When I think about 2007 at the movies, I’ve really got some mixed feelings about it. As I’ve been ranting about for months, the summer time was one of the biggest downers in years. Right out of the gate, the May releases seemed to have a weird domino effect of disappointing us one after another. Each movie seemed to be another gargantuan blockbuster with all the effects in the world, but lacking the fun or cleverness of classic popcorn flicks of old. As the months trudged on, the dog days of summer were filled with one mega-movie run amok after another.
Even more disappointing than these big screen duds were how many of them were successful financially, and this went for the entire year. No one seemed to learn their lesson from the first terrible Fantastic Four movie, as the second one raked in the dough again. Disappointing sequel after sequel couldn’t be stopped. In other atrocities, Nicholas Cage made two reasons to stay away from the movies this year, Ghost Rider and the second National Treasure, but audiences went anyway. Finally, Alvin and the Chipmunks heralded more horrible children’s movies to come, because studios just can’t make enough money off of movies like it.
Then again, there was still a lot to be happy about with 2007’s cinema. Jason Bourne gave us perhaps one last ass-kicking adventure and John McClane regained his title as the greatest screen American Action hero of all time. Russell Crowe gave us the closest thing we’ve had to a Clint Eastwood double feature in a while after playing a bad ass cowboy and a tough nosed cop this year. The oldest-school of heroes were even represented as Leonidas and Beowulf finally made it to the big screen in epics suitable to their legend.
2007 was also an amazing year for directors. Film makers who made huge marks in the 80’s and 90’s had some of their best years in a long time. Names like Cronenberg, Scott, Burton, Fincher, the Coens, Tarantino, and Rodriguez all made noise this year with incredible films that will stand as some of the best of their careers. Other directors who had had recent successes were also able to follow them up with movies that would further cement their names. P.T. Anderson, Jason Reitman, Andrew Dominik, James Mangold, Judd Apatow, and Edgar Wright all made films that will stand the test of time. All of their films may not have been loved by audiences when they hit theaters, but in the end, 2007 will have been one of the most important years of all their careers. So with that, let’s get to the list.
R0BTRAIN’s Best of 2007
by Robert Sutton, Popcorn Junkies
The Lives of Others – I was shocked when I heard this film’s name instead of Pan’s Labyrinth’s being called on Oscar Night when they announced Best Foreign Film, but after watching this heartbreaking, intimate masterpiece, I can only hope its victory will inspire more people to seek it out. This is an incredible work by Director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, and the movie will be a lasting testament to the awesome subtlety and acting ability of the late actor Ulrich Mühe.
Lady Vengeance – Park Chan-Wook’s follow-up to Oldboy is a haunting meditation on violence and revenge. The movie is an amazing look at the subject by its director and brings his Revenge Trilogy to a close with the somber, yet violent beauty of a snow storm. The raw emotional power of Chan-Wook’s film is his signature, and with Lady Vengeance he was able to present it to us without completely repulsing us in the same way he had in the past.
Children of Men – When it comes down to it, Children of Men will probably be one of my films of the decade. Alfonso Cuarón’s picture was not only one of the best pictures of 2007 (and should have been nominated accordingly), but will go down as one of the best Science Fiction films since Blade Runner. In addition to incredible action, which schooled most summer blockbusters, the movie had an incredible story or triumph to go with its immersive universe.
Halloween – Now I’ve been thinking about this one hard for the last few weeks, and up until recently, I had wholeheartedly planned on naming D-War: Dragon Wars as the worst film of the year. Thing is, while the movie is as inept as its title, the movie’s stupidity saves it from this distinction. Thinking about it further, the crimes against moviegoer’s perpetrated by Rob Zombie’s remake of Halloween were much more egregious. This movie should have been awesome. Zombie is a talented director and the cast he assembled has merit, but instead of just building upon the base of John Carpenter’s brilliant original film, he decided to go his own way. What he ended up doing was taking away the elegance of the original to try and keep up with the latest trends in Horror cinema; i.e. Torture porn. The final result was a horrible mess of a film, shoving Carpenter’s original plot into 45 minutes and repulsing us with poorly done and pointless gore.
Spider-Man 3 – I don’t think I was ready for feeling of apathy that I had after sitting through my screening of Spider-Man 3. The two movies previous were very good, and the marketing for this film had been fantastic. The movie even starts off like gangbusters, but then as the symbiote storyline kicks into gear, the seams start to show. By the time Venom, the most popular Spider-Man villain of the modern age, is shoehorned into this film for 20 minutes, we’ve already had to sit through three Kirsten Dunst musical numbers, several goofy dance sequences, a butler that decided to divulge information to Harry two movies too late, and finally we stopped caring.
The Bourne Ultimatum – Paul Greengrass’ second time behind the camera on this franchise is an absolute blast. From the awesome rooftop chase to the most lethal use of a book ever caught on screen, the movie was everything that a summer megahit should be. Even better, this movie had heart, as Bourne’s inner conflict comes through in a way that few blockbusters even attempt, and less ever get this right. This was without a doubt the king of the trilogy cappers this past summer.
Eastern Promises – A captivating look at the Russian Mob, David Cronenberg’s follow-up to A History of Violence exposes the hideous underbelly of this particular type of organized crime. Leads Naomi Watts and Viggo Mortensen are simply excellent, as Watts is the midwife that leads us down the rabbit hole into this nightmarish world, and Mortensen is the mob enforcer who must lead us out. Eastern Promises also holds the distinction of having the best fight scene of 2007.
Knocked Up – This was Judd Apatow’s year, and while Superbad may have held the distinction as the funniest movie he produced this year, Knocked Up was still his overall best film. Seth Rogen became a star here as his lovable schlub won our hearts as he tried to woo Katherine Heigl on screen. While their onscreen pairing is a bit over the top, we still want to believe it, and Apatow somehow makes it seem real.
Sweeny Todd – A Musical would have to be really good in order to make this list, and Sweeny Todd is just that. Tim Burton’s version of the Broadway hit is an infectious blast as Johnny Depp’s title character gets medieval on fops and vagabonds. Thankfully, the movie is devoid of huge musical numbers with tons of extras, as Burton keeps the experience as intimate as possible, pulling you in as the body count rises, despite the singing.
Zodiac – No film held on tighter for longer, only to be let go out of my top 10 this year. David Fincher’s Zodiac is an incredible work of detail and atmosphere, as this Police Procedural epic takes its time exploring the different facets of this killer and how he ruined not just the lives of his victims but those who survived and obsessed over him. Fincher’s most mature work, this was exactly the type of picture he needed to show just how much substance was under all his flash.
Top 10 of 2007
10.(tie)300 – Zach Snyder’s big screen adaptation of Frank Miller’s epic graphic novel is like Gladiator or Spartacus, only injected with a healthy dose of speed, steroids and ninjas. The movie is pure entertainment from beginning to end; decapitating subtlety as the Spartans and Persians battle it out in some of the craziest fight scenes ever put on film. Gerard Butler’s Leonidas seemed to be a composite of every big screen epic hero, and we loved him more and more for it with every ridiculous speech. Released in March of 2007, 300 schooled 99% of the summer movies that came out this year by literally throwing everything it possibly could at us, and we just kept coming back for more.
10.(tie)Shoot’em Up – Take a John Woo-style hero, add wall to wall action scenes, one baby, and one of the hottest screen sirens ever, and you’ve got Shoot’em Up. We’re talking 88 minutes of pure, unadulterated insanity that goes down smooth and never overstays it welcome. This film was everything its title suggests, as the flick goes from one ridiculous action scene to the next. You’re almost out of breath as exhilaration and laughter fill your senses and you just let go of how ludicrous the movie really is. Clive Owen could keep playing these baby saving heroes from now until eternity and I would keep going to see his movies, and Monica Bellucci only has to be on screen for me to keep showing up. Smartest film of the year? No. Cheerfully, the most ridiculous Action movie of the year? Hell yes. This one has “cult favorite” written all over it.
9.Live Free or Die Hard – Nothing was able to cure those summertime blues like the return of the greatest American Action icon of all time. Bruce Willis’ John McClane returned to the big screen with high style, taking out jets and helicopters with little more than his own grit on his side. Like always, the man kept taking a beating and never stopped coming until all the bad guys were dead and America was safe again. Live Free or Die Hard was even better on DVD, as the “Unrated” version of the flick treated us to Bruce Willis’ f-bomb stylings with a vengeance and even more bloody satisfaction. Whether this is the last time we’ll see this American hero on screen again is probably up in the air, but if it is, at least he went out on top.
8.Grindhouse – I’ll never truly understand the movie-going public, as trash like National Treasure: Book of Secrets keeps stealing our money, while movies with real entertainment value like this one fail at the box office. This double shot of gore and road rage was an insane throwback to the seedy entertainment of yesteryear, only with a sophistication the exploitation films of the past never really possessed. First up, Robert Rodriguez’s Planet Terror was grand guignol entertainment with reckless abandon as his zombie massacre went off with a wink and a smile, followed up by Quentin Tarantino’s talkie Death Proof, which featured the best car chase put on the screen since The Road Warrior. All together and combined with hilarious fake trailers, this was an explosive funhouse with style and laughs to spare.
7.Hot Fuzz – Pure joy from start to finish, Hot Fuzz begins like Murder by Death and ends up like Hard Boiled. The Shaun of the Dead team pulled all the stops on a minimal budget in order to create an authentic 80’s Action flick, and did so swimmingly. From Simon Pegg to Timothy Dalton, everyone in this flick is pitch perfect, as a big city cop comes to the country side and hell comes with him. Like the best satires, this actually ends up as a fine example of the genre its spoofing, as this movie runs rings around some of the flicks it references, like Bad Boys II and Point Break.
6.There Will Be Blood – There’s no dialogue for the first 15 minutes of Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood, but in that time this movie has a lot to say. It tells you nearly everything you need to know about Daniel Day-Lewis’ Daniel Plainview, a millionaire who viciously made his money by bending the earth to his will, and then in turn did the same to others who would have his potential oil claims. This is a towering performance from the Oscar winner, displaying intensity that could power a square block. Much like Charles Foster Kane, Plainview is a man that slowly loses his humanity as he gains his fortune, then with a killing blow, finally severs his ties with all he loves. Make no mistake, this is amazing stuff.
5.American Gangster – I think for some, American Gangster just wasn’t violent enough to be considered a great movie. I think those looking for another round of The Departed may be a little disappointed, because what you get instead is a fantastic look at 1970’s New York and two of the men that fought for its streets. Even as his accomplishments stack up further and further every year, Denzel Washington still shocks with just how good an actor he truly is. His Frank Lucas shows exactly why this man was able to rise to power like he did, and how his viciousness was matched only by his charisma and his tenacity. Washington may not win the Oscar this year, but all that does is show what an amazing crop of performances we had in 2007.
4.Juno – For lovers of Garden State and Little Miss Sunshine, this is your moment. Fans of quirky Comedies like those films will love the straightforward and heartfelt sincerity of Juno with its teen pregnancy storyline the center of a universe filled with wonderful and fully rounded characters. The screenplay by newcomer Diablo Cody is perhaps a little too quippy, but Director Jason Reitman’s sure hand always keeps matters grounded. Also, Ellen Page deserves every bit of the award buzz she’s getting, and Michael Cera continues his career year with another awkward performance that’s amazingly lovable. Juno may be the odd man out in my top 10, as its devoid of any decapitations or gunfights, but its sincerity earns it its spot this high.
3.No Country For Old Men – God bless the Coen Brothers. No Country for Old Men reminded us all why we love the Coens so much, thoroughly washing the taste of Intolerable Cruelty and The Ladykillers out of our mouths. A modern Western in the tradition of Bring me the Head of Alfredo Garcia, this is a vicious movie with incredible performances top to bottom. Everyone in this picture was absolutely born to play these roles, from Tommy Lee Jones overwhelmed sheriff to Javier Bardem’s unforgettable assassin. Taking insane turns, the story weaves in and out of formula until ultimately shocking you and then ending on an incredible grace note. This is another masterwork from the Coens and ranks along any film they have ever done.
2.3:10 to Yuma – James Mangold’s Western is a textbook case on how to do a remake. Take a minor, but good film, add amazing actors, throw in tons of exciting action, and add an awesome brand new ending. 3:10 to Yuma is the crowd pleaser of the year, featuring incredible acting and gunfights across the board. The two leads here are amazing as Christian Bale’s farmer and Russell Crowe’s outlaw duke it out for supremacy while Ben Foster’s henchman baddie nearly steals the entire show. 3:10 to Yuma is classic Western mythmaking, made much in the same vein as standards of the genre, such as The Magnificent Seven or Rio Bravo. In terms of excitement and storytelling, 3:10 is also a match for those films, making nearly every right decision and taking serious chances with its characters, but always coming up roses.
1.The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – Where as so many wunderkind directors stumble out upon their second go around behind the camera, Andrew Dominik made good on his promise with an elegiac masterpiece. Where 3:10 to Yuma was in the spirit of tried and true Westerns, The Assassination of Jesse James was a slow melodic look at the genre, breaking down its conventions, and yet still showing you how gorgeous those elements can be. Not since Robert Altman‘s McCabe and Mrs. Miller has a Western been a more perfect blend of music, cinematography, and stunning performances.
Brad Pitt’s Jesse James may be the most under appreciated great performance of the year. Pitt is like a coiled snake, ready to strike you down at any moment, and yet so beautiful and charismatic that you can’t help but be wrapped up in his legend. The reason I believe Pitt is so overlooked though, is because he is so greatly overshadowed in his own film. Casey Affleck’s Robert Ford is the performance of the year. This is a stunning portrayal of a man wrestling with wanting his own legend, and yet to do so he has to destroy all he loves. By trying to become something he’s not he has to tear down all he is, and that’s stunning to watch on screen. Even in its final moments, you look at a man still having to look back and struggle with the choices he’s made. This is powerful stuff that films like Unforgiven and The Searchers have touched upon before.
Assassination‘s themes are just some of the many wonders this movie brings though, from some of the most gorgeous cinematography I’ve ever seen to the hypnotic Nick Cave/Warren Ellis score. Even with all these things going for it, the film is at this top spot simply because it moved me more than any other this year. At the end of it, I didn’t think that a single element of the film could have been better than it already was. This film was everything it was supposed to be, and for that reason reached heights that no other film this year could even touch.
