Another year, and another list. The list has taken a while to assemble, but here are my picks for the best and worst films of 2007. As was the case last year, I'm starting with the worst, and the entries are in reverse order. I should also mention that something very strange has happened this year. At this point in 2006, I had seen 8 out of the 10 Golden Globe nominees for Best Picture; the sort of films one would expect to see on this sort of list. However, due to many of their UK release dates not being until 2008, it's a mere 5 out of 13 that I've seen this time around. That's 80% compared to 38%, which is quite a drop. So it looks like when I come to compile next year's list I'm going to be rather spoilt for choice.


The Worst 10

As before, there are a few films that just missed out on being in the full list, but which still deserve a mention for all the wrong reasons. Balls of Fury was one of those painful comedies in which nothing seems to work how it should, but it wasn't quite as dreadful as the others on the list. The Last Mimzy was a smug and horribly written piece of nonsense, while Goal II missed the target more than Jason Lee. Finally, Outlaw was a fine offering of social commentary for dummies.

10. Bratz: The Movie

As I said in my review, the one thing that can be said in favour of Bratz is that it's not the sort of bad film that haunts you for a good while after you've seen it. But that shouldn't distract from the fact that it's complete rubbish in every sense. Perhaps the most inconsequential film of the year, it's a dreadful combination of weak writing, mediocre acting and poor plotting. It's precisely what everyone knew it would be like before they even saw it. But the fact that people still had to pay to see it means it doesn't get a free ride just for living up to its horrendous expectations.

9. Are We Done Yet?

If any film this year highlighted the lack of creativity in cinema for children, it was Are We Done Yet? It's a sequel that was made purely because the original made a lot of money. It has a leading man who can't act, wastes the one legitimately good actor is does have, and relies on jokes that weren't funny when they first appeared in films like this - the 1960s. I gather this one made a profit too, so there will most certainly be a sequel. I wonder if I'm allowed to just copy and paste my review between the two films...

8. Because I Said So

If Mandy Moore wasn't such a cutie in this film, it would probably be in the 'top' 3. Seriously, she's the only thing in this film that isn't just dreadful. I'm a self-confessed sceptic when it comes to romantic comedies, but it has always been my understanding that they needed to be funny, romantic, or both. Because I Said So is neither of these things. It's one of those films that you feel awkward watching because it's so cringe-making; I honestly felt more uncomfortable watching it than I did viewing Bratz, which says a lot. It has also put me off Diane Keaton for a good while. Her performance was about as pleasant to watch as your relatives getting drunk at a wedding and trying to dance.

7. Death at a Funeral

Death at a Funeral has actually enjoyed relatively stable reviews. I fully accept that I'm not exactly in the majority with my opinion, but I honestly could not stand the film. I found it to be a lifeless chore with signposted jokes, miserable performances, and the comic timing of a dead pheasant. I actually went to a funeral about a fortnight after I saw the film, and I am being 100% genuine when I say that it was by far the more amusing and enjoyable experience.

6. Alvin and the Chipmunks

It's hard to believe that the actual concept of Alvin and the Chipmunks is fifty years old. You'd think that after that length of time people would have gotten pretty fed up of an idea that's just so fundamentally irritating. The whole squeaky voices thing is a novelty act that went on for far too long, and a full-length film complete with them is just too much to stomach. Of course it doesn't help that the film is so badly written and acted as well, and unless you happen to be four or five years old, Alvin and the Chipmunks is pretty close to unwatchable.

5. Perfect Stranger

Truth be told, I have absolutely no idea what Perfect Stranger thought it was. Just how can a film this unengaging call itself a thriller, and how can a film about as sexy as road kill think of itself as somehow erotic or sexually titillating? I said it was this year's Basic Instinct 2 in my review, and I think that's a fair comparison to make. It was also blessed with an idiotic twist ending, phoned in performances and characters so unpleasant I rather hoped for a massacre as a grand finale.

4. Captivity

Overall, I think 2007 has been a better year for horror than 2006 was. Tidy films like 1408, Disturbia and even 30 Days of Night added a bit of originality and professionalism to a genre that had been flagging. But the old tricks still haven't gone away, and Captivity is a sign of the depths the whole 'torture porn' concept has reached. It tries to be disturbing, clever and almost sexy all at once, and it achieves none of these things. It takes itself far too seriously as well, which is just about the worst thing a piece of garbage like this can do.

3. Licence to Wed

Well, despite what I wrote in my original review of Licence to Wed, it turns out there is room on my list for two Mandy Moore films. This, I feel, is by far the worst of the two. For starters, even Mandy herself - usually reliable even in such horrible tosh - is strangely unlikeable in this one. But perhaps the worst thing about it is watching Robin Williams scrambling around trying to remember how to be funny. The writing is atrocious of course, but there's something quite tragic about seeing Williams constantly appearing in films like this.

2. Epic Movie

By the skin of their balls, Aaron Seltzer and Jason Friedberg have avoided the honour of appearing at the top of my worst list for two years running. It's a close thing indeed; I think their film made me laugh a total of once, whereas my chart topper failed to raise even a single smile. Epic Movie is just an unfunny recap of the blockbuster films of the last 12-15 months, with some hip-hop and lame cultural references thrown in. It's the sort of turd where you can't actually believe people have sat down and written a script for it. Seltzer and Friedberg have a new film coming out in 2008 - it's called Meet the Spartans. So expect to see that here around the same time next year.

1. Norbit

What the hell is Norbit? Is it Eddie Murphy trying to show the world that he has lost his mind, part of an incredibly intricate plot to ensure Alan Arkin won an Oscar, or just an intended comedy that turned into a hulking pile of excrement? Your guess is as good as mine. Like Epic Movie, I wondered if Norbit had a script; it's so disjointed that it could well be a piece of improvisation. And the ultimate reason why it belongs here is simply because it's such a nasty, unfunny, miserable, cruel and vindictive splat of manure that I can't think of anywhere else I could put it. Did it really cost Murphy the Oscar? That's pretty much impossible to say for sure, but it's a damn certainty that it didn't exactly help his cause.


The Best 10

Yet again I saw close to 200 theatrical releases this year, so just getting into this honourable mention section is an achievement for these films. There are a couple of animated films I would have liked to have included; Beowulf and Ratatouille were both splendid for very different reasons. This Is England was one of the best British films of the year, and The Illusionist was a real treat and a welcome surprise.

10. American Gangster

My only real complaint with American Gangster is that it's not amazing. It's a very good film with impeccable acting, stylish direction and intelligent writing. But it's not quite the masterpiece I had my fingers crossed for. Of course with Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott involved you're not going to get a dud, and the film's strengths are clear for all to see. If only a couple of characters and subplots had been snipped. That said however, it's still a gripping ride, a powerful character study, and one of the most interesting films to come along all year. It is finding its way onto award lists, so maybe Sir Ridley will finally get his hands on a deserved Oscar, even though it's not his quite best work.

9. Stardust

It's always nice to be surprised by a film, and Stardust did exactly that. Fantasy films that aren't part of an established series tend fall on hard times at the moment, so it really was nice to come across one that's exciting, funny, clever and just enormous fun. It has a terrific cast who are clearly up for it, and it should appeal to all ages - something few films these days can achieve. It wasn't exactly a winner at the box office, which is certainly disappointing. But I rather hope that if I keep banging on about it just a few more people might saunter out and pick up the DVD. In a world of remakes, genre familiarities and overused concepts, Stardust really is a little bit special.

8. Zodiac

I'd be very surprised if Zodiac ended up with any awards, because it just isn't the sort of film that tends to reel them in. That said however, it's one of the most engaging and professional thrillers I've seen in a good while. It even overcomes the hindrance of focusing on a real life case which doesn't have a particularly cinematic or conventional conclusion. Like most David Fincher films, one gets the sense that Zodiac has been meticulously crafted. It's fantastic at establishing mood, tension and a sense of time. It feels like it really was filmed in the 1970s. I had some issues with its pacing, but it remains a thoughtful, intelligent and highly engrossing film.

7. Hairspray

You know a musical has to be good for it to appear on my list. Over the last few years I've been less than kind about many of them, including some that have gone on to scoop some of the biggest awards in the industry. But Hairspray is actually quite a special musical, because you almost get the feeling that it doesn't want awards. It know it's fun, and it goes with that. A terrific cast (including the brilliant Nikki Blonsky) really bring the film and the characters to life, assisted by some catchy songs and energetic direction. It might just sneak into contention for some major awards this year, though I don't think it has much of a chance of winning anything. But in a way it's rather nice to think of the film itself as a sort of plucky underdog.

6. Black Book

When I first put this list together, for some reason I completely forgot about Black Book. Admittedly it was only the 11th film I saw this year, but considering how good it is that's not much of an excuse. I gather it was rejected for Oscar consideration last year, and therefore isn't allowed to be considered again; something I think is a shame. Say what you like about Paul Verhoeven, but the man knows strong women when he sees them, and in Carice van Houten he found one. Her charismatic, alluring, funny, powerful and frankly remarkable performance absolutely dominates the film; a film that's legitimately strong in its own right. It's a war film that bursts with energy, which is actually rather a rare thing to come across. It's one of the most exciting and genuinely different films of the year.

5. Bridge to Terabithia

There's a reason why Bridge to Terabithia works so well, and that is the chemistry between Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb. It's not romantic in a conventional sense, but there's something quite magical that simmers between them. The film itself is one of the best of its type that I have seen for many, many years. An accessible film that has some important lessons for children, but which works on exactly the same level for adults as well. The acting from the young stars is astoundingly good, the emotion is raw and honest, and the messages are strong but not overbearing. It takes skill to make films of this nature; a lot more than people are often given credit for. So one this good really is a welcome sight.

4. 300

I think it would be very easy to dismiss 300 as a stylish piece of claptrap, but I think that does the film a disservice. As I said in my review, it's not a clever film filled with intricate characters or plot subtleties. But at its centre there is most certainly a beating heart; a recognition of the timelessness of heroism and bravery. The fact that it's terrifically exciting, massively entertaining and deliciously acted is crucial, but it's not a film that's entirely without a soul. It also very nearly pulled off the remarkable feat of getting me into a gym. I should emphasise the nearly part...

3. Amazing Grace

When I first saw Amazing Grace, I was convinced I had just seen a likely Best Picture contender. It's an honest, very nicely acted, intelligent and highly engaging biopic about one of the greatest men of the 19th century. It has enjoyed good to very good reviews, and public perception of it is actually very high indeed. And yet enthusiasm for it within the industry has rather fizzled out to nothing. Maybe it just isn't big enough, wasn't sold effectively, or lacked something others might have been looking for. But for me it remains one of the most genuine and passionate films of the year, and it deserves a great amount of praise for approaching a complicated and controversial issue with a great deal of maturity and common sense, and for avoiding sensationalism.

2. Transformers

WHAT?! Did I just read your mind? Unlike a lot of films, Transformers knows exactly what it is. It exists to be fun, and it succeeds in that goal entirely. A combination of absolutely incredible special effects, great action sequences, nice bursts of humour and a solid cast, make this one of the best bits of pure entertainment I've seen in a good while. I'm not trying to argue that this is high art, but certainly as part of its particular genre, Michael Bay's offering is a terrific success. And for the record, Bay himself gets such a disproportionate amount of criticism I can't quite believe it. I'd happily watch a film of his a month if it meant Seltzer and Friedberg had to stop making theirs. And if this doesn't win the visual effects Oscar, I will have to buy yet another hat to eat.

1. Atonement

I didn't catch the ceremony, but I believe it was at the 1981 Oscars that Chariots of Fire producer David Puttnam proudly proclaimed that "The British are coming!" Unfortunately, his prediction didn't really come true; since the success of his film, there hasn't been a single purely British Best Picture winner. But Atonement might be about to change all that. It has been gathering momentum, praise and plaudits all over the world, and I'd be surprised if it didn't get a nomination at the very least. And the reason why it deserves all these things is because it really is an excellent film. Of course the impeccable performances, beautiful cinematography, and artful direction are absolutely crucial in its success, but I think it's as a combination of all these things that the film should be considered. It's just an extraordinarily strong piece of storytelling, with intriguing characters and plenty to say on the intricacies of life. Atonement is my pick for the best film of 2007, and I wish it a great deal of good fortune in the months to come. It deserves every bit of it.


These lists are only my opinion. However, I hope they provide a bit more insight into the reasoning behind some of my reviews, and I hope you consider them a decent read. Please use the FilmJudge Blog (link below) to add your comments, or even to put up your own lists. Here's looking forward to 2008.

© David Mercier
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