This was the year of the musical for Bradley Cogburn. One I expected to despise on a High School Musical level and the other didn't fail to disappoint, but both of them blew me away and have earned their spots.
Here they are along with two other favorites:
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
"Just what's the sound of the world out there?"
"What Mr. Todd, What Mr. Todd, what is that sound?"
"Those crunching noises pervading the air?"
"Yes, Mr. Todd. Yes, Mr. Todd. Yes, all around."
"It's man devouring man, my dear."
"Then who are we to deny it in here?!"
Tim Burton has long been a favorite director of mine and he delivered the goods here in what is probably what I would consider his best film after Edward Scissorhands. Full of dark humor and excellent musical numbers that nearly replaced the dialogue, Sweeney Todd was a wonderful work of art. Accompanied by excellent performances from Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman and that little chap Edward Sanders. Stephen Sondheim's music is wonderful and strangely catchy with lyrics that are the next thing to a tongue twister.
Bloody excellent film (pun intended).
Hairspray
"Without love, life is like the seasons without summer,
without love, life is rock and roll without a drummer.
Darling, I'll be yours forever, 'cause I never wanna be,
without love, so darling never set me free."
These are the kinds of movies I hate. Sugar coated, happy go lucky, smiles all around types of movies. This one, however, reached down into the depths of my ice cold heart and made me happy. Hairspray is what happy movies ought to be. Aware of their silliness, completely unpretentious, and bright, all while being the kind of movie it needs to be without taking itself too seriously. These are the qualities Hairspray carries itself with and that's what makes it so good.
Wonderfully performed by the entire (wonderful) cast, and may I say that whoever choreographed the dance numbers is a genius. Always fun to watch, and absolutely hilarious. Plus, a finale like a musical oughta have. And I think that is why I loved this movie so much. Sometimes you just need to watch something with not a lot of depth that will make you smile. Because everyone needs something to smile about...
No Country for Old Men
"Call it."
"Look, I need to know what I stand to win."
"You stand to win everything. Call it. "
Joel and Ethan Coen are good filmmakers. They really are, and this movie is a freakin' work of genius. Wonderfully paced, terrifically acted, gorgeous cinematography, and I could praise this film until I'm blue in the face. It's actually quite a beautiful movie if one can look past the violence and see what the film is all about.
This film definitely earns the top spot for the year and probably even gains a spot somewhere on a list of my favorites. This is a film I think a lot of people need to see as it hits a lot of defining points of what cinema should be. Visually stunning as well as reliance on visuals (and not music) to set a mood or atmosphere, thematically rich, and technically spot on. It's a great movie that I would almost recommend to anyone.
and finally:
Michael Clayton
" Do I look like I'm negotiating?!"
I've got to admit that I have quite a fancy for legal thrillers. I enjoy the challenge as well as the excitement of watching (or reading) a piece about the legal system. Michael Clayton satisfied my taste for a good legal drama. Not the biggest George Clooney fan, but he was decent here and the rest of the cast was quite good. Required a lot of focus, but was never dull. Along with some truly intense moments and an excellent wrap up, I would say that this one is a movie that I wouldn't mind seeing again. Hey, with a good script, cast, and story what more could you want?
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