1. The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford 2. Zodiac 3. Darjeeling Limited 4. I'm Not There
5. 3:10 To Yuma 6. The Mist 7. No Country For Old Men
8. Once 9. Juno 10. Superbad
That top 4, those are the films, I guess, that I considered to be high art, the ones where I left the theater feeling kind of amazed at the experience. I felt that way throughout 'Once' but the ending aggravated me so it fell down a bit.
I missed (but wanted to see, and still will) these movies:
There Will Be Blood Atonement Ratatouille Lars And The Real Girl Into The Wild Sunshine Charlie Wilson's War Walk Hard
Last year, when I made my best of 2006 list I still hadn't seen Stranger Than Fiction, so I had to amend the list later on. This might be similar... In particular I am SO excited about 'There Will Be Blood' but it hasn't come to my city yet.
Posts: 2267 | Registered: May 2005
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posted
Crap, I usually do a top 10 too. I don't remember everything I saw last year, but Atonement would have easily been in the top three. It was utterly amazing. Great visuals, fantastic acting, music that matched perfectly, a tracking shot that blew me away, and a story that is utterly heart wrenching and torturous.
I might try and compile a list tomorrow.
Posts: 21898 | Registered: Nov 2004
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posted
Please do, I really enjoy these. I kept waiting for someone to start a thread but no one did this year...
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1. Once 2. Juno 3. Perfume: the Story of a Murderer (it was in 2007 when it came to Rochester) 4. Lars and the Real Girl 5. Paris, je t'aime (again, 2007 when I saw it) 6. Wind that Shakes the Barley 7. Day Watch 8. Black Snake Moan 9. Sweeney Todd 10. Hot Fuzz
posted
I might get around to making a list sometime, but I'm not sure what the point would be. Nothing I've yet seen comes close to Juno. It is among the most loveable movies I have ever seen.
This was a crappy summer to work at a movie theatre. Posts: 23 | Registered: Jun 2006
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posted
Alright! I have it. I saw 45 movies this year, and this is what I culled from them as the best, or at least as the ones I enjoyed the most.
Now, I'll list the movies I wanted to see but missed at the end of the post, and I think several of them could have made my top ten list had I seen them.
But having not seen them:
1. Atonement - Easily the best movie of the year. You read my short summation above, the soundtrack was amazing, the visuals stunning, the acting and writing top notch, and a story that will last decades and never get old.
3. Pan's Labyrinth Might not be 2007 for everyone, but it didn't hit theaters near me until mid-January of 2007.
4. National Treasure 2 - It's a fun romp. And the perfect movie for a history geek like me (who as I sit here is wearing an "I Heart History" t-shirt).
5. Elizabeth the Golden Age - Great acting, Cate Blanchett is amazing, and gave me actual chills at several points. Nice effects during the battle, amazing costumes that really made the period come alive. And just a great story to boot.
7. Enchanted - Fun, good acting, musical, and with a lead actress I have a huge crush on.
8. Bridge to Terebithia - Another movie with a lead actress I have a huge crush on, and in this case an even bigger crush, as Zooey Deschanel is my future wife. It's a great story, which of course the book was, and the kids are great actors. And I came very close to crying, it was done so well.
9. 1408 - Now generally I hate horror movies, or at least, I don't respect them enough to ever put them on any kind of best of the year list, but 1408 really freaked me out. I think it was a great psychological thriller, it wasn't one dimensional slasher like most of them are these days. It might be that the Saw movies have lowered the bar, but I loved this one.
10. American Gangster - The only thing I didn't like is that Denzel Washington only seems to know how to play one role, sort of like Hugh Grant, only not funny. He plays the role well, but man, I'd love to see him break out and try something new.
Now a little list, the worst three movies of the year:
1. Lions for Lambs - Ugh! it was a 90 minutes lecture that I had to PAY for! And it wasn't even good as a guilt trip! If Robert Redford wanted to try to guilt trip me, he should send me an email, not make money off it.
2. 28 Weeks Later - I liked the original, but the sequel, well, first off isn't it cliched that they always make a decision or two that in real life we'd NEVER make but always seem to get the ball rolling on THE DESTRUCTION OF MANKIND? Stupid. Other than that, it takes the first movie and devolves it into average, run of the mill slasher fair.
The list of movies that I missed but wanted to see:
Zodiac The Wind that Shakes the Barley In the Land of Women Snowcake Jindabyne Waitress Paris, je t’aime Ratatouille Hairspray Becoming Jane Eastern Promises Across the Universe The Darjeeling Limited Juno There Will Be Blood Persepolis
Posts: 21898 | Registered: Nov 2004
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posted
I saw hardly any movies this year. Even if I'd seen dozens, I know Juno would still be my favorite. It's just my kind of movie.
Posts: 834 | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
Puffy has listed several that I also loved in Waitress, Surf's Up, and Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. They would probably be 11-13 if I extended my list.
Posts: 2267 | Registered: May 2005
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It was interesting. I'm not sure how I felt about the end. It was sad that, after all the people he met told him that you needed other people to really enjoy life, he didn't believe them until it was too late.
Good acting though, even if it was a bit minimalist in the dialogue.
Personally I was always struck by how much he seemed to hurt the people he encountered much more than he himself was hurt by them. Everyone he met up with he touched, and I think they all loved him when he left, and they were all hurt but despite his fondness for them, at the time he thought he could do without them, and thought solitary adventure was better. Everyone knew but him, and when he learned the thing they'd been telling him throughout the entire movie, it was over before he could get back to them to enjoy it. And by such a narrow margin.
It's ironic, and tragic, and compelling.
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posted
I really enjoyed Cloverfield. I thought it was a great concept, and it was pulled off rather well.
Posts: 45 | Registered: Sep 2007
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posted
I can never remember what movies I've seen in a given year, making lists like this impossible for me to compile properly.
Posts: 4313 | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
I make a list throughout the year, and usually write down my thoughts on them as I go.
I'm way behind on movies this year so far though.
It used to be easier, when my best friend worked at a movie theater and we saw them all for free. Paying is sooooo overrated.
Posts: 21898 | Registered: Nov 2004
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posted
After the Wedding - Rolf Lassgard's scenes push the story along and are believable, his trajectory of intimidation and vulnerability have my concern. Susanne Bier's Brothers and Open Hearts were awkward to accept and am asking myself to push past my hesitancy for Things We Lost in the Fire.
Lars and the Real Girl - I envision this without a Margo character despite all the charming scenes of Ryan and Kelli moving toward one another.
Ratatouille - repairing the soup and that first bite of ratatouille; this is the best repeat viewing film.
Gone Baby Gone - Patrick Kenzie's determined choice at the end was a reward.
Hott Fuzz - loved the film and the montage of his perfect cop routine in the city and disinterested to see Run Fat Boy, Run...
Meet The Robinsons - "Ring my bell." This film is all-over fun except Bowler Hat Guy commentary.
Rocket Science - I was pleased with the comeback trope.
American Gangster - would you rate Tom Hank's character in Big as something new for Denzel? He has been in many "I'm solving this!" roles, but seen his characters laugh and surprised and fearful too. Crowe's custody battle is a good distraction from Glory and Tumble of Drug Lord.
Bridge to Terabithia - I felt the wonder and joy he provides for his younger sister; his clueless parents disturbed me: throw away torn and taped shoes for sister's old pinks, cheap racing track instead of running shoes for his birthday.
Dan in Real Life writes a column but creates chaos with life decisions. So, the story bothered me and the actors still provided interest. I didn't view Dane Cook by persona but as the young brother and felt the same with his character in Mr Brooks: aware that he is a comedian but never watched/avoided his perfomance discs and dvds, unlike Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy and Jim Carrey.
Posts: 61 | Registered: Aug 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: Personally I was always struck by how much he seemed to hurt the people he encountered much more than he himself was hurt by them. Everyone he met up with he touched, and I think they all loved him when he left, and they were all hurt but despite his fondness for them, at the time he thought he could do without them, and thought solitary adventure was better. Everyone knew but him, and when he learned the thing they'd been telling him throughout the entire movie, it was over before he could get back to them to enjoy it. And by such a narrow margin.
I read the book, haven't seen the movie so far. I'm a bit ambivalent on the guy, as the novel is. Mccandless seemed to be, to me, a rather severe narcissist, who compensated for his self-involvement by shaming the people around him, and making them care for him in the way that he cared for himself. There was nothing in Krakouer's narrative to suggest that he gave very much thought, beyond what formalities were necessary, to anyone else he met, other than to impress upon them his superiority and his supposed lack of interest in their approval. I just didn't buy that he was so great an individual, despite the pretty incredible things he managed to do.
What bothered me about the novel was that it, perhaps in keeping with Mccandless himself, was never able to pin down its feelings on anything. That made it strangely affecting, but the novel does not attempt to paint him in a particularly favorable light. It points out much of the criticism its subject garnered, and itself criticizes the idea of Mccandless as uniquely superior, or even as particularly important.
Posts: 9912 | Registered: Nov 2005
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posted
I've yet to see Atonement, Once, Into the Wild and many others, but from what I've seen I've liked best:
1. Juno - maybe not the deepest story but Page was an excellent choice for the lead role and the whole movie was one of the most lovable I've ever seen
2. 3:10 to Yuma - a great new-old western (it's a remake after all)
3. American Gangster - Denzel was magnificent, paranoia included. And Crowe was an almost equal match for him.
4. There Will Be Blood - just an awesome performance from Daniel Day-Lewis
5. Michael Clayton - liked it better than Clooney's previous "serious" role I've seen in Syriana. Very interesting conscience raiser.
6. Music and Lyrics - great comedy/drama, and I even liked Drew Barrymore in it.
Were ok:
- Bourne Ultimatum - same ol', same ol' - Gone Baby Gone - I don't like Casey Affleck's acting, otherwise I thought it was pretty good. - I Am Legend - good, but not great; nothing that stood out in it - National Treasure - ok for a popcorn movie - No Country for Old Men - nice cinematography, not much of a story... - Ocean's Thirteen - popcorn again...
I didn't like:
- The Assassination of Jesse James - the style was just too weird... Agonizing pacing too. - Boarding Gate - that was one really bad movie. Don't see it, it's boring, stupid crap.
Posts: 4519 | Registered: Sep 2003
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I don't really disagree. I think if I would have met him in real life I would have thought he was a bit of a dick who was way too self involved and far too critical of other people's lives. He chose to go wild and live off the land, and criticized a lot of people around him for not doing the same when it seems like most of them didn't even want to, so I guess he was criticizing their lack of desire as well.
But that's the tragedy in my mind. These people all found something compelling either in his personality or his entusiasm, or whatever, but he was far too self involved to return their feelings, and not only didn't return them, he shunted them aside as unimportant and that they were somehow inferior for being so tied to human to human connections.
SPOILER
It wasn't until at the very end, where he was alone and with no hope of surviving the situation he'd gotten himself into that he realized the value of human connections, and by then it was far too late. I don't think he himself understood how much he got out of his relationships with the people he met along the way.
UNSPOILER
But yeah, I agree. His life is interesting, and maybe in a way we can all be envious of the fact that he went after and lived his dream, even if his dream isn't what we'd pick for ourselves, but that doesn't mean I'd want to have a beer with him.
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