She's a dancer who doesn't dance and her friend is a painter who doesn't paint. It's kind of a Boho version of the Island of the Lost Toys.

Happy New Year! I will continue to compile my top ten theatrical releases of 2007, but since I haven't made a huge dent in them yet, this is my top ten for 2007 of flicks I saw for the first time, but weren't necessarily released in 2007. They are all very engaging and worth watching and come highly recommended.

Oh, and there were a few films I saw in January and February that were top ten theatrical releases for 2006, but since that would kind of be cheating, well, I excluded them (The Departed, Marie Antoinette, but still great). Only one appears both here and on my theatricals for 2007, Once.

In no order...

Top 10 Movies Viewed in 2007

1. Pan's Labyrinth (2006)



I put this off for like, a year, I know. And it still wasn't what I was expecting. They really play up the fantasy aspect in the trailers, but that's not most of the film, as I had thought. Incredible and moving, it's the first time in ages I went right in afterwards and put it on my wish-list.

2. Funny Girl (1968)



Lots of recognizable songs, very enjoyable. So upbeat for so long, yet its ending is totally depressing--though personally I prefer to think things continue to go well for her, unlike the premise of the sequel suggests. To hell with that.

3. Avenue Montaigne (2006)



Totally cute, a mellow little film that's sweet and fun to watch for its characters and setting. It revolves around one girl and the many people she meets while new at her job in the luxurious part of town. A little unusual in its story (or, vague lack thereof) but it's done well and somehow gets away with it.

4. Brief Encounter (1945)



The gorgeous cinematography, the angst, it's great. The original lovers-on-a-train-platform movie, this could never be made today but it totally works here. Simple story, beautifully told.

5. Citizen Kane (1941)



One I put off for ages. I admit it, I tried watching it ten years ago and it bored the shit out of me. But somehow this time I was into it. It was perfectly interesting and intriguing; obviously there was little mystery in it for me at this point, but it really is a great watch--for the style if nothing else.

6. Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974)



Great characters totally make this. I don't know how I ever missed it, but it was genuinely funny (in parts). Great lines, and again, the characters make it one neat film.

7. Mutiny On the Bounty (1962)



Marlon Brando and the cinematography compete for Totally Prettiest Ever, but it's also full of great conflict. Especially for someone like me who loves the Hornblower series, it was in that same vein. Melodrama! On the seas!

8. Once (2007)



Totally low-budget but cute (realistic) characters. Halfway through the plot becomes almost laughably and drastically unrealistic (let's just say blindly upbeat), but go with it, it's not the point. Neat characters and good music, an ending to be proud of. And I know what she says to him in Czech...

9. Gandhi (1982)



I suppose this is a bit of a "duh" entry, but it really is good. Sometimes the epics can kind of drag. I'm still not sure what all the hype is over Lawrence (aside from him). But this was great, both for Ben Kingsley and a well-told story. Quite a few of these entries run in the 2.5-3 hour range, but none of them felt that long. I've watched 90 minute movies that felt longer.

10. Kontroll (2003)



Full of style. Both mysterious and goofy, a great film about Budapest's underground train system and the ticket checkers (and what they put up with). So many cute and bizarre moments, easily one I could pop in from time to time.