For big cinema 2021, it has become a year of error correction. A lot of new ones were also made, but for us it is much more important that the Hollywood and not only studios and really tried to change the situation for the better. And just something had to be given to competent directors and screenwriters to do their job. Risk when it makes sense, and, on the contrary, avoid obvious traps when they loom in the way. Just ten paintings got into our final list, the authors of which, it seems to us, adhered to this simple strategy. All these films unite only one thing: they worthy of your attention.
"The Justice League of Zach Snyder"
Zach Snyder can be accused of many sins: of pretentiousness, clumsy, lack of taste and sense of proportion. All this to one degree or another is deserved: take at least poor "Army of the Dead". But what the director cannot be taken from is a clear author's vision – the fact that today's Hollywood system is trying to either curb or suppress. Four years ago, she managed to do this, and we got toothless, sterile "League of Justice" , which left nothing in the heart but emptiness. However, Snyder's fans did not calm down and continued with their guru to fight for the very copyright vision, buried somewhere in the archive Warner Bros. And won! Sniderkat should be honored at least for a rare victory over the stubbornness of studio bosses. But, fortunately, this is also an outstanding movie.
Well, who else, except for Snyder, dare to remove the four -hour superhero opera who perceives itself so seriously that it serves all comic book absurdity with genuine sincerity and deep pathos? "Justice League" is a film-film, a film-icon, pop-upliness about gods and monsters without any new-fashioned winks of the audience. It can be loved, you can hate it, but it cannot be denied that there is no other such tape and, most likely, will not be.
"Suicide detachment: Mission to drive through"
Although there is, for example, "Suicide detachment" – The second successful attempt of the "quilfish" to pour out past sins, and at the same time another author's blockbuster. James Gann's handwriting is visible here in everything: in a restless camera, in a hooligan humor, in an amazing musical selection, and, of course, in characters. On the screen, again beloved by the director, outcasts are only injured even more than the guards of the galaxy. An adult rating finally allows Gann to present not another cute losers, but truly repulsed freaks, whose moral compass has long been demagnet. What is one scene in which the Peacemaker and Bladport, exchanging obscene jokes, cut out the whole village of rebels … But at the same time, of course, each of the psychos has something familiar, understandable and humane. Although the drama still serves the elements of the drama in the forehead, some episodes and dialogs are quite capable of touching the audience heart. Indeed, with all the cynicism and rivers of blood “Suicide Squad”, a movie is exceptionally kind and optimistic. You have to live as if at any moment you can explode your head – such a simple lesson in Pankovian philosophy from James Gann.
"Spider-Man: There is no way home"
Marvel Last year, she clearly lost her grip, although she released more films than ever. Neither "Black Widow" , Neither "Shangi" , Not even more so "Eternal" They could not return people to cinemas and linger in trends longer than a week. But the new one "Spider-Man" I could – yes, so that I broke all the box office records of the quarantine period. The secret of success was simple: to give fans exactly what they ask, but to do it competently and, even more important, respectfully. As already mentioned in our recent review, “no way home” could easily become a lazy collection of hits of past years, a series of references for the sake of references. No one would be surprised and not even condemned: they say, this is Marvel. However, director John Watts and a team of the scriptwriters went the other way: they listened to the audience and carried out work on the mistakes of the previous parts. Thanks to this, “there is no way home” is finally felt by a film about Spider-Man, and not the next addition. This is the story of Peter Parker personally: his mistakes, defeats, victories and the final transformation in a hero who knows the price of great power. And all the Easter ladies, quotes and the appearance of actors from past film adaptations are only a framing. However, it is damn spectacular: hardly any film in recent years caused the same stormy response in the cinema halls-and at least for this fresh “Spider-Man” worthy of a place in the selection.
"Major Thunder: Plague Doctor"
Who in their right mind could imagine that one day next to the next Marvel blockbusters and DC , Whose budgets are calculated by hundreds of millions of dollars, there will be a Russian film adaptation of Russian comics? Probably no one, but it still happened.
"Major Thunder" – In no case is the perfect movie, not even close. Jambs and roughnesses in it with excess. However, it is so gikovo, so sincere in its desire to simply entertain the viewer that it is difficult not to be chained by this. It was as if the creators knew that the second chance could not have fallen, and therefore immediately gave out the cleanest, most concentrated film comic, which were capable of. Here is Snyder, and Nolan, Raimi, and Schumacher: Paphos intertwines with comic, absurd with gloom. The hero and the villain are not just enemies, but, as expected, crooked reflections of each other, avatars of two opposite ideas with a capital letter. Order against chaos. Justice against revenge. Mercy against cruelty. And all these jokes are crowned. Well, how not to love it? It is not surprising that, having failed in the domestic rental due to the usual skepticism of the audience, the “plague doctor” conquered the toplix tops and received 81% of Rotten Tomatoes users. There is something to be proud of.
"Silver skates"
And here we are a little bother. Technically "Silver skates" They went back in 2020, but competitors mercilessly crushed them at the New Year’s rental. The film Mikhail Lokshin was really able to really reach the viewer only after a digital release-and how glorious that it still happened! After all, under the guise of "tracing paper with "Titanic" ", As the film was called after the trailer, a wonderful fairy tale was hidden in the stunning surroundings of the winter St. Petersburg of the Border of Century.
The plot is simple and really resembles a masterpiece of James Cameron: a rich girl locked in a golden cage, falls in love with a golden heart. However, the triviality of the plot is redeemed by a magnificent picture, wonderful music, strong acting and, oddly enough, the wealth of halftones. While to know it is having fun at the balls, somewhere in the distance a barely audible rumble of an approaching revolution. So far, she has only one herald-a charismatic jacket-marxist performed by Yura Borisov, but soon everything will change … And until then the main characters, local Romeo and Juliet, can overcome all hardships, seek themselves, believe in the power of love and hope for a happy ending. After all, this is a fairy tale, damn it.
"Red Ghost"
Three Russian films on the list – we go to the record. But get around with attention "Red Ghost" it would be a mistake, especially at the time, when such dubious projects come to the screens as "T-34" , "Ninths" And "Zoya". Director Andrei Bogatyrev proved that about the Great Patriotic War can you make a spectator cinema, not turning it into a thoughtless attraction or into tasteless agitation. He dared to put in the surroundings of the war the binding western in the best traditions of Sergio Leone and a little Quentin Tarantino. It turned out surprisingly organically, stylishly and at the same time respectfully. So, for example, music refers to both Soviet cinematic classics and the works of the great Morricone. The protagonist performed by Alexei Shevchenkov does not pronounce a single replica for the whole film, but he does not need: there is enough piercing gaze and cold anger in every movement. After all, he is the same unknown soldier, the embodiment of all the partisans who did not spare themselves in the fight against the invaders. His motives are obvious without words. Much more attention was paid to Brown – an outwardly civilized German officer who, in the course of the plot Yeti Win sister sites, is more and more showing its true essence. There are no compromises and conciliatory handshakes here and cannot be – only a battle to the last drop of blood. Moreover, removed as impressive as the modest budget allows.
"Nobody"
By the way, Russian directors this year showed themselves not only in their homeland, but also behind the ocean. Ilya Nayshuller, film director "Hardcore" and clips of the Leningrad group, noted by an excellent comedy action movie "Nobody". In it, everything that once conquered the audience John Wick , Mixed with successful jokes, witty dialogues and a first -class acting game. Star "Better call the salt" Bob Odenkurk suddenly proved to everyone that he could well compete with Liam Nison and Jason Stateem: his hero turned out to be cool, but vulnerable and as humane. In each hand -to -hand, he grabs a little less than his opponents, and does not always shoot exactly at the target, but his motives and feelings are understandable to the viewer. Odenkirka is not inferior to Alexei Serebryakov in the role of a stereotypical, but painfully charismatic Russian bandit. In general, “no one” pleases not with scenario frills and not breaking the canons, namely the skill of execution. Installation is peppy, spectacular action, colorful characters, and music is generally beyond praise. What else to demand from the old -scanny action movie?
"Luke"
Even when the wizards are from Pixar They are not trying to say a new word in the genre (and even forced to work in conditions of harsh restrictions due to pandemia), something special is obtained. And the point here is not even that "Luke" It looks as amazing as the rest of the studio’s work, but in how many summer heat it is able to give the viewer. Director Enriko Kasaros claims to be imitated by Hayao Miyazaki, – and, unlike many of his other imitators, Kasaros achieved success. In Luke you feel as much sincerity, magic and everyday wisdom as in the works of the Japanese master. At the same time, in the cartoon that is rare, there is no familiar Disney villain – only a small dirty trick, from which there is not so much trouble. And this perfectly reflects the main message that the world is not such a terrible place, and people are not all ugly. You just need to be honest with loved ones and yourself – it would seem obvious, but at the same time such an important moral.
"Ghost hunters: heirs"
For many years now, Hollywood has mercilessly finish any franchise, which at least once was popular. Most often, the game of nostalgia has a deplorable result, less often – acceptable, but in isolated cases into old brands, it really turns out to breathe a new life. "Ghost hunters: heirs" – Just from the last. Yes, the film has a ton of references and the fanservice, and the finale is completely manipulated by the audience feelings. But the trick here is that the tape is quite capable of hooking those who have not seen the original 1984. There is a completely self -sufficient story and living characters, which are pleasant to follow. All mythology is not only chewed on the fly for beginners, but also complemented with new interesting details for devoted fans. Yes, and the final boss, although he migrated from the original, added to infernalism and steepness. In general, "heirs" is all that I tried to be "Awakening of power" , But it could not. That is, the exemplary revival of the old franchise.
"Dune"
Films like "Dune" , not every year come out and even, perhaps, not every decade. Almost every picture is trying to tell the story and introduce the audience to the characters, but when the last time you were represented by the whole world? And worked out to such trifles that you have no doubt in his reality? It seems to stretch your hand – and you will feel the cold of the stone or the heat of the sand. At the beginning of the zero, it was so tightened in Middle -earth or at Hogwarts, and now the audience with the same ease is transferred to the harsh Arrakis. Yes, not all: someone seemed tiring and boring to someone, someone was confused in the intricacies of intrigues between the great houses, and someone simply pushed the pathos and the total seriousness of what was happening. However, those whom the Dune fascinated is unlikely to forget it – and most likely will be exhausted in anticipation of the second part. After all, there is no other such fantasy on large screens and is not expected.
And what films last year you liked the most? Write in the comments.
All results of 2021 from gambling