Or should I say favorites of 2007. Here are 7 movies from last year that I thoroughly enjoyed, appreciated, or found especially thoughtful/memorable/interesting. Please note that I haven’t seen nearly all the acclaimed movies of the year (Juno or Sweeney Todd, for example), so this list can only be partially representative of what was released. Also note that I’m a 24-year old male, and that I just realized 4 of the 7 DVD covers here feature dudes with guns.
1. No Country for Old Men – A perfect synergy of filmmakers (Coen Bros) and source material (Cormac McCarthy) creates a masterpiece: a tight, sparse thriller with metaphysical undertones. The effect is like Alfred Hitchcock directing a Flannery O’Connor story: gripping, suspenseful, disturbing, morally serious, and chock-full of quirky and memorable characters. Of those, the baddest of bad guys is the most memorable: Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh joins the pantheon of pure evil alongside Hannibal Lecter, HAL 9000, and Uncle Charlie.
2. Diving Bell and the Butterfly – One of the year’s most experimental films was also its most deeply humane. Based on a true story about a successful magazine editor who suffers a massive stroke and is left almost completely paralyzed, the movie has a pro-life message about the value and dignity of every human person. Jean-Dominique Bauby — who earns the title “hero” in this movie — literally blinks out his memoirs with his only remaining mode of communication: his left eye. Funny, unsentimental, thoughtful, and beautifully made film.
3. 3:10 to
4. The Bourne Ultimatum – Like 3:10, the Bourne series has demonstrated genre filmmaking at its finest—smart, relentlessly paced action movies with an engaging hero and a healthy dose of political paranoia. The fun of the franchise is watching Bourne’s brain race as fast as his feet. His brilliant improvisations are mental as well as physical gymnastics. In every movie he’s had worthy adversaries: Chris Cooper, Joan Allen, Brian Cox, David Strathairn, and finally Albert Finney.
5. Zodiac – Underrated movie from notorious perfectionist, director David Fincher (Fight Club, Seven). One of the best police procedurals I’ve ever seen has Fincher following the labyrinthine investigation into the “Zodiac†killings over the course of 20 years, encompassing a huge cast of characters. Nimble, intelligent storytelling—the nearly 3 hour running time breezes by, though your head may hurt a little from trying to process the mounting pile of clues, leads, and red herrings. Fincher assumes his audience is smart, not dumb—that’s a rarity in
6. Gone Baby Gone – From director Ben Affleck comes one of the most thought-provoking movies of the year…? Not words I ever expected to write. In adapting Dennis Lehane’s novel, Affleck shows a facility with actors (including Oscar-nominated Amy Ryan and his truly talented younger bro, Casey), as well as a feel for the atmosphere of his native
7. Ratatouille – The first five of six on the list are reminders that many of 07’s best movies also happened to be grim, violent explorations of humanity’s dark side (Diving Bell was a glimmer of hope). So this came as a refreshing blast of haute cuisine-scented air. A witty and imaginative tale of a rat that wants to be a chef (sort of like a pig that wants to be a sheepdog), Ratatouille benefits from its clever Oscar-nominated script, eye-popping visuals, inventive sight gags (such as a kitchen armed fully by rat chefs), and spot-on vocal performances—especially the great Peter O’Toole as supercilious restaurant critic, Anton Ego. (The other memorable villain of the year named “Antonâ€.)
Thanks for your expression “the great Peter O’Toole”. After “Venus” 2007 I have rediscovered this magnificent actor and now read everything I can find about him. Do you know where one could get hold of a video of his speech to the Academy when accepting his honorary Oscar in 2003? It is said to have been very witty and elegant. Thankful for any help.
Left by Birthe on March 6th, 2008