The bottom line. That’s what drives the Hollywood machine. Fiscally speaking, 2007 was a banner year for tinseltown. Though most of the earnings were attributed to higher ticket prices, not an increase in viewers. Maybe it’s because this year left little to be desired. I write from experience, having seen well over a hundred features – some on DVD, most in darkened theaters.
The big problem is that Hollywood likes to save some of the best stuff for year’s end. Now they give us the prestige material. The For-Your-Consideration type pictures. Honestly, would it have been so wrong to release Juno during the summer? What, would the audience not be open to the idea of two unplanned pregnancy comedies competing against one another?
Film wise, the year had its share of disappoints. 2007 saw Hollywood release a multitude of anti-war films. No matter, as audiences could care less. And as Wild Hogs was making hand-over-fist in earnings, a film about the Zodiac killer was D.O.A. Certain tentpole pictures didn’t live up to expectations, but made hundreds of millions anyway. What is wrong with this picture? A big disappointment, that’s what.
At least the Hollywood was kind to give us a few cinematic gems during the year. Maybe not as much as you or I would like – they just love to make us navigate through crap-filled cineplexes. Traumatic. Bright spots released early in the year include: The Lookout from March, Sunshine amidst the crowded summer blockbuster season.
Every year produces around 30 movies that are memorable – very good to great – with some worthy of top 10 attention. 2007 was no different. Luckily I was able to find those magnificent ten that are near to perfection in my book.
There are a few odds and ends from 2006, I wish I could have included in this list. But to be fair, since I didn’t see them until this year, they must be stricken from top 10 consideraton. The two that spring to mind are Clint Eastwood’s Letters from Iwo Jima and Rescue Dawn. Both are war films spread a few decades apart.
Letters is like the second-half of a good novel; it bookends his previous Flags of Our Fathers. Here we get the Japanese perspective from the Battle of Iwo Jima. While Flags turned its attention to media and sensationalism, Letters takes a more human approach as we see a lowly soldier, who is a baker outside the regime, and a headstrong General both find strength and honor in a time of war. Great direction that could’ve got Eastwood another trophy, but it was Scorsese’s year for his dearly Departed.
Rescue Dawn, while getting a wide release in 2007, made the festival circuit rounds in 2006. Christian Bale (Batman Begins) stars as U.S. fight pilot Dieter Dengler, a German-American who is shot down and captured during the Vietnam War. Bale is good in this Werner Herzog tale of bravery and comradeship, but it is Steve Zahn who is a revelation as fellow captive Duane Martin. A total coming out party for Zahn, who typically played supporting characters in lowly comedies. Extending solidarity beyond the production, many of the actors lost weight in preparation of playing emaciated POWs. Both Bale and Zahn lost nearly 100 pounds combined.
Worst Film of 2007 – Epic Movie
Norbit and The Heartbreak Kid made the contest interesting, but nothing was as torturous as the unimaginative spoof Epic Movie. The fact that enough people paid to see Date Movie that Fox okayed another comedic spoof is frustrating. It clearly shows that today’s audience has never seen Airplane or Hot Shots or The Naked Gun. It’s hard to call this a movie, actually. Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer have made a living on the fact that they were two of the five writers of Scary Movie. Like that’s saying a whole hell of a lot. Apparently they don’t realize that borrowing from recent films and copying certain dialogue verbatim constitutes satire. And as far as originality, naming a character White Bitch and another Captain Jack Swallows, which is nothing more than a shallow attempt at poking fun at Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean, just reeks of two writers not even trying. (And in 2008 we get Meet the Spartans from this dastardly duo; should be an early contender of worst film of 2008 sight unseen.)
Most Disappointing Film of 2007 – American Gangster
This is a strange selection for my most disappointing film of the year. My biggest gripe is that the film was very good, but it wasn’t excellent. I know that may seem like a copout, but in the weeks and months leading up to American Gangster‘s release there wasn’t anything else I was more eager to see. You have established stars like Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, and competent directing by Ridley Scott in a ‘70s Harlem-centered period piece. Similar in scope to Michael Mann’s Heat, it was Steve ZaIllian’s screenplay that was the weak link. As the film progressed, I felt that the emphasis on the two leads was mishandled. Who do you focus on more – the cop or the gangster?
Honorable Mentions
Where does one even begin to start. Outside the top 10, there is easily another 10 or 15 that, in any other year, would be viable for top 10 consideration. Throughout the last 365 days, I have kept track of my personal best. Some titles would remain on the list while others were removed. Honorable mentions include dramas Breach, The Wind That Shakes the Barley, and Atonement, as well as comedies Death at a Funeral, Waitress, and Superbad. Then there’s the Richard Gere double-bill surprise of The Hoax and The Hunting Party, the whimsical fantasy Stardust, the action-packed Bourne Ultimatum. And who could forget the once-dreaded musical, which saw a small revival with no less than four different interpretations (Once, Hairspray, Sweeney Todd, etc.). Outside the top 25 or 30, though, you see a gradual decline in enjoyment, all things considered.
— Philip Seymour Hoffman – Don’t be fooled as to think there was a biopic about this actor’s life already. But you don’t miss with the Hoff. Instead of singling out one of the pictures he was in, I have to look at two: Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead and Charlie Wilson’s War. I would include The Savages had I been able to see it. Is it crazy for me to think that his work in these two films is better than his Oscar turn as Truman Capote. The guy is a chameleon, able to turn out one good performance after another. In Sidney Lumet’s drama Hoffman is the older brother to Ethan Hawke. To secure funds he stages a robbery, but it doesn’t go as planned. We see him try to right a wrong and fail miserably. So commanding, unlike his turn as the sad sack CIA agent Gust Avrakotos in Charlie Wilson’s War. Here he upstages both Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts with smirk dialogue by Aaron Sorkin. Should be a shoe-in for a Best Supporting Actor nod.
— American Gangster – Despite being my most disappointing film, American Gangster is a grand crime drama. In fact, you could easily call 2007 the Year of Crime as there has been a great resurgence in crime-related pictures. Denzel Washington, always the consummate professional, seems to have a knack for playing nefarious types. Bad cop (Training Day) now a gangster. He moves with a purpose and strikes hard. Just watch the scene where he handles some business during morning rush.
— The Kingdom – The criticism aimed at this Peter Berg film seems to be two-fold. People either could not take the Berg’s frenetic shooting style, which in all honesty is more stable than Paul Greengrass’s camera work on the two Bourne films, or they couldn’t stand Jaime Foxx in the lead role. OK, but the film is CSI: Riyadh capped off with the most action-packed finale than any movie you’ll find in 2007. Comparatively speaking, The Kingdom delivered in the last 30 minutes what it took two-plus hours for Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.
— Into the Wild – Trying to separate an actor from his beliefs is tough, especially if the beliefs are political in nature. Sean Penn is like that. Good actor, but I could care less what he thinks of those voted into power. Until now I didn’t much care for his directorial efforts either. But with Into the Wild he tapped into something many wish they could do: break free. Break free and experience life. No money, no identification, no restraints. Emile Hirsch gives a captivating performance as Christopher McCandless, a man who went searching for his own Walden. Beautifully shot and with music from Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, Into the Wild was a breathtaking experience.
— 300 – When people look at the year 2007, the most satisfying experience visually will no doubt be 300. This is not a film that succeeds because of the acting or the performances of a select few; it is about the painstaking care that went into its creation. Filmed in front of a green screen for the most part, director Zack Snyder has ushered in a new way of making films. Like Robert Rodriguez and Sin City, he has proved that you don’t need sets. The battle at Thermopylae with 300 men defied King Xerxes is an awesome spectacle. So much that part of me was wishing I could have a video game controller so I could get in on the action.
— The Mist – A mistimed release during the month of November, The Mist probably had the most amazing conclusion of any film released in 2007. A conclusion that said to me, thank God some executive had the cojones to go along with it. Based on the Stephen King novella, this Frank Darabont adaptation shies away traditional blood and guts horror and emphasizes the psychological impact. Marcia Gay Harden and her holier-than-thou attitude is beyond the point of aggravating as she starts a faction of religious zealots much to the distain of those non-believers. As for the ending – wow. Best horror experience of 2007, bar none.
— Sunshine – Talk about a surprise. The only reason this film piqued my interest at all was because Scott Sawitz caught an early screening and was so impressed by this Danny Boyle science-fiction drama. Considering that the science-fiction genre has been anemic of late, I was a bit skeptical going in. But Scott was right. An impressive ensemble with Cillian Murphy and Chris Evans at the front and stargazing visuals (literally), this collaborative effort by Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland (of 28 Days Later fame) was beautifully hypnotic. Despite some problems with the last act, this is still a movie that must be discovered on DVD or Blu-ray.
Top 10 of 2007
10. Hot Fuzz/Shoot ‘Em Up (tie)
Coming in at number 10 are two movies that would make a great double feature any day of the week. Both are different in tone and execution, but they know how to bring the action. When I tell people about the U.K. import Hot Fuzz, I tell them it is an Agatha Christie mystery by way of Michael Bay. It works as a buddy-cop picture, a spoof and as a homage. With references to movies likes Point Break and Bad Boys II, it is clear that director Edgar Wright and co-writer/star Simon Pegg are big action junkies. It’s a shame that it wasn’t as embraced here as it was in the U.K.
Now Shoot ‘Em Up was an even bigger surprise. Here you have a director in Michael Davis who was untested when it came to staging action. Up until now he had worked on small comedies starring future screen starlets Keri Russell (Waitress) and Katherine Heigl. When explaining the premise to others, I’m stumped. The story is as thin as a dryer sheet, but stars Clive Owen and Paul Giamatti are engaging. The action is comparable to the operatic shootouts in The Boondock Saints only more lavish and more unbelievable. With crass wit and awesome displays of gunplay, this movie is wall-to-wall action. No joke, Michael Davis doesn’t let up for 80 minutes straight. Shoot ‘Em Up is just that. No kiss kiss, just the bang bang.
9. Knocked Up
Is Judd Apatow the John Hughes of his generation? Here is a guy that has revitalized the stale adult comedy genre. Finally, there’s someone who understands that adults can handle crude humor if it is smartly written. In the last few years Judd Apatow has become the Jerry Bruckheimer of comedy, producing hit (Talladega Nights) after hit (Superbad). It is his directorial works, though, that are more character-driven and that much more quotable. While the set-up of Knocked Up seems like a bad TV comedy – we are supposed to buy Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl as a couple – the pratfalls of going from man-child to adult is milk-out-of-your-nose funny. Apatow’s crude sense of humor is unmatched and his latest makes us all wish we had a friend like Paul Rudd.
8. Michael Clayton
George Clooney is not a mega star, but he is a star nonetheless. With Oscar gold already obtained, he has the freedom to pick the roles as he wishes. As the dodgy fixer of a law firm, his Michael Clayton character is morally corrupt. Strong supporting performances from Tom Wilkinson and Tilda Swinton are engaging, but it is the journey Clooney takes as he tries to steer his moral compass in the right direction that propels this first-time effort from writer/director Tony Gilroy.
7. Gone Baby Gone
Ben Affleck’s directorial debut is about that grey line between right and wrong. With this adaptation of Dennis Lehane’s best-selling novel, Affleck shows he has feel for directing. Here he has assembled a strong ensemble with Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris and Michelle Monaghan. But it is his younger brother, Casey, as private detective Patrick Kenzie and his journey to find the truth no matter what, who is the most commanding. A breakout role for Casey, coupled with his performance in The Assassination of Jesse James.
6. 3:10 to Yuma
The Western is not dead. So what if only one or two get made a year. One is bound to be good, it’s common knowledge. This remake of the classic 1957 film from Walk the Line director James Mangold is a thoughtful study of duty and seeing something through to the end. Stars Russell Crowe and Christian Bale have a natural chemistry. As the villainous outlaw Ben Wade, Crowe is both virtuous and cavalier. He’s a man who has read the bible, but may not espouse to everything written. Bale is small-time rancher Dan Evans, a man who is having trouble supporting his family. His son, William, sees him as a failure. There’s a monetary motivation for Evans to help transport Wade to the train station in Contention to board a train to Yuma prison. Another incentive is to be seen as a hero in his son’s eyes. A fascinating examination of hero and villain archetypes.
5. The Lookout
In the last few years it seems that any movie starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt is bound to end up in my top 10 list. It happened with Mysterious Skin and again with Brick. There’s just something about the characters he plays. This directorial debut from Out of Sight scribe Scott Frank is a small crime thriller that succeeds because of Gordon-Levitt’s performance. As a high school student he was full of promise. But his life is drastically altered after a tragic car accident. Now he works as a janitor in a bank, and is ultimately caught up in a heist. Meticulous character-driven drama with Gordon-Levitt trying to piece his life together with his help of his blind friend, as played by Jeff Bridges.
4. No Country for Old Men
Joel and Ethan Coen return to their Blood Simple roots by adapting Cormac McCarthy’s violent ‘80s crime novel set in Texas. Javier Bardem leaves quite the impression as Anton Chigurh. Anyone who crosses him, or comes up on the wrong end of a coin toss, is likely to die. There’s a reason why Popcorn Junkie columnist Robert Sutton named him the number one badass of 2007 – because he is. Josh Brolin and Tommy Lee Jones are good in supporting roles, but it is Bardem who will captivate you – and jolt you into submission.
3. Ratatouille
As good as any French pastry, that’s my feeling of Ratatouille. Pixar Animation is the gold standard when it comes to kid-friendly animated fare, but here Brad Bird (The Incredibles) has managed to direct a film that is for adults first and kids second. While some can’t buy into the fact that a rat wants to be a famous chef, I see it as a metaphor for anyone has ever dared to dream. Great use of voices overall, including the likes of Patton Oswalt and Janeane Garofalo; but it is Peter O’Toole as the surly food critic Anton Ego that is most remembered. Especially the flashback sequence to his youth and the Ratatouille his mother used to make.
2. Juno
Jason Reitman (Thank You for Smoking) does not suffer a sophomore slump with his second directorial effort. With a script that has been labeled both brilliant and also too smart for its own good, Juno is that other unplanned pregnant comedy of 2007. And it is a nice companion to Judd Apatow’s Knocked Up. Revolving around teenagers instead of adults, we get a award-worthy performance from Ellen Page. And while she is the biggest highlight, she has a nice supporting cast in J.K. Simmons, Alison Janney, Michael Cera and Jason Bateman. The humor is smart and sweet with heart all the same.
On another note, I should point out that of all the studios, it was a great year for Fox Searchlight. Juno and Sunshine and Once, Waitress and The Namesake, the studio has delivered more hits (cinematically) than misses than any other this year.
1. Zodiac
Five years after Panic Room, David Fincher returns with a film that was pretty much ignored by most critics when it came time for top 10s, even critics who gave it four stars. Its March second release didn’t help matters either. Roger Ebert once said that a good movie could never be too long. At more than two-and-a-half hours, no other film from 2007 left me with as many questions as it did answers. I was hooked. It is the All the President’s Men of police procedurals. And in performances that won’t get the attention that they rightfully deserve, Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Ruffalo deliver.
As the film progresses we see Jake Gyllenhaal as newspaper cartoonist Robert Graysmith, a man who becomes obsessed with trying to identify the Zodiac. Atmospheric, Fincher gives us intricate sequences of the passage of time. Some have complained that the movie isn’t suspenseful enough. Maybe it’s because we follow the clues like the detectives. The intent of the film is not to be suspenseful but to stress the obsession that befell certain men during the sixties and seventies. Definitely not for those who have short attention spans.
