2007, a Review.

With our first year of blogging in the bag I thought it would be a good time to review the best and worst of 2007. Now obviously I haven’t heard every song, watched every film and seen every football game this year so this is only a reflection of my own experiences and views of 2007. Feel free to add your own faves on the comments page. Here we go, my very own Oscars!

Best Film – This Is England:

Director Shane Meadows follows the modern British classic Dead Man’s Shoes with another winner. This Is England follows a gang of skinheads in 80s England and Meadows does a great job in capturing the feeling of the period. It switches from heartwarming and funny to vile and menacing a few times during the film making it quite an experience to watch. Top performances from young Thomas Turgoose and Joseph ‘Eli Dingle’ Gilgun as well as a great show from Stephen Graham for making the viewer feel sorry for such a disgusting character.

Honourable mentions: Hot Fuzz, Knocked Up, The Simpson Movie.

Worst Film – Magicians:

As a massive fan of Peep Show this film was painful to watch. All concerned look uncomfortable and the script is awful. The comedic talents of David Mitchell, Robert Webb, Jessica Hynes, Peter Capaldi and particularly Steve Edge are wasted. Some of his dialogue made me want to stop watching the film. Truly shit.

Honourable mentions – Pirates of the Caribbean 3.

Best Album – The White Stripes - Icky Thump:

It’s always been a pleasure to pick up one of their albums and Icky Thump was no different. I really didn’t know what to make of it after my first listen but it grew on me in a big way. It’s great to see a band use both bagpipes and mariachi trumpets of the same album!

Honourable mentions – The World Is Yours: Ian Brown, Hey Venus!: Super Furry Animals, Neon Bible: Arcade Fire.

Best Song – Sister Rose – Ian Brown:

Apparently this only got to number 87 in the UK charts which to my reckoning must have sold about twelve copies. Despite this poor chart placement it’s my favourite tune of 2007. Like the best solo stuff he’s produced it’s heavy on the strings giving it a film score like quality. I find it extremely exhilarating.

Best Television Programme – Heroes.

Yes I know it resembles a soap and at times the acting is as wooden as a mighty oak tree but I’ve found it really addictive viewing. I didn’t like it to begin with but I eventually went back to it and loved it second time round. I’ve even switched to watching American TV just so I can see the second series early.

Honourable Mentions – Gavin and Stacey, Lost, Charlie Brookers Screenwipe, Flight of the Conchords.

Worst Television Programme – X Factor:

My God I hate Sharon Osbourne. What a repulsive little troll she is.

Honourable Mentions – Tittytittybangbang, Kate Brand Show.

Best Comedian – Frankie Boyle:

This Glaswegian has been a regular on the numerous television panel shows this year and has for me raised the bar on what I expect from these sort of programmes. His stand up pulls no punches and he doesn’t shy away from any topic, something I like in my comedians. I’m sure he’ll be big in 2008. Here’s some quotes:

“So the Spice Girls are coming back? The only reason I’d want to see Geri Halliwell draped in a Union Jack again would be after she’d been killed in battle”

“What were Al Qaeda thinking when they attacked Glasgow Airport? Let’s bring a Holy War to Glasgow? We’re 400 years ahead of you lads, you haven’t even got yourselves a football team yet”

Honourable mentions: Stewart Lee, Andre Vincent, Ricky Gervais.

Best Wales Game – Wales 5 – Slovakia 2.

For a brief moment there was so much hope.

Worst Wales Game – Cyprus 3 – Wales 1.

And back down to Earth.

Best Everton Game – Everton 7 – Sunderland 1.

Scary thing was we could have scored more.

Worst Everton Game – Everton 1 – Liverpool 2.

It’s all water under the bridge now and I’m totally over it but I’ve got to say referee Mark Clattenburg should have committed Harakiri after this game.


Doubt I'll get another chance to blog before Christmas now so I take this opportunity to say Merry Christmas to all who have taken the time to read any of our rambles.