Sunset Boulevard: My Top Ten from 2007

Happy New Year all!

I know many of these lists have already come out, but here is my top 10 from 2007 - some are arty "Oscar-worthy" and some are just plain awesome. Here you go!

1. THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM - the last in the Bourne franchise, this is exactly what I want from a blockbuster. Action, suspense, and also surprisingly intelligent with fantastic performances from all.

2. THERE WILL BE BLOOD - aka the Daniel Day-Lewis show. Just straight phenomenal, can't take your eyes away cinema. PT Anderson is a genius, but a nobody compared to Daniel Day-Lewis who is, I really think, the greatest actor of all time.

3. EASTERN PROMISES - another amazing (and violent) movie from video auteur David Cronenberg and another stunning performance from Viggo.

4. 3:10 TO YUMA - okay, I know the end doesn't really make sense, but the movie is still great and so fun to watch. Sometimes movies are best when they're pure escapism, and what better way to escape than plunging yourself into the wild west with two great leads and some really great supporting performances?

5. KNOCKED UP - yes, I liked Knocked Up more than Superbad. It is original, and funny, and very culturally relevant. One of those really rare truly intelligent comedies.

6. MICHAEL CLAYTON - incidentally, this was also written and directed by Tony Gilroy, who wrote the Bourne series - so this is his year. George Clooney gives arguably his best performance, and Tilda Swinton and Tom Wilkenson just can't do anything wrong in my book.

7. CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR - admittedly, I am a huge West Wing fan, and this movie, penned by Aaron Sorkin captures his great political sense of humor. Also, hugely relevant in this day and age - about a badboy senator who basically launched our first war in Afghanistan, arming the Mujahadeen - and speaks to the fact that you never really know the reprecussions of your actions.

8. I'M NOT THERE - I find myself more and more drawn to directors like Todd Haynes who really break the mold and try to find new ways of using and communicating through film. He follows up his Douglas Sirk homage Far From Heaven with this amazing experimental narrative exploring the life (or many personas) of Bob Dylan. Also, Cate Blanchett is the female match to Daniel Day-Lewis - best actress ever. Who knew she would be the one to capture the best Dylan?

9. THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY - this is one to skip if you hate art-house movies, but anyone willing to just sit back and watch should definitely give this a try. Based on the memoir of former french Elle editor whose brain stem disconnected leaving him with "locked-in syndrome" where he was entirely paralyzed except for one eyelid, but his mind was left completely intact. He learned to speak by blinking his eye, and wrote an incredibly moving and beautiful memoir which artist Julian Schnabel turned into an equally beautiful and moving film.

10. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN - okay, I know, everyone else has this at the top and not the bottom of their lists, and truthfully, I idolize the Coen Bros. to an unhealthy degree. I just can't get on the "best movie of the year" train for this one - perhaps because I saw it after it had been so hyped up. Still, Javier Bardem gives a creepy performance as a true sociopath murderer, and stunning vistas make this a sure-fire must-see.

Happy watching, guys, and happy new year!!

You can find all of Alex's Sunset Boulevard columns at gather.com/SunsetBoulevard


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Alex M., Movie Correspondent

Alex is a film school grad working at a production company in Hollywood.

She's been passionate about movies since she knew what they were and always has an opinion (for better or worse).

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