10 most redeeming films of 2007

Christianity Today lists their picks for the 10 most redeeming films of 2007.

First off, what do we mean by "redeeming" films? They're all stories of redemption—sometimes blatantly, sometimes less so. Several of them literally have a character that represents a redeemer; all of them have characters who experience redemption to some degree—some quite clearly, some more subtly. Some are "feel-good" movies that leave a smile on your face; some are a bit more uncomfortable to watch. But the redemptive element is there in all of these films.

Their list [go to CT's site to read their full comments and for links to their full reviews]:

1. Into Great Silence
directed by Philip Gröning
On my list of films to see.

2. Lars and the Real Girl
directed by Craig Gillespie

3. Juno
directed by Jason Reitman
This quirky film is well worth seeing. Ellen Page is wonderful as the a pregnant teen.

4. Amazing Grace
directed by Michael Apted
An excellent bio-pic about the life of William Wilberforce, the Christian politician who almost single-handedly was responsible for the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire.

5. Bella
directed by Alejandro Monteverde

6. Into the Wild
directed by Sean Penn
A coming age of film on running away from problems and in doing so runs right past the meaning of life.

7. The Kite Runner
directed by Marc Forster
The book was great, but the reviews on the film haven't been the greatest... I'll probably see it on dvd.

8. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
directed by Julian Schnabel

9. Ratatouille
directed by Brad Bird
I never got around to seeing this one... I'll rent it soon.

10. Freedom Writers
directed by Richard LaGravenese


The Ones That Got Away

• The Bucket List
• Dan in Real Life
• The Devil Came on Horseback
• Eve and the Fire Horse
• Gone Baby Gone
• Once
• The Painted Veil
• Rescue Dawn
• The Savages
• Spider-Man 3

I haven't seen any of these - although Once is on my list.

Any other suggestions for redemptive films?