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November 9, 2024 12:50 AM Subscribe
The 100 Best Film Noirs of All Time...just what it says on the tin.
Before the onslaught of end of the year Best-Of lists, here is a solid top 100 for your palaver pleasure.
Big bonus points to Paste Magazine for publishing it on a single web page, rather than over a 25 page ad-filled link schmozzle.
Before the onslaught of end of the year Best-Of lists, here is a solid top 100 for your palaver pleasure.
Big bonus points to Paste Magazine for publishing it on a single web page, rather than over a 25 page ad-filled link schmozzle.
Finally, a best-of list that remembers State of Grace still exists.
posted by PenDevil at 1:08 AM on November 9 [1 favorite]
posted by PenDevil at 1:08 AM on November 9 [1 favorite]
Uh, no. A huge chunk of these films are not, in fact, film noir. Night of the Hunter? Huh? Seven? Zodiac? White Heat? They list all these elements of noir, and then seemingly base their picks on 'Holy shit, there sure is a lot of shadows in this film!!'
Also, State of Grace is a wonderful film, but it's not noir.
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 2:08 AM on November 9 [3 favorites]
Also, State of Grace is a wonderful film, but it's not noir.
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 2:08 AM on November 9 [3 favorites]
In strict terms some are not, emphatically, film noir: but it's a great list of great films. Cool enough.
posted by From Bklyn at 3:24 AM on November 9 [2 favorites]
posted by From Bklyn at 3:24 AM on November 9 [2 favorites]
I gotta say, while Angel Heart is a really interesting movie, I’m not sure it belongs on any “best of” lists. That movie is a swamp, and people should venture in with some training and gear.
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:47 AM on November 9 [2 favorites]
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:47 AM on November 9 [2 favorites]
If you're looking for some prose noir rather than film, I can recommend this hefty collection: The Best American Noir of the Century. It's edited by James Ellroy and Otto Penzler. I'veread about half of the 39 stories it collects so far, and found far more hits than misses.
posted by Paul Slade at 4:00 AM on November 9 [5 favorites]
posted by Paul Slade at 4:00 AM on November 9 [5 favorites]
Nitpick: Shouldn't it be "Films Noir", like "Attorneys General", with post-fixed adjective?
posted by JimDe at 4:01 AM on November 9 [10 favorites]
posted by JimDe at 4:01 AM on November 9 [10 favorites]
Given the loose definition of film noir applied here, they should have included John Sayle's Lone Star.
posted by Paul Slade at 4:12 AM on November 9 [9 favorites]
posted by Paul Slade at 4:12 AM on November 9 [9 favorites]
You should watch Brick if you haven't.
posted by mhoye at 5:07 AM on November 9 [7 favorites]
posted by mhoye at 5:07 AM on November 9 [7 favorites]
ctrl-f "blade runner"
Huh. That and Dark City are the strangest inclusions, to my mind.
posted by mhoye at 5:09 AM on November 9 [1 favorite]
Huh. That and Dark City are the strangest inclusions, to my mind.
posted by mhoye at 5:09 AM on November 9 [1 favorite]
Is it "film noirs" or "films noir"?
posted by entropone at 5:10 AM on November 9 [1 favorite]
posted by entropone at 5:10 AM on November 9 [1 favorite]
If we're being petty, No. 63, Fargo could be considered a film blanc mainly for the shots of snow, but also in the character of Marge Gunderson who maintains an optimistic attitude throughout the proceedings and succeeds.
posted by dannyboybell at 5:31 AM on November 9 [7 favorites]
posted by dannyboybell at 5:31 AM on November 9 [7 favorites]
I enjoy movies but am by no means an expert. So I feel vindicated to see so many other people saying “Huh? That film isn’t very noir.” It is a list of good movies though; I like all the ones I have seen, even Angel Heart. But I do tend to conflate Angels With Dirty Faces and Angels With Filthy Souls.
posted by TedW at 5:42 AM on November 9 [1 favorite]
posted by TedW at 5:42 AM on November 9 [1 favorite]
Uh, no. A huge chunk of these films are not, in fact, film noir. Night of the Hunter? Huh? Seven? Zodiac? White Heat?
I agree those don’t quite fit into “noir” as I understand it. The one that immediately stood out most to me as “wtf, this isn’t noir” was Ace in the Hole. Good film, but I can’t recall any aspect of it that puts it into the noir category. Taxi Driver is kind of a head-scratcher, as is The Sweet Smell of Success. Both great films, but I have a hard time seeing them as noir.
Those nit-picks aside, this is an overall great list of great films, regardless of genre.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:53 AM on November 9
I agree those don’t quite fit into “noir” as I understand it. The one that immediately stood out most to me as “wtf, this isn’t noir” was Ace in the Hole. Good film, but I can’t recall any aspect of it that puts it into the noir category. Taxi Driver is kind of a head-scratcher, as is The Sweet Smell of Success. Both great films, but I have a hard time seeing them as noir.
Those nit-picks aside, this is an overall great list of great films, regardless of genre.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:53 AM on November 9
I enjoyed Woman in the Window, but I was surprised to see it #1. It's under Maltese Falcon for me, maybe next to Double Indemnity. Also, I guess I need to rewatch the Third Man, because I found it totally boring, but clearly I missed something.
posted by lianove3 at 6:08 AM on November 9 [3 favorites]
posted by lianove3 at 6:08 AM on November 9 [3 favorites]
Lianove3, The Third Man bored me too! Thanks for the validation.
Whether all 100 are films noir or not, this is a delicious “to watch” list for the shortening days. But I released a bellow of outrage when they said Taxi Driver is overrated. (How dare they!) And it’s not a condemnation of alienation, it’s a portrait of alienation. Calling it a condemnation implies that Scorsese is telling us all Travis needed was a hug.
posted by scratch at 6:23 AM on November 9
Whether all 100 are films noir or not, this is a delicious “to watch” list for the shortening days. But I released a bellow of outrage when they said Taxi Driver is overrated. (How dare they!) And it’s not a condemnation of alienation, it’s a portrait of alienation. Calling it a condemnation implies that Scorsese is telling us all Travis needed was a hug.
posted by scratch at 6:23 AM on November 9
Shouldn't it be "Films Noir", like "Attorneys General"
It's easier in French because the adjectives match the nouns so you get films noirs and avocats générals.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 7:08 AM on November 9 [4 favorites]
It's easier in French because the adjectives match the nouns so you get films noirs and avocats générals.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 7:08 AM on November 9 [4 favorites]
Ok I like and have watched a lot of film noir... let's see - 100. Angel Heart. Uh what?
Looking through the list it is pretty clear they don't know the difference between a film noir and "a movie that uses several elements from film noir and/or is aping pulp genre conventions but is broadly not a film noir." Lots of good movies on this list but a lot of these I would not call film noir even with the broadest definition.
posted by Ashwagandha at 7:15 AM on November 9 [2 favorites]
Looking through the list it is pretty clear they don't know the difference between a film noir and "a movie that uses several elements from film noir and/or is aping pulp genre conventions but is broadly not a film noir." Lots of good movies on this list but a lot of these I would not call film noir even with the broadest definition.
posted by Ashwagandha at 7:15 AM on November 9 [2 favorites]
The top 25 though are pretty solid (I'd probably put Chinatown lower but that's me).
posted by Ashwagandha at 7:20 AM on November 9
posted by Ashwagandha at 7:20 AM on November 9
Ride The Pink Horse (1947) deserves a look! It's my recent-ish swell Noir discovery.
I think it's an existential question whether colour photography films really qualify as Noir? I think it's kinda on the edge, but this list seems to include some colour generic crime films that barely fit.
If I was gonna add a colour Noir, I'd add Point Blank (1967).
Melville's got a few picks but I like Bob le Flambeur (1956) most of all.
I actually liked Angel Heart more than it seems most people do.
posted by ovvl at 8:40 AM on November 9 [2 favorites]
I think it's an existential question whether colour photography films really qualify as Noir? I think it's kinda on the edge, but this list seems to include some colour generic crime films that barely fit.
If I was gonna add a colour Noir, I'd add Point Blank (1967).
Melville's got a few picks but I like Bob le Flambeur (1956) most of all.
I actually liked Angel Heart more than it seems most people do.
posted by ovvl at 8:40 AM on November 9 [2 favorites]
I love Angel Heart.
posted by Paul Slade at 9:14 AM on November 9 [1 favorite]
posted by Paul Slade at 9:14 AM on November 9 [1 favorite]
So what everybody else said about NOIR??? But aside from that its a great what to watch list though I hope it isn't some foolish attempt at ranking as, if it is, it's a listicle version of a gauntlet across the face.
posted by Pembquist at 12:00 PM on November 9 [1 favorite]
posted by Pembquist at 12:00 PM on November 9 [1 favorite]
it's not bad including some films that really aren't film noir but ishish. I wouldn't agree with number one but I'm surprised that double indemnity got number 3.
kept on scrolling didn't see the Maltese Falcon and 11 is about right. Of Jules Dassin, I believe the list held two of his films, no Rififi and that was better then most.
posted by clavdivs at 6:48 PM on November 9
kept on scrolling didn't see the Maltese Falcon and 11 is about right. Of Jules Dassin, I believe the list held two of his films, no Rififi and that was better then most.
posted by clavdivs at 6:48 PM on November 9
But I do tend to conflate Angels With Dirty Faces and Angels With Filthy Souls.
I wish that was a trilogy with a final installment titled
Angels With Nasty Dispositions!
posted by otherchaz at 3:48 AM on November 10 [1 favorite]
I wish that was a trilogy with a final installment titled
Angels With Nasty Dispositions!
posted by otherchaz at 3:48 AM on November 10 [1 favorite]
Noir is a big subject stemming from hapless crime and betrayal framed as a nightmare, and there are many good lists that top out too soon to a hundred. It would be nice to see a noir tree tracing its development from the main themes.
posted by Brian B. at 8:07 AM on November 10 [1 favorite]
posted by Brian B. at 8:07 AM on November 10 [1 favorite]
The one that immediately stood out most to me as “wtf, this isn’t noir” was Ace in the Hole. Good film, but I can’t recall any aspect of it that puts it into the noir category. Taxi Driver is kind of a head-scratcher, as is The Sweet Smell of Success.
Funnily enough, while I agree with you about Ace in the Hole and The Sweet Smell of Success not being examples of film noir, the Columbia University School of the Arts used to host an annual film noir festival (not held this year, couldn't get an explanation as to why) and the 2022 festival featured both of them, so apparently some academics disagree.
Also seconding the rec above for Ride The Pink Horse, the 2023 festival showed it and it's a really great example of the rare daytime non-coastal (set in New Mexico!) noir.
posted by star gentle uterus at 11:59 AM on November 11
Funnily enough, while I agree with you about Ace in the Hole and The Sweet Smell of Success not being examples of film noir, the Columbia University School of the Arts used to host an annual film noir festival (not held this year, couldn't get an explanation as to why) and the 2022 festival featured both of them, so apparently some academics disagree.
Also seconding the rec above for Ride The Pink Horse, the 2023 festival showed it and it's a really great example of the rare daytime non-coastal (set in New Mexico!) noir.
posted by star gentle uterus at 11:59 AM on November 11
Fargo could be considered a film blanc mainly for the shots of snow
Film noir isn't noir because of the shadows, it's because of the morality.
posted by kirkaracha at 12:43 PM on November 11
Film noir isn't noir because of the shadows, it's because of the morality.
posted by kirkaracha at 12:43 PM on November 11
Taxi Driver is kind of a head-scratcher
"Crazed vet syndrome" as it was known at the time (combat-related PTSD) was an original pathology of noir characters.
posted by Brian B. at 2:01 PM on November 11
"Crazed vet syndrome" as it was known at the time (combat-related PTSD) was an original pathology of noir characters.
posted by Brian B. at 2:01 PM on November 11
I'm also not a film expert, but if anyone has the time and inclination, would you be willing to post a subset of the listed films that are film noir rather than just containing elements of film noir? I'm serious, as it'd help me understand the distinction. Plus I'm unlikely to watch all 100 films, but if someone were to pare that down? Note that I'm not trying to create a comments war against what is and isn't noir, but any help would be, uh, helpful.
posted by Dez at 2:09 PM on November 11
posted by Dez at 2:09 PM on November 11
a subset of the listed films that are film noir rather than just containing elements of film noir
An excellent question for a chatbot. A purist would place films noir between 1941 (The Maltese Falcon) and 1958 (Touch of Evil) because it was assumed to be an aesthetic. But they inspired so many later films through their common themes of social pessimism.
posted by Brian B. at 2:28 PM on November 11 [1 favorite]
An excellent question for a chatbot. A purist would place films noir between 1941 (The Maltese Falcon) and 1958 (Touch of Evil) because it was assumed to be an aesthetic. But they inspired so many later films through their common themes of social pessimism.
posted by Brian B. at 2:28 PM on November 11 [1 favorite]
So I asked Chatgpt a simple question about elements and themes with examples and dates. Those films in multiple categories are the prime examples I could agree with.
Film noir is a genre that emerged primarily in the 1940s and 1950s, defined by its cynical tone, moral ambiguity, dark and moody visuals, and themes of crime, corruption, and fatalism. Below is a list of common themes and elements in film noir, along with films that exemplify these characteristics, ordered by their release date.
1. **Moral Ambiguity and Corruption**
- *Double Indemnity* (1944) – A classic example of moral ambiguity, where insurance salesman Walter Neff is complicit in a murder-for-insurance scheme with femme fatale Phyllis Dietrichson.
- *The Big Sleep* (1946) – Private detective Philip Marlowe navigates a web of corruption, deceit, and murder, with ambiguous motives and questionable characters.
- *Touch of Evil* (1958) – A complex narrative involving corruption within law enforcement, highlighting moral decay in a small border town.
2. **The Femme Fatale**
- *Gilda* (1946) – Rita Hayworth's portrayal of the titular character, Gilda, is one of the most iconic femme fatales in noir, using her beauty and manipulation to entrap men.
- *Out of the Past* (1947) – Jane Greer plays a dangerous woman, Kathie, who lures Robert Mitchum’s character into a life of crime and betrayal.
- *The Postman Always Rings Twice* (1946) – Lana Turner plays Cora, a manipulative and deadly woman who conspires to murder her husband with her lover.
3. **Cynicism and Fatalism**
- *The Maltese Falcon* (1941) – Sam Spade, the cynical detective, navigates a world of deception, betrayal, and an unrelenting pursuit of a valuable statue, leading to inevitable tragedy.
- *Out of the Past* (1947) – Jeff Bailey (Robert Mitchum) is pulled back into a dark past filled with deceit and the inescapable pull of fate.
- *Sunset Boulevard* (1950) – A washed-up screenwriter and an aging actress become trapped in a deadly, parasitic relationship, showcasing the despair of lost dreams and inevitability of decline.
4. **Urban Decay and Corrupt Societies**
- *Kiss Me Deadly* (1955) – A gritty, nihilistic noir that explores the post-World War II fears of nuclear annihilation, set against a backdrop of corruption and violence in Los Angeles.
- *The Asphalt Jungle* (1950) – A heist film that exposes the underworld of crime, featuring characters from various socio-economic backgrounds who all contribute to the downfall of the plan.
- *Chinatown* (1974) – Though technically a neo-noir, its exploration of corruption within a city’s infrastructure (here, water rights and land development) carries on the tradition of noir’s critique of systemic decay.
5. **Pessimism and Existential Despair**
- *Detour* (1945) – A low-budget masterpiece of existential despair, where the protagonist, Al Roberts, finds himself spiraling into a series of bad decisions and misfortunes with no way out.
- *The Big Heat* (1953) – Police officer Dave Bannion (Glenn Ford) becomes consumed by the desire for vengeance, confronting his own humanity while battling widespread corruption.
- *Ace in the Hole* (1951) – A journalist exploits a disaster for personal gain, revealing a deep cynicism about human nature and the media's role in manipulating the public.
6. **The Antihero Protagonist**
- *The Big Sleep* (1946) – Philip Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart) is an antihero, navigating the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles with a sense of disillusionment but also a code of personal ethics.
- *In a Lonely Place* (1950) – Dixon Steele (Humphrey Bogart) is a screenwriter with a violent past who becomes embroiled in a murder investigation, his own potential for violence always hanging in the balance.
- *Night and the City* (1950) – Harry Fabian (Richard Widmark) is a small-time hustler with dreams of success but ultimately trapped in a world of betrayal and crime.
7. **Lighting and Cinematography: High Contrast, Shadows, and Dark Urban Landscapes**
- *The Third Man* (1949) – A quintessential noir, set in post-war Vienna, with its iconic use of shadows, stark lighting contrasts, and labyrinthine streets that amplify the sense of danger and paranoia.
- *The Killers* (1946) – This film uses high-contrast black-and-white cinematography and shadows to create a tense, ominous atmosphere.
- *Touch of Evil* (1958) – Orson Welles’ masterpiece makes full use of noir lighting, including its famous long opening tracking shot, to create an atmosphere of moral uncertainty and tension.
8. **Crime, Deception, and Betrayal**
- *The Killers* (1946) – Two hitmen investigate a murder and unravel a complex tale of greed, betrayal, and moral compromise.
- *Key Largo* (1948) – A man, his wife, and her father become trapped in a hotel with a gang of criminals, leading to intense psychological conflict and betrayal.
- *The Asphalt Jungle* (1950) – This heist film is built around a meticulously planned crime that quickly unravels due to greed, betrayal, and mistakes.
9. **Psychological Tension and Paranoia**
- *The Night of the Hunter* (1955) – A psychological noir that explores the chilling pursuit of two children by a psychotic preacher, combining psychological tension with dark fairy tale elements.
- *The Lady from Shanghai* (1947) – A convoluted story of deceit, entrapment, and twisted motivations that plays on paranoia, with a hauntingly surreal final sequence in a funhouse of mirrors.
- *Sudden Fear* (1952) – Joan Crawford stars as a successful playwright who begins to suspect that her new husband may be plotting to kill her, leading to a gripping psychological battle of wills.
10. **Existential Threats and the Destruction of the Self**
- *Double Indemnity* (1944) – Walter Neff's moral collapse and subsequent downfall mirror the existential despair of noir, where the pursuit of self-interest leads to inevitable destruction.
- *Sunset Boulevard* (1950) – The film’s portrayal of a former star’s obsessive, delusional grip on her past reflects a struggle against the inevitable fading of self-worth and relevance.
- *A Place in the Sun* (1951) – While not a classic noir, this film's tragic exploration of love, guilt, and the consequences of fate aligns it with noir’s existential concerns.
11. **The American Dream Gone Wrong**
- *Chinatown* (1974) – In this neo-noir, the protagonist, Jake Gittes, is slowly drawn into a conspiracy about water rights and urban development, revealing the dark underbelly of American prosperity and the idea that the American Dream is built on exploitation and lies.
- *The Sweet Smell of Success* (1957) – A cynical exploration of power, manipulation, and the corruption of the American press, where the protagonist's ambitions are thwarted by the ruthless journalist J.J. Hunsecker.
12. **Clever and Deceptive Plot Twists**
- *The Maltese Falcon* (1941) – The twists and turns of the plot unfold as detective Sam Spade uncovers layers of deception surrounding the search for the legendary statuette.
- *Laura* (1944) – The murder mystery at the heart of *Laura* unfolds with unexpected twists, leading to a surprising, yet satisfying resolution.
Film noir is a multifaceted genre with themes that range from crime and corruption to psychological tension and existential despair. It remains influential, with neo-noir films continuing to explore and reinterpret its classic themes into the modern era.
posted by Brian B. at 6:34 PM on November 11 [2 favorites]
Film noir is a genre that emerged primarily in the 1940s and 1950s, defined by its cynical tone, moral ambiguity, dark and moody visuals, and themes of crime, corruption, and fatalism. Below is a list of common themes and elements in film noir, along with films that exemplify these characteristics, ordered by their release date.
1. **Moral Ambiguity and Corruption**
- *Double Indemnity* (1944) – A classic example of moral ambiguity, where insurance salesman Walter Neff is complicit in a murder-for-insurance scheme with femme fatale Phyllis Dietrichson.
- *The Big Sleep* (1946) – Private detective Philip Marlowe navigates a web of corruption, deceit, and murder, with ambiguous motives and questionable characters.
- *Touch of Evil* (1958) – A complex narrative involving corruption within law enforcement, highlighting moral decay in a small border town.
2. **The Femme Fatale**
- *Gilda* (1946) – Rita Hayworth's portrayal of the titular character, Gilda, is one of the most iconic femme fatales in noir, using her beauty and manipulation to entrap men.
- *Out of the Past* (1947) – Jane Greer plays a dangerous woman, Kathie, who lures Robert Mitchum’s character into a life of crime and betrayal.
- *The Postman Always Rings Twice* (1946) – Lana Turner plays Cora, a manipulative and deadly woman who conspires to murder her husband with her lover.
3. **Cynicism and Fatalism**
- *The Maltese Falcon* (1941) – Sam Spade, the cynical detective, navigates a world of deception, betrayal, and an unrelenting pursuit of a valuable statue, leading to inevitable tragedy.
- *Out of the Past* (1947) – Jeff Bailey (Robert Mitchum) is pulled back into a dark past filled with deceit and the inescapable pull of fate.
- *Sunset Boulevard* (1950) – A washed-up screenwriter and an aging actress become trapped in a deadly, parasitic relationship, showcasing the despair of lost dreams and inevitability of decline.
4. **Urban Decay and Corrupt Societies**
- *Kiss Me Deadly* (1955) – A gritty, nihilistic noir that explores the post-World War II fears of nuclear annihilation, set against a backdrop of corruption and violence in Los Angeles.
- *The Asphalt Jungle* (1950) – A heist film that exposes the underworld of crime, featuring characters from various socio-economic backgrounds who all contribute to the downfall of the plan.
- *Chinatown* (1974) – Though technically a neo-noir, its exploration of corruption within a city’s infrastructure (here, water rights and land development) carries on the tradition of noir’s critique of systemic decay.
5. **Pessimism and Existential Despair**
- *Detour* (1945) – A low-budget masterpiece of existential despair, where the protagonist, Al Roberts, finds himself spiraling into a series of bad decisions and misfortunes with no way out.
- *The Big Heat* (1953) – Police officer Dave Bannion (Glenn Ford) becomes consumed by the desire for vengeance, confronting his own humanity while battling widespread corruption.
- *Ace in the Hole* (1951) – A journalist exploits a disaster for personal gain, revealing a deep cynicism about human nature and the media's role in manipulating the public.
6. **The Antihero Protagonist**
- *The Big Sleep* (1946) – Philip Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart) is an antihero, navigating the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles with a sense of disillusionment but also a code of personal ethics.
- *In a Lonely Place* (1950) – Dixon Steele (Humphrey Bogart) is a screenwriter with a violent past who becomes embroiled in a murder investigation, his own potential for violence always hanging in the balance.
- *Night and the City* (1950) – Harry Fabian (Richard Widmark) is a small-time hustler with dreams of success but ultimately trapped in a world of betrayal and crime.
7. **Lighting and Cinematography: High Contrast, Shadows, and Dark Urban Landscapes**
- *The Third Man* (1949) – A quintessential noir, set in post-war Vienna, with its iconic use of shadows, stark lighting contrasts, and labyrinthine streets that amplify the sense of danger and paranoia.
- *The Killers* (1946) – This film uses high-contrast black-and-white cinematography and shadows to create a tense, ominous atmosphere.
- *Touch of Evil* (1958) – Orson Welles’ masterpiece makes full use of noir lighting, including its famous long opening tracking shot, to create an atmosphere of moral uncertainty and tension.
8. **Crime, Deception, and Betrayal**
- *The Killers* (1946) – Two hitmen investigate a murder and unravel a complex tale of greed, betrayal, and moral compromise.
- *Key Largo* (1948) – A man, his wife, and her father become trapped in a hotel with a gang of criminals, leading to intense psychological conflict and betrayal.
- *The Asphalt Jungle* (1950) – This heist film is built around a meticulously planned crime that quickly unravels due to greed, betrayal, and mistakes.
9. **Psychological Tension and Paranoia**
- *The Night of the Hunter* (1955) – A psychological noir that explores the chilling pursuit of two children by a psychotic preacher, combining psychological tension with dark fairy tale elements.
- *The Lady from Shanghai* (1947) – A convoluted story of deceit, entrapment, and twisted motivations that plays on paranoia, with a hauntingly surreal final sequence in a funhouse of mirrors.
- *Sudden Fear* (1952) – Joan Crawford stars as a successful playwright who begins to suspect that her new husband may be plotting to kill her, leading to a gripping psychological battle of wills.
10. **Existential Threats and the Destruction of the Self**
- *Double Indemnity* (1944) – Walter Neff's moral collapse and subsequent downfall mirror the existential despair of noir, where the pursuit of self-interest leads to inevitable destruction.
- *Sunset Boulevard* (1950) – The film’s portrayal of a former star’s obsessive, delusional grip on her past reflects a struggle against the inevitable fading of self-worth and relevance.
- *A Place in the Sun* (1951) – While not a classic noir, this film's tragic exploration of love, guilt, and the consequences of fate aligns it with noir’s existential concerns.
11. **The American Dream Gone Wrong**
- *Chinatown* (1974) – In this neo-noir, the protagonist, Jake Gittes, is slowly drawn into a conspiracy about water rights and urban development, revealing the dark underbelly of American prosperity and the idea that the American Dream is built on exploitation and lies.
- *The Sweet Smell of Success* (1957) – A cynical exploration of power, manipulation, and the corruption of the American press, where the protagonist's ambitions are thwarted by the ruthless journalist J.J. Hunsecker.
12. **Clever and Deceptive Plot Twists**
- *The Maltese Falcon* (1941) – The twists and turns of the plot unfold as detective Sam Spade uncovers layers of deception surrounding the search for the legendary statuette.
- *Laura* (1944) – The murder mystery at the heart of *Laura* unfolds with unexpected twists, leading to a surprising, yet satisfying resolution.
Film noir is a multifaceted genre with themes that range from crime and corruption to psychological tension and existential despair. It remains influential, with neo-noir films continuing to explore and reinterpret its classic themes into the modern era.
posted by Brian B. at 6:34 PM on November 11 [2 favorites]
Command-F “Lebowski”…
Hmmm.
Fatuous list, Jeffrey.
posted by rokusan at 7:02 AM on November 14 [1 favorite]
Hmmm.
Fatuous list, Jeffrey.
posted by rokusan at 7:02 AM on November 14 [1 favorite]
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I love this post but that's because I love film noir, but I have a lot of questions.
posted by Carillon at 1:08 AM on November 9 [7 favorites]