The Best Films of 2007 (That I’ve Seen) - Libby
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
This is a beautiful, touching film. Jean-Dominique Bauby’s story should be dreadfully depressing, Diving Bell presents it not as a handicapped man’s story, but simply as a man’s story. The movie is slow, but not boring. It was like a long hike in the woods. It may take some time, but every moment seems worthwhile. Julian Schnabel’s direction is reliant on imagery, but for a story about a man depending upon imagination to survive, it seems right. Mathieu Amalric’s performance made the movie for me. It is lovely and quiet, even when he is playing the playboy, pre-stroke Bauby.
Deathproof is the superior film in my opinion. Critics were misguided when they regarded the dialogue as excessive. Tarantino is a dialogue master, and here he does not disappoint. The movie has an almost dangerous message about the power dynamics between women and men. Is it a healthy message? Not sure. Rodriguez’s Planet Terror is pure cliché in the best sense. The bad guys and good guys are clearly drawn and do what you expect them to do, and yet the film still seems fresh and exciting. Rose McGowan as Cherry Darling is a fun heroine: deadpan, snarly, and courageous.
This movie is an inspiration. Marjane Satrapi’s story is a fascinating one, not only due to the political struggles in Iran, but because she so beautifully intercuts those politics with her personal struggles. In Satrapi’s story, the struggles of the Iranian people seem just as significant as her struggles to discover love, independence, and her place in the Western world.
I kept thinking about this cute little cartoon about rats that cook. Ratatouille was just…lovely. Brad Bird’s flair for animation is something I’ve loved since his early days with The Simpsons, so I knew it would be beautiful to watch. Here it is masterful. The artistry is astounding! The voice acting was superb, with Brad Garrett as Gusteau being my favorite performance. The humor was authentic without being juvenile, and the music was beautiful. This movie was just joyous to watch.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Watching Johnny Depp sing a ballad about regret while slicing throats open to a deluge of candy-red blood was a singularly satisfying sight, and a great way to begin my Christmas holiday. It’s not just the Burton-Depp combo that makes this movie great, but it’s all the gory details. The muted palate brightened by blood, the searing look in Depp’s eyes throughout, Sascha Baron-Cohen’s snake Pirelli, and Helena Bonham-Carter’s chirpy-yet-dangerous Mrs. Lovett. There were moments that were hilarious, but so vile you wonder if you should laugh. I laughed, and frequently. Burton wins again.
Honorable Mentions: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Hot Fuzz, Knocked Up, No Country For Old Men, Waitress
