Review of the Year: 2007

It's that time of year again, folks, when we take a look back at the bestest and the worstest movies of the year. Rather than just have me pick my faves, we went for a thoroughly democratic approach, with the final list being compiled from everyone's votes using highly sophisticated computer technology. Honest. Looking back at the films of 2007, what surprised me was that in selecting my ten best, I found I had a list of 20 that I had to whittle down – it's not often that happens. Plenty good stuff was on many people's lists and just missed the cut: The Lives of Others, Death Proof, Atonement, The Simpsons, Transformers. No, really...


Top 10

The Last King of Scotland
It may have been released way back in January, but this exceptional thriller has stayed long in our memories and is deservedly and overwhelmingly the Skinny Film of the Year.

This Is England
We always knew Shane Meadows was good, but he knocked this tale of racism and disillusionment in 80s Britain right out of the park.

Hot Fuzz
It's been a great year for comedies, and it's nice that one of the best is British. Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Edgar Wright cemented their position at the forefront of UK film comedy with this one.

Knocked Up
My vote for the funniest film of the year goes to Judd Apatow's rude but good natured sex-comedy that made a star out of Seth Rogen. Check out the deleted scenes on YouTube.

Superbad
The younger brother of Knocked Up was almost as funny and probably even sweeter, with Rogen in a supporting turn this time and also co-writing.

Die Hard 4.0
Hands up those doubters who thought this was going to be shit. After a 12-year absence, John McClane was back, albeit in slightly toned-down form. Still, the boy Bruce done good.

Control
This biopic of Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis was among the year's most stylish movies.

Hairspray
No film this year was as flat-out enjoyable as this sunny musical romp that featured wonderful songs and Travolta in a fat-suit.

Planet Terror
Once the furore over the Grindhouse debacle died down, all we were left with was two brilliant films. Death Proof was good, Planet Terror was even better.

Blood Diamond
Leonardo Di Caprio scored his third Oscar nomination for a dodgy Zimbabwean accent and for getting shot at the end of this exciting action adventure with something to say.


Bottom 10

Norbit
They say this disgraceful film cost Eddie Murphy an Oscar for Dreamgirls. Good, we say.

Epic Movie
Why? No, really, why?

Evan Almighty
The most expensive comedy ever made. We could tell you the ratio of dollars to laughs, but you can't divide by zero.

Outlaw
Is there really an audience out there for Nick Love's nasty little films featuring Danny Dyer going around calling everyone a "caant"?

The Hills Have Eyes 2
Last year's remake of Wes Craven's classic was one of the best horrors of recent times. This sequel to that remake is an embarrassment from start to finish.

Smokin' Aces
Remember the trailer for this one? It was excellent wasn't it? Shame the film itself was an over-plotted disaster with probably the year's worst ending.

The Breed/The Reaping/The Return/Captivity/Paradise Lost
Take your pick from any of these abysmal attempts at horror – each of them loud, idiotic and boring as hell.

Inland Empire
I must confess to not actually having seen this one, but it's votes that count. David Lynch is another love him or hate him deal, as this also turned up on some people's best-of lists.

Spider-Man 3
Not so much a total stinker as the year's biggest disappointment. After two brilliant opening episodes, you'd have a right to expect more from the most expensive film ever made.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Another threequel that fell woefully short of expectations, this shambolic plot-free romp also managed the remarkable feat of being thoroughly dull.


Man of the Year - James McAvoy
McAvoy's breakthrough year started with a bang with a BAFTA nominated performance in the best film of the year, The Last King of Scotland, and ended with his turn in the highly regarded Atonement which may see him earn an Oscar nomination. In between he was in period fluff, Becoming Jane, and found time to film Wanted with Angelina Jolie, due out in April.

Woman of the Year - Cate Blanchett
The Aussie superstar probably had her best year yet, with Babel, The Good German, and an Oscar nomination for Notes On a Scandal, which will likely be followed by another one for The Golden Age and/or for playing Bob Dylan in I'm Not There. And she even had time to cameo behind a mask in Hot Fuzz. Look out for her next year as the baddie in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.