Top 10 Missed Movies of 2007
Every year there are a number of films that fly under the radar, whether it be because of poor marketing, a limited release schedule or just plain bad luck these films are missed by many. They aren’t #1 films as far as box office numbers go but we know from experience that being a #1 film doesn’t make you a good movie (in 2007 Blades of Glory, Epic Movie, Evan Almighty, Norbit, and Wild Hogs all were #1 movies) but these little hidden gems are some of the best movies you may have missed. So for our Monthly theme we give you the top 10 movies that you missed in 2007.


  #1- Into the Wild
Starring: Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt, Hal Holbrook, Catherine Keener
Directed by: Sean Penn
I think No Country for Old Men has gotten enough press that we don’t need to include it on this list even though you should see it, so we will start the list with Into the Wild instead. The film captured the wander lust that all of us must feel as time as well as the loneliness of its lead character in a heart breaking tale. There is also a little bit of madness in doing what Christopher did but there is also a lot of bravery and heart. Months after seeing this movie the story still stays with me and makes me want to see the movie again and again.


  #2- Gone Baby Gone
Starring: Casey Affleck, Ed Harris, Morgan Freeman, John Ashton, Robert Wahlberg
Directed by: Ben Affleck
Gone Baby Gone was another movie that made my top 10 and another movie that slipped by most people. Ben Affleck might have found the perfect home for himself as he directs one of the best and most gripping movies of the year. After years of bad press he proves that he is as talented as many thought he would be after Good Will Hunting. The film is a griping tale of what is good and what is bad wrapped around a crime mystery and with one of the most morally and thought provoking endings of the year.


  #3- Rescue Dawn
Starring: Christian Bale, Steve Zahn, Zach Grenier, François Chau
Directed by: Werner Herzog
Rescue Dawn was a film I had to wait for the DVD because it only hit my town for a week and then was gone in a blink of an eye. But with every movie Christian Bale does he proves himself worthier and worthier of an Oscar. The ending was a little soft for me but the rest of the movie is fantastic and Steve Zahn gives as good as a performance as Bale and even more heart breaking.


  #4- zodiac
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Edwards, Brian Cox
Directed by: David Fincher
The next film amazes me that so many people missed it simply for the fact is how can you go wrong with David Fincher directing a serial killer movie based on true events. Granted Zodiac is a little long but it is still one of the best films of the year and almost everyone who sees it is gripped with how well done the film was. There might not be a definite answer to who the Zodiac killer was but there is a definite movie about it.


  #5- Sunshine
Starring: Michelle Yeoh, Cillian Murphy, Chris Evans, Troy Garity, Rose Byrne
Directed by: Danny Boyle
Sunshine is a fantastic modern day era Sci-fi film when almost all the sci-fi films seem to be retreads of yesteryears science fiction stories. With remakes of Star Trek in the works and stories like I am Legend making its third bow, it is nice to see good and original science fiction still does exist. While the movie isn’t perfect, the level of madness that the characters feel the closer they get to the sun is palpable and feels oh so real.


  #6- Fracture
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Ryan Gosling, David Strathairn, Rosamund Pike, Embeth Davidtz
Directed by: Gregory Hoblit
Fracture is a well put together criminal and court drama that we so rarely see today in modern cinema. After fifteen years of programs like Law and Order most studios seem to stay away from the court room drama on the big screen which is a shame. As Fracture proves that a tightly contained and well told court room drama can be just as much fun on the big screen as the small screen.


  #7- Death Sentence
Starring: Kevin Bacon, Aisha Tyler, Kelly Preston, Stuart Lafferty, John Goodman
Directed by: James Wan
There were two movies that seem eerily like remakes of Death Wish (which is sadly getting remade as well with Sylvester Stalone as the lead) Death Sentence and the Brave One. And of the two films this is the one to see as the Brave One left a lot to be desired. The story is intriguing on how far a man will go to seek vengeance for those who have wronged him and what the cost of that said vengeance cost the person who seeks it.


  #8- Black Snake Moan
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Christina Ricci, Justin Timberlake, John Cothran Jr, Michael Raymond-James
Directed by: Craig Brewer
Black Snake Moan was another film that I had to catch on DVD as it never made it to the theatres near me and is another good movie that is well worth the rental price. The film deals with love and the addiction many people may have for it and what the cost o that addiction can be to many people. I also has Samuel L. Jackson giving one of his best performances in recent memory.


  #9- Mr. brooks
Starring: Kevin Costner, William Hurt, Demi Moore, Dane Cook, Matt Schulze
Directed by: Bruce Evans
Mr. Brooks was one of my favorite thrillers of the year along with 1408 both of which didn’t get much press at the time. But it is another film about addiction and one about what it might be like if one was actually addicted to murder. The thought is frightening and so is Kevin Costner’s performance as the murdering psychopath that can’t seem to get away from murder.


  #10- In the Valley of Elah
Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron, Jason Patric, Susan Sarandon, Jonathan Tucker
Directed by: Paul Haggis
In a year when almost all the political based movies went kerplunk, and a good number of them rightfully so it caused many people to miss this gem of a film. In the Valley of Elah is not really about the war in Iraq it is more about the aftermath that war has on its soldier’s, their families and our country as a whole. It is easy to dismiss such films not want to dwell on the war but it doesn’t make these realities go away. War is hell, and one should not fight one unless absolutely necessary and to defend ones own life and lives of your loved ones.