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St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association 2007 Awards of Excellence

by Mary Morgan is a member of the St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association.
            The votes are in and the news is out. The members of the St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association (SLGFCA) have voted No Country for Old Men Best Picture of 2007. The Coen Brothers, Ethan and Joel, have once again crafted a prize-winning film that will quickly capture your attention, reel you in and leave you somewhat bewildered when it’s all over. Set in rural west Texas during the 1980s, the opening scenes are of a hunter, Llywelyn Moss (Josh Brolin), who stumbles upon the grisly remains a bloody shoot-out in the middle of the desert. All signs point to a drug deal gone bad. Following a trail of blood, Moss discovers a leather bag filled with cash. There is a momentary pause and a quick decision that forever sets the course of his future. — Moss takes the bag.
            In no time at all, the “bad guys” are on the trail of their missing loot and will stop at nothing to get it back. Perhaps their most valuable weapon in their arsenal is the emotionless psychopath, Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem), who happens to be packing a compressed air cattle gun. On the side of the “good guys” is sheriff Bell (Tommy Lee Jones), who plods along following clues and looking for justice. The R rating from the MPAA is well deserved, as violence reigns supreme in this crime drama.
            The SLGFCA honored Ellen Paige with its Best Actress award for her performance in Juno. An endearing, down-to-earth tale of a bright, witty high school student who finds herself pregnant after one night of experimentation with her friend and classmate, Bleeker (Michael Cera), this catchy film is bound to earn your praise. Juno (Ellen Page) is the witty, resilient product of a broken marriage who lives with her father and his new wife and copes with her situation quite well. When she discovers that she is pregnant, she takes matters into her own hands in an effort to resolve the situation suitably so that she can resume her life.
            This film is in touch with modern situations and throws in good advice about true love, adult decisions and family ties. A feel-good film that resolves itself in spite of a troubling turn of fate, it deserves its mild PG-13 rating, as it is not at all sexually explicit.
            Best Actor of 2007? “Daniel Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood, say the local critics. Set in the early days of “Texas Oil” there was plenty of fast money to be made and plenty of opportunity to buy into the philosophy of greed and corruption that went hand in hand with the fledgling industry. Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis), former silver miner, wasted no time in getting in on the schemes and outright scams that thrived in the lawless climate of the new industry. A prospector and self-made scoundrel, Plainview worked his way up to the ranks of the oil elite, gaining great wealth, but losing his soul.
            The 1927 Upton Sinclair novel Oil! supplies the basics of the story and its adaptation to the big screen is artfully accomplished by writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson. Greed, vengeance and religion are deeply woven into this tale of abject immorality, and Daniel Day-Lewis’ character plays right into the morally bankrupt role of Daniel Plainview.
            The St. Louis critics group voted Amy Ryan Best Supporting actress for her role as Helene McCready in Gone Baby Gone, the tale of a young girl gone missing and the perilous search for her in one of the most crime-ridden neighborhoods of Boston.
            The Best Supporting Actor award went to Casey Affleck for his expertise with the complicated role of Robert Ford in The Assassination of Jesse James by The Coward Robert Ford. Always chasing after fame, Ford tagged along after the notorious James Gang, continually looking for a way to become a member, but always being rebuffed by the hardened criminals.
            This month, be sure to catch a few of these outstanding films at your favorite theater and see just what impressed the SLGFCA.  Have fun agreeing or disagreeing with their choices. After all, we’re all critics!

Additional SLGFCA 2007 picks:
Best Director - Coen Brothers for No Country For Old Men.
Best Cinematography - The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Best Comedy - Juno
Best Screenplay - Juno
Best Foreign Language Film - The Diving Bell And The Butterfly
Best Documentary - Sicko
Best Animated or Children’s Film - Ratatouille Best Visual Effects - 300
Best Score - Sweeny Todd
Most Original or Innovative Film - I’m Not  There