2007 - The year in movies
=======

[2007](.) | [movies](movies) | [music](music) | [tv](tv) | [the rest](other)

I don't think there are any spoilers here - or certainly
none that would destroy a movie viewing.

2007 wasn't a particularly good year for me with movies. I was
surprised to read most film critics saying it was a fantastic
year for cinema, where I didn't find much that interested me.

As usual, the year started well as I see the films
that released late in 2006 (in order to maximise their
chances of award nomination).
[The Departed](http://imdb.com/title/tt0407887/) was a highlight - 
I'd like to see the original.

Once I'd got past the left-overs from 2006 however, it was a pretty
bare patch through to December. The standouts were 
[Zodiac](http://imdb.com/title/tt0443706/) and
[The Bourne Ultimatum](http://imdb.com/title/tt0440963/). 

![The two main characters from Zodiac](images/Zodiac1.jpg)

While the subject material of Zodiac was slightly gruesome, the
movie was so well made that it was a complete pleasure to watch. I
love David Fincher, and with Zodiac it seemed like he's moved 
beyond his fancy tricks to something more mature - for one, this movie
didn't look like a TV ad. The movie made me feel as if I was living in
1970s/80s San Francisco. It's a great study in obsession, something
I feel myself falling into all the time.

![Zodiac is a study in obsession](images/Zodiac2.jpg)

![The Dino Ultimatum](images/Bourne3.jpg)

![Jason Bourne in action](images/Bourne1.jpg)

I went to see The Bourne Ultimatum with Hugo and Nicole in Cupertino.
It was by far the best of the horrible season of sequels (I read somewhere
that there were 17 sequels released in 2007). Not only was the action fantastic,
I love that they try to give Jason an emotional side to balance
the unemotional killer he was moulded into. Maybe I'm just a sucker for
stories about people searching for themselves, in this case both
literally and metaphysically. I also liked the touch of 
[Julia Stiles](http://imdb.com/name/nm0005466/),
who was present in the first two movies but only really became part
of the story here, revealing why she's helping
Bourne and avoiding the cliche of a couple ending
up together. I think it is touches like that which make the Bourne
series better than the regular action crap.

![Bourne and friend](images/Bourne2.jpg)

Unfortunately, there wasn't much else that excited me until December, where 
I saw most of my favourite movies for 2007.

![Jenna with a pie](images/Waitress.jpg)

[Waitress](http://imdb.com/title/tt0473308/) was sweet and beautiful and
simple and funny and bright. I loved Keri Russell and Nathan Fillion (Captain
Mal baby!). The nasty husband, the pie shop owner... the whole cast was
fantasic. I was yearning for pie for weeks after the film, especially Bad Baby
Pie. Unfortunately, there is a devastating real-life tragedy behind the film,
but at least we have the movie to keep us warm.

![View of Texas](images/NoCountry.jpg)

[No Country For Old Men](http://imdb.com/title/tt0477348/) was on just about
every best-of list I read. It certainly is on my list too. Strangely,
the audience I saw it with didn't seem to connect with it, which makes me
wonder how far removed critics are from the public. Of course, this is my
list, and I thought it was excellent, so wahoo for me! The outdoor scenes were
so beautiful I wanted to move to Texas right away. The suspense was
incredible. The violence was shown without being horrible or glorified, which
is impressive considering that the threat that created the suspense is an
inhuman murdering psychopath (bonus points for both the direction and acting
there). And the symbolism: trying to outrun Death in human form, the
crossing of the River Styx while chased by the dog (Cerberus) and the 
coin toss showing the randomness of life.

I heard a few people complain about the ending, but I thought it
was perfect. For me the movie wasn't about the events taking place, 
it was about the three main characters, and *how* and *why* they
were doing what they were doing, not *what*. I think the Coen brothers
tried to make this clear, by teasing the audience with a potential ending
that had resolution, only to let it go and move to an introspective
conclusion [^1].

My only slight disappointment was that it gave me the impression of being a
remake of Fargo - strange people, strange accents, strange place, world-wise
laid-back police officer, "innocent" man getting involved in a crime for a lot
of money and the ramifications of that crime. Of course, Fargo is an
awesome movie, and the world would be better with ten more just like it.

Lastly, [Josh Brolin](http://imdb.com/name/nm0000982/) was in 
[Goonies](http://imdb.com/title/tt0089218/). Consider that!

Other late-year movies I liked: 
[Eastern Promises](http://imdb.com/title/tt0765443/) (remind me never to
get into a fight in a bathhouse with a naked Russian), 
[3:10 To Yuma](http://imdb.com/title/tt0381849/),
[The Darjeeling Limited](http://imdb.com/title/tt0838221/),
the [documentary on the Helvetica typeface](http://imdb.com/title/tt0847817/)
and [The Kingdom](http://imdb.com/title/tt0431197/), which was
weirdly a little too "America - we are awesome - we will come solve the
crime and find the bad guy in 3 days" in a movie that was 
supposedly showing that it was a more difficult situation than 
people think. But it's Peter Berg, who I worship.. so whatever.

![The family in Junebug](images/Junebug1.jpg)

Coming last is my favourite film of the year, which in fact was a 
film from 2005 that I only just saw: 
[Junebug](http://imdb.com/title/tt0418773/). I completely 
loved this movie. I loved it. I loved it. Any movie that has me
still thinking about it weeks afterward gets put on this list. The thing
I liked the most is that the movie itself didn't reveal much
about the characters directly, but it was through the smallest of
moments, or interactions between characters, that you are able
to learn what motivates them and what scares them. It could be
that I'm particularly dumb, but it took me a while to understand
the people. I won't give anything away, but an example is a 
character for whom very little is revealed during the majority
of the story (he rarely talks and spends a lot of the time sleeping)
but then you understand him through two minor moments towards
the end. Amy Adams is fantastic. 
The cherry on top of the film is the Motown song sung by Syreeta
written by Stevie Wonder - Harmour Love.

![Amy Adams](images/Junebug2.jpg)


Next, my year in [music](music).

[^1]: maybe the novel does this as well.