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Best Movies Of 2007: Chris Flippo

by Chris Flippo
01/09/2008

First off, before I get into yet another year-end list, I’d like to say that this article is NOT about the best movies I’ve seen this year. Rather, it is about my favorite films of the year. This may seem like a rather small point that I’m trying to make, but I really think it’s a crucial one. I’ve always thought that, in a few years time, we’ll be thinking of our favorite films long after the we’ve forgotten the “best” films (a small litmus test: when was the last time you thought about A Beautiful Mind?).

Oh, and keep in mind that this list is so subjective that I’m still not even really sure that I’m happy with the order (though I do believe that #1 is pretty close to indisputable). It’s probably not fair to compare Hot Fuzz with Once, but Readers, we must press on despite our better judgment. Let me start off with some honorable mentions:

The Lookout- a very effective thriller. Its kind of like Fargo for laymen, but as measured as that praise might seem, that’s still pretty damn good.

The Judd Apatow One-Two Punch (Knocked Up/Superbad)- Judd Apatow should be required by law to put out a movie every three or four months. These movies are foul-mouthed, but they still somehow manage to be endearing. That’s quite a balancing act, and Apatow pulls it off nicely.

The Bourne Ultimatum- I still can’t decide rather this is the best Bourne film or not, but it is without a doubt one of the year’s best action films. Besides, watching Matt Damon use a book as a lethal weapon is worth the price of admission all by its lonesome.

I Am Legend- Yes, it’s a Will Smith vehicle, but I really think its one of the most unconventional blockbusters in years. If you had told me that the former Fresh Prince’s new film was going to be a downbeat, post-apocalyptic film with no score and pretty much one actor, I would have called you crazy. Mr. Smith is great as a hero for the new millennium… excuse me, Willenium.

American Gangster- This was the quickest two and a half hours of 2007. Fiery performances from Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington make this one of the best Ridley Scott films in years.

Now, with those honorable mentions out of the way, here we go with my ten favorites from the year.

#10- Juno- Another movie had this spot for awhile, but any list without little Juno MacGuff just seemed wrong. This movie shows that Jason Reitman’s Thank You For Smoking was no fluke. If you haven’t seen it yet, what’s stopping you?

#9- The Mist- I may be in the minority on this one, but I still think that this is one of the best horror films in years. The film has an eerie story, effective acting, and slimy, wince-inducing special effects. What more can a horror buff ask for? Maybe a little bit more, but then you’re just getting greedy.

#8- Hot Fuzz- I enjoyed this one about twice as much as I did Shaun of the Dead, which is saying a lot. Edward Wright’s epic comedy about cops, criminals, and swans, Hot Fuzz is a surprisingly assured piece of comic filmmaking.

#7- Once- This one was a real surprise when I saw it at the Athens Ciné last August. Yes, it’s a love story, and yes, it’s a (semi) musical. However, I think its impossible to not think about this film afterwards. Not a very complex film, but that’s also its charm. Sometimes it’s the simple stories that have the greatest impact on us.

#6- Grindhouse- I recommend this film for only real movie lovers. Everybody else should stay away (and, judging by the box office, they did). Featuring two films, four fake trailers, dozens of great character actors, tons of giallo-style gore, and plenty of tongue-in-cheek humor, Grindhouse was probably the best value of 2007. I felt like I had ripped the movie theater off after seeing this film.

#5- King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters- This was a great year for documentaries (Michael Moore’s Sicko was also a knockout), but its hard to beat this story about two men competing for the world’s highest Donkey Kong score. The movie is not only a great time, but its also an honest look about the guy who strives for perfection and how lonely that route that can be. King of Kong is not just a great documentary, it’s a great film.

#4- Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead- I had been looking forward to this film for awhile, so I was relieved when it delivered. Proving that some directors only get better with age, Sydney Lumet (12 Angry Men, Serpico) crafted one of the year’s best films. Nobody here is on autopilot. The acting is great, the script is near perfect, and, of course, the directing is top-notch.

#3- 3:10 To Yuma- Yes, this is a guy’s movie, but you won’t find a better one this year. Its refreshing to see a movie not where a bad man is defeated, but one where a bad man becomes better. Of course, I’ve just made this film sound kind of heady. Trust me, guys, all this plays out against plenty of horse-riding and gun-firing. Great fun.

#2- The Simpsons Movie- I’ve been a loyal Simpsonite for years and seeing my favorite family (besides my own) on the big screen was one of the best times I had at the movie theater this year. Besides, any film with Spider-Pig has to at least crack the top ten. Enough said.

#1- No Country For Old Men- I saw this film last May at Cannes, and, as cliché as this may sound, I had never seen anything like it. In any other director’s hands, this material could have been cold and unapproachable. However, under the Coen brothers’s steady direction, it’s fascinating. Javier Bardem’s Anton Chigurgh is one of the most incredible villains I’ve seen in years and one of 2007’s can’t-miss performances.

Well, I suppose that wraps up 2007 at the movies. Whether it was a good year or a bad year, I really can’t say. The year was far too varied to put any clear-cut labels on it. What I will say, however, was that 2007 was a year of new beginnings, sad farewells, and quiet truths. I’m just glad the movies were there to help.

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