Top Ten of 2007: Once

Once is a movie of great power and great music. With endearing turns from its two unnamed leads we listen intently to the music that tells the story of their complicated love. It's hard to say a lot about this movie because it is so simple, and because it's simple it's lovely. Simple is something we don't see in many movies today successfully and for that Once is a stunning a achievement of great heart.

Top Ten of 2007: Paris Je T'aime

Paris Je T'aime is a movie that is about falling in love, its about characters falling in love, a city know for love, directors in love with their craft, actors in love with theirs, and through it all, highs and lows, the audience cannot refuse falling in love with the movie itself. In a series of 20 5-minute movies about love in Paris my heart yearns to see a couple fall in love, breaks at the death of loved ones, laughs at the ridiculousness of love, and even when some stories may not be as potent as others this is such a huge experinment in filmmaking that because of its bravery we are able to look at its pros which far overshadow its cons.

Top Ten of 2007: I'm Not There

In a year of breakthroughs, vision, and masterpieces comes Todd Haynes follow up to his Oscar -nominated Far From Heaven, I'm Not There. Just a lush with vision as his previous effort, I'm Not There refuses to ever settle for convention as we see Bob Dylan characterized by six different personalities in six different styles of story telling. This film exudes brilliance in just the concept alone, but it is when we see the actors pulling on the masks of Dylan that we see this is so much more than a great concept, but a truly rich cinematic experience that blows Walk the Line and Ray out of the water when it comes to musical biopics. This is most definitely an actor's movie in that each performance elevates the movie higer and higher from its concept and then we see Cate Blanchett's performance and then we witness the movie at its sheer wonderment with her exceptionally channeled delivery of Dylan.

Top Ten of 2007: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Where my number ten spot went to a musical that was solely a bubbly musical with a lot of heart, this spot goes to a musical that is dark, tragic, and brilliantly inventive. Tim Burton's characteristic dark eye is all over this film in the dark grays of industrial London, contrasted only by the blood pouring from the necks of Sweeney's clients. The songs are dialogue in music form and not once does any of the performers falter in their delivery. Most notable is Helena Bonham Carter in one of the best performances of the year as she delivers the sad, desperate and poisonously sweet charm of Mrs. Lovett, Sweeney's accomplice. When it comes to vision Burton has never been short of it, and this time it truly pays off in the best way, and by the end we are in no doubt we have seen Burton's masterpiece as the blood pours in buckets.

Top Ten of 2007: Hairspray

Hairspray is a wonderful achievement in contemporary movie musicals in that it is exactly what it aims to be and is so endearing because of it. It isn't super flashy via Chicago or innovative like Sweeney, but it is a charming poppy movie about a girl, her hair, and her need to dance. From the beginning we see people breaking into song on the tops of dump trucks and then in school hallways, and where this might deter so many people Hairspray has drawn in the crowds and the love. Young star Nikki Blonsky is a true discovery in this role as Tracy Turnblad, but to single any actor out is ludicrous as this film shows what a true ensemble performance is. From Travolta in fat woman suits to Pfeiffer as a seductive, no holds-barred mother, to Allison Janney in a small but hilarious supporting turn. Hooray for Hairspray and its enormous heart.

Top 10 of 2007

10. Hairspray
9. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
8. I'm Not There
7. Paris Je T'aime
6. Once
5. Lars and the Real Girl
4. Juno
3. No Country for Old Men
2. Atonement
1. Into the Wild

Spotlight on 2008: Speed Racer

Visionary directors of the Matrix/ producers of V for Vendetta bring to life the iconic anime Speed Racer in what looks to be quite the visceral experience. Emile Hirsch (Into the Wild) stars as Speed, a boy who knows one thing...how to drive. He is supported by Susan Sarandon and John Goodman as Mom and Pops Racer and Christina Ricci as Trixie. Matthew Fox adds to the cast as Racer X. Look for this movie coming Summer 2008.

Check the Trailer here