December is the time for end of the year lists of every kind. One of the most-awaited lists of from former US President Barack Obama, arguably one of the most loved former presidents of America. The distinguished gentleman shares his list of his favourite movies, books and music with the world on his Twitter handle. Considering his eclectic choices and the weight of his words, his end-of-the-year lists are lapped up by netizens and widely shared too.
Like every year, this year too, Barack Obama has shared his favourite films of 2021. The films include a few that have received rave reviews from critics, several that received universal love from audiences and critics alike, and a few that not many may have watched yet. Nevertheless, it is an interesting list – a wide-ranging mix of thought-provoking films. “Each of these films tells a powerful story, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I did,” posted Barack Obama on Twitter, along with the list.
Interestingly, a lot of people took to their Twitter handles instantaneously to criticise Barack Obama picking ‘The Card Counter’ as one of his choices of films for 2021, calling him a hypocrite for picking the anti-war film when he’s been party to USA’s tactics of torturing prisoners of war. Some people criticised him for not picking films such as Dune and the Beatles’ documentary. Yet others praised him for choosing The Last Duel and Quo Vadis, Aida?
This, however, is something that happens every year. The erstwhile US President receives both bouquets and brickbats every year for his choice of films.
Here is the entire list, and where you can watch the films –
1. Drive My Car – Japan’s entry for the International Feature Oscar –
Not streaming yet
2. Summer of Soul – Documentary film on the Harlem Cultural Festival and its impact on the Black community –
Watch it on Disney Plus Hotstar
3. West Side Story – Steven Spielberg’s reboot of the classic musical –
Not streaming yet, but will stream soon on Disney Plus Hotstar
4. The Power of the Dog – Benedict Cumberbatch’s impressive film –
Watch it on Netflix
5. Pig – Nicholas Cage stars as a recluse, whose cherished truffle pig is stolen in a home invasion
Watch it on Hulu in the US. Not streaming in India yet, but likely to stream soon on Disney Plus Hotstar or BookMyShow Stream.
6. Passing – Two black women (Tessa Thompson, Ruth Negga) can pass as white, but choose to live on opposite sides of the color line in 1929 New York.
Watch it on Netflix
7. The Card Counter – An ex-military interrogator is haunted by ghosts of his past. A revenge thriller
Not streaming in India yet
8. Judas and the Black Messiah – Oscar winning film on how William O’Neal becomes an FBI informant to infiltrate the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, and betray its Chairman Fred Hampton.
Watch it on Prime Video
9. The Worst Person in the World – Norwegian rom-com that is Norway’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film Award at the Oscars this year
Not streaming in India yet
10. Old Henry – an action-Western about a widowed farmer and his son who warily take in a mysterious injured man with a satchel of cash. When a posse of men claiming to be the law come for the money, the farmer must decide whom to trust.
Not streaming in India yet, but should arrive on BookMyShow Stream soon
11. The Last Duel – Ben Affleck and Matt Damon come together again after Good Will Hunting, to write and star in this epic historical drama directed by Ridley Scott
Watch it on Disney Plus Hotstar
12. The Tragedy of Macbeth – A black and white retelling of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, with Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand, directed by Joel Coen.
Arrives on streaming on Apple TV Plus on 14th January, 2022
13 – C’mon C’mon –
A compelling black-and-white drama, starring Joaquin Phoenix. Phoenix plays an emotionally stunted radio journalist who has his emotional world turned upside down after he’s forced to care for his young nephew.
Not streaming in India yet, but should arrive soon on BookMyShow Stream
14. Quo Vadis, Aida?
A haunting film on the Bosnian war and the subsequent genocide.
Not streaming in India yet, but should come soon on Apple TV Plus, Google Play or BookMyShow Stream
Here’s Barack Obama’s Twitter post on his favourite films of 2021 –
Next up are my favorite movies of the year. Each of these films tells a powerful story, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. pic.twitter.com/peFGiaTvby
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 16, 2021
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