In my first full year as a movie critic, I saw more movies in 365 days than I ever have before. I missed a few along the way (see my list at the bottom), forgot a few, and I was unfortunate enough to see some stinkers ("Perfect Stranger" and "Hot Rod" to name a couple). But there were good films throughout, and with three weeks left in the 2007, it's not too early for me to reveal my Top 10 list of the year.
1. "No Country for Old Men"
The Coen Brothers have made their best film yet and the best film of 2007. A thrilling, unrelenting experience, "No Country" features Josh Brolin and Tommy Lee Jones delivering stellar performances with Javier Bardem as the serial killer Anton Chigurh, probably the scariest character to grace the big screen in recent memory.
2. "Once"
Representing everything Hollywood isn't, "Once" came out of nowhere to win the hearts of moviegoers with its modern-musical love story. With undoubtedly the best soundtrack of the year, the film managed to go against the typical romantic movie stereotypes and craft an inspiring tale through its subtlety and undeniable indie sensibilities.
3. "Juno"
If Ellen Page wasn't a star before "Juno," she will be after it sees wide release. The quirky tale of Juno, a pregnant 16-year-old deciding to put the baby up for adoption has Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner as a couple who wants a child of their own, J.K. Simmons and Allison Janey as the dad and step-mom and Michael Cera as the donor of the Y chromosome. Diablo Cody's script is nothing short of brilliant.
4. "Into the Wild"
Sweeping. Entralling. Epic. Yet, introverted. The seemingly paradoxical nature of the Sean Penn directed "Into The Wild" makes for a focused look at one young man's loss of direction and his effort to find his place in the world. Emile Hirsch throws himself into the film as Christopher McCandless, dropping close to 40 pounds for the role but it's Hal Holbrook who steals the show as the lonely old man who tries to stop Chris on his journey.
5. "Knocked Up"
This seemed to be the year for comedies revolving around pregnancy. Funnier and more focused than director Judd Apatow's "The 40 Year-Old Virgin," "Knocked Up" managed to ideally blend the comedic elements with the dramatic ones. A comedy with heart, it made Seth Rogen a star and introduced the world to the beautifully talented Katherine Heigl.
6. "Gone Baby Gone"
Ben Affleck the director? The former Mr. Lopez had everything going against him when he signed on to direct baby-bro Casey in the Boston-based crime drama. But Affleck delivered, with a thrilling film featuring Casey as a private detective looking for a missing girl. Amy Ryan delivers an award worthy performance as the missing girl's mother.
7. "Zodiac"
Epic in every sense of the word, "Zodiac" is a three hour-long exhausting account of the Zodiac Killer's rampage through San Francisco in the 1970s. The cast features Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr. and Brian Cox, and is directed by David Fincher, who brings the '70s to life on the big screen. The victim of an early release date, it's unfortunate to see Zodiac forgotten so soon.
8. "Ratatouille"
Can Pixar go wrong? The studio knocks another one out of the park with their animated tale of a rat who wants to become a chef in a Parisian restaurant. Featuring the voice work of the underrated Patton Oswalt, "Ratatouille" isn't just a tour de force of stellar voice work, but a feat of animation greatness.
9. "The Bourne Ultimatum"
The third time's a charm when it comes to Jason Bourne. Director Paul Greengrass delivers one of the most unrelenting action movies of the year with the spy finally discovering who he is and where he came from. It's "James Bond who?" with Matt Damon in the lead role, as he's kicking ass and taking names, going as far as to take a baddie down with a book. That'll increase the literacy rates.
10. "American Gangster"
Where could you go wrong with Ridley Scott directing Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington? The trifecta of talent comes through with the true story of drug kingpin Frank Lucas and his hold on the New York drug trade throughout most of the '70s. Captivating with its increasing tension, "Gangster" delivers a solid action movie without dumbing it down too much for conventional audiences.
Still to see (with high hopes for): "I'm Not There," "Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford," "Michael Clayton," "There Will Be Blood," "Sweeney Todd"
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