If there’s one thing history shows us, it’s that the Oscars aren’t flawless. There are several notable exclusions among the 90-plus years of best picture nominees. Many films that should have been shortlisted for Hollywood’s most prestigious award were never even considered. Don’t get us wrong: we don’t think the winners didn’t deserve to win. We’re only stating that there were many others who deserved at least some acknowledgement. Here are the 5 best films released in 2021 that were not even nominated for the Oscars:
1. Pig by Michael Sarnoski
Even when nothing thrilling actually unfolds, this film runs at such a brisk pace that it feels like a rollercoaster ride. It may appear to be a typical revenge film, but it isn’t. Furthermore, because this film was made on a shoestring budget, there were no reshoots and they do everything correctly the first time. Sure, it feels like a first-time director’s cut, but you have fantastic actors and writers to make up for it. Nic Cage is at the top of his game, and Alex Wolff isn’t far behind. It’s just a film that does all it sets out to do and works out in such a way that the watcher enjoys the ride.
2. The Last Duel by Ridley Scott
This is a film on the historic practice of duels. It’s a horrific story about a knight’s wife who was raped by a courtly squire. The knight petitions the king of France for a trial by combat to safeguard her honor and expose the squire’s wrongdoing. The squire dies if he succeeds, and the knight’s honor and prestige are redeemed. If he fails, “God” will declare his wife a liar who deserves to be burned to death. The Last Duel is one of the best films of the year, as well as one of the most heartbreaking films you’ll ever see.
3. The Harder They fall by Jeymes Samuel
Netflix had a very strong case for itself with The Power of the Dog. It got a total of 12 Oscar nominations. But another hidden gem from Netflix’s 2021 slate never even made it to the Oscar nominations list. Jeymes Samuel gives us a story about the Old West’s most notorious outlaws in what could only be called Hollywood’s most suave revenge tale.
The characters were based on actual real life African-American cowboys like Cherokee Bill, Nat Love, and Stagecoach Mary. Sadly, less deserving movies made it to the cut but not this future cult-classic.
4. The Green Knight by David Lowery
Palaces, giants, witchcraft, and damsels in distress all appear in potential-Oscars best film, The Green Knight. It’s based on David Lowery’s poem A Ghost Story / The Old Man and the Gun from the 14th century. Gawain is played by Dev Patel, a foolish knight who decapitates a giant tree-man in order to please King Arthur. The problem is that the tree-man then walks away, and chivalry demands that Gawain track him down a year later for a battle. While his mission may be perplexing, the vision and creativity will keep you breathless from the start to the last shot.
5. The French Dispatch by Wes Anderson
The French Dispatch is an incredible visual delight, which was not even nominated in this year’s Oscars. The aesthetic appeal in the the film is stunning, and it is one of the most beautiful films ever made. A message on journalism is also included in the French Dispatch. It attempts to solve the question of where the line should be drawn between being in the moment and reporting it without distorting reality. It also features a fantastic ensemble, with actors attempting to surpass one another in terms of boldness.
