Red Riding Trilogy (UK, 2009)

Being a bloke whose formative years were before Gazza cried at the 1990 World Cup Finals, tears are something that are a foreign land to me (except when my dad died). So when I found a tear trickling down my cheek at the end of the final part of this trilogy, based on four David [...]

Gone Baby Gone (US, 2007)

When will Casey Affleck stop mumbling? He mumbled his way through Jesse James and he mumbles his way through this convoluted thriller. The plot’s noirish enough without having to hang on his every mangled word. This delivery worked in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) because it suited the character; [...]

The Black Dahlia (US, 2006)

Now I know film noir is meant to have a convoluted narrative but can someone tell me what was going on? Looked good. (DVD)
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Sin City (US, 2005)

Visually stunning rendition of Miller’s graphic novel. As sexist as the source material, true, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t good. It depends how your read it; and the blokes are not exactly paragons of masculinity. (DVD, 2) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401792/

Chinatown (US, 1974)

One of the great films from the New Hollywood of the early 1970s. Nicholson’s superb as the not-quite-with-it Private Dick (don’t find Dunaway convincing though) and the tale of corruption at the heart of America resonates. (DVD, 5) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071315/

Sin City (US, 2005)

An extraordinary rendition of the graphic novel. Great – too – if you’re a fan of noir. Is it sexist? Depends on how you read it. Lots of sexily dressed-good looking women; but they are not victims. They do need a bloke to ’save’ them though. Though the blokes are saps. Depends how you read [...]

The Maltese Falcon (US, 1941)

Often reputed to be the first film noir (it wasn’t) but it remains a classic. Bogey’s speech at the end is a fabulous summation of the feelings of a man who’s too savvy to be enthralled by lust (though it is a close run thing). Great performances all around, though I think it is difficult, [...]

Mona Lisa (UK, 1986)

Brilliant film noir directed by Neil Jordan. Possibly the best movie on Thatcher’s Britain (though it only deals with her devastation of Britain tangentially) and a thoroughly good thriller. Hoskins at his best as a cockney Everyman and Robbie Coltrane excels as his philosophical mate. Michael Caine’s brilliant too. Chilling movie. (DVD, 4). http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091538/

Gilda (US, 1946)

Classic noir. Homoerotic subtext and Rita Hayworth’s sultry performance make this a must (watch Hayworth’s first appearance). Some great use of silhouettes. (DVD, 2) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038559/

Pickup on South Street (US, 1953)

A B-movie Sam Fuller classic noir. Ostensibly a Cold War thriller but focuses more on the relationship between the borderline psychotic (Richard Widmark) and tough but vulnerable ‘broad’ (Jean Peters). Thelma Ritter does her great character act. (DVD, 2) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046187/