Well ladies and gentleman, I give you my top 20 of 2007. Numbers 20-11 will be listed with the directors name beside them. Numbers 10-1 will have a picture and a description of why I think they're amazing.
20. Descent (Talia Lugacy)
19. Gone Baby Gone (Ben Affleck)
18. Zodiac (David Fincher)
17. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (David Yates)
16. The Simpsons Movie (David Silverman)
15. Interview (Steve Buscemi)
14. Things We Lost in the Fire (Susanne Bier)
13. Stardust (Matthew Vaughn)
12. Away from Her (Sarah Polley)
11. Ratatouille (Brad Bird & Jan Pinkava)
10)
La Vie en Rose, directed by Olivier DahanWhile many film critics disliked the film and loved/hated Marion Cotillard's performance, I am one of the select that loved both. Sure it's a messy biopic, but it's also glorious, grand and epic. Edith Piaf seemed like a larger than life character, and while showing us that she had an amazing voice, this movie also shows that her life was glorious, grand and epic as well. Cotillard delivers one of the best performances of the year.
9)
Michael Clayton, directed by Tony GilroyAfter the
Bourne films, Tony Gilroy deserved to have his own platform and he pulled it off in spades. Michael Clayton is an amazing thriller with sharp writing and direction. Not only is it incredibly paced, but he cast assembled here is perfection; Clooney proves he's a pro once again, Wilkinson is insanely good as an unstable man who actually might be the most stable there is and Tilda Swinton is best in show as a woman who will do anything to stay ahead. It's a fascinating and complex performance. Michael Clayton is a perfect film.
8)
No Country for Old Men, directed by Ethan & Joel CoenThe critics awards sweeper and rightfully so. Ethan & Joel Coen have crafted a masterful cat and mouse game that is so intense that music wasn't even necessary to enhance the mood. Edited with some of the most frightening precision I've seen in a while, the brothers have made a thriller that knows no bounds. Javier Bardem only adds to this by being one of the most chilling villiains to hit the screen in some time. In fact, the whole cast is uniformly excellent. The Coens have proven once again that they know what they are doing, and that it's great.
7)
Atonement, directed by Joe WrightA beautiful adaptation of the already beautiful novel. Joe Wright teams up with Keira Knightley for a second time, and it's a move that succeeds again. Knightley along with McAvoy, Ronan, Redgrave, and the rest of the cast, magnificently pull off this tragic romance of what happens when a 13 year old girl sees something she doesn't quite understand yet. Wonderfully shot, written and acted, Atonement is an amazing feat and a worthy adaptation of Ian McEwan's excellent novel.
6)
1408, directed by Mikael HåfströmNot only the scariest film of the year, but the best Stephen King adaptation I have seen. Builds up the suspense amazingly well and maintains it's scary tone throughout the whole movie. With images that will be bound to give you bad dreams, Mikael has created a terriyfing movie going experience. John Cusack is absolutely brilliant, nailing the hysteria and the fearfulness in Mike Enslin as his little hotel room slowly grows into a neverending nightmare.
5)
Knocked Up, directed by Judd ApatowDefinitely the funniest movie of the year, Judd Apatow has proven himself to be a comedic genius. You thought
The 40 Year Old Virgin was funny? Knocked Up is even more hilarious and heartfelt. The story of a lazy stoner and an ambitious entertainment reporter getting drunk and becoming parents is a story destined for laughs. But Apatow is more brilliant than that by adding layers to these people, the ones around them, and the story at the center. Seth Rogen deservedly catapulted into the spotlight with this role and Katherine Heigl shows why she deserves to be in a lot of TV and a lot of movies. The rest of the cast is hilarious and truthful making Knocked Up a huge pleasure to watch and one of the best comedies to come along in a while.
4)
The Brave One, directed by Neil JordanUnfairly maligned by critics everywhere, The Brave One is a fantastic thriller about how far one person can slip into revenge and if they can ever go back to being the person they once were. A strong film anchored by the determined and devastating Jodie Foster, The Brave One deserves every good review it has gotten and maybe a million more. People who have trouble with the ending can go screw themselves and their notions about how movies should end. The way The Brave One ends is filled with hope, and it's a movie that will leave a lasting impression on anyone who gives it a chance.
3)
Lust, Caution, directed by Ang Lee After the brilliant
Brokeback Mountain, Ang Lee is back in fine form with Lust, Caution. An erotic spy thriller with sex, twists and turns, I think it's an even better movie than BBM. Not only is it handsomely produced, but everyone in the cast is great. Tang Wei deserves to be a huge star after this movie and Tony Leung and Joan Chen prove why they are acting legends. A thriller is supposed to thrill us and keep us on edge and this movie does exactly that. With a lot of sex in between =D
2)
Lars and the Real Girl, directed by Craig GillespieI am so happy Craig Gillespie made this movie after he made
Mr. Woodcock. The latter is one of the worst movies of the year, while this is one of the best. Let everyone watch this movie and they will definitely forget the atrocity that was
Mr. Woodcock. I honestly didn't have a lot of faith in this movie before I watched it. A shy and introverted guy orders a sex doll online for companionship isn't a plot that many watchers would have confidence in. However, my suspicions dissolved immediately while watching it. Everyone in the cast deserves all the good in the world for being so unbelievably great. Director Gillespie and writer Nancy Oliver have crafted something extraordinary out of this; funny, endearing and heartbreaking all at once, Lars and the Real Girl is something special.
1)
There Will Be Blood, directed by Paul Thomas AndersonDefinitely ambitious and epic in scope, There Will Be Blood is definitely the best film of the year and one of the best movies I have ever seen. The story of an oil man determined to get whatever he wants and will do anything he can to get it, is one for the ages. With an amazing screenplay, score and awesome production values, it is a masterpiece. Daniel Day-Lewis is almost unrecognizable as the vicious oil man and the way he dives head on into his character is stunning to watch. The way he speaks, calmly, yet vicious at the same time, the way he walks, the way he presents himself, are all testaments to what a genius Daniel Day-Lewis is. He proves once again that he is a thespian who can do anything. Paul Thomas Anderson has crafted a grand spectacle of a film.
My awards start tomorrow so stay tuned! =)
