“Ten More Movies” is a series of posts to bring attention to my ten favorite movies of the year that either weren’t considered “Best Picture material” or weren’t big enough sellers to be in the Top Grossers. These are movies that excel at entertaining people more than they excel at having brilliant scripts, beautiful cinematography, tear-jarring performances, or the ability to put a number on the end of the title – though they may have pieces of those elements. These are the ten movies I think you should see that statistics say you might’ve missed, year by year.

2007

For my breakdown on the Top Grossers of 2007, go here.
For Doug’s breakdown on the Best Picture nominees of 2007, go here.

View counts are accurate to the date of posting.

10. Shoot Em Up

Times I saw it in theaters: 2 — Times I’ve watched it on DVD: 1

In many ways, it’s completely fair to say Shoot Em Up is the stupidest movie that came out the entire year, but just like Snakes on a Plane from 2006, it knows exactly what its purpose is. The entire movie is a ninety minute action scene with just a strand of something resembling a story to push from one scene to the next. Every scene in this movie is unrealistic enough to make you believe The Matrix might’ve been a documentary, but that’s what makes it so much fun. Clive Owen is a badass, Monica Belluci is incredibly attractive, and Paul Giamatti is insane. The absolute absurdity of trying to figure how many different ways they can find to use guns is hilarious.

9. Knocked Up

Times I saw it in theaters: 2 — Times I’ve watched it on DVD: 3

I loved The 40 Year-Old Virgin, and Knocked Up felt like more of the same but with a much more relatable lead character thanks to Seth Rogen’s mid-20’s age range. Just like it’s Apatow-ian predecessor, it’s a unique mix of the crudest, vilest jokes you’ve ever heard and a surprising amount of heart when you get to its core. Apatow’s entire crew consistently spews out some of the funniest, foul-mouthed garbage I’ve ever heard for two hours and it kept me laughing almost the entire time.

8. The Bourne Ultimatum

Times I saw it in theaters: 2 — Times I’ve watched it on DVD: 3

Now, I give you the only threequel that was good enough to be included on this list. I love the Bourne series, and in a summer filled with subpar threequels (Spider-Man, Shrek, Ocean’s, Pirates, etc.), The Bourne Ultimatum was the lone beacon of improved quality. If you don’t like the series, I doubt it will change your tone, but if you do, it’s arguable that this is the best entry by a decent margin. It looks great, it’s got a solid story, and the acting is fitting.

7. Into the Wild

Times I saw it in theaters: 0 — Times I’ve watched it on DVD: 2

Any movie that can make me consider selling all my possessions to simply wander the earth is a movie worth mentioning. Sure, that consideration might be immediately shot down by the realization that I love my possessions and don’t actually enjoy being outdoors that much, but it’s the thought that counts. Into the Wild looks incredible, has a genuinely amazing story, and is very, very well acted. I’m actually not sure how it didn’t get a Best Picture nod.

6. Superbad

Times I saw it in theaters: 3 — Times I’ve watched the DVD: 2

Take everything I said about the humor from Knocked Up and double it and you basically end up with Superbad. I had to see it twice opening weekend just because I felt like I missed half the jokes because everyone in the theater was laughing SO loudly (myself included) at the midnight release. As it turned out, I had missed just about half of the jokes and there were actually twice as many laughs as I needed to be laughing from beginning to end. It’s a crude comedy masterpiece.

5. Lars and the Real Girl

Times I saw it in theaters: 0 — Times I’ve watched it on DVD: 2

The cinematography of Lars and the Real Girl is a little too simple with a gross far too small for the Academy to acknowledge it with a Best Picture nomination, but after seeing it a second time tonight, I think I’m in love. The story about an awkward man who believes a sex-doll is his girlfriend (much cleaner than that makes it sound) is hilariously bizarre and exactly my style of humor. The writing is great and I Ryan Gosling’s performance might be the third best of the year. I’d take this over Juno in a heartbeat.

4. Grindhouse

Times I saw it in theaters: 2 — Times I’ve watched it on DVD: 3

Long before Oscar season, even before the Summer of the Sequels, there was Grindhouse. Trying to replicate 1970’s slasher films, Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino teamed up to give us some of the year’s single most exciting moments on the big screen (provided you were one of the 14 total people that saw it in theaters). Planet Terror is nonstop action with plenty of gross-out scenes thrown in for good measure, and the last thirty minutes of Death Proof might be the greatest chase scene I’ve ever watched. If you can stomach the gore, it’s a must-see.

3. Stardust

Times I saw it in theaters: 4 — Times I’ve watched it on DVD: 5

The first time I saw Stardust, I went in with no expectations whatsoever, and I was blown away. Admittedly, I have a huge soft spot for fantasy movies, but this was something else. It had unique characters, a very fun plot with just the right touch of magic, and a love story that could make even Saruman wish he had a special someone. It’s one of those movies that leaves me with a feeling of elation every time I finish watching it.

2. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Times I saw it in theaters: 2 — Times I’ve watched it on DVD: 6

Sweeney Todd is another movie I think should’ve warranted a Best Picture nomination. The cinematography feels like classic Tim Burton, the music is hilariously twisted, and everyone fits their roles to a T. The ending is a huge downer, but everything else about it is so great, I just don’t care. For my Top 5 Scenes list, go here.

1. Once

Times I saw it in theaters: 0 — Times I’ve watched it on DVD: 4

Beauty in simplicity. That’s the theme of Once. For this one, I’m going to limit myself to saying that if you haven’t seen it, it needs to be the next movie you watch if at all possible. This movie has more heart than any blockbuster or Oscar nominee that came out in 2007.

To close things off, my Top Ten favorite films of the 2007, no limitations:

  1. Once
  2. 300
  3. No Country for Old Men
  4. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
  5. Stardust
  6. Ratatouille
  7. Grindhouse
  8. Lars and the Real Girl
  9. Superbad
  10. Into the Wild
Posted: 23 Sep, 2008 | [15] Comments
Categories: Great , Ten More Movies By: Caleb.