On the Waterfront, 1954 - ★★★★½
It’s such a massive leap in performance and direction, from other American films of that era. Brando’s visceral performance and Bernstein’s propulsive score set it closer to the French new wave and Italian neorealism than Hollywood studio slop.
Yes I’ve seen Orson Welles’s speech about Kazan and why he should be eternally condemned but even he gives his devil his due on this film.
An all time classic. Brando was never better.