The Paxton Log

Under discussion:

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End  (2007)

Grindhouse  (2007)

Across the Universe  (2007)

Hairspray  (2007)

Black Snake Moan  (2007)

Ratatouille  (2007)

La Vie en Rose  (2007)

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street  (2007)

Atonement  (2007)

Juno  (2007)

Bratz  (2007)

Here it is, one final post relating to the movies of 2007.  This in my opinion is really the only list that counts.  Here I'm not talking about the supposed best films of the year (although some certainly are) but rather which ones I personally loved most.  This time I'm actually going to place them in order though.  So sit back and relax as I unveil my top ten favorite films of 2007.  (Sadly, 'Bratz' is not one of them.)


[10] 'Black Snake Moan'
I love Samuel L. Jackson.  He's the only reason I'm even interested in the upcoming action-flick 'Jumper.'  His role in 'Black Snake Moan' as the bluesman Lazarus was something completely different for him.  This was a movie which basically boils down to being about a black man reaching out to a lust driven white girl in an attempt at helping her with her sickness.  Sounds a little dirty when in fact their relationship in the film is anything but.  The sad thing is this turned out to be a defining role for Jackson and most people have never even heard of the film.  Kudos to Craig Brewer for creating such a different story for us to experience.


[09] 'Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End'
After the disgusting fiasco in 2006 better known as 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest' I must say I was taken back by the fact I actually enjoyed 'At World's End.'  This guilty pleasure not only is one of my favorite films of 2007, but is also my greatest theater-going experience of the year.  For me there has always been something about being at large showings that just gets me excited.  The sold out premiere that took place on Thursday May 24 did just that.  Seeing this surprisingly fun flick with my dad in a theater packed to the brim with lovers, haters & newcomers to the 'Pirates' franchise was fantastic.


[08] 'Across the Universe'
'Across the Universe' was definitely the film I anticipated most of all in 2007.  After months and months of waiting I was rewarded with an additional three weeks of waiting due to the ridiculous snobs at Revolution Studios.  I bet they sure had their share of laughs once the film failed at the box office.  To them I say, **** you.  Even though it turned out to not quite be as amazing as I had envisioned it still remains to be among my favorites.  From the creative army induction scene to Mr. Kite's whimsical circus almost every moment of it is pure gold.  Plus, now every time my ears are filled with Joe Anderson and Salma Hayeks rendition of "Happiness Is a Warm Gun" I'm instantly transported to another place located somewhere between joy and delight.

[07] 'Atonement'
'Atonement' is an interesting movie.  I liked how it was artsy enough to be considered among the Oscar front-runners and mainstream enough to feature an ending that only had me reminiscing about 'Titanic' despite very large differences.  I also liked how it was able maintain a balance of almost every genre.  It had its funny moments, anger streaks, thrilling sequences, dramatic tone, & of course romance.  Honestly, I liked it so much I'm anxious to read the novel it's based on which I'll begin once I finish with 'The Mist.'



[06] 'Hairspray'
Never would I have guessed that a movie starring Zac Efron would end up as being one of my favorites of the past year.  I have to admit though, it was just so much fun to watch.  And watch I did; five times while it played in theaters to be exact.  One of those viewings was even at 10:40 in the evening after a storm had knocked out the power at my house during mid-August.  There I was all alone in that big auditorium seeing John Travolta shimmy and shaking on screen to his hearts content as "You Can't Stop the Beat" played.  Scarier things can't even be seen within the darkest of nightmares I guarantee.


[05] 'Ratatouille'
Going into 'Ratatouille' I wasn't really sure what to expect.  Yes, it was directed by Brad Bird who created another highly acclaimed Disney-Pixar film titled 'The Incredibles' a few years prior so it had that going for it.  But one has to question just how good a film about a rat who aspires to cook in Paris could be.  Once it was all over and I had seen it, my only question from then on which I pondered many times was will any other film top that this year?  The answer remains the same to this day: no.  It was a perfect example of Disney at it's finest and I've yet to see a film released in 2007 that managed to be better than it in terms of movie making.


[04] 'Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street'
Another Tim Burton movie, another time Johnny Depp is cast as its lead.  We've been down this road before except this time it was truly great.  Since the ending wasn't a jaw-dropper it would only be necessary for there to be other reasons why it turned out to be so.  Hence why such emphasis and recognition is required regarding the flair and style exhibited by the cast.  Burton's wife Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett proved to hold her own with her not-so-smooth but rather rough vocals required to pull off the performance.  Depp who wasn't exactly awe-inspiring in the singing department but not dreadful either per say was equally impressive.  The only real problem I had with 'Sweeney Todd:' was the CGI-heavy opening credits.  I've always loved how Burton takes the audience on a ride through the world in which his film takes place.  Here though I just didn't understand why it was needed to feature so much CGI in the sequence when the remainder had little to none.  No biggie though, like I said I thought it was great.

[03] 'Juno'
This movie which was inspired by Jamie Lynn Spears' recent headlines (ha, ha, ha) was for me the funniest of the year.  The dialogue in it is so smart and so honest I had a smile so wide I was poking the people sitting beside me in their each of their cheeks.  The fact the little thirteen year-olds that were behind me on the way out after it was finished were spouting aloud how they liked 'Knocked Up' better filled me with complete and uncontrollable rage.  Thus I was not at fault when I spun around and pummeled them to the floor leaving them drenched in a lukewarm puddle of Coke from their half-drank sixty-four ounce cups they bought at the concession stand earlier.  Well, not really, but I would have immensely enjoyed doing so.

[02] 'La Vie en Rose'
No actress was more on point or convincing in 2007 than Marion Cotillard in this bio-pic.  She was beyond beautiful to watch.  Then there was the scenery which was almost as mesmerizing as she was.  I'm a sucker for backgrounds and such, and boy let me tell you 'La Vie en Rose' delivered.  The city of Paris was fascinatingly smutty and grungy (in a good way) while New York was alluring and gorgeous.  The way the lights sparkled behind Cotillard and Martin before they depart for the first time at the hotels entrance was lovely.  Anyone who has any interest in the life of Edith Piaf should absolutely see this movie.


[01] 'Grindhouse'
Amazing.  Kickass.  Awesome.  Mind-blowing.  Incredible.  Marvelous.  Wahootastic.  Are there any other words that more perfectly describe my favorite film of the year?  It really sucks that people just didn't get this great piece of cinema.  I mean seriously how hard is to understand that Rose McGown sporting a machine-gun leg plus Kurt Russell killing people with a car equals three hours and twelve minutes of crazy cool?  OH, POOR LITTLE TONY!!!  MOMMY TOLD YOU TO BE CAREFUL WITH THAT GUN!!!  Just great.  Now I've  gone and confused people who haven't seen it even more because they're not going to know what the hell that last bit even referred to.  Oh well, here's to my involuntary continuing of the problem.

Okay, I'm done.  No more posts about 2007 I promise.  All posts about movies from here on out will only pertain to that of releases of 2008.  Once again, thank you to those that took the time to read.  I love you all.

Dedicated to all of my friends: those very special people who put up with my non-stop jabbering about movies.