favorite movies of 2007

here are my favorite films of 2007 - 

5 - "i'm not there" directed by todd haynes

i would have thrown up if the big studios would have made a bio-pic of bob dylan called "bob" or "blowin' in the wind:  the bob dylan story".  ray charles and johhny cash were no bob dylan, and "i'm not there" is no typical cinematic biography.  haynes captured the essence of dylan - his mystery, his mastery, and his mythology.  it is well documented that haynes employed six actors to portray one person, but that was the slightest of the directors risks when undertaking this film.  it was said that bob dylan gave his blessing to this film without ever reading a script or treatment, but simply due to his respect of haynes' previous films.  dylan's instincts were spot on.  this is a film that will satisfy every dylan fanatic, intrigue those who have admired him, and confuse and baffle those who don't know dylan nor his music.

 

4 - "eastern promises" directed by david cronenberg 

the latest piece from cronenberg and cinematographer collaborator peter suschitzky is a voyeuristic  look into the russian mafia of london.  while that tag alone may evoke images of epic gangster cliches, the truth is the film is so small in scope, and so subtle, that one may see the fantastic world of tatoo histories and eastern decadence as only a backdrop, to a personal interplay between viggo mortensen and naomi watts (both at the top of their game).

3 - "there will be blood" directed by paul thomas anderson

anderson's period piece set in the turn of the century american southwest, paints a desperate portrait of greed, capitalism, religion, and family, that founded the industrial united states.  anderson, along with cinematographer robert elswit, radiohead guitarist jonny greenwood (who composed the score), and daniel day lewis, create haunting images, eerie realities, and prophetic landscapes that indict and provoke.

2 - "into the wild" directed by sean penn

alexander supertramp, is as powerful a figure of american isolation literature as holden caufield, dean moriarty, or billy pilgrim.  deal is, supertramp was real.  and penn's telling of his story, his search for truth, and his obedience to the examined life is handled with empathy and maturity.  as fine a film as one may see and the camera was a well wielded weapon by penn and the gang.

1 - "no country for old men" directed by joel and ethan coen

this was the coen brothers, two of america's finest directors, at their best.  starting with the source material, cormac mccarthy's novel was his most accessible to date, but still retained all of the moralist elements and social criticism that make mccarthy the greatest living author.  than take roger deakins, seven time academy award nominated cinematographer, and wallow in his greatness for a while.  add in an unexpected turn from javier bardem as anton chiguhr, great turns from josh brolin and tommy lee jones, and the most subtle and restrained directing the coens have demonstrated to date, and what you have is a masterpiece.  a pure masterpiece.