Reviewer offers his top movie pics of 2021

The year 2021 was another decent year for anyone to head to the theater, escape reality for a couple hours and cherish a film.

Now, it’s time for me to take a look at what I reviewed throughout the year and reveal some of my top picks of the year … and a few runners up that almost made the cut.

10. News of the World — A Civil War veteran agrees to deliver a girl, taken by the Kiowa people years ago, to her aunt and uncle, against her will. They travel hundreds of miles and face grave dangers as they search for a place that either can call home.

9. Our Friend — After receiving life-altering news, a couple finds unexpected support from their best friend, who put his own life on hold and moves into their family home, bringing an impact much greater and more profound than anyone could’ve imagined. This was a Dietrich Spring Film Festival selection.

8. Nobody — A docile family man slowly reveals his true character after his house gets burgled by two petty thieves, which, coincidentally, leads him to a bloody war with a Russian crime boss.

7. Free Guy — A bank teller discovers that he’s actually an NPS inside a brutal, open world video game.

6. The Father — A man refuses all assistance from his daughter as he ages. As he tries to make sense of his changing circumstances, he begins to doubt his loved ones, his own mind and even the fabric of his reality. This was a Dietrich Spring Film Festival selection.

5. Godzilla vs. Kong — This epic next chapter in the cinematic Monster Verse pits two of the greatest icons in history against one another — the fearsome Godzilla and the mighty Kong — with humanity caught in the balance.

4. Four Good Days — A mother helps her daughter work through four crucial days of recovery from substance abuse. This was a Dietrich Summer Film Festival selection.

3. Mortal Kombat — MMA fighter Cole Young seeks out Earth’s greatest champions in order to stand against the enemies of Outworld in a high stakes battle for the universe.

2. Ghostbusters: Afterlife — When a single mom and her two kids arrive in a small town, they begin to discover their connection to the original Ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind.

And, my No. 1 pick … Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Here are a few runner ups that almost made the cut: Jungle Cruise, West Side Story, Black Widow, Halloween Kills, Joe Bell, Candyman, Shang-Chi, The Mauritanian, A Quiet Place Part II, The Little Things, Cruella, Spiral, No Time To Die and Venom: Let There Be Carnage.

Let me know on my Wyoming County Examiner Reviews Page on Facebook what your favorite film picks are for 2021. And have a safe 2022.