Top 10 Films of 2007
Posted January 1st, 2008 by Daneen Akers
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I’ll admit right up front that I’m a major movie fan. And not just one of those intellectual art-house types, but a true movie junkie who loves both indie and big-budget Hollywood films. I spent two days over Christmas trying to get my tickets to the Sundance Film Festival figured out and regularly patronize the small one-screen theaters still left in my city, but I also went to see the latest Harry Potter on the first day it came out—in full IMAX splendor. And while I’m confessing, I also saw the latest Pirates of the Caribbean on its first day out and thoroughly enjoyed myself (I have a weakness for Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow). I’m hoping my confessions will tempt those of you who might dismiss some of these films as either too popular or too “different” to take a risk and adjust the Netflix queue (to make this easier, I've linked all of the film titles to their Netflix page).
While researching this list, I was reminded why I love movies so much. Quite simply, this is our campfire, the place where we go to learn our stories. For two hours we sit in a dark room with cell phones turned off next to our neighbors, suspending disbelief as we enter into the reality of another and sometimes (perhaps most cathartically) The Other. We encounter our fears, hopes, and yearnings through the characters we meet on that screen. These two hours are power. And, like Uncle Ben says in Spiderman, with great power comes great responsibility. The following 10 films represent two hours well spent in the hands of filmmakers who take that responsibility and don’t disappoint. (And yes, one or two are just two hours spent in harmless entertainment that can take us out of the stress of our lives for a wee bit of escapism.)
Daneen’s Top 10 Films of 2007
Note: A version of this article is published in the current issue of Spectrum Magazine. I’ve edited it to reflect the films I’ve seen since that article went to press.
1. Lars and the Real Girl—I’ve almost decided to stop trying to pitch this film with any plot details and just tell people to trust me—it’s very, very good. The plot sounds more than bizarre: a pathologically shy man who lives alone in the garage behind his brother’s house finally meets a girl on the Internet, much to the relief of his sister-in-law who worries about his isolation. Only problem? She turns out to be a life size silicon sex doll (don’t worry, the relationship is clearly asexual). He thinks she’s real and suddenly gets involved in life as he introduces her around town (she’s wheelchair bound). His family and community are faced with a difficult dilemma—do they play along? Do they send him to the funny farm? I know it sounds bizarre, but please trust me that it’s a poignant story of unconditional love and acceptance. And it’s also the most positive view of a Christian church community that you’ve seen in years. (Status: Still in indie-oriented theaters, DVD slated for April.)
2. Once – Walking out of the theater after seeing Once, my husband and I found ourselves unusually speechless. We just kept muttering profound insights like, “Wow,” and “Oh, wow that was amazing.” The reviewers seemed to have had the same experience as they universally fell in love with this little Irish gem. It’s technically a musical, but director John Carney reinvents the genre so completely that you wouldn’t necessarily realize that fact until you read a review. This is a film that sticks with you far longer than others. This staying power comes from the raw honesty and emotion between the two main characters (whose names we never know) who connect over their love of music and a similar brokenness in their lives—they are willing to befriend each other in a manner rarely seen in cinema. Oh, and did I mention that the music is dynamite? (Status: Avail on DVD. See Ryan Bell’s Spectrum review here.)
3. Into the Wild – As a huge fan of the Jon Krakauer book this film is based on, I didn’t have high expectations of the film (when is the film ever as good as the book?). But this film actually might just surpass the book, and that credit goes to Sean Penn’s directing—he clearly identifies with the fiercely independent idealist Chris McCandless who takes to the road after college, shunning the materialism, shallowness, and deceit he sees in his parents, and eventually dies on his final great adventure alone in an abandoned bus in the wilds of Alaska. Everything about this film from the superbly cast supporting characters to Penn’s directing style fits the character and his very American streak of idealism (think Thoreau and Muir) to live pure, unfettered, and in harmony with Nature. (Status: Avail on DVD on Feb. 12.)
4. For the Bible Tells Me So – Readers of the Spectrum blog or the Progressive Adventism website will know that I have a history with this film. My husband and I, along with a group of PUC students, waited for three hours to get into the midnight screening of this film at the Sundance Film Festival. Even though we ended up with the worst seats in the house on the very front row, we were all deeply moved by the power of this film, possibly the first mainstream film to try to reconcile homosexuality and the Bible. It does so through the stories of five conservative Christian families who discover that their son or daughter is gay (including the Rev. Gene Robinson’s family) and the scholarship of prominent theologians and ministers who offer Biblical exegesis and scriptural analysis that isn’t always taught during Sunday (or Sabbath) School. The film is meant to be a conversation starter for families and churches—and the evidence from the Spectrum blog (see here and here) is that it wildly succeeds in this endeavor. (Status: Still in theaters. DVD available for pre-order.)
5. Grace is Gone – The many possible meanings of its title haunts this film—and in the best way possible. This was the Audience Award winner for a narrative film at Sundance this year, and it’s already being talked about as John Cusack’s best performance to date (he’s actually almost unrecognizable, which worked quite well for Charlize Theron when Oscar season came around). The film follows a father who can’t figure out how to tell his two daughters that their mother has been killed in Iraq. As the Sundance program guide read, the fact that this film can actually be seen as pro-military is part of its power. The filmmakers don’t draw conclusions for us; rather, they leave us with a story we can’t shake. (Status: In theaters.)
6. Waitress – Keri Russell stars in this quirky and utterly charming little film about a waitress, Jenna, who discovers that she’s pregnant with her vile husband’s baby, a discovery that jeopardizes her plans to leave and start her life over. She vents her frustrations by creating pies (sometimes literally and sometimes just as a survival technique) with names like, “I-Don’t-Want-Earl’s-Baby-Pie” and “Baby-Screaming-in-the-Middle-of-the-Night-and-Ruining-My-Life-Pie.” As a woman more than a little scared of how having a baby might change, dare-I-admit, ruin my life, I found the ambiguousness of Jenna’s feelings towards her unborn child a rarity in film, and it made the climax all the more meaningful. (Status: Avail on DVD.)
7. Sicko – No matter your opinion of Michael Moore, Sicko—his best film by far—is worth your time. Moore unmasks the deep and troubling issues with American healthcare through his unique style of op-ed filmmaking which drives some mad, but is ultimately meant to start a conversation. He cleverly doesn’t even address the 50 million uninsured Americans, choosing to focus on those of us with “good” health insurance. The ensuing litany of migraine-inducing stories of Americans who had the misfortune to actually need to use their health insurance should get all of us to pay more attention to this issue (and not just in election years). Although this picture is often grim, it is actually a comedy, and his optimism that we can change and that America is ultimately a land of good people left me feeling hopeful, not discouraged. (Status: Avail on DVD. Read Heather Isaac’s Spectrum review here.)
8. In the Valley of Elah – The latest film from Paul Haggis (Crash) is an unflinching look at what war does to our children. Based on a true story, the film follows a father and former Army man (Tommy Lee Jones) looking for his son who has gone missing after returning from Iraq. The story that unfolds is never manipulated but is still about as raw as they come. The film gets its title from the valley where David fought Goliath, and the telling of the story of his namesake to “David,” the son of the investigating cop (Charlize Theron) by Jones is multi-layered and deep with possible readings. I left the theater wondering what my responsibility is as a citizen of a country that is sending our young men and women to witness and participate in atrocity. (Status: DVD slated for Feb.)
9. Evan Almighty – Okay, I know that half of you just wrote me off after seeing this title on my list. I’m apparently one of four people in the country who loved this movie—the other three being the rest of my party who spent almost two solid hours laughing those deep belly laughs at this modern-day Noah and the flood story. Steve Carell can always make me laugh, but that’s not all that was going on in this film—I actually like its theology too. If God is anything like Morgan Freeman plays him, then we’re going to be just fine.(Status: Avail on DVD.)
10. No End in Sight – I’d been wanting to see this documentary all year, and when I finally saw it, it didn’t disappoint. It was hailed as a balanced, inside perspective on how things went so wrong in Iraq. The film features major policy advisors and administration insiders reliving key moments and decisions (the filmmaker, Charles Ferguson, is actually a think tank Washington insider who hadn’t made a film before). It’s an insightful film that gave me many more answers about how Iraq became such a mired and muddy mess: seems like hubris ala Odysseus played a big role. (Status: Avail on DVD.)
Runners Up
1. Paris, Je T'aime – Most film-goers never get to see short films, and even the ones who do almost never get to see accomplished directors and actors make short films. This collection of 18 shorts, set in the 18 arrondissements of Paris, varies tremendously in style, but they all have heart, charm, and a healthy dose of that intangible Parisian joie de vrie. (Status: Avail on DVD.)
2. Ratatouille – Billboards proclaiming this film to be the “best reviewed film of the year” aren’t exaggerating (but that’s partially due the fact that it came out in the summer when movie fare is more Michael Bay and less Michael Clayton). Still though, the accolades are well deserved. This is a sweet, family-friendly film about a Parisian rat who longs to be a chef—it’s what you’ve come to expect from Pixar but with a lot of good French cooking thrown in. (Status: Avail on DVD.)
Two I Haven’t Seen Yet That Look Like Winners
- The Kite Runner – This book was one of our book club’s favorites with its themes of friendship and redemption.
- Juno - This is possibly the film I’m looking forward to seeing the most. A quirky little film about a pregnant teen girl from a small town that’s being talked about as this year’s Little Miss Sunshine. Ebert says nothing can dislodge it from its place at the top of his list for 2007.
Your Lists?
Any thoughts on these films? Any that you loved that I didn’t list? (You’ll notice that I’m squeamish on violence, so this list lacks several films that have been much discussed as excellent examinations of violence, e.g. No Country for Old Men or Eastern Promises.)
What were your top film experiences in 2007?
Daneen Akers writes from San Francisco where she is in grad school studying English. She is the Spectrum online reviews editor and would love to hear from you if you have or book or movie review idea. Send a note to Daneen at daneenakers dot com.
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Comments
You're going to love Juno! It's truly a splendid little film. Thanks for all of the good suggestions--it looks like I've got some good movie nights ahead.
I know that Paris, JeT'aime only made it on the Runners Up list, but I want to give it one more little boost. It's true that it's tough to find short films made by established directors these days. Short films are usually the "calling cards" of new, young directors looking to get their name out there. Most of the directors of these shorts have already "made it". Where else are you going to see a short film by the Coen Brothers or Wes Craven? Each one is unique not only to the director, but to the section of town in which is was filmed. If you've been to Paris you'll recognize Montmarte, Le Marais and other recognizable parts of the city.
So if I had to pick a favorite short in the collection it would have to be the one by Walter Salles called "Loin du 16ème" about a mother who has to leave her child in day care in the early morning and commute from the far outskirts of Paris to work as a nanny for a wealthy Bourgeoise mother in the city. The performance by Catalina Sandino Moreno is haunting and heartbreaking and worth the price of seeing the film alone.
I enjoyed Secret Sunshine, a korean movie about tragedy and (christian?) faith; one of the best films of 2007 in my opinion.
I too love movies. I was disturbed by an editorial in a recent Adventist Review that basically said we should avoid movies like Evan Almighty because it was a mockery of a Bible story--I got the sense from the article that he hadn't even seen the movie--it's this sort of complete cultural disconnect that gets us laughed at. Now, Evan Almighty, like you say, wasn't critically acclaimed, but it certainly wasn't laughing at the flood. In fact, the film is very sincere--it's about faith when people laugh at what God tells you to do.
http://www.adventistreview.org/issue.php?id=1544&action=print
I also loved The Kite Runner
Now could we have the Ten Best Books by readers here?
Last night my husband and I went to see Denzel Washington's, "The Great Debaters." This would not only top my list of '07s best films it would also be one of two on that top 10 list of mine. The other film being, "The Kite Runner."
"The Great Debaters" gave me a feel for what it would have been like (and possibly may be still today) to be a minority class member. It is based on the debate team from Wiley College, Marshall, TX in 1935—an all Black college going up against other colleges and most notably all Caucasian Harvard.
As Neil Postman chronicled many years ago in "Amusing Ourselves to Death" this film gives us an inkling of what it would be like to go back to a society that has the intellect to debate rather than the facade of knowledge experienced today in "a sound bite." This film needs to be shown in every church and in every classroom. It has the power to change our world. Kudos to Washington and Oprah and all who were involved in producing it. A must see.
My favs this year.
1. No Country for Old Men
2. Control
3. Paris, Je T'aime (just watched it over the holidays)
4. Juno
5. SiCKO
Eager to see: There Will Be Blood!
Most fun film find: the music video collections of directors Mark Romanek, Jonathan Glazer, Anton Corbijn, Stéphane Sednaoui.
I would like to suggest two films: Transformers and The Bourne Ultimatum. I was in awe after seeing the special effects in Transformers. They are amazing!! The Bourne Identity (though a bit violent at times) is great because I don't think one really needs to see the first two films to understand the plot.
just wanted to cosign on the Evan Almighty review -- i LOVED it! [way better than Bruce Almighty, which I found to be a bit crass at times]
Steve Carell was funny, the story was respectful, and the interpretation was current and relevant. All in all, a great family movie.
Can't wait to see Juno, and For the Bible tells Me So - thx for the list [I'd forgotten to put Waitress on my Queue]
jen*
My top 6 are No Country; Lust, Caution; Once, Dan in Real Life, Bourne Ultimatum, and Michael Clayton.
If you want a very funny Steve Carell in a family movie, Dan in Real Life is my preference over Evan Almighty. The soundtrack by Sondre Lerche is just a bonus.
Ang Lee's Lust, Caution is a compelling Romance/Espionage Thriller.
And I, too, highly endorse Juno.
Thanks for reminding me of Dan in Real LIfe, Daniel (you must like the title character... : ) That was a great romantic comedy. I remember Mick LaSalle saying that although it's a romantic comedy so you have a sense where it's going, it's a delight to watch it get there.
I also would include Bourne Ultimatum -- smart and action packed.
Evan Almighty makes my list of the top movies of 2007 as well (OK, I haven't seen that many movies!) -- funny with surprisingly good theology. Imagine, the flood as a love story. Why hadn't I heard that before?
One movie that has not yet been mentioned is I Am Legend -- unrealistic but thought provoking. There were some issues with the science and the CGI. But, I have been thinking about this movie for the past three weeks and any movie that keeps me thinking makes my top list.
Elaine, good question. I asked the same thing about movies as I read the Top Books list. Our paths are reversed.
My Top 10 is a little dated because my budget directs me to Netflix more often than to the epicenter of surround sound in the middle row. These are the top films I watched in 2007; however, most were not released during the past year.
Your lists mean my Netflix queue will be growing for 2008. Unfortunately, a lot of films I want to see aren’t on Netflix. I’m beginning to see why some of my comrades worship Bram Cohen (BitTorrent).
---------------------------------
TOP 10 VIEWED IN 2007
---------------------------------
1. Stranger Than Fiction
2. The Edukators
3. I Know I’m Not Alone
4. SiCKO
5. Amazing Grace
6. The Future of Food
7. Earthlings
8. Nobody Knows
9. Sophie Scholl—The Final Days
10. Jesus Camp
Runners Up
11. Uncovered: The War on Iraq
12. Everything is Spiritual
13. Beyond the Pale
But how can I not mention Run Granny Run, King Corn, The Bourne Ultimatum, or Evan Almighty?!
------------------------------------------
MOST DISAPPOINTING OF 2007
------------------------------------------
1. The Gleaners and I
---------------------------------------------------------
TOP 10 OF ALL TIME (Excluding 2007 List)
---------------------------------------------------------
1. Why We Fight
2. Born into Brothels
3. The Corporation
4. Murderball
5. Good Bye Lenin
6. Children of Heaven
7. Paradise Now
8. Joyeux Noel
9. Welcome to Dongmakgol [downside: steve taschler]
10. 12 Angry Men
-------------------
TO BE VIEWED
-------------------
1. The Power of Community
2. A Convenient Truth [NOT about global warming]
3. What Would Jesus Buy?
4. Into the Wild
5. King Lines—Chris Sharma
Good lists! Did you see the review about Stranger Than Fiction a while back up here? That is such a delightful and unusual film. I like your top 10 of all time list too--great docs and a few to add to my Netflix queue. I especially found Why We Fight to be disturbingly illuminating.
I bet you'd also like The Lives of Others, which really came out in 2006, but didn't get around much until this year.
Oh--and I just saw Juno and absolutely loved it. I've rarely been in a theater with more heartfelt laughter and earned tears (although Lars and the Real Girl also was a similar experience). If you like offbeat, quirky films with unusual but true characters, I highly recommend it.
My apologies if this is the 3rd time you’ve seen this. Daneen, from your comments it sounds like you’ve read it, but it doesn’t appear on my computer or a friends, so I’m reposting it without HTML.
Elaine, good question. I asked the same thing about movies as I read the Top Books list (http://www.spectrummagazine.org/reviews/book_reviews/2008/01/02/favorite...). Our paths are reversed.
My Top 10 is a little dated because my budget directs me to Netflix more often than to the epicenter of surround sound in the middle row. These are the top films I watched in 2007; however, most were not released during the past year.
Your lists mean my Netflix queue will be growing for 2008. Unfortunately, a lot of films I want to see aren’t on Netflix. I’m beginning to see why some of my comrades worship Bram Cohen (BitTorrent). I also wish Netflix would provide the special features that you get with purchased DVDs, especially with documentaries.
TOP 10 FILMS VIEWED IN 2007
1. Stranger Than Fiction (www.strangerthanfiction.com)
2. The Edukators (www.ifcfilms.com/theedukators)
3. I Know I’m Not Alone (www.iknowimnotalone.com)
4. SiCKO (www.sicko-themovie.com)
5. Amazing Grace (www.amazinggracemovie.com)
6. The Future of Food (www.thefutureoffood.com)
7. Earthlings (www.isawearthlings.com)
8. Nobody Knows (www.lhp.com.sg/nobodyknows)
9. Sophie Scholl—The Final Days (www.sophieschollmovie.com)
10. Jesus Camp (www.jesuscampthemovie.com)
RUNNERS UP
11. Uncovered: The War on Iraq (www.truthuncovered.com)
12. Everything is Spiritual (www.everythingisspiritual.com)
13. Jim Gaffigan—Beyond the Pale (www.jimgaffigan.com)
But how can I not mention Run Granny Run (www.grannyd.com), King Corn (www.kingcorn.net), The Bourne Ultimatum, or Evan Almighty?!
MOST DISAPPOINTING OF 2007
1. The Gleaners and I (www.imdb.com/title/tt0247380)
TOP 10 OF ALL TIME (EXCLUDING 2007 LIST)
1. Why We Fight (www.sonyclassics.com/whywefight)
2. Born into Brothels (www.kids-with-cameras.org)
3. The Corporation (www.thecorporation.com)
4. Murderball (www.murderballmovie.com)
5. Good Bye Lenin (www.sonyclassics.com/goodbye)
6. Children of Heaven (www.us.imdb.com/title/tt0118849)
7. Paradise Now (www.wip.warnerbros.com/paradisenow)
8. Joyeux Noel (www.sonyclassics.com/joyeuxnoel)
9. Welcome to Dongmakgol (www.imdb.com/name/nm2015201) [downside: steve taschler]
10. 12 Angry Men (www.imdb.com/title/tt0050083)
TO BE VIEWED
1. The Power of Community (www.powerofcommunity.org)
2. A Convenient Truth (www.imdb.com/title/tt1018804) [NOT about global warming]
3. What Would Jesus Buy? (www.wwjbmovie.com)
4. Into the Wild (www.intothewild.com)
5. King Lines—Chris Sharma (www.kinglinesmovie.com)
ok - having now seen Waitress, that's my fave movie of '07. And thanks for the heads up about Paris, je t'aime - I really liked that one, too. that movie makes you miss Paris. and also highlights the fact that Frodo has got some huge eyeballs.
jen*
NOTE: This was an email originally sent to Scott Moncrief regarding his article "The Responsibility of Watching".
I am a subscriber to Spectrum, and enjoyed your article “The Responsibility of Watching” and Winona Wendth’s article “Top Ten Movies” that appeared in the Fall 2007 issue.
As background, I graduated from PUC in 1981, a time when typically only the “liberal” Adventist would go to a movie. I had almost graduated with a degree in Theology, but changed a semester before finishing to Medical Technology and later getting a Masters degree in Microbiology. This was also the time Desmond Ford was teaching at PUC. Based on how he was treated greatly influenced my decision not to finish my Theology degree.
Movies have always been an interest to me. Much of that interest came from my Dad, who grew up studying acting, and loved theater. Unfortunately, like so many, he never quite “made it”, and went into civil administration. He did not grow up Adventist, but married “into the faith”, so he had a different perspective regarding movies than traditional Adventism taught.
I am writing because I would like to recommend a movie that is neither on Winona’s or your list. Perhaps you have already seen it, perhaps not. It made such a powerful impression on me, that I felt I must share my enthusiasm for this film; M Night Shyamalan’s “The Village”.
It was a few years after it came out when I first watched it. I remember hearing about it and thinking that it had something to do with Hillary Clinton’s book “It Takes A Village”. Then I saw the previews and the Hollywood marketing gurus had it advertised as if it was a horror movie. Horror not being my most favorite genre, I didn’t put it on my list of movies I’d like to see. It was only after reading some reviews about another movie, that The Village was mentioned and that it had been very poorly marketed and was not a horror flick at all. I ended up watching it- not once -but four times, and have purchased it since.
It is a movie about innocence, and how far people will go to preserve that innocence. It speaks of using fear as a means of control, and the power of myth. It is not a religious story, but it is a story of religion, of sin, and retribution for sin. I felt like I was watching a movie about a conservative sect of Adventists, yet its message could be applied even more broadly to the very concept of religion itself. Unfortunately, there was no personal “Saviour” in this movie.
It is a movie that asks us to turn in our myths for reality, and the disposal of our innocence for the often painful embrace of truth.
Analogies are numerous; the red color for “sin” that must be put away, the devil for the forest creatures, and a blind girl who sees more clearly than those with sight. If you have seen it, then I am sure you can relate to what I am suggesting. If you haven’t, then I must not share too much, less I spoil the story and its inevitable shyamalanic ending. I will say the movie acts on two levels, one very obvious, the other less suspecting. Let me add that every scene is important, every word significant; from the very first image, to the very ending. I found the ending very painful. While it is rated PG-13, and that for only one scene, it is above most young people (and many adults) awareness or thinking. This may explain in part why Hollywood marketed it so poorly – they themselves didn’t truly understand what the movie was trying to say.
It was interesting to read the reviews on this movie, as either people hated it or loved it. There was not much middle ground.
I would be interested in any comments you might have.
Don--somehow I just saw your comment here about The Village. I think that's one I passed over (probably the rumors of a horror flick). Thanks for the recommendation though; I'm going to check this one out.
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