Top 10 Films of 2007 (Rich's picks)
This list is compiled purely on the basis of entertainment value, and how much I want to see a movie more than once. There have been plenty of films that I've seen this year that have been good, but not all of them would I rush to see again. All of the films on this list are ones that I either have watched more than once or want to.
10. Stardust [My review]
Matthew "producer of Lock, Stock and Snatch" Vaughn's directorial debut proved to be fantastic in both senses of the word: it belongs in the fantasy genre, and is also really good (a rare combination outside The Lord of the Rings). Although it lurches about at times trying to contain its overstuffed narrative, Vaughn manages to keep his hands on the reigns and produces an enjoyable adventure that is the definition of "feel-good". It deserves to be seen just for Robert De Niro's uncharacteristic antics - those who criticise his performance are missing the tone of the film - but it has far more to offer besides, not least newcomer Charlie Cox's appealing lead performance. Stardust's lack of cynicism is a breath of fresh air. It's far from flawless, but certainly fun.
9. 28 Weeks Later [My review]
Danny Boyle handed over the microphone to Spanish director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo for this sequel to his 2002 sleeper hit, 28 Days Later. Fresnadillo proved to be an inspired choice, invigorating the film with an undeniable sense of immediacy and threat, as exemplified in the intense opening farmhouse segment. It makes even more use of the vistas of an abandoned London than the original did, which were also clear inspiration for the recent, and extremely successful, Will Smith vehicle I Am Legend. By keeping things small and intimate in Weeks, Fresnadillo keeps the suspense high while the budget remains relatively low, although it is noticeably a considerable step up from the cheapie original. With generally better acting (although Cillian Murphy is missed) and more thrills, this sequel improves on its predecessor.
8. Transformers [My review]
Some people have been vitriolic in their hate of this film, but I just can't understand that. It's about as good as overblown CG-fests come, in that it hardly taxes the grey matter but provides plenty of bang for your buck while not getting too bogged down in its own self-importance (I'm looking at you, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End). The effects are brilliant - this will win the Oscar [post-Oscars edit: What?! A bunch of crappy polar bears beat it? Are the voters blind?] - and the action sequences exhilarating. What really carries the film, though, are the increasingly reliable shoulders of Shia LaBeouf, one of this year's standout breakthrough performers. He's funny, endearing and very human: exactly the focal point needed with all the computer-assisted robot carnage going on around him, as spectacular as it is.
7. Death Proof [My review]
After all the problems involving the much-ballyhooed Grindhouse, Tarantino's half was the one that first saw the light of day in the UK, and it turned out to be an unconventional pleasure. I've never really been a particular fan of Tarantino's long-winded dialogue (my favourite QT film is Jackie Brown, as it has the most interesting plot) so I had expected not to like Death Proof, going by the fact that it is basically just a bunch of women talking to each other, broken up by two action sequences. To my great surprise, I found it a blast, and although it's essentially reviving an old genre, it feels vividly original and alive. Despite the fact that it is mostly just women talking, there's excellent suspense, particularly in the first half, and some memorably bone-crunching moments.
6. The Good Shepherd [My review]
The second appearance of Robert De Niro and the first of Matt Damon on this list finds them collaborating � the former starring, the latter directing � on an epic saga looking at the birth of the CIA. Its ambitions are certainly lofty, and for the most part it achieves them. In my eyes, its 2 hour 40 minute runtime is fully justified by its engrossing and intricate account of events spanning three decades. It's fair to say it has proven to be something of a marmite film, however, and even many of its fans concede that it is rather slow moving. I disagree - it's not exactly Bourne but it didn't test my patience at all, with pacing reminiscent of something like The Aviator. De Niro has expressed a desire to make it the first instalment of a Godfather-like trilogy, and while that is probably unlikely to happen it would be something I would welcome.
5. The Bourne Ultimatum [My review]
It came as no surprise that easily the best of this year's bumper crop of "threequels" was Jason Bourne's trilogy-capper. Although I felt that it lacked some of the freshness of Supremacy (which came about due to a change of director from the first instalment), Paul Greengrass proved that he knows how to get the adrenaline pumping like few others. The Waterloo Station and Algiers sequences are definite highlights of the year, but also mean that the film peaks around the hour mark. Unfortunately, given what has come before, the third act has a distinct air of anticlimax. It's by no means an enormous misstep, however. What continues to set this series apart is the humanity of the characters, rare in action films, and the moments of subtlety - Greengrass is confident enough to know when words are unnecessary and just lets the actors' mannerisms do the work. A deservedly huge hit.
4. Hairspray [My review]
Here's my "out of leftfield" choice this year. In terms of pure entertainment, Hairspray probably comes first out of any film released in 2007. Despite my general dislike of musicals (a view that this film has begun to change), I loved it from start to finish. The sheer vitality and liveliness makes it great for pure escapism, but there is a valid � albeit somewhat diluted � anti-racism message too. John Travolta in drag and wearing a fat suit could have been a recipe for disaster, but his performance is hilarious, and even those actors normally seen in awful teen flicks like Amanda Bynes and Zac Efron turn in strong showings. After playing the baddie in both Hairspray and Stardust, 2007 has looked like a comeback year for Michelle Pfeiffer, too � and it's fair to say that the years have been kind to her. Director Adam Shankman should probably quit now, because going by previous form Hairspray may just be a miraculous fluke.
3. Sunshine [My review]
Danny Boyle's had a damn good year in my book. 28 Weeks Later, which he exec-produced, was a rare sequel that arguably improves on the original (definitely if you ask me), and his own directorial effort, a relatively low-budget sci-fi thrill ride that was unfairly overlooked, was one of the unheralded triumphs of the year. Owing a considerable debt to the likes of Alien, 2001: A Space Odyssey and even Event Horizon (which it betters), Sunshine manages to carve out its own identity within a fairly crowded genre. There are many who dislike the plot developments towards the end. While I can understand that, I had no huge problem with it - a feeling enhanced by multiple viewings - as it seems a logical and rational direction to take. The film triumphs particularly due to its constant intensity: the suspense never lets up and the jaw-dropping sights are numerous (the effects, especially considering the budget, are extraordinary).
2. In the Shadow of the Moon [My review]
I've always had an interest in space - hence my predilection for science fiction (shown by my above Sunshine pick) - and the space race of the 1960s, so this documentary held particular appeal to me. Even so, it absolutely blew me away, far more than I had anticipated. The personal accounts of the astronauts themselves are extremely emotional and gripping, while the stunning space footage is absolutely gleaming. Hearing the effort that went into the Apollo missions puts into perspective just how much of an achievement landing on the moon was, at a time when computers were the size of rooms and had less processing power than a modern calculator. As a documentary it is probably too sentimental and one-sided for some tastes - it's almost an advert for space exploration - but it's also completely enthralling. Who'd have thought that in the 21st century, people landing on the moon would be a distant memory?
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