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Fun Stuff => ENJOY => Topic started by: Damnable Fiend on 27 Sep 2009, 22:25
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I was wondering if anyone could recommend me some good, old noir films?
In the vein of um, The Maltese Falcon I suppose, which is pretty much the only noir film I actually know. Basically, a bunch of things sparked an interest in the genre for me recently, but I'm not really sure where to start, as, normally, I don't watch very many movies.
Thanks
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Some big films in the genre are
M (1931)
The Third Man (1949)
Chinatown (1974)
And more recently,
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
Brick (2005)
Which are both a lot of fun.
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Chinatown is more correctly neo-noir, right? Still my favourite noir film so an excellent recommendation.
In terms of older noir films, both The Big Sleep and Maltese Falcon (both Bogart films) are excellent. The Big Sleep doesn't exactly make sense, but honestly that's not a big disadvantage. If you want more recent noir films (or as I said, neo-noir!), Memento is certainly the best example. The going backwards gimmick is much more than just a gimmick, and it follows the traditional noir structure despite "going backwards."
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I can recommend the Third Man very highly, its a fun watch through and its got Orson Welles, who doesn't like Orson Welles? Ditto for Chinatown with Jack Nicholson.
As for my own recommendations, Double Indemnity is a genre classic, while Blade-Runner is a good futuristic neo noir thriller with genetically altered Darryl Hannah and Harrison Ford.
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Casablanca, duh
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Chinatown is more correctly neo-noir, right? Still my favourite noir film so an excellent recommendation.
I would say Memento would definitely be considered neo-noir. Yet, Chinatown, while being a lot newer than classic noir films, follows all of the original noir concepts pretty damn close.
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It's one of those ones where you can pick and choose, since there isn't a definitive answer to what constitutes noir (or even if it is a genre at all, a subject of some debate). For those that take noir as something that applies only to films from a certain period Chinatown definitely wouldn't qualify. Neither would M actually, since it does fit as a German street or asphalt film and it was never referred to as a noir until comparatively recently, but it's such an enormous influence on noir it's worth watching.
By a massive distance the absolute greatest noir (so long as you accept M isn't one), not to mention a good contender for greatest film of any kind, is easily Sunset Boulevard. Anyone who doesn't think Norma Desmond is one of the greatest characters of all time is a massive chump.
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Came here to say Brick, but it was already said, so I'll just say that it is fucking great.
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Sunset Boulevard.
Also;
The Maltese Falcon
Double Indemnity
The Third Man
Stranger on the Third Floor
M
Nosferatu - really an expressionist piece, but it's so damn good you should watch it anyway. Plus, it's fallen into the public domain.
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Casablanca, duh
Joke post? Or do people actually think Casablanca is noir?
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In terms of cinematography, some of the scenes could be considered Noir-influenced. But yeah Casablanca is not a noir film.
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M is definitely great.
Le Circle Rouge (The Red Circle) is not only one of the best gangster/noir movies ever, it's one of my all time favorite movies period. Seriously brilliant.
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Just wait till y'all see my noir-comedy production, it'll totally straight flip all the way out on you yo.
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Elevator to the Gallows (1958) - Man, what a film. If you don't mind subtitles/can understand French. And the soundtrack is by Miles Davis.
I don't know if you like science fiction, but Bladerunner (1982) is certainly in the noir vein.
Also, Blast of Silence (1961) is pretty great too. I haven't seen it in a while but the cinematography is stunning. You can actually watch it on Youtube.
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thanks everyone, these are great suggestions. I'll start checking them out over the weekend.
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The Big Sleep