2007 is half over; where did all that time go? There have been some good, and some downright tragic, films released so far this year. We’ll take a look at the first half of 2007, the good, the bad, the overrated, and a few surprises as well. Join us, won’t you…
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Death at a Funeral – In a year filled with big budget star-packed comedies it’s this small British farce that takes home the award for best comedy of the year (so far). Filled with terrific performances from an ensemble cast which includes Alan Tudyk, Peter Dinklage, Matthew Macfayden, and Keeley Hawes, it’s a joy from beginning to end. A smart comedy (hear that Hollywood!) from the opening credits to the final joke, this is one you shouldn’t miss. It’s release date was pushed back so it wouldn’t be lost in the big budget summer fare. (full review pending release – 8/17)
Freedom Writers – When it was released in early January I called Freedom Writers the first great film of the year, and it was. A deeply moving tale inspired by the life of a real teacher (played here by Hilary Swank) trying to make a difference in the lives of her students (played with distinction by April L. Hernandez, Jason Finn, Hunter Parrish, Mario, Jacklyn Ngan, Vanetta Smith, Kristin Herrera, and Deance Wyatt) who are the real stars of the film. Simply put, one of the year’s best. Now available on DVD. (read the full review)
Ocean’s Thirteen – In a year of ‘three-quels” this one stood tall over all the rest. The gang returns (minus Julia Roberts and Catherine Zeta Jones) for some revenge against a casino owner (Al Pacino) who hurt one of their own. A great mix of the formulas that made both the previous two films work, and, oh baby, it is just so damn cool! (read the full review)
TMNT – I went into this film expecting to hate every moment of it, but unlike other mediocre to disastrous adaptations (see below) this one gets the characters right! Returning to the original look and style of the Eastman and Laird comic, the tale of four kick-ass ninja turtles is the best comic book film since Sin City (read that review). A complete success in look and style, and one hell of a good time. (read the full review)
Waitress – This dark comedy and bittersweet love story about pregnancy, adultery, and pies, is a blend of terrific writing and strong performances (Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion, Andy Griffith, Cheryl Hines, Eddie Jemison) that will make you smile and leave you hungry for more. The last film from Adrienne Shelly (who also stars) shows us just how good independent films can be. (read the full review)
Georgia Rule – Here’s a real surprise. I had little hope for what looked like your average chick flick, but I went in with an open mind and what I found was an involving and well-handled emotional tale of some very dicey subject matter: the possible sexual abuse and it’s complex consequences on a young woman (Lindsey Lohan, who shines in the role). Much more honest and hard look at the subject matter than last year’s thrill-seeking entrants into the same genre (The Night Listener, The Quiet). I may be in the minority here, but with strong leading performances from all three leading ladies (Felicity Huffman, Jane Fonda, and, yes, Lindsay Lohan) and a script centered around a vulnerable compulsive liar that makes you question everything you learn, makes for some intriguing storytelling. It’s far from a great film, but it does deliver much more than I had anticipated going in. (read the full review)
Hot Fuzz – Did the best action flick of the summer come out in April? Maybe. This tongue-in-cheek look at action flicks from the folks who brought you Shaun of the Dead is a bloody good time. Simon Pegg is terrific as the supercop sent to the sleepy town of Sandburg, and Nick Frost provides some great comic sidekick moments as the annoying son of the local Chief of Police (Jim Broadbent). Any fan of the action genre should find quite a bit to enjoy in this film that respects and pokes fun at the genre. (read the full review)
Nancy Drew – As teen detectives go this Nancy (Emma Roberts) isn’t as good as Veronica Mars but the film provides some nice light-hearted campy fun mixed with the unsolved murder of an actress years before. Good fun the whole family can enjoy, and surprisingly engaging for such light-hearted fluff. (read the full review)
Once – A very fine independent film about two people coming together at the right times in their lives and giving each other what they need. Filled with good music, two terrific leading performances (Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová), the film is a love story, though not a romantic one (much like Lost in Translation – read that review). My only complaint with the film is the astoundingly horrific and amateurish camera work that jars the viewer out of the film at times and provides a near constant distraction from the story. Even with such an issue the film is still remarkable and quite lovely. (read December’s full review)
Sicko – Michael Moore’s new documentary about the state of the American healthcare system is one I’d urge all people to see. Though not as good as Bowling for Columbine the film is a detailed look at some of horrors and flaws inherent in the health insurance industry and an enlightening look at the comparisons to socialized medicine in several other countries including Great Britain and France. (read the full review)
*NOTE – I’m not saying these are bad films (in fact four of the five received slightly positive reviews). These films received more attention than other more deserving films, received a little too much praise, or failed to live up the hype that surrounded them. I expected more from each of them.
300 – The adaptation of Frank Miller’s 300 made a ton of cash, but although it has an unique visual style it comes silly and corny at times. The villains range from unimportant to laughable, though the film does have some nice battle scenes. Though many loved the film, I found it lacking and a poor substitute for better recent films like Gladiator, Braveheart, and Two Towers. (read the full review)
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer – Many fans and critics gave this one a pass simply for not being the craptastic disaster the first film was. While I applaud the improvement this sequel still struggles with acting, story elements, and character; at best it’s a mixed bag. (read the full review)
Grindhouse – There are few films that opened so far this year with more hype behind them than Grindhouse (don’t worry we will get to those others later on in the list). The double feature from directors Quentin Tarrantino and Robert Rodriguez done in the style of old 70’s grindhouse films have their moments (mostly in the trailers between the two features) but don’t come close to living up to the hype. Although both a passable films, neither is all that memorable as the enterprise suffers from a tragic flaw – in recreating two average grindhouse style films you end up with two average grindhouse films, both of which would have been helped by separate releases. (read the full review)
Knocked Up – Audiences went ga-ga for this comedy about a slob (Seth Rogan) and a hottie (Katherine Heigl). Although the film has some nice moments and good acting overall I found it to be slightly above average, with many of the laughs being quite predictable; it was also little too long for a summer comedy. Even though I would give the film a thumbs up, I wasn’t as entraced as others, and felt it lacked the heart of director Judd Apatow’s previous film The 40 Year Old Virgin. (for a different perspective read Ian’s review)
Spider-Man 3 – After giving us one of the best comic book movies in Spider-Man 2 Sam Raimi and co. take a couple steps backward with the overlong and overreaching third, and least, entrant of the franchise. The alien symbiote, Gwen Stacy, the Sandman, Harry Osborne, and more storylines than you can count are all thrown into a blender and none is given the attention it deserves. (read the full review)
The Ex – How does a film which stars Zack Braff, Amanda Peet and Jason Bateman suck this bad? A total waste of talent as the characters are put through ridiculous and painful (for the audience) scenes of Bateman’s character putting Braff through hell. With few laughs and no surprises there’s nothing here to justify a major motion picture. (read the full review)
Ghost Rider – Nicholas Cage makes his first of two appearances in this category in the floundering disaster of a comic adaptation known as Ghost Rider. The film never finds a balance or tone and struggles through bad comedy, to a passion-less love story, to a pedestrian horror flick, and a pretty average action movie. Yeah, the flaming skull looks good, but that’s about all that does. (read the full review)
Next – Speaking of bad Nicholas Cage films from this year here’s one based on a short story by Phillip K. Dick about a guy who can see two-minutes into the future and uses the ability to hit on a beautiful woman and help the FBI find terrorists, who for some reason know about him too. Full of plot holes and insane logic, but hey what would a most disappointing list be without an appearance from Jessica Biel who proves again her innate ability to seek out and co-star in crappy film after crappy film. (read the full review)
Pathfinder – The film wants to be Conan but comes much closer to The Beastmaster. It’s got a great look, and a shirtless Karl Urban for you gals out there, but it makes less and less sense as it drones on, riddled with inconsistancies. Yeah, you get some nice hack-and-slash action scenes, and the acting is passable (barely) but it just never comes together. (read the full review)
Transformers – Michael Bay’s bastardized version of the popular television show and toy line is the biggest disappointment of the year so far. The Transformers themselves, whether in vehicle or robot form, are unrecognizable. Characters are given the wrong names, and the plot makes absolutely no sense. It also doesn’t help that the robots in disguise are made to be little more than special effects in their own movie. What went wrong? From the looks of it, nearly everything. (read the full review)
Because I Said So – Not to be outdone by Mr. Cage, here’s the first of two horrendously awful movies starring Mandy Moore. This dreadful film about a luckless young girl (Moore) unable to find love is a big screen Lifetime Movie for Women, without commercials. AGGGHHHH! An insipid piece of filmmaking we’d all be better off to forget. (read the full review)
The Condemned -What’s worse than an insipid love story with Mandy Moore? How about an unwatchable film featuring B-movie actors and starring a former WWE Superstar! The “plot” which rips-off many better films including The Running Man involves prisoners trying to kill each other for their freedom on an island, all for ratings. The result is a film which revels in its amateurish nature and juvenile attitude; The Condemned is condemned to be one of the worst films ever made. (read the full review)
License to Wed – Moore’s second bad romantic comedy is slightly better than the first (though, it’s kind of like comparing rotten apples to rotten pears). This one involves a ridiculous premise of a preacher (Robin Williams) who tries to break-up a couple before their wedding and ends with the pair, who almost split for good, THANKING HIM! What did film do to you Mandy Moore to treat it in such a despicable manner this year? (I’m not the only one who hated it, read December’s review)
Norbit – One long fat joke, Norbit is also known as the film which cost Eddie Murphy an Oscar. A tired and unfunny comedy that wears out its welcome before the open credits end. (read the full review)
The Reaping – Although all five of these films are horrific, this is the only one to call itself a horror film. A completely dismissible film about a debunker of religious phenomena (Hilary Swank) coming into contact with evil plagues and the like. Never suspenseful, interesting, or thrilling, the film makes almost no impression at all except the audience’s need to shift in their chairs and yawn. Not ridiculous or campy enough to be funny, it’s just dreary and downright dumb. (read the full review)