With every passing year, new biopics dominate cinema, and 2021 was no exception. The year produced some enthralling biographical films, ranging from the sports drama King Richard to the musical Tick, Tick…Boom! This year also proved to be a year of “couple biopics” with House of Gucci, The Eyes of Tammy Faye and Being The Ricardos all covering the lives of high-profile couples.
While some of the 2021 biopics like The United States vs. Billie Holiday and Judas and the Black Messiah already made their mark in the awards ceremonies, recent releases like Spencer and King Richard seem to carry enough weight for the upcoming awards season.
The United States Vs. Billie Holiday - 6.3
The United States vs. Billie Holiday not only covers the legendary jazz singer's musical career but also an undercover sting operation against her by the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. Matters grow complicated when she starts having an affair with an agent from the same Bureau.
Along with this central storyline, the movie also touches upon the relevance of Holiday's music in a political sense. Even though the critical reactions were mixed, Andra Day drew most of the acclaim for her starring performance and she even managed to win a Golden Globe in early 2021.
Respect - 6.6
Starring American Idol alum Jennifer Hudson as soul legend Aretha Franklin, Respect mainly revolves around the first two decades of the singer's life. The plot includes her younger days as a musical prodigy as well as the constraints of an abusive marriage that she went through later. Thrown in the middle are scenes that cover her musical inspirations as well as the phase when she got around recording her magnum opus Amazing Grace.
Hudson had already made her mark as a musical actress with her Oscar-winning debut in Dreamgirls. But Respect gives her the perfect opportunity to display a more dramatic side of her acting while retaining her musical roots.
The Eyes Of Tammy Faye - 6.7
Tammy Faye Bakker along with her husband Jim created a massive televangelical empire in the 1970s. Characterized by their flamboyant antics, everything seemed to be going according to plan for the couple until a scandal rocked the foundation of their business.
The Eyes of Tammy Faye documents this rise and eventual fall of the duo with Jessica Chastain and Andrew Garfield playing Tammy and Jim respectively. With both actors having considerable biopic experience, the movie benefits greatly from the over-the-top energy of its two leads.
Being The Ricardos - 6.7
Being The Ricardos follows an unconventional biopic approach as rather than focusing on the entire lives of its protagonists, its narrative centers on one specific week. Giving a behind-the-scenes look at the sitcom I Love Lucy's production, the movie explores the personal and professional issues that the show's stars Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz are going through.
Writer-director Aaron Sorkin proves his ability to reinvent the biopic genre as Being The Ricardos feels stylistically similar to Steve Jobs in which Sorkin captured the Apple founder's life through a similar behind-the-scenes storyline. As for the major performances in Being The Ricardos, Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem are in their A-game, playing the titular couple.
House Of Gucci - 6.9
Led by a star-studded ensemble, House of Gucci is the story of Maurizio Gucci and Patrizia Reggiani's troubled marriage and the fashion empire that they created along the way. The Ridley Scott-directed movie is riddled with some over-the-top dramatic and historical inaccuracies but it still packs the punch, thanks to a much-acclaimed lead performance by Lady Gaga.
Apart from being a biopic, the movie also serves as a crime thriller as it provides the context behind Gucci's death which was orchestrated by Reggiani herself.
Spencer - 6.9
There are many movies based on Princess Diana's life but Spencer is an unconventional take on the British royal. Focusing on the days preceding her divorce, Spencer paints a troubled portrait of its titular character as she confronts motherhood, an eating disorder, and a general air of claustrophobia in the royal family.
Right from the start, the movie clarifies that it is "a fable from a true tragedy". Hence, Spencer is filled with metafictional and surrealist elements to recreate the emotional strain that Diana felt. Drawing rave reviews from critics, the major highlight of the movie was Kristen Stewart's captivating performance.
The Mauritanian - 7.5
The Mauritanian recounts the tragic tale of Mohamedou Ould Slahi, a detainee at Guantanamo Bay who is suspected to be a terrorist involved in 9/11 Captured without proof and subjected to illegal torture, the so-called "Mauritanian" still hopes for his long-delayed freedom. A larger conspiracy is unearthed with the efforts of a defense attorney who agrees to represent him.
Anchored by a moving lead performance by Tahar Rahim, the movie exposes the legal drawbacks and prevalent Islamophobia in a post-9/11 America.
Judas And The Black Messiah - 7.5
Judas and the Black Messiah turned heads with its shockingly true story of Black Panther Party leader Fred Hampton and his assassination. This isn't just a movie on Hampton's activism but also the dual life of Bill O'Neal, the Black Panther insider used by the FBI to track Hampton's activities.
More than just a formulaic biopic, Judas and the Black Messiah is a socio-political thriller that touches upon issues like racism and police brutality. Actor Daniel Kaluuya's powerful role as Hampton drew much acclaim with the actor even winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
King Richard - 7.6
Documenting the prodigal rise of tennis heavyweights Serena and Venus Williams, King Richard offers a glimpse at their early life from the perspective of their father. The husband-wife duo of Richard and Brandi Williams devised an early plan to train their daughters despite all odds. And their effort does yield fruit as the two starts showing their tennis skills right from a young age.
Having acted in biopics like Ali and The Pursuit of Happyness, Will Smith offers one of his career-best performances as Richard Williams. He brims with positive energy, especially in the scenes that find him delivering motivational speeches to his daughters.
Tick, Tick... Boom! - 7.6
Tick, Tick... Boom! is a sort of meta-biopic as it is based on Rent creator Jonathan Larson's semi-biographical musical of the same name. Shifting between Larson's reality and his musical daydreams, the movie charters his pre-fame days as he struggles to get sponsors for his plays. In the face of crumbling personal relationships and a dearth of creative ideas, Larson still finds hope at the end of the road.
The Netflix musical drew a lot of buzz as it marked the directorial debut of Hamilton alumnus Lin-Manuel Miranda. Then, the star of the show is, of course, Andrew Garfield who acts and sings as Larson with a certain charm and naivety.