Top 10 movies of 2007
THE best way to start an argument in a pub is to bring up the top 10 albums, sportstars, matches or in this case films of the year.
It rarely descends into bottles being smashed and thrust at a throat but it does generate heated debate.
Anything subjective view raises hackles – look at the column inches and debate given to the GAA All-Stars every year. So look at this list as a mere "best off", rather than say American Gangster is better than Garage.
All in all, it was quite a good year for cinema goers. You rarely believe the hype in the movie business but this year the blockbusters like The Bourne Ultimatum came up trumps. A lot was expected from Spiderman 3, Shrek the Third, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, The Simpsons Movie and Pirates of the Caribbean and while they mighn't have left you gasping for breath, they didn't really disappoint either.
And yes I probably have forgotten something completely obvious but I think this year's top 10 has a good mix of action, comedy, horror, beauty and sadness. Many are out on DVD and depending on your mood there is something here for everybody this festive season.
1. Atonement
My first place choice is a bit of a surprise but when the credits roll and everybody in the movie theatre stays in their seats for minutes on end there is something special afoot. The film based on the book by Ian McEwan is a work of genius. The year is 1935 and Cecilia Tallis (Keira Knightley) and Robbie Turner (James McAvoy) fall in love and lust. The problem is she is from a privileged background and he is the son of the housekeeper. They try to hide their love but can't control their feelings and are caught by Cecilia's's little sister whose overactive imagination kicks into overdrive. The story begins there and the journey will break many a heart along the way. Reminds you how powerful the medium can be.
2. Zodiac
No matter what your star sign, you will love this three hour epic. Anything based on a true story gives a movie extra impetus and especially if it is a horror one. In 1970s' San Francisco a killer known as the Zodiac stalked the streets murdering people at random. This has become one of the most infamous unsolved murder cases in American history and now one of the best films of the year. This film and the scene in the basement proves that you don't need graphic violence and buckets of blood to scare viewers. Factor in fantastic performances from Jake Gyllenhaal and Robert Downey Jnr, and direction from David Fincher and you've got yourself a hell of a film.
3. American Gangster
We all like to see the bad guy getting a break for a change and Denzel Washington portrays the role of a New York importer of Class A material to perfection. Russell Crowe is the good guy trying to put him behind bars but this is where good and bad blurs. Denzel's character is a family man who would do anything for his mum and family, and goes to church every Sunday. Yet he is flooding the streets with heroin that is destroying lives. Crowe's character is womaniser and terrible father to his son but he is trying to put the arch drug criminal behind bars. The dichotomy makes this film, which like Zodiac is based on a true story. The acting in the lead roles by Washington and Crowe is superb
4. The Bourne Identity
Matt Damon is one of the most underrated actors around. From Rounders to Good Will Hunting to The Talented Mr Ripley and now The Bourne series, he just keeps turning in star performances. Indeed, The Bourne Ultimatum was Empire's number one film of 2007 and in an interview with the magazine the director, Paul Greengrass, summed it up perfectly.
"Bourne's about as edgy as it gets for the mainstream. There are bits of rock 'n' roll, '70s' conspiracy theory, big Hollywood and a little indie." For those who haven't see any of the trilogy they are in for a treat. Rent the three of them, close the curtains and stock up on food. Spy movies at their coolest.
5. Superbad
Just when you think films about geeky teenage boys trying to get lucky with girls are old hat, Superbad arrives and brings the genre to a whole new level. This is fresh, funny, twisted and vulgar, but still has a warm heart at its core. The two main leads, Jonah Hill and Michael Cera, are superb but the man/boy who steals the show is Christopher Mintz-Plasse. He plays the role of Fogell who is the quintessential All-American nerd. There are dozens of laugh out loud moments in Superbad but the two that spring to mind are when Fogell tells Seth and Evan that the name on his fake ID is McLovin! and when he goes to buy booze with same ID. Superbad is comic genius with a heart of gold.
6. Garage
Garage is sandwiched between Superbad and Knocked Up, and it couldn't be more different. "You leave the cinema gasping," said Pat Shortt, "it's like you've taken in a breath but you don't release it. You are really moved by it." Pat isn't lying. Josie, played by Pat Shortt, is a bit on the slow side and is known as a harmless misfortune. He has worked at a crumbling petrol station in rural Ireland all his lonely life. Then David, played by Conor Ryan from Mungret is hired to give him a hand. A whole new world of fun and friends is opened up to Josie. Then, in one moment of innocent thoughtlessness, Josie's life change forever. This is film-making stripped to its very bones and is all the better for it. You have to be very brave to make a film like Garage and it is undoubtedly the Irish film of 2007.
7. Knocked Up
The same people who were behind The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Superbad were also behind the other comedy hit of the year, Knocked Up. Like Superbad this is much cleverer than you expect. The film shows both the male and female sides of a relationship and I'm sure there was plenty of interesting discussions between couples on the drive home. The hilarious Seth Rogen, who was one of the writers of Superbad, stars alongside the beautiful Katherine Heigl from Grey's Anatomy. They somehow get together (the dancing scene in the nightclub is funny cos its true) and hey presto, a baby is on the way. Chalk and cheese have more in common but they try and make a go of it for the baby. Comic and social genius.
8. Hot Fuzz
It was a good year for comedies, and as well as the three that got in to the top ten, I was seriously tempted to include Blades of Glory too.
Simon Pegg is back from Shaun of the Dead as Sergeant Nicholas Angel – the best cop on the force. The only problem is he is too damn good and he is making the rest of the cops look bad. So he is shipped out to a sleepy village but even there he finds the scourge of crime abounds. He is joined by Nick Frost who is excellent as Angel's buffoon of a new partner against crime. It takes off all the cheesy American cop movies and lampoons them brilliantly – even the legendary film that is Leon isn't safe. This is clever and compulsive comedy viewing.
9. Pan's Labyrinth
While I wouldn't be a huge fan of films with subtitles, I saw Pan's Labyrinth back in January and afterwards I knew it deserved a place in my top ten. It is weird and wonderful with some of the most out there characters that you are ever likely to see. Their make-up and costume budget must have been huge with Pan the Faun looking particularly creepy, and he is one of many. In post Civil War era Spain, Ofelia, a young girl with a love for fairy tales, moves with her sick, pregnant mother Carmen to live with her new stepfather, the fascist Captain Vidal. But he is brutal and cruel, so to avoid the horrors of everyday life, Ofelia is drawn into a strange fantasy world. I'm not a fan of fantasy films per se but there is something completely original about Pan's Labyrinth.
10. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
It was a toss up between the above and The Lives of Others for the final spot in my top 10. True, I haven't seen Jesse James as there are too few prints in Ireland but every reviewer in the world can't be wrong. I enjoyed The Lives of Others but the unknown is always more exciting than the known. IMDB's synopsis reads: "Robert Ford, who has idolised Jesse James since childhood, tries hard to join the reforming gang of the Missouri outlaw, but gradually becomes resentful of the bandit leader." Brad Pitt's performance is supposed to be first class and from what I have read it sounds worthy of its place in the top 10. Plus the Omniplex are hoping to secure a print of the movie in the New Year.
You're probably reading this screaming at this, like we all do during Who Wants to be a Millionaire, shouting "What about x, y or z?!" Honourable mentions must go to Ratatouille, Once, Sunshine, Notes on a Scandal and Babel. If you think I got it horribly wrong or totally right, email me at donal.oregan@limerickleader.ie
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