1st ASPEYA 2007: Volume 5 – GAZZ’S TOP 25 OF THE YEAR
The 1st Annual Stale Popcorn End Of Year Awards 2007
(or 1st ASPEYA 2007)
… But published in 2008!
Volume 5: GAZZ’S TOP 25 OF THE YEAR!
Hey there everyone! You’ve seen what Kristina thought of as her best and worst of 07 and what she considered her top 25 of the year. You’ve seen what I threw out there as my best and worst of the year (yes – I truly do hate Black Snake Moan!) and now it’s time for my own pick of the year’s Top 25 movies of 2007.
There’s still a whole host of movies that I haven’t caught up with yet (The Mist, Enchanted, Charlie Wilson’s War, Sweeney Todd, In The Valley of Elah – just to name a few!) but would probably have been included and I’ve cheated a little this year by using my access to free Region 1′s and DVD screeners to include a couple of titles that haven’t actually reached UK soil yet but were technically “released” in 07.
2007 turned out to be the most prolific year I have had as a “writer” – between my “side project”, working on the publishing deal, drafts of my “pilot script”, getting 89% of Off The Shelf completed and reviewing pretty much every single major release and then some, I got a lot down. This is evidenced by just how many of my Top 25 have “review tags” attached to them. Which is quite unusual for me. Even at our “old stompin’ ground” my end of year review rarely had reviews filed against them!
On a separate note I just want to add that even though I’ve had limited imput with the site in the last few months, I just want to take a second to thank those of you who took the time to e-mail me or send e-cards regarding my health, or who have responded to my work. I also want to say that there is no bigger fan of this site then me. If I wasn’t a “staff writer” then I’d most definitely be a constant reader. I love the site, I love you guys and I love the work being put out alongside my own by Kristina and Wyverex.
I hope 2008 finds us back in this same position (only with improved health all round eh?) this time next year!
Anyway, I’m rambling now and I live and die by this list regardless so… Here’s my pick of 2007′s Top 25 Movies!
25. 30 Days Of Night: I had a great time with this flick, regardless of its flaws, and I think – if you’re a fan of any of the other titles mentioned in and around this review – then you’ll dig it too. There have been very few “original” movies that I’ve seen this year that I thought I would genuinely welcome a sequel or a franchise to (Black Snake Moan 2: Even Moanier anyone? Or More Good Luck For Chuck?), but this is definitely one of the exceptions. And with news of an impressive US opening and two other graphic novels to “crib” from, there’s the potential for a really great horror trilogy based on these foundations! You can read my full review of this movie by clicking right here!
24. Half Nelson: Believe everything you’ve heard about this film. It is that good. The very fact that Ryan Gosling didn’t win the Academy Award says everything that needs to be said about how wrong and out-of-date the Oscars are. It should have also got best screenplay and best supporting actress whilst they were dishing out the Awards. If we’re going to be critical about this fantastic little indie-done-good then you could say that it plays more like a serious of dramatic vignettes then it does a fully cohesive, complete movie but it’s a minor grumble in an otherwise stellar piece of filmmaking!
23. Tell No One: Tell No One excels because the film is so fast, so taut that, on top of being a powerful thriller and a powerful love story, we need the “I’m going to explain everything and anything” third act to wind us down and get us up to date on everything that we’ve missed whilst gripping the edge of your seat. It’s a by-the-numbers thriller made with such a pin-point perfect level of respect towards the three-act structure of the modern thriller genre that it becomes very close to being sensational. You can read my full review of this film by clicking right here!
22. 28 Weeks Later: Coming out of the cinema after seeing this I felt anxious and nervous. I felt unsteady on my feet and unsure of my safety amongst my fellow film-loving community. I felt, steady now people, the same way I felt after seeing Aliens, Blade II, Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, X-Men 2, Teen Wolf Too and Mannequin on the Move (okay, maybe not those last two!). I felt I had seen a sequel superior over-all to its predecessor, knowing full well that such a feeling would leave me open to attacks and the questioning of my film-reviewing ability. You can go to this flick and drag as much current “political” relevance out of it as you like. This isn’t ‘that’ kind of movie for me. This is bat-ass crazy, blood-lusting infected types chasing and tearing apart normal, everyday people as they try and run away. That’s the movie I saw but we do indeed all see what we want to see and I do suppose if you’re the type that goes to these sorts of movies in search of contemporary relevance then you’d probably get your rocks off quite easily. Either way, for me being a London-hater, seeing it burn was one of the most beautiful images ever captured in cinema. I just wish this fucking film had been a documentary and not a work of fiction. You can check out my full review of this film by clicking right here!
21. Ratatouille: Ratatouille is a beautiful film to look at. It is a smart and often very funny film with some brilliant set pieces. There’s moments – just like in The Incredibles, Monsters Inc or Finding Nemo – where you actually question whether the film is ENTIRELY made up of CGI or whether animation has been placed on top of a filmed ‘real’ background. It’s not flawless, not at all in fact, but Pixar – on their off-day – still produce fare that is light years ahead of other entrants into the genre and, even with all it’s flaws, it’s still a first rate piece of family entertainment and the best animated movie of the year. You can read the full review for this film by clicking right here!
20. The Lives of Others: The winner of Best Foreign Film at the 2007 Oscar Ceremony is undoubtedly deserved of every bit of its over-whelming critical acclaim. It’s heartbreakingly well performed by all involved and there are moments of ridiculously well-executed tension that will reduce your poop-hole to the size of a pin head. In terms of plotting and characterisation it is one of the year’s best and deserves recognition for holding your attention throughout, without ever having to rely on ‘trailer-moments’ that betray the movie. A genuine must-see piece of cinema and a great historical piece to boot!
19. 3:10 To Yuma: The newer version doesn’t demean the original. In fact it deserves to be added to the list of remakes that compliment and very much equal the original version. It ups the action quota, obviously, and downscales the hotel room talk-off to a mere sidebar in the third act, but the decision to make the trip to the station – and the inevitable wait for the 3:10 to Yuma train – a journey through the west with the gradual disintegration of the team of heroes, is an excellent one that really makes the film shine. It could do with a fair bit (maybe twenty minutes or so) shaved from it’s running time and the musical score isn’t as particularly memorable or as evocative as you would like it to be, but these are minor grumbles against what is an excellent film. If you haven’t caught up with this yet, then you wouldn’t go far wrong in seeking it out. It’s a solid, exceptionally well-made piece of filmmaking and one of the year’s best films. You can check out my full review of this film by clicking right here!
18. Notes on a Scandal: I genuinely recommend you check this out. False notes and very, very occasional missteps aside, it’s a fantastic adult drama with no intention to insult those willing to invest their time in it. All in all, you will be hard pressed to find a stronger female performance this year than Judi Dench’s heart-breakingly honest portrayal of Barbara… or of the last few years for that matter. The only thing that comes close is Cate Blanchett’s performance of Sheba Hart. Oh, and Catherine O’ Hara in my number 6 choice, of course! You can read the full review for Notes on a Scandal by clicking right here!
17. Michael Clayton: Michael Clayton isn’t perfect and it’s not going to be everybody’s cup of tea but if, like me, you love conspiracy movies and you’re partial to the occasional adult thriller that isn’t played out for the masses (with awkward chase/fight sequences inserted just to appeal) then this is a film very worthy of your time and attention. The film, being entirely character based, and driven by a plot written, executed and delivered for adults is the type that requires your constant attention. Take your eyes off the screen or allow your attention to linger on a specific moment for too long and the film categorically refuses to hang around for you to catch up. You can check out the full review for this film by clicking right here!
16. American Gangster: It’s not a modern masterpiece, okay I’ll admit that, but it’s a thoroughly excellent film that is as damn close to being perfect as you’ll get out of an adult drama this year! The way to get a great deal out of it as a film is, if you have to make comparisons (if you’re that sort of person who sells a film to others by saying things like “It’s like, you know, Point Break but with cars!”) then don’t hold it up against fine gangster movies like Scarface, The Godfather or Goodfellas. Compare it to the very best in police procedural movies like The French Connection, Serpico, Prince of the City and Se7en. Then you’ll see it for the slice of near-perfection that it really is. You can read the full review by clicking right here!
15. Hot Fuzz: Try and get yourself away from the ‘is it better than Shaun?’ comparisons and disregard any notions that it is a modern masterpiece like the ‘interweb’ will have you believe. In return you are going to have one of the most entertaining movie experiences in a long time, regardless of it’s slight imperfections! And never has there been a better ‘respectful homage’ from one movie to another than what the gang do here with their nod to Point Break! You can read the full review for this film by clicking right here!
14. Rocky Balboa: Forget the term ‘worthy’, this is an exceptional closing episode to one of my favourite franchises of all time. Judge it within the confines of the movies that preceeded it and it is up there with the best of them. Hell, judge it away from it’s own franchise, and you’ll still find it to be a moving, genuine, surprise and a strong contender for the ’sleeper’ hit of the year! If there’s any rights in the world of the movie industry (and we know there isn’t) then it’d be nice to see Stallone get an Oscar nomination (flame me all you motherf***ers like!) for his work within this film (not win though! Jesus no! How hilarious would that be?) just on the grounds of his being able to “find” his talent again. Let’s just hope he doesn’t blow the career rejuvination that this will inevitably and justifiably bring on a flacid Rambo IV or Cobra II production! You can read the full review of this film by clicking right here!
13. Rescue Dawn: Sometimes a film can be forgiven a multitude of flaws or even just a couple of missteps as long as there is one overwhelmingly masterful quality that shines constantly and consistently throughout. When it has a performance (or performances) at its centre as astounding, as self-assured and as brave in both the physical sense (i.e. the weight loss and refusal to wash) as it is in the emotional choices that are made, as what is presented here by Christian Bale and his co-star Steve Zahn, then the flaws are almost inconsequential to you. Hell, forget the word “almost”, with performances this sublime they ARE inconsequential. You can read my full review of this film by clicking right here!
12. Transformers: A genuinely brilliant piece of visual-extravagance. One of the strongest blockbusters the Summer Season has seen in quite some time! It’s far from perfect and it’s pretty friggin’ stupid stuff all truth be told but, when it comes down to it, it’s a huge effects-driven action extravaganza and the only thing that you need to ask is whether it’s worth your ticket price and whether it is entertaining. The only answer I can give is that Hell Yes it’s worth the admission and no matter what flaws you feel it presents and no matter how dizzying and discombobulating watching robots battling robots actually is, it’s one hell of a movie experience all the same! You’re going to go for the robots but you’re going to leave thanking the human cast! This is strong blockbuster filmmaking even in the face of chaotic and confusing editing, and it’s well, well, well worth a look! You can read my full review of this film by clicking right here!
11. Them: As I said in Off The Shelf: Issue # 35 “… In the year when Hollywood’s obsession with “gorenography” (a.k.a. “torture porn”) seemingly came to an end thanks to the failure of its ‘tent-pole’ films (i.e. Hostel II, Straightheads and the like), this little French “home invasion” genre pick is a solid and – most importantly – scary flick that relies on good, old fashioned measures such as lighting, sound and frame execution to put the audience in fear instead of decapitations, slicings, rape and debauchery. The “based on a true story” tagline might work against the film and the final revelation might disappoint some viewers, but I for one think this is a cracking little scary flick that everyone I lend it to seems to dig the hell out of. Enormously recommended!”
10. Super-Bad: A real grower of a flick! I liked it a lot when I first saw it at a preview. I come to love it by the time I got the DVD imported. The film is a great, consistent comedy with a surprisingly touching heart. I got a little lump in my throat as our protagonists separated from each other in the film’s finale – then again, that mean’s nothing. I cry at the end of Planes, Trains & Automobiles every time I watch it, so go figure huh? It runs a very close second as a comedy to Knocked Up for me personally, but then – as I was discussing with a friend soon after seeing it – I think how you judge this film is firmly dependant on a lot of things like age and where you are in your life. I would imagine if you’re a teenager teetering on the edge of adulthood then this could well be the best film you’ll ever see! Then again, if you’re in your late 20s like me and staring the prospect of marriage (etc.) in the face then Knocked Up is definitely the film for you and Super-Bad plays as nothing more than a hilarious piece of nostalgia. You can read my full review by clicking right here!
9. Die Hard 4.0: It’s proof of how just good all that has gone before it actually is, that as dreadfully stupid as the climax is (not forgetting that really weak epilogue involving McClane, Matt, Lucy and the issue of “dating”) and as truly smack-in-the-face-disappointing as it is in the face of the rest of the movie and the franchise as a whole, you just can’t hate the film. This was a real pleasant surprise in terms of how McClane was handled. It was even more of a pleasant surprise to find out how just unashamedly entertaining an experience it was. It’s the lesser of all the Die Hard movies but it’s great to say that it’s still a Die Hard movie for a good 80% of it’s running time. It’s big, loud, fast-paced, stupid, slam-bang blockbuster fun! You can read my full review by clicking right here!
8. The Kingdom: Whilst the film isn’t perfect, it’s damn near close in my eyes. I had a truly brilliant experience with this from start to finish and consider it to be one of the strongest films of the year. It’s currently being dismissed as “just an action movie” or “just a thriller” or whatever, but it is something much, much more than that. It’s a really quite brilliant, intelligent mainstream Hollywood production that never once insults you whilst telling a potentially provocative story without any desire to mine controversy. You can read my full review by clicking right here!
7. This Is England: The best British film of the year and, second to his previous film Dead Man’s Shoes, this is the best thing Shane Meadows has ever done. Whilst so many people are trying to shove Edgar Wright’s cock in their mouths, Meadows just gets on with earning the rather accurate label of “The British Scorsese” by throwing out provocative, meaningful and searing dramas like this. A heartbreaking work of staggering genius, I shit you not!
6. For Your Consideration: This film’s standout is Catherine O’Hara, delivering the best female performance of the year in my opinion. Always excellent, extremely talented and the funniest, most capable of female performers in Hollywood at present, this is without a doubt O’Hara’s movie. It is her hilarious yet touching and emotional potrayal of Marilyn that is the only thing stopping Higgins from walking away with the whole movie under his arm. The revelation of her botox and plastic surgery ‘adjustments’ is without a doubt one of the most hysterical things I have ever seen in all my years of watching film. But where the film reveals it’s true power and it’s real heart is in those final moments with O’Hara as we watch her watch the ACTUAL nominations get announced. I’m not too proud to admit that Marilyn’s reactions to the nominations drew some pretty heavy tears from me! Yes… and it is a comedy! This is a powerhouse, comedic tour de force of a performance backed up by [nigh on] everybody else at the top of their games. Read the full review by clicking right here!
5. The Bourne Ultimatum: I really loved this and, just like Indiana Jones, I love what I’ve seen so much that I just don’t want anymore because I don’t want the perfect trilogy experience to be tainted in any way. You have to see The Bourne Ultimatum. It’s probably the best sequel of the year! You will not have seen a faster, more frantic film than this in the whole of the blockbuster season, and in the whole of the year as a matter of fact! Check out the full review by clicking right here!
4. Zodiac: With this film, David Fincher has further proven the theory that he is one of a small pocket of current director’s delivering first-class films that each betters the last by a tremendous amount. I could write about this film all day. It is one of the strongest films of its genre, most definitely one of the unarguably best films of 2007 and, with repeated viewings, likely to become considered, by me, as one of the finest films of the last ten to twenty years. I do not say those words to you lightly. I urge you all to see this film. You can read the full review for this film by clicking right here!
3. Knocked Up: This is the comedy of the year, I promise you. A film with real heart and emotion behind every laugh. It’s a celebrity-soaked gem and every bit of outstanding word-of-mouth you’ve heard about this film is hugely deserved. Knocked Up is about as perfect a night out at the cinema as you can get: you can take your girlfriend to this and have a great night out, you can get together with your buddies and laugh your arses off, hell you could even take your liberal minded folks along for it and come away delighted. Check out the full review for this film right here!
2. Gone Baby Gone: The surprising thing is that this film works and it works exceptionally well. It works to the point that, with his directorial debut, Ben Affleck has delivered – straight off the bat – a stone-cold modern classic, I shit you not. Based off this film, then I hope all involved behind and in front of the cameras on Gone Baby Gone get together on bringing A Drink Before The War, Darkness Take My Hand, Sacred and Prayers For Rain to the screen as soon as humanly possible. However, something tells me that there is more chance of this film taking what it deserves at the next Academy Awards (Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress) then there is of that happening unfortunately. Read the full review right here!
And my number one movie of the year is …
1. No Country For Old Men: What cannot be disputed in relation to this film is that regardless of whether you look up the word fantastic, unbelievable, incredible, extraordinary, excellent, terrific, superb, great, marvelous, fabulous, wonderful, tremendous, brilliant, remarkable, magnificent or sensational you’ll only ever see the poster for this exquisite modern classic staring right back at you. This is first-class, expert filmmaking of the highest order. This isn’t just your typical “film of the year”. This is the best film of the last two, no three, no four, no five years, I assure you. It’s only testament to how utterly sublime Fargo and Millers Crossing (and the fact that they’ve had a head start in growing superior with each viewing and earning the term “timeless”) is that I’m not falling over myself to say that this is the best thing the Coen Brothers have ever done. Read the full review right here!
And that’s it! I’m done! That’s what I’ve loved above all else this year. Acclaim or flame me in the Comments Area below. I’m big enough to take it. LOL. Stay tuned because Wyv will be coming along soon with his imput.
8 Responses to “1st ASPEYA 2007: Volume 5 – GAZZ’S TOP 25 OF THE YEAR”
This is good clssification
I don’t really agree with a couple of picks, but good list.
And though I liked 28 Weeks Later, I really wished it was Carlye’s characters movie, instead he becomes a boogeyman for plot convenience. which kinda hurt the film for me. But, I’ve said before that opening with him hauling ass from the infected was great.
Wow, we put Superbad in the same place!
No Country was a kickass movie, no doubt, but I just couldn’t call it my personal favorite movie of the year, not after I walked out of Yuma with a massive poop-eating grin on my face. I just loved it unabashedly. I couldn’t stand For Your Consideration, Ratatouille was WAY overrated in my opinion, and Superbad made me laugh much more than Knocked Up(although the Vegas trip was a RIOT). I gotta watch Michael Clayton just to see what all the fuss is about. That movie looks boring as hell, but I’ll have to give it a shot.
And I hope your health improves in ’08, babe. We need you!
I NEED YOU!!!!!!
Ahhh, thanks Kris! I really appreciate that!
I need you too
LOL
PS Kris, on the subject of Ratatouille, I always try and make sure that when I do my end of year reviews that I get every genre represented if I can. For me, Ratatouille was the best animated film I’ve seen this year!
What would you have put in its place for best animated film? I know you dig Bee Movie but did you really think that was better then Pixar’s latest?
In terms of animation, Bee Movie doesn’t hold a candle to the Rat, but I didn’t find the Rat’s story engaging at all. Pixar has this knack for making movies that I can get invested and engaged in. Monsters, Inc and Finding Nemo are two of the best animated films I’ve ever seen, and I cannot in good conscience include the Rat in this category. It’s a beautiful-looking film, and that end bit with the critic’s speech was nice, but other than that, there’s nothing there for me to latch onto. I sat there admiring the animation, but feeling nothing in terms of the actual plot. It’s the animated equivalent of Atonement! I don’t know what I would replace the Rat with, though. I can’t think of any other animated flicks I saw this year other than Bee Movie.
Trackbacks
What's Your Opinion?