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Exploring our favourite films in the year 2007
In this blog series, George and Matt from the Monitor Audio team explore their favourite movies from the last 20 years.
Our selection of films may not be critically acclaimed or box office hits, but have stood the test of time as our favourite movies.
Do you agree with our list? Let us know your favourite movies from the year 2007 on Facebook and Twitter!
There Will Be Blood - George's Top Pick
Dir: Paul Thomas Anderson | Miramax Films
Based on the novel Oil!, Director Paul Thomas Anderson portrays greed and corruption, during California's oil boom in the late 19th century.
In 1902, prospector Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) begins drilling oil in Los Angeles. After a worker is killed in an accident, Plainview adopts H. W, the workers orphaned son and makes him his partner. In 1911, Paul Sunday (Paul Dano) approaches Plainview to notify him of a potential oil deposit on his family’s property. After visiting the family, Paul's twin brother and faith healer Eli (Paul Dano) interjects, demanding ten thousand dollars to go towards his church.
After Plainview initially agrees, drilling commences, but after several accidents, including a gas blowout that results in H. W. losing his hearing, Eli blames him for not blessing the wells. After a quivering Eli demands the money he was promised, Plainview refuses and attacks him. He instead strikes a deal with Union Oil to drill neighbouring wells and build a pipeline to the California coast. A man named Henry introduces himself as Plainview’s half-brother. After H. W. attempts to kill Henry, in a fit of rage, he is sent away to a deaf school. Soon the man claiming to be Henry is revealed to be an impersonator and Plainview kills him. After Plainview is seen committing the crime, he reluctantly agrees a deal to be baptised and forgiven for his sins, in order for the family to allow Union Oil’s pipeline to pass through their land. During his baptism, Eli exacts revenge and humiliates Plainview and as the years progress, his ambition, stubbornness and paranoia grab hold, as he sinks into despair.
In 1927, Plainview has amassed great wealth, but has become an alcoholic and a recluse within his mansion. After falling out with H. W, a confrontation with Eli ensues and Plainview taunts him before beating him to death.
As we witness his slow deterioration, Daniel Day-Lewis perfectly depicts his emotionally grotesque character. Alongside his mesmerising performance and a tense score from Jonny Greenwood, this epic from Anderson is a true work of art.
Zodiac - Matt's Top Pick
Dir: David Fincher | Warner Bros. Pictures
An enthralling look at one of the most infamous unsolved crimes, Director David Fincher details the story of the manhunt for the Zodiac Killer.
Set in California, 1969, an unprovoked attack on two teenagers in a parking lot leaves one dead and one wounded. The killer begins to send encrypted letters to the San Francisco Chronicle, admitting the crime and calling himself the “Zodiac”. Robert (Jake Gyllenhaal), a cartoonist at the newspaper, takes a keen interest, but determines that the message doesn’t contain the killers’ identity. Paul (Robert Downey Jr.), a respected crime reporter at the paper initially ignores Robert, refusing to share details about the murders.
After the paper publishes the letters, the Zodiac kills again. Soon Paul shares details about the cases with Robert, and together they discover that the letters reference a film called The Most Dangerous Game, which features a man who hunts live human prey. The Zodiac continues to kill across the San Francisco Bay Area, mailing a piece of the victims clothing to the Chronicle, taunting them. Police inspector Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) is assigned to the case, but doesn’t have a suspect until two years after the first killing. Toschi questions Arthur Leigh Allen, but a handwriting expert rules him out. Paul turns to alcohol after receiving a letter, believed to be from the Zodiac, threatening his life. Robert continues to work the case in his own time and in 1978, contacts Toschi to discuss elements of the case, but is refused access to vital evidence and witness statements.
Robert, obsessed with the Zodiac, writes a book about him, but loses his job, his wife and children in the process. New circumstantial evidence points him to Allen, but does not implicate him. Robert tracks him down in 1983 to his place of work, but leaves after a brief confrontation. After his book is released, Allen passes away and the sole survivor of the initial attack comes forward, identifying Allen as the killer.
Zodiac is an intelligent and chilling take on real-life events, following three very different paths. Gripping throughout, this psychological tale of obsession is intriguing; especially considering the case is still open.
No Country for Old Men
Dir: Coen Brothers | Paramount Vantage
Based on Cormac McCarthy's novel, this western thriller from the Coen Brothers is brutal and unforgiving.
Set in 1980, in Terrell County, Texas, feared hitman Anton (Javier Bardem) escapes from a local deputy sheriff, before murdering an innocent civilian at the side of the road and armed with his captive bolt pistol, steals his car.
A veteran of the Vietnam War, Llewelyn (Josh Brolin) stumbles across the aftermath of a botched drug deal, whilst hunting in the desert. Littered with cars and dead bodies, he stumbles across a sole survivor, before following a trail to a briefcase containing two million dollars. He returns in the middle of the night to help the dying man, but is too late. A truck pulls up and after a short pursuit; he escapes and proceeds home, arranging for his wife Carla to stay with her mother, fearing for her safety. Anton turns up at Llewelyn’s home, in the search for the money, which is fitted with a tracking device, and some time later, Sheriff Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) investigates the break in. Anton tracks Llewelyn to a motel, but Anton does him a favour, killing a group of Mexicans waiting to ambush Llewelyn, who were tracking the money.
They soon encounter one another, but after Llewelyn disposes of the tracking device, he escapes with multiple injuries. After a brief phone call from hospital, Anton tells Llewelyn of his plan to kill his wife unless he gives up the money. Llewelyn arranges to meet his wife, but after Carla's mother unwittingly gives their location away, a local Mexican cartel kills Llewelyn. Anton collects the money but comes close to being discovered by the Sheriff. Anton murders Carla and is last seen limping away from a car accident that befalls him as he leaves her house.
In this terribly bleak landscape, the Coens’ manage to portray darkly humorous characters, just as they did with Fargo. A magnificent film, with terrific performances, the Coens’, along with their trademark ludicrous dialog, perfectly convey the sense of urgency.
Superbad
Dir: Greg Mottola | Sony Pictures
Director Greg Mottola introduces three awkward friends, soon to graduate and desperate to finish on a high, in this coming of age comedy.
Childhood friends, Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan (Michael Cera) are high school seniors, in the final weeks leading up to graduation. Evan has been accepted into Dartmouth where, unbeknownst to Seth, he'll room with Fogell (Christopher Mintz-Plasse). After Seth’s crush Jules (Emma Stone) invites him to her party, he nominates himself to buy all the alcohol, in order to impress her. Fogell obtains a fake ID, under the alias McLovin, much to Seth and Evan's despair.
After successfully buying alcohol with the ID, he is knocked out and robbed at the till, leading to police officers Slater (Bill Hader) and Michaels (Seth Rogen) being called. As Seth and Evans watch on, suspecting Fogell has been arrested, a car in the parking lot hits Seth, but not wanting to get in trouble, the driver agrees to get them alcohol at another party. Feeling sorry for him, the officers take Fogell on a wild ride-along, which includes shooting, drinking and improper use of their sirens. At the party, Seth steals some alcohol and after a brief confrontation with some men, high on cocaine, they both manage to escape. On their way to Jules party, Seth and Evan argue and Seth is once again hit by a car, this time by the out of control police cruiser, driven by Slater and Michaels. As they arrest Seth, Fogell emerges from the car and all three escape.
As Evan hooks up with Becca, Seth is the life of the party, but after Jules turns him down, he passes out. Slater and Michaels break up the party, and Evan carries Seth back to his house, whilst they look for Fogell. After reconciling, Slater and Michaels make it up to Fogell by pretending to arrest him in front of everybody, before they go on to torch their heavily damaged patrol car to destroy the evidence. After Seth and Evan bump into Jules and Becca at the mall, Evan and Becca leave together, as Seth and Jules go their separate way.
A hilariously crass comedy with memorable one-liners, Superbad is heartfelt and charming, if you can get past Seth's obsessive drawings.
3:10 to Yuma
Dir: James Mangold | Lionsgate
In the remake of the 1957 film of the same name, director James Mangold’s adaptation of this psychological western thriller is riveting.
Set in late nineteenth-century Arizona, Civil War veteran Dan Evans (Christian Bale) is struggling to provide for his family on their ranch. When Glen Hollander, a man who he owes money, burns down his barn, he sets out to look for his lost herd. Ben Wade (Russell Crowe), a leader of a band of outlaws robs a stagecoach, but after he spots Evans and his sons watching, he lets them go. Evans rescues McElroy (Peter Fonda), the surviving coach guard, bringing him to Potter (Alan Tudyk), a local doctor. He then leads railroad men to arrest Wade at a nearby saloon.
Butterfield, a railroad representative, enlists the help of Evans to deliver Wade to the authorities, for a sum of money, which would allow him to keep his ranch. Alongside him are McElroy, Potter and Hollander’s right hand man Tucker. They set out for the mining town of Contention, where the 3:10 train to Yuma Prison awaits. Wade kills both Tucker and McElroy, after they provoke him, but after trying to escape, he is stopped by Evans son William. A local tribe attack the group and despite managing to escape, he first kills the Apaches. The group soon gain custody of Wade, but in the process, Potter is killed. Evans along with his son, McElroy and Wade check into a hotel in Contention and are joined by local marshals as they wait for the train to arrive.
As the leader of Wades gang Prince (Ben Foster) arrives in town, he offers an incentive to all who help Wade escape, placing a bounty on those holding him. As the marshals concede, Evans is still determined to move forward, much to the surprise of Wade. As he has escaped twice before, the thought of going to prison doesn’t worry him, so agrees to help Evans, for the sake of his family. In the finale, Prince kills Evans and Wade boards the train, after killing Prince and his own gang.
Bale and Crowe are superb, making wonderful foes in this tremendous thriller. 3:10 to Yuma is an immense western, which both honoured and revived the genre.
Into The Wild
Dir: Sean Penn | Paramount Vantage
This biographical drama, from director Sean Penn, follows the story of hiker Christopher McCandless, in an adaptation of the 1996 non-fiction book of the same name.
The story starts in 1992, as Christopher (Emile Hirsch) arrives in Alaska, just off the Denali National Park. He stumbles upon an abandoned city bus, after trekking through the dense wilderness. Content, he keeps a daily diary, sharing his thoughts and experiences as he reads books and lives off the beautiful land that surrounds him.
We watch two years prior as Christopher graduates from university. Disillusioned with life, he makes a radical change, destroying his identification and donating his life savings to charity. Without telling his family, he sets off on a cross-country drive, leaving them sick with worry. After being caught in a flood, he abandons his car and begins to hitchhike. Along the way he meets a couple named Jan and Rainey before making his way to the Colorado River. Ignoring warnings, he uses a kayak to make his way to Mexico, but soon heads back on foot after losing his kayak. He then boards a freight train to LA, but after being beaten by railroad police, he resumes hitchhiking. Christopher arrives in Slab City and after encountering Jan and Rainey again, he stays for the holidays. He is soon on the move and meets army veteran Ron, whilst camping in Slaton City, developing a close bond with him.
Much to Ron’s dismay, after a few months living with him, Christopher sets out on the last leg of his journey. As we move forward we see Christopher struggling to live on the abandoned bus, but due to poor weather, is unable to return home. He succumbs to the environment after fatefully eating a poisonous plant and after writing a farewell letter to his family, his body is found just weeks later.
Into The Wild is an enriching tale, with a harrowing ending. Christopher was sick of society and commercialism and was desperate to search for something with a deeper meaning. However, he discovered that true happiness is only found when sharing with others.
30 Days of Night
Dir: David Slade | Sony Pictures
Based on the comic book miniseries of the same name, this extremely gory and suspenseful horror from director David Slade put vampire movies back on the map.
Based in an Alaskan town of Barrow, its citizens are preparing for its annual month-long polar night, where the sun stays above the horizon, leaving them in perpetual darkness. A stranger (Ben Foster) rows ashore, heading into town to disrupt the town’s communications to the outside world. As sheriff Eben Oleson (Josh Hartnett) investigates, his estranged partner Stella (Melissa George) misses her flight out of town and is forced to stay. Eben soon catches up with the stranger and keeps him locked up in the station.
That evening, a band of vampires, led by Marlow (Danny Huston), arrive and slowly begin to terrorise the town, decimating the residents at will. Stella, Eben and his brother Jake take refuge in a hidden attic, with a few other locals. As the vampires approach the station, it becomes clear that the strangers motive was to help them in order for them to turn him into a vampire. Instead, they kill him and continue to search for survivors. A few weeks later, a blizzard hits the town and after running out of supplies, they see this as the ideal time to move. Eben creates a diversion, using ultraviolet lights to burn the vampires. Two weeks later, some of the survivors have successfully made their way to the sewage treatment facility, which still has power. Stella saves a young girl called Gail, as she is being stalked.
As the sun rises, the vampires burn the houses to destroy their evidence. As flames begin to engulf Stella and Gail, Eben makes a desperate decision. Using the blood of a deceased vampire, he injects himself, and as he begins to turn, he sets out to save them and finish Marlow.
Fantastic setting and although its not my favourite genre, this creepy tale kept me engrossed throughout and was genuinely scary.
Juno
Dir: Jason Reitman | Searchlight Pictures
This offbeat comedy from director Jason Reitman confronts unplanned pregnancy, without preaching, in this perceptive coming-of-age drama.
Self-aware Juno MacGuff (Elliot Page) is a smart and charming high school girl. After a one night stand with friend Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera), she becomes pregnant and after realising the financial obligations and responsibility for a sixteen year old, she visits a clinic to discuss having an abortion. Soon she reconsiders and plans to put the baby up for adoption and begins the painstaking job of finding the perfect couple. After telling her father Mac (J.K. Simmons) and stepmother Bren (Allison Janney), they offer their support, as does Paulie. Alongside Mac, Juno visits couple Mark (Jason Bateman) and Vanessa (Jennifer Garner) who are unable to conceive and are desperate to start a family.
Mark is a music composer for radio and television commercial jingles and after spending quite a bit of time together, Juno discovers they share similar tastes when it comes to music and film. Meanwhile, Paulie’s feelings towards Juno intensify, but confused, she pushes him away, before becoming jealous when he pursues another girl for the upcoming prom. Weeks before her baby is due, Mark tells Juno that he is beginning to have feelings towards her, leaving her completely perplexed and unsure as to how to respond. As she witnesses Mark break up with Vanessa and their marriage fall apart, she has a huge decision to make. After discussing everything with her father, including how she feels about Paulie, she tells Paulie she loves him and makes a final decision on her baby’s future.
After being rushed to hospital, she gives birth to a healthy baby boy and when Paulie finds out, rushes to be by her side. Soon Juno’s long-term plan is revealed, as Vanessa arrives to pick up her new-born boy as a single adoptive mother.
Juno is exceedingly clever with a unique and touching story, dealing with a delicate subject matter, with witty one-liners and a truly uplifting finale.
300
Dir: Zack Snyder | Warner Bros. Pictures
Based on the 1998 comic series of the same name, director Zack Snyder's fictional retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae is an epic, full of gore.
Set in 480 B.C., soldier Dilios (David Wenham) narrates the story of Leonidas (Gerard Butler) from his childhood, to becoming the King of Sparta. The story catches up with Leonidas, who is visited by a messenger from the Persian army, demanding they submit to King Xerxes. After refusing, the messenger is killed and Leonidas visits the council to discuss a strategy to push the Persians back. The Persians have nearly three hundred thousand soldiers and with their huge advantage, Leonidas plans to lure them into a narrow passage, to pick them off in waves. Theron (Dominic West), a member of the council has been colluding with Xerxes, but despite forbidding Leonidas to go to war, he leaves with three hundred of his soldiers and is joined by Arcadian soldiers.
A deformed Spartan by the name of Ephialtes approaches Leonidas to join his army, but is refused. Using their superior fighting skills, they soon engage with Persian troops, withstanding every wave. Seeing the power of his army, Xerxes gives Leonidas a chance to submit, with the reward of wealth. After mocking Xerxes, he sends his elite guards, which the Spartans and Arcadians quickly despatch. The next day, relentless waves of soldiers are sent by Xerxes, but to no avail. After the Arcadians learn that Ephialtes has betrayed them, leading Xerxes to a path, which would flank their army, they retreat. Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey) initially fails to persuade the council to send more soldiers, before they realise that Theron is a traitor and reinforcements are called upon, but they are too late. On the third day, the Spartans are surrounded and after refusing to surrender, they continue to fight until a barrage of arrow finally stops them.
This historical fantasy had stunning fight scenes, and although the end wasn’t satisfying, it was visually stunning and incredibly entertaining.
Reign Over Me
Dir: Mike Binder | Columbia Pictures
This drama from director Mike Binder tells a heart-breaking story of anxiety, friendship and loss in the aftermath of the 2001 attacks.
Five years have passed since Charlie Fineman (Adam Sandler) lost his wife and daughters in the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers, which has taken an understandable mental toll on his wellbeing. Severely suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, he has withdrawn from everyday life, cutting himself off from his in-laws, only briefly leaving the house. Alan Johnson (Don Cheadle) is a successful dentist and was a former college roommate of Charlie’s, when studying dentistry together. One afternoon, after spotting him leaving his apartment, Alan unsuccessfully attempts to catch up to him.
After discussing it with his wife Janeane (Jada Pinkett Smith), he endeavours to catch up with him the following evening, but when he does, he’s shocked to see how fragile Charlie is, who barely recognised him. Charlie refuses to open up to Alan, but does appreciate the company, inviting him back to his apartment, where he spends his time remodelling the kitchen and playing hours of Shadow of the Colossus, to pass the time. Alan manages to persuade Charlie to go to Dr. Angela Oakhurst (Liv Tyler) a therapist, but instead of opening up to her, he instead tells his story to Alan. This has near devastating consequences after he attempts to commit suicide, before being kept in a psych ward for assessment. Unwilling to stay, Judge Raines (Donald Sutherland) must determine whether to commit Charlie against his will.
In the end, the decision lies with Charlie’s in-laws, who initially agree to it, but have a change of heart when he finally opens up to them, telling them how much he suffers. Once its determined he isn’t a threat to himself, with the blessing of his in-laws, he moves to a new apartment, leaving the painful memories behind.
Reign Over Me is a profound story, with odd elements of comedy, which really help push this tale of friendship and how therapeutic it is, into something deeply touching.
Honorable Mentions:
Knocked Up
Dir: Judd Apatow | Universal Pictures
Gone Baby Gone
Dir: Ben Affleck | Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Death at a Funeral
Dir: Frank Oz | Verve Pictures
I Am Legend
Dir: Francis Lawrence | Warner Bros. Pictures
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Dir: Andrew Dominik | Warner Bros. Pictures
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