Top 10 of 2007 so far

These are just my thoughts on my favorite films this year. I'm not providing a plot synopsis. That's what IMDB is for.




10. 300


No film this year has been prettier than "300." It is a marvel of visual filmmaking. Now if only there was a story worth watching beneath all that sparkle.


9. Reno 911: Miami


Sure, it overstays its welcome and is obviously straining to fill the time demands of a feature, but it was still goddamn funny. The cameo from The Rock was brilliant. And every scene that took place at the hotel was hilarious. A good, if not great, comedy.


8. 28 Weeks Later


This is to "28 Days Later" as "Aliens" is to "Alien." While the first one was slow and creepy, the second is un-fucking-relenting. The movie gives us just enough story to get us caught up: London is now rage-free, and citizens are beginning to move back in (under the supervision of the US military, of course). As soon as the virus shows up again, the movie begins to sprint forward at breakneck pace, and is still sprinting when it ends. It's a pure horror adrenalin rush, and I loved it. The charcters are underdeveloped, but who cares? They're being chased by fucking zombies!


7. Sicko


I like Michael Moore. I don't agree with much of what he says, and I think his tactics are shallow and kinda prickish. But he gets people talking, and that is something to admire. For all his faults, he can usually put a temporary dent into the nation's collective apathy. And for once, he actually keeps a lot of his craziness in check. It helps that the US healthcare system, his chosen topic for this picture, is a complete clusterfuck. The audioclip of Richard Nixon should be enough to enrage anyone with even half a brain.


6. Seraphim Falls


The acting is what propels this film, and it is a joy to watch Liam Neeson and Pierce Brosnan do what they do best. The many small supporting performances are equally rich, and keep the sparse story moving.


5. The Lookout


Scott Frank’s directing debut isn’t as rich as his previous screenwriting efforts (“Out of Sight,” “Get Shorty,” “Minority Report”), but it’s still a nice caper drama. And Joseph Gordan-Levitt continues to prove he is one of the best actors currently working, and has moved far beyond the little kid fom “3rd Rock…” My biggest issue with the film is Isla Fisher, who is extremely overrated and tends to drag down whatever film she’s in, including this one.


4. Hot Fuzz


Cop comedies are having a good year. Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright and Nick Frost continue to deliver wonderful genre satire by embracing the clichés rather than parodying them. I truly hope they can keep it up. I didn’t find “Hot Fuzz” to be as engaging as “Shaun of the Dead,” but it’s by far the funniest film I’ve seen so far this year.


3. Grindhouse


I’m only going to say this: everything about this movie is brilliant. It doesn’t break new ground, but it has as much fun as possible on the old ground.


2. Sunshine


A science-fiction movie that plays like a blockbuster, but still has a brain in its head. The 3rd act sharply divides viewers’ opinions, but I didn’t find it to be hugely distracting, and it works on its own terms. Only “300” beats it for this year’s best visuals.


1. Zodiac


David Fincher controls himself for once, and delivers a tense, non-showy police procedural. A fine ensemble cast working from a fantastic script walk us through the long, obsessive hunt for the infamous Zodiac killer. The movie identifies several potential suspects, and doesn’t completely settle on one until the very end. And even then, there is doubt. My only 2 complaints are that it slows down too much at times (but so did the actual investigation, so I guess I can’t arguie my point too much), and Chloe Sevigny isn’t given a very good role. She has no impact at all on the story, and that’s a waste.