A review of Roger Ebert’s 10 best films for 2007
Here are Roger Ebert’s ten favorite films, along with their rotten tomatoes score and some of my comments:
1) Juno (93%): I saw this one last week and really liked it. Anything over a 90% rating on rottentomatoes.com is a must-see (and anything under 70% is a must-not-see) for me. Plus, it is only showing in select theaters across the USA - and it happened to be playing in Philadelphia, so I had to see it. The kid from Arrested Development is really funny, but mostly I thought the movie was optimistic and inspiring.
2) No Country for Old Men (95%): I saw this before it was released - one of the Ritz theaters in town was showing it before it officially was released. I was really excited to see it because of the great reviews, the Coen brothers directed it, and because it looked interesting. I was a little disappointed - I think because I had built it up so much, but I thought it was pretty good.
3) Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (88%): It is under 90%, but looks good - and now that it is on Ebert’s top ten, I will see it. I haven’t seen it yet.
4) Atonement (84%): I didn’t really want to see this because it doesn’t look that good to me, but I guess with an 84% and on Ebert’s top ten, I will see it. Good one to take the wife to, I guess - a love story.
5) The Kite Runner (63%): 63% sucks, and I don’t want to see this at all - but I probably will because my wife read the book and really wants to see it.
6) Away From Her (94%): This was awesome - I really liked this movie. I saw it right away because of the high score on rottentomatoes.
7) Across the Universe (52%): I’ve never heard of this and it only got 52% - what is this one doing on the list? Ebert says he wants to see it two or three more times. I don’t want to see it at all.
8) La Vie en Rose (74%): This one was pretty good. 74% is that gray area where it could go either way. The movie didn’t seem that interesting to me before I saw it and I liked it better than I thought I would.
9) The Great Debaters (65%): I have never heard of this one either and, based on the RT score, I’d rather not see it. My motto is “watch the best movies first or you may not have a chance to watch them at all.”
10) Into the Wild (82%): It seems kind of cheesy. I read the book and thought it was interesting. 82% isn’t bad - maybe I’ll put it in the netflix queue.
Special Jury Prize) Once (98%!): This movie was great. I hadn’t seen a movie like this before - it was really touching and powerful. You can read more of my thoughts about this one here - I posted about it after I saw it.
Tied for 11th) Eastern Promises (88%) - This was pretty good. I’m Not There (81%) I’d like to see this movie about Dylan. In the Valley of Elah (69%) 69% sucks and I’ve never heard of it, but I like Tommy Lee Jones and Charlize Theron. Michael Clayton (90%) - yeah, I can’t believe I haven’t seen this yet - I want to. Rendition (46%) - 46% really sucks. Never heard of it and have no desire to see this. Romance & Cigarettes (53%) - never heard of it, don’t want to see it. Starting Out in the Evening (83%) - this looks interesting. I hadn’t heard of this, but I’d like to see it. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (87%) - looks good. Talk to Me (81%) - hadn’t heard of this either - looks okay. I like Don Cheadle. There Will Be Blood (90%) - hadn’t heard of this, and it looks good. I’d like to see it.
Best Foreign Films) The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (95%) Wow, this looks great. Have to see this one. 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (94%) - this looks awesome, too. Have to see this one, too. Lust, Caution (64%) - blah. The Orphanage (74%) - haunted orphange? eh, I don’t know. Not really interested, but I’d see it I guess. Vanaja (81%) - saved it in the netflix queue.
Best Animated Films) Beowulf (70%) 70% isn’t great - if I see this it is going to be in 3D at the IMAX theater. Persepolis (97%) - wow, great score. But only 31 reviews. Still, have to see this one. Ratatouille (97%) - amazing score with 195 reviews. Have to see this one, a must-see.
Best Documentaries) In the Shadow of the Moon (94%) - this looks great, have to see it. The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (96%) - saw this with some guys at work - it was awesome. About the Donkey Kong arcade championship. Lake of Fie (94%) - this looks great, too - always a lot of good documentaries. No End in Sight (95%) - another one I’ll have to see. Pete Seeger: The Power of Song (95%) - I can’t believe I’ve never even heard of this one. I’ve met Pete Seeger a few times when I was a subway musician in NYC. Must see. Sicko (93%) - watched this in Italy on the iPod. I liked it then, but now I think a lot of the things he says are messed up and wrong.
SO, in order of rottentomatoes rating, Ebert’s movie list is this:
Once (98%!)
Persepolis (97%)
Ratatouille (97%)
The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (96%)
No Country for Old Men (95%)
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (95%)
No End in Sight (95%)
Pete Seeger: The Power of Song (95%)
Away From Her (94%)
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (94%)
In the Shadow of the Moon (94%)
Lake of Fie (94%)
Juno (93%)
Sicko (93%)
Michael Clayton (90%)
There Will Be Blood (90%)
Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (88%)
Eastern Promises (88%)
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (87%)
Atonement (84%)
Starting Out in the Evening (83%)
Into the Wild (82%)
I’m Not There (81%)
Talk to Me (81%)
Vanaja (81%)
La Vie en Rose (74%)
The Orphanage (74%)
Beowulf (70%)
In the Valley of Elah (69%)
The Great Debaters (65%)
Lust, Caution (64%)
The Kite Runner (63%)
Romance & Cigarettes (53%)
Across the Universe (52%)
Rendition (46%)
The top ten movies that Ebert didn’t include on his list:
The Band’s Visit (100%)
Life of Reilly (100%)
Ten Canoes (98%)
Grbavica: The Land of My Dreams (98%)
The Devil Came On Horseback (97%)
Deep Water (96%)
Triad Election (96%)
12:08 East of Bucharest (98%)
For the Bible Tells Me So (95%)
Nanking (95%)
Yeah, I’ve never heard of any of these - but I’d like to see them.
Other movies I am surprised he did not mention:
The Bourne Ultimatum (93%)
Gone Baby Gone (93%)
Enchanted (93%)
Hairspray (92%)
I’d like to see The Bourne Ultimatum and Enchanted. I didn’t really like Hairspray and Gone Baby Gone was okay.
