My Top 10 films of 2007

Here we have another dark Tim Burton film. After seeing several of his previous works, you can almost always expect violence and a grim tale. There is quite a bit of blood and gore in the film, so don't let the idea of a musical deter you. However, the acting and diologue are rock solid. The cast of this movie is magical. Of course Johnny, need I say more. Helena Carter, most famously known from Fight Club, also is an amazing supporting role. The story is a beautiful tale of revenge and love, which will keep you on the edge of your seat. If I would have to compare this film to previous Tim Burton films, I would say a mix of Edward Scissorhands and Sleepy Hollow. It has that dark and violent content, mixed with a strong central character. I am telling you people, you will enjoy this show.

This is really a great movie, one of the best of the year. Not much of a typical western, its more like a psychological thriller with some moments of drama. A very interesting story about Jesse James, his last year alive, about Robert Ford, His obsession with Jesse James and his reasons to kill him. A very convincing and well developed plot. Beautiful photography, the landscapes shown in the movie are simply amazing. The music is also very good, every score fits to the perfection to the mood of every scene. The direction by Andrew Dominik is incredible, he delivers a slow rhythm yet enjoyable movie. It has a cast of wonderful actors beginning with Casey Affleck that is constantly evolving in his performances, Brad Pitt that is already a custom to watch him in perfect acting roles, Sam Rockwell excellent in his supporting role and Sam Sheppard with a brief but convincing appearance. To conclude, this is a great masterpiece, a must see movie and an Oscar nomination worthy.

This film is fantastic! Oscar-winning director and screenwriter Brad Bird, who wrote and directed "The Incredibles", has produced a film with subtle humor, heart, and very profound truth. The voice actors are so great, and it is especially great to hear Peter O'Toole on the screen. The animation is beautiful and it is all around an excellently made film. Its message is one that holds so much truth for everyone, especially today's youth: it tells people that no, not anyone can do anything, but if you have the talent you don't have to be limited by your surroundings or your upbringing. I think this is refreshing to hear because often, children are lied to when they are told they can do anything, when actually not all of them can. But it offers hope to the ones who may feel limited by their social class. It also exposes the fact that most people try to put up false facades of themselves to hide who they are in order to feel accepted by the social standards we create in our society; it shows characters with this flaw, but ultimately they accept this reality and learn to be true to themselves. This thread, I think, is very common throughout the Pixar films, and they present it very well.

The Coen brothers once again prove they are brilliant film-makers, and two of the best working today. "No Country for Old Men" is haunting, gritty, and at times, brutal. The cast is all around brilliant, and Javier Bardem gives an extraordinary performance of a psychopathic killer. One of the most interesting aspects of the film(for me) is lack of a musical score, and that may be disliked by some, but I think it makes it more terrifying. Another great thing about this film is Roger Deakin's cinematography (which is always amazing).

This film came together like poetry, the beautiful direction, excellent performances, and a wonderfully written script. The most memorable and powerful scene in the film is the continuous shot on Dunkirk that last five minutes. We can see the chaos of Dunkirk and it's so beautifully captured by Joe Wright's direction, Seamus McGarvey's cinematography, and Dario Marianelli's breathtaking score. At the end of the scene you are left almost speechless, and by the end of the film you want to cry. All of this easily makes "Atonement" one of the best films of 2007

There is no doubt that this film is a truly great piece of film-making. Shane Meadows crafts films in the same style as Martin Scorsese. We are given a glimpse into the lifestyle of a group of characters over a short period of time. It is very much a fly on the wall type of movie. The point of these films is to understand the actions of the characters rather than judging their actions. I have no doubt that there will be some people that tag this film as being racist which is rather missing the point.

The film follows Shaun a 12 year old being borough up in early 80's England. He has lost his father in the Falklands war and suffers bullying and isolation until he is befriended by a group of skinheads. The happy band are challenged when Combo is released from prison. Thomas Turgoose is good in the lead role and the direction/screenplay are also spot on the mark. The film is based on Meadow's own childhood and is quite mesmerizing at times.

I was gripped throughout the film and it also gave me plenty to think about afterwards. What more can you ask for when going to the movies? I suppose if you go to the movies for escapism then go watch something else, but if you want a gripping thought provoking drama then it doesn't come much better than this. Outstanding!

What do we forget as we grow older? What becomes of the people we leave in our past? Can we go home again?

What if you never grew up?

These are a few questions you may ask of yourself as you leave the theater after "The Orphanage." This film is equal parts dark-fantasy and ghost-story, a parable for the beloved kid's tale Peter Pan as well as a tale of spectral children. Very suspenseful, this film does a wonderful job luring you into genuine jump moments hook, line and sinker, and at the same time crafts a beautiful story.

Our characters are developed with care, whether living or dead. We are slowly brought into a world where we find conflicting emotions and motivations, as nothing happens without a reason or a message. These are ghosts that will scare you and keep you jumping, but they are real characters as opposed to the monsters waiting in the dark.

This film is an archetypal hero's journey, where our protagonist is drawn into a world of mystery at a careful pace, shuddering at times to leave us guessing, and rolling along at a terrifying clip at others. There is always a lot going on, leaving viewers to wonder who can see what, or more importantly, who can understand the dark world around them.

There is enough intrigue, suspense, terror, and real emotion in "The Orphanage" to leave it on a short list of damn near perfect movies. Here is a rare occasion where concept, story, and execution come together in resounding harmony to sing a haunting and heartfelt song.

For me, knowing that George Clooney is in a film is enough to make me want to see it, even if the title gives no indication of the genre or subject. In fact, this is a thriller in which Clooney as the eponymous "fixer" for a powerful New York legal form is rarely off the screen and gives a performance both commanding and compelling. I'm a great believer that the opening and closing of a movie are critical and this movie could be a text-box case of how to do it. Our attention and interest are seized from the opening seconds and the conclusion is satisfyingly sharp and redemptive.

This is not an obviously commercial work: the title is utterly prosaic, the dialogue is wordy, the plot is often ambagious and the whole production concedes little to traditional entertainment values (no car chases or shoot-outs or special effects here). Instead the viewer is treated as intelligent - someone who wants tight direction, clever photography and above all fine acting rather than showy effects.

Although it is unquestionably Clooney's film, the support performances from Tom Wikinson and Tida Swinton plus that from veteran director Sydney Pollack are all excellent and such character - driven movie would never have happened without Tony Gilroy who it and - in an immensely able debut - directed it.