DARKMATTERS - The Mind of Matt

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Saturday, December 15, 2007

Matt’s Top 10 Films of 2007

Matt’s Top 10 Films of 2007

This has been the year of the ‘Threequel’ – with Spiderman 3, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End and Shrek the Third to name just some of those carrying high anticipation burdens… Many people didn’t like any of those threesomes, I kinda did but none of them make my top ten – because thankfully there were lots of better movies released, here are the ones that did it most for me…



1. Hot Fuzz

Every minute of every day – a crime is being committed somewhere. I can feel it; I can sense the scum on our streets. For too long people have cried ‘where are the police when we need them?' But in this feral world, one man can make a difference – that man is Nicholas Angel (Simon ‘Spaced’ Pegg). Arriving in the impressive shockwave of his top Brit horror comedy Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz ups the ante, boosts the budget and delivers quality laughs, action and violence way beyond the call of duty.

Can’t wait for Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life which is rumoured to be about how hero Scott Pilgrim must defeat his new girlfriend's seven evil ex-boyfriends in battle… ETA 2009.


2. 300


I am a Spartan, descended from Hercules himself. Taught never to surrender and that death on the battlefield is the greatest glory in life (although film reviewing is obviously a close second)… If honour, excitement and entertainment beyond the thresholds of normal cinema is what you seek, there is nothing that can touch this bloody epic graphic novel come to life.


3. Sunshine

For years now we have stumbled in the darkness of a drought, an abyss, a cold hard vacuum of quality space based science fiction (apart from Serenity obviously).But Danny Boyle brought us a burning beautiful ball of light that promised much and delivered on all counts.


4. Transformers

Michael ‘Bad Boys’ Bay pulls out all the stops to bring the much-loved robotic action figures to living, breathing, butt-kicking glory and he does it with unrestrained aplomb. Remember, the freedom to enjoy lowbrow action packed nonsense like this is the right of all sentient beings...


5. The Darjeeling Limited

As is the case with most of director Wes Anderson’s films, The Darjeeling Limited is a window into a poignant, mesmerising and heart warming reality where the journey matters more than the destination.



6. This is England

Powerfull warpgate back to a time, not so long ago when Britain was at war, society was barely holding together in the face of suspicion and intolerance and violent gangs roamed the streets. Young Thomas Turgoose is a revelation.


7. Stardust

Wielding a heavyweight epic punch – boosted by literal ‘star power’ this is the most deliciously over the top and enjoyable fantasy film since The Princess Bride. Stardust does everything right and De Niro delivers the wonderful scene stealing Captain Shakespeare.


8. Atonement

Keira Knightley gives her best performance to date as the stunning Cecilla, whose breathtaking emergence from a fountain at one point is quite possibly the scene of the year for males the world over… McAvoy is excellent too


9. The Lives of Others

Scary Stasi story from the grey-bleak East Germany of the 80s. Ulrich Mühe is excellent as a GDR agent named Wiesler – somehow director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (great name) makes watching a guy wearing headphones compelling!


10. The Lookout


A must see for anyone who liked Memento or Brick, understated and cool, this is a slice of pure indie feel heist thriller and a very promising debut from director Scott Frank.

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The near misses – this is something that I started last year and is a shameless way of getting to namecheck films without having to assign them a chart postion.

So, these are very cool films that almost made the top ten: 28 Weeks Later, The Bourne Ultimatum, Planet Terror, Superbad, Inland Empire, Zodiac, The Last King of Scotland and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Click here for the previous year's top 10's:

Matt's Top 10 Films 2006

Matt's Top 10 Films 2005

Matt's Top 10 Films 2004


Darkmatters:
H O M E

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Wow, you got there quickly Mr A.

I share 2 of your top 10 with 3 more in my near-misses category.

Hope you have a good Christmas and NY.

Here's to 2008's movies.