My top 10 movies of 2007
March 6th, 2008Now that it’s March, I better get this list out of the way before I start mixing up the years. Here are my top 10 movies of 2007:
1) 300
Amazing movie from start to end. The gritty, stylized cinematography would get old fast in any other movie, but it really adds to this picture. This movie even survived several internet memes, which usually make any movie instantly cheesy. I’ve watched this at least 30 times and it’s always entirely entertaining.
2) No Country For Old Men
A very close second. Well deserving of all the Oscars it won. Perfect casting and great acting throughout without any one actor overbearing the others. The gas station scene was easily the most tense and awkward scene in recent memory.
3) Superbad
I saw this movie on each of the first four weekends after it was released, each time dragging new people with me. While the audience might be limited to a narrow generation, it’s perfectly targeted to them. Hilarious dialogue in every scene, and delivered so well. Michael Cera is a timing genius. Seth Rogan and Jonah Hill are a comedy powerhouse.
4) Smokin’ Aces
This one didn’t make many top 10 lists, or even top 25 lists, but I loved it. I loved the characters, the action (mmm, 50cal), the fact that Ben Affleck gets killed off so quick, and even the ending that took a lot of flak. The only thing that would have made it better is more Jason Bateman.
5) Live Free or Die Hard
Not that I remember many details from the first three Die Hard movies, but I thought this one was the best. Great storyline, great action, and great special effects. Even the jet scene was believable in context, despite being completely unrealistic. Bonus points for Bruce Willis beating up a chick.
6) There Will Be Blood
While I did debate about the effectiveness of this movie after seeing it, the more I think about it, the more I like it. The score was a bit off-kilter at times, but Daniel Day-Lewis is such an amazing actor and the cinematography was brilliant. The scope of the plot could have been expanded/explored more, but it works well focused on the main character.
7) 3:10 to Yuma
I haven’t seen the original, but I loved this one. It starts off a bit slow, as all westerns tend to do, but the fantastic ending more than makes up for it. Christian Bale plays the desperate farmer, and Russell Crowe plays the cocky, laid-back killer; both roles portrayed just as they should be.
8) Shooter
Another one that didn’t make many top lists. Great plot and acting throughout. Mark Wahlberg is turning into a sort of Leonardo Dicaprio, in that I can never picture him in the roles he gets, but yet he always pulls them off. Absolutely love the message behind the ending.
9) 28 Weeks Later
This sequel went largely unnoticed. 28 Days Later was so original and unique it became an instant classic. Because it was a hit, a big budget sequel was a certainty. Despite the money and big studio behind it, it somehow kept the same tone and feel of the first one with a new storyline. Shipping over the American military was a creative way to get American actors into the movie without feeling forced.
10) Sunshine
Speaking of unnoticed, I don’t know anyone else that saw this movie before I did. I took Netflix’s recommendation and they haven’t let me down yet. This is a sci-fi movie, so it’s hard to break new ground, but this movie does a good job of bringing in new ideas. The special effects are also great, especially for such a low budget film. You think you see the twist coming, but it goes a few steps beyond what you can imagine.
Honorable mentions go to, in no particular order, 30 Days of Night, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters, and Into the Wild.