These introductory paragraphs before any list of “best of” or “worst of” list always feel redundant. It’s only been a year, do you really need a recap that badly? Here is the Bronsonfive.com list of the Top Ten Best Films of 2007:

1. No Country for Old Men (The Coen Brothers) - Probably the bleakest film of the year, No Country for Old Men follows a satchel of money and the various people connected with it. But this film isn’t just about the chase; it’s about change. Tommy Lee Jones plays Sheriff Tom Bell, an aged lawmen coming to grips with a new age of crime, and Javier Bardem’s Anton Chigurh is easily one of the scariest characters ever to grace the big screen.
2. There Will Be Blood (Paul Thomas Anderson) - Daniel Day-Lewis gives what may very well be the best performance of his career. PT Anderson’s epic (and loose) adaptation of Upton Sinclair’s Oil! follows Plainview (Day-Lewis) as he goes from silver miner to oil prospector, and the greed that follows. Robert Elswit’s photography is nothing shy of stunning.
3. Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (Sidney Lumet) - The plot seems simple enough - a jewelry store robbery goes awry - but manages to become a complex family drama when the culprits involved accidentally kill the wrong the person. Lumet enters his 80s gracefully and directs his best film since Network.
4. The Savages (Tamara Jenkins) - A pair of siblings, played by Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman, must pause their lives in order to deal with their father’s dementia. Great performances, characters, and a rather touching script keep this film from drowning in melodrama.
5. 3:10 to Yuma (James Mangold) - The first truly notable western since Eastwood’s Unforgiven, this remake even surpasses its source material. Wonderfully shot by Phedon Papamichael, this gritty film is so dusty, you almost want to take a shower after its over.
6. Knocked Up (Judd Apatow)/Superbad (Greg Mottola) - Comedies rarely make my year-end this but 2007 made sure there was two films worthy of attention. Knocked Up somehow managed to be both hilarious and a romantic comedy, without the aid of the traditional formula, while Superbad brought me back to high school like no other film before it.
7. Hot Fuzz (Edgar Wright) - This film includes so many references the genre I love - cheesy 80s/90s action films - that the grin on my face extended from ear to ear throughout its entire runtime. Never has the urge to watch Point Break struck me so hard.
8. Once (John Carney) - This touching little music-focused narrative barely made a peep amongst the general movie going populace but the few who saw it know how captivating it is.
9. Sunshine (Danny Boyle) - Probably the black sheep of the list, Danny Boyle teams up once again with scribe Alex Garland (28 Days Later). This time they create a science fiction odyssey about a group astronauts and scientists trying to re-ignite the dying sun.
10. Zodiac (David Fincher) - This epic look at the lives of investigators and journalists obsessed with the Zodiac killer is filled with amazing performances from all involved (Robert Downey Jr. especially) and beautifully looming cinematography.

There were a few other films that definitely need a mention. Craig Brewer’s Black Snake Moan was an interesting character study about a blues man and a white trash nymphomaniac. The Bourne series stays strong with its third go-round, The Bourne Ultimatum, directed by Paul Greengrass. Ben Affleck’s Gone Baby Gone is his first attempt at directing and proves his talents may be hidden. Dare I mention how much fun I had watching Michael Davis’ Shoot ‘Em Up? Michael Moore’s Sicko was a nice reminder of why we began liking Moore in the first place; it’s much more reserved (yet just as important) than his other films. Charlie Wilson’s War, directed by Mike Nichols, somehow managed to merge politics with fun perfectly (and Philip Seymour Hoffman’s performances are 3 for 3 this year).