by Christine Fugate

 

I haven't seen everything out there, but when the babysitter and budget allow I head to the movies. Here are my favorites of 2007.  A good year for documentaries, foreign films and even a Disney flick or two.

 

1.    The Lives of Others (Das Leben der Anderen)
I loved this German movie starring sexy Sebastian Koch. An intelligent film with great characters that made me forget all about my broken dishwasher and ten loads of laundry waiting for me at home.

2.    Knocked Up
Loved this comedy about the unexpected pregnancy. (Hello, my life!). I laughed so hard I almost fell out of my chair. Leslie Mann steals the show as the sister/housewife who doesn’t let her husband get away with crap.

 

 

3.    Rescue Dawn
Christian Bale, Christian Bale, Christian Bale. A fascinating story about the triumph of the human spirit.  Saw the documentary years ago, loved seeing the feature film.

4.    Into the Wild
Sean Penn’s meditation on the true man vs. wild is truly brilliant and disturbing. For me, the movie was about how we as parents can mess up our kids and send them ‘into the wild’ with out any intention to do so.

 

 

 

 

5.    No End in Sight
A well-done documentary about the beginning of the war in Iraq.  Charles Ferguson, the director, had incredible access to political insiders. The thing that made me sad is how few people saw this film.

 

 

 

 

6.    Charlie Wilson’s War
I am a sucker for a true story told well with fabulous actors. Philip Seymour Hoffman steals the show as the fat grumpy CIA agent.  Julia Roberts is gorgeous (her make-up is divine) and thin (even though she was pregnant) as a Texas millionaire maven. And Tom Hanks rocks the House as Rep. Charlie Wilson who helped kick the Russians out of Afghanistan.

 

 

7.    Ratatouille
As someone who cooks daily, I loved this movie about a little rat that loves sauces. A couple of years ago, I met one of the producers at the Sundance Producers Conference. When he told me it was about a rat who cooks, I was skeptical. Now, I am ready for Ratatouille Part Two. Catatouille anyone?

 

 

8.    In the Shadow of the Moon
Another contribution by Ron Howard to the Moon film genre, the never-before-seen footage of the moon in this film is mind-blowing. I loved Apollo 13, but this movie made me feel as if I was practically an astronaut.

 

 

9.    The Black Book
This movie allowed me to indulge in my should-have-been-a-spy fantasy. Again Sebastian Koch lights up the screen and reminds me of Europe. Panned as melodramatic, I ate this movie up like a hot French baguette slathered in Brie.

 

 10.     Enchanted

This Disney film that spoofs itself cracked me up!  Amy Adams is downright genius as a Disney princess who finds herself in the middle of mean Manhattan. The scene of rats and cockroaches cleaning the dirty man’s apartment will stay with me as long as I can remember.

Close Runner Ups

Sicko, a painful but good film as Michael Moore explores the health care system and its many failings. In Moore’s attempt to appeal to a larger audience though, his message was weakened. Liked the political message of No Country for Old Men but did not enjoy watching it. Too violent and depressing like many of the popular films out today. Violence is not entertaining. Cockroaches cleaning dishes, now that’s fun.

 

What were your favorite flicks of 2007?