99 shades of Noir (with notes).
Listed in order of preference, these are all the Noir/Neo-Noir that I recommend considering watching.
The tag 'Film Noir' is a subjective one. The style was only really identified and extensively written about after the classic cycle was already over. No one making a picture then (1940-1960) thought of it as a Noir. They probably thought of these films as "second feature crime thrillers".
Let's face it, we generally categorize to simply help find or avoid certain types of art/entertainment. My point being, Noir is an invented category, so let's not get too pedantic about which films are and are not Noirs.
For further reading, I suggest Paul Schrader's wonderful essay from 1971, Notes On Film Noir.
The tag 'Film Noir' is a subjective one. The style was only really identified and extensively written about after the classic cycle was already over. No one making a picture then (1940-1960) thought of it as a Noir. They probably thought of these films as "second feature crime thrillers".
Let's face it, we generally categorize to simply help find or avoid certain types of art/entertainment. My point being, Noir is an invented category, so let's not get too pedantic about which films are and are not Noirs.
For further reading, I suggest Paul Schrader's wonderful essay from 1971, Notes On Film Noir.
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- DirectorClaude SautetStarsLino VenturaSandra MiloJean-Paul BelmondoA ruthless criminal flees from the pursuit, involving more and more casualties.The same writer as the great Le Deuxieme Souffle. The first film Claude Sautet directed from start to finish is a knockout. His 'first' film "Bonjour Sourire!" being the taking over another director's ailing project.
This is one of the best Noirs of all time. Make it a top priority. - DirectorJean-Pierre MelvilleStarsLino VenturaPaul MeurisseRaymond PellegrinA gangster escapes jail and quickly makes plans to continue his criminal ways elsewhere, but a determined inspector is closing in.Much better than it's reputation as a slightly second tier Melville film, this is one of the all time great crime films. If you love Melville, this is a must see. It's (neo)noir heaven.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsHarrison FordRutger HauerSean YoungA blade runner must pursue and terminate four replicants who stole a ship in space and have returned to Earth to find their creator.Of course this features high on the list. If you've never seen it, make it a priority (and I'd certainly recommend watching this before taking on Blade Runner 2049, which is avery good sequel).
This is one of the absolute best neo-noirs. The set-decoration, design, and special effects are notable, as is the gorgeous Vangelis score. Just what is it to be human?
These days, I like the original theatrical cut with the very noir narration by Harrison Ford better than the director's cut, even though the ending is a bit more commercial. - DirectorJean-Pierre MelvilleStarsLino VenturaPaul MeurisseJean-Pierre CasselAn account of underground resistance fighters in Nazi-occupied France.Probably the best Melville of all for it's pithy subject. The deminonde of the French Resistance is the subject, and it is fascinating, and grim.
This is a good film to see if J.P. Melville's stylish, but spare film making is up your alley. - DirectorJacques TourneurStarsRobert MitchumJane GreerKirk DouglasA private eye escapes his past to run a gas station in a small town, but his past catches up with him. Now he must return to the big city world of danger, corruption, double crosses, and duplicitous dames.Certainly a contender for best noir of all time. A must see title if there ever was one.
Robert Mitchum in the lead is magnetic, but very relatable. Jane Greer is simply one of the most alluring, and mendacious femme fatale's ever.
I could go on and on. It has everything that make the noir genre so enjoyable. - DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsJohn TravoltaUma ThurmanSamuel L. JacksonThe lives of two mob hitmen, a boxer, a gangster and his wife, and a pair of diner bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption.It's a hard film to classify, but it certainly has a lot of Noir in it. It's more an experience than just a film. When watching this for the first time, you just don't now where Q.T. will take you next. I just watched this again, probably for the 8th time, and it knocked me out yet again.
It has enough content for two great films. The dialogue is marvelous, and so is the music selection. The non-chronological structure also works beautifully for this film.
This is one of two great Tarantino films (Reservoir Dogs being the other). For me, his subsequent films have not measured up to his first two pictures. - DirectorCarol ReedStarsOrson WellesJoseph CottenAlida ValliPulp novelist Holly Martins travels to shadowy, postwar Vienna, only to find himself investigating the mysterious death of an old friend, Harry Lime.The sewers of post war Vienna, and a zither score that you'll never forget. Welles is fabulous.
- DirectorOrson WellesStarsRita HayworthOrson WellesEverett SloaneFascinated by gorgeous Mrs. Bannister, seaman Michael O'Hara joins a bizarre yachting cruise, and ends up mired in a complex murder plot.For me, this film is quite a bit better than Wells' 'Touch of Evil'. See it for the house of mirrors scene alone. It is certainly one of the best of all film Noirs. This picture is packed with wonderfully sleazy characters, and deceit is everywhere.
- DirectorJean-Luc GodardStarsJean-Paul BelmondoAnna KarinaGraziella GalvaniPierrot escapes his boring society and travels from Paris to the Mediterranean Sea with Marianne, a girl chased by hit-men from Algeria. They lead an unorthodox life, always on the run.For art-house fans only.
Super original, and super fun, this noir colors WAY outside the lines. It is an example of how malleable the noir framework really is. There is a core entertainment to watching a couple on a doomed crime spree.
IMHO, this is the best J.L.Godard film. - DirectorRoman PolanskiStarsJack NicholsonFaye DunawayJohn HustonA private detective hired to expose an adulterer in 1930s Los Angeles finds himself caught up in a web of deceit, corruption, and murder.A perfect neo-noir with a very powerful gut-punch of an ending added by Polanski to Robert Towne's script.
It could only be more Noir if it was shot in B&W. An essential film. One of Jack Nicholson's best roles as well (which is saying a lot!). - DirectorJean-Pierre MelvilleStarsJean-Paul BelmondoSerge ReggianiJean DesaillyA burglar betraying other criminals prepares for a big heist with a trusted friend who might be as untrustworthy as he.Another great J.P. Melville film. A very grimy Paris, and a twisty story add up to another must see Melville film. I watched it again a day after seeing it for the first time.
- DirectorJean-Pierre MelvilleStarsAlain DelonFrançois PérierNathalie DelonAfter professional hitman Jef Costello is seen by witnesses his efforts to provide himself an alibi drive him further into a corner.This is one of the 'coolest' films ever, and Alain Delon is the handsomest film star to grace the screen.
Not for those who don't like to be left with a little mystery at the end of a film, as Melville almost always liked to do.
I can see an influence of 'This Gun For Hire' in this picture, but Melville does it oh so much better. - DirectorHenri-Georges ClouzotStarsPierre FresnayGinette LeclercMicheline FranceyA French village doctor becomes the target of poison-pen letters sent to village leaders, accusing him of affairs and practicing abortion.Better than 'Les Diaboliques' and 'Wages of Fear' in my opinion. It's a truly great noir thriller, in fact, it's simply one of the very best films period. I've had the pleasure of watching it three times, and it killed every time.
- DirectorBilly WilderStarsKirk DouglasJan SterlingRobert ArthurA frustrated former big-city journalist now stuck working for an Albuquerque newspaper exploits a story about a man trapped in a cave to rekindle his career, but the situation quickly escalates into an out-of-control circus.Billy Wilder's follow-up to Sunset Boulevard (also excellent) is a terrific film. Kirk Douglas has been great in so many films. This is up there with his best.
Cynicism , oportunism, and capitalism are the themes of this terrific, dark picture. It is my favorite Billy Wilder film, and is sadly underknown. - DirectorEthan CoenJoel CoenStarsTommy Lee JonesJavier BardemJosh BrolinViolence and mayhem ensue after a hunter stumbles upon the aftermath of a drug deal gone wrong and over two million dollars in cash near the Rio Grande.Probably the best Coen brothers film. Excellent, excellent picture!
- DirectorDavid LynchStarsNaomi WattsLaura HarringJustin TherouxAfter a car wreck on Mulholland Drive renders a woman amnesiac, she and a Hollywood-hopeful search for clues and answers across Los Angeles in a twisting venture beyond dreams and reality.A terrific dark, disturbing, (solvable) puzzle. Naomi Watts is fantastic.
- DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsCary GrantIngrid BergmanClaude RainsThe daughter of a convicted German spy is asked by American agents to gather information on a ring of German scientists in South America. How far will she have to go to ingratiate herself with them?One of Hitch's best films. A must see.
- DirectorDavid FincherStarsMorgan FreemanBrad PittKevin SpaceyTwo detectives, a rookie and a veteran, hunt a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as his motives.Simply one of my all time favorites. I remember several people saying they were rather disturbed after seeing this picture. Yes, it is dark stuff, but I just adore it. The opening credits are terrifically stylish.
- DirectorJacques BeckerStarsSimone SignoretSerge ReggianiClaude DauphinThree gangsters and an ex-con carpenter all fall for the same beautiful golden-haired woman in Belle Époque France.A belle epoque noir love story. Excellent in every way. Jacques Becker, who apprenticed as AD under Jean Renoir, was a fantastic director: Le Trou, Touchez Pas Au Grisbi and this film are all gold.
- DirectorFred ZinnemannStarsVan HeflinRobert RyanJanet LeighAn embittered, vengeful POW stalks his former commanding officer who betrayed his men's planned escape attempt from a Nazi prison camp.This one's got just about everything, including social relevance, yet very few people champion this film. Do yourself a huge favor and see it.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsRobert De NiroJodie FosterCybill ShepherdA mentally unstable veteran works as a nighttime taxi driver in New York City, where the perceived decadence and sleaze fuels his urge for violent action.There's got to be the odd person who's not gotten around to this picture. Only one of the best films ever committed to celluloid. A little caveat though: It's definitely got some very adult content.
- DirectorSteven SoderberghStarsTerence StampPeter FondaLesley Ann WarrenAn extremely volatile and dangerous Englishman goes to Los Angeles to find the man he considers responsible for his daughter's death.Wonderful film. Steven Soderbergh's revenge film is on the art-house side of Noir, and is clearly inspired by the style of the film 'Point Blank' replete with flash-backs, and flash-forwards. I love Terrence Stamp in this, but it's got many great performances.
- DirectorJean-Pierre MelvilleStarsAlain DelonBourvilGian Maria VolontèAfter leaving prison, master thief Corey crosses paths with a notorious escapee and an alcoholic former policeman. The trio proceed to plot an elaborate heist.Beautiful tones of color, great set decoration (as per usual with Melville) and the theme of comradery between thieves. One of the all time great heists as well. I do find that people either love or hate Mellville's films. They're certainly more quiet/minimal than most plot driven films.
As you see by my list, Melville is one of my very favorite directors. - DirectorJoseph H. LewisStarsCornel WildeRichard ConteJean WallaceA police lieutenant is ordered to stop investigating deadly crime boss Mr. Brown because he hasn't been able to get any hard evidence against him. He goes after Brown's girlfriend, who despises him, for information instead.Hard-boiled heaven.
- DirectorRobert SiodmakStarsBurt LancasterAva GardnerEdmond O'BrienHit men kill an unresisting victim, and investigator Reardon uncovers his past involvement with beautiful, deadly Kitty Collins.This may be a good film to use as an example of what a Noir is to those who don't know the term. It's one of the best.
- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsHarvey KeitelTim RothMichael MadsenWhen a simple jewelry heist goes horribly wrong, the surviving criminals begin to suspect that one of them is a police informant.Almost Shakespearian in it's finale. The last flash-back in particular (Mr. White) is phenomenal! What a gem!
- DirectorJules DassinStarsJean ServaisCarl MöhnerRobert ManuelFour men plan a technically perfect crime, but the human element intervenes...It's a shame that Jules Dassin was blacklisted in the insane commie-hunt craze of McCarthyism.
The expressionistic shots near the end are just incredible. The silent heist is just excellent as well. It features a wonderfully cool, tough, protagonist played by Jean Servais.
Prix Méliès, French Syndicate of Cinema Critics
Best Director, Cannes - DirectorErik SkjoldbjærgStarsStellan SkarsgårdSverre Anker OusdalMaria MathiesenIn a Norwegian city with a 24-hour daylight cycle a Swedish murder investigator has been brought in on a special case. Sleep deprived, he makes a horrible mistake which is discovered by the killer he has been hunting.This is vastly superior to Christoper Nolan's remake in 2002 in every way. It has a really nice, spare, grey aesthetic to the look of the film, and what a wonderful central performance by Stellan Skarsgard. It also features an excellent electronic score. Very highly recommenced.
- DirectorJean-Pierre MelvilleStarsRoger DuchesneIsabelle CoreyDaniel CauchyAfter losing big, an aging gambler decides to assemble a team to rob a casino.Pre new-wave gem. Very cool, early-ish J.P. Melville caper picture.
- DirectorJohn HustonStarsHumphrey BogartEdward G. RobinsonLauren BacallA man visits his war buddy's family hotel and finds a gangster running things. As a hurricane approaches, the two end up confronting each other.So enjoyable to see time and time again. This type of role/performance is why Bogart is such a household name to this day.
- DirectorMichael MannStarsAl PacinoRobert De NiroVal KilmerA group of high-end professional thieves start to feel the heat from the LAPD when they unknowingly leave a verbal clue at their latest heist.The bank job shoot out is a bit of heaven.
- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsGuy PearceCarrie-Anne MossJoe PantolianoA man with short-term memory loss attempts to track down his wife's murderer.The pacing of the flash-backs in this Neo-Noir is simply too perfect for words. Love the ambient score as well.
- DirectorWoody AllenStarsMartin LandauWoody AllenBill BernsteinAn ophthalmologist's mistress threatens to reveal their affair to his wife while a married documentary filmmaker is infatuated with another woman.**Mild Spoilers**
Many compare it to Fyodor Dostoyevsky's writing, with good reason. For me, it's the best Woody Allen film. It could be seen as a very serious riff on film Noir.
One of the things that makes it Woody's best, is aside from the main story of a crime (Landau, Houston), there is a secondary, lighter, funnier story line (Alda, Allen and Farrow) that balances out the heaviness of the Landau/Houston plot beautifully. - DirectorEdward DmytrykStarsRobert YoungRobert MitchumRobert RyanA man is murdered, apparently by one of a group of demobilized soldiers he met in a bar. But which one? And why?A message film that still works beautifully. Bravo. How many great film noirs featured Robert Ryan? He had a wonderful flexibility to what type of character he could play.
As a side note, Richard Conte and Richard Widmark, though not in this film, comes to mind as a similarly flexible noir actors. - DirectorStanley KubrickStarsSterling HaydenColeen GrayVince EdwardsCrook Johnny Clay assembles a five-man team to plan and execute a daring racetrack robbery.This is a great early Stanley Kubrick heist film. I didn't think much of his 'Killer's Kiss' (to be fair, made on a tiny budget), but this film is terrific.
- DirectorDan GilroyStarsJake GyllenhaalRene RussoBill PaxtonWhen Louis Bloom, a con man desperate for work, muscles into the world of L.A. crime journalism, he blurs the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story.What a great film. Love it! You'll never see the local crime news the same.
Jake Gyllenhaal's cold grin is just unforgettable. - DirectorFritz LangStarsEdward G. RobinsonJoan BennettRaymond MasseyWhen a conservative middle aged professor engages in a relationship with a femme fatale, he's plunged into a nightmarish world of blackmail and murder.A more like-able film than "Scarlet Street" to be sure (with the same 3 principal actors). Very fun suspense film. Maybe the best of the Fritz Lang noirs. I watch it often.
- DirectorOtto PremingerRouben MamoulianStarsGene TierneyDana AndrewsClifton WebbA police detective falls in love with the woman whose murder he is investigating.It may be more detective/murder mystery, but it is considered a Noir by most critics so I've put it on my list. It is one of my most often watched films.
Such a pleasant, easy to watch film. Oh yeah, and Gene Tierney is awfully easy on the eyes... - DirectorRobert AldrichStarsRalph MeekerAlbert DekkerPaul StewartA doomed female hitchhiker pulls Mike Hammer into a deadly whirlpool of intrigue, revolving around a mysterious "great whatsit".The crescendo of the classic noir cycle is realized in this wonderfully dark detective film. Highly recommended.
- DirectorPaul Thomas AndersonStarsPhilip Baker HallJohn C. ReillyGwyneth PaltrowProfessional gambler Sydney teaches John the tricks of the trade. John does well until he falls for cocktail waitress Clementine.P T Anderson's Noir impresses from the first viewing, and holds up, no check that, it gets even better when subsequently viewed. I've heard that PTA was heavily influenced buy J.P. Melville's "Bob Le Flambeur". That makes sense to me.
I've the feeling this was very much a below the radar film. No one ever talks about this film, because next to no one has seen it. What a shame. - DirectorAlex GarlandStarsAlicia VikanderDomhnall GleesonOscar IsaacA young programmer is selected to participate in a ground-breaking experiment in synthetic intelligence by evaluating the human qualities of a highly advanced humanoid A.I.Tech-noir heaven. Alicia Vicander is perfect as the cyborg femme fatale.
I like how the film keeps you guessing about the motives of Oscar Issac's character throughout the film. - DirectorDick RichardsStarsRobert MitchumCharlotte RamplingJohn IrelandLos Angeles private eye Philip Marlowe is hired by paroled convict Moose Malloy to find his girlfriend Velma, former seedy nightclub dancer.Having just seen this film for the second time, I was so impressed by it. This pretty much has the super high quality of "Chinatown" (another 70's era noir).
It's a more faithful film version of the same Chandler story as the film "Murder My Sweet". The set decoration, score, cinematography, acting, and storytelling are all excellent.
For some reason this film is really under-rated. It is a top notch neo-noir. - DirectorJohn HustonStarsHumphrey BogartMary AstorGladys GeorgeSan Francisco private detective Sam Spade takes on a case that involves him with three eccentric criminals, a gorgeous liar and their quest for a priceless statuette, with the stakes rising after his partner is murdered.Just a wonderful, non menacing, early Noir. The cast, with supporting players like Peter Lorre, and Sydney Greenstreet, add so much to this film, and keep me coming back for more. I probably watch it twice a year. Lots of twists and turns to the story keep things very interesting. Required viewing for the genre.
- DirectorNicolas Winding RefnStarsRyan GoslingCarey MulliganBryan CranstonA mysterious Hollywood action film stuntman gets in trouble with gangsters when he tries to help his neighbor's husband rob a pawn shop while serving as his getaway driver.**Violence Warning**
A great genre film that's lifted to the level of best getaway driver film ever. It features a great love story, a couple of good car chases, wonderful cinematography, music, and editing, but be warned, it's a very violent film. I scarcely could have enjoyed it more. - DirectorWerner HerzogStarsNicolas CageEva MendesRussell M. HaeuserTerence McDonagh is a drug- and gambling-addled detective in post-Katrina New Orleans investigating the killing of five Senegalese immigrants.Werner Herzog's skewed cop film is great. Nicolas Cage is impressive in this, possibly as good as he was in 'Adaptation'.
Keep in mind the thought of Herzog poking you in the rib with his elbow about 3/4 into the film though (can't say more than that without spoiling anything) and you should really enjoy this picture. - DirectorPeter YatesStarsSteve McQueenJacqueline BissetRobert VaughnA nonconformist San Francisco cop is determined to find the underworld kingpin who killed the witness under his protection.Wonderful score by Lalo Schifrin, and of course there's McQueen. Known for the car chase, and winning the best editing Oscar in '68, but the whole film is very enjoyable. The story, to me has a slightly elusive quality to it when all is said and done which lends the film well to repeated viewings.
- DirectorMike HodgesStarsMichael CaineIan HendryBritt EklandWhen his brother dies under mysterious circumstances in a car accident, London gangster Jack Carter travels to Newcastle to investigate.One of the all time great anti-heroes. It may surprise you how well Michael Caine plays a tough guy if you know him only from his work from the 80's through today.
Great theme song and score by Roy Budd. I'd love to have more films just like this in my collection. It's a very cool picture. - DirectorLars von TrierStarsBarbara SukowaJean-Marc BarrUdo KierJust after World War II, an American takes a railway job in Germany, but finds his position politically sensitive with various people trying to use him.Another Von Trier film with an extraordinary visual presentation. It's presented mainly in B & W with extensive use of rear-projection, and splashes of color here and there. Very original, and I love the ending.
Having just watched Jacques Tourneur's film "Berlin Express" for the second time, I see its influence on Europa. - DirectorBilly WilderStarsFred MacMurrayBarbara StanwyckEdward G. RobinsonA Los Angeles insurance representative lets an alluring housewife seduce him into a scheme of insurance fraud and murder that arouses the suspicion of his colleague, an insurance investigator.It has charm, and certainly is chock-a-block with all the hallmarks of the genre. Nice construction in general, and is one of the principal blue-print's for the genre, it's just a bit overrated IMHO.
- DirectorPaul Thomas AndersonStarsJoaquin PhoenixJosh BrolinOwen WilsonIn 1970, drug-fueled Los Angeles private investigator Larry "Doc" Sportello investigates the disappearance of a former girlfriend.A funny, early 70's set neo-noir that could be described as The Big Sleep + the Big Lebowski + The Long Goodbye. This is incredibly well directed. Phoenix is great in the lead, and Brolin has never been as funny.
- DirectorJean-Luc GodardStarsJean-Paul BelmondoJean SebergVan DoudeA small-time crook, hunted by the authorities for a car theft and the murder a police officer, attempts to persuade a hip American journalism student to run away with him to Italy.The rule breaker that ushered in 'la nouvelle vague'. A lot of fun, and supercool. Great Jazz score, and two very sexy lead actors.
- DirectorJoel CoenEthan CoenStarsWilliam H. MacyFrances McDormandSteve BuscemiMinnesota car salesman Jerry Lundegaard's inept crime falls apart due to his and his henchmen's bungling and the persistent police work of the quite pregnant Marge Gunderson.One of the best comic Neo-Noirs. See it twice. The Cohen's films are more about characters than plot. Once you've seen the film, you can savor the delicious characters.
- DirectorMasahiro ShinodaStarsRyô IkebeMariko KagaTakashi FujikiA gangster gets released from prison and has to cope with the recent shifts of power between the gangs, while taking care of a thrill-seeking young woman, who got in bad company while gambling.The main character is one of the coolest noir protagonists I've seen. It's simply a very good film in general with a very cute femme fatale.
- DirectorDavid CronenbergStarsViggo MortensenMaria BelloEd HarrisA mild-mannered man becomes a local hero through an act of violence, which sets off repercussions that will shake his family to its very core.A set-up not unlike 'Out of the Past'. The violence is portrayed in a way that really makes us re-consider our love of watching on screen violence.
- DirectorFritz LangStarsPeter LorreEllen WidmannInge LandgutWhen the police in a German city are unable to catch a child-murderer, other criminals join in the manhunt.Is it a police procedural, or a noir? It's bloody great regardless of what you call it.
- DirectorCurtis HansonStarsKevin SpaceyRussell CroweGuy PearceAs corruption grows in 1950s Los Angeles, three policemen - one strait-laced, one brutal, and one sleazy - investigate a series of murders with their own brand of justice.A hugely enjoyable nod to film noir. Great lead Performances by an ensemble cast of A-listers. Quite a bit better than the somewhat similar film Mulholland Falls, but slighter than the great Chinatown.
- DirectorFrançois TruffautStarsCatherine DeneuveJean-Paul BelmondoNelly BorgeaudA wealthy plantation owner is captivated by a mysterious woman with a shady past.One of film historian David Thomson's very favorite films. I like it more every time I watch it. It is not a blow you away film, but look at the two leads, and then throw in Truffaut channeling Hitchcock, and you've got a really cool film.
- DirectorFrançois TruffautStarsCharles AznavourMarie DuboisNicole BergerA pianist helps his brother escape from two gangsters, who retaliate by abducting their kid brother.A nouvelle vague film noir that transcends the genre a fair bit. Very good film that's more on the art house side.
- DirectorAllen BaronStarsAllen BaronMolly McCarthyLarry TuckerA hired killer from Cleveland has a job to do on a second-string mob boss in New York, but a special girl from his past and a gun dealer with pet rats get in his way.Well, this indie was at the absolute end of the classic noir cycle. The narration is very charming, and there are great shots and sequences.
Another positive is the 'Taxi Driver'-esque isolated, delusional loner qualities of the protagonist.
Many people just adore this film. My second viewing was the one that did it for me. On first viewing, I'd say it's an interesting little noir that is certainly great considering it's tiny budget. - DirectorWalter HillStarsRyan O'NealBruce DernIsabelle AdjaniA getaway driver becomes the latest assignment for a tenacious detective.Imagine if someone made a getaway driver film with a heavy influence of J.P. Melville (the stoic anti-hero). It gets better and better with repeat viewings. It's more an old favorite, than a blow you away film.
- DirectorDelmer DavesStarsHumphrey BogartLauren BacallBruce BennettA man convicted of murdering his wife escapes from prison and works with a woman to try to prove his innocence.Bacall and Bogart up to their old magic. A very, very enjoyable watch.
- DirectorJohn HustonStarsSterling HaydenLouis CalhernJean HagenA major heist goes off as planned, but then double crosses, bad luck and solid police work cause everything to unravel.I enjoyed this film better the second time (the first time watching this, I'd just seen the wonderful 'Rififi' a few days before, and then there's the huge reputation that comes with this film). There's a lot right about this heist film, the wrong for me is Dix's girlfriend (two dimensional, and annoying). Nice to see a young Marilyn Monroe, and a slew of noir staple actors in this film.
- DirectorSidney LumetStarsPhilip Seymour HoffmanEthan HawkeAlbert FinneyWhen two brothers organize the robbery of their parents' jewelry store the job goes horribly wrong, triggering a series of events that sends them, their father and one brother's wife barreling towards a shattering climax.Sidney Lumet's Neo-Noir was a real favorite of mine in 2007. I feel like it didn't get it's due. Some films just seem to get lost in the shuffle.
- DirectorHoward HawksStarsHumphrey BogartLauren BacallJohn RidgelyPrivate detective Philip Marlowe is hired by a wealthy family. Before the complex case is over, he's seen murder, blackmail and what might be love.Very enjoyable, with a twisty plot that even the writer admitted had one or two unanswered questions within it (though nothing crucial). As one would imagine, great chemistry between Bogart and Bacall.
- DirectorAlfred L. WerkerAnthony MannStarsRichard BasehartScott BradyRoy RobertsThis film-noir piece, told in semi-documentary style, follows police on the hunt for a resourceful criminal who shoots and kills a cop.This is a very good true crime film. Nicely shot (by John Alton), and executed in general. Richard Basehart is quite a good villain. The end sequence was probably an influence on 'The Third Man' (this film is a year before) It's a tense, very cool film.
- DirectorLars von TrierStarsMichael ElphickEsmond KnightMe Me LaiA cop in a dystopian Europe investigates a serial killings suspect using controversial methods written by his now disgraced former mentor.This one is certainly more for art house fans. Shot in sepia toned B & W, with odd flashes of blue, it is one of the most visually interesting films one will ever encounter (some of the shots remind me of Andrei Tarkovsky's 'Stalker'). Nice dark detective story.
- DirectorRichard FleischerStarsCharles McGrawAdele JergensWilliam TalmanA well-planned robbery goes awry with tough cop Jim Cordell in pursuit of the thieves.This Noir was probably an influence on Kubrick's 'The Killing'.
It's a compact, very solid caper picture populated with great Noir archetypes. I watch it often. - DirectorGötz SpielmannStarsJohannes KrischIrina PotapenkoAndreas LustEx-con Alex plans to flee to the South with his girl after a robbery. But something terrible happens and revenge seems inevitable.For art-house fans only. It is a quiet, minimal film.
This is a great, great film noir, but it also to me seems to transcend the genre by sheer emotional depth. Those of you with shorter attention spans be warned though: this film has a European quietness/minimalness to it. Lots of still camera setups that are really beautifully framed. I just watched this film again, and loved it even more on second viewing. - DirectorWilliam FriedkinStarsGene HackmanRoy ScheiderFernando ReyA pair of NYPD detectives in the Narcotics Bureau stumble onto a heroin smuggling ring based in Marseilles, but stopping them and capturing their leaders proves an elusive goal.Gene Hackman is indelible in this roll. Great soundtrack. Wonderful texture to the film in general. I'd say it's essential film viewing.
- DirectorRobert SiodmakStarsVictor MatureRichard ConteFred ClarkPolice Lieut. Candella, longtime friend of the Rome family, walks a tightrope in the case of cop-killer Martin Rome.It's not as strong and flawless as "The Killers", but it is certainly a well above average noir by Robert Siodmak. It's well worth seeking out for fans of the dark cinema. Richard Conte is at his criminal best, right up there with his role in "The Big Combo", and he carries the film more than the other players.
This film is newly out on burn on demand DVD by 20th century fox archive collection and is a very decent quality print/transfer. - DirectorPhil KarlsonStarsJohn PayneColeen GrayPreston FosterAn ex-con trying to go straight is framed for a million dollar armored car robbery and must go to Mexico in order to unmask the real culprits.This film starts out rather so-so for the first third, but from then on is a really good, intriguing picture. The lead, John Payne is really terrific (and is almost a dead ringer for Ray Miland). Also features Coleen Gray from Kubrick's 'The Killing'.
- DirectorJohn FrankenheimerStarsFrank SinatraLaurence HarveyJanet LeighAn American POW in the Korean War is brainwashed as an unwitting assassin for an international Communist conspiracy.Excellent Noir political thriller.
- DirectorJoseph LoseyStarsVan HeflinEvelyn KeyesJohn MaxwellAfter Susan Gilvray reports a prowler outside her house police officer Webb Garwood investigates and sparks fly. If only her husband wasn't in the way.This is a very interesting noir. Quite a performance by Van Heflin, in a pretty risque scenario. Robert Aldrich was the AD.
- DirectorJacques BeckerStarsJean GabinRené DaryDora DollAn aging, world-weary gangster is double-crossed and forced out of retirement when his best friend is kidnapped and their stash of eight stolen gold bars demanded as ransom.Jean Gabin is very cool in this French film by the great director Jaques Becker. The price of friendship can be very high indeed.
- DirectorH. Bruce HumberstoneStarsBetty GrableVictor MatureCarole LandisWhy is Inspector Ed Cornell trying to railroad Frankie Christopher for the murder of model Vicky Lynn?Excellent noir. My favorite role for Victor Mature.
- DirectorPhil KarlsonStarsJohn McIntireRichard KileyKathryn GrantA crime-busting lawyer and his initially reluctant attorney father take on the forces that run gambling and prostitution in their small Southern town.True crime story that packs a punch. Very effective, educational, and engaging film. It reminds one what true bravery really entails.
- DirectorOrson WellesStarsCharlton HestonOrson WellesJanet LeighA stark, perverse story of murder, kidnapping and police corruption in a Mexican border town.Wells is great, and there are wonderful creepy, dark moods in general throughout this film. One does have to get over Charlton Heston playing a mexican cop. Must have been before hispanics could be cast in lead roles. One of the last noir's of the classic cycle (1940-1958)
- DirectorJoel CoenEthan CoenStarsGabriel ByrneAlbert FinneyJohn TurturroTom Reagan, an advisor to a Prohibition-era crime boss, tries to keep the peace between warring mobs but gets caught in divided loyalties.The Coen's bring their slightly skewed/caricatured universe to the classic noir era with plenty of great performances.
- DirectorJuan Antonio BardemStarsLucia BosèAlberto ClosasBruna CorràA couple having an affair strike a bicyclist with their car and do not offer aid out of fear of their relationship being exposed.A very good spanish noir with political undertones.
- DirectorJohn DahlStarsLinda FiorentinoPeter BergBill PullmanA devious sexpot steals her husband's drug money and hides out in a small town where she meets the perfect dupe for her next scheme.One of the best Femme fatale's ever in a very enjoyable film noir. The DVD I have is in 4:3 which is probably the wrong aspect ratio. Oh well, still a great film.
- DirectorEdward DmytrykStarsDick PowellClaire TrevorAnne ShirleyAfter being hired to find an ex-con's former girlfriend, Philip Marlowe is drawn into a deeply complex web of mystery and deceit.Very good film in the vein of "The Big Sleep". Lots of twists and turns.
I prefer the film "Farewell My Lovely" to this one. They are both based on the same book. - DirectorRichard FleischerWilliam Cameron MenziesStarsCharles McGrawMarie WindsorJacqueline WhiteA woman planning to testify against the mob must be protected against potential assassins on the train trip from Chicago to Los Angeles.Very good 'suspense on a train' film with some classic noir actors. Very worth tracking down.
- DirectorJohn CromwellStarsHumphrey BogartLizabeth ScottMorris CarnovskyA soldier runs away rather than receive the Medal of Honor, so his buddy gets permission to investigate, and love and death soon follow.Starts slightly weak, but gets very interesting about 20 minutes in. The two principals are quite good, and there's a lot of twists regarding Scott being either a good girl or a femme fatale. It's not quite as good as 'The Maltese Falcon', 'the Big Sleep', or 'Key Largo', but it's a very worth-while find. I can also say that I always enjoy watching Bogart.
- DirectorArthur LubinStarsBrian DonlevyElla RainesCharles CoburnA unfaithful wife plots with her lover to kill her husband, but the lover is accidentally killed instead. The husband stays in hiding and lets his wife be charged with conspiracy.It's a very good Noir in general, with great lead stars. The plot is certainly not always terribly realistic though. Still, it's a very enjoyable film that goes down real nice every time I watch it.
- DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsHenry FondaVera MilesAnthony QuayleIn 1953, an innocent man named Christopher Emanuel "Manny" Balestrero is arrested after being mistaken for an armed robber.A very real feeling, moral story. It doesn't have a lot of the Hitchcock flourishes of style, but that suites the content.
- DirectorOtto PremingerStarsDana AndrewsGene TierneyGary MerrillDet. Sgt. Mark Dixon wants to be something his old man wasn't: a guy on the right side of the law. Will Dixon's vicious nature get the better of him?Otto Preminger again re-teaming Gene Tierney and Dana Andrews. Second in charm to 'Laura', but a grittier story line with a nice bit of moral struggle for the main character. A very nice watch with plenty of great supporting players like Karl Malden, Neville Brand, and Gary Merrill.
- DirectorSamuel FullerStarsCliff RobertsonDolores DornBeatrice KayA teenager who witnesses the murder of his father vows to exact revenge on the four mobsters involved in the killing.The best Fuller film, and quite under-sung. Highly recommended even if, like me, you don't really like Fuller's films.
- DirectorDon SiegelStarsEli WallachRobert KeithRichard JaeckelIn San Francisco, a psychopathic gangster and his mentor retrieve heroin packages carried by unsuspecting travelers.This film featured two very interesting characters as the killers. Overall, is a very good noir with lots of tension towards the end. Good direction by Don Siegel. A very solid recommend.
- DirectorAndré De TothStarsGene NelsonSterling HaydenPhyllis KirkReformed parolee Steve Lacey is caught in the middle when a wounded former cellmate seeks him out for shelter.The hazards of being an ex-con are exploited beautifully in this picture. Early performance by Charles Bronson as well. This is very much the type of picture I hope I find more of in my film Noir research.
PS, I just read that french director JP Melville loved this film. Enough said! - DirectorFrançois TruffautStarsFanny ArdantJean-Louis TrintignantJean-Pierre KalfonAfter he's implicated in several murders, a real estate agent hides out from the cops while his intrepid secretary does some private investigating of her own to locate the killer.A light, easy to watch murder mystery/noir that has Truffaut tipping his hat to Hitchcock. I like it more than I should. It just has that X factor for me.
- DirectorBlake EdwardsStarsGlenn FordLee RemickStefanie PowersA man with an asthmatic voice telephones and assaults clerk Kelly Sherwood at home and coerces her into helping him steal a large sum from her bank.Very good noir thriller directed and produced by Blake Edwards after he did the wildly popular "Breakfast at Tiffany's". This is what a noir looked like in 1962.
- DirectorTay GarnettStarsLana TurnerJohn GarfieldCecil KellawayA married woman and a drifter fall in love and then plot to murder her husband.The two stars are very engaging. Very good film.
- DirectorWim WendersStarsDennis HopperBruno GanzLisa KreuzerTom Ripley, who deals in forged art, suggests a picture framer he knows would make a good hit man.Very good Wim Wenders film with plenty of noir to the whole setup and execution. To me this picture feels more like it's from the early 80's rather than 1977. It's very artfully shot. Some very nice frames here and there.
- DirectorJohn BoormanStarsLee MarvinAngie DickinsonKeenan WynnAfter being double-crossed and left for dead, a mysterious man named Walker single-mindedly tries to retrieve the money that was stolen from him.I like 'The Limey' better, but this is the film that so much was lifted from.
I've read that Boorman was influenced by Alain Resnais' non chronological films like 'Je T'aime Je T'aime' & 'Last Year at Marienbad'. - DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsHarrison FordRyan GoslingAna de ArmasYoung Blade Runner K's discovery of a long-buried secret leads him to track down former Blade Runner Rick Deckard, who's been missing for thirty years.A worthy followup to the original. Villneuve does not disappoint. The score is excellent, and the visuals are wonderful. The story is a nice extension of the first film. It is almost 2:45 though so be prepared for a long film.
- DirectorFrank MillerQuentin TarantinoRobert RodriguezStarsMickey RourkeClive OwenBruce WillisAn exploration of the dark and miserable Basin City and three of its residents, all of whom are caught up in violent corruption.An exaggerated pulp film noir which does good justice to the hard-boiled comics of Frank Miller.
- DirectorNicolas Winding RefnStarsRyan GoslingKristin Scott ThomasVithaya PansringarmJulian, a drug-smuggler thriving in Bangkok's criminal underworld, sees his life get even more complicated when his mother compels him to find and kill whoever is responsible for his brother's recent death.Not as flawless as Drive, but still a fever-dream of a Noir with a lot going for it, including some David Lynch like moments.
- DirectorJoseph H. LewisStarsJohn DallPeggy CumminsBerry KroegerTwo disturbed young people release their fascination with guns through a crime spree.A great Femme Fatale that looks like Lee Remmick with a little Veronica lake thrown in for good measure. A definite influence on the excellent Bonnie and Clyde '67. Great film!
- DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsHugh JackmanJake GyllenhaalViola DavisWhen Keller Dover's daughter and her friend go missing, he takes matters into his own hands as the police pursue multiple leads and the pressure mounts.A dour & dark, violent, twisty thriller, somewhat like Se7en.
- DirectorGeorge MarshallStarsAlan LaddVeronica LakeWilliam BendixAn ex-bomber pilot is suspected of murdering his unfaithful wife.The best of the 3 film noirs with Lake and Ladd in the lead.