94 - Heaven

I don't think there was enough in the film to support the bond between the characters Cate Blanchett and Giovanni Ribisi portrayed. Perhaps there could have been more that happened prior to her escape...and all the events after didn't seem to blend into the premise. 'Loved the shaved head Cate supported for the latter part of the film, though... :)

93 - La Vie En Rose

Just simply outstanding. I now understand why everyone has pretty much given an automatic award nomination for Marion Cotillard. Both she and Olivier Dahan deserve a lot of credit for creating such a powerful film about Edith Piaf.

I have to say that after watching this film, I was a bit of an emotional wreck and......just simply devastated. It really felt like Edith Piaf was carrying a cross throughout her life.

92 - Waitress

In a way, I'm really glad that Adrienne Shelley was able to complete this film before her death. The film was a personal statement and beautifully written with so many great messages.

I personally enjoyed Andy Griffith's character. His echoing message was at the heart of the story: start fresh.

91 - Eastern Promises

Ah yes, what better way to start the year than watch Viggo Mortensen fight two angry brothers in a bath house with nothing more than the tattoos on his skin :). He certainly did his homework and was a very believable Russian character. Armin Mueller-Stahl may be too tame for his role, but it didn't take away anything from the film.

2007 year marker

53 movies...that's the stat for 07.....about a 15% or so increase from last year.

This year also marked somewhat a beginning of obsessive stalking of director work...most notably Jim Jarmusch. I saw five of his films as recorded here (Stranger than Paradise, Down by Law, Permanent Vacation, Night on Earth, and Mystery Train), but I've also been watching on-and-off of netflix movies by Akira Kurosawa, Stanley Kubrick, and films based on Philip K. Dick's work, with A Scanner Darkly being a personal favorite (besides Blade Runner, of course).

As I was weeding through the films and trimming the list, there were individual performances that really stood out and worthy of praise:

• Mia Kirshner in her role as Elizabeth Short in The Black Dahlia
  
• Daniel Craig for playing a more agent-worthy portrayal in Casino Royale
  
• Michael Caine's hippee as can be in Children of Men (pull my finger :))

This year's "classic" honor belongs to Dr. Strangelove. Like all of Stanley Kubrick's movies, it is timeless and so masterfully done that you can watch it repeatedly without degradation.

Le Honor Roll :)

1. Breach
2. Black Snake Moan
3. A Scanner Darkly
4. Fast Food Nation
5. Little Miss Sunshine
6. Red Road
7. Dr Strangelove
8. Stranger than Paradise
9. Down by Law
10. Permanent Vacation
11. Night on Earth
12. Mystery Train