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Film & BooksIssue: Taurus 08

The Best Films of 2007

fc_cover_ma08_133April and May are notoriously bad months to go to the movies. The Academy Award hopefuls of 2008 won't be released until the fall, and the summer blockbusters won't be out for a few months. So what is a film reviewer to do when all the movies in the theaters are lame? This reviewer is going to suggest that you catch up on the best movies of 2007!

Thankfully, Film Comment, the Film Society of Lincoln Center's renowned cinematic journal, has published their extended readers' poll list of the top 50 films of 2007. There are films on the list that I haven't seen yet, so I can't vouch for them all. However, of the films on the list that I have seen, my favorites are:

Michael Clayton

It is my opinion that "Michael Clayton" was the best film of 2007. The screenplay was extremely good, the characters were well developed, the acting was superb, and the subject matter was timely. Is there a single one of us that hasn't betrayed our own integrity to please others or to get ahead? I found this story to be a very profound one.

Ratatouille

Even if you don’t have kids, see “Ratatouille,” the latest animated film from Pixar. Totally entertaining and visually transporting, this movie is a winning combination of fantastic writing and flawless animation. If you do have kids, all of you will be transfixed.

Into the Wild

After seeing this film, I cried for a week, literally. Not because this true story was so tragic, but because the main character, ChrisMcCandless, reminded me of myself and many of my friends from college. His utopian vision of "how things should be" and the crushing reality of "how things really are" broke his heart and sent him on a journey to find peace. Perhaps this a coming of age story about those unique characters in the world who cannot quite make it over that hump.

 

by Ann JandaSagittarius

Film & Books Archives (total entries: 36)

Aquarius 10

Burma Chronicles

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Aries 08

Three Cups of Tea

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Cancer 10

A Few Good Reads

Now that school is out and summer is here, I cannot wait to relax in the sunshine and enjoy a few good reads. Here is my summer list:

Sagittarius 09

Wild Chickens and Petty Tyrants

This witty, accessible, and concise book will raise the mindfulness of the most stressed out person in mere seconds.

Virgo 09 - The Climate Change Issue

Julie & Julia

Meryl Streep is absolutely mesmerizing in Nora Ephron’s film, Julie & Julia. I was blissfully swept away by her portrayal of Julia Child and the story of her supportive and adoring husband, Paul Child, played by Stanley Tucci.

Taurus 09 - The Garden Issue

Edible Green Mountains

My new favorite food magazine is Edible Green Mountains. Filled with beautiful images and interesting articles about local Vermont growers, retailers, chefs, and food artisans, Edible Green Mountains is a feast for the eyes with plenty of food for thought!

Pisces 2009 - The Movie Issue

Frozen River

A struggling, single mother of two has only one wish for Christmas – to move her family out of a broken-down trailer and into a new double-wide.

Aquarius 09 - The Change Issue

WALL-E

Adorable, funny, and eerily post-apocalyptic, WALL-E is, in short, brilliant, and if you haven’t seen it yet, you must rent this fabulous film made by the Pixar division of Disney.

Capricorn 08 - The Career Issue

Dispatches from the Edge

Though Anderson Cooper has reported on many natural and political disasters across the globe, his response to Hurricane Katrina is what made him famous.

Sagittarius 08 & Honest Self Expression

Rachel Getting Married

Like real life-families who have a member struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, the focus of “Rachel Getting Married” isn’t on Rachel, even though it should be. It is on her narcissistic sister, Kym, who is out of rehab for the weekend to attend Rachel’s wedding.