The Best of 2007

I'm trying not to be too late with the list this year.

Disclaimer: Only films seen in 2007 are included in this list - it is not representative of the films that were released in 2007. We often get films, especially arthouse films, released much later here than in the US. Films which were released more than a year back and now screened as retrospectives, etc. in festivals are also banned from the Top 10.


Top 10 for 2007 (in alphabetical order)

Born Into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids
One of the most painful experiences I've had in a movie theater, but oh so good.









The Dead Girl
Heartbreaking and beautifully structured and told, with pitch-perfect performances. What more can I ask for?









時をかける少女
(The Girl Who Leapt Through Time)
One of the funniest, most imaginative, and also most moving animes I've ever seen.









Hot Fuzz
Fucking funny, yet also exhilarating as hell. Those who love the subjects the most make the best parodies.









El Laberinto del Fauno (Pan's Labyrinth)
Soaring with imagination, terrifying in its darkness, and yet deeply moving in its humanity.









Letters from Iwo Jima
Clint Eastwood can do no wrong. Miles better than Flags of Our Fathers.










Little Children
Another perfect ensemble, and another perfect human story.










The Painted Veil
They don't make grandly romantic movies like these anymore. A perfect film to fall in love to.









Volver
Darkly funny, and emotionally rich, this is Almodóvar at his peak.










Zodiac
Intense and wearying, this is an epic procedural that demonstrates the complete mastery David Fincher has.










Close, But No Cigar (or, the best of the rest)

13 Tzameti - Visceral and intense noir.
The Bourne Ultimatum - Helluva thriller.
The Fountain - Wildly ambitious, to the extent that it can't not fall short. But completely engrossing and fascinating nonetheless.
Lars and the Real Girl - The most bizarre romantic comedy you'll ever see, but surprisingly sweet and moving.
武士の一分 (Love and Honor) - Another samurai classic that puts the humanity back into the warrior.
戒|色 (Lust, Caution) - Tony Leung and Tang Wei turn in spectacular performances, and Ang Lee does some of the best work of his career.
The Queen - Helen Mirren owns this film, and stirs up all your respect and devotion.
Ratatouille - Pixar does it again, better than ever.
Superbad - Hilarious yet also very moving in its depiction of friendship.
Waitress - Quirky and sitcom-ey, but completely lovable. RIP, Adrienne Shelly.


Top-Notch Entertainment Top 10

28 Weeks Later
881
Apocalypto
Enchanted
Hairspray
Knocked Up
Ocean's Thirteen
Robert Rodriguez's Planet Terror
Rocky Balboa
Sunshine

Last year was only OK, I suppose. There weren't that many good movies I had to leave off these lists. In particular, while Singaporean film output was larger than previous years in quantity, only 881 felt good enough to make it to any of the lists. Most were, in fact, rather terrible. Hopefully this year will be better.