Here's where I get on my soapbox and tell you what I think about film in the year 2007.

Enjoy.

Honorable Mention #1

THE LAST 2 MINUTES OF THE MIST-No, I'm not being cheeky. There was something else that was better than watching the end credits roll. Now the first 2 hours and 2 minutes of this movie were, to put it kindly, silly. The last two minutes-made me glad that I saw this movie instead of Enchanted. The big (censored) you the director pulls not only on his protagonist but his paying audience is so old school it made me, for one anomalistic moment, want to stand up and cheer. Bonus points for even getting Stephen King to admit the movie ending was better than his original book ending.

Honorable Mention #2

AQUA TEEN HUNGER FORCE COLON MOVIE FOR THEATERS-Let me just say that I'm not really recommending this movie. Pray tell my good man? You won't get it. Now, I left my snob hipster elitist card at home, so you can't accuse me of playing that angle. To call the Aqua Teen rara avis is an insult. This show is as odd as all get out but that my friend, is the reason I love it so. In fact, love isn't a big enough word. I want to have its babies. If you haven't guessed it by now, this honorable mention is completely biased and self serving. If you've watched the series on Cartoon Network and are down with its vibe; the movie is a must see. If not, you can take a chance, but don't ever say I didn't warn you.

10) SUPERBAD-A movie that is not only criminally funny, it also gently reminds us guys that no matter our age; if we're 18 or (insert own age here) we will go to great lengths to look at real life girl parts. Real life girl parts rock.

9) GRINDHOUSE-There are more than a few people out there who feel that the honorable Quentin Tarantino and the honorable Robert Rodriguez completely regressed their talent with this collaborative effort. I say Hong Kong Fuey...and I will also say that I completely agree, but man, what a glorious regression it was. I must also stress the point that I originally saw this movie at the end of 2006 and hated every inch of film. But with an edit here and an edit there then add some time to really take it in-wash and repeat, the movie does prove that every once in a while, you can polish a turd.

8) I'M NOT THERE-I'm deadly serious when I say that every actor "portraying" Dylan deserves an Oscar. Without their on point performances you can toss this movie into the vanity well and let it rot there. Sure, Cate Blanchett has gotten all the people talking, but the secret weapon(s) award goes to Heath Ledger and Marcus Carl Franklin.

7) MICHAEL CLAYTON-Dude seriously, how does George Clooney make it look so easy? I'm sick with it but I can't hate the guy. He'd carry your groceries to your car if you asked him nicely, then he'd give you gas money if you needed it. He'd probably make out with your sister, round the bases and then never call her again. But would that matter? No, he's just a busy guy and he told her that he loved her, so it's totally cool. You'll still send him a card for his birthday because he took you out for beers that one night and he made you laugh. Later that evening he invited some chicks out and you made out with one. George is the coolest man...err I'm a little off topic here, sorry. Anyway this movie doesn't offer anything in the way of big theatrics but its acumen is its greatest ally.

6) AWAY FROM HER-The feel good Alzheimer's movie of last summer. It's also a movie that I recommend everyone should see. To my friend Sarah Polley...way to hit it out of the park kid. It's not fair you're this good your first time out.

5) THE SAVAGES-There was this movie that came out a few weeks ago called Before the Devil Knows Your Dead. The Hoffman (Phillip Seymour) is naked in that movie. I didn't ask for it but it was given to me. It still freaks me out but look, not everyone is perfect, I know this, I have a mirror. The Hoffman is not naked in this movie (thank you) but he is perfect in every way possible. A movie that places its success/failure on the actors and totally sticks the landing. Laura Linney is in it as well...my God people quit reading this and go.

4) CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR-God I love Mike Nichols. God I love Phillip SeymourHoffman. I may have mentioned that already. Tom Hanks is in this movie, he's scary good as 'Good Time Charlie'. I don't know Charlie Wilson, but I'm sure he's just like Tom Hanks, but you know, not an actor. The book for which this movie is based on is about 500 pages, but this is how good this movie is; there isn't one thing I felt they left out. Bravo.

3) THERE WILL BE BLOOD-Just how good is Daniel Day-Lewis in this movie? There really isn't a word to describe it. The right word hasn't been invented yet. Just how good is this movie? I'm calling it right now, this movie wins the Oscar for Best Picture.

2) ROCKET SCIENCE-Where Juno in my mind failed, this movie got it right. Kudos to the applicable parties for using the selected works of the Violent Femmes in key parts of the movie, at least the stuff the Femmes put on wax that doesn't suck six ways to Sunday(that suckage would be about 90 percent of their catalogue). Why didn't more people see this movie? I would imagine that most of you are within a stones throw of a Blockbuster. Most may just have themselves a Netflix account. This needs to be your next rental.

1) AMERICAN GANGSTER-Epic. Awesome. My favorite movie of 2007.


-------) over here leads to the 10 Films that made me laugh, and not in the good way.-----)