Top 22 of 2007

2007 was a busy year for me. I saw over 100 movies. On average, a movie every three days. I've seen a lot, but have a lot more to be seen. While I could probably assemble a list of my Top Ten favorite films of 2007, I think it wise to hold out for P.T. Anderson's latest film, There Will Be Blood. It wouldn't be right to make a list if I were to omit what will probably be (though I may be disappointed!) one of my favorite movies of all time. So, in lieu of the best films of 2007, I will compile a list (alphabetical) of my favorite 22 films that I saw over the course of 2007. Movies dating from 1932 to 2007.

The Awful Truth
Divorce wasn't so funny until this Cary Grant and Irene Dunne film became a hit in the late thirties and also garnered six Oscar nominations (won Best Director for Leo McCarey). Only one other film comes to mind that cleverly makes divorce into a laughing matter: The Squid and the Whale.

Blood Diamond
Djimon Hounsou is hot, Leo actually convinced me he could act, and director Edward Zwick (The Last Samurai) beautifully filmed a story that has a clear message, but seamlessly weaves sincere emotions within the politics. It's clever, enthralling, and moving.

Breakfast at Tiffany's
Perhaps not the best movie ever, Audrey Hepburn stylishly helms this Oscar-winning romantic comedy. If you can't fall in love with the thin plot, you can easily fall for Ms. Hepburn and her class.

Charade
Another Audrey Hepburn film, this time she's paired with one of my other favorite actors, Cary Grant. Devilishly witty and incredibly engaging, Charade cleverly melded romantic comedy and mystery/thriller and produced a seamless, delightful movie.

Charlie Wilson's War
Tom Hanks fits perfectly in the role of Congressman Charlie Wilson, the man that supplied the Afghanis with weapons to defeat the Soviet Union that eventually led to the fall of the USSR. It's an historical message movie that hints at America's failure to help Afghanistan rebuild after the war, which led to a prime environment for terrorism. Philip Seymour Hoffman makes a small role into a scene-stealing, hilarious ode to the guy that guided Charlie Wilson through "his war." It's just a great movie that leaves everyone feeling smarter and entertained.

Children of Men
The perfect form of dystopian disarray, Children of Men is one of the best filmed movies that I have ever seen. Some scenes with amazing special effects are seamlessly shot, without any edits, one of them being a solid 6 minutes and 18 seconds long. I challenge anyone to find riveting scenes like these without any cuts. Not to mention, the movie as a whole is an amazing work of art. Most films should strive for excellence, however, this one accomplished it.

Dancer in the Dark
Never before have I cried so hard from watching a film. This Lars von Trier masterpiece pulls your heart right out from your chest. Von Trier's films mostly focus on the cruelty of humanity (read: Dogville). It sounds depressing and it is depressing, but if you're ever in the mood to be sucked into a film and drain yourself of all the emotions you have left, Dancer in the Dark will do just that.

Days of Wine and Roses
Jack Lemmon stars in this movie which takes a glimpse into the lives of a pair of alcoholics. It perfectly shows the beginning of alcoholism and the startlingly realistic end of it. From what I know, most members of AA are actually encouraged to watch this film. Addictions to alcohol can often be perpetuated by having someone as your "partner in crime." Lemmon and his costar Lee Remick display perfection in their performances of the once-happy couple whose lives become splintered and broken.

Dial M for Murder
Another Hitchcock film that left me splendidly entertained! The ever-elegant Grace Kelly stars in the mystery/thriller alongside Ray Milland, a husband who has plotted a divine and immaculate plan to murder his wife. I really don't want to give any more away, but it's amazing how Hitchcock, with deliberate ease, unravels the husband's plan and the consequences thereof.

Dreamgirls
A fun musical full of great voices! Who could ask for anything more?

Gaslight
Gaslight won Ingrid Bergman an Oscar in 1944, a performance that was rightly acknowledged. It's hard to believe Angela Lansbury made her film debut in the myster/thriller about a Paula Alquist (Bergman) who returns home with her new husband after ten years away at school following the death of her aunt. Slowly but surely Paula's husband begins to isolate her in their own home, practically to the point of insanity. The plot unravels and the mystery thickens while getting sucked in further and further into this wonderfully creepy story.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
The Harry Potter series just gets better and better, but this latest edition boasts the best musical score to date of the franchise. Plus, how can you go wrong with great fantasy films?

Juno
It's Knocked Up, just smarter, more sentimental, and not so much of an inside joke between Judd Apatow and his biggest fans. And Juno was written by a former stripper! It doesn't get much better than that.

Lola rennt
Run Lola Run is paced so perfectly. Not many films can juggle a concept like this as well as Lola has. I love how fun and fast-paced it is!

No Country for Old Men
One of the best films of 2007. Joel and Ethan Coen have proven that with age comes wisdom. Their latest film is a prime example of their tremendous talent to tell a story without shadowing the characters in the middle of it all. It's creepy and engrossing and I love it.

Pan's Labyrinth
One of my favorite films of all time, Pan's Labyrinth is hard to pin down. I believe it's a story about innocence, but beyond that it's a story about love, imagination, temptation, freedom and peace. It's an all-encompassing film, which to some may seem too far off the map, but for me, it's spot-on.

Scenes from a Marriage
Ingmar Bergman's ten-hour film originally was broadcast as a miniseries in Sweden. Scenes is about the strengths and weaknesses that reveal themselves when two people are in love. Love can be shown in many ways, some good, others bad. Bergman challenges our ideas of jealousy and infidelity; things that can trigger a higher love and better understanding. It's really is an interesting case-study, and I think more people should see it. Maybe just an hour a night though.

Se7en
I'd seen the film in bits and pieces, but having gotten to watch it in its entirety, I was pleasantly surprised. It's just another mystery/thriller that I can add to my ever-growing list.

Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
The score was condensed perfectly, I believe makes this a musical for all people. The songs aren't catchy enough to get annoyingly stuck in your head, and instead of a lot of "let's stop and sing" moments, composer Steven Sondheim uses his songs to further develop the plot, so we're not left with a wasted three minutes listening to someone shove their emotions down our throats. One of the best movie-musicals around.

Volver
Pedro Almadovar won my heart over again with this fantastic story of people in desperate need of truth and happiness. Sometimes it takes a murder and a dead mother to come back to life to bring people together.

Wait Until Dark
Yet another mystery thriller! Yet another Audrey Hepburn film! This time she plays a blind woman being terrorized by three men on the prowl for a doll full of heroin that is residing in Ms. Hepburn's apartment. It's a riveting adaptation of the play by the same name.

Wuthering Heights
This 1939 version of the classic story is told with such emotion by the actors and by the camera work itself that it's hard not to appreciate it. Sure, it's a soap opera, but it's a damn good one.