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Heith's Pick: Fred Claus
Starring Vince Vaughn and Paul Giamatti
Anytime I think back on a particular year in terms of movies, there always seems to be that one that sticks out in my mind -- or sometimes two. But when I think of 2007, I think of Fred Claus first.
And it's rare for me to select a Christmas movie as one that defines an entire year; Christmas is, after all, one season out of many. But it's even rarer that a film moves me to see it multiple times, especially given the schedule Movie-Popcorn keeps me on, and Fred Claus will go down as my most-watched theatrical release of the year as well (no, I'm not admitting how many times I saw it).
Vince Vaughn is the perfect anti-Claus, if you will, and the movie balances perfectly Fred's loveable bad boy routine with a very family-friendly comedic aspect that, surprisingly, lasts well into the third act, something most comedies fail to pull off. The soundtrack includes Christmas classics everyone will recognize, and Christophe Beck's well-written score moves some of the scenes much closer to tears than would have otherwise been possible. Above all else, though, is the energy the film maintains absolutely from start to finish. There is never a dull moment, never a character you don't care about, and the film's crescendo will leave you cheering and wishing it could be Christmas all the time. It may not be Oscar-worthy, and in fact, it's not even my highest-graded movie of 2007, but it is the one I would see again over any other.
Heith's Grade: B+
Neil's Pick: The Bourne Ultimatum
Starring Matt Damon
My favorite movie for 2007 has to be none other than The Bourne Ultimatum. This is probably not surprising for people who know me well; it’s about the only movie I’ve talked about since its August release.
This third in the Bourne series probably isn’t the most artsy, heartwarming, or put-you-in-a-deep-thought-as-you-leave-the-theater movie of the year, but it’s dang entertaining. The story is great, the acting is great (Matt Damon is the perfect Jason Bourne), the on-location sites are, once again, amazing to see, and the non-CG action/stunts are just as amazing as ever.
I saw this movie twice in the theater and now I own the Limited Edition two-disc DVD. It’s one of those movies you can watch over and over again. To read my full review of the movie, click here.
Neil's Grade: A
Suener's Pick: Sharkwater
When I think of all the movies I have seen in 2007, one stands out as accomplishing something few films do:
bringing to light an enormous problem very few even knew existed, and bringing about world change. Sharkwater
is a documentary about a tradition running deep in Asian history, shark finning. This is when sharks are
caught by the hundreds, the fin is cut off, sold for a huge profit, and primarily used to make shark fin soup.
Meanwhile, the shark's body is dumped back into the ocean, sometimes while the sharks are still alive. This film is
about one young man's journey into shark and human culture, and you will not be left unmoved by what he
discovers.
I should mention that I am not a member of PETA, nor does my life in any way revolve around defending animal
rights. So when this movie first started, I though ok, here is another movie about how animals are saints
and humans are demons. I actually shut it off early on because I just didn’t want to hear any PETA propaganda.
But I later started it again, and I can assure you that you don’t have to be an extremist to be affected by what
is going on in the film.
I was actually shocked by the mass scale of these killings and blown away by the
effects this will have on our ecosystem shortly down the road. I was also stunned by how much this one filmmaker
in his early 20s could accomplish and the extremes he was willing to go to do it. I think everyone will be
entertained by this film whether they will jump on board being a shark renegade or not. The cinematography is
stunning and jam-packed with actual shark finning footage (without being too graphic), and is actually very tasteful.
Sharkwater is, without a doubt, my favorite movie of 2007 and I highly recommend it.
Suener's Grade: A+