TOP 10 OF 2007

You knew it was coming. Bloggers and critics across the states have been doing this for the last week so I decided to put my two cents in. 2007 has been a good year for movies. Not great, I’ve been torn much worse than I am right now about picking a favorite but it was a good year. The following list is in order of my enjoyment, not critical praise or anything snobby. Just how much I enjoyed what I saw on screen. In reverse order of course.

10. Zodiac - Another example of bad planning on the part of the studio. This would be stealing a lot of the awards talk if it wasn’t released directly after the 2007 awards. Though it was long, this was a great story. San Francisco looked great, and Robert Downey Jr. was as quirky as ever.

9. No Country for Old Men - It’s the juggernaut building momentum into award season. It appears that my love for Paul Thomas Anderson might not be enough to push There Will Be Blood (Still haven’t seen it…) into the top spot. The Coens are also going to make a run at best directing, best supporting actor, and maybe a writing award. I’m impressed with this movie, but I still like Lebowski more.

8. Atonement - I’m going to be unpopular for putting this before No Country for Old Men but I really really enjoyed this adaptation. Joe Wright is a master with the camera and even though I knew the entire story from reading the book, was able to keep my attention technically.

7. Juno -Witty, well written, and performed to perfection. This is the favorite to take home Best Original Screenplay. Ellen Page is also going to bust some heads if she doesn’t get that pretty gold statue.

6. Control - I love Joy Division. This is a movie designed for a niche audience and it hit pretty damn well for me. Seeing a recreation of a band I never got to see live is huge. I also was probably one of 10 people to notice that in Wristcutters: A Love Story, the song playing in the diner is Love Will Tear Us Apart. Ian Curtis, like the rest of the people in purgatory, committed suicide.

5. Ratatouille - Feels like forever ago that I was sitting next to a 3 year old girl in the summer months laughing myself crazy. She and the movie were simply adorable and fun for everyone. Pixar will never cease to amaze me in their ability to juggle the adult and child audiences.

4. Lars and the Real Girl - Yes it’s a movie about a blow up doll. Ryan Gosling stars in what could have been an epic disaster, but turned out to be quite the accomplishment. Laughter sifts out of the theater and the audience buys into the story. One of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had in the theater.

3. The Diving Bell and The Butterfly - This probably should be my favorite. It’s artistically genius, the director uses subtle but effective camera tricks, and takes the audience to a place we would otherwise not venture. The story of Jean-Dominique Bauby is not one I will ever forget.

2! Wristcutters: A Love Story - This surrealist look at purgatory was the 2nd satisfying of any that I saw. I walked in with reasonable expectations and they were eclipsed with awe. Suicide has never been more stylish than Goran Dukic’s superb vision. If you aren’t convinced, maybe Tom Waits as an Angel will win you over. A MUST SEE for fans of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

1. 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days - The most important film of the year hands down. Munglu tackles of illegal abortion in a realistic, brutal, and unrelenting way. This film will make you squirm, but it will also ask questions that politicians should be asking themselves daily. It won the Palm D’Or at Cannes, and it wins Jesse Guyer’s top movie of 2007.

Notable Omissions: Rescue Dawn! I thought this would be a fixture but it just missed the final cut do to the amazing 4 Months. Michael Clayton and The Diving Bell and The Butterfly have serious beef after Julian Schnabel’s beauty bumped Mike. The Savages was excellent as was Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, I just liked these better.

That about wraps her up. If you have anything you think should be consider leave a comment. If you hate the list also leave a comment.