Mark's Top 5

Ok, So here's the deal; I don't see as many movies as Kyp. If I had seen all the movies Kyp has seen, my list would probably look very similar to his, just maybe with a few re-arranged. And keep in mind, these are movies that we have SEEN. We have yet to see There Will Be Blood, which we're both pretty confident would have made our lists, had we seen it.

5 - Lars and the Real Girl

Ryan Gossling continues to amaze me. Between this film and Half Nelson he definately has come a long way in his acting.

4 - No Country for Old Men

Coen brothers deliver another film where you find yourself laughing, and aren't entirely sure why. Action, humor, and a gripping story line. Expect to hear the title again around Oscar time.

3 - Once

A new addition to the list of neo-musicals. Fantastic....FANTASTIC music. Read the full review below.

2 - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Burton delivers his take on Sondheim's musical; the film carries the feel of old fashioned musicals while combining it with enough spurting blood to make Tarantino blush.

1 - Juno

When I say I would marry Ellen Page... I'm not exaggerating. This film had many levels, and all of them were amazing.

Kyp's Ten Favorite Movies of 2007

Honorable Mentions: Michael Clayton, Ratatouille, Eastern Promises, Enchanted, The Darjeeling Limited, I Am Legend.

10 - 3:10 to Yuma
I love watching good actors rock the screen for 2 hours.

9 - Black Snake Moan
Justin Timberlake can act. There I said it. Let's move on. Sammy J. rules!

8 - Gone Baby Gone
The one-two Affleck punch is something I hope we'll see again in the future.

7 - Waitress
Nathan Fillion + Kerry Russel = a chick flick any PERSON will love.

6 - Lars and the Real Girl
Ryan Gosling is the best actor of his generation. Period.

5 - No Country for Old Men
No one could have made this movie but the Coen's. Or at least not as well.

4 - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
The most intimate musical you will ever seen. And the bloodiest.

3 - Juno
If you don't fall in love with Ellen Page after this movie you don't have a heart.

2 - Once
This movie should be used as a substitute for prozac.

1 - Atonement
This movie floored me. Both devastating and beautiful. Perfectly crafted story telling, which is exactly what I'm looking for in a film.

Movies not yet seen but getting great buzz: There Will Be Blood, Away From Her, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, The Savages, I'm Not There.

A Eulogy for 2007

Today we lost a great year. 2007 was a friend for all of us. Yes at first it was a little strange writing the date, but we quickly learned to make that little 07 after the slash mark. 2007 however, just like the rest of us was flawed. Filled with stupid people doing stupid things, and the over use of things that were at one point funny. 2007 liked nothing better than to try and make us smile with it's silly videos of beauty pageant contestants, or silly college boys being tazered, even though he clearly asked not to be. Some scoffed at 2007 for it's use over use of sequels... but as the saying goes, the candle burns brightest before it goes out; 2007 gave us such hits as Juno, Sweeney Todd, There Will be Blood, and the pregnancy of Jamie Lynn Spears. While 2007 passes on and we all jump quickly into our new relationship with 2008 we're filled with concern, and maybe even a little fear. 2007, you will be remembered by us all.

Mark and Kyp's Video Review: Sweeney Todd

Mark Reviews: Once

First and foremost let me say this. I liked Once. It had a great story that didn't beat you with a stick. There was a love story, but the focus wasn't really on the love between the two musicians. Glen Hansard plays a hoover repairman who's real passion is playing music. While not repairing vacuum cleaners he performs on the street. At night he plays the songs he is writing and working on, it's then that he meets Markéta Irglová's character; an immigrant who loves playing the piano in a music store downtown. She becomes an instant fan of Glen's music and they form a friendship and maybe a little more as they write, rehearse and record Glen's music.

One of the most intriguing things about the film for me is the lack of names. Neither of the lead characters have names (at least not that I can remember, and not according to imdb). The music in this film is outstanding. Kind of like Kyp's review of August Rush, the music helped move the story along. However, in this film it was more because neither of the leads were actors, they truly were two songwriters. That for me adds a ton to the film, because when you see them performing, it's really them performing. Kyp and I had a brief discussion as to whether or not this should be considered a musical. At first (before I had seen it) I had agreed that it wasn't a musical in the true sense of the word. No big dance numbers etc... BUT, now that I've seen it I would have to disagree. The story is moved mostly by music, and you learn most of the back story through the lyrics of the songs.

So... that being said, I had one complaint... and it's not even a REAL complaint, more of an observation. While I did enjoy the film a lot, it felt like I was watching a bunch of music video's put together; I don't know if it's because a lot of it was shot with DV or what, but the it was a lot of slow pans as the character walked through the town singing... don't get me wrong, I loved it... just kind of not positive why I loved it this much.

must be the music

mm