Best Of 2007 (Page 2)

Best Animated
Persepolis
Vincent Paronnaud & Marjane Satrapi adapted the comic book they wrote of the same name (actually two comic books - Persepolis & Persepolis II) to create a humourous and biting animated film about a girl coming of age during Iran's Islamic revolution of the 80s.

We see young Marji get in trouble with the police which eventually forces her parents to educate her outside the country for her own safety. Not one to accept the restrictions Islam has on her, yet still missing her native land when she is away, Marji is a precocious girl and the character is hard to forget after the film is finished. But when we she she likes heavy metal music, Iron Maiden being a favourite, how can you not think this film is one of the best of the year.

Hon. Mentions: Ratatouille, The Simpson's Movie, Surf's Up.

Best Drama
This Is England
There was a large number of great dramas in 2007 which cushioned the blow for the lack of good mystery films. This is England stood out the most since its subject matter was British skin head culture during the time of Thatcher with a 12 year old boy as its center. We see full blown on screen the allure of gang life for the lad as he is treated like a family member and an adult. Drugs, sex, violence, propaganda and love are all given to him when he joins the group. Shane Meadows does a brilliant job directing.

Hon. Mentions: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Atonement, Zwartboek, No Country for Old Men, Letters from Iwo Jima, Rocky Balboa, Away from Her, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, Juno, Lust Caution, The Kite Runner, Black Snake Moan, Sang sattawat.

Best Biopic
The Last King of Scotland
Forest Whitaker plays Idi Amin in this story of the dictator of Uganda and his relationship with his Dr. Nicholas Garrigan. Whitaker is both crazy and humorous as Amin and if the portrayal is anywhere close to the truth it's no wonder the world considers the leader of the Ugandan state one of the most evil figures in African and world history.

Hon. Mentions: I'm Not There, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.

Best Documentary
The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters
Anyone who experienced the geekdom of the arcade during its peak in the 80s with have a nostalgic feel for Donkey Kong. This documentary follows two expert gamers as the vie to be the the Guinness World Record holder for 2007.

Hon. Mentions: Sicko, My Kid Could Paint That, God Grew Tired of Us, Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story, In the Shadow of the Moon, No End in Sight.

Best Comedy
Hot Fuzz
After blowing everyone away with their take on the Zombie genre (Shaun of the Dead), Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg turned their satirical eye toward the Action thriller with Hot Fuzz. Nick Frost joins the cast as Pegg's sidekick as the two cops investigate a series of accidents in a small town that Pegg suspects could be murder. Wright does an awesome job poking fun of movies such as Bad Boys Diehard and Lethal Weapon.

Hon. Mentions: The Darjeeling Limited, Knocked Up, Superbad, Lars and the Real Girl, Wristcutters: A Love Story, The Band's Visit, Waitress.