I'm hesitant to post product reviews on this blog, but I love movies and I couldn't resist the temptation of talking about which movies I thought were 2007's best. They're listed in order, my top ranked films first. Feel free to leave a comment if you disagree.
#1 (tie): "No Country for Old Men" - An entry of the timeless debate between fate & free will done with masterful suspense. Powerful, heavy, and challenging; appropriate for its time. Best ending of any film last year (or many years before, for that matter).
#1 (tie): "There Will Be Blood" - If you watch this film from a technical standpoint you will find a nearly perfect production: a superb script, excellent cinematography, tight editing, a haunting score, and acting that is second to none. But of course look deeper to see "Blood" as an allegory, a devastating metaphor for modern day America. Not recommended for mainstream audiences, who will probably walk out in disgust (as some did when I saw this film).
3. "Lars and the Real Girl" - On the lighter, slightly less pessimistic side: a great comedy, because it isn't your standard comedy. I haven't felt that awkward in a movie for a long time; I respect it for that. Also very sweet in a Midwestern sort of way.
4. "No End in Sight" - I had to include one documentary; this one about the run-up to the Iraq invasion was one of the best-researched docs I've seen in a while. Warning: it will make you very angry.
5. "Juno" - Although the music is distracting and the writing is, at times, less than stellar, I liked this movie. It's touching without being preachy or too corny.
Others:
"Planet Earth" - Technically a TV documentary so I didn't include it in my list (it would have been #1). Best Doc ever.
"Michael Clayton" - I love the starkness and minimalism.
"Charlie Wilson's War" - Too bad you need Tom Hanks & Julia Roberts to get people to see a smart film like this.
"A Mighty Heart" - Yeah, I'll admit to liking it even though nobody else will.
"Ratatouille" - Best date movie of the year; I suppose it would be okay for kids too.
Most overrated films:
"Atonement" - I liked this movie, and it was wittier than I expected. The problem is that it's simply not as good as everyone says it is. Plus, I'm pretty sure this is just an mixture of several other stories from the last few years.
"Into the Wild" - Good source material, boring movie - and not boring in a good (philosophical) way, either. Read the book instead.
2 comments:
Some thoughts...
"No Country" -- Awesome awesome movie.
"There Will Be Blood" -- Not in Vermont yet, damn you limited release! I can't wait to see it.
"No End" -- In my Netflix queue. I'll get back to you.
"Juno" -- I agree with everything you said. Props to Diablo Cody though, it was her first movie script ever.
"Lars" -- Didn't see it, but you're wrong. I had to disagree with you on something.
"Atonement" -- I just saw last Saturday. I thought it was a pretty good picture, and it was definitely redeemed by the ending that made it more than a typical boy-meets-girl-loses girl-gets girl-again story. You mentioned that it felt like other recent movies, which may not be fair to the original source material - which is Ian McEwan's novel written in 2001.
"Ratatoullie" -- ? Have you gone soft, old man?
One more thing...
How could you forget "The Lives of Others"? Shame on you.
"The Lives of Others" would have made my top 5 list, but I thought it was a 2006 movie? It won an Oscar last year...
"Juno" was definitely a great first script effort.
"Atonement" - maybe I'm just experiencing Keira Knightley burnout...she is in way too many movies, and I don't think she's as good as people say she is.
"Lars" - Netflix it; you'll like it.
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