Is 65 movies too many to see in one year?

In the year 2007 I saw approximately 65 films (released in 2007), mostly in the theaters. Some people have said that I am “psycho” or a “loser” or “obsessed” for seeing so many films. They may be right. But without that love and dedication to movies (where concession workers at more than one theater this fall actually recognized me because of frequency of visits and my height) the loyal readers of this blog would be denied my best of 2007 in movies (2nd annual).

Before the best of and worst of I would like to give some special awards.

MOST OVERRATED FILM THAT WAS DECENT

Michael Clayton. Hollywood is on its knees for George Clooney like a woman between the ages of 24 and 45, but that does not mean that he should become an Oscar darling. For the third straight year he has released an Oscar type movie that was somewhat boring and overrated (Syriana, Good Night and Good Luck and Clayton). But if these films can possibly stop him from making Ocean’s 14 then I am for it. (Runner Up – Rescue Dawn)

MOST OVERRATED FILM THAT SUCKED

I’m Not There. This bizarre and annoying Bob Dylan is getting rave reviews from many critics. I think sometimes, just like the hip upper west side audiences that flood the Lincoln Center AMC, film critics say they like something when they don’t get it so they don’t feel stupid.

MOST UNDERRATED FILM

Music and Lyrics. I almost always hate High Grant and Drew Barrymore. Besides Matthew McConaughey, they are most responsible for the demise of the romantic comedy. For some reason I like them both in this movie. Perhaps it was because my expectations were rock bottom, but I enjoyed this film.

MOVIE THAT JAIME LYNN SPEARS SHOULD NOT HAVE SEEN

Juno. This film is about the quirky way that teenage pregnancy can just work itself out in a fun little suburb. How cute to see the 16 year old with a big belly who is so knowledgeable on 70s music and incredibly quick with jokes and not a hint of hormonal troubles. People want this to be this year’s Little Miss Sunshine, but it’s not even close. Javier Bardem’s assassin from No Country For Old Men should have had Juno on his hit list.

MOVIE WITH THE ENDING THAT WOULD MAKE CHRISTOPHER HITCHENS HAPPY

There Will Be Blood. A very good film with a disturbing performance by Daniel Day-Lewis (a little toned down from Gangs of New York). The ending is bloody, disturbing and odd.

BEST MOVIE I SAW ON LUNCH BREAK (Tie)

The Brave One and We Own The Night. No real explanations needed.

RANKING ANTI-WAR (On Terror) MOVIES 1)Rendition 2) In The Valley of Elah 3) Lions for Lambs

Despite what critics said – they were all good.

OK – so here are the worst of 2007 that I saw (I abstained from all Dane Cook films).

1)Beowulf – what a huge bag of crap.

2)Alpha Dog – woof

3)The Comebacks – a sports spoof starring Champ Kind from Anchorman was not enough even when I was bored with nothing to do.

4)I’m Not There – Bob Dylan should be mumbling in disgust.

5)Norbit – Road gig in Ohio – needed to kill some time. Felt like killing myself. Eddie – this is why you did not win an Oscar for Dream girls

6)I Think I Love My Wife – Chris Rock is the greatest comedian and makes some of the worst movies. This was no exception

7)Fantastic Four 2. Not fantastic

8)Shrek 3. Hey Mike Myers – do that funny Scottish accent again!

9)Pirates 3. Better than Pirates 2. So what.

10) Ocean’s 13. Please no 14.

And now (in stress and excitement inducing reverse order – my Top 10):

10.The Diving Bell and Butterfly –

a very good film about the former Editor of Elle Magazine who has a stroke that leaves him paralyzed except for one eye. Pretty intense film with some humor. I would not have been as sad if it had been the Editor of US Weekly.

9.Before the Devil Knows Your Dead –

It can never hurt the quality of your film to have a crime caper that starts with Phillip SeeMore Hoffman banging Marisa Tomei from behind.

8.Gone Baby Gone –

Casey Affleck is getting more publicity for the excruciatingly dull Jesse James movie, but he is excellent in this film directed by Pearl Harbor star Ben Affleck.

7. Zodiac –

A little bit long, but other than that a very strong film about a killer who gets away. Not about OJ.

6.American Gangster –

Malcolm X and Maximus together equals damn good.

5.No Country For Old Men –

Everyone’s favorite to win best picture (unless you like Atonement). Excellent movie and the best villain in a movie since George W. Bush in Fahrenheit 9/11. Josh Brolin is awesome too.

4. Charlie Wilson’s War.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman is hilarious (his best performance in his 3 films this year). Tom Hanks excellent.

3)Ratatouille.

Another year another awesome Pixar movie.

2.Bourne Ultimatum.

Will never get nominated for Best Picture, but is one of the greatest action films ever made. Made me a Matt Damon fan in spite of his annoying insistence on doing a film every 9 years where he gets to be a Masshole.

And the best film of the year (not Atonement – that movie should win best score and nothing else).

1.Eastern Promises.

The best movie of the year. Russian Mob, European whores, and King of Middle Earth. It should also mark the third year in a row that the Oscars disagree with me. (Munich, United 93, EP).