2021 ended with a total box office of 47.258 billion yuan, although the contribution of foreign language films is not much, but there are also many worthy of attention. Among the top ten foreign language films selected by Douban in 2021, 7 films have exceeded 8.0 points in their ratings. The foreign language film with the highest rating in 2021 not only won the praise during the release period, but also triggered a hot discussion in society and even academic circles.
Top 10 Runaway Player
7.5/10
Sci-fi, action, comedy
Release date: 2021-08-27
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Judy Comer
One sentence comment: A good move in the first year of the meta-universe.
Released almost simultaneously in North America, "Runaway Player" can be described as a surprise at the end of the 2021 summer season, and it has also triggered a small -- "out of the circle". It is an ordinary but unusual, typical but maverick industrial film.
The usual and typical is that "Out of Control Player" still does not deviate from the narrative line of heroism. The male protagonist fights monsters and upgrades all the way in the game world, saving the world in sports cars, bustling urban streets and skyscrapers, these symbols and elements are no different from the images presented in traditional Hollywood superhero movies, and like Spielberg's "Ready Player One", it is also a counterattack for ordinary people to achieve self-realization in the game.
But unusual and "maverick" is that "Runaway Player" does not reinforce the "dimensional wall" of the binary opposition between the game and reality, but through the perspective of the game and the player's medium- NPC, it deeply explores the problem of the boundary between virtual and reality, and also injects new thinking into new topics such as artificial intelligence ethics and digital heritage issues.
In November 2021, Facebook officially announced the renaming of Meta and announced its official entry into the "metaverse society", adding another "liechai" to the newly emerging concept of "metacosm", and the discussion of "Out of Control Player" has also taken another gradient. Whether it is the "time to create heroes" in the "first year of the meta-universe" in 2021, or the emergence of "Out of Control Player" has brought people's thinking about the meta-universe, I have to admit that this new trend of mutual achievement just proves a point that self-worth is always an eternal topic for human beings. And whether in reality or in games, brilliant ideas are priceless!
Top9 Little People
7.8/10
Action, crime
Release: 2021-03-26 (USA)
Starring: Bob Odenkirk / Alexei Serebryakov / Connie Nelson
One sentence comment: an alternative way out of the midlife crisis.
Although slightly unpopular, "Little People" is undoubtedly one of the most exciting action movies of 2021. This movie is a collection of the best of too many genres. The vertical pattern of small-cost, medium-sized production avoids the exaggerated suspension of "one person saves the world"; the violent aesthetic of B-grade films with a sense of humor; the 90-minute film length is just right without water; returning to traditional, hard-core camera capture instead of "cheating" with fast-paced editing, a set of combination punches down to accurately stimulate the audience's adrenaline, and it is expected that it will be praised.
However, in addition to the technical and texture level of flattery, in terms of value, "Little People" has also gained a lot of recognition and emotional return. The male protagonist of "playing a pig and eating an elephant" is a standard routine to break through the siege all the way, but the anxiety of the "mid-life crisis" behind it has to look directly. Solid action scenes are a steady shell, but the male protagonist image that is different from the previous "type man" appearance all highlights a kind of "rebellion" and the release of another dimension. The story is exaggerated, absurd and even curious, but without losing black humor, outside the framework of morality and dogma, what is hidden is the "moment of indulgence" that every individual who has "entered the world" longs for, and longs to "find the true self in the heart".
Top8 Dune
Sci-fi, adventure, action
Release date: 2021-10-22
Starring: Timothy Challemet / Rebecca Ferguson / Oscar Isaac
One word comment: magnificent top audiovisual enjoyment
In 2021, when there is a lack of imported "blockbusters", the appearance of "Dune" produced by S+ grade undoubtedly has its own aura, but the merits are offset and do not bring about a phenomenon-level "out of the circle". On the one hand, the audiovisual romance of "Dune" is extremely romantic. The big aperture, the big scene, and the big world outline a cold science fiction picture with an extremely ancient Greek texture, and under the background of a series of "big" patterns, personal fate is indeed like duckweed.
On the other hand, the skeleton of the details did not support the general pattern of "Dune", making the disappointment greater than expected, and the "divine work" and "epic" from the heartfelt admiration and depreciation to the propaganda technique. As a big IP or a prelude to a series of movies, Dune qualifies. But as an independent film, Dune doesn't even tell a simple story. It can be said that the narrative and rhythm are still the Achilles heels of "Dune".
But for "Dune", the "value" it pursues is to return to the "classical beauty" in the 21st century. In the moment when fragmented information is in the way, it is too rare to let the audience calm down, to feel, to immerse themselves in the atmosphere, rather than pursuing utilitarian understanding, which is too rare in the impetuous commercial film market. "Dune" has opened up another genre and another path for overly mature commercial science fiction films, after all, the origin of the brilliant civilization is a small stone tool.
Top7 Task Force X: Assemble
8.0/10
Comedy, action, sci-fi, adventure
Release: 2021-8-6 (USA)
Starring: Idris Elba, Daniela Manshivo, Margot Robbie
One sentence comment: DC self-help success
"Task Force X 2: Full Assemblage," which was not originally bet on, became a dark horse and ran all the way to one of the highest-rated superhero movies of 2021. The reason why "X Task Force" came out that year was because the audience desperately needed an "anti-hero" who could "make people shine". However, when Harley Quinn became popular around the world for her eccentric appearance, the lack of power of "X Task Force 1" made the value of the IP itself consumed, and DC once fell into the question of the original intention.
But it turns out that whether it's laughter or grin or freehand, the success of "X Task Force 2" proves that it is "unbreakable and unbroken". In fact, compared with the well-known IP, the edge IP has more market potential and value for secondary creation. Therefore, the second generation of the eye can innovate by cutting the short board, and even achieve overtaking in the corner, surpassing the first generation to become the best in the series. Whether it's violence, aesthetics, humor, playing memes or even some realistic metaphors, you can have a balance. It's not necessarily the best to be famous, but sometimes, digging up marginal characters and new characters can also bring life and surprises.
Top6 Persian Lessons
8.1/10
Plot, war
Release: 2021-3-19 (China)
Starring: Russ Edinger, Naville Perez Biscayate
One-sentence review: Soft but powerful "last lesson"
As a history of human blood and tears and reflection, the history of war has too many points to sing and cry. Tudor once used "The Last Lesson" to awaken the meaning of language and cultural identity for people, and this high-scoring masterpiece in early 2021 awakens the recognition of different peoples for the same value with an absurd but tear-jerking "Persian Lesson".
Jewish prisoners pretended to be Persians just to "escape the fate", but they were asked by Nazi officers to teach "Persian" without thinking. With only a few numbers, the dramatic sense of the film jumps on the paper. So the prisoner can only create a fake "Persian language" in the name of his fellow prisoners, but without thinking, he quietly transforms an unequal antagonistic relationship into a sympathetic brotherhood. The film does not use a single perspective to shape, nor does it use the dramatic bridge to forcibly stir up tears, which can cause the audience to "empathize" in the two camps, and then watch the short-term warm beauty disappear. Mere "telling" can reproduce the heaviness of World War II history, the absurdity of human desire and malice.
Top 5 Justice League (Zach Schneider)
8.2/10
Action, sci-fi, fantasy, adventure
Release: 2021-05-03 (Chinese mainland Network) / 2021-03-18 (USA)
Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gail Gadot
One-sentence review: Watching for 4 years and then there is no "difficult peace"
Perhaps compared to the film itself, the launch of Zach Schneider's cut version of "Justice League" is more meaningful and valuable. As the biggest "difficult to flat" in the superhero film circle, at the beginning of the release in 2017, the storm of Whedon's re-cutting and reshooting was not yet flat, followed by Warner's suppression and restriction of "Justice League", and it took 4 years to be released.
The cut version of "Justice League" is more convincing in terms of logic, atmosphere and character setting, although the main line of the movie has not changed much, but DC's most typical somber style has been unified from one end to the other. The details are richer, the texture is more sophisticated, the narrative is smoother, the rhythm is more comfortable and more convincing, and even the shots of "violent aesthetics" are more tonal and textured. From the fan's point of view, there are more explosive scenes, and even left the foreshadowing and Easter eggs of the sequel... It's just a pity that things are uncertain.
Although the circle of Za Scissors is mostly attributed to fans, this film that is more wonderful behind the scenes than in front of the curtain is destined to remain famous in film history, because this is a brave rebellion of art to business and creators to capital. In addition to the value of maintaining DC's uniqueness, zache is also like the existence of Camus's works in the film industry - I rebel, so I exist.
Top 4 Finch
8.4/10
Plot / Sci-Fi
Release: 2021-11-05 (USA)
Starring: Tom Hanks
One sentence comment: an absurd but potentially close "future".
Like the other top ten films, Finch seeks some meaning in the "post-pandemic" era. From a narrative point of view, "Finch" returns to the most primitive and moving film narrative method, telling a simplest story of "pursuing the meaning of life", so that the audience transforms from a "viewer" into the heart of an old man and listens to this story that has been engraved by time. Without any routine, without any reversal, with the simplest and purest literary and artistic temperament, showing a different kind of simple romance.
The whole movie is smooth, plain and tasteful, but behind Finch's optimism and humor, he adds a little regret because he did not see the "dream" Golden Gate Bridge until his death. What is even more powerless is that perhaps in the future of infinite entropy, "regret" is the main tone of the future. So in the context of Finch, "value" changes from life itself to spiritual inheritance. "Transmission" is far more important than the simple continuation of life.
Top 3 "Father Trapped in Time"
8.6/10
Plot, family affection
Release: 2020-1-27 (USA), 2021-6-18 (China)
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Olivia Coleman, Mark Gatis
One sentence comment: Family affection is the ultimate motif of all human beings
Movies with family themes are not uncommon, but they are particularly touching in 2021. In addition to the stamp recognition of the two Oscar blockbuster awards, "Father Trapped in Time" also crossed all cultural, linguistic and era barriers, explored the ultimate mother proposition of human beings, and through a variety of touching details and layered narratives, excavated the emotions that resonated with everyone, like a delicate and moving small theater drama, bringing the "immersion" of the drama into the viewing process.
The film is not a suspense film, but the suspenseful audiovisual atmosphere shaping and hidden clues and other habitual suspense film techniques still add a lot to the film. After experiencing the baptism of the epidemic, "family", "family" and "stability" have replaced wandering and wandering and loneliness, and the fear of the unknown has become the source of all human anxiety. So in this sense, the film seems to have been given a layer of oracle color. In addition to the individual's family value, it also opens up the common wounds of human beings, but also gives care and teaching to dispel fear. It seems to be trapped in time, but in fact it is beyond time, facing the abyss to transcend all unknowns and fears.
Top 2 "Bouquet of Love"
8.7/10
Plot / Love
Screening date: 2021-01-29 (Japan)
Starring: Masanori Sugata, Kashiro Arimura
One sentence comment: "The most stable relationship in the world is no relationship"
"Bouquet of Love" is mainly intended to explore the value of love. Continuing the usual delicacy of Japanese films, a few strokes, almost white-like straightforward expression, but through a variety of details, micro-expressions, perfect reproduction of the purest, without any real erosion of the throbbing. Goodwill may begin in a series of "I also like" "name of the dish", "the password is correct" at the moment, dopamine is rapidly secreted, the noise of the city next to the ear will become the silence of the heartbeat, and the neon light in the red dust in front of the eyes will become glittering.
But only the sweetness is not exempt from pale, and the most touching point of "Bouquet of Love" is that although the result is separation, the male and female protagonists still have enough decency and tacit understanding. You can even silently wave and smile at the reunion. Even if it makes people cry, they will laugh and cry. The existence of this feeling itself is a blessing as beautiful as a bouquet.
These bland but moving sections of daily life are an entrance for the audience to successfully "substitute", generate empathy and self-examination. The 120-minute movie is like having a goose-yellow dream. Although idealized love is not against reality, although the flowering period is short, and it is destined to wither in the bathtub of reality, it has bloomed and is still worth remembering.
Top 1 Journey of the Mind
Animation / Music / Fantasy
Screening date: December 25, 2020
One sentence comment: The moment you fall in love with life, you find the spark that activates life.
If the first nine films are all "looking for value", "reconstructing value" or "creating value", then "Spiritual Journey" tries to tell everyone that the ordinary is also a value. "Spiritual Journey" confronts the scarce "failed education" in life. We are always taught how to succeed and how to learn from good examples, but no one teaches us how to accept our own ordinariness. And the ordinary is not a flood beast, it is also a natural choice, like two roads in the forest, you can only choose one or the other, but you can lead to the end. You don't have to be some world-famous achiever, and it's precious to be ordinary, happy, and enjoy life.
At the heart of the world is not successful people, but ordinary "us." Unfortunately, not all people have the opportunity to read the file again like Joey, accept themselves in the existing life, pursue life in the most comfortable way, abandon the utilitarian interests of "goals", and enjoy the beauty of habituation, which is the real love of life. In the modern society where the loss has reached the extreme, the "Spiritual Journey" that answers the question about "life" is undoubtedly a burst of tonic, sending a warm heart to people who are tired of life and trapped in life, and a "touch of the head" for social animals and social fear - it is a well-deserved first.
It is not difficult to see that science fiction is the most popular foreign language film genre in 2021, and pure showmanship or adrenaline stimulation has been unable to impress the audience from the depths of the soul, in the post-epidemic era, the audience really pays attention to the meaning and value behind the light and shadow, which can be "self-worth", can be the value of type, the value of society, the value of existence, and more likely the "value of the future". Looking forward to more excellent film and television works in 2022, in the process of pursuing value, bringing more unique perspectives and "answers" to the world!