Top 5 Movies of the Year

5. The Great Debaters- Denzel Washington’s acting has always been in a class all itself. If the star keeps directing at the impressive clip he has, he’ll join the ranks of double threats like Robert Redford and Clint Eastwood faster than you can say Mississippi Masala. A heartwarming directorial follow-up to the ‘02 tearjerker Antwone Fisher, The Great Debaters treks deep into Texas and finds the true story of a debate team coach (Washington) and his three courageous black students, played by Nate Parker, Jurnee Smollett and Denzel Whitaker. With the stench of racial injustice rampant in 1935, the pupils stand up to challenges from the likes of Harvard in various debates. Oscar winner Forest Whitaker plays one of the student’s fathers. Scenes with him and Washington are almost combustible. Still, the moment with future star Smollett articulating on social injustices with every fiber of her soul in front of a crowd of agitated whites proves the most memorable.

4. The Mist- This claustrophobic work of genius from director Frank Darabont and writer Stephen King, though splattered with blood and creepy bugs, is more than just a horror movie. Darabont (Shawshank Redemption and Green Mile) grasps the writer’s essence and fully understands what it takes to make compelling cinema. The Mist’s major players –the heroic father (Thomas Jane), a way-too-logical lawyer (Andre Braugher), one Bible-toting hellion (Marcia Gay Harden)- are quickly established in the supermarket. When doomed souls dare to venture into the mist-smothered parking lot, everyone sees the ghastly things that can happen, but amazingly, they all react differently. Fight or flight… or the Christian right? Once uneasy minutes become helpless hours, shoppers fearing the Apocalypse begin taking sides—and it’s then that the true horror builds in the aisles.

3. Ratatouille- Many things are debatable in this world. Pixar’s storytelling genius is not one of those concepts. Whether the fantasy takes place under the sea (Finding Nemo) or on the racetrack (Cars), the army of animaniacs never ceases to amaze with its cartooning cleverness. This latest is a delightful tale of an out-of-sorts rat named Remy that’s blessed with the cooking skills of Wolfgang… yuck! A cooking rat?! That’s the thing. Rodents and kitchens don’t have the best of history together. But this time, instead of using Raid on the critter, the hapless Linguini decides it’s best to team up with the saffron-loving pest and create culinary magic at one of Paris’ most beloved restaurants. It’s a silly concept, we know, but one perfectly served with a dab of wit, a touch of heart and a couple of really strong pinches of visual majesty.

2. Bourne Ultimatum- We’re sure there was some CGI-aided special effects wizardry happening here, but thankfully, it was never enough to take the viewer to some far off land of make believe populated by Bruce Willis and Tom Cruise. That wasn’t the case with the first or second Bourne installment and it most certainly doesn’t fly here, our third time following economic assassin Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) around the globe as he rids the world of terrorists and pieces together his life’s back story—often in the same flurry of bullets and clenched fists. The martial artistry remains fluid. The car chases are still some of the best the big screen’s ever seen. The smooth dialogue director Paul Greengrass uses to tie it all together with makes this final installment (?) one for the choice position in the DVD collection.

1. Michael Clayton- Big business marches to the sound of dollars and cents and nothing else. The little consumer gets stepped on. Lawsuits ensue. Whoop-tee-doo, right? Wrong, especially when big business (in this case, a multibillion dollar agriculture company selling deadly fertilizer) is defended by someone as callous as Tilda Swinton while the public is represented by a cool-headed George Clooney. This one proves a slam dunk case from the opening credits. The verdict for movie of the year turns wholly into Michael Clayton’s favor once Tom Wilkinson’s award-worthy depiction of a disturbed-but-determined lawyer is presented as Exhibit A. Simply a stunning all-around portrayal of Corporate America messiness and Hollywood’s mastery of it all.

MARGOT AT THE WEDDING

Released- November 16, 2007

Reviewed- November 16, 2007

Rated- B-

Psychiatrist Carl Jung would have had a field day at Margot’s parents’ house. With all the head games and stench of dysfunction about the place, the old Swiss doc could dissertate for hours on how we often pluck and pick at the bad in people, or how big, otherwise-joyous occasions often bring out the worst in family members. Margot (Nicole Kidman, making an incredibly strong bid for a second Oscar nom) is the centerpiece of the familial skirmishing here. She and her son (Zane Pais) are guests to the quiet New England nuptials of her estranged sister (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and unemployed fiancee (a slightly-reserved Jack Black). The siblings’ reunion is sufficient enough for a glass of white wine or two, but the instant things get comfortable, the unstable Margot grows uneasy. Margot is rude (she refers to Black’s character as “completely unattractive”), crude (her yelling at the neighbors stirs an already-brimming pot) and rarely in a good mood (she consistently calls her son names). Margot is a L.L. Bean-wearing, negating imp, and you’ll find repulsing glee in every second Kidman embodies her on the screen. Sadly, Noah Baumbach’s (The Squid and the Whale) examination ends with as many question marks as it begins with. But as is often the case in instances that deal with matters of discontent under one roof, resolution shouldn’t be expected after a single two-hour session at the movie theater. -DW

THE MIST

RELEASED- NOVEMBER 21, 2007

REVIEWED- NOVEMBER 21, 2007

RATED- B+

Stephen King’s been scaring the hell out of us since the mid 70s. He’s done so with all sorts of objects in all kinds of places- creepy hotels, pet cemeteries and deranged book lover’s houses. The Mist is an 80s King novella centering around a group of towns folk stuck at a local grocery store the same time a mysterious fog comes in from the hills. But this isn’t just some fog Al Gore warned us that pollutants would make; this fog is something different, something much more heinous.

This claustrophobic work of genius from director Frank Darabont, though splattered with blood and creepy bugs, is more than just some horror movie. Darabont (Shawshank Redemption and Green Mile, two other King masterstrokes) grasps the writer’s essence and wholly understands what it takes to make compelling cinema. The Mist’s major players –the heroic father (Thomas Jane), a way-too-logical lawyer (Andre Braugher), one Bible-toting hellion (Marcia Gay Harden)- are quickly established in the supermarket. When doomed souls dare to venture into the parking lot, everyone sees the ghastly things that can happen, but amazingly, they all react differently. Fight or flight… or the Christian right. Who knows? But once uneasy minutes become helpless hours, shoppers fearing the Apocalypse begin taking sides—and it’s then that the true horror builds in the aisles.

King and Darabont take stabs at religion, xenophobia and secret military practices between chilling scenes that feel as if they were shot in a single take. Marcia Gay Harden’s preachy Mrs. Carmody probably won’t get the Oscar respect she deserves because of the Academy’s high-art prejudice. Do not let such ignorance stop you, however, from seeing two legends of storytelling share a great tale that will leave you absolutely floored from the first scream up to the jaw-dropping final scene. -DW

DARFUR NOW

Released- November 2, 2007

Reviewed- November 2, 2007

Rated- B+

There are a lot of powerful moments in this film. A particularly memorable one is when activist Adam Sterling asks if people are going to act on the terrible things they see happening in Africa or simply stand by and let nothing get done. Truth be told, that determined young man and the five other brave souls chronicled in this documentary about the travesties in Sudan are acting like heroes we should all stand beside. Darfur Now isn’t a preachy PBS-style documentary, simply timelining the blood-stained history between the government-sponsored Arabs and land-defending Africans; instead, it’s a sort of call-for-arms for today. Of course, uniting the troops and finding answers to the carnage aren’t easy. The stench of bureaucracy stretches from the Motherland to the U.N. to the boardrooms of Chinese oil companies financing the genocide. Still, people from all walks of life –Sterling, a World Food Program employee, an International Criminal Court official, a Sudanese tribal head, a female rebel fighter and actor Don Cheadle in Darfur Now- aren’t giving up the fight. If this movie was meant to be frustrating, mission accomplished. If this project was meant to further question Washington D.C. practices, consider it done. If this movement was meant to stir some sort of grassrooted anger in the local cineplex, organizers are going to need a much bigger petition to sign. -DW

THE GAME PLAN

Released: September 28

Reviewed: October 1

Rated: B+

When football superstar quarterback Joe Kingman (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson), the most eligible bachelor in the NFL, finds Peyton (Madison Pettis) at his door claiming to be his daughter, it’s clear the game has changed. At the most important time of the season and his career, Joe knows this is a distraction and calls his non maternal agent, Stella Peck (Kyra Sedgwick). Stuck with Peyton for a month before her mother, his ex wife, comes back from a humanitarian trip to Africa, Joe must learn how to balance football, parties, appearances and now a child. Peyton isn’t your average 8 year old; she’s observant, witty and on her road to an Oscar for her timely tears and sick spells. Joe’s life goes from carefree to cumbersome with ballet classes, a bejeweler and bedtime stories. Forced to be an active parent at Peyton’s ballet school, Joe begins to enjoy fatherhood and recognize that Peyton is the best thing to ever happen to him. Known to be overly serious, selfish and self centered, everyone begins to notice changes in Joe specifically a teammate Travis Sanders (Morris Chestnut), a proud parent himself, who’s seen and felt Joe’s selfishness on and off the field many times. It isn’t until Peyton has to be rushed to the hospital that Joe realizes his love for Peyton is undying but also learns the tragic secret that she’s been keeping. With Peyton came responsibility, strained social life and vulnerability but also a much needed and humbling lesson for Joe; life isn’t always about fame and fortune but family and friends as well.

America just can’t seem to get enough of the baby left on the doorstep storyline, and Disney only heightens that notion with its new film The Game Plan. I must admit that this film is a crowd pleaser. From the candid sarcasm of Madison Pettis to Monique Vasquez Spanish outbursts to Kyra Sedgwick’s gas, this movie is full of laughs. Director Andy Fickman (She’s The Man) does an excellent job showing the transformation of a serial bachelor to a doting father. - ZS

ILLEGAL TENDER

Released: August 24, 2007

Reviewed: August 24, 2007

Rated: C+

Director Franc Reyes (Empire) knew he needed a solid team for this sophomore effort, and that’s exactly what he got. With John Singleton (Hustle&Flow) holding down the production side, Reyes remixed a classic mob film and came out with a hit. When Millie DeLeon (Wanda De Jesus) loses her husband to the street life, she vows to shield her son Wilson DeLeon, Jr. (Rick Gonzalez) from falling into his father’s footsteps. Little did she know that Wilson would have to step into his father’s shoes to defend the family name. After being spotted for the third time in 20 years by her dead husband’s affiliates, Millie is ready to pack up her two sons in search of a safe place. With Wilson Jr. being a strong-willed and very bright 21-year old college student now, he refuses to leave and demands answers. Fearing this day would come, Millie is forced to leave Wilson Jr. behind (not without leaving him a gun), to protect himself from the assassins hot on her trail. After a botched home invasion ends with Wilson Jr. shooting a man that came to kill his mother, Wilson Jr. decides that enough is enough. Tired of his mother on the run, Wilson Jr. takes the family matters into his own hands. Will he be able to persuade the man who had his father killed to accept a truce? It’s gonna take more than a gentleman’s agreement to end the hunt of his mother and Wilson Jr. knows it. Reyes did a decent job with Illegal Tender. This film is relatable and gut-wrenchingly real. With De Jesus’ Millie, there’s no doubt it’ll take nothing short of her death to breakup her family. Gonzalez again proves that he’s versatile and consistent at the same time. It’s not the best movie I’ve seen but it is refreshing, seeing as it’s a predominantly Latino cast and there’s nothing predictable about it. –ZS

SUPERBAD

Released: August 17, 2007

Reviewed: August 17, 2007

Rated: C+

Though expectations were pretty lofty for this high school-aged laugher, they didn’t seem unattainable. Two likable losers, the foul-mouthed Seth (Jonah Hill) and gentlemanly Evan (Michael Cera), were to give it their hormone-charged all to have sex once before college began, or until their parents realized they’d been subscribing to porn sites with their credit cards—whichever came first. And with Knocked Up masternut Judd Apatow producing, Superbad seemed as can’t-miss as getting some action from the drunk freak at the frat party. Sadly, this one came up super limp. Evan and Seth were as witty as 18-year-old virgins could be –“Nobody’s gotten a handjob in cargoes since Nam”- but the circus surrounding them was simply exhausting. The movie’s essentially about those two (and their geeky, tag-along of a pal, Fogell) using a fake ID to get some alcohol to a hot chick’s graduation party. Yeah, there’s one MILF, two bumbling cops with way too much camera time and, maybe, three side-splitting, politically incorrect jokes, but really it’s just about getting some booze to a damn party. What a bummer. –DW

NO RESERVATIONS

Released: July 27, 2007

Reviewed: July 29, 2007

Rated: B

Master chef Kate Armstrong (Catherine Zeta-Jones) seemingly has the recipe for success – she’s skilled, witty and practically runs Manhattan hotspot 22 Bleecker blindfolded. A self-professed control freak, Kate maintains her personal life much like her kitchen, without advice or interruption. Her perfectionism is put to the test when two people enter the picture, her nine-year-old niece Zoe (Abigail Breslin) and new sous chef Nick Palmer (Aaron Eckhart). Upon meeting the free-spirited Nick, Kate immediately despises him. A rising culinary star himself, Nick sings Pavarotti while working; Kate enjoys the sounds of sizzling stir-fry and itemized orders being called out. Nick loves to make everyone around him laugh; Kate sees everything as a distraction. His informal approach to everyday life and cuisine couldn’t be more polar to hers, yet the magnetism between them is like peanut butter and jelly. Desperate to bridge the grief-filled gap between Zoe and herself, Kate takes her niece somewhere she feels safe—the restaurant’s kitchen. Nick and Zoe build an instant bond with their similar taste in food and jokes. Kate can’t help but gush at the sight of her niece’s smile. Still, she can’t help but believe this is all a ploy by Nick to steal her kitchen either. Forced into overnight parenthood, Kate learns to be ready for the unexpected all the while learning that life is, in fact, a cookbook filled with her own recipes. Director Scott Hicks (Snow Falling on Cedars) does an excellent job with this order. From the screenwriting to the soundtrack, this film is well-balanced. Eckhart shows that he’s a chameleon on the screen. Zeta-Jones masters down-to-earth classic beauty over the stove. Breslin captures our hearts again, further proving there’s only one thing more satisfying than a good meal…. A good movie. –ZS

RATATOUILLE

Released: June 29, 2007

Reviewed: July 26, 2007

Rated: B+

Many things are debatable in this world. Pixar’s storytelling genius is not one of those concepts. Whether the story takes place under the sea (Finding Nemo), in the backyard (A Bug’s Life) or on the racetrack (Cars), the army of animation masterminds never ceases to amaze with its cartooning cleverness. This latest picture is a delightful tale of an out-of-sorts rat named Remy that’s blessed with the cooking skills of Wolfgang… yuck! A cooking rat?! That’s the thing. Rodents and kitchens don’t really have the best of history together. But this time, instead of using Raid on the critter like most humans would, the hapless Linguini decides it’s best to team up with the saffron-loving pest and create some culinary magic at one of Paris’ most beloved restaurants. It’s a silly concept, we know, but one perfectly served with a dab of wit, a touch of heart and a couple of really strong pinches of visual majesty. Ratatouille is like Fuddrucker’s. Sure, you go because the kids love it so much, but truth be told, you’re smiling the whole time there because the food ain’t half bad. -DW

NARC

Released: January 10, 2003
Reviewed: July 11, 2007
Rated: B

The scholarly term is “color semiotics.” It’s the intentional mood-setting based solely on the adding or reducing of a particular hue. Got apprehension and sorrow? Cue the reds. Need excitement or obsession? A splash of yellow should do the trick. This well-paced cop drama is cold and blows tension like a January chill across Lake Erie; varying shades of blue are the only tones that can properly set the atmosphere. A bleak Detroit is the only U.S. metropolis capable of backdropping a world of drug abuse and a cop’s mysterious death. The underrated Ray Liotta and the overly-coifed Jason Patrick are two authorities paired to solve their comrade’s murder. Patrick’s flawed-but-functional character seemingly wants answers more than Liotta’s. But in director Joe Carnahan’s worlds (Ticker, Smokin’ Aces), things don’t always emerge the way you’d expect. Still, by the time the credits roll here, you’ll know that you’ve found an overlooked cinematic treasure—even if there isn’t any gold tinting on the screen to indicate as much. –DW

TRANSFORMERS

Released: July 3, 2007

Reviewed: July 6, 2007

Rated: B

If there’s anybody in Hollywood capable of turning an obtuse, 1980s cartoon world filled with shape-shifting robots into a profitable, relevant cinematic realm today, it’s director Michael Bay. Blessed with the ability to have decent dialogue amidst worlds colliding and freeways exploding, Bay (Bad Boys, Armageddon) knew today’s audience would need more than top-shelf effects to make Transformers work. To help sell the story of feuding alien groups coming to Earth to find their life force, the director entrusted his $150 million bonanza into the capable hands of Shia LaBeouf, a talented 21-year-old who wisecracks when asked and puts on his Tom Hanks acting cap when necessary. Of course, this wouldn’t be a Bay blockbuster without the requisite babe (Megan Fox), bad guy (John Turturro) and unintentional bloopers (too many continuity mishaps to name). But for something 20+ years in the making, the end result is a fantasy world of talking Chevys summer moviegoers will be thoroughly transfixed on for a couple of hours. –DW