Of all the movies I've seen and scraped up during 2007, here are the ones that deserve an award not presented at the Oscars, SAG, or Golden Globes. Just as the awards are a type of self-recognition (more on that on my review of the Academy Awards), I feel these films deserve an award that describes each of them, as well as how critics and the general public treated these films. That's not to say the general public is wrong or insignificant, but like the first award, sometimes one slips under their radar that deserves second recognition.
Most Over-Looked Film this Year: The Lookout
Early in 2007, well before any Oscar contenders, Joseph Gordon-Levitt proved his acting worth as a teen responsible for a car crash killing two of his friends and handicapping himself with short-term memory loss. He lives with guilt, is misunderstood by his family, and can't cook dinner or flirt. He is exploited by "friends" to help them rob the bank he works as a janitor at. Jeff Daniels avoids cliches (thank God!) as the wise blind roommate. Daniels cliche-dodging is as great an achievement as the unique film itself. Gordon-Levitt manages to never slip in a challenging role, often making the most of not doing anything, a true acting feat. The movie is unique. A robbery and shoot-out take place, but the personal drama of the handicaped is what really takes the center stage, and every actor excells, even those with little-to-no lines. The movie came too early, and aside from Jeff Daniels, stars only very promising new-comers and unknowns. Regrettably, this gave it few connections. While I was a fan of the writer/director, he is a first-time director whose writing is overshadowed by the directors he wrote for and the release date was too early to be competition for the well-knowns at the Oscars. If there is one movie you didn't hear about that you should see, it is
The Lookout. Easily, almost automaticly, it makes the top 10 list for my year.
Most Over-Rated Movie of the Year: Eastern Promises
Please don't get me wrong. This is a good movie, only it isn't the movie critics said it would be. It is surprisingly uneventful and can't decide whether it is to be a movie about a woman wanting to protect a child from Russian mobsters or a movie about a mob boss and his two sons, neither of which is fit to follow in the family business. Most critics were quick to claim it was a Russian
Godfather, only it turned out to be anything but.
Godfather was about relating to evil because of family loyalty, succession, and one man's trip down that path. Messages about business and treatment to women and loyalty fall into place. Here, I only see the business side. The plot is there, but I'm left asking for more, a better ending, and greater change in the characters. This is a good movie, but far, far, far from
the Godfather. Best Character and Best Villian: Javier Bardem as Anton Chirugh in No Country for Old Men
The movie opens, after a narrative from Tommy Lee Jones about facing true evil, with Chirugh in cuffs, sliding his hands from behind him to in front, and then strangling an officer without a saying a word. He kills people over coin-flips and the whole movie follows those that stand in his sights and Chirugh's efficiency and cold-blooded, steady pace in going at them. Easily, the movie could have just been him going about his business.
Best Hero: Gerald Butler as King Leonidas in 300
Rarely do we get such characters, that without patronizing or forced speeches, can relay being a hero. The follows a sacrifice mission to give Sparta and Greece time to rally against the Persians. The focus on personal sacrifice, fearless to death and combat, and a sense of great leadership makes Butler immortalized in this character.
Most Lovable: Juno
Roger Ebert may have described this movie best when he said "you will just want to hug the characters." Ellen Page comes off as a young, new generation Audrey Hepburn as the pregnant teen Juno, who matures with things beyond her maturity. Looking at her, we see a child smarter than she looks, learning from mistakes with good intentions. In a movie that has the star attend an abortion clinic when she first finds out, it stays very light and loveable.
Best Cliche Dodge: Jeff Daniels as Lewis in The Lookout
A blind roommate is one of the most over-used themes in movies. Some blind wise guy can see what others don't. Lewis (played to a T by Jeff Daniels) didn't fall into that. It wasn't symbolism, but instead part of a story. He tells the story of how he became blinded, and mentions the moral of how he would still have his sight if he just asked "what am I doing here?" He tells this the only person exploiting Chris (Lewis' roommate) who has any signs of a conscience. While we don't fully know what happens to her character afterwards, it implies she left because of the conscience and story of Lewis. Lewis does this not with sage-like wisdom, but honest story that actually relates to his blindness, instead of being blind for the sake of being blind.
Most Disappointing Line: "Yeepie-Kay-Yay, Mother--" from Live Free or Die Hard
Where's the F word! The line because famous for being roudy, modern cowboy without the manners, matching the divorced husband instead of the typical guy riding off in the distance, creating a new kind of hero. They took out the most characterizing word of the line.
Most Satisfying Line: "Tonight, We Dine In Hell!" from 300
The single line delivered the trailer and all the marketability of the movie.
Compliment to the Industry Award: Transformers
This award I select for the movie that is going to be most entertaining, keeps a broad audience, and will be remembered. Michael Bay did this with Transformers, and kept the flaws to a minimum by knowing what kind of movie he was making and therefore set up a movie that could laugh at itself. Sitting though it, I didn't feel like I was watching a nerd flick or sci-fi epic, but just a fun movie with groundbreaking special effects. Too many movies get the effects, but don't have the attention and writers for the fun jokes and ability to make fun of itself, or loses a director that can make us feel for Optimus Prime's speeches and capture us to root for the soldiers. I was critical because this could be a great movie, but for the price theaters charge and the general direction towards IMAX, surround-stereo sound, and special effects, more movies need the balance that compliments the industry at that time.
Insult to the Industry: Worst Movie of the Year is Captivity
The movie sucks. How badly? I saw this movie with 9 total strangers in the theater. The other 9 got their money back while I stayed so I'd be qualified to give this movie this award. 9 out of 10 people left this movie, and the 10th is giving it this award. I, myself, didn't apply the term "torture porn" to any movie in the Saw or Hostel series, but I do apply it here. It's predictable, no character development, narrow audience with narrower appeal, and memorable in all the ways a movie shouldn't be. The only thing amazing about this movie is that its director once won an Academy Award. It will be referanced in the Red Tie Law under "what not to do!"
Best Action: Live Free or Die Hard
Best Comedy: Superbad
Best Horror: 1408
Best Remake: 3:10 to Yuma
Best Sequel/Prequel Improving Originals: Live Free or Die Hard
Best Sequel/Prequel Ruining Originals: Spider-Man 3
Best Movie Mocking Movies: Shoot 'Em Up
Best Laydown: Queen Elizabeth telling the Spanish in Elizabeth: the Golden Age
Best Speech Before a Battle: "Come and get them!" in 300
Best Impression: Julia Roberts as Joanne Herring in Charlie Wilson's War
Worst Impression: Timothy Olyphant in Hitman.
Most Human Character: Juno in Juno
Least Human Character: Plainview in There Will Be Blood
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The movie was the Spring break blockbuster immortalized in repeated spoofs and parodies, as well as without a doubt, the manliest film of 2007. When you think about it, I doubt there is a better guy movie. It's about men taking on tough childhoods, making mad love to their wives, kicking ass, taking scars, and dying for everything they stand for. For guys, it's the best damn entertainment with teen boy fans, sold like nothing else and did wonders on DVD sales, and the level of successful CGI and glorified, slow-violence, worked in a way that truly captures the comic book into film without the overly loyal, drenched feeling of Sin City.
Westerns are a rarity, and good westerns are fewer still. 3:10 captures thrilling action, a moral commentary, and in the background, a comment on westerns and the turning of the era away from outlaws. While it focuses on a broke rancher escorting a lethal outlaw to the train that will take him to trial, every character involved has a degree of depth, from the cruel bounty hunter, a good-hearted doctor, the rancher's son, and relative's of the outlaw's victims met along the way. Great performances from Christian Bale, Russell Crowe, the underrated Ben Foster, and support from Peter Fonda and Alan Tudyk carry this move from start to finish. 
The best action of 2007 belongs to Bourne. Director Paul Greengrass went so far as to have camera men jump off buildings (suspension cables attached) to capture the hero jumping off buildings into windows. The shakey cam is taken to a new level, but this time taken seriously with well thoughtout chase and action scenes, where even if you aren't fully aware of the Jason Bourne story, you can still appreciate the spy action. The editing and camera work makes it clear who is chasing who over large areas, where they are each heading, and more. The clearer understanding adds to the action, and Greengrass found ways to have us keep up every step of the way. 
In the recent age of trilogies, we haven't gotten many that spark philosophy, fantasy, and horror in their adventures. The Golden Compass blends everything you could want in a fantasy, from the lovable characters and adventure, to turns and wonderment. Yet the harm to the little children sends chills down my spine, while the philosophy arguments still have me thinking.
I'll offer a steak dinner to find more a movie with more lovable characters this year. Juno is the lovable Ellen Page, who decides to try out sex with her best friend, played by Superbad's Michael Cera. Three months later, she's repetatively getting positives on her pregnancy tests. She finds adoptive parents for her newborn while being all too cool about the pregnancy. There isn't a character in this movie you wouldn't want to hug. The turns I can't get into without ruining great parts of the movie, but the relationships are wonderful and have heart like no other movie.
