It is once again that time of the year. The time the we… the official home of correct movie opinions… reveal unto the world what were indeed the very best films of the year. Globes Schmobes. Oscars Shmoscers. This is THE event and moment studios in Hollywood have been anxiously awaiting… the revelation of The Movie Blog’s Best Movies of 2007 post! (Choirs of angels sing to ancient roman horns accompanying them). Ok maybe not… but we look forward to it!
This year we’re going to do it just a little bit differently. We’ll give the categories and the various winners, and then at the end we’ll list our top 10 best films of the year. So let’s not waste any more time and just dive into it. Drum roll please!
BEST FILM OF THE YEAR
Winner: JUNO
Jason Reitman is now officially my favorite young director in the movie business. A BRILLIANT follow up to his “Thank You For Smoking” triumph, Juno is more than just a comedy. With one of the best performances by a young actress (borderline CHILD actress) I’ve ever seen, Ellen Page has officially arrived and given notice that she intends to be a serious player for many years to come. The movie makes you laugh, but it also makes you feel. A terrific supporting cast all turning in some of the best work they’ve ever done, a moving story, fantastic pace… and yes… HUGE laughs along the way. This movie surprised us on so many levels and (and I know this sounds silly) I came out of the theater a happier person than when I went in. CRAZY. So without hesitation at all, we name JUNO the Best Film of 2007.
Runners Up: 3:10 To Yuma, There Will Be Blood
BEST COMEDY FILM OF THE YEAR
Winner: SUPERBAD
This one is not necessarily for the best movie that also happens to be a comedy, but rather for the movie that delivered the best, and hardest laughs during the run time. And to us, the film that takes the cake in that regard is Superbad. Another comedy masterpiece that Judd Apatow is attached to (contrary to popular belief, Apatow did not direct Superbad, but produced), this movie made you laugh your head off at least 7 or 8 times. McLovin has become a cultural icon and hero to the masses and marked the arival of Michael Cera and Jonah Hill as legitimate leading comedy men. The film has it’s weaknesses for certain… but lack of hilarity is not one of them. So within this context, we’re happy to name Superbad as the best comedy of the year.
Runners Up: Walk Hard, Hot Fuzz
BEST HORROR FILM OF THE YEAR
Winner: SEVERANCE
Not the strongest of years for Horror films, but there are a couple of gems. Somewhere in a whacky world where Dilbert, The Office and Friday the 13th all collide, Severance is born. Severance is one of those “horror” films that is also hilarious and a bit of a saterical laugh at the genre itself… but make no mistake about it, it’s still a horror film. The movie lulls you into it with a bit of a slow start, and then BANG! They slap you across the face with the first couple of kills (SPOILER!!! Some people die in this movie!!!). Come on… how can you go wrong with an office team building trip that gets lost in the woods inhabited by former inmates of an abandoned war criminal insane asylum? That’s some good stuff right there. And for those of you who have seen it… the very best scene involving a bear trap I’ve ever seen.
Runners Up: Hatchet, 1408
BEST SCI-FI/FANTASY FILM OF THE YEAR
Winner: STARDUST
With one of absolute worst promotional campaigns of the year, Stardust limped into theaters, almost no one went to see it, and then it limped right back out. The movie is a total triumph for director Matthew Vaughn who managed to deliver one of the best fammily friendly fantasy movies since The Princess Bride. As a matter of fact, there are a lot of similarities between Stardust and The Princess Bride. The film is absolute magic with wonderful humor, terrific visual effects (when needed and never over used), wonderful characters and the performances turned in by Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Nero and Claire Danes has never been more charming on screen in her entire career. One can only hope that Stardust can find the type of home video popularity that The Princess Bride found too… because it’s a shame more people didn’t catch this treasure of a film.
Runners Up: Transformers, Enchanted
BEST ACTOR
Winner: Daniel Day Lewis (There Will Be Blood)
Runners Up: Casey Affleck (Gone Baby Gone), Russell Crowe (3:10 To Yuma)
BEST ACTRESS
Winner: Ellen Page (Juno)
Runners Up: Nikki Blonsky (Hairspray), Wei Tang (Lust Caution)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Winner: Javier Bardem (No Country For Old Men)
Runners Up: Ed Harris (Gone Baby Gone), Casey Affleck (The Assassination Of Jesse James)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Winner: Saoirse Ronan (Atonement)
Runners Up: Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton), Amy Ryan (Gone Baby Gone)
BEST DIRECTOR
Winner: Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood)
Runners Up: Jason Reitman (Juno), Ben Affleck (Gone Baby Gone)
And now with that out of the way, let’s take a look at The Movie Blog’s Top 10 Films of 2007:
1) Juno
2) There Will Be Blood
3) 3:10 To Yuma
4) Ratatouille
5) Gone Baby Gone
6) No Country For Old Men
7) Bourne Ultimatum
8) Stardust
9) Eastern Promises
10) Atonement
Well, that wraps up the 2007 Movie Blog Awards for the best in film for the past year. Since all film is subjective, I’m sure lots of you have tons a varying opinions on the results. So hop into the comments section and start the discussion on what you agreed with, disagreed with and what your personal best films of the year list looks like.
No Country was so overrated
Dude, how the hell couldent you put Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, on your list. That is like the best movie this whole year (though not as good as Juno, yet a bit better than superbad) but it was still great. Now how could you put stardust on there, that movie sucked ass, that was like a #2 on my worst list.
oh wait.. i would also add : paris je’taime, rescue dawn, accross the universe, atonement and grindhouse!
honorable mention: “the mist”
and i havent seen it yet but i’m sure it will be awesome is “i’m not there”
…rrrright, Doofus! *oops i mean “Drewfus” ANYWAY… good list John, i just would have added in the movie “Into the Wild” and all would have been right on! I think it was my favorite film of 2007:)
Who the hell votes or choose these things 40 year oldmen… the movie generationshould be runningthis showthis websiteis shit all it does is dis everything and choose all old peoples shows and movies… 3:10 to yuma what the ‘F’ who the hell would want to watch this crap… some ofthese movies are so crap that i wouldn’t even get them for my grandpa he has more taste then you people… dues, servo nos totus… for latin illite people it means god save us all…coswe need it
1. 3:10 to Yuma
2. Ratatouille
3. 300
4. Once
5. Bourne Ultimatum
6. Gone Baby Gone
7. Stardust
8. Knocked Up
9. American Gangster
10. Sicko
Honarable Mentions:
11. Waitress
12. Superbad
13. Die Hard 4
14. The Lookout
15. Mr. Brooks
I’ve looked at a lot of critics top 10 lists the past couple days, and I’ve realized how few of them have taste anything close to mine. My top 3 films of the year: There Will Be Blood, Juno, Gone Baby Gone (in that order), and almost no one liked all three, let alone had them all in their top 5. Plus I agree with pretty much all of your other choices too (haven’t seen Atonement, think Ratatouille is overrated). Thank you. I was afraid I was alone in the world.
I will say I found Knocked Up much funnier than Superbad. Not that Superbad wasn’t funny, but Knocked Up was hilarious. Completely agree with the other “bests” though.
I havent seen some of those “oscar worthy” movies yet, but, from what I have seen, here’ my list:
1. JUNO
2. Paris Je T’aime
3. La Vie en Rose
4. 3:10 to Yuma
5. Ratatoille
6. The Bourne Ultimatum
7. Across the Universe
8. superbad
9. knocked up
10. bridge to terabithia
Very cool list…however…one might question your credibility when you begin using football analogies like the one you did. Top three quarterbacks…Brady, Manning…and Roethlessburger??? (However you spell it) That is just bizarre. How can you put him over Tony Romo?
No way Toothlessberger jumps ahead of Romo on any serious Top 10 quarterback list.
But back to the subject at hand…MOVIES. Haven’t seen (or previously even heard of) Juno, but will check it out. The Simpsons Movie was a sleeper. I should know, I had to fight off sleep both times I tried to watch it all the way through.
Would you count Pan’s Labyrinth as this year?
because if thats the case, I’m afraid this list needs editing
and since I never posted this (im seein Sweeney Todd tonight so this list will probly change by then)
1. No Country for Old Men
2. American Gangster (Did u guys see this one?)
3. The Lookout
4. Zodiac
5. Eastern Promises
6. Gone Baby Gone
7. Grindhouse
8. Breach
9. Superbad
10. 300
Ummm…. You Guys are all out of your Minds. There Will Be Blood was undoubtly the best movie of the year. PTA is doing the best work he has ever done. and to add, Johnny Greenwoods Composing, F-ing Brilliant. Daniel Day Lewis is going to win for best actor and There will Be Blood is going to win for best Picture, you can quote me on this.
beowulf was crap—unless you saw it in IMAX 3-D it wasn’t worth watching IMO
I’ve never, ever been so far behind on movies until this year. Out off all the films you’ve listed, I’ve only seen three of them: Ratatouille, Hot Fuzz and Transformers.
I have, however truckloads of anime this year ever since Rachel and I ramped up the reviews on our site. Curse you screener copies of new anime – you’re killing my movie life, LOL! Just kidding! Hoping to catch up on a few films over Christmas, specifically ‘Stardust’ and ‘Pirates 3′ on DVD (didn’t catch ’em in theaters) and ‘I Am Legend’, ‘Sweeney Todd’ and ‘Beowulf’ in theaters.
Into the Wild was great too…other then that this seems like a pretty solid list.
Great list overall; I’d put No Country and Eastern Promises a bit higher, but that’s about it. As for snubs, I’d say u should check out The Lookout and perhaps give Zodiac another look (it drained me a bit the first time around too, but I liked it a lot more the second). Other than that, this one hits the nail on the head.
Ray and 12 Monkeys, we got a few in common… however mine is abit different.
1. (none that trully deserves that mighty spot)
2. ANGEL.A
3. 300
4. TRANSFORMERS
5. RATATOUILLE
6. LIONS AND LAMBS
7. BEWOLF
8. V FOR VENDETTA
9. TELL NO ONE
10. LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD
I think Best Comedy should go to Knocked Up. It was something that pretty much very hard to do: Take a serious situation and make it funny. Superbad was good, but nothing we havent seen before (Teens trying to get laid). The cast of Knocked Up was also genius shooting Seth Rogen into stardom.
1. Transformers
2. 300
3. Enchanted
4. 3:10 to Yuma
5. No Country for Old Men
6. Reign Over Me
7. Knocked Up
8. The Simpsons Movie
9. Mr. Brooks
10. Superbad
john,
just saw stardust.
you are absolutely right.
smart. funny. unusual. smart. baaadly marketed.
cheers
Hey Emad,
I have a rule that I only review a movie if I’ve seen it on or before it’s opening weekend. Those films I never caught opening weekend
I know I will get shot for this but I did NOT like Superbad at all.
Everyone I know Loves that movie but I was bored and didn’t think it was funny at all, which is surprising given that I love all Apatow’s work.
Sorry guys I just don’t get it, it was just OK, not near the best comedy to me.
9) Eastern Promises
10) Atonement
5) Gone Baby Gone
6) No Country For Old Men
am i missing somethin’? you have reviewed these?
Quick question:
Why isn’t 3:10 to Yuma indicated for the Golden Globes?
nice list john…..a nice surprise. i don’t hate it….in fact it is a great list of great films…..
my ten
1. No Country For Old Men
2. zodiac
3. death proof
4. gone baby gone
5. Atonement
6. Ratatouille
7. Them/Ils
8. Superbad
9. Black Snake Moan
10. Bridge To Terabithia
i don’t get all the love for stardust?? what a terrible terrible film that was…..
The Seeler’s Weapons Of Mass Detonation…
BEST FILM OF THE YEAR
No Country For Old Men
Runners up: Reign Over Me, 3:10 To Yuma
(note: as of this time I have not seen Juno, and/or a good chunk of films that most critics woohoo about)
BEST COMEDY
Superbad
Runners up Hot Fuzz, Blades Of Glory (minus Heder)
BEST HORROR
1408
Runners up: The Messengers, 28 Weeks Later
BEST FANTASY/SCI FI
Stardust
Runners up Next, 300
BEST ACTOR
Christian Bale with, hands down, **the** triple duty of : Harsh Times, Rescue Dawn and 3:10 to Yuma!
Runners up John Cusack (1408), Kevin Costner (Mr.Brooks)
BEST ACTRESS
Angelina Jolie (A Mighty Heart)
Runners up: Lena Headey (300); Hilary Swank (Freedom Writers)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Javier Barden (No Country For Old Men)
Runners up: Ben Foster (3:10 To Yuma **AND** Alpha Dog) Adam Sandler (Reign Over Me)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Poehler (Blades Of Glory)
**note: The main reason why I loved this film.**
Runners up: Laura Linney (Breach) Sienna Miller (Stardust)
BEST DIRECTOR:
James Marigold, 3:10 To Yuma;
Runners up: Joel Cohen “No Country For Old Men”, Ben Affleck, “Gone Baby Gone”
******
I have not done my ten best of the year, or the worst. We still have a few weeks and I haven’t seen everything yet.
I know. Pity me.
Again john, movies are to entertain, thus should be based on their ability to entertain, hockey players are based on skill and perform(Normally your sports analogies are spot on).
My top ten not that anyone cares is;
1. Reign on Me
2. No country for old Men
3. 1408
4. 3:10 To Yuma
5. Bourne3
6. Gone Baby Gone
7. Rescue Dawn
8. 300
9. Transformers
10. We Own the Night
I agree completely with your list, with two exceptions. There Will Be Blood is perhaps one of the greatest films of all time. It’s an instant classic, and if DD Lewis doesn’t win best actor, I will never watch the Academy Awards again. Also, I agree with whoever said Atonement was crap. I’ve seen it twice now (once for work, once with the woman), and I sincerely hate that film. It’s glossed over with fancy steady cam shots and a beautiful score (I do digress, the score should bag the oscar), but as for performances and character development I felt that James McAvoy and Keira Knightley were unordinarly static, and although Saoirse Ronan was better, her performance was certainly not something deserving of an Oscar. Anyway, to cut the rant short, good list bar the two personal preferences I’ve seemingly been going on about for way too long. And with that I say adieu.
No love for The Mist? That’s disheartening.
Best all-around movies this year? Giving this one some serious thought, VERY had to narrow this down. My top ten(no particular order):
1.Smokin Aces(One word, intense)
2.The Mist(Love those horror that don’t end well)
3.Bridge To Terabithia(brought back memories let me tell ya)
4.Fay Grim(Picture perfect)
5.Transformers(Nuff said)
6.3:10 To Yuma(If this doesn’t win best score at the oscars I don’t know what should)
7.Gone Baby Gone(Well done Mr. Affleck, well done)
8.We Own The Night(Joaquin Phoenix acted his ass off as usual in this one. On par with Kevin Costner for best single performance this year.)
9.American Gangster – was this remotely close to your list in any capacity John? Just curious.
10.I Am Legend(Outstanding follow-up by Francis Lawrence)
Its a good list in my opinion.
I. HATE. ATONEMENT.
Superbad was fun, but Hot Fuzz almost killed me. I laughed so damn hard at that thing. HUGE applause for Stardust. That wins my “holy crap this came out of nowhere and rocked my socks” award. Fantastic flick. Same goes for Enchanted. Ratawhooey is overrated. I’m sorry, but I just could not get into that thing. No Country For Old Men was awesome, and Javier Bardem MUST win Best Supporting Actor. He MUST. Juno opens in town this weekend I think, so I can see what the hype’s about.
But hands down, to me, 3:10 to Yuma was the best flick of the year. That movie was superb, top to bottom, and it bums me out that fluff like Atonement has people salivating, but 3:10 to Yuma has been virtually ignored by award shows and best of lists(except this one). Damn shame.
Awesome list you got there. I agree 100% on the Best Supporting Male Actor category. If that guy doesn’t win in either the Golden Globes or the Academy Awards, then all will be foul.
It was also great to see Eastern Promises there. It seems like that movie will be forgotten really easily.
Hey Rusty James,
There is a differnce. Yes, all film is subjective (that’s my mantra) however… there is a distinction between just personal favorites and things you may acknowledge are suerior films.
Sports analogy again. Mike Bossy is my favorite NHL hockey player of all time. BUT… I have to acknowledge that Wayne Gretzky is the greatest player of all time (even though he’s not my favorite.
Something can be your “favorite” because there is just something about it that appeals uniquely to you. But then you can still honestly acknowledge that something which is NOT your favorite may be superior.
Something about the Transformers appeals to ME (big action, best visual effects in history, perfectly nailing a point of nostalgia) that made my experience with it my FAVORITE of the year. BUT… when I look at overall film making, Dialog, direction, story progression, ect. ect. ect. I have to acknowledge that Transformers is not the BEST. Still my favorite, but not the best.
“THE BEST” is still subjective obviously because it’s an artistic endevor.
If I were to take issue with anything here it would be the imaginary distinction between films you subjectively enjoy and films that are objectively great. Ultimately art is always subjective.
Props for recognizing Gone Baby Gone though his performance in Assassination of Jesse James is the better of his two lead performances this year.
I haven’t made an official top 10 list yet, and it may change anyway once more Oscar-type movies start getting released in my area around late December and January (looking forward to Juno).
But for now, my two favorite movies of the year are:
* [A-] Waitress
* [A-] Ocean’s 13
My two least favorite of 2007 are:
* [D+] Epic Movie
* [C-] Transformers
I don’t know if you’ve see “I’m Not There” but in my opinion it is the best film of the year, though I can see how that could be a tough sell to some, however, best supporting actress, hands down, weather you liked the film or not should go to Cate Blachette. Her portrayal of Bob Dylan was brilliant.
John,
Did you see SUNSHINE? As a sci/fi fan, I thought it was absolutely at the top of the genre and in my top five for the year.
ONCE was also a nearly perfect film.
I’m SO behind on movies this year…it’s pathedic. More than half the movies that come out I don’t catch till DVD…so Stardust is on the viewing list for this weekend!
Another awards ceremony that places Affleck as a SUPPORTING role in The Assassination of Jesse James. Even though he was on screen 95% of the time and is so obviously the lead.
sigh…
I agree that transformers is not a top ten film. BUT I think a films entertainment value should be a MAJOR consideration to wether or not it makes the top ten. If you enjoyed Transformers the most why doesnt that make it the best film? Films are done to entertain.
good list tho.
John,
This is a surprisingly good list. “No Country for Old Men” was my personal fave, but “Juno” is also deserving of the honor. I’m also glad to see “Transformers” did not make the top 10, It’s an entertaining film, but does not deserve a place amongst the greats of the year. I think some other films that would make my top ten that you did not mention: Zodiac, Knocked Up, Into the Wild, and Death Proof. Overall a really good list.
I’m still looking forward to hearing your criticisms of “No Country”.
Well, John at least I got you to admit that TRANSFORMERS had flaws (BIG flaws). I guess that’s as close as I’ll get.
Now for my Top 10 of 2007:
I have to say this is really hard this year and I’m shocked how much stuff I probably would have loved I missed and still haven’t seen. A
nd some stuff just hasn’t been released here yet which would have probably made my list as well. Also, some films on the list may have been released in the US in 2006, but I didn’t see them until 2007.
Alright, so here we go:
1. LITTLE CHILDREN (I know, it came out in 2006 in the US)
2. THE FOUNTAIN
3. DEATH PROOF
4. RATATOUILLE
5. ATONEMENT
6. THE SIMPSONS MOVIE
7. BLACK SNAKE MOAN
8. APOCALYPTO
9. FULL METAL VILLAGE
10. THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND
I have yet to see: SUPERBAD, SUNSHINE, HOT FUZZ, KNOCKED UP, STARDUST. I know, I should be ashamed of myself.
Great list, im really looking forward to seeing 3:10 to Yuma which still hasn’t opened in Retardoland.
Her is my very subjective(as opposed to your objective) list
1. The Simpsons
2. Transformers
3. Bourne Ultimatum
4. Ratatouille
5. Die Hard 4.0
6. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
7. TMNT
8. 300
9. Hatchet
10. Superbad
Stupid list, i know
Hey Mozzerino,
No, Transformers IS an objectively good movie… but out of the 500 films this year I wouldn’t objectively put it in my top 10. There were too many flaws. For me, and for what the movie was it was almost perfect… action, Visual Effects, totally nailing the person of Optimus Prime… yadda yadda yadda… but as much as I loved it for that, with some of the dialog being poor, and some of the plot holes, I can’t honestly say it’s one of the 10 BEST films of the year.
Just because I love something, doesn’t mean I can’t be objective about it.
Hey John,
so explain you’re objective criteria please.
What you’re kind of implying here is that TRANSFORMERS is objectively not a good movie, right?
Hey Mozzerino
Usually I rate films on a personal level. But once a year I’ll try to be more objective. :)
Hey John,
I’m sorry man, I’m European, so I’m afraid that football analogy there is totally lost on me ;-)
So how do you judge the Best films? I always thought those lists contain the films you PERSONALLY enjoyed the most that year. For whatever reasons. It’s the only way to make that kind of list, or at least that’s the way I see it.
Please don’t get this the wrong way, but that Top 10 list of yours (on which I can’t comment much on because I only have seen 3 of those 10 titles) kinda rubs me in a “I’m kinda a serious movie critic now” -way.
At least if you compare it to other critics lists, the similarities are striking.
But hey, I appreciate the presence of ATONEMENT (beautiful movie)
Can I nominate I am Legend for your Worst 10? Hope now rests on Button, Button to provide the best Matheson adaptation.
Bourne Ultimatum? Really? And ahead of Stardust? I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I cannot agree as Ultimatum was a rehash movie, and some directors really need a lesson (that would be a smack across the head) not to use “shakey camera action” sequences.
I haven’t seen all the movies listed, but I have heard great things about Juno, albeit, I’ll wait until I’ve watched it before making any judgements about it being #1 overall.
Hey There CrackpotPress,
I’ve actually got my screening copy of the Diving Bell and the Butterfly on my table right beside me as I type this. GREAT movie… in my top 15… but it just didn’t crack the top 10 for me.
Cheers.
I know this blog leans towards the mainstream.. but if you get a chance check out “Belldive and the Butterfly” and the documentary “Maxed Out”.
While “Maxed Out” is not the best filmmaking I have seen this year.. it came out in February and since then has been ominously prophetic.
Hey Mozzerino,
Nope, all the praise we gave Transformers was 100% deserved. HOWEVER… being the best popcorn flick of the year (which it was by miles) does not necessarily make you the one of the over all BEST films of the year. I’d put TF in my top 20… but even though I personally enjoyed TF the most… that doesn’t mean I think it’s the BEST film of the year.
Think of it in sports terms. Kitna may be my favorite quarter back in the NFL and may have a lot of great qualities that should be praised… but if you’re going to ask me to list the best 3 quarterbacks in the NFL, I can’t put him on that list. Brady, The Rothless, and Manning belong there before Kitna does.
Transformers was awesome for what it was… but that doesn’t mean I can’t be objective and recognize it wasn’t THE BEST movie of the year.
Cheers.
*Transformers
How come Tranformers was not on the list for Best Movies?
I can’t get over how The Bourne Ultimatum keeps getting such great reviews from you guys. I thought it was a good movie, but certainly not one of the best of the year. I thought it was rather boring, with the exception of a few great scenes. The Bourne character was just dull and uninteresting. And don’t even get me started on Julia Stiles. She sucks the big one.
Wow, I’m pretty surprised.
After all that crazy (and totally undeserved) praise TRANSFORMERS received from you this year it doesn’t even make your Top 10?
Why is that?
Hey Al – Yes I will
Hey Krazie – Yes I have
Hey Antonio – LOVED him in that… but just not quite as much as the other guys.
Hey John, will you be doing a list for Most Anticipated films in 2008?
No, no, no! What happened to Ben Foster (3:10 to Yuma) for supporting actor? Come on!
I am assuming that you’ve seen Charlie Wilson’s War?
Javier Bardem was freaking creepy in No Country for Old Men.