Top 10 Movies of 2021 (and Where to Find Them)

December 31, 2021 by AJ Mijares in Lists

It’s been an unprecedented year in entertainment, to say the very least. In the shapeless wake of 2020, movie fans have acclimated themselves to an obscure type of normal characterized by release delays, pushed movies from last year, and a stupendously back-loaded final quarter. The past 12 months have given us a grab-bag of total bombs, hidden gems, influential documentaries, enormous franchise entries, and rhapsodic prestige feature films—many of which through streaming platforms over theatrical.

As last year’s would-be blockbuster Tenet came to forecast, 2021 was a shaky year for the industry’s profitability. As the pandemic stands at the precipice of its second year in the US, movie fans can distinctly feel the culture undergoing a seismic transition. Continued volatility in box office returns reflects an ongoing disinterest in the in-theater experience for anything outside the Marvel canon. More studios are opting for a limited theatrical release, if not a straight-to-VOD model, especially for those non-franchise titles. Many others are opting to produce miniseries’ rather than feature films, causing concern about the long-term viability of antiquated customs.

With so few titles that actually embedded themselves into the mainstream awareness, there were a number of movies that still managed to stray ahead of the pack. Some of which were reputed as event films, though others received little to no marketing at all. Though all of them vary in genre and scale, they’re united under the banner of 2021, a year that reset our baseline for equilibrium. The art reflects a search for resolve in times of change—a prevalent theme that resonates far too well in real life.

10. Godzilla vs. Kong - dir. Adam Wingard

This may come as a surprise but the truth is that there’s been no massive spectacle that was able to top the sugar rush of sheer destruction like Godzilla vs. Kong. Adam Wingard’s colorful creature feature was a thoroughly entertaining adventure and the first movie this year to breach the $100m mark at the box office, despite going straight to HBO Max on the same day. Although each of the films in both of Legendary’s respective franchises yielded far greater returns than this, Godzilla vs. Kong was a beacon of hope, a fuzzy-fisted haymaker of normality.

It may lack the subtlety or pathos of many other movies you’ll see on this list, but it’s hard to think of a movie that can match the unbridled joy of seeing a 50,000-ton ape throwing a right hook to the face of a giant neon lizard. In an interview with RogerEbert.com, filmmaker Adam Wingard reflected “there were plenty of times where I didn’t even think this goal would be possible. But here we are, and it was such a great experience to be able to work off of pure imagination”. Wingard’s push from indie movies into blockbuster filmmaking was a monstrous event that highlighted the importance of letting your brain take a backseat.

Available for instant streaming on HBO Max

9. No Sudden Move - dir. Steven Soderbergh

It’s no world-stopping blockbuster, but Steven Soderbergh’s crafty crime caper No Sudden Move is a sharp shot of clever storytelling. Set against the pre-segregated cityscape of 1950s Detroit, this movie might depict a relic of cultural antiquity but its story explores the unchanging aspects of greed and human nature. That’s not to say the movie isn’t fun; its jags and clever plot twists will keep you guessing throughout. With some great lead performances by Don Cheadle and Benicio Del Toro, it stands as one of the more understated moviegoing experiences of the year.

The movie moves with a cool, jazzy strut and a snappy musical score by Soderbergh’s longtime collaborator David Holmes. With a distinguished body of work that includes Ocean’s Eleven and Logan Lucky, stylish crime capers have clearly been a recurring motif for Steven Soderbergh, a filmmaker who consummately understands the importance of setting a strong vibe, from the characters to the music. And if still you aren’t sold, have I mentioned that Brendan Fraser is in this movie?

Available for instant streaming on HBO Max

8. Inside - dir. Bo Burnham

I know what you might be thinking: Bo Burnham’s Inside is more of a comedy special than a movie. One could feasibly make that argument—but given its deeply meditative nature, feature film runtime, and the fact that it got a limited theatrical release, the 30-year old comedian shows a sensational talent for building a bouncy oddball narrative in the isolated struggle to stay inside, both physically and emotionally.

Burnham’s latest work is an exhaustive solo effort, fusing highly creative song performance with darkly humorous sketch, all within the walls of a single setting. Despite seeing his onscreen emotional reckoning unfold in real time, his absurdist comedy shines through with impeccable timing. Its poignant resonance rivals that of a narrative drama and as an objective body of work, Bo paints a funny but moving portrait of human vulnerability during times of uncertainty. This high-wire act is an incredible artifact of our time and to date, stands as one of the best artistic reflections on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Available for instant streaming on Netflix

7. Don’t Look Up - dir. Adam McKay

Given the world’s current state of tumult on a massive global scale, it only makes sense why Adam McKay felt it necessary to tell this darkly comedic satire about the end of the civilized world. Since diverting from broader comedies like Step Brothers, McKay has occupied himself with numerous entries that strike a fine line between levity and true-life catastrophe. In an interview with Vox, McKay mentions “I think when you hit dynamics this warped, you kind of have to laugh. Laughter and anger are the two states you shift between.”

Taking a satirical poke to American society’s touchier subjects is a formula he’s found himself returning to since 2015’s The Big Short. His latest straight-to-Netflix release Don’t Look Up is pretty ham-fisted about its metaphors on climate change, but its ensemble cast of Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Jonah Hill, and Rob Morgan (just to name a few) help inflate this calamitous doomsday prophecy with enough laugh-out-loud humor to float as a standalone comedy, though it leaves you with an outer layer of realism that is as ominous as it is an honest reflection of our time.

Available for instant streaming on Netflix

6. Titane - dir. Julia Ducournau

When observing 2021 as a whole, it’s clear to see that it’s been a male-dominated year in mainstream moviegoing. From Free Guy to F9 and No Time to Die, a majority of the year’s biggest and most successful titles are disproportionately slanted toward male audiences. With Chloe Zhao becoming the second woman to win Best Director for Nomadland at the Academy Awards, you can start to feel fractures forming in the barrier for talented female storytellers; at the frontlines of this groundbreaking cinematic movement stands provocative French filmmaker Julia Ducournau.

Her incendiary sophomore feature film Titane won the Palm d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and will be remembered as one of the most disruptive moviegoing experiences of the year. It tells the story of Alexia, a troubled young woman who spirals into a violent identity crisis after a childhood car crash leaves her with a titanium plate in her skull. In a time where most movies are so often characterized by their corporate sanitization, Titane’s beauty lies in its balance of tenderness and unflinching brutality.

Much like her acclaimed debut with 2018’s Raw, Ducournau’s radical arthouse horror tells a touching story at its core, despite being graphic, bizarre, and just plain filthy on its surface. Her penchant for unconventional cinematic storytelling imbues the film with a deep irreverence for boundaries in a way that feels so much fresher than anything else available. It’s not an easy sit-through, but for bold viewers who crave uncompromising artistry, look no further.

Available for rent on Vudu

5. The Harder They Fall - dir. Jeymes Samuel

In recent years, the Old West subgenre has failed to generate the mainstream momentum it once had when young giants Clint Eastwood and Paul Newman grazed big screens. Sure, there’s been a few scattered titles littered throughout each decade; the ‘90s had Unforgiven, the 2000s had The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, and the 2010s had Django Unchained. If past dictates present, it seems our contemporary cultural shift has given each respective decade only one or two shots to produce a proverbial Western classic.

Jeymes Samuel’s The Harder They Fall isn’t poised with the dusty eloquence of a Sergio Leone film, but rather chooses to pave its own way as an homage to the gunslingers of yore with a blaxploitation twist that reopens the genre for modern-day audiences. This blood-soaked revenge thriller follows a scorned outlaw seeking retribution for the man who murdered his family after he is released from prison.

Lead by an outstanding lead cast in Jonathan Majors, Lakeith Stanfield, Zazie Beetz, Regina King, Idris Elba, and Delroy Lindo, the film stomps with incredible confidence and reinvigorates all that we find cool about the Wild West. The gunplay is calamitous and comic book-like, so the action unfolds like a modernized cross between Tombstone and Kingsman. Set to a thunderous contemporary soundtrack that celebrates Black culture, The Harder They Fall reimagines Western cinema in the rowdiest shoot-em-up of the decade so far.

Available for instant streaming on Netflix

4. West Side Story - dir. Steven Spielberg

Over the course of an illustrious 40 year span, Steven Spielberg has firmly cemented his legacy as a godhead of modern cinema—though in recent years, he hasn’t been able to rekindle the joyous wonders of E.T. or the unbridled terrors of Saving Private Ryan. When it was announced he was going to take on West Side Story, the skepticism ran roughshod and questioned the need for another remake that no one seemed to ask for.

The maestro makes no labor to rewrite a Shakespearean tragedy but greatly succeeds at breathing fresh new life into the world of West Side Story. The story beats are wound tighter than a drum, the choreography feels more lively, the camera movements are more dynamic, the skirmishes feel grittier and war-like. Set to the racially divided backdrop of 1950s New York, this outstanding adaptation of one of cinema’s most celebrated classics is a masterclass of cinematic re-telling and an amazing return to form for Steven Spielberg.

Now in theaters nationwide

3. The Green Knight - dir. David Lowery

More akin to a stained glass hero’s fable than a hack-and-slash medieval conquest, David Lowery’s The Green Knight got a lot of buzz from indie crowds by carving out its own realm of Arthurian fantasy. The film takes place in ancient England on a wintry Yuletide night when a mysterious woodland warrior pays a visit to the round table. After throwing down a challenge to King Arthur’s headstrong nephew Gawain, he must depart the comforts of home to embark on a perilous quest to find his own legacy.

Crafted with an intense devotion to historical accuracy in the grandest scale, The Green Knight is one of the most beautifully shot films of the decade so far. The prose is somber and poetic so its story plays out like timeless folklore, propped up on a tremendous lead performance by Dev Patel. Lowery’s meditative opus is a resounding work that interrogates and reframes our definition of ‘greatness’, though those in search of an old English action movie may want to consider looking elsewhere.

Available for rent on Vudu, Prime Video, or Apple TV

2. Dune - dir. Denis Villeneuve

Frank Herbert’s famously unadaptable sci-fi epic is translated with groundbreaking panache in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune, the first of a two-part film series. With a track record that includes Arrival and Blade Runner 2049, the French-Canadian filmmaker is no stranger to event films that capitalize on spectacle. His latest is widely being recognized as his magnum opus, a blockbuster exhibition, and the crown jewel of effects-driven cinema since Avatar in 2009.

Contrary to David Lynch’s notoriously troubled 1984 film adaptation, Villeneuve’s far-reaching premise is streamlined by sticking closely to its hero’s journey; the movie follows Paul Atreides, a gifted young man caught in the crossfire of a massive interplanetary war. With an ensemble cast comprised of Timothee Chalamet, Josh Brolin, Jason Momoa, Oscar Isaac, and Rebecca Ferguson, the movie never feels overbearing but functions rather beautifully at every given level.

Villeneuve transports viewers to the warm sands of Arrakis, a nutrient-rich desert shot with a colossal sense of futurism and scale. In spite of its day-and-date release on HBO Max, the film is a breathtaking achievement of visual storytelling whose sensory immersion is amplified by the in-theater experience. The unfortunate reality is Dune made less than $400 million worldwide at the box office this year—a number that doesn’t hold a candle to the highest-earning titles of the last decade. Regardless, it stands to reason that Villeneuve’s sweeping epic will be remembered as one of the boldest undertakings in the history of science fiction.

Available for rent on Vudu, Prime Video, or Apple TV

1. Pig - dir. Michael Sarnoski

For several years running, the lord of eccentricity Nicolas Cage has been marching proudly to the beat of his own drum. From starring in the psychedelic brain-melter Mandy to voice-acting as the protagonist Grug in The Croods: A New Age, the sheer depth of roles that Cage has taken on shows a full-formed realization of his true gift as a performer. They don’t always work but evidently, fans couldn’t be happier.

Cage delivers a tour-de-force performance in Michael Sarnoski’s Pig, one of the year’s most surprising and powerful dramas. This low-budget gem follows Rob, a reclusive truffle hunter who lives in the remote Oregon wilderness with his beloved foraging pig. When his home is broken into and she’s stolen in the dead of night, Rob goes on a tireless search through Portland’s culinary underground to find his treasured friend.

What sets this performance apart isn’t Cage’s unpredictability that audiences have come to expect, but rather his restraint as the derelict protagonist Rob. In order to best serve the emotional demands of the story, his role requires a tremendous amount of subtlety and quiet pain. By stripping that inherent sarcasm, the film becomes a somber portrait of alienation and belonging that helps remind us why Nicolas Cage has endured in the cultural continuum.

Available for instant streaming on Hulu

A Tale of Valor & Virtue: "The Green Knight" Review

August 06, 2021 by AJ Mijares in Reviews

★★★★ (4/5)

After months of feverish anticipation since the first trailer dropped in February of 2020, David Lowery’s The Green Knight finally made its way into U.S. and Canada theaters last Friday. On paper, the movie was a Medieval buff’s mouth-foaming wet dream: rich mythology, a really cool trailer, beautifully rendered atmosphere, Dev Patel’s aspirational beard, articulate costume/set design, and lest we forget the pulsating hivemind of millennial sensibility—distributed by A24.

Don’t get me wrong, that’s not a knock on what A24 has accomplished since its inception in 2012. On the contrary, their accolades are nothing short of remarkable. They’ve won Oscars for tender human dramas and they’ve won notoriety for obscene cult horrors about self-flagellating zealots. But sometimes their movies get pre-emptively lost in the translation of mainstream marketing.

The film’s premise delves into the plight of King Arthur’s eager but stubborn nephew Sir. Gawain (Dev Patel). When a mystical woodland knight challenges him to confront a foreboding fate, he must embark on a tumultuous journey to seek worthiness in the eyes of his kingdom, his family, and ultimately, within himself.

The film’s lead-up promised a sprawling Fantasy epic, a perilous world full of monsters, giants, and plenty of swordplay. As it turns out, The Green Knight trades in the action for dark, spellbinding rumination. It’s not a blood-soaked odyssey, but a massive introspective search for self-worth. Yet still, it manages to be absolutely stunning.

So why the polarity here? Are critics buying too deeply into its pretentiousness? Or are audiences being misled into thinking it would mirror the zeitgeist appeal of Game of Thrones? The answer, much like the movie, is open to endless interpretation.

While the movie can absolutely be classified as a sword-and-sorcery Medieval epic, The Green Knight’s dense, character-driven approach is a poetic deconstruction of the hero’s journey. Throughout the film, Sir Gawain must test the principles of his knighthood. Only by enduring the turbulent journey and learning the right lessons along the way will he find worthiness.

As proven by his previous work, David Lowery’s mindful direction propels The Green Knight down new pathways that had yet to be fully explored in the Arthurian canon, even though most of them revolve around similar themes. From Excalibur to Monty Python & The Holy Grail, they all share a commonality that pertains to people who must test their mettle by surviving a perilous ordeal.

But rather than questing for some generically established greatness, Sir Gawain is a refreshingly flawed archetype whose longing is intrinsically felt. Audiences need a relatable protagonist to latch onto, and Sir Gawain is an ideal avatar to explore the psychological underpinnings of why we strive for greatness. Beneath the safety of his chainmail tunic, he’ll come to learn the sacrifice, heartache, and disillusionment that all must confront in the existential search for validation.

If Medieval Times taught us anything as kids, it’s that every King Arthur story should always feature one glorious battle, right? Although some action unfolds, The Green Knight doesn’t exactly serve those who expect to see a spectacular set-piece like the Battle for Helm’s Deep. The warfare in this movie is mostly internal, though it’s just as emotionally devastating.

When it comes to conflict, Lowery explores knighthood in a way that examines the historical connection between chivalry and combat. Instead of glorifying the bloodshed, he uses it as a plot device, a reminder of a bygone time when violence was a means to establish legacy. Living in the shadows of his fabled uncle, Gawain’s inherent dilemma is that he yearns for his own Excalibur story. Throughout his journey, his willpower will be tested, as will the moral standing of his character in determining the lengths a young man will go for a seat at the Round Table.

Making a movie that takes place in the Middle Ages comes with its own fair share of technical difficulties. Sometimes filmmakers have the tendency of making movies about Camelot that feel corny and cliche, like they’re filmed at the county Renaissance Fair. To a visually gifted auteur like David Lowery, his vision always translates well on the big screen and noticeably stands tall in the foreground of all his work.

While watching The Green Knight, there’s a conscious understanding that it was purposely made with striking visual attunement. The period piece set design by Lowery’s frequent collaborator Jade Healy is second to none, while its captivating cinematography, color, costumes, and lighting create a haunting elegance that feels cinematically epic but still perfectly faithful to its time.

Throughout Sir Gawain’s daunting journey into the great unknown, viewers are possessed by its ethereal enchantments. Much like A Ghost Story and Pete’s Dragon, the prestige with which Lowery tells this story is captured through a lens of mystifying wonder and is meant to grip viewers with profound effect. No matter what viewers thought they could expect from The Green Knight, its stunning visual splendor is the one undeniable fact that everyone can agree on.

In measured contrast to its visual scale, the film’s performances are astoundingly intimate. Dev Patel breathes flourishing life into Sir Gawain with a majestic but headstrong spirit; his role requires a balanced measure of both, as one would expect from the kin of King Arthur. The supporting cast comprised of Alicia Vikander, Joel Edgerton, Barry Keoghan, Sean Harris, Sarita Chowdhury, and Ralph Ineson as the bewildering green knight help populate this dense tale and navigate Sir Gawain toward his inevitable destiny.

Just because it doesn’t feature Heath Ledger majestically jousting on horseback doesn’t mean The Green Knight won’t be remembered as one of the most beautifully rendered Arthurian epics of all time. Though your mileage may vary regarding its execution, the film rewards viewers who willingly engage with its deeper meditations on legacy, virtue, and what it means to live heroic.

The disproportionate feedback from critics and fans only seems to further solidify its refreshed originality, despite the way its marketing was positioned. Sir Gawain’s journey is a dignified portrait of being human told within the narrative framework of a fairy tale. This poignant tale of chivalry and honor is yet another astounding addition to David Lowery’s remarkable canon, a magical lead-in to Disney’s Peter Pan and Wendy, set to open in 2022.

NEXT | Let Them Fight: A "Godzilla VS Kong" Review

Bedsheet Revelations: A David Lowery Deep Dive

July 30, 2021 by AJ Mijares in Deep Dives

David Lowery is one of the most fascinating storytellers of the modern filmmaking era. Touting five highly intriguing feature films with a sixth releasing today, the writer-director’s artistic vision taps into the human experience with acute perception. His movies are deep explorations of imaginative worlds, inhabited by subjects whose perspectives are often driven by love, purpose, and personal attachment. These dreamlike dimensions are beautifully shot with boundless originality and stark visual elegance.

This keen sense for capturing humanity with such moody distinction is perfectly suited to Lowery’s latest project, the hotly anticipated The Green Knight, set to release today on July 30th. This sprawling fantasy epic delves into the Arthurian exploits of Sir Gawain (Dev Patel) as he embarks on a quest to vanquish a legendary foe. While The Green Knight is clearly built on a wider breadth of scale than his previous films, it’s deeply rooted in the same sense of spiritual crisis—a journey to find self-worth through pursuit of eternal greatness.

Given the scope of his latest endeavor, it’s become clear that few directors today have the bandwidth to tap into their creative instincts in the way Lowery can. Entry to entry, his body of work is reinforced by a deeply felt artisanship. Between the lines, you’ll find connectivity between their visual expression and thematic significance—a pairing that is often used to establish tone, build dynamics between characters, or mirror internal feelings. While his films haven’t achieved an overwhelming amount of mainstream success, his place in the pantheon of contemporary filmmaking goes unquestioned. Let’s revisit the five distinguished films that comprise David Lowery’s prior canon.

St. Nick (2009)

In the faraway plains of North Texas, 19-year old David Lowery wrote and directed Lullaby, his first short film, equipped only with a deeply embedded love for cinema but no previous experience whatsoever. For several years, he’d go on to collaborate on a number of local projects that circulated regional festivals until finally, he got the opportunity to make his first feature film entitled St. Nick in 2008. This tender, sweeping arthouse drama paints the lives of two runaway siblings (Savanna and Tucker Sears) living in squalor to escape a troublesome reality in the American southland.

This micro-budget drama was made for just $12,000, but its lo-fi minimalism speaks to Lowery’s natural talent for visual storytelling. Dialogue is used sparingly, which forces the narrative to play out through meticulous shot and scene direction. Every withering tree, every tortured expression, each discernable nuance evokes imagery and emotion through the eyes of children who navigate a desolate, colorless world.

Lowery’s phenomenal grasp on artistic control results in a superlative quality that embeds itself into all of his ensuing work. In what would eventually come to define his inherent style, St. Nick introduces a powerful dynamic between visual sadness and youthful wonder that observes life’s jagged edges with a uniquely woven perspective.

The film was praised at South By Southwest though it mostly dissipated from the popular consciousness, considering how few people saw it. Even now, the film can only be streamed through one proprietary streaming service. But much like his pint-sized protagonists, Lowery’s stories would persist and continue exploring the beauty in human struggle.

Ain’t Them Bodies Saints (2013)

Beaming with creative propulsion after St. Nick’s understated critical success, Lowery established Sailor Bear, an independent production company in 2011. Soon thereafter, he began work on a new love story with classic sensibilities; a doomed romance with old-timey evocations of bluegrass mythology.

Driven by a pair of impassioned performances from Rooney Mara and Casey Affleck, this 2013 indie drama follows Bob Muldoon, an outlaw who escapes incarceration to reunite with his lover Ruth and newborn daughter. Emotionally provocative and beautifully shot, this film approaches the Bonnie & Clyde mystique with an Old West feel and a foundation in grounded realism.

Having made its initial run in the 2013 film festival circuit to unanimous acclaim, Ain’t Them Bodies Saints is the definitive launchpad of Lowery’s career. Not only does he manage to tell a captivating story with a well-known cast on a shoestring budget, but from a technical perspective, his eye for cinematic composition reaches new heights of maturity. Each shot is constructed with purpose and feeling, creating an ambiance that looms over its star-crossed lovers.

Peppered with the rustic warmth of a timeless old folk song, the film’s visual energy hits you like warm desert air. Though Lowery chooses to emphasize the unspoken intimacy between two lovers entwined in their own little world, the Texan atmosphere engrosses you in their lover’s plight. This tender intimacy is a staple he returns for the ongoing length of his career, though his stories only grow in scale.

Pete’s Dragon (2016)

With a resume soundly building, Lowery is eventually approached by Disney to re-examine a beloved fable lost to time. The end result is a melancholy daydream through peaks and valleys of pain and hopefulness, a scary world through the eyes of an inquisitive kid whose story elicits equal shades of Steven Spielberg and Spike Jonze.

This contemporary retelling of the 1977 classic follows Pete (Oakes Fegley), a young boy who finds companionship with a mythical dragon after a fatal car crash leaves him orphaned and stranded in the forest. Though tonally, it’s slightly gloomier than your average Disney movie, it carefully retains their essence of mysticism and childlike wonder.

Beautifully filmed through lush, green filters of Pacific Northwestern mist, Lowery lent his perceptive eye to a grand-scale project in the major studio system. This artistic dexterity helps paint Pete’s odyssey as not just a spirited adventure movie, but a cathartic meditation on childhood adversity. By wearing the disguise of a whimsical Disney dragon movie, it can simultaneously succeed as a contemplative study on the importance of family.

With a stellar supporting cast that includes Bryce Dallas Howard, Karl Urban, and Robert Redford, the film went on to become Lowery’s first commercial success, earning $143 million in global box-office revenue. In light of its monetary accolades, the movie also exudes an unwavering artistry about it. Despite working within the rigid framework of a towering media syndicate, Lowery’s distinguished ability to create noble and respected movies proved his worthiness for wielding bigger and bolder projects.

A Ghost Story (2017)

Immediately after working with Disney, Lowery retreated into a dimension of esoterica to make one of the most brilliant avant-garde films of the last decade. This gloomy drift into the cosmic void follows a widow (Rooney Mara) who struggles to piece her life together after the death of her husband (Casey Affleck), whose spirit is resigned to linger in the home that they shared. Slow-burn but fully absorbing, this supernatural drama is a melancholy snapshot of grief, mortality, and the passage of time.

Infamously known for a five-minute segment where Rooney Mara eats pie in total silence while the blanketed ghost watches from an adjacent room, A Ghost Story is unconventionally crafted—admittedly speaking, its audacity might test some viewers’ patience. But for those who allow themselves to grapple with its larger concepts, they’ll find a uniquely thought-provoking experience at its core.

A Ghost Story’s central themes bear the existential weight of infinity, but by affixing our perspective to a standing bedsheet with eyeholes, this comical representation finds belonging in the space between simplicity and self-seriousness. While some might complain about its avant-garde craftsmanship, its silliness never strives to be better than its audience.

Breathtakingly shot, Lowery’s slow-crawling camera patiently digests the full spectrum of its surroundings. This conscious technical choice speaks to its thematic meditations on time and where we ultimately fit in the vast equation. These deep, metaphysical notions lie at the very center of A Ghost Story, a powerfully eccentric film that has something genuine to say about life, death, and the transcendental struggle to just let go.

The Old Man & The Gun (2018)

If there’s any validity to the observational judgments about Lowery’s work, it’s his tendency to lean toward darker, gloomier projects. A majority of his films have a slightly depressive allure, which lends itself to the tone or a deeper metaphor to be extracted within. His most recent entry breaks away from this mold by taking a more lighthearted approach and giving a monumental send-off to the illustrious career of Robert Redford, a true screen acting legend.

Redford’s effortless charms bring life to the movie’s magnetic antihero, Forrest Tucker. He’s a geriatric bank robber who, at the ripe age of 74, goes on the run from a lawman (Casey Affleck) hot on his trail. The film capitalizes on Redford’s charismatic appeal to its maximum extent, playing on all the pre-existing mythos that has accumulated over his decadent 50-year run.

Announcing his retirement shortly after the film’s wrap (despite his brief cameo appearance in Avengers: Endgame just one year later), Redford’s final starring role is a cherished farewell to an immortal luminary of cinema. Blending the sly charms of Bob Woodward with the smarmy fortitude of Sundance Kid, the elderly Forrest Tucker embodies a devilish but lovable archetype that doesn’t really exist in movies anymore. His portrayal

Lowery’s sharp direction enlivens The Old Man & The Gun with levity, style, and the carefree bounce of a freewheeling jazz album. In direct contrast with his previous work, Lowery assembles this film with an upbeat effervescence to mirror Redford’s infectious charisma. It subsequently garnered overwhelming acclaim from critics and fans alike, even earning Redford a Best Actor nomination at the 76th Annual Golden Globe awards.

With a resume like this, it’s no wonder Lowery has taken the reins on such imaginative projects as The Green Knight or the upcoming Disney retelling of Peter Pan & Wendy. His body of work is a stunning assortment of stories that ultimately mirror his preternatural vision: the world through a lens of endless possibility.

Next | The Definitive Works: A Sean Connery Retro-Schpective