voting for the best films of 2021 is underway today.

Well, it was never really in doubt. Still, now it’s 200% official, Wes Anderson’s next next film, the one happening after “Asteroid City” with Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johannsson, and Margot Robbie, is an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s short story collection, “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More,” for Netflix.

After the news was released about Michael Keaton continuing to play Batman in the upcoming “Batgirl” film after he returns in “The Flash,” it is clear that Ben Affleck’s days as the Caped Crusader are coming to a close. And in a new interview with the Herald Sun, the actor essentially confirms that and thinks his return as Batman in “The Flash” is the perfect end to what has been a controversial run as the character.

Cinematographer Robert Yeoman wasn’t kidding when he said Wes Anderson was heading to England to shoot yet another film—his second production shot within the span of six months— because tonight, we have details on that film. According to Baz Bamigboye, one of the few certifiably reliable (and airtight) reporters at the otherwise often-dubious UK Daily Mail, who has been spot-on for a decade-plus, Wes Anderson’s next film is a Roald Dahl adaptation for Netflix starring Benedict Cumberbatch.

“West Side Story’s” Ariana DeBose, “Licorice Pizza’s” Alana Haim and “Belfast’s” Caitriona Balfe are among the actors who will receive the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s Virtuosos Award this year. Festival organizers plan to give out the honors at an in-person event in the coastal California town on March 5.The eight actors singled out for the award include newcomers, like Saniyya Sidney who plays Venus Williams in “King Richard” and “CODA’s” Emilia Jones and Troy Kotsur, as well as more familiar faces, like Simon Rex (“Red Rocket”) and Jamie Dornan (“Belfast”).The event, hosted by TCM’s Dave Karger, will include discussions with the talent — which could be for some a stop on the road to the Oscars on March 27.

Clayton Davis The Black Film Critics Circle has named Reinaldo Marcus Green’s “King Richard” the best film of 2021.The drama that focuses on the rise of Venus and Serena Williams picked up three additional awards, including best actor (Will Smith), supporting actress (Aunjanue Ellis) and original screenplay (Zach Baylin).Denis Villeneuve, who helmed “Dune,” walked away with best director, his first precursor prize of the awards season, while the film also nabbed best cinematography for Greig

Over the past year, The Playlist has covered hundreds of prestige films and TV series. We’ve even gone ahead and broke them down and ranked them in our various Best of 2021 lists.

Best Film: “Drive My Car”Runner-up: “The Power of the Dog”Best Director: Jane Campion, “The Power of the Dog”Runner-up: Ryusuke Hamaguchi, “Drive My Car”Best Actor: Simon Rex, “Red Rocket”Runner-up: Benedict Cumberbatch, “The Power of the Dog”Best Actress: Penelope Cruz, “Parallel Mothers”Runner-up: Renate Reinsve, “The Worst Person in the World”Best Supporting Actor: (tie) Vincent Lindon, “Titane,” and Kodi Smit-McPhee, “The Power of the Dog”Best Supporting Actress: Ariana DeBose, “West Side

The New York Film Critics Circle anointed “Drive My Car” as the Best Film of 2021 and now the West Coast critics have had their say. After almost six hours of overall deliberations, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association also selected “Drive My Car” as their Best Film of the year with “The Power of the Dog” as runner-up.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaBarack Obama is an unapologetic cinephile who loves foreign films, documentaries and musicals.

K.J.

The Grinch (2018) makes it to a third week atop the Official Film Chart.

Penelope Cruz is radiant in a beautiful red dress while arriving at the 2021 The Museum Of Modern Art Film Benefit held at The Museum of Modern Art on Tuesday night (December 14) in New York City.

“BELFAST” AND “WEST SIDE STORY” LEAD WITH ELEVEN NOMINATIONS EACH, “DUNE” AND “THE POWER OF THE DOG” FOLLOW CLOSELY WITH TEN FILM NOMINATIONS FOR THE 27TH ANNUAL CRITICS CHOICE AWARDS

Jane Campion’s “The Power Of The Dog” and Rebecca Hall’s directorial debut “Passing” top the list of nominations by the Alliance Of Women Film Journalists (AWFJ).