20 Best Movies Of 2021 (So Far)

10. Pieces Of A Woman

Oxygen Melanie Laurent
Netflix

Pieces of a Woman is certainly a film to test its audience's resolve, but Vanessa Kirby's Oscar-nominated performance is strong enough to make the gut-wrenching ride worthwhile.

Beginning with a bravura, 24-minute single take sequence showing protagonist Martha (Kirby) delivering a stillborn baby, this isn't an easy film to watch by any means, but between the performances of Kirby, Ellen Burstyn, and Shia LaBeouf, and its generally affecting portrayal of grief, it fully justifies its no-holds-barred approach.

The 128-minute runtime is perhaps a little much, and there's some wildly unnecessary symbolism thrown into the mix for good measure, but as a straight-forward character piece, it's sublime.

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Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.