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's coming of age during Iran's Islamic revolution of the 80s.

We see young Marji get in trouble with the police, eventually forcing her parents to educate her outside the country for her own safety. Not one to accept the restrictions of Islam, yet still missing her native land when she is away, Marji is a precocious and endearing girl.  The character is hard to forget.  But when we see she likes heavy metal music, Iron Maiden being her  favourite, how can we 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 this year which cushioned the blow for the lack good mystery films. Out of the bunch, This is England was the best.  It stood out for its subject matter (British skin head culture during the time of Thatcher) and its main character, a 12 year old boy named Shaun. We see the allure of gang life for the lad.  He is treated like an adult.  Drugs, sex, violence, propaganda and a sick sort of 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 about the dictator of Uganda and his relationship with Dr. Nicholas Garrigan. Whitaker is both crazy and humorous, 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 arcades at its peak during the 80s will 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 again joins the cast as Pegg's sidekick and the two cops investigate a series of accidents Pegg believes are 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.