The Best Years of Our Lives

1946.

#37 / #37

Winner of 7 Academy Awards.

THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES chronicles three veterans returning from combat in WWII. One soldier comes home to a family that he hardly recognizes, another to a wife he barely knows, and the third (Homer) returns home having lost his hands. They meet on the return flight home, and their lives intertwine as they re-adjust to civilian life.

Sarah: Though the movie is long, and a bit slow paced, it was rewarding. I was most impressed with the performances, especially the man who played Homer (Harold Russell). The man who played him wasn't an actor, but a real-life war-amputee. This added a lot of honesty to the movie. His performance is so inspiring that he won two Oscars for it.

The film touched on a lot of issues - angry vets who feel betrayed by the people they fought forand the loved ones who were forced to build a life without them. However, it didn't dive deep enough into any one topic. Alcoholism and post-traumatic stress is hinted at, but danced around. The movie never fully goes there.

Still, it was a sensitive and beautiful film, that's worth checking out.

Eddie: I enjoyed the movie, even though it's one of the heaviest ones we've seen so far. It was made right after the war, and one of the lead actors (as well as the director) were actually in the war, so it's pretty real. The movie doesn't let up. Besides a few drunk sequences, it's wall-to-wall seriousness, which was taxing on us as we watched the nearly three-hour film. (It took us three sittings to get through it.)

The film was shot by Gregg Toland of CITIZEN KANE fame, and he brings with him his mastery of both deep focus shots and black and white photography. In those ways, BEST YEARS embodies what is great about movies from this era (the 30s and 40s). Its deliberate pace and carefully composed shots reveal a story that is layered and complex, yet highly insightful, evocative, and compelling.

One of my few complaints is that the film is very neat. Its ending ties up all the loose ends. The only thing missing is a Porky Pig iris and a "That's All, Folks."

Why You Should See It: Homer. He may not have any hands, but God damn it, he can still use those hooks to tug at our heartstrings.