1. Ratatouille. John and I never intended to sit through this Disney pic. We snuck into the theatre to waste some time before seeing what we actually had paid to see (and I can't even remember what movie that was!) Needless to say, we ended up staying for the whole show, laughing and crying our eyes out. It is not only my favorite movie of 2007, but also one of the best Disney movies of all time. And yes, John, the premise is ridiculous, but so is the idea that anyone would be aroused by Vanessa Ferlito's lapdance in...
2. Death Proof. This is Quentin Tarantino's contribution to Feminism. Nothing beats seeing this in Vienna with German subtitles, although I would recommend seeing it in English first, as there is a lot of dialogue. Ladies, see this movie. Then go kick some ass!
3. The Darjeeling Limited. If you are fascinated by trains, India, and Wes Anderson's celluloid view of the world (which I like to think of as "J.D. Salinger with an indie soundtrack"), then the lack of any sort of denouement in this movie won't bother you at all. One word of advice, though: Do not go in expecting what the critics have been calling a "rip-roaringly hilarious comedy." It is not.
4. No Country for Old Men. The first hour and a half will give you nightmares. Javier Bardem with his pageboy haircut is the embodiment of evil, and the Coen Brothers really understand the idea of suspense. Even Tommy Lee Jones and a crap-tastic ending couldn't keep this one out of my Top 5.
5. Juno. J.K. Simmons' performance as the father of a pregnant teenager was the one that brought the house down for this sentimental reviewer. Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, an unexpected plot twist, and a sweet soundtrack were the best parts of the movie. Ellen Page was good. My cry for "More Michael Cera!" is not just a selfish demand; his character really needed more screen time for the otherwise perfect ending to really make sense.
6. Sweeney Todd. A respectable remake of my all-time favorite musical. Bloody, gutsy, gory, and who knew Alan Rickman could sing?
7. Zodiac. This strangely told suspense thriller will have you on the edge of your seat. Jake Gyllenhaal steals the show as an awkward Boy Scout-turned-newspaper employee-turned crime solver.
8. 300. What self-respecting, red-blooded American woman wouldn't enjoy this CGI-enhanced retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae? This movie was AB-solutely terrific.
9. Dan in Real Life. The first scene is killer: a widower walks into a bookstore on a rainy day and meets the second love of his life. And the movie doesn't let you go for another hour and a half. Juliette Binoche, Allison Pill, Dane Cook, and Steve Carrell give very decent performances in this family drama where you actually like the family.
10. Shrek the Third. I saw this twice on the plane from Vienna to Chicago and made quite a few of my fellow passengers annoyed with my laughter. All your favorite characters from the franchise return: Shrek and Fiona, Puss in Boots, and my personal favorite: the Gingerbread Man.
Honorable Mentions: Knocked Up, Superbad, The Golden Compass.
2 comments:
Who's Allison Pill?
I thought you hated Knocked Up.
You Placed Shrek the Third on your top ten list? Really, no, really? were movies that bad this year that you had an empty spot at ten and just threw it on as filler? Well I just threw it up in my mouth when I saw it on your list. Superbad, Knocked Up, Hot Fuzz, Bourne Ultimatum...the list goes on for a decent replacement.
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