Josh Brolin in the Oscar winning No Country for Old Men
List compiled by Eddie on 22/05/2020
Now well over a decade ago (how time flies!), 2007 delivered one of the best years of cinema for film fans all over the world.
Filled with an eclectic and well-regarded batch of films of all shapes and sizes, 2007 remains to this day one of the great year’s for classic film-making and key career movements for many of its directors and stars.
From dramatic highs to low-brow comedy gold, 2007 had a little something for everyone with this below collation of films showcasing some of the very best of one of the great years of cinema.
Happy reading and happy watching!
Drama (Best of)
Sean Penn’s Into the Wild was a memorable trip to the wilderness
Into the Wild
Directed by: Sean Penn Starring: Emile Hirsch, Vince Vaughan
Sean Penn’s finest moment behind the camera, Into the Wild tells the true story of Christopher McCandless in a heartfelt and lovingly crafted way. With a career best turn from its young star Emile Hirsch and a classic supporting soundtrack from Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder, Into the Wild is a film like no other before or since.
No Country for Old Men
Directed by: The Coen Brothers Starring: Josh Brolin, Tommy Lee Jones
Grabbing the 2008 Best Picture Oscar, No Country for Old Men was a huge success for the Coen Brothers and remains one of their best pieces of work. In adapting Cormac McCarthy’s revered novel, the brotherly director duo created the quintessential modern day western whilst creating iconic screen villain Anton Chigurh in the process.
There Will Be Blood
Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano
Featuring a tour-de-force performance from Daniel Day-Lewis and a career defining supporting turn from a young Paul Dano, There Will Be Blood is famed director Paul Thomas Anderson at his very best.
Brad Pitt in the picturesque Assassination of Jesse James
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Directed by: Andrew Dominik Starring: Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck
A hauntingly beautiful and an at the time criminally underrated piece of filmmaking by Australian director Andrew Dominik, Jesse James is a memorizing work of art that delivered a powerful story brilliantly played out by its two leads Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck.
This is England
Directed by: Shane Meadows Starring: Thomas Turgoose, Stephen Graham
Shane Meadows grand opus, This is England is not only an emotionally powerful drama but an encapsulation of a time and place in England’s history that helped define and shape the nation it is today. Not many films in history have managed to capture a time and place as brilliantly as This is England, especially on such a low-end budget. With an unforgettable turn from Stephen Graham, this is UK cinema at its finest.
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Directed by: Julian Schnabel Starring: Mathieu Amalric, Emmanuelle Seigner
A unique and unforgettable foreign film that deservedly took home a Best Foreign Language Film Oscar, Julian Schnabel’s examination of the true life story of Jean-Dominique Bauby is a simply brilliant experience.
See also – Once, Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, American Gangster, Atonement
Action/Thriller (Best of)
Matt Damon in typical Bourne running mode
The Bourne Ultimatum
Directed by: Paul Greengrass Starring: Matt Damon
Bringing his frenetic handheld trilogy to a fitting close (at the time), Paul Greengrass sent Jason Bourne off into the sunset in a memorable way thanks to the work of his cast and crew and to this day The Bourne Ultimatum remains one of the great action films of the modern era.
Gone Baby Gone
Directed by: Ben Affleck Starring: Casey Affleck, Morgan Freeman
Announcing himself as a director of note, actor/writer Ben Affleck delivered one of the years most talked about films with Gone Baby Gone. A masterful adaptation of the book of the same name, this is a unique and captivating thriller that’s stood the test of time and delivered Casey Affleck a career defining lead role.
Zodiac features an all-star cast at the top of their games
Zodiac
Directed by: David Fincher Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr.
In a career littered with masterpieces of cinema, Zodiac is one of director David Fincher’s very best. Somewhat undervalued upon initial release, particularly by audiences, Zodiac is one of cinema’s most impressive murder mystery thrillers that remains the kingpin of the many Zodiac Killer examinations.
300
Directed By: Zack Snyder Starring: Gerard Butler
While not endeavouring to be a high-end work of art, 300 is a visually captivating and genre-bending experience that brought Frank Miller’s graphic novel to life in genuinely eye-popping fashion. The very definition of popcorn entertainment, 300 was Zack Snyder operating at the peak of his filmmaking powers.
See also – Transformers, Before the Devil Knows Your Dead, 3:10 to Yuma, Shooter
Sci-Fi/Horror (Best of)
Sunshine is a visually dazzling sci-fi experience
Sunshine
Directed by: Danny Boyle Starring: Cillian Murphy, Chris Evans
Much has been said about Sunshine on this blog in the past for good reason, Danny Boyle’s box-office bomb is one of the very best sci-fi horrors ever produced. Marketed wrongly at the time and forgotten about in many instances upon release, Sunshine has slowly but surely found its rightful place amongst the genre giants. Visually dazzling and with filled with a strong emotional core, Sunshine is pure movie magic.
The Mist
Directed by: Frank Darabont Starring: Thomas Jane
Adapting his third Stephen King novel, Frank Darabont didn’t disappoint with his bleak and brilliant horror adaptation. Featuring one of cinemas all-time great finales, The Mist is must-watch stuff, particularly in its home video black and white release.
Southland Tales
Directed by: Richard Kelly Starring: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Sean William Scott
Perhaps a controversial choice in many opinion, Donnie Darko director Richard Kelly’s follow-up to his indie smash is a unique and fever-dream like classic. Worth reconsideration for many that may’ve discounted it upon its disastrous initial run.
See also – The Man from Earth, The Host, Stardust, The Orphanage
Comedy (Best of)
The key trio of Superbad, a genuine comedy classic
Superbad
Directed by: Greg Mottola Starring: Jonah Hill, Michael Cera
The very best teen comedy/coming of age riot of the 2000’s, Superbad is an endearing classic that birthed iconic cinematic figure McLovin into the world.
Knocked Up
Directed by: Judd Apatow Starring: Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl
Making a star out of its leading man Seth Rogen, Knocked Up may revel in its low-brow humour but it also has a big beating heart at its core making it a worthy comedy classic and the best work of its director Judd Apatow.
Hot Fuzz
Directed by: Edgar Wright Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost
After the success of Shaun of the Dead the pressure was on director Edgar Wright and his star duo Nick Frost and Simon Pegg to deliver the comedy goods again and boy did they come to the party. A fantastic mix of comedy and in its later stages action gold, Hot Fuzz is arguably the peak of the trio’s cinematic efforts.
Hot Fuzz provided action and laughs in equal measure
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
Directed by: Jake Kasdan Starring: John C. Reilly
Unfortunately forgotten about in a large portion of cinema circles, Walk Hard’s riff of the music genre and in particular Walk the Line formula makes for a laugh a minute experience with more jokes that hit that most comedies could only dream of landing. With a brilliantly realised turn from its leading man John C. Reilly and a killer soundtrack of original songs, Walk Hard is a hidden gem of the 2000’s.
Hot Rod
Directed by: Akiva Schaffer Starring: Andy Samberg, Danny McBride
Well and truly a cult hit in today’s climate, Lonely Island’s foray into the big screen wasn’t a big success upon release but Hot Rod’s reputation is now well-established and rightfully so as this is big dumb fun of the highest order.
Ratatouille
Directed by: Brad Bird and Jan Pinkava Starring: (voices of) Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm
Pixar struck gold once again with their rat-infused and food adoring animated tale. While not the animation heavy hitters best film, it’s not far from it.
See also – Juno, Death at a Funeral
Documentary – (Best Of)
Billy Mitchell, one of cinemas all-time great real life villains
King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters
Directed by: Seth Gordon Starring: Steve Wiebe, Billy Mitchell
A real-life underdog story that will have you pumping your fists in the air and enthralled in equal measure, King of Kong is about as good as documentary’s get thanks to its cast of memorable, likeable and detestable human being subject matters.
See also – In the Shadow of the Moon, Taxi to the Dark Side, No End in Sight
Check out other great years of cinema below –
What are your favourite year’s of cinema? Let me know in the comments below!
Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys) 
Pingback: Great Years of Cinema: 2007 — Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys) – New York FEEDBACK Film Festival·
thank you!
My pleasure Wendi.
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You could make an argument that 2007 had the two best films of the century so far (No Country for Old Men & There Will Be Blood) that then went up against each other for Best Picture. Crazy.
Wow. I hadn’t thought of 2007 as a great year in cinema, but your post has me appreciating the excellent choices from the year!
What a great list. I have so much love for 1999.
A great year! I might have to explore this one in a list 🙂
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Pingback: Great Years of Cinema: 1999 | Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys)·
Incredible year, and time is certainly not doing it any harm. I’ve watched several of these fairly recently – from the big critic darlings to the comedies – and if anything they’re all improving with age.
I still remember seeing so many of these films at the cinema, it was just a year were you felt pretty darn spoilt ha.
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