Best of 2007?

The year is winding down, so it's finally time to sit down and crunch the numbers...
For about ten years now, at the end of every calendar year, I put together my own little list of the absolute best stuff from the past twelve months—my Top 10. My rule is pretty simple: it has to be a movie that had its US theatrical release during that specific year.
This is actually the first time in all that time that I haven't been able to label a single film as an actual masterpiece.
It’s a little depressing, honestly... though, looking back, there were still plenty of really great movies out there.

My Top 10 for 2007:

1. Apocalypto. M. Gibson
2. El Laberinto del fauno, g. Del Toro 3. Inland Empire
3. David Lynch
4. 4. planet Terror, R. Rodriguez
5. 5. Death Proof, Q. Tarantino 6. LETTERS fra IWO Jim
6. Clint Eastwood 7. Zodiac
7. David Fincher
8. CHILDREN of MEN, Alfonso Cuarón
9. der ANDEREN, F. Henckel von Donnersmarck
10. CHA no Aji, K. Ishii

I'm curious... what did you all think of the movies released in the US in 2007?

How are we supposed to determine what actually belongs in 2007? Most of the films you listed are dated 2006...

David Price5 said:How are we supposed to decide what actually counts for 2007? Most of the movies you mentioned have 2006 listed on them...

That's the tricky part...
I personally keep a log of everything I catch at the local AMC, so I have a pretty clear idea of which ones to include.
But honestly, don't let that trip you up when you're putting your own lists together. It doesn't have to be some rigid rulebook; there's plenty of wiggle room.
Just maybe don't go pulling in stuff that's already two years old...🙂

I haven't caught the last two flicks on this list, so I can't really weigh in on those. For the rest, I'm mostly on board with your picks, though I have to push back on that number one spot. Apocalypto absolutely doesn't deserve to be sitting there—honestly, in my book, it's not even in the top 10... Instead, I’d put a movie you either overlooked or maybe just missed entirely right at the top, which is "The Kingdom." To me, that was the best film of this year, if not the last few years combined 🙏

granitehound19 said:I haven't seen the last two movies on this list, so I can't really weigh in on those. As for the rest, I mostly agree... except for that number one spot. Honestly, Apocalypto doesn't deserve to be ranked that high—it's not even in my top 10. You missed a huge one for the top spot, though, or maybe you just haven't seen it yet... it's "The Kingdom." To me, that's the best movie of this year, maybe even the last few years... 🙏

I haven't seen The Kingdom (yet). But I'm planning to soon.
It's pretty clear we don't see eye to eye on Apocalypto. For me, it's an incredible film.

I dig your selection—there are a few I haven't seen yet, but they’re definitely going on my list.

I'd put The Lives of Others at the top right now; it beats Panov’s labyrinthine style any day, and frankly, I think it deserved to snatch the Oscar from Panov. But hey, that's just how I see it. 😉

Looking forward to what 2008 has in store—hopefully even better films. 🙂

1)I recently revisited Hot Fuzz. It’s such a sharp, witty film. It always puts me in a great mood.
2)Zodiac.
3)Pirates of the Caribbean: World's End
4)Ratatouille.
5)Planet Terror
6)Transformers. It’s such an intense ride! I remember seeing the first one at my local AMC and being absolutely floored by the scale of it all. Such a blast.
7)Superbad
8)Reign Over Me
9)Reign Over Me
10)Bridge to Terabithia
11)Paradise Lost
12)Shot
Zeitgeist
14)A Show Must Go On
15)Die Hard
16)The Bourne Ultimatum
17)Sicko
18)Battlestar Galactica
19)Harry Potter
20)proteg

I haven't included the films that came out over the last three or four months because I just haven't been able to track them down or find the time to sit down and watch them yet.

1. There Will Be Blood
2. Armin
3. Notes on a Scandal
4. When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts
5. Michael Clayton
6. The Kingdom
7. Zodiac
8. Letters From Iwo Jima
9. I'm Not There
10. The Banishment

redowl90 said:1. There Will Be Blood
2. Armin
3. Notes on a Scandal
4. When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts
5. Michael Clayton
6. The Kingdom
7. Zodiac
8. Letters From Iwo Jima
9. I'm Not There
10. The Banishment

I haven't caught There Will Be Blood yet (pretty sure it hasn't even hit theaters here in the States), but honestly, knowing it's a P. T. Anderson film and seeing all those glowing reviews... I have no doubt it's going to be massive.
Haven't seen anything by Spike Lee either, nor I'm Not There by Todd Haynes.
Just a gut feeling that this whole lineup is going to be incredible...

Henry Bennett53 said:I haven't seen There Will Be Blood yet (I don't think it's even hit theaters here in the States), but since it's a P. T. Anderson film and given the brilliant reviews, I have no doubt it's a masterpiece.
I haven't caught anything by Spike Lee or Todd Haynes' I'm Not There either.
I'm pretty sure it'll all be great.

Go rent a Spike Lee film from the first video store you find! Seriously, right now! That's what real documentary filmmaking looks like, unlike that propaganda pieces signed by Moore (though I did enjoy Sicko and think it's his best work so far).

There Will Be Blood doesn't arrive in American theaters until February (it can't be shown anywhere before Berlin), but honestly, this might be the best thing I've seen not just this year, but in years. It's truly excellent in every sense. Even with a few plot holes in the middle, it still feels like the movie of the year because the direction is just incredible. Plus, Daniel Day-Lewis was absolutely god-tier—he earned that Oscar before anyone else.

As for I'm Not There, I'm not sure if it'll even get a theatrical release here, but I'm certain it'll show up at the local video rental spots, so definitely check it out when you can. Todd Haynes didn't disappoint after the amazing Far from Heaven, and Cate Blanchett is 🙏. She deserves a nomination through and through.

By the way, you haven't been around here long... or am I misremembering?

redowl90 said:You need to get Spike Lee into the local video store right now! Seriously! That’s what you call a documentary, unlike that propaganda stuff signed by Moore (though I did dig Sicko quite a bit, probably his best work yet).

There Will Be Blood doesn't even hit theaters here in the States until February (it can't be screened anywhere before Berlin), but man... that movie is easily one of the best things I've seen, not just this year, but in years. Just incredible in every sense. Even if there are some plot holes crawling around in the middle, it still feels like the film of the year because the directing is just masterclass level. And Daniel Day-Lewis? Absolutely legendary performance... he earned that Oscar long before anyone else.

As for I'm Not There, I'm not sure if it'll even get a wide theatrical release here, but I'm certain the video rental shops will have it, so definitely check it out when you can. Todd Haynes didn't miss the mark at all after that amazing Far from Heaven, and Cate Blanchett is 🙏. She deserves a nomination, period.

By the way, you haven't been around here that long... or maybe I'm just losing my mind?

I'm always hanging around somewhere, just not super active.
There are so few actually good movies lately that I rarely feel the urge to say anything...
95% of what comes out is just garbage, and I don't want to waste my keystrokes on it.

It’s got to be Apocalypto. That movie is in a league of its own...

I finally have enough time today to pull my final list together, especially since I spent the last two weeks catching up on a few more films that absolutely earned their spot in my top 10 for the year.

My definitive list for 2007 looks like this:

1. There Will Be Blood
2. Armin
3. 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days
4. Notes on a Scandal
5. When The Levees Broke: A Requiem In Four Acts
6. Atonement
7. Michael Clayton
8. The Kingdom
9. American Gangster
10. The Banishment

Henry Bennett53 said:My Top 10 for 2007:

3. Inland Empire, David Lynch
4. Planet Terror, Robert Rodriguez
5. Death Proof, Quentin Tarantino
7. Zodiac, David Fincher
8. Children of Men, Alfonso Cuarón

What’s everyone thinking about the movies in America this year?

Haven't actually started watching David Lynch yet, but most people say you don't even understand what's happening by the end...

Planet Terror vs. Death Proof... Death Proof is definitely better for me, though Planet Terror had a better vibe. Still, Death Proof is a masterpiece.

Zodiac is way too long and complicated, but it's worth seeing—especially since Fincher directed it. Nothing else to add there.

Children of Men is one of those rare gems. I don't even need to mention that camera work during the military raid on that immigrant town...👍.

I'd throw in 3:10 for Yuma.

1. No Country for Old Men
2. Zodiac
3. Children of Men
4. The Lives of Others
5. Notes on a Scandal

Definitely Ratatouille...
Even though I had my doubts because of how the title was translated here, I walked away absolutely floored... I almost stood up and cheered, much to the confusion of everyone around me. It’s just such a fantastic story, incredible direction for an animated film, and a beautiful message...
I honestly can't think of anything better...

What about you guys?

No Country for Old Men, The Lives of Others, Zodiac... that's the list I'm working through right now—I’m still playing a massive game of catch-up with everything I missed.
It’s honestly pretty thrilling how my own "awakening" seems to have lined up perfectly with the resurgence of my favorite directors from the 90s—specifically David Fincher (Fight Club is easily my number one pick from that decade) and finally getting a proper, legitimate film out of the Coen Brothers/Deakins powerhouse.

Respect!
Charlie Pace

mr. No said:In my humble opinion, this has been one of the absolute worst years for cinema... I can only pray that 2008 proves to be a bit more forgiving—if it manages to reach even half the standard set back in 2006, I’ll consider myself a very satisfied man..

One of the worst years???

If you ask me, 2007 was actually one of the standout years for film production.
There Will Be Blood
Juno
Michael Clayton
No Country for Old Men
Charlie Wilson's War
War and Peace
Eastern Promises
Ratatouille
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Bourne Ultimatum
.
.
.
.
.

I am truly asking Bog to make this upcoming year at least half as high-quality as this one... if that happens, I will be absolutely overjoyed.

velvetcrane57 said:One of the worst years ever???

...I have to side with my colleague here—he mentioned the year wasn't exactly overflowing with massive blockbusters, and honestly? Not many titles really grabbed me by the throat 😳 enough to make them stick 🙂

...but Anderson is 😍

velvetcrane57 said:one of the worst years ever???

Well, if you ask me, I actually think 2007 was one of the absolute best years for cinema in quite some time...
There Will Be Blood
Juno
Michael Clayton
No Country for Old Men
Charlie Wilson's War
War and Atonement
Eastern Promises
Ratatouille
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Bourne Ultimatum
Bourne Ultimatum
.
.
.
.
.

Honestly, I am just praying to Bog that this current year turns out to be even half as high-quality as that one... if it does, I'll be absolutely thrilled!

You list all those incredible movies and then somehow manage to leave out what I personally consider the best film of the entire year...
''American Gangster''