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Here is the list of my favorite movies of 2007 (so far). Also included is a list of movies I intend to see soon (that are possible Best ofs). All movies are placed in Categories based on the first or second listed genre on imdb.com. For each movie my score is given out of 5 stars, as is the Tomatometer rating, imdb rating, and meta critic score (if available) in parentheses. These numbers are current as of 12/23/07.
- Edo
Drama:
No Country for Old Men (released 11/21/07): The Coen Brothers at their best. On its face, a gritty thriller set in the Southwest United States, under the surface, a nihilistic take on the nature of crime and life. Hands down, my favorite movie of 2007.
Rating: ***** (95%, 8.9, 91)
American Gangster (released: 11/02/07): Ridley Scott's version of Scarface (more or less). Carried out Wonderfully by its cast.
Rating: **** (79%, 8.2, 76)
Paris Je T'aime (released: various times): This movie is a clever collection of short films by an eclectic set of talented directors and actors. It's the cinematic equivalent of The Yardbirds.
Rating: **** (84%, 7.5)
I'm not There (released: 11/21/07, limited): One of the most artistic films I've seen this year. You will love it if you (A) love Bob Dylan and his music (B) can deal with an ambiguous, non-linear plot-line. All others should be forewarned. Despite what the critics tell you, Blanchett 's Dylan persona (Jude Quinn) is not the best performance in the film, Ben Wishaw's (Arthur Rimbaud) is. Truth be told, the only problem with the film is Heath Ledger.
Rating: **** (81%, 7.9, 73)
Gone Baby Gone (released: 10/19/07): A moral quandary dressed up as a crime thriller. Could mean nominations for both Affleck's (Best actor and Director).
Rating: **** (93%, 8.0, 72)
Into the Wild (released: 09/21/07): Sean Penn Directs John Krakauer's (excellent) book on a man with an incredible amount of existential angst or (depending on who you ask) blind hubris who drops out of society to live in a bus in Alaska. You guess the ending.
Rating: *** (82%, 8.1, 73)
Other notable Dramas:
The Lookout ***** (88%, 7.4, 73)
This is England **** (93%, 8.0, 86)
The Wind that Shakes the Barley **** (88%, 7.7, 82)
Rescue Dawn **** (91%, 7.8, 77)
Red Road *** (89%, 6.9, 73)
Interview *** (57%, 7.1, 64)
Reign over me *** (63%, 7.9, 61)
Zodiac *** (89%, 7.9, 78)
Breach *** (84%, 7.3, 74)
Killer of Sheep ** (97%, 8.0, 94)
Comedy:
Lars and the Real Girl (released: 10/25/07): Technically a "dramedy," this is a movie about a man who has trouble relating to women and a town that helps him through his "doll phase." Despite giving most of itself away in the premise and previews, it has enough heart to remain thoroughly enjoyable.
Rating: ***** (78%, 8.3, 69)
Waitress (released: 05/25/07): A movie about motherhood and sweets that is both funny and heartbreaking. The performances by Russell and Fillion made me question why I don't see their names in film credits more often. Yay for non-predictable endings!
Rating: ***** (89%, 7.6, 75)
Knocked up (released: 06/01/07): Judd Apatow does it again. This time it is cleaner, funnier, and more heartfelt.
Rating: ***** (90%, 7.7, 85)
Superbad (released: 08/17/07): Funny high school comedy that successfully makes you either nostalgic or nauseous (depending on your own high school experience), unless you are a male over the age of eighteen. In that case, the movie's jailbait cast just makes you feel like a criminal.
Rating: **** (87%, 8.0, 76)
Other Notable Comedies:
Hot Fuzz ***** (89%, 8.1, 81)
The Hoax **** (86%, 7.0, 70)
Ocean's 13 *** (69%, 7.1, 62)
Action:
300 (released: 03/09/07): Xenophobic? Yes. Misogynist? Yes. Glorious? Definitely. I won't apologize for liking this film, the 13-year-old comic book geek inside me just won't let that happen.
Rating: ***** (60%, 8.0, 51)
The Bourne Ultimatum (released: 08/03/07): Paul Greengrass completes the Bourne Trilogy with panache. Quite a feat in my mind, I think I liked this installment better than the previous two.
Rating: **** (93%, 8.3, 85)
Live Free or Die Hard (released: 06/27/07): It was a good popcorn flick. I think I rated it so highly because it managed to exceed my extremely low expectations. Plus the Mac guy is a dead ringer for a good friend of mine.
Rating: **** (80%, 7.7, 69)
Beowulf (released: 11/16/07): Awesome animation, great sound, interesting take on the original story. Best 3D movie of the year. Don't rent it unless you have a full 3D theater in your basement though.
Rating: **** (70%, 6.9, 59)
Horror:
The Mist (released: 11/21/07): Stephen King works don't normally translate to good movies. This one manages to take a rather formulaic plot and run with it. Plus it has one of the most memorable endings in recent horror-movie history.
Rating: **** (69%, 7.8, 58)
I am Legend (released: 12/14/07): In the scope of one man movies (see Castaway) this one registers as a success. Smith takes the role very seriously (even if the audience doesn't) and Sam has more character in her left paw than Wilson ever did. The rest of the film sucks though.
Rating: ***(63%, 7.6, 66)
Other notable horror movies:
The Host ***** (92%, 7.1, 85)
Grindhouse ***** (81%, 8.2, 77)
Black Sheep **** (71%, 6.2, 62)
1408 *** (78%, 7.1, 64)
Animated:
Enchanted (released: 11/21/07): I've always thought real people dancing and singing in a choreographed fashion would look ridiculous. The makers of this movie seem to agree. This solidifies my belief that Amy Adams is one of the most underrated actresses in the business.
Rating: ***** (93%, 8.0, 75)
Ratatouille (released: 06/29/07): A film about vermin with a taste for vermicelli. Though technically the best storyline of any Pixar movie to date, it lacks the cleverly constructed worlds that made movies like Monster's Inc. and Finding Nemo worth repeat viewings. It gets bonus points for going light on the French Jokes.
Rating: **** (97%, 8.3, 96)
The Simpsons Movie (released: 07/27/07): I'll admit I was one of the people that thought this movie should never be made. I am glad it was though. Even though the show hasn't been good in a while, Brooks and Groening managed to pull off a film that should satisfy even the toughest customer.
Rating: **** (88%, 7.9, 80)
Foreign:
Exiled (released: 04/13/07 ): Great Hong Kong Action Flick. Addresses the ideas of honor and brotherhood.
Rating: **** (80%, 7.4, 73)
Triad Election (released: 04/25/2007): The same old formula that is pervasive in crime dramas in the US – former gangster wants to go straight but "the lifestyle" drags him back in – feels fresh when played out in such a foreign context.
Rating: **** (96%, 7.5, 83)
Paprika (released: 02/01/07): A dream device goes missing that can alter your dreams and even transplant them into other people, it is up to a team of psychologists to get it back (provided they don't go crazy in the process). Story is neat, so are the visuals (reminiscent of Spirited Away).
Rating: **** (81%, 7.8, 81)
Documentary:
Air Guitar Nation (released: 10/06/07): Follow the exploits of the best Air Guitar player in the US ("C-Diddy") as he takes his invisible licks overseas to compete for international stardom. Finally, a movie that justifies a youth spent listening to classic rock and pretending I was Jimmy Page.
Rating: ***** (83%, 7.1, 72)
God Grew Tired of Us (released 01/12/07): This film follows the lives of four of the lost boys of the Sudan who come to America on a work exchange program. Watching them experience many of the things we in the "civilized" world take for granted is a real eye-opener.
Rating: **** (91%, 7.9, 72)
Other Notable Documentaries:
Sicko **** (93%, 8.5, 74)
No End In Sight **** (95%, 8.6, 89)
Ghosts of Cite Soleil *** (83%, 7.3, 64)
Movies I have not seen but am pretty sure are good:
3:10 to Yuma Action/Drama/Western (87%, 8.2, 76)
Atonement Drama/Romance/War (84%, 8.2, 85)
Away From Her Drama/Romance (94%, 7.9, 88)
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead Crime/Drama/Thriller (88%, 8.0, 88)
Charlie Wilson's War Biography/Drama (82%, 7.4, 66)
Control Biography/Drama/Music (89%, 8.2, 78)
Deep Water Documentary/History/Sport (96%, 7.6, 80)
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly Foreign/Biography/Drama (95%, 8.2, 91)
Eastern Promises Crime/Drama/Thriller (88%, 8.0, 82)
For the Bible tells me so Documentary (95%, 8.6, 73)
In the Shadow of the Moon Documentary (94%, 8.6, 84)
Into Great Silence Documentary (88%, 7.1, 78)
Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten Documentary (84%, 7.7, 79)
Juno Comedy/Drama (93%, 8.6, 81)
King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters Documentary (96%, 8.5, 83)
Lake of Fire Documentary (94%, 8.0, 83)
Manufactured Landscapes Documentary (83%, 7.0, 79)
Michael Clayton Drama/Thriller (90%, 7.7, 82)
Offside Comedy/Drama/Sport (97%, 7.3, 85)
Once Drama/Music/Romance (98%, 8.0, 88)
Protagonist Documentary (82%, 7.6, 68)
Rocket Science Comedy/Drama (85%, 6.8, 73)
The Savages Comedy/Drama (90%, 8.1, 85)
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Crime/Musical/Thriller (87%, 8.7, 85)
There Will Be Blood Drama (90%, 9.1, 100)
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story Comedy/Music (77%, 6.4, 65)
Your Mommy Kills Animals Documentary
(91%, 5.5)
That's it newsvine. Maybe I will see you next year.
Links:
Rotten Tomatoes
Internet Movie Database (IMDB)
Meta Critic
