Phineas Gopher's Best Films of 2007

While I was cooking up my own list (which I admit spent a lot more time in the oven than it should have), I asked my good friend and regular contributor "Phineas Gopher" to toss me his list of favorites as well. Here's what he had to say:


one
Knocked Up
One of the smartest, most honest comedies about love and relationships I’ve ever seen, with just the right amount of exaggeration given to very realistic characters. Satisfying overall, but frequently laugh-out-loud funny.

two

Ratatouille

A family film that dared to be smart and unconventional, disregarding product-placement and merchandising opportunities in favor of a fresh, consequently “clean”-feeling world (ironic for a tale about rats in the kitchen). Bursting with color and heart.

three
Grindhouse
Only Death Proof, Quentin Tarantino’s half of this double-feature, made a lasting impression on this reviewer, but the retro-themed package of two films plus faux previews made for one of our most enjoyable nights at the movies this year. A pity it did poorly at the box office. Experiments like this should be encouraged.

four

No Country For Old Men

The Coen Brothers and the artists they employ demonstrate that they are among the best filmmakers working today, delivering among other things gorgeous cinematography and taut editing. Javier Bardem, Tommy Lee Jones, and Josh Brolin could carry separate films with the strength of their performances here, and their collective force is riveting.

five

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
The most satisfying film in the fantasy series so far, it is also the first to be directed by David Yates. All the child actors have grown and matured in their craft, but Daniel Radcliffe stands out as Harry, finally making the character strong enough to root for. The duel at the end between Dumbledore and Voldemort features some of the best visual effects of the year.

six

Kiss My Snake

In Thailand there is a small community called King Cobra Village, where adults and children alike make a living “boxing” poisonous snakes for outsiders who pay to watch. This documentary illuminates the lives of several villagers, shows the many techniques they employ in putting on a show with such deadly participants, and shows the dangers and consequences involved.

seven
Randy and the Mob
Ray McKinnon’s unique blend of dead-pan dialogue and quirky characters makes for a comedy that has a bigger-than-normal share of brilliant moments.

eight

Once

Bittersweet, achingly real, and easily the most romantic film of the year. Best viewed with no expectations about the plot, this quiet little love story uses music to show the loneliness and longing of its characters, taking you on a brief journey into their lives then gently drifting back out again.

nine
Day Watch
This second installment in a Russian fantasy series directed by Timur Bekmambetov is even more visually stunning than its predecessor, Night Watch. The plot is convoluted, but the special effects are reason enough to watch. Have you ever seen a red sports car drive across the side of a skyscraper? It does, in fact, look cool.

ten

Fido

Set in the 1950s of some alternate universe, Fido shows a world in which a zombie apocalypse has come and gone, and society has rebuilt itself with the help of a giant corporation that provides zombie-taming equipment to the public. Zombies are now used as household servants or pets, and owning them is a sign of doing well. Actually very clever throughout.


honorable mention
The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters
A documentary on the world of competitive arcade video gaming, this is a surprisingly interesting examination of sportsmanship, or lack of it, in a very unorthodox sport.

Originally published in the
Arkansas Democrat Gazette