Best Films of 2007
The following choices are based on 124 films I screened in a theater in 2007. Still there are some titles that held a strong interest for me but I didn't get to screen, like "Lars and the Good Girl", "Margot at the Wedding", "In the Valley of Elah" and "Control". And then there are titles on DVD that I’ve screened that make up what I didn't see in the theater. (And I'll save television programs and performances for the end of the season.) In general, it seems a lot of the quality films this year were taken from well-regarded source material and little written directly for the screen. Not sure what that’s saying except that perhaps I better make more time for reading. 
There Will Be Blood
Paul Thomas Anderson skillfully oversees the acting, cinematography, and music to give a stunning look at an oilman's greed gone out of control in Southern California at the beginning of the 20th century. It's particularly heightened when contrasted with bible preaching and the emotional bonds of fathers and sons. Every shot is carefully thought out, the music enhances each plot point, and Daniel Day-Lewis has created a new face of evil in epic proportions.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
I was initially skeptical to attend the tale of Sweeney Todd, having seen numerous stage productions of the amazing Stephen Sondheim musical, but was also curious as to how director Tim Burton might pull off material that seemed appropriate for his style. The choices made to tailor the material from one medium to the other suit it perfectly. Eliminating songs sung by the chorus helped a lot. And the dark look of London is the perfect backdrop for a barber seeking revenge and serving up pies with his murdered victims. (Quite the opposite of the sweet tarts served up in this year's confection Waitress.) Though Johnny Depp's voice occasionally sounds a bit thin, particularly when reaching for the high notes, his acting makes up for any shortness of breadth. Nothing's going to harm you in this successful production.
No Country for Old Men
There is yet more bloodshed in Joel and Ethan Coen well-crafted adaptation of the Cormac McCarthy novel. The Coen’s have found the perfect source material to match their style and sensibility. Their pitch perfect deliberate pacing is involving and adds appropriate tension, particularly when comparing the consequences of moral choices and fate. Lots of great performances here but who can forget Javier Bardem as a professional hit man with a page boy hairdo wielding a stun gun and carrying a tank of compressed air?
3:10 to Yuma
James Mangold’s remake of the 1957 classic based on a short story by Elmore Leonard hits the mark with one of the best shoot-‘em-up action flicks of the year. Thoughtful performances by Christian Bale, as the rancher who hopes to earn a reward for escorting an outlaw (Russell Crowe) to meet the train to Yuma are nicely contrasted with gang member Ben Foster who memorably plays his part with psychopathic gusto. Smart direction, stunning cinematography, lots of subtext and character connections that never miss their mark elevate an otherwise standard cowboy movie and squarely hit a bull’s-eye.
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (Le Scaphandre et le papillon) 
Daring in that it's mostly filmed from the perspective of Elle editor Jean-Dominique Bauby who suffered a stroke and lives with "locked-in syndrome" (paralysis affecting most of his body except his left eye) we get a vision of what it may have been like for Bauby to see and hear. The contortions of actor Mathieu Amalric's body are not easy to see nor probably easy to maintain. Julian Schnabel's bio-pic celebrates the human spirit by communicating the importance of connecting no matter how large the odds.
Into the Wild*
Emile Hirsch embodies the spirit of Christopher McCandless in Sean Penn's thoughtful portrait of the idealistic 20-year-old who rejected the materialism he was taught to respect. The title suggests going somewhere savage but it also shows us the mind of a young man that is alternately rebellious and a free spirit happily living an idealistic lifestyle. Penn's direction is ambitious showing vast landscapes from around the country and up to Alaska mirroring the beauty of McCandless' intentions and the extent that he's willing to go to achieve it. The nonlinear structure of the story pits his solitude against a variety of people he meets, ultimately realizing too late that it's the connections we make that are truly valuable.
The Savages
The scars of bad parenting and damaged childhoods are gently revealed when Jon and Wendy Savage need to arrange for their father to be admitted into a nursing home. Director Tamara Jenkins’ script is the perfect combination of wit and perception and is kicked up a notch with nuanced performances by Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman as the siblings.
Across the Universe*
Julie Taymor's film uses songs by The Beatles to create a simple love story but makes up for anything lacking with lots of great singing, visual splendor and heartfelt entertainment. Jim Sturgess and Evan Rachel Wood are the romantic couple that we follow on a journey through a mixture of psychedelia, war protesting and love, love, love.
Paprika
An anime treat bursting with color that blurs the lines between reality and dreams. That's because someone has stolen a dream machine and is playing with the lives of others. It's science against nature, with psychological twists that keep you glued to the screen. And did I mention the colors? Leave the kids home for this one.
Away from Her* 
Alzheimer’s is given sensitive treatment in Sarah Polley’s directing debut. The simplicity of her presentation accents the way the disease can suddenly intrude on your life without warning. Involving performances are headed by Julie Christie who portrays a multitude of expressions including confusion, love, recognition and detachment.
Other favorites:
Jindabyne*
Once*
La Vie en Rose*
SiCKO*
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
I'm Not There
Red Road*
The Host (AKA Gwoemul) 괴물
*See full reviews on this site
