The Best American Films of 2007

Posted on February 21, 2008 by Moen Mohamed

2007 has been a great year for cinema – and American films shone in 2007. The best American films of the harvest were challenging, entertaining, intelligent and insightful. The films on this list spoke to me personally and cinematically. These are my favourite American films of 2007, in order of preference:

  1. THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD – Sublime cinema. This is the best film made about the outlaw (Samuel Fuller’s I SHOT JESSE JAMES comes close). Jesse James is completely deglamourized and exposed in his final years. Although Brad Pitt’s performance is chilling and meritorious, the film belongs, heart and soul, to Casey Affleck, who gives the performance of the year. A truly evocative, poetic and metaphysical piece of film-making. (a different view from TSS’s Jay Kerr)
  2. ZODIAC – A complex, multi-layered, compelling piece of history that works on every level as a film. Meticulously researched, superbly acted and perfectly realised, this film is fiercely intelligent and sadly overlooked.
  3. INTO THE WILD – Sean Penn’s powerful film about individuality, youth and nature. It is a courageous film. Although sad, this film is uplifting if you look in the right places. Emile Hirsch is a revelation.
  4. THERE WILL BE BLOOD – Much has been said about this film and THE performance, but all that aside, this film is an American classic. Instantly. The fact that the ending has divided many people is not exactly a bad thing.
  5. THE SAVAGES – A brilliantly written and acutely observed film. It’s been 10 years since Tamara Jenkins’ SLUMS OF BEVERLY HILLS, which is a very good film, but I believe THE SAVAGES to be superior. This film draws the viewer close to the quiet moments of making agonizing decisions concerning loved ones and it does so unceremoniously and unsentimentally. But all the same, the emotions are raw.
  6. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (James McNally’s TSS review)
  7. NO END IN SIGHT (James McNally’s TSS review)
  8. THE KING OF KONG: A FISTFUL OF QUARTERS (James McNally’s TSS review)
  9. MICHAEL CLAYTON
  10. THE HOAX
  11. THE LOOKOUT
  12. RATATOUILLE
  13. KURT COBAIN: ABOUT A SON
  14. BILLY THE KID (James McNally’s TSS review)
  15. CHOP SHOP
  16. STEEP
  17. THE DARJEELING LIMITED
  18. NANKING
  19. BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU’RE DEAD
  20. A MIGHTY HEART
  21. THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM
  22. JOSHUA
  23. THE DEVIL CAME ON HORSEBACK
  24. 3:10 TO YUMA
  25. MY KID COULD PAINT THAT
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