The Best of 2007
The Best of 2007
As 2007 comes to an end, I can't help but think of what the highlights of the year were. There were so many movies, TV shows, books, and performances that kept me entertained this year that it's difficult to pick the best of each category…but I'll do my best!
- Movie: Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
I had been looking forward to Walk Hard for months before it was released, and I had good reason to because it did not disappoint! John C. Reilly was perfect as singer Dewey Cox, and I loved that instead of having a younger actor play teenage Dewey, the director (Jake Kasdan) had Reilly playing him from the age of fourteen, while the wonderful Kristen Wiig played "Dewey's twelve-year-old girlfriend!" The movie was hilarious and full of great performances from people I love, including Jenna Fischer, Chris Parnell, Tim Meadows, Paul Rudd, Ed Helms, Craig Robinson, Jack McBrayer, John Michael Higgins, and Jack Black. I'm a sucker for comedies and movies about music, so I'm not surprised that Walk Hard ended up being my favorite movie of 2007!
Honorable mention: Blades of Glory
- TV Show (Comedy): Flight of the Conchords
I've been a fan of this New Zealand musical comedy duo (made up of Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie) since I saw them on HBO's One Night Stand two years ago, so I was thrilled when I found out they were getting their own show! I love everything about the show, but the songs are the best part. I can't help but love songs with lyrics like "You're so beautiful, you could be a waitress," "Why can't a heterosexual guy tell a heterosexual guy that he thinks his booty is fly?," and "I'm not crying, it's just been raining…on my face." Flight of the Conchords is helping to fill the void left by the cancellation of Arrested Development, and I'm very thankful for that!
Honorable mention: The Office
- TV Show (Drama): Dexter
I'm not generally a fan of dramas, but I checked season one of Dexter out from the library and instantly became obsessed with it. Blood spatter analyst Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) is one of the most likable characters on television…and he just so happens to be a serial killer! I never thought I would root for a killer, but Dexter only kills murderers who have never been brought to justice, so by getting rid of these people, he is preventing more innocent people who might someday become victims of these vicious killers. Dexter is full of secrets and twists, and it's absolutely addictive!
Honorable mention: The 4400
- CD: Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story soundtrack
I bought the Walk Hard soundtrack before I saw the movie, and listening to it made me even more excited about seeing the movie than I already was…and now that I've seen and loved the movie, I like the soundtrack even more! I hate country music with a passion, and a few of the tracks on the CD are pretty country, but I love them anyway (especially "Walk hard" and "Let's Duet"). I like all of the songs, but my favorites (besides the two I just mentioned) are the fun disco track "Starman" (a cover of a David Bowie song) and "Beautiful Ride," in which Dewey sings about the lessons he's learned throughout the years. I never realized what a wonderful singer John C. Reilly is, but now that I have this CD, I can't get enough of his voice!
Honorable mention: The Distant Future-Flight of the Conchords
- Book: I Am America (And So Can You!)-Stephen Colbert
I've been a fan of Stephen Colbert for years, so I knew I would love this book! I own the book and the audiobook, and having both really enhances the I Am America experience. I'd never listened to an audiobook before I bought this one, but hearing Stephen read the book just made it funnier and more enjoyable! I can't get enough of him…and that's why "Stephen Colbert is America!"
Honorable mention: No Time For Goodbye-Linwood Barclay
- Actor (Movie): John C. Reilly- Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
John C. Reilly proved he could do comedy in last year's Talladega Nights, so I was confident that he would do a good job of bringing Jake Kasdan and Judd Apatow's screenplay to life. I knew Reilly was a good actor, but he blew me away with his portrayal of fictional music legend Dewey Cox. Dewey's career spans many decades in the film, and Reilly perfectly embodied the spirit of every musical style and era Dewey was a part of. And that voice! I could listen to him sing forever!
Honorable mention: Michael Cera-Superbad
- Actress (Movie): Jenna Fischer- Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
I love Jenna Fischer on The Office, and I thought she was great in Blades of Glory, but she has never impressed me as much as she did in Walk Hard! Fischer plays Darlene Madison, Dewey Cox's back-up singer, who is torn between her desire to remain chaste and her growing attraction to Dewey. The scene where Darlene keeps trying to kiss Dewey, then pulls away at the last second is hilarious…I've seen some conflicted characters before, but never have they been played like this! I also enjoyed the montage where Dewey and Darlene provocatively ride horses and eat ice cream cones!
Honorable mention: Kristen Wiig-Knocked Up and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
- Actor (TV Show): Michael C. Hall-Dexter
As I said earlier, Michael C. Hall plays a serial killer who happens to be one of the most charming, likable characters on television. That alone could make him the best actor of the 2007 TV season, but the fact that he plays a man who basically has no feelings, yet still makes us care about everything he's going through (and believe me, Dexter has been through all kinds of terrible and shocking things in the show's two seasons) has convinced me that Hall is a phenomenal actor, and no one else could play Dexter as perfectly as he does!
Honorable mention: Alec Baldwin-30 Rock
- Actress (TV Show): Tina Fey-30 Rock
Tina Fey has been one of my role models since her days at Saturday Night Live, and while she is primarily known as a writer, her work on 30 Rock (which she created) has shown people that she can act too! Fey's Liz Lemon is the funniest woman on TV, and her chemistry with Alec Baldwin is fantastic! As a woman who wants to write comedy for a living, I can really relate to Liz, and I'm grateful for that since there aren't many women I can relate to on TV or in the movies!
Honorable mention: Mindy Kaling-The Office
- Season Finale: The Office
Three words: "It's a date."
Honorable mention: Dexter
Copyright ©2007
By Crystal Smith