Welcome to I Have to Return Some Videotapes! Each month, film buffs Rhianna Mehta and Kevin Maguire will take you through their cinematic journeys with all of their usual insight and humour, catching up on their favourite films and exploring new ones.

Happy New Years to all of our readers! Our 2021 was filled with plenty of ups and downs - but one thing stayed constant: we watched an absolute f*ck ton of movies! Incredibly, we averaged about a movie a day in 2021. In addition to this month’s recommendations on what to watch, what to skip, and what you may want to give a shot, we have also included each of our top 5 favourite movies that we watched in 2021. Enjoy!

If you would like to connect with us further on Letterboxd, please find us at rhirhi19 and Kevin_Maguire. If you want to get a sense of our taste, some of our favourites in each genre, and the way we approach film overall, be sure to check out our appearance on The Generalists.

Favourite Films Watched in 2021

Monthly Favourites:

Rhianna: The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (John Huston, 1948) “I know what gold does to men's souls.” The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is a transcendent study in wealth and greed. The film opens with a broke and begging Fred C. Dobbs, who wanders around the Mexican town of Tampico asking fellow Americans for spare change and looking for work. After being scammed into working for free, Fred and another worker, Bob Curtain, meet an elderly man in a lodging house who has expertise in gold prospecting. Fred and Bob convince the older man to take them to the remote Sierra Madre mountains to prospect for gold, desperately hoping to strike riches. What more can I say about such a celebrated film? The film’s storytelling and pacing are unparalleled, and I was hooked from the very beginning. Typically when I recommend older films to friends and family, I am usually met with complaints that the film is slow and boring - but I would be very surprised and even disappointed if any criticism of that nature was directed at this film. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre unfolds like a grand adventure, and as the characters go deeper into the mountains, the more obstacles they encounter, until they ultimately become the obstacles to their own success. Humphrey Bogart’s performance as Fred C. Dobbs is so grotesquely selfish and corrupt, which gave the film a humorously dark edge. The film's influence on movies and in pop culture is evident and far-reaching - for example, Vince Gilligan has said that Fred C. Dobbs served as inspiration for Walter White’s character on Breaking Bad. With so many masterful elements coming together, the culminating effect of this movie is really impressive. I truly think anyone who watches this film will be as in awe of it as I am - they really don’t make movies like this anymore!

Runner-up: Tampopo (Juzo Itami, 1985) The ever elusive perfect bowl of ramen is at the forefront of this film. Widowed roadside restaurant owner Tampopo begs two truck drivers to help her turn her struggling restaurant into the pinnacle of ramen shops. Throughout the film there are additional vignettes, including one about a gangster and his passion for food which can only be described as “food porn”. Overall, the entire film seems singularly focused on capturing the joys of eating and preparing food. Inspired in part by Spaghetti Westerns and aptly regarded as a “Ramen Western”, Tampopo is a wonderful comedy that will warm your heart (just like a good bowl of ramen).

Kevin: The Novice (Lauren Hadaway, 2021) This film is about as intense as one can get. You follow Alex Dall, played by Isabelle Fuhrman, as she tries to overcome huge odds to claim a spot on her university’s rowing team. She is a constant over-achiever to a dangerous degree. The sound conveys so much emotion and sets an ominous tone throughout. The director utilizes sound in this film in a way that is almost like breathing, it is just second nature. Though this is director Lauren Hadaway’s debut film, she did amazing sound work on the film Whiplash, which has similar themes of over-achievement and ambition. The intensity of this film not only comes from the sound, but also the way the actors are able to emote so well even without dialogue. The protagonist’s obsession with being the best drives the narrative into such dark places. How far is someone really willing to go to achieve their dreams? I actually watched this film twice within 48 hours because of the raw emotion I felt from watching it the first time. Lauren Hadaway is definitely going to be a director to watch! I could not recommend this film more.

Runner-up: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (Frank Capra, 1939), Beans (Tracey Deer, 2020)

Least Favorite:

Rhianna: Don’t Look Up (Adam McKay, 2021) It is a shame that this film did not hit the mark, because the message Adam McKay aims to get across seems sincere. In the film, an astronomy PhD candidate, played by Jennifer Lawrence, and her professor, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, discover a meteor that will strike Earth in six months. Immediately upon discovery, they aim to inform the correct authorities and public of the impending danger, only to be met with unreceptive and skeptical people. While I appreciate the attempt at satire in this film, there is literally no subtlety whatsoever, and this movie feels like the cheapest, most basic form of satirical comedy. Instead of providing thought-provoking social commentary on the many themes present in the film such as social media, climate change, and the relationship between government and corporations, Don’t Look Up feels self-righteous, cringey, and out of touch in its critique. There are, however, some strong supporting performances that shine brightly in this abysmal movie by Cate Blanchett, Jonah Hill and Timothée Chalamet. Unfortunately, their performances are not enough to save this movie from itself. Do yourself a favour and Don’t Watch This Movie.

Runner-up: Holiday in Handcuffs (Ron Underwood, 2007) This is an awful movie, but it was also one that I had the most fun watching in December. Starring Melissa Joan Hart as a recently dumped, down on her luck twenty-something year old, and Mario Lopez as a businessman who is subsequently kidnapped by Melissa Joan Hart (yes, you read that right) in an attempt to pass him off as her boyfriend over the holidays, Holiday in Handcuffs is truly hilarious and confounding from start to finish. There is no logic to this film: just sit back and enjoy the terrible ride.

Kevin: Ghosts of Mars (John Carpenter, 2001) I have so many questions. The fact that this is John Carpenter’s second to last film will always haunt me. The film takes place in the tail end of the 22nd century and Mars has been colonized by humans. However when Martian spirits are unleashed, it is up to a group of soldiers and the criminal they were originally supposed to obtain to save the planet. While science fiction tends to bend the rules of reality, this film seems to do away with the rules altogether. The only major accomplishment in this film is the scene in which a character recounts a story within a story WITHIN A STORY! This is definitely not a typical narrative tactic, and for good reason. If that did not confuse the audience enough, I am sure the overall premise will. We are to believe nothing existed on Mars and humans terraformed it. However, we later find out that the humans discover a large ancient tomb full of Martian ghosts. How an entire planet can be built upon while not coming across any artifacts is a true feat. Once the ghosts are unleashed it should be game over for humanity, but the rules once again do not apply evenly. When someone who is possessed by a Martian ghost dies, the ghost is released and searches for a new host. In some scenes the individual ghost is able to find a body immediately, but when the crew decides to wage a full scale assault on the ghost possessed humans, it seems like the ghosts just disappear. After the first encounter between the military and the Martians, there would have been absolutely no way the entire crew did not become possessed. The uneven rules of this movie happen in almost every scene and are maddeningly inconsistent. There are the guts to a great sci-fi film here, but it absolutely did not work out. With so many great John Carpenter films to choose from, this film can be completely ignored.

Runner-up: The Perfect Score (Brian Robbins, 2004), A Castle for Christmas (Mary Lambert, 2021)

Biggest Surprise:

Rhianna: To Die For (Gus Van Sant, 1995) Inspired by a true story, To Die For centers on Suzanne Stone, played by Nicole Kidman, who is desperately trying to make it as a television journalist and aims to be “the next Barabara Walters”. Suzanne is relentless in her pursuit to be the best in her career, and is so determined she is willing to destroy anything (or anyone) that stands in her way. Told through a blend of mockumentary style interviews, direct-to-camera character monologues and traditional scenes, To Die For is an incredible dark comedy which really highlights the obsessive relationship our society has with television and celebrity. Nicole Kidman gives an absolutely stellar performance as Suzanne, her facial expressions and demeanour subtly shifting between innocent and ambitious to cold and calculating. The film deals with the theme of celebrity in so many fascinating ways, but what really stood out to me was how the film portrayed the cult of personality. Although Suzanne manipulates people in pursuit of her career, even people who know they have been wronged by her reveal in their monologues and interviews how much they admire and are inspired by Suzanne. This central theme of celebrity also feels very relevant today, with the rise of social media influencers and the impact they have on adoring fans. This is a bold, fresh, and funny film - best paired with a glass of red wine.

Runner-up: Beans (Tracey Deer, 2020) Set during the Oka Crisis in 1990, the film tells the coming of age story of Beans, a 12 year old Mohawk girl. This film was as eye opening as it was timely, given the important conversations and headlines regarding indigenous peoples we have been exposed to in recent years. The film has exceptional performances, and although the film deals with heavy subject matter, it is balanced by scenes that are familiar to anyone who has pushed the boundaries of their rebellion during their adolescence.

Kevin: Night Raiders (Danis Goulet, 2021) What a debut film from Danis Goulet! This science fiction thriller takes a very interesting perspective by using a dystopian North America as the backdrop. A Cree woman named Niska, played by Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, must make the difficult decision to send her daughter, Waseese, to be raised under military supervision. When the opportunity arises for Niska to save her daughter from the military industrial complex, she must risk everything she has left to survive. The film being written and directed by an indigenous woman brings such a fresh viewpoint to the genre and the narrative being told. The juxtaposition of two worlds at odds with each other sets the tone and gives you a sense of the conflict, both internal and external, that the protagonist is going to face. Many parallels exist between this film and how indigenous people have been treated throughout North American history, most notably the residential school system and the colonial destruction of native traditions. The film sends the message that indigenous voices need to be and deserve to be heard. You come away from this film with a better understanding that community is built around acceptance, not assimilation. I highly recommend this film if you enjoy science fiction and are looking for a fresh take.

Runner-up: The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (John Huston, 1948), Tampopo (Juzo Itami, 1985)

Coming Attractions:

Throughout January, we are hoping to catch up on films that came out in 2021 that we have not had a chance to see yet. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, movie theatres have closed again, but that won’t stop us from renting movies on Cineplex to watch at home when we can! We are hoping that we will have the opportunity to watch the new instalments of the major Matrix and Scream franchises in theatres this month - if not, we will have to wait until things open up again to see these on the big screen!