Top 10 Manliest Movies of 2021

The most obvious comparison to 2021's Nobody is the original John Wick, as both movies are about extremely skilled killers who are forced to reawaken their violent sides to dispose of Russian mobsters. Plus, Nobody shares the same screenwriter in Derek Kolstad. However, that's about where the comparisons end. Much to my delight, Nobody is an extremely satisfying B-movie with A-grade production values and filmmaking. The director, who also made Hardcore Henry, goes bonkers with creative action scenes and violent deaths, while Bob Odenkirk proves himself to be a superb man of action. The movie even brings an ageing Christopher Lloyd in on the action, and his scenes are some of the most giddily entertaining moments of the whole film. What really works about Nobody is that it doesn't pretend to be more than what it is. The story and the characters are nicely developed, but the movie has no interest in being a character study, nor does it want to be some kind of serious or weighty mediation on violence. Instead, it's an old-fashioned bloodbath, and that's just fine with me. I'll be watching Nobody for years and years to come - it's fucking awesome.

Jason Statham and Guy Ritchie is enough to pique the interest of any self-respecting man, but Wrath of Man actually surpassed all of my expectations. This is probably the most "traditional" and straightforward Guy Ritchie movie in some time, as it's not full of nonlinear storytelling or endless voiceovers; in other words, Ritchie's over-the-top frenetic energy is dialled down here, but it's for the better. (The story does jump around by design, but not to Ritchie's normal extent.) Indeed, Ritchie pulls together one hell of a flick here: a solid, badass, testosterone-fuelled manly movie with explosive action and Statham at the top of his game. This is the perfect role for Statham, and he knocks it out of the park. Ritchie has assembled a slick action movie, and even though the majority of the action is reserved for the climax, the build-up is confident and engaging rather than boring. Indeed, the story (as simple as it might be) is actually good here, with a hint of intrigue, so you're not simply checking your watch and always waiting for the next burst of violence. I loved Wrath of Man and look forward to watching it again many, many more times.

Riders of Justice is not just another simple vigilante "schlockbuster" that could've starred Liam Neeson or Charles Bronson. Instead, it's a darkly humorous, character-focused revenge tale that could have only been created by the Europeans. Indeed, it's the offbeat European flavour and eccentricity that sets this one apart from similar flicks, while the careful pacing and gorgeous cinematography also bolster the production immensely. Mads Mikkelsen is ideal in the lead role, showing again that he's a consummate character actor who deserves more credit than he appears to receive. Riders of Justice is not strictly an action movie, but it does have a few really well-staged action beats that are violent as hell. Granted, this film won't be for every taste due to its offbeat European sensibilities, but it really worked for me. It's a revenge story that isn't boring between the action stuff and successfully focuses on narrative and character. It is well worth your time.

The western is a reliable manly genre dating back to the 1940s, and, thankfully, 2021's Old Henry is one hell of a manly western. It's a slow-burn but a wholly rewarding one, with exceptional performances and top-notch cinematography helping the movie through some occasionally rocky pacing. This is an old-fashioned western through-and-through, showcasing beautiful widescreen imagery (it was gorgeously shot at 2.66:1 - that's one wide lens) that never appears too digital or artificial. Instead, there's a lived-in aesthetic to the visuals. Refreshingly, too, the production is free of politics - there aren't even any female characters in the movie, which is noticeably bold (one can imagine studios asking for a romance to be shoehorned in that would've been an unnecessary distraction). Old Henry is not wall-to-wall action since the shootout is reserved for the ending, but it's worth the wait. The siege is extremely well-executed; exciting, riveting and violent, and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. It's not a film you can watch again and again, but Old Henry is rock-solid from top to bottom.

Boss Level has been a long time coming. We first started hearing about this flick back in 2017, and it was filmed in 2018 for a proposed 2019 release. Then there were all kinds of distributor shifts before it found a home on Hulu. Happily, though, I was able to see this in the cinema in Australia, and I'm glad to report that it's thoroughly awesome. First of all, we have two extremely manly actors in Frank Grillo and Mel Gibson. Secondly, there's a fine supporting cast, including action veteran Michelle Yeoh. It was also made by manly movie purveyor Joe Carnahan, who knows how to stage big, violent action scenes. This is a vehemently R-rated movie, as it's brutal as hell and there's profanity aplenty. Carnahan also prevents the flick from feeling stale by including all kinds of action scenes, from shootouts to vehicular mayhem and even sword fights. This is an action buffet. It's not perfect, as the ending, in particular, is pretty sudden, but this is still a fun, badass manly movie for the ages.

It feels like such a blessing to receive two Joe Carnahan movies in a single year, and I'm pleased to report that both of them made this list. Copshop is a simple, good old-fashioned manly movie, a violent action flick in a similar vein to Assault on Precinct 13 with superb visual panache and a colourful, '70s-esque cinematic style. I mean, the opening title sequence makes use of the theme from 1973's Magnum Force by Lalo Schifrin, just to announce the masculine calibre of this flick. Copshop is led by Gerard Butler and Frank Grillo, two reliable manly actors who confidently handle this type of material, while relative newcomer Alexis Louder (The Tomorrow War) ably holds her own. Carnahan is right at home with the action sequences, and they are fantastic here - the violence is fierce and bloody, and there's enough gravitas to prevent this from feeling like a low-grade direct-to-video distraction. I'm not sure the ending tag was necessary, and I'd be interested in seeing Carnahan's director's cut (Grillo said that his performance was butchered in post-production), but these are minor quibbles. Copshop is one for the Blu-ray shelf.

One Shot is good, clean, unpretentious, fast-paced, action-packed fun - an old-fashioned manly movie in every sense of the word. This is probably going to become one of the year's most overlooked and underrated movies, but it deserves more attention than it's getting. Sure, it looks like it was filmed in Eastern Europe, some of the digital effects are a little shonky and the dialogue could've used a polish, but, apart from that, One Shot is a rock-solid actioner which delivers the goods at every single turn. The initial exposition and set-up is efficient, even despite the single-shot approach, and, once the action starts, it rarely lets up. It's nice to see an action movie with correct military tactics as it increases the sense of authenticity, and it's also nice to see assault rifles with flash suppressors not generate enormous muzzle flashes - this is surely a first. The action is well-staged and violent, and the single-shot approach never feels like a hindrance. The single-shot illusion is also noticeably impressive, which is a huge feat for something on a modest budget. As far as direct-to-video action movies go, One Shot is top-notch. This is one for the Blu-ray shelf.

A movie which seemingly came out of nowhere, Pig features the inimitable Nicolas Cage at, arguably, his very best - it's certainly up there with Adaptation. and Leaving Las Vegas. Despite appearing to be something akin to Taken with Cage seeking his prized truffle pig instead of a family member, this is actually a very dramatic, dialogue-driven rumination on loneliness and isolation, ignoring the inherent absurdity of the central story to play things completely straight. This is a bizarrely unique movie in all the right ways, with Cage absolutely electrifying throughout - a key scene in a restaurant is a particular standout. Pig also moves at a languid, deliberate pace which doesn't always work, but there's no denying the originality on display here, and the visual aesthetic of the movie never makes this appear like a low-budget, direct-to-video cheapie. Although Pig isn't for all tastes, it's a fascinating entry to Cage's filmography which deserves your attention.

A late entry to this year's list, we have the final movie from iconic Chinese filmmaker Benny Chan. A cop thriller with Donnie Yen in the leading role, Raging Fire is an overlong but undeniably entertaining manly movie that doesn't hold back in terms of violence. Indeed, the action sequences are excellently-staged and violent as hell, with Chan creating satisfying set-pieces that will please any action buff. The mechanics of the plot are sometimes vague and the dialogue scenes certainly lack spark, and it's hard to refrain from laughing during the emotional moments (Yen looking solemn during a funeral scene as the film flashes back to his only scene with the deceased character, from 15 minutes ago), but that's par for the course with these types of flicks. It's all part of the charm. Raging Fire is another keeper for the Blu-ray shelf.

The second attempt to adapt the video game of the same name into a major motion picture franchise, 2021's Mortal Kombat is a flawed victory...but it's a victory all the same. From a storytelling perspective, this is a pretty poor movie, but at least it commits to the overt ridiculousness of the concept and narrative. We attend these movies for the fights, and there are plenty to behold throughout Mortal Kombat - the action sequences benefit from terrific fight choreography and rock-solid production values. There's also gore aplenty; I mean, Sub-Zero freezes a spray of blood and uses it as a dagger! Mention must also be made of Aussie actor Josh Lawson, who brings his comedic chops to the role of Kano. Lawson trolls his way through the movie, imbuing the material with a welcome sense of humour. I found him far more interesting than the lead actor whose name eludes me... Hell, I can't even remember the character's name. So, yes, I can't defend Mortal Kombat as serious filmmaking, but I still enjoyed the hell out of it.