Top Films Of 2007

Best Film of 2007. A film of genius, from the monumental performance of Daniel Day Lewis to the astounding score by Johnny Greenwood. Winner of the LA and NY film critics awards.

My Favourite Film of 2007.

Best reviewed film of 2007, a masterpeice.

A Revelation.

Best Film of 2007, so far, an instant classic! Third Best Pixar Film, 14th Best Disney Film.

A Grand Portrait of the Soulful Little Sparrow. La Vie en Rose is a grand historical drama and one of the best biographical films I have ever seen. From the cradle to the grave, through the blissful 'rose coloured' highs to the sorrowful heart-wrenching lows, of a great singer, artist and woman, Marion Cotillard gives us Edith Piaf a life and love, a passionate, wild drama for the ages. Marion Cotillard gives a performance of a lifetime, one that I would count amongst the best of the decade, her triumph at the Oscars I am almost certain of. Best Actress of 2007 is Marion Cotillard. Her lipsinking of Edith Piaf's edyfing songs is perfect, such songs as the beautiful title song, La Vie en Rose (Life in Pink) a song about seeing life through rose coloured glasses, but the most soulful of all her songs, said to be her signature song Non, je ne regrette rien (No Regets) which the film ends with sums up everything about her life that words can say. An extreemly powerful moving experience not to be missed.

Zodiac begins on the 4th July 1969 with the Zodiac killers second attack when he shot Darlene Ferrin and Mike Mageau at a lovers lane in Vallejo and ends a decade later, sustaining suspence and occasional horror throughout. From the director of the cult classic Fight Club and the medicore Panic Room, David Fitcher hits an nerve and doesn't let go. Form the begining of the of the investigation the audience is riveted to the hunting of the hunter, the real life, still unkown serial killer who called himself 'Zodiac'. And as the investigation runs it course with speculation running wild, the audience becomes evermore obsessed as the investigators are. None more than the character of Jake Gyllenhall, who gives a increasingly frantic performance over shadowed by the sensational witty acting of the masterful but underarted Robert Downey JR. Dotted throughout this masterful crime drama, are scenes of pure horror as the killer feeds what drives him and the investigators get closer to unveiling the Zodiac. (SOPILERS) The fact that the crime is ultimately unsolved adds to the mystery, even though a possible answer to the killers true identity is offered. I wonder if the actor who played behind the mask was the same actor as the possible Zodiac? This would answer the question of wether or not Fitcher believed himself that the proposed cluprit was in his opinion the real Zodiac killer. Questions remain unanswered, but this obsessive compulsive crime drama electricifies.

A Little Music Goes A Long Way: A little music film that moves emotional mountains. Once is diamond in the ruff. Amateurishly filmed, it looks as if it was shot by someone with a handheld camera (I guess anyone can make a movie these days) a painfully obvious small to no existent budget, with actors that seems as though they were taken from the streets of Dublin, and an even smaller production quality, Once is not slick, not spectacular and definitely not your average Hollywood music film and yet it is a truly moving film. At the heart of Once is it?s soulful music, better than most of the rubbish on the radio or on the pop charts, the music comes from the soul and brings the film to life. The music acts as dialogue saying more than the ordinary conversation ever could, and offers the audience a poetic look at the inner most feelings of the characters. A modern day romantic fairytale set in the ordinary spoken world and in the spiritual sung world, alternating between the two. And yet the two worlds only really come together for a brief moment and then are pulled apart and there lies the sad truth. The realities of the world await the characters once the music writing, making and singing end. A beautiful film full of humanity Once is a gem. A film like Once only really comes around once in a while, so don?t miss it.

The best of the Bourne trilogy and one of the best action films of the decade, the Bourne Ultimatum is an ultimate in action movie experiences. Matt Damon has transformed the character of Bourne in three films from a troubled assassin without an identity, to a action hero of such precise perfection in evasion and invasion, deception and investigation it puts Mr Bond to shame. A film that goes through locations like heart-beats, from Moscow to Madrid to Morocco, London, Paris and New York, Bourne Ultimatum is a global adventure that reflects the high mobility and inter-connectedness of today?s small globalized world. A post 9/11 thriller that is smarter than your average explosion filled action film, a battle of determination that blurs the line between moral aims i.e. protecting the country and immoral means i.e. torture, assassination and indiscriminate murder. David Strathiam blurs these lines representing the ruthless evil within the good government represented by Joan Allen, both in thoroughly convincing performances. But Bourne Ultimatum does have the goods where action films are concerned with incredible chase, fight and suspense scenes that will have you on the edge on your seat. A mind-blowing ride intellectually and visually.

Based on the true life events surrounding America's worst spy Robert Hannsen, who's actions, led to the deaths of three covert US agents in the Soviet Union and the full damage cost of his information leakings is unknown, but believed to be in the billions. At it's heart Breach is a spy thriller of the highest pedigree. Tense, compelling, gripping, unnerving, and very understated. The film relies heavily on suspence and the central character, of the story, Hanssen, played by a genius Chris Cooper who's performance is Oscar worthy. The film would easily have become mundane, had a weaker actor played the part. Cooper creates almost a second Hannibal, a murderous monster with higher things on his mind than killing, a cultured, genius and importantly a devoultly religious man. A member of the Catholic organization Opus Dei, and a fervent Catholic, Hanssen's character thickens as more layers are developed. Everyone, as the detective Eric (played by Ryan Phillippe) says 'mis-read him', from the CIA themselves, to Eric and to the audience. How can such a seemingly good man be so bad? Yet apperances aren't what they seem, and so the fun begins. The film works up to a grand finale, in which the audience is worked up with it. Like a Hitcockian film, suspence builds to a crachendo and explodes with power, then resolves. Importantly Breach doesn't give you the one thing your left dying for, a real glimpse into the mind of America's worst spy. As Hanssen himself says "The why doesn't matter really, does it?"

Loved It!

Loved it! Classic Disney.

Side-splittingly funny, hands down the funniest film of 2007.

Considering I'm an avid Harry Potter reader and movie lover, that Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the longest book and the film is the shortest of the films, the fifth instalment had a lot riding on it. With the Harry Potter book series J.K. Rowling has created a literary phenomenon (her last book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows which recently came out was a great achievement), yet unfortunately the film versions have been increasingly as the series progresses unable to match the magic of the books. Only the first film captured the magic of the book but from there it has been a down hill progression. The fifth instalment has levelled out the trend and adds renewed interest in the series. Darker No. 5 Admirably adds Realism to the Harry Potter series, by focusing more on the 'muggle world' and introducing darker characters. The film is leaner but also much meaner. Boasts the cream of British acting, notably Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Micheal Gambon and now Imelda Stauton who gives a brilliantly bitter sweet performance as Professor Umbridge and Helena Bonham Carter in an equally brilliant performance of the crazed Beatrix. The film also gives locations from the book visually vitality especially Azkaban, which was not shown in the 3rd film. All in all the magic of the first two films may be lost but in the new level that the Order of the Phoenix has ascended too, a different darker magic is needed.

One of my most loved books as a child is faithfully adapted into a heart-braking family, fantasy that simply soars. Reading this book years ago as a child, I was moved to tears and it became one of my most cherished literary experiences. As such I had very low expectations for an adaptation that would be true to the book and would evoke the same emotions. Having seen it I was overjoyed and cried almost as much when I read the book all those years ago. Capturing the same fantasy and youthful imagination of the book without going overboard and whlist never losing touch with reality. As in the book the gap between the real world and the fantasy world of Terabithia are only a rope swing away. "Keep your eyes closed but your imagination wide open" Leslie says. However it is not the fantasy that makes this film and book great, it is the devestating tragedy that triumphs. A beautiful story of friendship and imagination but at it's heart a crushing story but life and loss mingled with hope. Bridge To Terrabithia is a family film, a fantasy an adventure but most of all a soaring tear jerker.

A controversial documentary critical of the U.S. by Micheal Moore how original.

So Bad It's Good. Micheal Bay has come to accept his campy nature and even to laugh at it. Transformers knows it's way over the top, manic and barely intellegible, and is able to say I know, so who cares?Amazing special effects, in the words of a fellow film goer "freakin awesome".

The Blind, The Lost And The Found: "I once was blind but now I see, was lost but now am found?" goes the grand hymn Amazing Grace, written by an ex-slave trader John Newton, played by Albert Finney, who was haunted by the twenty thousand slaves he traded, left his life of sin and wrote one of Christianity?s greatest hymn. The hymn and the film Amazing Grace are a testimony to the power of grace to transform everything it touches, blindness to sight, the lost to the found, the slave to the free man. As is the life of William Wilberforce (played by Ioan Gruffold) a man of amazing grace who changed the world through his crusade to abolish the slave trade in England. It is this transformation of English law from enforcing the slave trade to abolishment by the grace and perseverance of one man that the film focuses on, delving into the details and nature of the slave trade, which made the British Empire the most powerful the world, had ever seen. However although the horrors of the slave trade are spelt out, discussed and even shown through diagrams and demonstrations, the actual seeing of the slave trade in action is not shown. Wether or not this adds or detracts from the merit of the film is debatable, yet the opportunity to illuminate the full horrors of the slave trade visually is defiantly missed as the audience has only an idea of the slave trade really was. We follow Wilberforce not through the bowels of the slave ships in trade, or through the plantations they worked or the jungles of Africa, from where most of the slaves came from but through the jungle of politics in the British parliament. A reoccurring theme in this struggle of Wilberforce is the clash between his spiritual life and political life, his idealism and the harsh realism of politics. His ability is blend his spiritual grace and political ability, his idealism and political realism ultimately lead to his victory, in which as Lord Fox (Michael Gambon) most admirably speaks of the true measure of a man, measured not by glory or power but by noble struggle in the cause of bettering the world, by which measure William Wilberforce is a truly great man. An edifying spiritual testimony to the power of grace.

Irreverent and hillarious.

No Fool Like The Old School. Back to basics. In a much needed move the third Ocean?s film goes back to the basics of the slick Las Vegas heist genre i.e. gambling, guns and greed, all that made the first film so cool. With all the style and glam but able to laugh at itself the third installment is smooth.

A New Twist On An Old Standard. Fracture is a smart thriller that gives a new take on a genre as old as time, the murder mystery. Yet the mystery of the murder is not who did it we know who, rather how did he get away with it? Yet everyone has a weak spot; lack of style is Fracture's, homicidal modern.

Terrific action film, at times bordering on the ridiculous. A mix of CSI Middle East, True Lies and Trying to find comedy in the muslim world.

"My characters shall have, after a little trouble, all that they desire." A quote from Jane Austen, one of the most influential and honoured novelists in English literature, offers a glimpse into the mind of a great authoress and shapes our understanding of countless famous Austen heroins from Mrs Dashwood, in Sense and Sensibility, to Elizabeth Bennett, in Pride and Prejudice, to Emma, in Emma, naming but a few. Such a glimpse is promised in the film Becoming Jane, however is not fully delivered due mainly in to allegations of historical inaccuracy and the weakness of the leading lady. Rarely has an American successfully played a English woman, rarer still a Austen heroin and never Jane Austen herself. I couldn't help but feel that Ann Hathaway was punching above her wieght, surrounded by veterans of British stage and screen, notably one of my favourite actresses Maggie Smith and the recently deceased great Ian Richardson. The painfully American Hathaway acts like a naieve child in the company of experienced adults. It goes without saying that the above mentioned actors perform limitedly but slendidly. A missed oportunity at greatness, Becoming Jane ends up, not as a great biography but as a period coming of age story. Dissapointing in intended purpose but charming romantically. Fitting an English romance story about the English romance writer, rather than a great biography of a great writer.

Scary as hell

At the centre of this romantic comedy are two performances that win you over with their charm, namely two fantastic actors Drew Barrymore and Hugh Grant veterns of the romantic comedy genre. Nowhere near as lame as the trailer suggests, Music and Lyrics is very entertaining. Romantic, witty, satirical and with a really catchy song to boot only harden cynics wouldn't in some shape or form enjoy this film. One of the funniest parts of the film is the satire of the hottest teenage pop icon Cora who is a walking contradiction at once a Buddist and a total scank. If you want a light, enjoyable romantic comedy for a rainy afternoon than this is the one for you.

Sometimes more isn't better, its just more. With the largest budget ever, 258 million, the widest release, 4252 theatres, 4 villians, at least 3 different plot lines, two financing studios, Sony and Columbia, 2 hours and 20 mins screen time and as the final (?) instalment of the most successful comic book film franchise, a crowded Spider-Man 3 believes more is better. Not only that but also believes a comic book/superhero film need not be confined to its generic boundaries, but can be a comedy, romance, musical, horror, action, thriller and epic all in equal measure. Considering this, one can't help the feeling that Spider-Man has become self aware of it's 'moreness'. Spider Man knows he has the biggest budget, he knows that he has millions of fans and that millions of people will see this film. I should say the "makers" know. And it comes through in the film, with the parade, fans and spectacle of spider man. I felt as if I was watching a movie about a movie, a remake of the first two spider mans. To top it off this crowded, 'enough is never enough', more than a superhero, self-aware monstrosity ends up lacking coherance in turn reducing what should have been an entertaining and awesome superhero film into a mildly entertaining, over-stuffed and confused mess.

One of the most original films in years and yet totally incoherent.

A collosal dissapointment, best bits were in the trailer, whatching the movie was "there's one" of good scenes or lines from the trailer. Extreemly anti-catholic.

As Roger Ebert very aptly wrote A Weepless Weeper.

Appaling.

Mindless, moronic, gore-fest. highly overrated.

Hannibal Rising or Flogging A Dead Horse