No Country for Old Men

I am an unabashed fan of the Coen Brothers, and this film is at the top of their resume. Thankfully, this film didnt have a cliched ending, and didnt once steer away from the pitch of the story.
Josh Brolin's character seemed shell-shocked, a victim of witness and participation of the (Vietnam) war...he was an unlikeable, unfeeling guy but guess what? He was a war veteran, and it was completely believable. I didnt care if his character lived or died.
Javier Bardem was a revelation and a screen menace of the highest calibre. I didnt mind TLJ either. He was better here imo than he was in The Valley of Elah. Kelly Macdonald's Carla Jean was an idiot, but had some literate things to say at the end. It didnt bother me to see Woody Harrelson's character devolve, at all.
Tess Harper was nice to see. She was probably the nicest character in the film.
Barry Corbin's cameo, was great.
Carla Jean's mother, played by Beth Grant, was supposedly 58, but she looked 108.
Signature Coen cinematography graced the opening scene helmed by the amazing Roger Deakins, and some of the quirky humour in so many of their films is here.
I waited until the very end to hear some incredible guitar and snare drum score.
The film had quite a lot to say about the serendipity of life. "You cant stop what's coming". A

Beowulf

I was forced to read this poem a long time ago, and I'm glad now that I did, although I didnt feel that way at the time. I didnt want to see another version of this sad tale, but because Beowulf is a contender in animation, I went.
It took at least half the film for me to actually pay attention, other than in skeptical derision, as a viewer.
The positives I saw were these: Beowulf has an incredible body. So does, Grendel's mom.
Crispin Glover is the perfect Grindel.
Somehow, Zemeckis captured some, of the dignity of this ancient poem, and added more action than I remember. C+

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Adding "Blood and Chocolat" (F) to my list.

Added La Vie en Rose (C+)

Adding:

Beowulf: B
Juno: A+

Adding "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" (B-) to my list.

Mine:
Year Of The Dog (C+)
The Brave One (B)
Zodiac (A)
Music & Lyrics (C+)
Knocked Up (D)
We Own The Night (A-)
Because I Said So (B-)
Georgia Rule (D-)
Premonition (C-)
Ocean's Thirteen (A)

Adding "We Own the Night" (B+) to my list.

Adding
Enchanted
A mix of Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty, I was prepared for sugar-shock going in. But the film parodies itself just enough without dissolving into complete sap. The score and the songs were surprisingly bland and lazy, from Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz. Still, they were performed with gusto and choreographed well.
For a sweet-natured film, it had it's rather cruel moments.
James Marsden was hilarious as Prince Edward. The hag makeup was really good; better than Queen Narissa's daily grooming. Always the dragon, a la Sleeping Beauty; but this one hasnt learned much about flying.
Amy was sweet, but somewhat annoying. The people I saw this with were laughing, and were 'surprised' by how much they liked it. And I was surprised, by how much I didnt. It was ok, and had it's moments. You can see immediately how the story is going to end, but getting there was kinda fun.
Great cinematography and fx. B

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Here's everything I've seen from 2007, ranked:

A+
No Country for Old Men
Zodiac
Knocked Up
Away From Her

A
Sicko

A-
Eastern Promises
Grindhouse: Death Proof
The Lookout
The Simpsons Movie
Breach
Fracture
A Mighty Heart
The Bourne Ultimatum

B+
Hallowe'en

B
American Gangster
Entre Les Mains de Michel Tremblay (docum.)
The TV Set
Grindhouse: Planet Terror
Sleeping Dogs Lie
Blades of Glory

B-
The Invasion
Evening
Across the Universe
Rendition
Year of the Dog

C+
Hannibal Rising
Wedding Wars

C
Starter for 10

C-
The Ex
Spiderman 3

D+
Driving Lessons
Colour Me Kubrick

D
none

D-
none

F
License to Wed

Adding: The Mist

O what a smart little horror movie this is. Adapted from the novella by Stephen King, directed by Frank Darabont (Shawshank), it had a hand-held look and feel of some of my favorite, lower budget films, which this actually wasnt. (Night of the Living Dead, Evil Dead)
Majestic in portions, with scathing commentary on the human condition, The Mist was a great time at the movies, with a superlative cast, headed by Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Tobey Jones, Laurie Holden, Andre Braugher, and William Sadler.
My only beef with this film is with the eye-brow plucker.
Special thanks to Stephen King, at the end.
"Never give up, never surrender"....Jason Nesmith, Galaxy Quest. A-

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Adding:
1) "Shrek the Third" Grade: B-

2) "Paris, Je T'aime" Grade: B+

Adding "The Invasion" (C+) to my list.

Added Enchanted (B+)

Adding "La Vie en Rose" (B-) to my list.

Adding "Happily N'Ever After" (D+) to my list.

"La Vie en Rose" Great performance from Cotillard (though I am not convinced it is the best performance by an actress of the year,) but the film was a chore to sit through for me. Too many disjointed and unnecessary scenes.


My Grade: C

Added Hairspray (B+)

Added The Mist

My Grade: B+

Adding:

"Enchanted" Grade: B

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Adding: The Golden Compass

This film had some flaws, but overall it is filmed with such enthusiasm and grandeur, I could over-look them.
Nicole Kidman made a terrific entrance and was very well cast as Mrs. Koulter. She had minimal screen time and did nothing award worthy here, but she may in the next one.
Who topped her entrance was the deposed heir of the Ice Bears, Iorek Bymison, voiced so grandly by Ian McKellen. Iorek made my heart pound, and that shot of his giving Lyra (Dakota Blue Richards) a 'bear-back' ride in the northern dusk was rewarding to see.
Daniel Craig and Eva Green are reunited on the screen, although they shared no scenes together, and again had minimal screen time. But that'll change with the next one.
Anytime I see a film with an undisguised condemnation of control-freakish governments, the Clergy, sexual persecution, mind police, the medical profession, police states, I'm not going to complain about it.
It is a story about dystopia, but also redemption, and bravery. I think this is a good start, and I do believe that they will improve with the next one. The score and song, sung by Kate Bush, wasnt one of my favorites, although she sounded good as usual, and there was a full symphony orchestra.
So far I think the adaptation of the novel(s) was average or above average, but it is encouraging to think, that there are people out there who have never been exposed to these stories, could be now. The art direction and visuals, captured me.
A-

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