Faronheit's December Listmas Presents: The Top 10 Independent Films of 2007

You can go ahead and call me an idiot...now. Let me explain why. Last year, I had a Top 10 movies list and things were relatively simple. Most any movie worth watching in 2006 I had seen by early December. This year, however, it seems that most of the truly great movies have been saved for Christmas. Still, I really want to write this list and have it mean something. So this list of the Top 10 Independent Movies includes a couple that I haven't yet seen, mostly because they either haven't been released yet or they haven't come to a movie theater close enough to my house. Rest assured though, by the time all these are out on DVD I'll have seen them all. The couple I've yet to see are indicated as such, and are placed on this list in an estimate of where I believe they'll fall anyways, based upon how much I liked the trailer and some critical response. One thing remains clear though: all 10 of these movies are must-see films for 2007. Hunt them down if you have to, these are something special. And now, the list:

10. Lars and the Real Girl
Damn you, Ryan Gosling. You continue to mesmerize me with your acting performances. Last year after "Half Nelson," which was spectacular, and once again in "Lars and the Real Girl." For you scorekeepers out there, I've successfully avoided seeing "The Notebook" and plan to hold that streak for as long as humanly possible. Now then, this is the wildly interesting story about a socially inept man who lives by himself in a shack and doesn't do much else aside from holding down a job. Well the big surprise is that he one day up and orders a sex doll, only he doesn't quite use it for what you'd think. See, he dresses her up and carts her around like she's a real person with a full-on back story about her life. Only it's not creepy, but instead heart-warming. It doesn't go into that bad area you think it might, and how the actors make that work is what makes this movie so charming and wonderful.

9. Margot at the Wedding
Here's a movie that will turn a lot of people off. Noah Baumbach is an excellent filmmaker and an even more excellent screenwriter, and this may be his best movie to date. If you've seen his other movies, most notably "The Squid and the Whale" and "Kicking and Screaming" (not the Will Ferrell soccer movie), then you know this guy has a knack for family dysfunction. The movie is rather unpleasant to watch, and none of the characters are that likeable. But the performances are great from Nicole Kidman, Jack Black and Jennifer Jason Leigh, all who do well with the dramatic flair mixed with blacker-than-black humor. I laughed (darkly) as much as I squirmed in my seat at the raw emotion being displayed on the screen. This is by no means a movie for everybody, but if you're looking for an uglier, less pleasant version of something like a Wes Anderson movie, this is one you can't miss.

Blondie- Union City Blues

8. I'm Not There
Dylan, Dylan, Dylan...(and so forth). A whole bunch of people play Bob Dylan at various aspects of his life, but with different character names. It plays out like 7 short films, and if you know a lot about Dylan's life, you'll see some pieces of familiarity in the whole thing (particularly in Cate Blanchett's portion) to the man himself. Yet the name Bob Dylan is not uttered once in the entire movie. Great work is done by all the actors, but in particular Cate Blanchett, Heath Ledger and Christian Bale. I went into the movie knowing a decent amount about Dylan, and came out knowing about the same amount. The biggest thing I learned was that Dylan was and continues to be an enigma. A mystery wrapped in a riddle. Does anybody know who the real Bob Dylan is? Now if my recommendation doesn't seal the deal for you, take note that this just got the most nominations at the Independent Spirit Awards this year. So a whole lot of other people apparently respect this movie as much (or more) than I already do.

Eddie Vedder & The Million Dollar Bashers- All Along the Watchtower

7. Eastern Promises
David Cronenberg is on a roll lately. "A History of Violence" was my favorite film of 2005, and now "Eastern Promises" places high in 2007. Viggo Mortensen gives yet another wonderful performance as a Russian mobster, and Naomi Watts does a nice job as well. The plot of the movie is a little difficult to describe, and as Cronenberg himself has told people to go into this movie blind if possible, I won't try and ruin it for you. Just know that there's mobsters, a baby, and a woman trapped in the middle of it all. The film is very violent, and Viggo does bare all in one particularly brutal and crucial scene. So go see it if you can stomach it. Definitely worth your while.



6. Waitress
This movie took me by total surprise. I had a "chick flick" vibe going in, and a huge smile on my face coming out. Yes, three of the film's central characters are women, and the two main guys in the movie are primarily bad (and at times good), but don't let that scare you away guys. This is the movie I turn on when I want to be cheered up. It's as delicious as the pies the movie centers around. The only real tragedy here is the loss of the movie's writer, director and co-star Adrienne Shelly, who was murdered shortly before the film came out. Her spirit really shines through this thing, and gives it a glowing heart you probably won't find in any other film this year.



5. The Darjeeling Limited
It's about time, Wes Anderson. I don't mean to knock "The Life Aquatic" at all, but I viewed it as something of a disappointment when compared to previous Wes Anderson films (see: "Rushmore" and "The Royal Tenenbaums"). Much, much better and back on track is "The Darjeeling Limited," a movie I wasn't sure I'd like going in. India is a strange and foreign land that I know very little about and almost want to keep it that way. But this movie forced me into what amounted to a 90 minute tour of the country, complete with many of their rituals and traditions. And it was fully enjoyable. I liked every frame of this movie and am happy I saw it. Granted, it doesn't make me want to take a trip to India any more than I did before, but it was nice to see what I was missing. Plus, the bits of humor and drama worked well with the triple leads of Jason Schwartzman, Adrian Brody and Owen Wilson. Thank goodness for them, because I don't know any other actors this would've worked better with.

The Kinks- This Time Tomorrow

4. The Lookout
Scott Frank is a guy primarily known for his writing, but he ventured into the directing field for "The Lookout," and did a fantastic job. Telling the story of a kid who survives a harrowing car accident but suffers from damage to his short-term memory. In other words, he can't remember things so well, so he keeps a notepad to write down the important stuff. Then things go wrong when he meets some of the wrong people who want him to help out in robbing the bank where he works. Joseph Gordon-Levitt turns in a stellar performance as the lead, and the film itself is a dynamite thriller. Several reviews of the film suggested that it is "an instant classic" and "a masterpiece." I'm inclined to agree.



3. Once
You don't need me to tell you again how great this movie is. I fell in love with it from the moment I saw it and have been raving about it since it was released. I even convinced my parents and siblings to go and see it even though the theater it was playing at was quite a distance away. They all loved it. In fact, I don't know a single person who disliked this movie. It really is a gem of a film, made on a shoestring budget and starring two people who are really musicians and not actors. And yes, it is something of a musical because there's lots of song performances throughout, but when Glen Hansard of The Frames teams up with Marketa Irglova, there's magic there. The movie is great, the soundtrack is great, and the performances are great. What's there not to like?


Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova- Fallen From the Sky

2. Juno
"Juno" hits New York and L.A. in limited release today. By that right, I haven't seen it. The film festival buzz was incredibly strong for the movie, and I've heard several remarks suggesting that it'll be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. Basically, the vibe is that the movie is "Little Miss Sunshine," but better. How they can improve on a gem like "Little Miss Sunshine," I don't know, but apparently "Juno" is it. The plot, if you weren't aware, is pretty much "Knocked Up," but teenage style. Ellen Page plays a 16-year-old girl who gets pregnant by Michael Cera (of "Superbad" fame). She decides to give the baby up for adoption, and settles on a couple played by Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner. Along the way, there's plenty of quirkiness and a soundtrack that's mainly Moldy Peaches and Kimya Dawson tracks. Wonderful. I can't wait for this, and fully expect it to be my favorite or second favorite movie of 2007.

Belle and Sebastian- Piazza, New York Catcher

1. No Country for Old Men
I don't often see music blogs talking about movies (at least the ones I read), but I saw about 5 mentions of "No Country for Old Men" in music blogs the past couple weeks. The hype is warranted, as The Coen Bros. have crafted a masterpiece This is a smartly crafted and intense thriller that has you on the edge of your seat for most every minute. Watching it is like drinking a fine wine. You sip it and let the flavors roll around on your tongue, each one distinctive, unique and aged perfectly. Word is coming down that this could be the film that wins Best Picture at the Oscars, and I wouldn't be surprised in the least. Though the movie certainly isn't for everyone - there is a lot of violence that could turn off some people - there's a certain magic and pure craft that went into this movie that you don't see often enough these days.

Labels: belle and sebastian, blondie, eddie vedder, glen hansard, listmas, marketa irglova, movies, Soundtrack, the kinks