Best of 1957

David Lean's storytelling prowess reaches perfection. Excitement, social commentary and emotion all blend to deliver first rate movie making.

This is a classic character study that is both touching and comedic. Sad, yet poignant. Giuletta Masina delivers a powerful performance as a prostitute. (She was Fellini's wife.)

Bergman's statement on old age. Touching, elegant and poignant.

Definitive Kurosawa. Arguably the greatest Shakespearean adaptation on screen. Hypnotic and totally cinematic.

One half in the trenches, the other half in the courtroom. Both equally disturbing. One of the finest anti-war films ever made.

Later film noir with a harsh street life reality. Outstanding writing with great performances.

A great adaptation of a classic play. Funny, tragic and intelligent with a mosaic of varied characters. Mifune's finest performance (and it's a supporting role!)

Sirk is most famous for his "woman weepies." This is an exception. It also happens to be his best film. Clean and effortless storytelling with memorable characters. However, it's the unforgettable black and white cinematography that lingers long after the film is over. It has a nostalgic feel not that different from The Last Picture Show. Tarnished Angels remains an underrated gem that exists in unpretentious perfection.

Lumet's debut is a tightly written courtroom drama that is both profound and riveting. It's amazing how much suspense and drama can come from one room with 12 people. Henry Fonda is superb.

The second chapter in the Apu trilogy is the most unconventional and arguably the most complex. The boy reaches adolescence and the questions truly begin. Traditionally second chapters don't offer many answers and this film is no exception. It's all about the journey. It may be my least favorite of the trilogy but it still remains a brilliant bit of filmmaking and storytelling.