The best movie year since 1999, 2007 offered a staggering bounty of cinematic delights. I keep track of all the movies I see in a given year and give each a letter grade, "A" through "F". Usually my Top Ten list consists of all of the "A's" and a few "B's." This year, "A" pictures made up my top twenty. With so many great films, I won't wallow through a "Worst of the Year" list, I'll simply present you with a few that didn't fully satisfy:

The Biggest Disappointment: The Darjeeling Limited -- A Louis Vuitton commercial stretched to feature length. The Darjeeling Limited is a perfect title for the film because it makes plain what a limited filmmaker the once great Wes Anderson has become. Hey Wes, people running in slow-motion while a Kinks song plays is always going to look pretty neat. But if there's absolutely nothing else going on in the scene, then that's all it is -- people running in slow-motion while a Kinks song plays. We all think it's really cool that you like The Kinks. Hell, I love those guys! The Rolling Stones are awesome, too! But I wouldn't ask them to do my job for me.

and...

The Biggest Question Mark: There Will Be Blood

Undoubtedly one of the year's most impressive technical achievements, There Will Be Blood is frequently stunning. It's so stunning, in fact, that it's easy to overlook how infuriatingly empty it all is. The film focuses on two main characters, and neither one changes a lick in thirty years and 158 minutes. How did Paul Thomas Anderson, creator of such deeply emotional rides as Boogie Nights, Magnolia, and Punch Drunk Love come up with a movie completely devoid of human emotion? (I'm not counting greed.) Beautiful, brilliant, and boring in equal doses, I've seen Blood twice, and I still don't know if it's a masterpiece or a mess. I just know I felt...nothing watching it. It's as hollow, as frustrating, as difficult to know as its "hero," Daniel Plainview.

On to my list. First, ten that didn't quite make the cut. Here's #20 through #11: (#20) Breach, (#19) Once, (#18) The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, (#17) Sicko, (#16) Sweeney Todd, (#15) The Lives of Others, (#14) Eastern Promises, (#13) Zodiac, (#12) Atonement, (#11) Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

And my Top Ten is after the jump...

Thank goodness that Owen Wilson is okay. Sunday evening, when I first saw reports of his hospitalization, there were rumors of heroin overdose and other implications that the actor might not recover. It is still very, very sad that the truth ended up being attempted suicide -- all I could think of was Luke Wilson's scene in The Royal Tenenbaums and Owen's suicidal moping in Wedding Crashers -- and I realize that he has some serious issues to deal with. But mostly I'm glad he's still with us.

Apparently his being alive isn't good enough for some people, who are now thinking only of how Sunday's incident will affect Wilson's box office and/or work schedule. According to the trades this morning, three of the actor's projects may be adversely impacted. The first is Wes Anderson's The Darjeeling Limited, which hits the festival circuit this weekend, starting with Venice, and then opens September 29. Personally, I don't think anyone will mind if Wilson sits out the promotional tour for this one. As his statement on Monday urged, we can certainly leave the guy alone for a bit. Also, this incident should not be looked at as a scandal nor should it be comparable with any of the Lindsay Lohan or Tom Cruise stuff that has affected their respective box office.

The second project that appears (to them) to be in trouble is Tropic Thunder, which is currently filming in Hawaii and in which Wilson is supposed to appear. According to The Hollywood Reporter, his part in the movie is only a cameo, yet it still seems to be a concern that he may be replaced. When prompted for a response regarding the role, DreamWorks issued a statement only saying that, "Filming on Tropic Thunder continues." Finally, 20th Century Fox was asked about whether or not the incident will affect Marley & Me, which starts shooting in January. Fox responded by saying, "It's a totally inappropriate question at this time when all our thoughts and concerns are with his health and well being." Exactly.