Author Topic: Top 5 Films Noirs  (Read 4050 times)

MartinTeller

  • FAB
  • Objectively Awesome
  • ******
  • Posts: 17864
  • martinteller.wordpress.com
    • my movie blog
Re: Top 5 Films Noirs
« Reply #10 on: May 24, 2012, 10:05:15 AM »
Yes, The Killing is noir.

Some do not consider The Third Man to be noir, though.  Clute and Edwards made a compelling case for this on their podcast, "Out of the Past."  They made some good points.  At least that's what I thought at time, unfortunately I've forgotten them.  Oy my terrible memory.

sdedalus

  • Objectively Awesome
  • ******
  • Posts: 16585
  • I have a prestigious blog, sir!
    • The End of Cinema
Re: Top 5 Films Noirs
« Reply #11 on: May 24, 2012, 10:41:10 AM »
Really?  I can't recall either, though I certainly listened to that episode.  I can't imagine a reasonable definition of noir that excludes The Third Man.
The End of Cinema

Seattle Screen Scene

"He was some kind of a man. What does it matter what you say about people?"

MartinTeller

  • FAB
  • Objectively Awesome
  • ******
  • Posts: 17864
  • martinteller.wordpress.com
    • my movie blog
Re: Top 5 Films Noirs
« Reply #12 on: May 24, 2012, 10:51:31 AM »
Yeah I think it had something to do with the protagonist not being a morally gray character and/or not having to make an ethical decision... it was something like that.  I should listen to it again, except I know I won't (I don't think I've ever listened to a podcast twice).  There's also a fairly common feeling that "true" noir is American, although most make an exception or two, especially for Third Man.

At any rate, it's my #11 on my list, so it's noir to me.

sdedalus

  • Objectively Awesome
  • ******
  • Posts: 16585
  • I have a prestigious blog, sir!
    • The End of Cinema
Re: Top 5 Films Noirs
« Reply #13 on: May 24, 2012, 10:55:46 AM »
OK, that makes some sense.  Though he really isn't significantly more moral than Philip Marlowe.

I thought about the nationality angle, but the main characters at least are American and the film is about the American experience in post-war Europe, which should be close enough.
The End of Cinema

Seattle Screen Scene

"He was some kind of a man. What does it matter what you say about people?"

PeacefulAnarchy

  • Elite Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 2132
    • Criticker reviews
Re: Top 5 Films Noirs
« Reply #14 on: May 25, 2012, 09:09:41 PM »
Some of these probably don't count as noirs by someone's definition, but surely at least five of them do.
Casablanca (1942)
Shadow of a Doubt (1943)
Vertigo (1958)
The Lost Weekend (1945)
Sunset Blvd. (1950)
Ace in the Hole (1951)
Detective Story (1951)
Laura (1944)
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946)
Strangers on a Train (1951)
Suspicion (1941)

MartinTeller

  • FAB
  • Objectively Awesome
  • ******
  • Posts: 17864
  • martinteller.wordpress.com
    • my movie blog
Re: Top 5 Films Noirs
« Reply #15 on: May 25, 2012, 09:30:57 PM »
I should make a list of Noirs I Wish I Liked More.  Sunset Blvd and Laura would both be on it.  As would Kiss Me Deadly, The Big Heat, The Maltese Falcon, The Killers and The Big Sleep.

smirnoff

  • Objectively Awesome
  • ******
  • Posts: 26251
    • smirnoff's Top 100
Re: Top 5 Films Noirs
« Reply #16 on: May 25, 2012, 09:52:10 PM »
Roughly speaking are the better films the ones with more quotable lines?

MartinTeller

  • FAB
  • Objectively Awesome
  • ******
  • Posts: 17864
  • martinteller.wordpress.com
    • my movie blog
Re: Top 5 Films Noirs
« Reply #17 on: May 25, 2012, 10:05:54 PM »
Roughly speaking are the better films the ones with more quotable lines?

Not necessarily.  The Thief is really good and it has NO lines.  Great dialogue is always a plus, of course.

smirnoff

  • Objectively Awesome
  • ******
  • Posts: 26251
    • smirnoff's Top 100
Re: Top 5 Films Noirs
« Reply #18 on: May 25, 2012, 10:16:13 PM »
Cool, I like hearing about the exceptions. The Thief intrigues me now. What makes it so good?

MartinTeller

  • FAB
  • Objectively Awesome
  • ******
  • Posts: 17864
  • martinteller.wordpress.com
    • my movie blog