Okay, since everyone has to weigh in on their best-ofs around this time of the year, I thought I'd start out with my personal favorite pictures from 2007. From numbers 10 until 6, I'll keep it short and sweet. For the top 5 films, I'll expound a little bit more. Them's the rules.
10.
300- Come on, it was all about kicking ass, right? Loved how visceral it was.
9.
Exiled- Johnnie To continues to be one of my favorite directors, Asian or otherwise. He delivers again in this pistol opera. Brilliant performance by Anthony Wong here.
8.
Talk To Me- Don Cheadle was great in portraying one of the major players who started one of the pioneering radio networks in the US. Plus the music mostly from the
Stax label really helped portray the turmoil of the 60's.
7.
No Country For Old Men- One name: Anton Chigurgh
6.
Superbad- This comedy was like the companion piece to
Knocked Up which was released earlier in the summer.
5.
Grindhouse- Yes, I loved both
Planet Terror and
Death Proof--so there! This set of films made moviegoing a cultural event again. It's so bad that in the age of the internet and DVD home viewing, the general public has lost their appetite for seeing pictures on the big screen. I was fascinated and transported back to my childhood going to Baguio City's First Cinema to see double features.
4.
Knocked Up- Judd Apatow is one of the best Hollywood writers ever. I've enjoyed his work since the 90's. I'm glad the rest of the world can now see the greatness that I've been a fan of for quite a while now. Seth Rogen played a great awkward burnout back on Freaks and Geeks. It's also good to see that he's getting more work now doing future projects like
Pineapple Express and
The Green Hornet.
3.
The Host- This is my favorite Korean import film in 2007. This was what monster movies were about when I enjoyed them in the old days. It's surprising that the writers have managed to squeeze comedy into what is generally a dreadful tone in giant monster film genres. It was also icing on the cake to have Bae Du-Na as one of the actresses playing a central role in the picture.
2.
Linda Linda Linda- My favorite music-related film of the year. This was also the first movie I viewed in 2007. I've mentioned about how it's hard for bands to put their live act together. What the audience usually sees is the show itself. Little do most of them know that there's so much drama and good times that the performers go through as they practice perfecting their set. I find it strange that I've got a Bae Du-Na double whammy since she plays the Korean exchange student in this picture. Y'all should just go ahead and see more of her acting on one of this year's more popular Koreanovela series
Someday.
1.
Juno- I saw this movie yesterday and was floored. I never thought a movie this good could shoot up to number 1 in my list of favorite movies this late in the year. This one did it. The fantastic directing by Jason Reitman, the witty and incisive writing by Diablo Cody, and the stellar performances by main castmembers Ellen Page and Michael Cera are reasons enough to like this film. It's nice to see the intelligent and whipsmart kid as the center of attention in this teen film. Most of the time, they're just the quirky friend in the background. I think that's the underlying appeal of this picture. Also, like Bae Du-Na earlier in the countdown, we've also got a double whammy this year from Michael Cera. Go George Michael, go!
And because you've gone this far to read everything, I'll shortly talk about music from the film. I enjoyed the soundtrack which features songs by
Kimya Dawson,
Belle and Sebastian, and even
Mott The Hoople in a very pivotal scene. I included the David Bowie rendition of
All The Young Dudes for today instead of MTH's version (well at least I went with my better judgement to choose this over the
Bruce Dickinson cover).
All The Young Dudes - David Bowie
