If you like pleasant, upbeat movies, you'll enjoy most of my favorites of 2007.
Although I still take in the occasional R-rated film, I needed a break from the violent, crude and profanity-laced films. Other people have told me the same thing. Some of us only can stand so many F-words and so many graphic killings in two-hour increments.
So, I leaned toward PG and PG-13 movies that I thought would leave me feeling good, rather than depressed, as I left the theater.
With that said, three R-rated movies did make my Top 10 list. Here it is, in alphabetical order:
"Bella" (rated PG-13): You can't help but feel happy after seeing this one. It centers around the importance of the family, devotion and life, in general. There are no big-name stars, just a lot of big hearts.
"Bug" (rated R): Ashley Judd stands out in this psychological, almost old-fashioned horror flick. Unlike the gratuitous torture or continuous gore in most of today's so-called horror movies, this one gets into your mind. It's not for the faint of heart, though.
"Enchanted" (rated PG): No, I didn't see this and "Bug" back to back. This part-animated, mostly real-life film is just plain fun. Amy Adams is a cartoon princess who is cast off to the real New York City where she meets her "prince," played by Patrick Dempsey. The culture shock leads to lots of laughs.
"Hairspray" (rated PG): Another fun film, "Hairspray" also is inspiring. From the opening song to the feel-good ending, it defies even a curmudgeon to not smile. Bubbly Nikki Blonsky is just wonderful, as is a slightly tongue-in-cheek John Travolta, who plays her mom.
"Lars and the Real Girl" (rated PG-13): One of the most strange movies I've ever seen, but also one of the most compassionate. I saw it at the Sundance Theater in Madison. Dubuque never got it. But a proposed new theater in Dubuque could alleviate such miscues in the future. Ryan Gosling stars as an extreme introvert in the Midwest who finds companionship in the form of an inflatable woman. Trust me, it's heart-warming.
"Talk to Me" (rated R): Based on the true story of 1960s DJ Ralph Waldo "Petey" Greene, this film is a mesmerizing tale. Don Cheadle is fantastic as Petey. I saw it with my wife, Kris, at one of the free Carnegie-Stout Public Library showings. Warning: There is a lot of profanity in this one.
"3:10 to Yuma" (rated R): Kris, and I saw this in Minneapolis (it did come to Dubuque, though). It's violent. It's rough. But, heck, it's the Old West. What would you expect? Russell Crowe and Christian Bale put on a great show in this remake of a 1957 western.
"The Final Season" (rated PG): As Kris knows, there must be at least one sports movie on my list every year. This isn't one of the best, but it fits the dependable mold by following Norway (Iowa) High School's final baseball season.
"The Hoax" (rated R): Based on the true story, Richard Gere stars as author Clifford Irving, who manages to write a fake book about Howard Hughes and pull the wool over the eyes of almost everyone. I was amazed that he got as far with it as he did.
"Waitress" (rated PG-13): Keri Russell stars as a small-town waitress who faces some big-time decisions. As with several of my favorite 2007 films, this one emphasizes the importance of family and devotion. Andy Griffith plays a grumpy, but wise and lovable, character.
Three that just missed my cut: "Ratatouille," "The Last Mimzy" and "Sicko," the documentary by one of my least favorite directors, Michael Moore. But, hey, you've got to give credit where credit is due.
Send me your lists at jswenson@wcinet.com.
