Top Ten Films of 2007

The iPhone is introduced.

Tumblr starts as a site.

Virginia Tech shooting

Big Bang Theory premieres and we’ve all been watching weekly since then and laughing all together.

The economic collapse began in December.

moving on

This is my favorite movie year. The top ten worldwide grosses wouldn’t tell you that. It actually might be one of the worst top ten money makers. the third Pirates movie, Harry Potter, Spider-Man 3, Shrek the Third, Transformers, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, and 300 are most of it. Ignore those and let’s look at some better films.

11-25

3:10 to Yuma (Directed by James Mangold)

Encounters at the End of the World (Directed by Werner Herzog)

Gone Baby Gone (Directed by Ben Affleck)

Eastern Promises (Directed by David Cronenberg)

Funny Games (Directed by Michael Haneke)

Hot Fuzz (Directed by Edgar Wright)

Hot Rod (Directed by Akiva Schaffer) - Amazon Prime & Hulu

In the Valley of Elah (Directed by Paul Haggis)

Into the Wild (Directed by Sean Penn)

Michael Clayton (Directed by Tony Gilroy) - HBO

Mister Lonely (Directed by Harmony Korine)

Ocean’s Thirteen (Directed by Steven Soderbergh) - Netflix

Once (Directed by John Carney)

Sunshine (Directed by Danny Boyle)

The Darjeeling Limited (Directed by Wes Anderson)

top ten

10. Knocked Up (Directed by Judd Apatow)

One of the funniest movies to me that also is a little too long and has casting issues. Jonah Hill, Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, and Martin Starr are so great to me. There’s endless hilarity and Seth Rogen proves he can be shitty and sympathetic.

9. Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (Directed by Jake Kasdan) - Netflix

Watched this recently and laughed the whole time. John C. Reilly is one of the most talented performers. He helped write these songs, played guitar and sang them all. He can play the ridiculous so straight that you almost feel emotion but mostly just laugh. Tim Meadows is incredible. And a special shoutout to Jack White for his amazing cameo as Elvis. Best thing he has ever done.

8. The Savages (Directed by Tamara Jenkins)

This is a top 5 movie in most years. Director Tamara Jenkins will be on my list every time she releases a film. Philip Seymour Hoffman is a back to back powerhouse on my list so I will talk about Laura Linney. She brings so much credibility to her roles. When she is on screen you can tell whatever she is doing she has studied and knows what to do. If you have ever lost a parent or had to prepare for that this one will hit home.

7. Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (Directed by Sydney Lumet) - HBO

Philip Seymour Hoffman plays a heroin addicted selfish asshole that makes many mistakes and can’t appreciate what he has. It’s a tour de force performance. The way it is colored now with his death makes it even more powerful. He dwarfs Ethan Hawke in every scene they have. That is partly on purpose and Hawke knowing when to let someone own the scene, but Tomei holds her own. It’s a complicated movie with a strange structure and the director died soon after finishing it. What a way to go out for a legend.

6. Superbad (Directed by Greg Mottola)

I think this might be one of the most successful comedies ever made. The humor is constant and vulgar while still being sweet and based in insecurity. The depth of friendship and high school life is perfect. Michael Cera and Jonah Hill were undeniable and they continued to show that all the way up through now. They have both kind of rejected these type of roles now and while that is too bad I am also excited to see what these talented weirdos make. Movie is funny as hell.

5. Death Proof (Directed by Quentin Tarantino)

Tarantino was bummed the whole grindhouse thing didn’t work but I think it did. There won’t ever be a lot of push for this type of thing but for those who wanted to see a mostly female action movie made like a 70’s B movie on film they will be happy. And it’s something different. Tarantino isn’t for everyone, but I guarantee he will open you up to something even they will like. This cast, the filmmaking, and ending are perfect. If you haven’t seen this or haven’t in a while give it another watch. So worth it.

4. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (Directed by Andrew Dominik) - HBO

This is the artful evolution of the film bro canon. Early 2000’s had the dorm room classics, and 2007 is where those film bros split. Some moved on and just stayed liking the movies they liked, got jobs, got married, read a book, and watch football every Sunday. Others grew up, didn’t move on, got jobs, got married, read a book, watched football every Sunday and fell in love with Nick Cave’s soundtrack and a cast of amazing young male actors doing their best in a movie with a title they ignored their gut reaction to and agreed with Brad Pitt that is should never be changed. It’s a great western unlike anything I’ve seen. I’m glad to have evolved to the latter film bro.

3. There Will Be Blood (Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson) - Netflix

Surprised myself this is only number 3. It makes more sense the more I think about the first two. PTA is a near perfect filmmaker to me. This is his biggest swing towards IMPORTANT MOVIE about the great business man in the old west that sounds like hollywood royalty. There’s massive set pieces with lighting an oil derrick on fire, and a scene in a church where the main character yells about abandoning his boy. One paper it should be somewhat boring and preachy. Instead it is a little funny, odd, exciting, artful, gorgeous, and somehow finds a quick pace in the slow build towards madness. The movie is one of the best ever made. I also believe it is the third best this year.

2. Zodiac (Directed by David Fincher) - Amazon Prime & Netflix

A less celebrated movie in most circles, but should be considered an american classic masterpiece with whatever else you want to put in that tier. Another movie that is long but moves so quickly through each development and time. Gyllenhaal, Downey Jr., Ruffalo are a trio of magnificent acting. Every role is lived in and full of character. It’s a showcase for how a story about a serial killer should be told. Through the investigators and victims with small insights into what happened. The paranoia of the time and the obsession of needing to get something done. It is a movie that is about a lot of things that have nothing to do with Zodiac. That’s why it rules so hard.

1. No Country for Old Men (Directed by Coen Brothers)

I don’t like the idea of actual perfect movies. When I say something is perfect or near perfect I mean it is to me. I don’t believe I know what actual perfect is, or even if that exists, but I know what perfect is to me. It’s a feeling and something you know when you see it or hear it. It sends those glorious chemicals through your brain and causes endless thoughts and curiosity. Sometimes it even makes me not want to know anything else than what I am given. Just basking in what a collective group of artists made. The Coen’s make great movies but nothing is as good as this to me. It is a very faithful adaptation of a great book that is made better by adding more personality to the characters through acting choices and getting to see the setting. You feel this movie. Some of it is unpleasant. Some of it is odd and funny. But it is all absorbing. I think this might be the most perfect film ever made and maybe my 2nd favorite movie of all time. And if this ain’t it then it’ll do until the best gets here.