The most interesting films of '07.

Delayed, but who is in a hurry anyway?
An opportunity to mark the movies that impressed me the most the year that has just gone by.
Some of them will endure the test of time...

According to this blog, the most interesting movies of 2007 are:

• "The Banishment" (Izgnanie), by Andrei Zvyagintsev (Russia): Simply a masterpiece. Astonishing from every aspect. In 10 years it will be among the canon films...
  

• "4 months, 3 weeks and 2 nights" (4 luni, 3 saptamani si 2 zile), by Cristian Mungiu (Romania): Competes with the Banishment as the best film of the year, surely a proof of how one can shoot almost Perfection with very little money. Having only as a backgound the sick dictatorial regime of Ceausecu, it is a disturbing film that shrinks your stomach with painful dilemmas and strugles that young Otilia has to face despite her maturity and immense internal strength.A gem.
  

• "No Country for Old Men", by Ethan & Joel Cohen (USA). The strongest movie of the Cohen brothers for years. If american cinema was mainly like this, the States would be a lot more appealing to the world. Javier Bardem as the absolute destruction nemesis, a plague... The parallel story of the 'quiet force' that stems from Tommy Lee Jones balances the film in a magic way.
  

• "Once", by John Carney (Ireland). The music film of our generation. Unique, honest, the most feel good film that i saw this year with my endorphins shooting up the roof. There is no way you won't feel complete euphoria exiting the screening room.

• "Michael Clayton" by Tony Gilroy (USA). Once again, a great film on the absurdity and moral decline of the corporate kingdom, with Clooney in the most fitting role. His choices already a guarantee for the quality of the film...

• "Eastern Promises" by David Cronenberg (Canada, UK). Indeed, Cronenberg made a second excellent movie in a row! It's because he found his muse, Viggo Mortensen who is the reason this film is so good.
  

• "Lust, Caution" (Se, Jie) by Ang Lee (China). A great Auteur of our times and gifted storryteller. I loved this film. The sensuality and the sensitivity of the major Asian directors belong to another class altogether.

• "Zidane, a 21st century portrait" by Douglas Gordon and Philippe Pareno (France). Elegy to Zidane shot in a way that was never done before. During a 90 minute soccer game, cameras from every angle film only Zidane in any situation or pose he is at. Even when the game is played elsewhere all the cameras are fixed on him. Unexpectedly sublime. Music by Mogwai. Of course he scores and gets a red card...

• "Before the Devil Knows, You're Dead", by Sydney Lumet (USA). 84 years old Lumet is able to shoot a movie of complex characters with such a clarity and brio that a 20 year old would be jealous of. Pure enjoyment on human decadence.
  

• "Atonement" by Joe Wright (UK). I went to see the film without expectations. It touched me cause the chemistry of McAvoy and Knightley is more than persuasive and the books of McEwan are always a tool for a great film.
  

• "12:08 East of Bucharest" by Corneliu Porumboiu (Romania). The belle epoque of the Romanian cinema. This IS Romanian New Wave. Wonderful black comedy.
  

• "Gucha! Distant Trumpet" (Guca!) by Dusan Milic (Serbia). The movie that Kusturica CANNOT make anymore for at least the last 10+ years. Balkan craze.
  

• "First Snow" by Mark Fergus (USA). Guy Pearce plays incredibly. The only slightly metaphysical film that did not annoy me, on the contrary i was haunted by it for days...
  

• "Red Road" by Andrea Arnold (Scotland). Debut of clear technical superiority shot atmospherically with the self-confidence of a veteran! Finally a female director in the list. Waiting for her next film!
  

• "After the wedding" (Εfter bryllupet) by Susanne Bier (Denmark). After watching it for the third time it somehow eased the stirring it caused. For movies like this I love Cinema dearly...