My 10 Favorite Films of 2007

Earlier in the week I posted my favorite albums of last year, and now I'm posting my favorite films from 2007.  So what I'm basically saying is: if there are any movies on this list that you haven't seen, well, now you have something to do this weekend.  Enjoy!

My 10 Favorite Films of 2007:

1. Juno - This isn't just my favorite film of 2007; I loved it so much that it's become my favorite movie of all time.  It's one of those rare movies that just seems to get everything right.  I'm not saying it's perfect... some of the hipster dialogue in the beginning feels a little overdone.  But first-time screenwriter Diablo Cody gets all the elements right: she creates believable (read: emotionally complex) characters and realistic situations without making it boring (I think we've all seen plenty of "realistic" indie movies that only manage to be boring as hell).  Cody also does something even harder: she makes every character relatable in some way, and doesn't let anyone simply be good or bad.  In any other film Juno's parents or Jason Bateman's character would have become a villain of some kind, but Cody treats them all with respect and love.  For those who didn't think "Juno" deserved the Best Screenplay Oscar, ignore the dialogue and look at the set-up; the details are what make this film work so well.  And, above all, it's a movie that somehow manages to keep growing on me every time I watch it.

2. Persepolis - Based on the graphic novel of the same name inspired by the writer's true life, "Persepolis" actually feels a lot like an Iranian version of "Juno" at times.  Both films revolve around a smart, witty young woman who is forced to deal with a number of personal setbacks.  But "Persepolis" has a lot more on its mind than teen pregnancy; actually that's about the only thing writer/protagonist Marjane Satrapi (referred to as "Marji" in the movie) didn't have to deal with growing up.  The film begins with Satrapi as a child in 1970's Iran as the Islamic revolution is beginning, and follows her as she leaves Iran and spends a number of years in France before eventually returning to Iran as a young adult.  I actually learned a lot of things about Iran, often named as part of the "Axis of Evil," from watching this film.  It's heartbreaking to see how the Islamic revolution, which at first Marji and her family believe will bring a positive change to their country, eventually evolves into an even more oppressive dictatorship.  But don't let this trick you into thinking the film is a downer; there is a lot of warmth and humor on display as a young Marji falls in love with punk rock and grows into a smart and cynical writer.  I could go on talking about this film forever, but instead I'll just tell you to see it for yourself (but a warning: make sure to watch it in the original French language; the English re-dubbing with famous actors like Sean Penn just doesn't work for a film like this).

3. Zodiac - This film tells the terrifying true story of the Zodiac Killer who terrorized the state of California in the 1970s, and the exhaustive manhunt that eventually became an obsession for three men.  Director David Fincher (he also made "Seven," "Fight Club" and "Panic Room"), who was a kid growing up in California when the Zodiac Killer became famous, attempted to keep the film as close to the real events as possible, and he's so successful that at times it feels like you're watching a documentary.  Although we see scenes of the Zodiac committing his murders (which are horrifying without being exploitive), the film is really about the search for the killer and how it eventually destroyed the lives of three men, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo and pre-"Iron Man" Robert Downey Jr.  It's a long movie, and some people may be disappointed that it's not a more traditional "horror film" like they might expect.  But give it a chance and take it for what it is, and I think you'll enjoy it.

4. Atonement - Based on the celebrated novel by Ian McEwan, this is an epic film centered around intimate actions that destroy the lives of three people.  The story begins shortly before World War II, as servant Robbie Turner (James McAvoy) and his highborn childhood friend Cecilia Tallis (Keira Knightley) suddenly discover that they have mutual feelings for each other.  But Cecilia's young, immature sister Briony (deserved Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan), who also has a crush on Robbie, sees something she doesn't understand and it leads her to tell a lie that gets Robbie sent to prison.  Then the film shifts to a number of years later, when Robbie is now serving in the war effort as a means of getting out of prison, Cecilia is a nurse and Briony, now a young adult, has come to realize the seriousness of what she did and is trying to atone for her actions (hence the title).  This is one of the most beautiful films I've ever seen, and any student of film needs to see the amazing Dunkirk beach sequence shot in one continuous take on a Steady-cam.  But the story is what really drives the picture, with an ending that comes out of nowhere and punches you in the gut emotionally.  "Atonement" is pure, powerful filmmaking.

5. There Will Be Blood - A truly bizarre film, "There Will Be Blood" isn't easy to explain to anyone.  Most of you probably already know about Daniel Day-Lewis's amazing performance (and mustache), and of course there was the whole "I-drink-your-milkshake" thing (which I was definitely not expecting to become a national catchphrase).  But, like "Atonement," the real power of this film stems from it being an intimate story told on an epic scale.  Watching Day-Lewis's oil tycoon Daniel Plainview wage a war of wills against the insane teenage preacher Eli Sunday (Paul Dano) is like watching two great armies engaging in an epic battle.  I was completely mesmerized for every moment of this film, from the opening title cards to the unbelievable final shots.  "There Will Be Blood" definitely may not be for everyone's tastes, but I guarantee you've never seen anything like it before.

6. No Country for Old Men - Also known as the Best Picture Oscar winner of last year.  Although it was compared to "There Will Be Blood" for it's desert setting and dark themes, the movies are actually polar opposites of one another.  While "There Will Be Blood" is big, epic and completely over the top, "No Country for Old Men" is slower-paced and tells a much more low key story.  Sure, serial killer Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) is a walking embodiment of pure evil, but the core of the film is best expressed through the words of Tommy Lee Jones' Sheriff Bell.  As he tracks Chigurh's path of destruction and tries to help Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin), who Chigurh is chasing to get back the money from a drug deal gone bad that Moss stumbled upon and took, Bell reflects on the deteriorating state of the world.  Witnessing the brutal, unmotivated carnage that Chigurh leaves in his wake forces him to reflect on how the world is changing from the earlier days of himself and of his ancestors.  He simply isn't able to understand the kind of violence that he is presented with, and comes to the conclusion that the times of his generation are coming to an end.  So yeah, it's very much a thinking man's movie... but it's also got great performances (Chigurh really does rank alongside Hannibal Lecter as a truly terrifying vision of evil), a great story and excellent direction.  It's more or less a perfect film.  But it can be a little slow at times, which is why it doesn't score higher on the list.

7. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - Forget "The Phantom of the Opera;" this is the way a horror-based musical should be done!  Director Tim Burton brings his signature darkly Gothic style to this squirm-inducing tale.  Without the typical good-at-heart social misfits that usually occupy Burton's films, "Sweeney Todd" is easily the darkest film he's ever made.  Johnny Depp delivers yet another stand-out performance as the title character, but the other cast members do top notch work as well (including Helena Bonham Carter and Alan Rickman).  "Sweeney Todd" is bold, brilliant and, as the New York Times declared, "a work of extreme genius" in every way.

8. The Orphanage - Described by many as the 2007 equivalent of "Pan's Labyrinth," and that's not exactly a bad description; the creative fingerprints of producer and "Pan's Labyrinth" director Guillermo del Toro are all over "The Orphanage."  A woman moves her family into the now-empty orphanage that she grew up in as a child with plans to reopen it.  You can probably guess that things don't go quite so well.  But, like the rest of Toro's work, this is a lot more than a simple horror film.  I don't want to go into too much detail (the more you don't know about the film going in, the better your experience with it will be), but like "Pan's Labyrinth" this is a film that focuses just as much on compelling emotion and old-school storytelling as it does on providing scares (and this movie is genuinely terrifying).  If you like ghost stories, then "The Orphanage" is definitely a movie you should not miss.

9. Bridge to Terabithia - Based on the classic coming of age book by Katherine Paterson.  If you've never read the book and have only seen the trailers for the film, which make it look like a third-rate "Narnia" rip-off, then you'll be very shocked by the actual film itself.  This is a very moving (and heartbreaking) story about the power of friendship and imagination.  Fifth grade outcasts Jesse (Josh Hutcherson) and new girl Leslie (AnnaSophia Robb) become friends over a mutual love of art, and soon they have created their own imaginary kingdom of Terabithia in the woods behind their houses.  Despite the way the advertising made the film look, roughly 80-90% of it takes place in the real world and revolves around how the kids deal with real life problems like bullies, poverty and nagging family members.  The time they spend in Terabithia serves as a place they can escape to and where they can feel powerful.  This is a great film for families to watch together... although I've got to warn you that, if you're not already familiar with the story, there's a twist about halfway through that is absolutely devastating.  Simply put, if you don't get choked up while watching "Bridge to Terabithia" then I doubt you have a heart at all.

10. The Bourne Ultimatum - Matt Damon returns as amnesiac action hero Jason Bourne in the third and best installment in the series.  This time Jason attempts to discover the truth about who he really is and how be became an assassin.  Like the previous films, "The Bourne Ultimatum" doesn't skimp on incredibly executed action sequences (including a three-person chase/fight scene that is surprisingly suspenseful), but it also brings back the emotion that was somewhat lacking in the second movie.  And it has a perfect ending that leave things just open-ended enough for the possibility of another addition to the series (which has recently been confirmed).  As long as the filmmakers continue to keep up the same level of quality, I'm totally up for more trips into the mixed-up mind of Jason Bourne.

So there you have it; my top ten favorite movies of 2007.  Until next year...

My 10 Favorite Albums of 2007

Hey everybody; I'm finally going to be doing something I've meant to do for a while now, which is that I'm going to be re-posting my top ten music and movie lists for last year.  I originally posted them on my Facebook page earlier in the year, but these new versions have been updated to include the albums and movies I hadn't been able to check out at the time.  In other words, these versions will be the definitive versions.  I'm starting with the list of 2007's favorite albums.  Later in the week I'll post my list of 2007's favorite movies.

My 10 Favorite Albums of 2007:

1. Tegan and Sara - "The Con":  Big surprise, right?  This was the first album I checked out by the duo, and after a week of listening to it nonstop I declared them my new favorite band.  Consequently, this also became my favorite album (their others are all great as well).  It's hard to accurately describe the sound of T&S; it's kind of a crazy amalgamation of indie, punk rock and singer/songwriter acoustic.  In all honesty, they're really the kind of band you just have to check out for yourself.  But I have yet to find anybody who didn't like T&S after I introduced them to their music.  My Favorite Track: "The Con."

2. The Birthday Massacre - "Walking With Strangers":  Not only do TBM have a great name, but they look and sound like they stepped straight out of the '80s: synth-heavy, old-school Goth (you know, before Emo came along and watered it down) and totally glammed-out.  And yet, their music sounds fresh and completely modern at the same time.  TBM are dark without being depressing; I would compare listening to their music to watching a really fun '80s horror film, or going to a prom for serial killers.  On second thought, maybe it'd be better if you just checked them out for yourself.  My Favorite Track: "Goodnight."

3. Against Me! - "New Wave":  A lot of AM's older fans gave the band a lot of crap when they signed to a major label, but "New Wave" proves it was unwarranted.  They created a punchy, powerful rock and roll album.  If Bruce Springsteen was a punk-rocker, this is what his music would sound like.  And it doesn't hurt that they brought in Tegan Quin, of Tegan and Sara, to duet on "Borne of the FM Waves of the Heart," aka my favorite song of 2007.  My Favorite Track: "Borne on the FM Waves of the Heart" (duh).

4. Paramore - "RIOT!":  I've been a big Paramore fan pretty much the moment their first album, "All We Know Is Falling," was released in the summer of 2005.  When I first listened to "RIOT!," their sophomore release, I knew they'd become huge... and I'm glad I turned out to be right.  And as their latest stuff on the "Twilight" soundtrack proves, they're only getting better with time.  My Favorite Track: "That's What You Get."

5. Kittie - "Funeral for Yesterday":  Kittie were my favorite band before Tegan and Sara, and it's a little ironic that the year that changed is also the year they released their best album.  Originally more of a full-fledged metal band, Kittie embraced more of their softer and atmospheric side for this album.  Lead singer Morgan Lander almost completely dropped her metal-death screams and instead focuses more on singing instead.  It pays off; the material on "Funeral for Yesterday" is more accomplished and inspired than anything else the band has put out previously.  It's a pretty bleak album, though, so you might want to take it in smaller doses.  My Favorite Track: "Everything that Could Have Been."

6. Anberlin - "Cities":  Along with Skillet, Anberlin are a band that understand how to make spiritually minded music without letting preaching get in the way of completely rocking out.  The surprising thing about "Cities" is that, unlike most bands of their ilk, the album is very synth-heavy... what's even more surprising is that it works incredibly well.  I also had the good fortune of seeing them in concert that same year, and not only are they an amazing live band, but lead singer Stephen Christian just might be the nicest guy I've ever met.  My Favorite Track: "Reclusion."

7. Kanye West - "Graduation":  Since Eminem's taken a long leave of absence, Kanye West has become the rapper liked by people who don't normally like hip-hop.  That's because Mr. West isn't afraid of being different and trying new things (mainly synth-based tunes this time).  He's the guy that everybody else in the rap game looks up to.  Even Lil Wayne, who is getting more praise and selling more records than anybody these days, considers Kanye to be the top dog in hip-hop.  West may be on top right now, but "Graduation" sounds like it came straight out of the future.  My Favorite Track: "Flashing Lights."

8. Thrice - "The Alchemy Index: Vol. I & II - Fire and Water":  I'm pretty sure there aren't any other bands who can make four-EP project devoted to each element and have them sound this good.  This release contains the first two EPs, which revolve around fire and water respectively.  "Fire" is straight-up heavy, take-no-prisoners post-punk, while "Water" is slower-paced and more of a haunting, synth-based experience (synths sure seem to be popular in 2007, don't they?).  What Thrice have been able to accomplish musically on these first two EPs is amazing.  But will the second two, "Earth" and "Air," make 2008's list?  Only time will tell...  My Favorite Track: "Firebreather" (Fire); "The Whaler" (Water).

9. Northern State - "Can I Keep This Pen?":  The best way to describe Northern State?  Imagine a female version of the Beastie Boys.  These ladies possess the same musical inventiveness, clever wordplay and penchant for being silly and serious at the same time as their Brooklyn brothers-in-arms.  This album takes the more straight-ahead hip-hop of their first two albums and adds a good deal of indie and punk-rock into the mix.  The result sounds like nothing else out there.  I saw them live opening for Tegan and Sara and they blew everyone in the crowd away, including me.  If you're up for checking out something completely different and original, give these girls a few minutes of your time.  My Favorite Track: "Sucka Mofo."

10. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Is Is":  This is actually just a five-song EP, but it's hands down the best music the band has ever released.  It's still the kind of no-holds-barred rock and roll the YYYs do so well, but there's a darker and more atmospheric side showcased on these tracks than on their previous full-length albums, "Fever to Tell" and "Show Your Bones."  If this was a full-length album it would have charted a lot higher on my list; it's essentially like a really great-tasting snack that makes you hungry for more without actually filling you up.  Hopefully the band's next album will retain the same awesome flavor.  My Favorite Track: "Isis."

What are my favorite shows on television right now? Well, since you asked...

After reviewing the pilot for the new Fox series "Fringe" yesterday, I decided to continue with the TV theme and provide a list of my ten favorite television shows (and I even provided a few honorable mentions).  But before we get into the list, I need to lay out three things to please keep in mind when reading this list:

1) the series has to be currently airing.  So, while I still like stuff like "Veronica Mars" and "Arrested Development" more than other shows on the list, they are ineligible.

2) the series needs to still be generating new episodes; syndicated television doesn't count.

3) this is a "favorite" list, not a "best" list.  There are a number of shows that, from what I've heard, could easily be better than what's on my list, but for various reasons I just haven't gotten a chance to really check them out yet (examples of series on my To-Watch-List include "Friday Night Lights," "The L Word" and "Pushing Daisies").

Okay, that being said, enjoy the list of my ten favorite currently airing television series:

1. “Lost” - Choosing between “Lost” and “Battlestar Galactica” was incredibly hard, but I had to give the edge to “Lost” because, while BG is an excellent drama, “Lost” is a much more innovative one.  It was one of the first modern series to attempt telling a deep, labyrinthine story instead of episode-by-episode stories.  The creators of "Lost" aren’t afraid to shoot for the fences and try different things, and even when they don’t work the results are still interesting.  I also love how philosophical “Lost” is; it’s not a coincidence that many of the characters are named after famous philosophers (Locke, Rousseau, Hume).  What makes the series great, however, is the real emotional depth each member of the large cast of characters have been given.  It also helps that ever since ABC allowed the writers to set a definitive end date for "Lost," the series has rocked with a focus and intensity that hasn't been seen since season one.  The success of "Lost" has changed television as we know it, and that's why it takes the number one spot on my list.
2. “Battlestar Galactica” - We’re living in a new golden age of science-fiction, and nothing proves it more than this dark and realistic re-imagining of an ultra-cheesy '70s series.  Forget the title and any premature judgements it might give you; this new version is a pitch-perfect and powerfully moving drama that just happens to take place in space.  You’d better catch up on it right now; the second half of the final season begins in January.
3. “Heroes” - Sure, some people argued that the second season was a huge disappointment.  I’m not having it; for me this series has successfully continued to take the idea of the “super-hero” and explore every aspect of what that identity means in this day and age.  And it’s always entertaining.
4. “Doctor Who” - This modern-day continuation of the longest running science-fiction series in history is chock full of imagination, wit and whimsy.  The special effects are truly “special,” used to create entire new worlds like nothing you’ve ever seen before.  Although the most recent season got off to a shaky start (mainly due to the addition of Donna Noble, the Doctor’s extremely annoying and whiny companion this go-around), it concluded with what may be the best two episodes in the history of the series (and all the Rose Tyler fans finally got some much-needed closure).
5. “Flight of the Conchords” - Hey hello to our generation’s Spinal Tap.  Instead of being a world-famous British metal band, however, these guys are a struggling novelty-folk band from New Zealand.  This is the funniest show on television.
6. “The Office” - Like “Arrested Development,” this series has mastered the art of mining humor out of extremely awkward situations.  Unlike AD, people actually watch this show.  While Steve Carell is always brilliant (“Evan Almighty” notwithstanding), the series may be most notable for giving us two of the greatest television relationships in history: Jim + Pam, and Jim + Dwight.
7. “Bones” - I’m generally not a fan of procedural dramas, whether they’re about cops (“Law & Order”), doctors ("E.R."), forensics (“C.S.I.") or anything else (“N.C.I.S.,” “J.A.G.,” etc).  But “Bones” won me over because it focuses more on the relationships between the characters.  Dr. Temperance Brennan, aka “Bones,” and her partner, F.B.I. special agent Seely Booth, have an excellent chemistry that drives the show (the other characters are all interesting too).  While the series also follows some pretty nasty cases (the most recent episode involved identifying remains found in an outhouse), I enjoy watching Brennan attempting to deal with the outside world; she’s often described as being better with dead people than with the living.
8. “Fringe” - Yeah, I know this series has only had one episode so far, but holy sh** was that episode entertaining!  Seriously, how many network television series have you seen that show a man’s jaw falling off as he turns into goo within the opening moments of the first episode?  The “X-Files”-inspired concept delves into some seriously strange areas of “science,” but you shouldn’t need a PhD to follow the plot (in fact, my guess is the less you know about real science the better).
9. “Ninja Warrior/Women of Ninja Warrior” - You want to know where new American reality shows like “Wipeout” and “Hole in the Wall” came from?  Tune into G4 and check out this series.  This Japanese import involves contestants competing through four stages of the craziest, most off-the-wall physical challenges in existence.  It’s got everything you’d want in a reality show: crazy contestants, true talent, and risk of serious physical injury.  Who could ask for anything more?
10. “Torchwood” - This spin-off of “Doctor Who” revolves around the titular organization, a group of people who investigate possible alien activity on Earth.  The series is marked by much more adult content than DW (like aliens and people getting it on), but shares the same wit and strong writing and acting.  And it’s nice to have more of Captain Jack Harkness, one of the the most entertaining supporting characters in DW history.

Here are a couple other shows that just missed the cut:

• “America’s Next Top Model” - While I’ve been an unabashed fan of this long-running reality series for quite a while, the last couple seasons have been somewhat lackluster.  That said, the series is still incredibly addictive, and the addition of a pre-op transgender contestant has already made this season much more interesting (specifically watching how some of the other contestants react when she does a better job than them).
• “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles” - Classic case of “great idea for a series, less than stellar execution.”  For a series that you’d expect to be chock-full of action, way too much time is spent watching people standing around talking.  Hopefully the second season will pick up on the action and explore John Connor’s relationship with hot-chick/Terminator Cameron more; that’s the most interesting part of the series.  But casting Garbage lead singer Shirley Manson as a liquid-metal cyborg this season is a very interesting idea (although showing us this by having her disguised as a urinal was more than a bit strange).
• “Mad Men” - This series about Manhattan ad executives in the 1960s is relentlessly intriguing.  But the very, VERY slow pace sometimes causes it to drag, and it can often feel like not a whole lot is really going on.  While this is a good show, I really think it's been overpraised by a lot of people.  If you want to check this series out, take my advice and start from the very beginning; otherwise you'll have no idea about what's going on.