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Any of these Best Of lists that have “Once” on them are correct…BUT, any of them that include “Into The Wild” are so, so wrong!!

The Top 10 films of the year chosen by The Canadian Press
TORONTO – The Top 10 films of 2007 as chosen by the writers and editors of the entertainment department at The Canadian Press:
Away From Her: Dubbed a masterpiece by American film critic Roger Ebert, Sarah Polley’s directorial debut is a visually stunning, heart-wrenching yet deftly reserved exploration of a long and occasionally troubled marriage and what happens to it when Alzheimer’s disease intrudes. Julie Christie and Gordon Pinsent play Fiona and Grant, and while both are outstanding it’s Pinsent who steals the film, masterfully conveying his internal devastation, but outward stoicism, as he watches his ailing wife of 45 years fall in love with another man. (Lee-Anne Goodman)
Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead: A harrowing story of a self-destructive family in meltdown. Uncomfortable to watch from the opening frame, Sidney Lumet’s film traces the mounting desperation of the Hanson brothers after a jewelry store heist goes terribly awry. The superb cast of Ethan Hawke, Albert Finney, Marisa Tomei and especially Philip Seymour Hoffman, who displays an astonishing range of emotions, elevates this crime drama far above most in the genre. (Mike Fuhrmann)
Into the Wild: Newcomer Emile Hirsch arrived on the scene with a roar in this heart-stopping adaptation of the Jon Krakauer book about a young man’s deadly attempt to live off the land in rural Alaska. Director Sean Penn (who did some of the camera work himself) captures breathtaking panoramas that will make even the most reluctant traveller feel like hitting the road. Hirsch’s portrayal of Christopher McCandless, meanwhile, is devastating – striking an exquisite balance between charming idealism and the arrogant bravado of youth. Rounded out by some top-notch performances from Catherine Keener, William Hurt and Hal Holbrook, whose touching portrayal of a widower who befriends McCandless almost steals the movie. (Andrea Baillie)
Juno: Yes, the dialogue was impossibly quirky and clever. But it was hard to ignore the sheer overall charm of this teen pregnancy comedy, which featured a tour-de-force performance from Halifax actress Ellen Page, not to mention another sweet turn from baby-faced Michael Cera of Brampton, Ont. Montreal-born director Jason Reitman sets a nifty comedic tone with his followup to “Thank You for Smoking.” And the film’s script, by former stripper Diablo Cody, is sure to win kudos during awards season. (Andrea Baillie)
Knocked Up: It’s been criticized for being unrealistic and borderline sexist, but never mind: Judd Apatow’s followup to “Forty-Year-Old Virgin” was also laugh-out-loud funny, with only “Superbad,” the filmmaker’s other 2007 outing, coming close to beating it as the year’s best comedy. Sure, Katherine Heigl is gorgeous and Seth Rogen’s character is a loser and a slob, but he’s also a sweetheart. And yes, the women in the film are often shrill, but Apatow makes it quite clear they’re taking on a much larger load in terms of responsibilities than the men in the movie. The film’s best moments? The antics of Rogen’s ragtag band of stoner friends – some of them proudly Canadian – and his magic mushroom road trip with Paul Rudd to Vegas. (Lee-Anne Goodman)
Lars and the Real Girl: Any movie about a sex doll could so easily be a study in frat-boy creepiness, but this gentle and kind-hearted film about the social misfit of a small town who falls in love with the anatomically correct Bianca is delightful. Billed as a comedy, it does have some very funny moments, but mostly it’s a sweet look at how a non-judgmental community rallies behind Lars and his chaste love for a Brazilian sex doll in order to help him grapple with his childhood demons. Canadian Ryan Gosling stars as Lars, and he’s brilliant, particularly in a heartbreaking scene in his shrink’s office as he describes the thing that most terrifies him – human touch. (Lee-Anne Goodman)
Michael Clayton: A coolly intelligent thriller with three fabulous performances – George Clooney as the depressed, down-on-his-luck fixer at a high-powered Manhattan law firm, Tom Wilkinson as the senior partner who’s gone off his meds and needs to be brought to heel, and Tilda Swinton as an ambitious powerbroker at an evil corporation. Smart, slick, suspenseful and beautifully shot, the film boasts a deliciously satisfying ending but also has moments of quiet reflection that keep viewers thinking long after the final frame. (Lee-Anne Goodman)
No Country for Old Men: A riveting morality tale from the Coen brothers that has it all – mesmerizing performances, breathtaking scenery, taut suspense, dry wit and a surprising, unconventional, ending. There’s also the gasp-inducing violence – often unforeseen and shockingly graphic – which could put off the squeamish. But those who bear through the blood will find a compelling meditation on brutality that stays true to the Cormac McCarthy novel that inspired the film. Spanish movie star Javier Bardem is a standout as the unsettling villain Anton Chigurh. (Cassandra Szklarski)
Once: Originality at the movies is a precious commodity these days, which is why this quiet film about a halting romance between an Irish busker and a young Czech immigrant was such a dazzler. Shot in a gritty, cinema-verite style, it stunningly reinvented the conventional movie musical, with songs evolving organically (and often ingeniously) from the storyline. The scene in which the two leads (singer Glen Hansard and his young co-star Marketa Irglova) tentatively play a duet in a music store was perhaps the most magical in any film this year. (Andrea Baillie)
The Savages: This quirky family drama manages to be both funny and touching while avoiding the sentimental sap that often plagues similar fare. Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney are brilliant as estranged siblings who reunite to put their faltering father in an old age home, their nuanced performances saturating each flawed character with hilarity and pathos. There are no easy answers in this smart story, a deft look at abuse, self-esteem and the complexity of relationships. (Cassandra Szklarski)