I think we have had enough cursory discussion; you probably want me to get on with the list. Well, the time has come. Be warned that this will likely change as I catch up on the January stragglers.

Top Ten Movies for 2007: Version I

1. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Tim Burton has put his stamp on a tragic love story for the ages. It is steeped in darkness, spiced with humor, and told through glorious song. It is a film that is at once personal, intimate, and grandiose, a wonderful example of the Grand Guignol aesthetic. Johnny Depp delivers a strong, subtle performance portraying the inner turmoil of lost love and vengeful desires; he barely contains the rage boiling inside There is something to the artistic arterial spray, the purely cinematic translation of the theatrical experience that won me over. It is absolutely gorgeous to look at, a sense of darkly comic dread reaching into the shadows as it plays with your emotions, drawing you to itself, ever closer to its ultimate climax, and all the while you hope for the best while expecting the worst. It plays out the only way it can and it is brilliant.

2. No Country for Old Men. This is, quite frankly, a brilliant film (even with the ending). It is one of those movies that grabs hold and digs into your brain, daring you not to watch. I haven't quite worked out all of the details, but there is no denying the film's greatness. With their latest outing, the Coen brothers may just have crafted the finest film of their career. You have to watch closely to unearth the truth and discover all the nuance. It may play it straight for most of the time, but that surface simplicity belies the complexity that lurks beneath the surface. This is especially true when the end rolls around. It is a nebulous conclusion that will leave you wondering what exactly happened. This is one brutal ride that will leave wanting to dive back into the deep end.

3. Juno. The dialogue in this film has a wonderful flow; everything said is worth listening to. Every line works towards revealing something about the character delivering it. All of the main characters go through some sort of change and growth over the course of the tale. It all feels natural, all believable, and there is so much depth as the story deals with those issues above her maturity level. Jason Reitman and Diablo Cody have crafted a film that subverts the conventions of the teen comedy. There are no villains, there are no heroes, there are only people faced with difficult choices that they must wrestle with. The characters, all of them, are, in a way, coming of age as they try to make the right decision as they discover new facets of themselves.

4. There Will Be Blood. This is an electrifying, captivating tale that held my attention for its entire running time. The fantastic score, searing performances, breathtaking cinematography, and the intriguing tale held me in its thrall. It is a masterful film that has plenty to offer and it will take multiple viewings to uncover all of its facets. It is a film that does not affect emotionally, but still delivers an incredibly involving experience.Paul Thomas Anderson has crafted a tale that is simultaneously epic and personal. It is a powerful work that allows the actors to shine as they dig into their roles with reckless abandon. The film gives a striking portrait of a man determined to make his mark at all costs delivering a protagonist who is a cluster of contradictions buried behind a facade of charm; however, there is always an air of menace hiding just below the surface.