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Something of a change of pace from the usual manga/Labyrinth fare, I thought I’d share my thoughts on last year’s crop of films in the spirit of Oscar Season (TM). Before I got involved with writing and editing manga, I was a student at the USC Film school, and before that I was a movie junky with a permanent seat at the multiplex and a bladder adapted to storing 48oz sodas without the need to pee (which should give me at least as much authority in film criticism as Drew McWeeny). This past year I saw 57 first-run films in theaters, and after compiling my list, I pulled the films that stood out for me as the cream of the crop. I try to be equal-opportunity when it comes to genre films and so-called serious fare, so I wouldn’t leave something off the list just because it’s a popcorn movie. There were plenty of films that I enjoyed and admired (3:10 to Yuma and Harry Potter come to mind), but for one reason or another didn’t resonate with me on a personal level. I came up with 16 starred reviews plus a few slams at the bottom for films that stuck out in a bad way. Here they are, in chronological order…

Bridge to Terabithia:

Somehow I missed reading this book as a kid, so while the title is familiar, the story wasn’t. I really liked the timeless approach to the setting, as this is a lovely timeless tale of friendship and imagination with some great fantasy visuals sprinkled in. Easily the best of the three big YA fantasy adaptations last year.

Zodiac:

An intense and unsettling film, but not because of the serial killer. It’s likable decipherer Gyllenhaal’s descent into obsession that stuck with me. Nice to see David Fincher come back with a gem after a long rest and lousy last film.

The Wind That Shakes the Barley:

Despite growing up at a time when IRA bombings still made the evening news, I never really got where all the Irish anger came from. (my own cluelessness or a Anglo-American conspiracy to marginalize dissenters of the Capitalist Hegemony?) Anyway, this film gives a great context to a hundred years of struggle and, on top of that, it’s a powerful tale of loyalty to family, country and one’s principles. Plus it stars dreamy Cillian Murphy, who my girlfriend threatens to run off with if the opportunity presents itself.

The Lookout:

To most people, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is probably still remembered as the kid from 3rd Rock, but since that show went off the air, he’s had a most compelling track record (Mysterious Skin, Brick, the upcoming Stop-Loss). In The Lookout he plays the reluctant inside-man in a small town bank heist. What makes things interesting is that Levitt suffers short-term memory loss from a gruesome car accident he caused during his glory days as a high school jock. It’s a strong performance backed by strong storytelling.

Grindhouse:

Rodriguez’ Planet Terror didn’t impress me much, but I’ve got to give Tarantino credit for Death Proof. Maybe the girl gossiping and foot fetishizing goes could stand a little editing, but when the characters talk about, and especially drive in, their classic muscle cars, the movie is as much fun as anything I’ve seen in the past year. The car chase at the end is easily the best on-screen driving I’ve ever seen, and Zoe Bell charms.

Away From Her:

Julie Christie is rightfully getting a lot of acclaim for her performance as a spirited woman whose life is splintered by Alzheimer’s, but Gordon Pinsent was just as wonderful as the husband who goes from patient saint to all-too human. Despite the somber subject matter, it’s not as depressing as one might think. An amazing debut for writer/director Sarah Polley.

Once:

Forget Atonement – this is the best love story of the year, and the most intimate, despite the lack of smooches. Watching the leads make music together is heartbreaking and beautiful. My favorite “small” movie of the year.

Ratatouille:

As a serious foodie, I was delighted when Pixar decided to tackle fine cuisine, and in Ratatouille, they deliver. As usual, the Pixar animators capture movement onscreen better than any other filmmakers, animated or not, and strangely enough, here they capture taste as well. And best of all, no Randy Newman!

Rescue Dawn:

Werner Herzog is one of my favorite filmmakers, but this was the first time I got to see one of his narrative films in theaters as a new release. (I’ve caught most of his features in retrospectives – Fitzcaraldo on the big screen is not to be missed!) All the Herzog staples are here – the descent into madness, drifting down rivers, long shots of animals and indigenous peoples staring into the camera… Bale’s Dieter Dengler bears little resemblance to the real Dieter Dengler, as seen in Herzog’s doc Little Dieter Needs to Fly, but that in no way takes away from the beauty of this fictionalized retelling.

The Bourne Ultimatum:

For my money, the best of the Bourne movies. This is two hours of pure adrenaline. There is only enough plot to keep the chase going, which, in a movie like this, is as it should be. Best action film of the year.

Eastern Promises

Based on the trailer to this film, I expected the plot to revolve around the murdered Russian woman’s diary and baby. In truth, they’re just a catalyst to lead us into a surprisingly intimate story of tested loyalties within the gritty world of the Vory V Zakone. The famous fight scene is an instant-classic, and not just for Viggo’s dangly bits –Why can’t more directors follow Cronenberg’s lead and film fight scenes in long takes?

Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead

This movie left me feeling dirty like a voyeur for having watched its tragically flawed characters destroy themselves. It’s almost painful to watch as bad luck and bad choices snowball, but you can’t turn away. Ever-slimy Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s Andy is in the running for Most-Pathetic-Human-Being-as-Played-by-Phillip-Seymour-Hoffman, which says a lot.

No Country for Old Men

Every critic out there has lauded this film to no end, so I’ll just give a shout out to No Country’s unsung hero – sharkdog!

The Mist

In theory, horror would be my favorite genre. Fear and the Unknown are such powerful narrative devices, it irks me that most cinematic horror aspires to nothing more than shock, cheap thrills and canonized monsters (die, zombies, die! No, no – for real!) The Mist was a breath of fresh air (…sorry) in the torture porn/zombie apocalypse landscape that really gets back to horror’s roots while offering some good gore to boot. The monsters are the stuff of nightmares – ranging to the familiar spider-kin to the unfathomable Lovecraftian tentacle beasts. And the ending is so painful and perfect. Also, The Mist inspired me to at last pick up King’s Dark Tower series – why hadn’t I read these sooner?

Juno

Last year I hate, hate, hated Little Miss Sunshine, so I was quite wary about this year’s indy darling, but it seems my fears were unwarranted. Juno’s a wonderfully sweet film with great performance from J. Jonah Jameson, Kitty Pride and the Bluths. It took a little while to adjust to the hotly-debated dialog, but after that, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

There Will be Blood

If the movie never came out and we only had the trailer to go by, I’d still give Daniel Day Lewis an Oscar for his performance. From the first time I heard the, “Ladies and Gentlemen, if I say I am an oilman, you will agree…” I knew this was going to be good. Maybe I was just hankering for more of Bill the Butcher. In any case, I was not disappointed. This was my favorite film of 2007, bar none. Everything about it was simultaneously finely-crafted and raw, like a thick slab of toro fresh from the Tsukiji Fish Market. When the sparks between Lewis and Paul Dano, it’s as if nothing else in the universe matters but these two personalities. An amazing film!

Special Slam Awards!

Shiniest Flaming Turd:
Transformers

As a kid, I LOVED the Transformers. I was there on opening day for the animated movie. I had an admirable collection of toys, from tiny Seaspray to goliath Metroplex. I even prayed to Jesus asking him to do me a solid and turn all of my Star Wars figures into much cooler Transformers (Strangely, He turned a deaf ear, the bastard.). I was even open to the reinterpretation of the Transformers designs that sneaked out prior to the release of Michael Bay’s film. But the live-action version of Transformers is an unforgivable mess that services neither fans of the source material or fans of big-budget action. It’s got to have the leakiest plot this side of Plan 9 From Outer Space (the encoded pair of glasses are the lamest and most illogical MacGuffin I’ve ever seen, and that’s not the worst offense). Hearing Optimus Prime talk stirred some latent fanboy love, but that wasn’t nearly enough to offset the awfulocity. Really, this was the Garbagepail Kids Movie on a $200 Million budget

Biggest Wank of the Year:
That long steadycam shot in Atonement.

No doubt about it, Atonement sports some stunning cinematography, but that’s no excuse for such a clumsy second act. The much talked about shot of soldiers on the beach waiting to go home is a technical and logistical marvel, but it does nothing to serve the story or our characters (unlike the equally tricky long takes in last year’s Children of Men). The war segment is so short and arbitrarily assembled, that this scene calls attention to itself all the more. Filmmaker wanking of the highest order.

Worst Stephen King Adaptation of the Year:
1408

How did this mess get 78% positive on Rotten Tomatoes? (8% more than The Mist!) It substitutes loud bangs and gratuitous CGI tricks for any real scares. John Cusack and Sam Jackson never rise above their actor personae, so I never care about the characters. The by-the-numbers ghost story would have made for a decent film with a subtler execution. I don’t know why I even dug it out of my memory banks – it’s just dumb.

Most Halfway Decent Film RUINED by an Annoying Score (and hammy Robert DeNiro):
Stardust

Stardust wasn’t great, but it wasn’t half bad either. I love the original picture book (haven’t read the expanded novel version), and the film did a pretty good job at turning it from fairy tale to swashbuckler while retaining some magic. Why then did they have to go all Jerry Bruckheimer with the soundtrack? Honestly, it was like watching Princess Pride dubbed over with the score to Pirates of the Caribbean. Also, go away, Robert DeNiro. You’re not 1/10th as charming as a cross-dressing sky pirate as you seem to think you are.

Honorable Mentions:

No End in Sight
A Mighty Heart
The Host
300
Sweeny Todd
Charlie Wilson’s War

Worst of the Pack:

Black Snake Moan
Eagle vs. Shark
Transformers
Halloween
You Kill Me

2007 Films Yet to be Seen:

Michael Clayton
Persepolis
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
The Savages

Oh, and needless to say, the views expressed above do not reflect the opinions of Jareth or any Goblin of the Labyrinth.