Comments on: Best of 2007

By: Heather

Heather — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:52:29 +0000

I second what Coleman said about movies/books/plays.

WMD – don’t they have books outside of America that people read and enjoy? Or find important, moving, valuable in their insight?

I think WMD is jealous that we can talk about something OTHER than what’s on his one-track mind.

Also, I feel these sort of outbursts are very early to mid-twenties (if that) angst. Unless he just likes coming on here pretending to be something he’s not all the time.

By: TWD

TWD — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 21:10:44 +0000

(counting to 10)

WMD,

Is it ever ok to have light-hearted conversations? Is trivia so bad, so wrong that it shouldn’t be discussed? I understand that there are so many important issues to discuss, but…is taking a moment of levity really so bad? Is this “reflection of so-called American values” really such a bad reflection?

By: richard

richard — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 20:35:44 +0000

Seconded. Especially the Giants part.

By: Coleman Shedman

Coleman Shedman — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 20:32:41 +0000

Not exactly sure what your point is, WMD. For me, “best” lists are mainly something fun and interesting to discuss. That isn’t to say I don’t think they can’t have a more important purpose. Now I’m not personally that interested in cars, per say, but if you’re talking films or books or plays or music, I think these types of lists invite discussion of the better works of the past year. I don’t think it is necessarily important for everyone to agree. We all have our own opinion of what is the “best.” But what these types of lists may do is encourage people to seek out films, books, plays, or music, etc. that they may not have. Not only do the arts entertain us. They can also enrich our lives by exposing us to different points of view. They can, at their best, open our minds to different ways of looking at each other and the world. They can also enlighten and educate us. For example, There Will Be Blood is certainly a work of fiction. But watching may inspire someone to seek out Upton Sinclair’s Oil! (the book on which it is based) or to study the life of Edward Laurence Doheny, the oil tycoon upon which Oil! was loosely based, or it may inspire them to seek out Braham’s Violin Concerto in D Major, which is featured in the film. Certainly, there are more important things in the world than which movie or book is the “best” in a given year but, for me anyway, I’d go nuts just talking about the “important” issues of the day. I like to talk about such unimportant things as the arts, or relationships, and, yes, even football (way to go Giants!). …although people who are into cars do mystify me. I’m just happy my cd player and heat works!

By: richard

richard — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 20:07:40 +0000

Right off the top of my head I’d say:

1. Juno
2. Sweeney Todd
3. There Will Be Blood
4. Rocket Science
5. No Country For Old Men

By: WMD

WMD — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 19:58:25 +0000

this is an interesting list of “best”s

best movies
best cars
best books
best religion stories (duh)
best sports
best “happy” stories (duh)
best picture

this list is a true reflection of so-called American values of what is considered “best”

By: Coleman Shedman

Coleman Shedman — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 19:50:22 +0000

OK, so I still haven’t seen Juno, Into The Wild, or The Diving Bell and The Butterfly, but as of today, here are my picks for the 5 best films of 2007:

1. There Will Be Blood
2. The Orphanage (Spain)
3. Sweeney Todd
4. No Country For Old Men
5. Atonement

I’d urge anyone to see any of these you can on the big screen but, particularly, There Will Be Blood. It is a truly magnificent epic and Daniel Day Lewis gives not only the performance of the year, but a performance that ranks up there with the best in the history of film.

By: richard

richard — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 23:57:33 +0000

“….and daddy won’t you take me back to Muhlenberg County down by the Green River where paradise lay…”

By: kamaraska

kamaraska — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 23:17:38 +0000

i have not heard the 10000 maniacs version-i will try to listen to it..take some time from making up jokes about bycycle spokes and red baloons….all of my friends are not dead or in jail

By: richard

richard — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 17:23:44 +0000

Loves me some John Prine! Have you heard the 10000 Maniacs’ version?

By: kamaraska

kamaraska — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 17:14:52 +0000

Great flick on IFC -Me, you, and everyone else…-macoroni…
my significant other brought me cafe to start today, one of my wooly pals jumped in bed next to me and put her head on my leg beckoning me to rise , the other furry one sat at bedside gutterally requesting the same -as the sun shone higher in the sky…the sun is out -another glorious day in the present moment-cafe, 3 very present awarenesses urging that I join them..life is rich for this human today…Thank you Great Spirit…I need to e-mail an infirmed 82 yr old friend today..to pass this good karma along…don’t forget to say “hello in there” when you pass those ancient hollowing eyes in your travels

By: TWD

TWD — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 03:36:41 +0000

Ratatouille – finally, a movie that I’ve seen!

By: richard

richard — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:59:40 +0000

Yeah, now that you mention Ratatouille, I’m surprised that it’s not in his top 10. It was really great.

By: Coleman Shedman

Coleman Shedman — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:55:09 +0000

I’m sure I haven’t seen all the films Ebert has but among those I’ve seen, I’d say Sweeney Todd, Atonement, No Country For Old Men, and Ratatouille would make my top 5.

By: richard

richard — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 21:08:13 +0000

Re: Ebert's list, Juno might just be the best movie I've seen this year. It might be this year's Little Miss Sunshine. I personally liked Rocket Science a whole lot too. Once is one I've heard great things about but didn't get a chance to see. I guess I'll check it out on DVD. Two scary ones I'm looking forward to are The Orphanage and Cloverfield.