In Bruges is an excellent dark comedy

"In Bruges"
Starring: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes
***.5/****

Colin Farrell was supposed to be the next big thing. With recent failures including Miami Vice, and Alexander, many thought Farrell would never be able to re-grasp his bad-boy image, along with his proven acting chops that go back to his debut film, Tigerland, which is also his best performance.

In Bruges is a dark-comedy/action thriller. It walks the tightrope of many different genres, and in the end, writer/director Martin McDonagh has crafted a superb buddy film about two moral hitmen.

Colin Farrell plays Ray, who is new to the hitman business. Ray botched his first assignment, and he and his partner Ken played by Brendan Gleeson are sent to hide out in Bruges for two weeks. They wait for thier boss, Harry, played by Ralph Fiennes to call with further instructions.

The film starts off in Bruges, as the two leads prove to have opposing views of the city. Ken finds its beautiful, enjoying the simple attractions and tourist festivities. Ray is miserable as he doesnt fancy the city nearly as much as Ken.
Bruges plays like a character in the film, it's a medieval town, with a gothic and fairy-tale feel.

The film starts as a buddy comedy of sorts, Ray and Ken are both handling the situation in thier own way. As the film progresses, we learn more about the guilt that Ray has and why. Gleeson is a perfect compliment to Farrell's young and fiery character, Gleeson tries to provide wisdom and ease all situations with his fatherly qualities, keep in mind these are both gangsters.

In Bruges handles the narrative like any other gangster film would, except Ray and Ken are truly three-dimensional characters. They each have thier own moral compass, and code with which they follow, fleshing out thier characters even more.

There are some interesting twists in the 2nd half that don't come across as shallow or pretentious, they progress the plot in a plausible and interesting manner.
What amazed me about the film was how it balanced itself between familiar and original work, as soon as we think we know where the film is headed, it flips the audience on its ear.

The dialogue is tremendous, as writer/director Martin McDonagh proves to be a worthy first time film-maker with an extremely promising future. The score done by Carter Burwell is also tremendous.

Getting back to Farrell, this guy was born to play this frustrated and wiery character. It also helps that the character is Irish, which Farrell obviously is in real life. After some huge misses, Farrell has re-gained his footing and will hopefully continue to do great work from here on out, I've been waiting for this type of performance out of him.

In Bruges is dark, unique, and something fresh. I enjoyed the characters company for two hours, along with the gorgeous backdrop that is Bruges. Please seek this gem out.

Upcoming Reviews...

Updated Top 10 of 2007

After re-peated viewings of my favorite films of 2007, I present my final top 10.

1. There Will Be Blood (6 viewings)
2. No Country for Old Men (5 viewings)
3. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2 viewings)
4. Into the Wild (4 viewings)
5. Zodiac (3 viewings)
6. Once (3 viewings)
7. Atonement (3 viewings)
8. Juno (2 viewings)
9. Michael Clayton (2 viewings)
10. The Bourne Ultimatum (2 viewings)

Films seen in 2008 so far

Iron Man: ***/****
Cloverfield: ***/****
The Incredible Hulk: ***/****
Recount: ***.5/****
Forgetting Sarah Marshall: ***/****
Smart People: ***/****
Stop-Loss: **/****


It's been a down year so far, although I have only given 1 film a bad review (Stop-Loss), only 1 film has surpassed 3 stars. That would be Re-Count, an HBO film about the 2000 election between George Bush and Al Gore. Many people haven't seen the film, but it's the most involving and interesting thing I've seen in 2008. Although I have missed some films I wanted to see, including In Bruges and Snow Angels are out on dvd very soon, that excites me. I've also caught up on some 2007 titles I've missed, including The Savages, and Control, both of which I gave 3 stars. The only films from 2007 that I havent seen, that appeal to me are, Charlie Wilsons War and Ratatouille (spelling?) Everything else, I have consumed

I am also sad to say that most of the Summer films that I was excited for got torn apart by critics, and therefore, I havent seen. These films include: The Happening, Speed Racer, and Indiana Jones. Things are looking bleak for this Summer, but we still have potential hits like Hancock, Wanted, Hellboy 2, Tropic Thunder, Pineapple Express, and The Dark Knight.

Control (2007)

"Control"
Starring: Sam Riley, Samantha Morton
***/****

Music biopics are usually hit or miss, with Control, director Anton Corbijn uses a promising young actor to carry this film. Sam Riley plays Ian Curtis, the lead singer for Joy Division. If you're into music of the 70's, or music period, you most definitely know of Ian Curtis and the band that he lead into fame long before he took his own life in 1980.

This film is a chronicle of the late Curtis, who married young, and couldn't keep together a stable marriage with his wife Debbie, played by the underrated Samantha Morton. Debbie is a caring and concerned wife, she tries to understand Ian but cannot, shes aches for some kind of emotion to come out of him, but she, nor the audience ever catches a glimpse of it.

The actor Sam Riley, truly commands the screen in this performance. He gets all the mannerism of Curtis on-stage correct, and gives this film its pulse for 120 minutes. The muted chemistry with Riley and Morton is always there, even though they share few words together, just quiet scenes that explain more with silence than dialogue.

The film is shot in black and white and for good reason. It captures the dark and somber tone of the film, as well as the working class atmosphere of Curtis's home town in England.

Control is an absorbing film, film-critic Peter Travers of Rolling Stone said that, "You don't watch this film, you live this film." That is a great way to summarize this film. During all the concert scenes, the film sucks you in, as you're isolated with Curtis, and the young actor portraying him.

My only problem with the film is that the first hour is much better than the second hour, the pacing got slower in the second hour and I felt less care for the characters by the time the film ended. Even with those flaws, Control is a good film, and one worth seeing.

The (good but not great ) Incredible Hulk

"The Incredible Hulk"
Starring: Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, and William Hurt
***/****

The first Hulk film directed by Ang Lee back in 2003 wasnt a huge box-office success, it received a good grade among critics, but not among comic fan boys and the popcorn crowd. The film that everyone expected back in 2003, has now been released in 2008.

The franchise has received a much needed facelift, the cast and director changed, along with the pacing and scope of the story. The new Hulk looks more realistic and human, he's also meaner and much more frieghtening. Director Louis Letterier, who directed both Transporter movies, steps in the directing chair, with Ed Norton and Liv Tyler playing Bruce Banner and Betty Ross.

Norton is one of the most interesting actors in Hollywood, he has had success since the mid 90's, and is the perfect casting choice for this big-budget comic sequel. He can get people into the seats, which Eric Bana couldn't back in 03.

The story starts with fugitive scientist Bruce Banner hiding out in Brazil. He works in a labor factory where no one will notice him. Throughout the film we are updated with how long until the Hulk's last incident, as the movie opens, Banner has gone 158days without an incident.

An accident happens with Banner in the bottling factory, and his blood drops into one of the bottles being shipped. Soon, the bottles end up in the states, with a man having drunk the mixed blood from Banner with the soda. The man received Gamma poisioning and soon General Ross (Hurt) hears of the news. Ross asembles a team, headed by Emil Blonsky (Roth) to head to Brazil to detain Banner and bring him back to the States. The team fails miserably and Blonsky is the only survivor of the team, amazed at what he witnessed, the transformation of Banner into The Hulk.

Throughout the film Banner communicates with "Mr. Blue", a scientist trying to find a cure for Banner. Betty Ross, Banner's past love interest, may also have the data needed to cure Banner. The story shifts to the states, and everyone is on the tail of Banner, who has met up with Ross. They meet up with Mr.Blue played by Tim Blake Nelson, who does have the cure for Banner. When Ross's men interfere, and Banner escapes, Blonsky makes Mr.Blue inject him stuff to give him similar traits as The Hulk, he turns into "The Abomination."

The film turns into The Hulk against The Abomination, which gives way to great action sequences with impressive CGI and directing. This film reminded me of The Bourne Series and Transformers, we see a lot of Banner on the run in a lot of quick cutting scenes, and these two giants monsters battling in the streets causing carnage. A very entertaining film that hints at more Marvel genius in upcoming years.

The Swell Season

On Sunday night, The Swell Season performed to a sold out crowd at Allen Theatre in Cleveland. Coming from their Academy Award win for Best Original Song, their performance was absolutely beautiful and emotional. It was by far, one of the most memorable shows I've gone to.

In between the storytelling and jokes, Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová along with their band made up of Joe Doyle (bass), Colm Mac Con Iomaire (violin), Rob Bochnik (guitar), and Johnny Boyle (drums), performed songs from Once and songs on the The Swell Season and The Frames albums.

It was a fantastic performance, Hansard is a pure talent, his vocals are filled with raw power and a relentless vulnerability.

It's nice to see the thier fanbase steadily growing. I look forward to discovering more of thier music, and I may even be seeing them perform in Chicago in mid-June (I hope)

Iron Man has enough charm and action to satisfy.

"Iron Man"
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, Terrence Howard, Shaun Toub
***/****

The summer film season begins with "Iron Man", a superhero film based off of the Stan Lee comics. John Favreau, who directed "Elf", is behind in the camera for this big-budget popcorn flick. Robert Downey Jr. plays weapons manufacturer Tony Stark, a multi-millionaire and playboy who enjoys the ladies and quick witted conversation.

Stark is charismatic, and Downey Jr. is the perfect casting choice for this role. With his slicked back hair and neatly designed goatee, Stark is the embodiement of confidence and naturalsim.

The film is basically an origin story, much like "Batman Begins," in that it shows Starks transformation into the superhero, which we don't see until 45 minutes in. In the beginning of the film, Stark is in the desert with soldiers and military personnel, trying to sell his new missle, called "Jericho."

On his way back to his plane, his convoy is attacked by terrorists, and Tony is wounded by a Stark Industries missile. Tony is captured and held hostage in a cave with Yinsen (Shaun Toub), a doctor who saves his life. The terrorists force Tony and Yinsen to reproduce the new destructive Jericho missile Tony was demonstrating from parts of other weapons. Instead, Tony decides to build a suit of armor with Yinsen's help. The suit gives Tony the strength and protection to be able to escape the terrorists.

Other supporting characters are played by Paltrow, who plays Pepper Potts, Starks assistant and love interest. Odadiah Stone, played by Jeff Bridges with his bushy beard and bald head. Who is Starks partner and eventual villian. Terrence Howard plays Air Force Lieut. Jim Rhodes, a close friend to Stark.

With all of the good performances and special effects, "Iron Man" is nothing more than the first film and starting point, in what will probably become a film trilogy. The pacing if a tad slow, and there isn't enough action. Downey Jr. has enough star power to carry the film, and Paltrow is also good, but Bridges isn't exactly an ideal villian.

"Iron Man" will surely appeal to all of its comic book fans, and any person looking for a good popcorn flick. While this doesn't rank with the first two Spidermans, or Batman Begins, its better than most comic book to film adaptations. See the film for Downey Jr. and the good CGI.

Fine performances save Smart People

"Smart People"
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Ellen Page, Thomas Haden Church, Ashton Holmes
3 stars out of 4

Dennis Quaid may be one of the most un-appreciated actors of today, he's a likeable actor with solid acting chops and plenty of charisma. Quaid is usually reliable as the father figure in many of his films, he portrays that same role in "Smart People."

Quaid plays Lawrence Weatherhold, a burnt out English professor whom many of his students don't really like. Weatherhold is an intelligent man, but may be to self absorbed, much like the character of Bernard in "The Squid and the Whale." Weatherhold is also widower who still keeps the clothes of his former wife stored away in the house. His kids are played by 2007 Oscar nominee Ellen Page, who is way to busy studying for the SAT's to care about his recent accident, and Ashton Holmes, who is a college student, and who also played in "A History of Violence."

Recently, Weatherhold had an accident breaking into a parking lot. He suffered a concussion and is advised by his docter, Miranda, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, not to drive for six months. They have an instant attraction, as Miranda was his former student in her freshman year of college. Weatherhold hopes to form a relationship with Miranda, but she doesnt seem like right girl for him, maybe a casting mistake in my eyes.

The adopted-brother of Lawrence soon shows up looking for some quick cash, but he ends up being the chauffer for Lawrence. The adopted brother Chuck, is played by the wonderful Thomas Haden Church, in a much more toned down version of his "Sideways" character. Chuck is a moocher who smokes pot and drinks, he is unemployed, but adds some much needed humor to the Weatherhold home.

Pretty soon, all the dysfunctional characters are living under one roof, save for Miranda, and most of the characters learn something about themselves before the film ends. It sounds like the formula indie script, and it basically is. What made me enjoy this pleasant film were the peformances and the genuine slice of life portrayal that the film portrayed. I admit the script could have been touched up, but the performances are the main reason to see the film.

Ellen Page is the quick witted and uber intelligent Vanessa, a 17 year old who looks up to her father in an admireable way. She does fine work here, this film was actually filmed before "Juno, " but certainly will remind viewers of why she is such a promising young actress. Thomas Haden Church is solid as the supporting comedic gem, and its nice to see Sarah Jessica Parker stray from the romantic-comedy genre, and do something with a little weight to it.

"Smart People" is no masterpiece, but an indie that has clever dialogue, if only the script had room to breathe and manuever, the film could have been better. Still, I recommend the film.

Iraq War films continue to stuggle with audiences.

"Stop-Loss"
Starring: Ryan Phillippe, Channing Tatum, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Abbie Cornish
2 stars out of 4

Director Kimberley Pierce has waited 10 years to do a film since her directing debut "Boys Don't Cry." That film told a strong story with real characters and real heart. Stop Loss has good intentions, but stumbles many times along the way.

Ryan Phillippe plays Brandon King, a Texas boy who has just returned home from duty in Iraq. Along with Brandon, other friends return to wives, girlfriends, alchohol, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Pierce starts the film with a shootout in a housing compound where several of King's men were wounded and killed. The memories of those men aren't forgotten when the troops return stateside.

The film has its own style, some may call it "The Deer Hunter" for the MTV Generation. The film is shot well, but the narrative structure is flawed. The film is supposed to be about one soldiers fight against being stop-lossed, which is the Military term for being placed back into duty after your initial service has finished.

King is the soldier who has been stop-lossed, and he soon flees with his best friends girlfriend to hotels, bars, and in search of anyone who can find a solution for him. King even thinks that a Senator in D.C. will handle the situation. Brandon ponders many solutions, Canada, Mexico, but struggles to find a true answer. He even has a run in with another soldier gone AWOL, who tells him of a man that can secretly get him into Canada, apparently there are more soldiers than people think that have been stop-lossed.

The film and its plot are interesting and thought provoking, but most of the dialogue is forgettable, and none of the characters had any emotional attachment that the audience could grasp. Ryan Phillippe is real good in his part, and Channing Tatum still needs some more work before he is cast as a true leading man. Joseph Gordon Levitt is fine, but this isn't exactly a meaty role for him.

While the film felt like it could go places at times, Stop-Loss seems thrown together and sloppy. Back to the drawing board for Pierce, and any other film maker looking to make a buck off of this topic.

In Bruges and Snow Angels

These 2 films are in limited release, and I'll probably have to drive up to Cleveland to catch both, that being said, reviews for both films are positive. In Bruges and Snow Angels looks to be the early gems of 2008

"Snow Angels"
Director:David Gordon Green

Writers (WGA):David Gordon Green (screenplay)
Stewart O'Nan (novel)

Genre:Drama
Tagline:Some will fall. Some will fly.
Plot Outline:A drama that interweaves the life of a teenager, with his old baby sitter, her estranged husband, and their daughter.

"In Bruges"
Director:Martin McDonagh

Writer:Martin McDonagh (writer)

Release Date:7 March 2008
Genre:Action / Comedy / Crime more
Tagline:Shoot first. Sightsee later.
Plot Outline:Holed up in Bruges, Belgium after a difficult job, two hit men begin to differ on their views of life and death as they become used to local customs.

DVD Releases

March 11, 2008

No Country for Old Men not only won 4 Oscars including Best Picture, but it would have been my #1 film of the year, if There Will Be Blood didn't come out in 2007. No Country for Old Men is the Coen Brothers best film, while some may argue that Fargo, or The Big Lebowski is, look no further than this Western noir. The film adapated for screen from Cormac McCarthys novel is the story of the nature of evil, death, and fate.

There has been much controversy regarding the ending, while I will not spoil it, I will only say that the ending to this movie is the only way the movie could have ended. Your average movie-goer will love 2/3 of this movie, but for critics and film junkies, this film is an instant classic. If you are un-sure of whether to buy this, try reading the novel first. The film is basically 100% faithful to the novel, save for a few minor things.

DVD Releases

March 4, 2008 DVD releases

"Into the Wild" was not only snubbed, being left out of the best picture, actor, director race, but it was not seen by many people. This film is 3rd among my top 10 of 2007 and it's a must own dvd purchase. "Into the Wild" is the true story of the young Chris McCandless who abandoned all his belongings and hitchhiked his way to Alaska to live off of the land. While the journey proved harsh and laboring, McCandless' spirit got him through grueling battles with nature. I believe there is the regular release and a special edition 2-disc while I will be purchasing. Once you put the film on, you will get lost in its beauty and emotional narrative that proves to be an exhausting, yet rewarding journey in the end.

Final Oscar Predictions

The ceremony won't be held until February 24th, but if you're into a poll, or a contest, maybe I can help you out with my predictions.

Best Picture

Will Win: No Country for Old Men
Should Win: There Will Be Blood

Best Actor

Will Win: Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood)
Should Win: Daniel Day-Lewis

Best Actress

Will Win: Julie Christie (Away from Her)
Should Win: Ellen Page (Juno)

Best Director

Will Win: The Coen Brothers (No Country for Old Men)
Should Win: Julian Schnabel (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly) or Paul Thomas Anderon (There Will Be Blood)

Best Supporting Actor

Will Win: Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men)
Should Win: Javier Bardem

Best Supporting Actress

Will Win: Toughest race of the night. Cate Blanchett (I'm Not There)
Should Win: Cate Blanchett (I'm Not There)

Best Original Screenplay

Will Win: Diablo Cody (Juno)
Should Win: Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton)

Best Adapted Screenplay

Will Win: The Coen Brothers (No Country for Old Men)
Should Win : Coen Brothers

There you have it, some categories are locks, including Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Director. No Country should be safe for Best Picture, but not a lock. Julie Christie looks safe for Best Actress, but look for Ellen Page or Marion Cotilliard to upset. The Best Supporting Actress race is a toss-up between three people, any of them could win.

Let your imagination set you free

“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”
Starring: Mathieu Amalric, Emmanuelle Seigner, Max von Sydow
3.5 stars out of 4

“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” is the true and inspiring story of Elle editor Jean-Dominique Bauby, who at the age of 43 suffered a stroke that left him paralyzed except for his left eye. Bauby couldn’t speak, or move, but could still use his brain to function. The film directed by Julian Schnabel, is in the perspective of Bauby’s left eye most of the film, as we are left feeling claustrophobic just as Bauby is. The rare disease that occupies his body is called “locked in syndrome,” and everyone except for Bauby believes in him to overcome it.

Bauby is played by the French actor Mathieu Amalric who can be seen as the villain in the next Bond movie. In a brave and restrained performance that feels authentic and heartbreaking. Bauby’s body is trapped and he is stuck in it, much like a diver floating in the ocean. Before the stroke, Bauby was a charismatic man; he’s divorced from his wife, but still sees his 3 young children. They visit him in the hospital and comfort him on the beach for Fathers Day. Bauby is also visited by 2 nurses daily who help him write his memoir, they dictate the alphabet to him and he blinks his eye for what letter he wants. Its truly remarkable how Bauby’s spirits kept him intact and able to push through this tragedy, he uses his mind and imagination to create places he would like to go, see or experience. His envisions are breathtaking, he places himself on a beach, or skiing down a steep mountain, or floating through a vast field of weeds as a butterfly.

The direction by Julian Schnabel has garnered much attention, for its bravery and immense attention to detail. He shoots scenes with an artistic and original eye, this story is personal to him, and that’s how he treats it. Schnabel upset the Coen Brothers at the Golden Globes for best director, and his momentum should get him an Oscar nomination.

If foreign films aren’t your cup of tea, there’s a good chance that this film may be one to sway your decision. The storytelling is so real and profound that I felt like I was in Bauby’s condition. I also appreciated the respect the film-makers had for the audience. Any other film would have went down the clichéd road and tried to pry away at the audiences tear ducts with one emotional scene after another, although this film is very emotional without being pretentious, most of the film is told in a straightforward manner.

The film has been praised by critics nationwide, and made the AFI’s top 10 films of the year. It’s in limited release as of now, but may come to Youngstown after it receives several Oscar nominations.

Abrams' monster flick lives up to hype

"Cloverfield"
Starring: Michael Stahl-David, Mike Vogel, Jessica Lucas, Lizzy Caplan, T.J. Miller
3 stars out of 4

All of the built up hype for this movie started when the trailer premiered infront of "Transformers" in the Summer. The marketing campaign has been great, as the actual title for the movie hadn't come out until a few months prior. "Cloverfield" is basically a monster movie for the MySpace/YouTube generation, and it worked for me. Think "The Blair Witch Project" meets "Godzilla" and that is what "Cloverfield" is. Not to say that I didn't like it, it was very entertaining, and at times scary.

The film succeeds mainly because of the vision of the film's producer, J.J Abrams, who also created the hit tv series Lost. Abrams and director Matt Reeves create likeable characters, none mainstream, and thrust them into the destruction and chaos of one night in New York City. The film introduces us to the main character Rob, he's moving to Japan for business, as his friends throw a going away party for him a few nights before his departure. There are other characters, the comedic guy, the brother,and the love interest. All are surprised when an earthquake, or so we think erupts in Manhattan causing buildings to collapse along with the head of the Statue of Liberty. We learn that its actually a gigantic monster and as one military commander says, "We don't know what it is, but it's winning."

The film follows this band of friends through streets, tunnels, and buildings in search of survival and a subplot involving Rob's love interest. The most interesting thing about the film isn't the monster, it's the way the film is shot. Everything is seen through a videocamera, as one of the characters is taping everything that is going on. The feeling may turn off viewers, as the camera work is shaky,and confusing at times, but it worked for me. It feels very real as the destruction occurs, almost strangely reminiscent to the 9/11 attacks. This film may rub New Yorkers the wrong way, but as a monster film to kick off the new year, "Cloverfield" works.

Oscar Predictions

Best Picture
No Country for Old Men-The only lock thus far and the frontrunner
There Will Be Blood-To big and too good to be ignored
Juno-The underdog
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly-Getting some great love at the right time
Michael Clayton-Most likely to not make it out of this bunch

Alternate-Atonement,Into the Wild
Long Shot-Sweeney Todd

Best Director
Joel and Ethan Coen (No Country for Old Men)
Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood)
Julian Schnabel (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly)
Sean Penn (Into the Wild)
Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton)

Alternate-Joe Wright (Atonement) Tim Burton (Sweeney Todd)

Best Actor
Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood)
Johnny Depp (Sweeney Todd)
George Clooney (Michael Clayton)
Viggo Mortenson (Eastern Promises)
Denzel Washington (American Gangster)

Alternate-James McAvoy (Atonement) Emile Hirsch (Into the Wild)

Best Actress
Julie Christie (Away from Her)
Ellen Page (Juno)
Marion Cotilliard (La Vie En Rose)
Angelina Jolie (A Mighty Heart)
Keira Knightley (Atonement)

Alternate-Amy Adams (Enchanted) Laura Linney (The Savages)

Best Supporting Actor
Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men)
Casey Affleck (The Assasination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford)
Hal Holbrook (Into the Wild)
Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Charlie Wilsons War)
Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton)

Alternate-Tommy Lee Jones (No Country for Old Men)

Best Supporting Actress
Cate Blanchett (I'm Not There)
Amy Adams (Gone Baby Gone)
Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton)
Catherine Keener (Into the Wild)
Ruby Dee (American Gangster)

Top 10 of 2007

Of the 40 movies I saw in theatres this past year, I can easily say that 2007 has been the best year for films since 1999. There was so much ambition, depth, and intelligent writing to go around the whole year. Although the better films didn't come along till November-December, there were many great movies that no one saw early in the year. Here is my list of the 10 best movies of 2007, and some honorable mentions. Keep in mind that there are a few films I haven't seen that could've made this list including "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"- "The Savages", and "The Assasination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford."

10. Gone Baby Gone-Many critics appreciated Ben Affleck's debut film, but I really found it engaging and thought-provoking. Afflecks uses his knowledge of his childhood city Boston, to create a gritty and realistic version of crime a small neighborhood. With a solid cast, and good performances from Amy Ryan,Casey Affleck, and Ed Harris, Gone Baby Gone has a conclusion that is intriguing and hard to shake. Good work Ben.


9. Michael Clayton-First time director Tony Gilroy feels like a veteran in this corporate thriller that boasts an involving and a thinker of a plot. George Clooney gives one of his top performances as an in house fixer for a big time law firm. When things get messy Clooney's character is called upon to clean up the mess. The consistent Tom Wilkinson and the underrated Tilda Swinton also provide nomination worthy performances in this excellent film. The last shot of the film is also noteworthy, while many were walking out of the theatre during it, I still felt as if the film was playing out.


8. The Bourne Ultimatum-The years fastest film, is also one of the best action movies of this decade. Director Paul Greengrass raises the bar with this great and involving spy chase film. While some hated the rapid and jerky handheld camera work, it didn't bother me and it made the film even better. Matt Damon is really restrained in his performance, very little dialogue, but his facial expressions are more telling than words, these films are going to continue to get him great work.


7. Juno- Juno has a lot going for itself, its the year's best written comedy, and also shows off some of this years most surprising performances. The young and mature actress plays Ellen Page, plays a smart and sarcastic teen who gets pregnant on accident and gives the baby to an adopting couple. Some people hated the original and cathcy dialogue, but it worked perfectly with Juno's character and attitude. Also, look for maybe Jennifer Garners best performance. With a great soundtrack and a cuddly story, Juno is a real winner that will appeal to most audiences.


6. Atonement-This film actually caught me off guard, sure it received good reviews but when I walked into it, I didn't think I'd like it this much. After seeing it twice within 5 days, the story and the scope of the film really stuck with me. Keira Knightley and James McAvoy play lovers seperated by war and a lie told by a young girl played by 3 different actresses. Director Joe Wright uses great visuals and an great score to tell this story of loss and regret, Atonement is excellent.


5. Zodiac-This is director David Finchers most mature and involving work. He has made a living doing dark films, and Zodiac is no different. The film chronicles the history of the Zodiac killer seen through the eyes of a handful of characters. The film is methodical in its run time of 158 minutes, but I was never bored. This is more of procedural and wordy film rather than a scary retelling of the Zodiac murders. Robert Downey Jr gives another great performance,as well as Gyllenhaal and Mark Ruffalo. This film will stick with you for weeks.


4. Once-Appearing in critics top 10 lists is this gem of a movie. Once is the story of two lost lovers who meet in Dublin and connect by writing, singing,and sharing the art of music with eachother. Many people classify this as a musical, its simply a film with music in it that thrives on being charming and honest. Once will make you smile for 90 minutes as you get involved in the songs and lives of these two people.


3. Into the Wild-Easily the years most emotional film, telling of an idealistic and romantic youth who hits the road and hitchhikes to Alaska to live off of the land. Emile Hirsch defines breakthrough performance, and Hal Holbrook is truly heartbreaking. Director Sean Penn proves that he can direct, as this story pulls you in and proves to be beautiful, poetic, and gut-wrenching. Into the Wild is truly a cinematic experience that is worth taking if you can handle the final destination.


2. No Country for Old Men-The Coen. Brothers have made there best film with this literary adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's novel of the same name. This film tells of a chase in Texas involving interesting characters and themes of death,fate,and greed. Javier Bardem's performance is truly frightening as the face of death. Tommy Lee and Josh Brolin are also great. There isnt a dull or boring scene in this involving and suspenseful crime drama. Every shot, word spoken, and action means something in the end, with a lot under the surface, No Country for Old Men is truly a masterpiece that will haunt you.


1. There Will Be Blood-The years biggest, most ambitious film, is also the best film in a GREAT year of films. There Will Be Blood is the story of career oil man Daniel Planview, played by the best living actor Daniel Day-Lewis, in a seismic and larger than life performance. Plainview's story is also the story of the maturing of America through business,religion,ambition,and greed. When you talk about perfection and overall originality, this film along with No Country for Old Men seperate themselves from almost all of the films I have seen since 2000. There Will Be Blood is many things, it's a fascinating and terrifying character study, it's a dark and strange horror film, it's a drama, and ultimately it's an odyssey into the darkest sides of a human being ever shown of screen. Director P.T Anderson doesn't fail after all of the initial hype and praise. The cinematography by Jack Fisk shows the epic and young landscapes of the early oil days and long after. The haunting score by Johnny Greenwood perfectly captures the mood of this film, and the ending, wow that ending.... This film is in limited release, but please drive to a major city and let this film take you over.


Honorable Mention: All of these films are worthy of being in my top 10,but just so many great films this year.

-Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
-Before the Devil Knows Your Dead
-3:10 to Yuma
-Knocked Up
-28 Weeks Later
-In the Valley of Elah
-American Gangster
-Walk Hard:The Dewey Cox Story

Worth Noting: These films were also good by not quite on par with my honorable mention selection.

-Waitress
-I'm Not There
-Away from Her
-Rescue Dawn
-Eastern Promises
-Paris Je T'aime
-Superbad

Worst movie of the year
-Spiderman 3

Torn by lies and war

“Atonement”
Starring: Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Saoirse Ronan, Romola Garai, Vanessa Redgrave
4 stars out of 4

“Atonement” is a lush and intimate period piece directed by Joe Wright, it’s based off of the novel of the same name written by Ian McEwan. This epic film tells the story of three lives destroyed by a simple lie that was told at a dinner party in England in 1935. The two main leads are played by Keira Knightley as Cecilia Tallis the oldest daughter of a wealthy family, and her lover Robbie Turner who plays the educated son of the family housekeeper. They are flirty around the house when the film starts, but there relationship is seen as something else by Cecilia’s jealous sister Briony, who has a teenage crush on older Robbie. The character of Briony is played by 3 different actresses throughout the film, due to the time shifting structure and her aging character. She is also a writer and a very good one at that, the film uses the harsh pounding off a type-writer to build suspense in many scenes.

One night Briony walks in on Cecilia and Robbie making love in there library, she sees it as something else and makes up her mind quickly of what she wanted to see. Her jealously overwhelms her and she goes on a rant about how Robbie is deceiving and sexually aggressive. Later that night something happens that Briony can use as leverage to get rid of Robbie, he ends up going to prison and Cecilia is left without her love, due to a childish lie.

The film jumps 4 years into the future, and each character is now in a new setting. Robbie is a soldier in the war, after choosing duty instead of prison. Cecilia is a trained nurse who consistently writes Robbie, and Briony is older, feeling the weight and guilt of the lie she told when she was 13. Each character weaves in and out, but the truth remains evident to all that Briony’s lie has changed everything. Robbie is seeing the broken world during World War II, Cecilia is awaiting his freedom, and Briony is a training nurse looking for redemption for her actions. As the films moves on, the story builds to a shattering conclusion due to one lie.

This is a great and involving film; the visuals are breathtaking and are always great to look at, the acting of Knightley and McAvoy are nomination worthy, and the dynamic character of Briony done by 3 different actresses is truly noteworthy. “Atonement” is more of a technical achievement than anything, the directing is crisp and vivid, the music is vast and epic, and the overall achievement is a great film that will garner many nominations as the Oscars. This is definitely a must-see, it runs at 130 minutes and all of those minutes are needed to tell this story of deceit, love, and war.

The pacing is slow at times, but there are so many revealing and exciting scenes that are truly riveting. The film also makes great usage of the word c-u-n-t, which I found humorous. I don’t think I would classify this as a chick-flick, it’s definitely comparable to other war, love stories, but there was something different and unique about this film. “Atonement” is just beautiful to watch play out, all of the characters are made of skin and bone and feel very real. I underestimated this film before I walked in, the last 10 minutes are going to floor you, and I only encourage people to look for this movie.

Hard to describe, but easy to love

“There Will Be Blood”
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Dillon Freasier
4 stars out of 4

Director PT Andersons 5th film is a gigantic sprawling epic that places him amongst the best filmmakers in Hollywood. The film tells of the earliest days of the oil business from 1898 to 1927, seen through the eyes of a heartless oil man named Daniel Plainview played by the extraordinary Daniel Day-Lewis, who most will recognize from his work in “Gangs of New York.” This is Anderson’s most mature and ambitious film to date, with works such as “Boogie Nights” and “Magnolia” behind him.

The film is gigantic in scope, and large on themes of capitalism, religion, and greed. It’s also a character study of one of the most ruthless characters even seen on the big screen. The character of Daniel Plainview is a monster, his goal and only goal is to make enough money with his oiling business, so that he can get away from everybody. He has a 9 year old adopted son named H.W, played by child actor Dillon Freasier, they both get word of rich land in an area called Little Boston in California, where oil is flowing, and where big money can be made. Plainview promises the townspeople riches and soon brings in some men to erect machines and start drilling.

Throughout the film, Plainview is at odds with a local preacher named Eli Sunday, played by Paul Dano from “Little Miss Sunshine”. Sunday thinks he is a prophet and a healer; and he wants money from Plainview to build a church. They’re greedy ambitions collide in scene after scene, leaving the audience feeling uncomfortable and unsettled. Dano really could have a better shot at a nomination if he wasn’t completely overshadowed by the monstrous work of Daniel Day-Lewis, Dano does well in each scene with him, but you’re re only paying attention to DDL. Another subplot also arises with a half brother that comes to the town, seeking a relationship with Plainview; it builds and escalates into the theme of family which the film speaks upon.

The film is in limited release as of now, but is creating a whirl wind of buzz and optimism from almost anyone who has seen it. This is the kind of movie that isn’t made anymore; an intelligent and enthralling epic that includes a character that nobody would ever want to come into contact with. Plainview possesses a stare, or even a laugh that rivals the chills that any horror movie could give you. The score for the movie is done by guitarist Johnny Greenwood from the band Radiohead; it’s haunting and mysterious at the same time.

2007 has been the best year for movies since 1999, and I can honestly say that “There Will Be Blood” is the best that 2007 has to offer, with “No Country for Old Men” falling slightly behind. This film is a poetic and haunting portrayal of what greed and power can do to a human being, Daniel Day-Lewis is a lock for best actor at the Oscars, and this movie is a lock for a best picture nomination. If you’re in the mood for a deep, deranged, and oddly satisfying masterpiece, please seek this great film out.

There is so much more to say about this movie, PT Anderson is just a genius, this is such a departure from anything he has ever done. This film is art, it compares to Kubrick, Malick, and the works of others. Wait till you see the performance from Daniel Day-Lewis, words don’t come to mind, just scenes from the movie that had me glued to his face. His mannerisms, along with the way he carries himself are truly noteworthy, this man IS the devil.

The film runs at 158 minutes, but every scene contributes to this work of PT Anderson, he shoots this oil town in Little Boston as the beginning of a new time in history, the audience feels like they’re watching the development of early life, that’s how real it is. The landscapes and set pieces are all vivid and blossomed with detail; everything is alive and pumping with oil, even the heart of Daniel Plainview.

There is much to say and I am rambling at this point, I can only say that I have to see this movie again, I haven’t even covered everything that I want to say. A lot of average movie goers are going to hate this movie, movie buffs and film fanatics will love this, I guess that is what makes this film “art” and not just a movie. This film will make you sick, make you think, make you fall in the love with the idea of making a great film and reading of the praise, such as what I am writing now. PT Anderson and Daniel Day-Lewis are Gods, and this movie will be talked about for many many years. What an achievement and a un-precedented original work this is.