The best

Films I saw in 2007
1. Lives of others
The first movie I saw, only two days into the new year was indeed the best. The actors’ performances were deep and subtle and the story was archetypical, strong and moving. The ending was probably the best ending this story could ever have.
2. Ratatouille
Having gone to see this movie with almost zero expectations (mostly due to its entirely uninspired trailer) I was incredibly pleasantly surprised. The story of the rat that can cook, is again an inspired modern tale of the underdog and the importance of being different and believing in oneself. Pixar are officially the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen’s of the 21st century.
3. Paris je t’aime
18 short stories set in Paris seemed like an extremely self-indulgent concept that I thought I might be better off passing. Obviously some were better than others but with the gems of Tom Tykwer and Alexander Payne, not to mention Feist’s fantastic song in the closing credits this movie was one of the best of last year.
4. Notes on a scandal
The story behind this movie is interesting enough: the solitude, the neediness that turns people into cannibalistic predators. But it is the performances of the two lead actresses that set this movie off the ground, their performances that are so uniquely equivalent to each other’s.
5. Atonement
Ian McEwan’s novel is one of my favourite books and I was deeply concerned of how the movie would be. The most difficult thing of the novel is the constant change of point of view, and the secrets that survive until the very end. The movie was beautiful and tender and captures the feeling of the book very well.
6. Ne dis a personne
The French cannot do thrillers very well, I think we can all agree with that. But this movie, based on an American novel was exceptional for its fast pace, its tight storyline, its good acting and the romantic spirit that underlies the entire movie.
7. I do: how to get married to stay single
French coming of age romantic comedy about a forty-year old adolescent who still relies on his mother and sisters to wash his clothes. Until he meets Charlotte Gainsbourg who subconsciously reverses all his fears. Utterly enjoyable guilty pleasure to be shared with female friends only (kisses to d/a).
8. Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy
Because Jack Sparrow is the best fictional character of the decade and Johnny Depp is the only actor who could deal with him the way he did. The concept of pirates as the last of the freedom-loving, law-non-abiding creatures of last century is truly unique. Surely the love story between William and Elizabeth is sweet enough but it the tragedy of Davy Jones and Calypso that touches my heart.
9. The Departed
Martin Scorsese’s well-deserved Oscar was a good movie, surely but I am too hooked on the original ‘Infernal affairs’. But it is Scorsese after all and Di Caprio plays well and the story is great, so I have to admit that I like.

P.S. This is obviously not all I wanted to say for 2007 but it the best I could do before Christmas. Happy Christmas to all, and I'll be back soon!