Top Films of 2017 22-18 Reviewed

22. Three Colours: Blue -- It was hard to choose a favorite from the Three Colours Trilogy because each of these films was masterfully shot, the writing and acting was phenomenal, and Krystof Kieślowski's directing was breath taking. The first entry in the trilogy, Blue is also the saddest, depicting a young woman's struggle to live in isolation after the death of her husband and child. Juliette Binoche brings Julie to life and adeptly depicts her struggles. The trilogy's themes are those of the French Revolutionary Ideals. The film's subject is liberty, and it shows the difficulty of achieving freedom and autonomy, yet it also shows how connections  with others can be freeing. 

 21. On the Bowery -- One of the more thematically interesting films that I watched last year. On the Bowery is a biopic of the early days of New York City's Bowery. The director, Lionel Rogosin, hired actual Bowery inhabitants and shot it in that section of the city. It tells a story of the poverty and alcoholism that was rampant among the city's homeless population. A real eye-opener that depicts a bygone and forgotten time in American history. 



20. The Naked City --Jules Dassin's early police procedural feels like it influenced much to come, especially such concepts as Dragnet. Also filmed in New York City, it tells the story of a veteran cop on the trail of a young girl's killer. The noirish qualities and tight plotting make it one of the best of its type, mixing the procedural with an amazing early realism. The ending is must see. 
19. The Steel Helmet -- Samuel Fuller uses realism to elevate this low-budget Korean War film to a higher level than most. The first film about the war, it also deals with heavy issues such as racism and class conflict. Fuller made many grittier films, but he made few that show the realities of life and relationships with such fervor. 


18. Piccadilly -- E.A. Dupont's silent film is an early vehicle for Anna May Wong. The story of a dancer caught in a tragic love triangle, the film's impressive dance numbers and the expressive performance by Wong are extremely entertaining. Wong's star qualities are very evident even when she plays a less than virtuous character. 

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