The Best Movies of 2007: Part II (The Real Best Movies)

I’m going to make a bold statement and say that 2007 was the best year for movies of this new century. While Oscar viewership may have been down, this year’s crop of Best Picture nominees were a cut above (In my opinion, the best since 1994 when Forrest Gump faced off against Shawshank Redemption, Pulp Fiction, Quiz Show, and Four Weddings and a Funeral).

Sadly, the most surprising part of my top 10 list will be how much similarity it bears to P’s picks. I shudder to think that 60% of my favorite 10 films of 2007 can also be found sharing space with Hostel 2 on Peanut’s slightly misguided list.

Starting off with some great flicks that didn’t quite break the top 10 but certainly deserve a rental:

The Namesake – Can you imagine Van Wilder’s Taj or Harold and Kumar’s Kumar holding down a heavy role in a serious drama? I couldn’t, but The Namesake proved me wrong. Kal Penn is surprisingly excellent in a dramatic turn as Gogol, the son of Indian immigrants seeking to preserve their culture and traditions while assimilating into life in America. The rest of the cast is terrific as well, particularly Irfan Khan as Gogol’s father.

Waitress – A film as delicious as the pies Keri Russell’s main character bakes. Funny and heartwarming, with enough weight to make it stick, Waitress is supremely enjoyable. Plus, a friend of P’s and mine worked as a production assistant on this flick, so show him some love.

My 10 through 6 can all be found on P’s list, but here are some additional thoughts:

10. American Gangster – Who was better, Denzel or Russell? Debate.

9. No Country For Old Men – Loved Stephen Root’s bit part. Made me wonder what would happen if Office Space’s Milton confronted Anton Chigurh over a Swingline stapler.

8. Bourne Ultimatum – The best blockbuster of the year surely deserves a spot on any top 10 list.

7. Michael Clayton –Clooney, Swinton, and Wilkinson all deliver pitch perfect performances in one of the more intelligent lawyer films to be made in a while.

6. Superbad – Funniest movie of the year. Break yoself foo!

Now for the really good stuff:

5. Once – If you haven’t discovered this Irish gem, go out and rent it tonight. It is a modern musical of sorts, but don’t worry, the characters don’t break into song for no reason. Plus, with real musicians playing the lead roles, this is as authentic as a musical gets. The best song in the film, “Falling Slowly,” won this year’s Best Song Oscar, and is hauntingly addictive. I’ve been listening to it daily since I saw the film over a month ago.

4. Juno – Hilarious and original. I’m surprised Juno didn’t make it on to P’s list, but then again P picked Hostel 2. He clearly has some issues. On a side note – was anyone else eerily transfixed on the ridiculously high slit of Diablo Cody’s Oscar dress as she made her way onstage to accept her Juno Screenplay award? That was one wardrobe malfunction I was not particularly looking forward to.

3. Ratatouille – Best animated movie of the Pixar age. That’s right, Ratatouille was better than Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Monsters Inc., The Incredibles, Cars, and even Finding Nemo.

2. There Will Be Blood – Wow. Amazing. P and B’s consensus pick for Movie of the Year. But, not quite as amazing as B’s individual pick for Movie of the Year…

1. The Lives of Others – The Lives of Others was the best movie I have seen in many years. The story, which revolves around an East German secret police officer spying on and then becoming wrapped up in the lives of a playwright and his girlfriend, is captivating. The acting is spot on. The ending packs a huge punch. All around, this was a perfect film. It deservingly won last year’s Best Foreign Film Oscar, but it was released in the U.S. last spring. Since it is in German, be prepared for subtitles, but frankly, you’ll hardly notice them once the story gets going.