Looking Back on 2007 -- Top 10 and More

As of New Year's Day I have seen 87 films released in the U.S. during 2007. The following represents my favorite films as well as individual accomplishments during the year.

The Top 10 Films Released in 2007

1. There Will Be Blood: There is no question as to what the best film of the year is -- it's not even close. Director Paul Thomas Anderson and actor Daniel Day-Lewis have collaborated to create one of the greatest triumphs in the history of cinema. Not since the release of "Apocalypse Now" in 1979 has a comparably important film been released. Much like what "Citizen Kane" (1941) and "The Godfather" (1972) did for film when they were made, I expect "There Will Be Blood" to do now. Daniel Day-Lewis' role as Daniel Plainview, a soulless oil man consumed with greed, ranks among the best performances I've ever seen; and is probably most directly comparable to DeNiro's career-best performance in "Raging Bull" (1980). We have entered a new era in cinema.

2. Away From Her: Writer/director Sarah Polley was able to craft one of the most powerful films I've ever seen. While it may make little sense on the surface, my mind keeps drawing the comparison to "Rosemary's Baby" (1968) by Roman Polanski. Both films are masterpieces because of their ability to create visceral connections with the audience. What Polanski did with fear, Polley has done with loss.

3. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford: It's a difficult task to wrap one's mind around this film; and further, to offer some semblance of comment. For starters, I will say that it is absolutely beautiful. Director of Photography Roger Deakins does wonders behind the camera -- the film plays like a harrowing poem. Accompanying the gorgeous imagery is a flawlessly complementing score by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis. For both those that admire the film, and those that dislike it, I am certain that no one was able to dismiss it quickly.

4. Into the Wild: The most important thing to emerge from this film is the aspiring promise of actor Emile Hirsch. While he is among several very good young performers, his roles in "Into the Wild" and "Alpha Dog" this year separate him slightly from the pack. The supporting performances in the film are equally as good; highlighted by Hal Holbrook and Catherine Keener. The movie represents a loneliness that both scares and impresses me -- it was able to tap into my innermost self and force me to confront feelings that most people would find both foreign and unfeeling.

5. American Gangster: This marked my most anticipated movie of 2007. Director Ridley Scott and actors Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe are in top form (as they also were in "The Great Debaters" and "3:10 to Yuma" respectively). However, I will say the film is slightly too neat. Nothing is out of the ordinary or in place to shock the viewer. It is what it is: one of the best color-by-numbers films Hollywood has ever produced.

6. Grindhouse: One of the first films I saw in 2007 and I knew it would find a way to land on my top 10 at the end of the year. The movie is great fun -- directors Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino (plus the several directors who created the mock-trailers) were able to tap into the spirit of the very lackluster Grindhouse genre. The best analogy I could make would be of a great artist sculpting a masterwork out of dog feces; and thus, it does not work in the terms of good or bad.

7. Inland Empire: Director David Lynch has added another very weird chapter to his filmography. Along the same vein as "Lost Highway" (1997) and Mulholland Dr. (2001), "Inland Empire" overlaps past, present and dream (and maybe even alternate realities). It is not a viewing experience that I would recommend to inpatient recipients; it requires deep thought and the devotion of revisiting the film in the future. I make no claims to understand what Lynch has created -- or to even assume the position of attaining an understanding later on -- I do, however, respect his fearless filmmaking and desire to question the constructs of basic narrative story telling. I also applaud actress Laura Dern, who helms the lead role, in what is one of the strongest performances of the year.

8. No Country for Old Men: The Coen brothers (Ethan and Joel) are unique in every project they choose. They have been able to brand a type of filmmaking on their work that can never be confused with anyone else -- even the short they created for the project "Paris, I love You" ["Paris, Je T'Aime"] early this year can be identified as theirs from the opening frame. "No Country for Old Men" is a testament to pitch-perfect direction and very strong acting. Its one pitfall, however, is its non-cinematic structure; highlighted by the disjointed third act. Make no mistake though; this film represents some of the Coen's best work and a performance by Javier Bardem that won't soon be forgotten.

9. Ratatouille: Pixar is brilliant. It's shocking just how consistently good they are. While I love every film they've done, I feel that "Ratatouille" might be their strongest work -- it contains a level of humanism that some of the other pieces may lack. Also of note, actor Peter O'Toole's speaking role as Anton Ego, the top critic in Paris, is probably the most notable animated performance since Robin Williams in "Aladdin" (1992).

10. Black Book [Zwartboek]: Carice Van Houten delivers an amazing performance as a war-torn Jewish woman in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands -- she is able to elevate the film from good to great. Director Paul Verhoeven finds just the right pace to play out this story and in doing so has successfully crafted his life's best work. The film is a crowning achievement and the best foreign film to be released this year.


Individual Accolades:

Best Director:
1. Paul Thomas Anderson for "There Will Be Blood"
2. Ethan and Joel Coen for "No Country for Old Men"
3. David Lynch for "Inland Empire"

Best Performance by an Actor:
1. Daniel Day-Lewis in "There Will Be Blood"
2. Javier Bardem in "No Country for Old Men"
3. Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead"

Best Performance by an Actress:
1. Carice van Houten in "Black Book"
2. Laura Dern in "Inland Empire"
3. Cate Blanchett in "I’m Not There"

Best Screenplay:
1. Paul Thomas Anderson for "There Will Be Blood"
2. Aaron Sorkin for "Charlie Wilson’s War"
3. Kelly Masterson for "Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead"