BEST of 07'

In no particular order, i have assembled the BEST films of 2007, THAT I'VE SEEN! lets make that part very clear, there are quite a few that i'm duying to get my eye's on that either i had no time for, or didn't come and play here in O-Town. So expect some additions in the near future.

1.) Black Snake Moan. Samuel L. JACKSON and Christina Ricci give career defining moments here in one of the most bizzare plots i'v ever even heard of, let alone seen. Basically Jackson comes across town whore Ricci, who's going crazy cause her boyfriend (justin Timberlake, showing off suprisingly good chops here) is off in iraq. He chains her to his house, and starts readign her the bible and teaching her the blues, in an effort to "cure her of her wicked ways." Well, it works. The music, the twists and turnes of the events, everything comes together to make a film so heartbreaking in it's harsh reality and hylarious in it's absurd comedy that you'll never forget it.

2.) Sweeny Todd. The music is not catchy. there is almost NO color in the entire thing, and everyone looks dirty and ugly. and i LOVED every second of it. Probably the grosest story ever gets retold as a musical with an all star cast and tim burton behind the camera. As usual, it's splendid. Think Sleepy Hollow with singing, and there ya go. Not much else to say. Loved it.




3.) Across the Universe. A COMPLETLY different type of musical to Sweeny Todd. This is going to be in my all time in history lists. A musical, with an origional story, set to the music of the beatles. Julie Taymore (director of the lion king on broadway and the oscar winning FRIDA) puts so much imagination and invention into every single shot, you can't take your eye's off of it. The music is sung in such origional ways, and given such new meaning and context, you'll be hearing these old classics like you've never even thought of. Simply amazing, from beginning to end. This one will be getting heavy rotation on dvd from me, thats for sure!



4.) The Kingdom. A very Well done episode of Law and Order for the first hour, and one of the best action films EVER MADE for the second half. You could litterally divide the film in half and think you have two different movies on your hands. This is the epidomy of excelent craftsmanship. The script is SMART first, then entertaining second. So when the cars start flying and the guns a blazin' you actually CARE about whats going on. Also, the last 2 minutes is such a shocker on an ending, but not in event, but of character revelations, you'll have to see it to believe it!

5.) Pans Labyrinth. Alice in Wonderland for grown ups. Guiermo Del Torro has crafted a VERY beautiful film in his native mexico, taking old myths and legends of his culture, and flipping them on their heads. It's dark, touching, and ultimatly uplifting.


6.) The abandond. A return to psycological horror. An adopted woman suddenly learns the mother she could never find has died, and left her a sprawling house in the backwoods of russia. Thats all the set up you need for one of the truely scariest films i'v ever seen in my life. You'll have many different options to choose from once the film is over, as it never REALLY comes out and says what's going on, but there are enough hints in all directions that everything sounds good. Probably the best haunted house film ever, up there with the origional The Haunting. Seriously, checking this out should be on your priority list.

7.) The Host. A Korean film about a monster that attacks the capital. Sounds like Godzilla right? Wrong. This monster movie delivers all the chills and action of the forger legendary pictures, but adds a family to dysfunctional and hylarious, you'll find a lump in your throat at the end. In turnes horrifying (the first monster attack comes out of no where and is VERY graphic) and harrowing (not all the main characters make it to the end, not even the children are safe!) this is like JAWS, only in a different language, and a MUCH bigger budget.

8.) SUNSHINE. Another horror, though this one more toward a sci-Fi actioneer. Danny Boyl, director of 28 days later goes for a 2001 meets the matirx kinda vibe in the biggest "why wasn't this a huge box office smash over labor day weekend" movie ever. it looks like it had the budget of the lord of the rings, and the action is soo intense you'd think it'd have gotten more of a push than it did. Who knows, it entertained and thrilled the pants off of yours truely, and here it is ont he list!.

9.) No Country For old Men. Very creepily realistic crime opera set in a bleak town by the border. Character actors abound doing what they do best in a jucy little thriller packing more of a punch than most other films of it's ilk. Every performance is stellar, and not one scene is waisted, though you may not always know exactly what it's purpose is, it all comes together.

10.) JUNO. MY FAVORITE FILM EVER!!!!!!!!!! loved this. Jennifer Garner proves she can act without blowing somehting up. Ellen Page proves that you CAN be a teenager, and a good actress (lindsay lohan, are you listening?!?!?!) everything about this just rocks. it's suprising, how such a "litle" film can fill me with such HUGE emotions about life, love, and babies. it's like this years little miss sunshine, only good (cause that movie SUCKED SO BAD IN BOGGLES MY MIND HOW ANYONE COULD THINK IT"S ANYTHING OTHER THAN A LIFETIME TELEVISION FOR WOMEN SPECIAL!!!) but thats beside the point.