Films of 2007 Top and Bottom
I saw 46 films with release dates in 2007 (some of them were in limited release during 2006, so as to be Oscar-eligible for ‘07, such as Dreamgirls). Here’s my top 10 list, with reasoning:
10. Starter for 10: Because I love me some James McAvoy right now and I couldn’t put Atonement in the top 10. And because Charles Dance naked is the hottest old guy I’ve ever seen. Plus this film was pretty damn charming; even if it was a bit formulaic, it felt genuine. And I totally understood how McAvoy’s Brian felt in his unfortunately defining moment.
9. The Lookout: This was a surprise. I heard about how good it was, but as you can read, I wasn’t sure about the first half. Great editing gave it poetry and brought on genuine foreboding—a tough thing to do. And it wasn’t resolved exactly happily, but yet it was satisfying. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jeff Daniels, Isla Fisher, and Sergio Di Zio are spot-on.
8. Bridge to Terabithia: I was terrified they’d change the ending on this one, because it was coming from Disney, which likes to start out with tragedy and end happily ever after. And they played up the wrong part in the marketing; with it also coming from Walden, I went expecting another Narnia—which I seriously didn’t like. I also expected a kids’ movie, but I found myself in tears by the end, wondering if it was even appropriate for kids. Serious power and great lessons, just like the book. Josh Hutcherson and Robert Patrick are fantastic, though the part played by Zooey Deschanel, normally a favorite of mine, was a bit puzzling.
7. Juno: Well-written (if a little too stylized) by Diablo Cody, stellarly directed by Jason Reitman, with excellent performances (Ellen Page, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman), particularly supporting ones from J.K. Simmons, Allison Janney, and Michael Cera. Supersweet but not sickly ending.
6. Dan in Real Life: Yes, a movie with Dane Cook in it. In spite of Dane Cook, actually. This was basically Steve Carell’s Stranger Than Fiction. It’s a beautiful performance that takes the best and truest bits of his comedy and puts them in a tender (not really my favorite word, but I’ll use it here) dramatic story. And Emily Blunt is great, as usual, and The Jane Austen Book Club didn’t make the list either.
5. Rescue Dawn: Two words: Christian Bale. I needn’t say more, but I will. Really rough to watch, depressing actually. And yet it makes the list. Extra kudos to Steve Zahn for showing us a side of his talent we never knew he had. Cheers to Jeremy Davies too; but phew, looks like he’s gained a little bit of meat back for his Lost appearance.
4. Once: Because I love the music! And it’s not a “movie”! And Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová are so cute together! And Markéta Irglová is so cute on her own!
3. No Country for Old Men: Okay, talk about depressing. And awesome! Javier Bardem gives us the coolest villain we’ve had in a long time, but the smaller roles are the ones that give this Coen brothers odyssey its vigor. It’s the perfect Cormac McCarthy translation.
2. Lars and the Real Girl: I’m actually a little surprised to find this so far up my list. But I was really charmed by it, and then double-charmed the second time around. All the actors are good, but the heroes of this film are Ryan Gosling and writer Nancy Oliver.
1. 3:10 to Yuma: Duh. Second verse, same as the first. Not only did this release on my birthday (a sign), but it stars my favorite actor and Russell Crowe, with additional excellent work from Ben Foster, Alan Tudyk, and Dallas Roberts (okay, and others). Logan Lerman is a great discovery here (for me). I like when a film gets better on second viewing, and it happened here.
And the bottom five, explanation only where necessary:
5. Reservation Road: I wanted to shoot myself by the end of it.
4. Because I Said So: How much of Diane Keaton’s neurotics must we take?
2. Primeval
I watched Primeval on cable television and felt slightly cheated.
[...] Garth Jennings’ Rambow, though slow, is just quite sweet, punctuated by moments of hilarity and heartbreak. Will Poulter’s got a bright future in film, I’d say. With ease, Poulter makes bully Lee Carter a likable bloke, while Bill Milner’s Will Proudfoot, Carter’s total opposite, winningly and unknowingly finds the chinks in Carter’s armor. It’s less a traditional kids’ movie, more along the lines of mature-themed films like Bridge to Terabithia. [...]
[...] no Oscars, no BAFTAs, and a single ensemble SAG nom (for 3:10 to Yuma). It doesn’t compute. Bale had two award-worthy performances in 2007 alone, that I saw (haven’t gotten around to I’m Not [...]