Ten Best Films of 2007

Damien
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Post by Damien »

Eric, what would possess you to sit through Bucket List? I don't want to even be on the same block where it's playing.



Edited By Damien on 1197253636
"Y'know, that's one of the things I like about Mitt Romney. He's been consistent since he changed his mind." -- Christine O'Donnell
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Eric
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Post by Eric »

300 would've been my pick for the worst of the year, but I just caught The Bucket List yesterday.
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Post by Damien »

Steph2 wrote:It's also gay, and yet strangely unappealing to me.

It's oddly both homophobic and homoerotic (again very Leni Riefenstahl), which is why it makes perfect sense that criddic would love it.




Edited By Damien on 1197253547
"Y'know, that's one of the things I like about Mitt Romney. He's been consistent since he changed his mind." -- Christine O'Donnell
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Post by Steph2 »

Damien wrote:
criddic3 wrote:* * * *

300
- Visually exciting, energetic graphic novel-turned-film adventure.

Fascist trash. It's like a Leni Riefenstahl video game.
It's also gay, and yet strangely unappealing to me.
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Post by Damien »

criddic3 wrote:* * * *

300
- Visually exciting, energetic graphic novel-turned-film adventure.
Fascist trash. It's like a Leni Riefenstahl video game.
"Y'know, that's one of the things I like about Mitt Romney. He's been consistent since he changed his mind." -- Christine O'Donnell
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Post by Zahveed »

Updated List:



TOP TEN
No Country For Old Men (****)
The Darjeeling Limited (****)
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (****)
Into the Wild (****)
3:10 to Yuma (***3/4)
Ratatouille (***1/2)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix (***1/2)
Michael Clayton (***1/2)
Across the Universe (***1/4)
American Gangster (***1/4)


OTHERS
Knocked Up (***)
The Simpsons Movie (***)
Superbad (***)
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (***)
Grindhouse (***)
Live Free or Die Hard (***)
300 (***)
Enchanted (***)
Dan in Real Life (**3/4)
Blades of Glory (**3/4)
In the Valley of Elah (**1/2)
Spider-man 3 (**1/2)
The Invisible (**1/4)
Transformers (**1/4)


TRASH
Balls of Fury (**)
The Heartbreak Kid (**)
Number 23 (**)
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (*1/2)
Good Luck Chuck (*1/4)
Awake (*)
Hannibal Rising (*)
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Post by criddic3 »

* * * *

300
- Visually exciting, energetic graphic novel-turned-film adventure.
3:10 to Yuma
- A remake that's better than the original.
American Gangster
- Excellent crime drama, in the mold of "French Connection" and "Serpico." Accurate period detail and superb acting.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
- Beautiful looking film, enhanced by superb acting.
Away From Her
- Julie Christie and Gordon Pinsent are terrific.
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
- Worth the wait for me, as this was a mesmerizing film filled with great acting. Paced more realistically than a lot of suspense movies, the tension builds throughout.
Black Snake Moan
- Wildly entertaining, with some great acting.
The Diving Bell & the Butterfly
- Visually and emotionally riveting story of a magazine columnist whose stroke leaves him with only one eye to communicate with, which he uses to dictate his memoirs.
Eastern Promises
- Dark, brutally violent with compelling performances.
Gone, Baby, Gone
- Disturbing social drama surprisingly well-directed and written by Ben Affleck, and acted with grace by a good cast.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- Another grade-A installment in one of the best family series of all-time.
The Hoax
- Richard Gere finds the best role match in his career.
In the Shadow of the Moon
- Inspiring, compelling look at the Apollo space missions throughout the 1960s to the 1980s.
Into the Wild
- Sean Penn has directed a moving, intelligent film. After several uneven efforts, this film solidifies his place as a filmmaker to be reckoned with.
Juno
- This is a wonderful film. Funny, heartfelt and nicely played by a good cast.
Lust, Caution
- Political and sexual intrigue in WWII China is intensely directed and wonderfully acted.
No Country for Old Men
- Amazingly intense, always holds the interest, the acting is great and the Coens are in top form. Takes a little while for the abrupt ending to sink in, but it works.
Ratatouille
- Whimsical, light-hearted and smart.
Sweeney Todd
- Despite not starring great singers, this is a visual feast and a delightfully macabre Burton film.
There Will Be Blood
- Terrific acting, an epic story told well and a diabolical twist at the end.

* * * ½

Atonement
- Great-looking movie with good performances, but I just didn't love it. The first half was much more compelling than most of the second half, and then Vanessa Redgrave has so little to do in her concluding scene.
Bug
- Strong acting, disturbingly creepy and intense direction.
Enchanted
- Delightful Disney live-action film featuring an endearing Amy Adams. The ending did seem a little precious, but what other ending would they go with? Possibly another Oscar for Alan Menken.
Freedom Writers
- Surprisingly moving teacher-lifts-students-from-deadend-life film.
Grindhouse
- Both parts, "Planet Terror" and "Death Proof" are enjoyable. As a whole double-feature, with fake ads, it's a great time at the movies.
Hairspray
- Infectiously bright and rosy musical filled with joy and a lot of heart.
The Kite Runner
- Nicely filmed, absorbing story.
Meet the Robinsons
- Inventive, sweet, funny.
Michael Clayton
- Feels much like a good 1970s film, which is probably why it's nominated for Oscars, but it's not a "great" film.
A Mighty Heart
- Jolie is better than she's been in a long time in a somber true story.
Rescue Dawn
- Strong performances and an interesting perspective on the Vietnam War before it became what it became.
La Vie en Rose
- The wacky personality and life of singer Edith Piaf, starring an engaging Marion Cotillard.
Waitress
- One of the rare cases where praise for a film by a tragically killed filmmaker is actually worthy of it. The script is whimsical and sweet, and there is little doubt that Adrienne Shelley would have gone on to great things.
Zodiac
- Interesting, detailed telling of the investigation of the serial murders.

* * *

Across the Universe
- Visually arresting, though rather slight.
Alpha Dog
- Unexpectedly well-acted.
Amazing Grace
- Pleasant, touching history lesson with a good cast.
The Astronaut Farmer
- Entertaining family film gets a boost from Bruce Willis cameo.
Blades of Glory
- Funny, if silly.
Beowulf
- Entertaining, though I'm not completely sold on the motion-capture technique. They could have used real people with special effects without it.
The Bourne Ultimatum
- Suspenseful, absorbing, but a bit less compelling than the previous film.
The Brave One
- Foster and Howard work well together.
Breach
- Smart, with good work from Cooper and Phillippe.
The Bridge to Terabithia
- Unusually smart family fare.
Disturbia
- An entertaining modern-teen version of Hitchcock's "Rear Window."
Fracture
- Fireworks from Hopkins and Gosling.
For the Bible Tells Me So
- Interesting, probing documentary about the relationship between homosexuality and religion.
Hot Fuzz
- Spoofish comedy from "Shaun of the Dead" people.
I Am Legend
- Will Smith carries this third screen version so well its flaws can be overlooked fairly easily.
In the Valley of Elah
- Well-acted, though politically slanted towards the end.
Knocked Up
- Smart, funny.
Lars & the Real Girl
- Played almost completely straight-forward, it's a strangely emotional film, but the actors make it work.
Live Free or Die Hard
- Exciting. John McClane, as only Bruce Willis can play him.
The Lookout
- Compelling story, good acting.
Martian Child
- Nicely acted story about a writer struggling to take care of his emotionally scarred adopted son.
Mr. Brooks
- Not everything works, but the performances are good. Diabolical, darkly humourous at times.
Music & Lyrics
- Light, breezy romance.
The Namesake
- A very nice movie about how we interact with our parents and how we perceive our heritage. Good cast.
Once
- Good music, good acting, much centered around making records and approaching romance.
Snow Cake
- The acting makes it work.
Spider-Man 3
- Good fun, if not as impressive as the second installment.
Superbad
- Wacky comedy about misfit teens trying to get laid is far-fetched, but undeniably funny.
Transformers
- High-tech fun and games.
Water Horse
- Winning fable that is family-friendly but not dumbed-down for kids.
We Own the Night
- Predictable, but well-acted.


* * ½

1408
- Spooky, middling Stephen King.
30 Days of Night
- Enjoyable 'B'-movie material, sufficiently played by the cast.
The Darjeeling Limited
- Some good scenes, especially towards the end, but a bit drawn out.
Ghost Rider
- Campy fun.
The Host
- Sometimes intruiging, sometimes silly.
I'm Not There
- Amusing, ambitious, but also jumpy and sometimes repetitious. Good cast.
The Invisible
- Passable thriller, with decent acting.
Manufacturing Dissent
- Interesting look inside Michael Moore's filmmaking techniques and personal politics.
The Mist
- Some very good scenes, but missing something. I had a mixed reaction to the ending, as well.
The Nanny Diaries
- Pleasant, not much else.
Ocean's Thirteen
- Better than "Twelve."
The Reaping
- Enjoyable, if somewhat far-fetched.
Reign Over Me
- Sandler can act, but the story seems too convenient.

* *

Alvin & the Chipmunks
- Okay big-screen version of the classic cartoon characters.
The Bucket List
- Watchable if only for the presence of Freeman and Nicholson, and an occassional one-liner from Sean Hayes.
Elizabeth: The Golden Age
- Cate Blanchett breathes enough life into the film to make it watchable, but it's far less interesting than its predecessor.
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
- Slight improvement.
Hannibal Rising
- Mismash of genres and too long, but not terrible.
I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry
- Intermittently funny, but it's really hit and miss.
In the Land of Women
- Some good acting, but never really goes anywhere.
License to Wed
- Harmless, middle-of-the-road sitcom.
Lions for Lambs
- Lacking in emotional pull and grappling with familiar debate points, it never really goes anywhere.
Premonition
- All over the map, though Sandra Bullock is pretty good.
Shooter
- Wahlberg is solid, but overly familiar story with nothing much new.
Shrek the Third
- Sometimes fun, but quite a come-down from the first two.
Sicko
- Not as bad as his previous film, but still just a self-absorbed advertisement for universal healthcare (and other socialized programs). Provides no ideas for how to pay for it in a much more populace place than any of the three countries he goes to.
The TV Set
- Starts out pretty well, but I didn't care much by the end.
Wild Hogs
- Goofy, goofy movie, but it does have its moments.

* ½

Chaos
- By-the-numbers action movie, and fairly dull at that.
Halloween
- I have to admit that there were a few good moments in this movie, but nothing that adds up to much of anything.
Next
- Okay premise, but it does next to nothing with it.
Number 23
- What a mess this movie is!
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
- Surprisingly few real moments of fun and joy. The effects are fine, but the film feels sluggish and never really flows. A shame, considering how good the original was.

*

Perfect Stranger
- Hardly a believable moment in it.

NO STARS

Evan Almighty
- One or two chuckles does not make a good comedy, plus there's no way I'm believing this family is real. A true waste of money by the filmmakers, on special effects instead of a script.

Total So Far: 109




Edited By criddic3 on 1213851138
"Because here’s the thing about life: There’s no accounting for what fate will deal you. Some days when you need a hand. There are other days when we’re called to lend a hand." -- President Joe Biden, 01/20/2021
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Post by anonymous1980 »

UPDATED LIST:

****
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Tim Burton)
Ratatouille (Brad Bird)
We Own The Night (James Gray)
Gone Baby Gone (Ben Affleck)
Persepolis (Vincent Paronnaud/Marjan Satrapi)

***½
Eastern Promises (David Cronenberg)
Zodiac (David Fincher)
2 Days in Paris (Julie Delpy)
Bug (William Friedkin)
The Simpsons Movie (David Silverman)

***
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (David Yates)
Waitress (Adrienne Shelly)
Superbad (Greg Mottola)
Paris je t'aime (Various)
Enchanted (Kevin Lima)
28 Weeks Later... (Juan Carlos Fresnadillo)
Sunshine (Danny Boyle)
I Am Legend (Francis Lawrence)

**½
The Golden Compass (Chris Weitz)
The Bourne Ultimatum (Paul Greengrass)
Knocked Up (Judd Apatow)
Spider Man 3 (Sam Raimi)
Music and Lyrics (Marc Lawrence)

**
Transformers (Michael Bay)
Beowulf (Robert Zemeckis)


Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (Gore Verbinski)

*
None yet

½

None yet.




Edited By anonymous on 1200495951
criddic3
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Post by criddic3 »

Time is going by so fast with all the focus on work (we've been short on staff these past couple of months) that I have missed opportunities to see Michael Clayton and Before the Devil Knows You're Dead locally. I hope to make a trip to the city soon to see BDKYD but it's crazy. This may make it harder for me to meet my goal of listing my own alternate awards before the Oscar nominations.

Oh, well. I have seen a lot of movies already, and I have a huge list of to-see titles.

EDIT: Joy of joys, the Lumet film was picked up by a small local theater and I saw it last night (12/8), along with Enchanted.




Edited By criddic3 on 1197242595
"Because here’s the thing about life: There’s no accounting for what fate will deal you. Some days when you need a hand. There are other days when we’re called to lend a hand." -- President Joe Biden, 01/20/2021
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Post by Sabin »

I saw 'Rescue Dawn' again and more and more it seemed like a movie that the studio didn't entirely know what to do with, so they employed an odd fade out technique mid-sequence. There is an oddly jingoistic tone that doesn't really begin to fit. Christian Bale's performance is very studied but not as cohesive as one would hope. The opening scenes are a little weak, and honestly it felt like a movie that Herzog felt trapped to complete rather than really invested in. There are some fantastic sequences but ultimately they're not strung together as well as possible. I was left thinking about Steve Zahn's beautiful performance. The canonic cinephile in me would bring up the glorious, uncompromising madness of 'Aguirre' and 'Fitzcarraldo', but the literal filmgoer would say that I was just taken aback by its strength in comparison of the sell-out summer rather than its own merits, which are certainly there but not on a ***1/2 level, which I employ for movies that go above and beyond their trappings or just shy of masterpiece status; *** is for strong exercising in genre filmmaking or ambitious films with shortcomings either beyond their control or otherwise.

'Eastern Promises' I didn't see again, but all things considered just felt that I overrated. It was fun for its flourishes but it is entirely unsuccessful as a narrative because Cronenberg is totally disinterested in the script, but rather the ancillary moments of homophilia. Not the story. Just the details.

Revisionist, but apropos.
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Post by dylanfan23 »

As someone whose opinion i do respect, sabin...can you explain your downgrading of rescue dawn and eastern promises....these are two films i liked but not enough to be in my own top 10 but i don't understand the "downgrading."
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Post by Sabin »

Two months to go and I already have four four star films and 3/4rds of one. 'No Country for Old Men' to rise on second viewing, most likely 'Into the Wild' too.

Wonderful year. Wouldn't hesitate to watch any of the movies in my top 10 for a moment.


****
1. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (dir. Andrew Dominik) (NEW)
2. I'm Not There (dir. Todd Haynes) (NEW)
3. The Host (dir. Bong Joo-ho) (UPGRADED)
4. Into the Wild (dir. Sean Penn) (NEW)

***1/2
5. No Country for Old Men (dir. Joel & Ethan Coen) (NEW)
6. Zodiac (dir. David Fincher)
7. Superbad (dir. Greg Mottolla) (NEW)
8. Ratatouille (dir. Brad Bird)
9. Offside (dir. Jafar Panahi) (NEW)
10. Michael Clayton (dir. Tony Giroy) (NEW)
11. Knocked Up (dir. Judd Apatow)
12. 28 Weeks Later (dir. Juan Carlos Fresnadillo)
13. The Bourne Ultimatum (dir. Paul Greengrass) (NEW)
14. We Own the Night (dir. James Gray) (NEW)

***
15. Black Snake Moan (dir. Craig Brewer)
16. 3:10 to Yuma (dir. James Mangold) (NEW)
17. Rescue Dawn (dir. Werner Herzog) (DOWNGRADED)
18. Gone Baby Gone (dir. Ben Affleck) (NEW)
19. Brand Upon the Brain! (dir. Guy Maddin)
20. 30 Days of Night (dir. David Slade) (NEW)
21. Grindhouse: The Whole Experience (dir. Robert Rodriguez/Eli Roth/Quentin Tarantino/Edgar Wright/Rob Zombie)
22. Lust, Caution (dir. Ang Lee) (NEW)

**1/2
23. Eastern Promises (dir. David Cronenberg) (DOWNGRADED)
24. The Darjeeling Limited (dir. Wes Anderson) (NEW)
25. Smokin' Aces (dir. Joe Carnahan)
26. Rocket Science (dir. Jeffrey Blitz) (NEW)
27. Once (dir. John Carney)
28. Paris, Je T'Aime (dir. Buncha Dudes) (NEW)
30. Lars and the Real Girl (dir. Craig Guillepse) (NEW)
31. The Lookout (dir. Scott Frank)
32. Transformers (dir. Michael Bay) (NEW)
33. American Gangster (dir. Ridley Scott) (NEW)
34. Sunshine (dir. Danny Boyle) (NEW)
35. An Unreasonable Man (dir. Henriette Mantel, Steve Skrovan)

**
36. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (dir. Sidney Lumet) (NEW)
37. In the Valley of Elah (dir. Paul Haggis) (NEW)
38. Spider-Man 3 (dir. Sam Raimi)

*1/2
39. Lucky You (dir. Curtis Hanson)
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Post by Akash »

criddic3 wrote:I think that, so far, Into the Wild and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford are in the top slots.
Aside from you not listing Ratatouille, you and I are in complete agreement here. Yikes, scary. I have to go shower now.
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Post by criddic3 »

Akash wrote:Criddic and Zahveed -- did we see different Harry Potter movies? Four and three and a half stars respectively? REALLY?? That thing stunk as much as the last one. Marginally better than the first two for sure (how could they not be?) but still a complete waste after Cuaron's work on Azkawhatever.

I've only seen two films this year I'd rank that high -- Ratatouille and The Assassination of Jesse James. Third on my list (though not four stars) would probably be 28 Weeks Later.

EDIT: Ok, I just noticed Criddic also gave "300" four stars. It all makes sense now.
I have thought recently about my tendency to embrace the Harry Potter movies and rank them all near the top of the movies in their respective years. I suppose when I get around to reading all the books (I own them all now, but have not read them yet), I may have more criticism of their filmed counterparts, but I just love the world created in each installment. The charecters are endearing and their surroundings are so consistently entrancing that I find it hard to find much fault with them.

However, 300 is NOT at # 1. I have not ranked my movies in order yet for my top ten list. I have them in alphabetical order, numbers first, under the star ratings. I was impressed with the visual style and found the story entertaining. It gets four stars for being thoroughly enjoyable and technically impressive for its full runtime.

I think that, so far, Into the Wild and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford are in the top slots. That could change once I see the handful of films left to see in the last month and a half of the year. Actually, I am surprised by how many recent viewings have been highly favorable. The first half or so of the year saw very few such experiences. All of a sudden there are a number of releases that I am greatly enjoying.
"Because here’s the thing about life: There’s no accounting for what fate will deal you. Some days when you need a hand. There are other days when we’re called to lend a hand." -- President Joe Biden, 01/20/2021
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Post by Okri »

****
01. 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
02. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

***1/2
03. My Kid Could Paint That
04. Sunshine
05. Control
06. Bug
07. Red Road

***
08. Starter for Ten
09. The Year My Parents Went on Vacation
10. Eastern Promises

**1/2
11. Elizabeth: The Golden Age

**
12. Sleuth
13. The Darjeeling Ltd.
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