Few films genres are as iconic asNoir. Recognizable for dramatic lighting, jazzy soundtracks, and a gritty setting,Noir has been transporting viewers to the world of underground crime since its creation in the 1940s. More important than its aesthetic, Noir’s morally ambiguous leads embark on investigations of the human spirit and its ability to be corrupted.
Though the era of 1940s Noir has ended, the genre has lived on in modern cinema–influencing many films with its classic themes and visuals. For example,David Lynch’s psychological thrillerMulholland Drive,relies on a dreamy jazz soundtrack and classic Noir visuals, whiledark comedies likeA Simple Favor,revolve around a morally ambiguous lead on a quest to undercover the truth. Ultimately,by incorporating elements of Noir into their projects, these successful films better draw audiences into the story.
Heat
Cast
Michael Mann’s classic crime thriller Heat was released in 1995 and stars Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro as two men on opposite sides of the law whose live become tangled and destabilized in an intense game of cat-and-mouse. When one heist led by master thief Neil McCauley is compromised due to a clue left behind, LAPD Lieutenant Vincent Hanna finds himself obsessed with pursuing them in an ever-escalating war - one that may cause significant collateral damage.
Michael Mann’s critically acclaimed film,Heat,is one of the clearest examples of Noir in film.Today,Heatis scheduled for a sequel. This mix of Noir and crime drama tells the story of two men, master criminal Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) and law enforcement officer Lieutenant Hanna (Al Pacino), whose lives become intertwined when Hanna pursues McCauley and his gang.
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ThoughHeatmay be a crime drama above all else, the film is heavily influenced by classic Noir from the 1940s. The two leading men both embark upon existential quests, investigating one another to conclude that they have many similarities. Beyond the personal journey’s of its main characters,Heatdeals with themes that are classic to Noir, such as obsession, the dangers of crime, and loneliness.Against the backdrop of the gritty Los Angeles crime scene,Heatis an enticing watch for those hoping to watch a darker, modern spin on the classic Noir film.
Under the Silver Lake
Written and directed by David Robert Mitchell, Under the Silver Lake is a mystery comedy-drama released in 2018. A thirty-something conspiracy theorist’s life experiences a shake-up when his new neighbor becomes a brief love interest, only to disappear, leaving behind a mystery that dives deeply into a dangerous conspiracy.
Under the Silver Lakemay be another clear example of Noir being used as inspiration for a film, butthis time David Robert Mitchell combines it with dark comedy.Thiseccentric A24 performancefollows Sam (Andrew Garfield), a 30-something burnout who falls for a mysterious woman living in his apartment complex. When she suddenly vanished, his quest to find her leads him to conspiracy and secrets of Los Angeles.
ThoughUnder the Silver Lakemay be set in modern times, the film expertly uses a jazzy instrumental soundtrack throughout, as well as classic Noir shots to transport viewers to old Hollywood. These visual elements also create a sense of suspense and tension that increases as Sam continues his investigation.Sam himself is a classic Noir hero: morally ambiguous and easily influenced by the corruptions and secrets he encounters in Los Angeles.In theend ofUnder the Silver Lake, obsession and paranoia drive Sam to his breaking point, seen in the open-ending of the film.
8Fargo (1996)
Directed By Joel & Ethan Coen
Similar toUnder the Silver Lake,the Coen Brothers' famous dark comedy,Fargo, incorporates elements of Noir to create a sense of mystery around its murder plot.Coen’s film revolves around Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy), a car salesman in debt who hires a group of men to kidnap his wife for ransom money.When things go awry for the criminals, officer Marge Gunderson (Francis McDormand),one of the Coen Brothers' best characters, is hot on the trail.
Fargo’s quirky fusion of dark comedy and traditional Noir, truly allows it to stand out among similar crime films. Though the film remains in-line with the stylistic look of a Coen Brothers' film, its themes and characters prescribe to the formula of Noir. For example,Marge Gunderson’s takes up the role of the quirky investigator, while Jerry Lundegaard embodies the moral ambiguity and corruption in many Noir leads.Fargolives on in its subsequent seasonsin the new network show.
A Simple Favor
Based on the novel by Darcey Bell, A Simple Favor stars Anna Kendrick as Stephanie, a widowed mother and vlogger who becomes friends with the wealthy mother of one of her son’s classmates, a woman named Emily. When Emily suddenly and inexplicably disappears, Stephaine begins to search for her and in doing so uncovers a series of dark secrets about Emily’s past. Blake Lively and Henry Golding also star.
One of the most recent examples of Noir’s incorporation into other film genres is with the 2018 hit,A Simple Favor.Paul Feig’s film centers around Stephanie (Anna Kendrick), a widowed mother who strikes up a friendship with her glamorous neighbor, Emily portrayed byBlake Lively in one of her best roles. However,when Emily disappears, Anna sets out on an investigation to track down her new friend.
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In the end,A Simple Favoris an exploration of human flaws, shame, and guilt, all themes that are hallmarks of traditional Noir.Stephanie and Emily are both running from their own darkness, and as the film progresses, they must each face their secrets to move forward.A Simple Favoris also filled with aesthetic nods to traditional Noir, equipped with a moody soundtrack, costuming with 1940s silhouettes, and a sense of glamour reminiscent of Noir classics, that makesAnna Kendrick and Blake Lively’s thriller a hit.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Who Framed Roger Rabbit combines live-action and animation to create a world where humans and cartoon characters coexist. Set in 1940s Hollywood, the film follows a private investigator who is contracted to work on the case of a cartoon framed for murder, despite his dislike of cartoons. Bob Hoskins, Charles Fleischer, Christopher Lloyd, and Kathleen Turner all star.
Disney’s,Who Framed Roger Rabbit,may be one of the most unique and creative combinations of Noir with another genre.The cartoon dark comedy moves between the world of 2D animation and live action, as washed-up Detective, Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins), is enlisted to help the famous toon, Roger Rabbit (Charles Fleischer), when he is accused of murdering the man his wife is accused of having an affair with.
In the world of Toontown,the gritty design of the town, 1940s wardrobe, and jazzy soundtrack, are a string callback to the classic genre of Noir.Additionally, several leading characters are morally ambiguous and corrupt, including Eddie Valiant himself, and his toon friends, who wrestle with inner conflict while investigating the crime. The film also involves a series of twists and turns, ultimately leading to a shocking villain reveal by the end of the film, once again taking inspiration from the structure of Noir films designed to create secrecy and uncertainty.
Pulp Fiction
Quentin Tarantino’s classic tale of violence and redemption follows the intertwining tales of three protagonists: hitman Vincent Vega, prizefighter Butch Coolidge, and Vincent’s business partner Jules Winnfield.
Pulp Fiction’s reputation speaks for itself, as one of Director Quentin Tarantino’s biggest projects.Though thecrime saga comedy is unique to Tarantino’sspecific style, several themes and character descriptions are clearly influenced by Noir. In this zany, fast-paced story, A pair of hitmen, a drug-dealer’s wife, bandits, and a corrupt wrestler cross paths in the criminal underbelly of Los Angeles.
The Wrestler
Bruce Willis & Fabienne
Most of the leading characters inPulp Fictionare deeply flawed, morally ambiguous, and tormented by their involvement with the criminal world.For example, Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) vows to take up pacifism, and live altruistically, while the pro wrestler, Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis), plans to escape with his girlfriend to live together in peace. For some characters, a happy ending is never achieved, as is characteristic for a Noir film. Not to mention, some wardrobe andsong choices have a retro flairas a nod to Noir.
Mulholland Drive
David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive is a neo-noir mystery about aspiring actress Betty, who becomes involved with a woman suffering from amnesia and a mysterious blue box. Starring Naomi Watts and Laura Harring, the 2001 surrealist film explores themes of identity, memory, and Hollywood’s dark side.
One ofDavid Lynch’s best films,Mulholland Drive, may be one of the most committed renditions of Noir.This psychological thriller takes audiences to the dreamlike world of Hollywood, as a woman suffering from amnesia, Rita (Laura Harring), befriends an aspiring actress, Diana (Naomi Watts), and the two women embark on an investigation to discover the real identity of Rita.
Mulholland Driveis, in many ways, a modern version of the traditional Noir.The main characters are plagued by secrets that threaten to destroy them, while also maintaining a fascination with danger and power thatescalates beyond control as the film progresses. By the conclusion of the film, the plot devolves intrademark Lynch fashion, and it is no surprise the heroines fail to get their happy, clean ending, as is the case in Noir. Stylized shots, stark lighting, and a haunting jazz soundtrack add to the Noir feel ofMulholland Drive.
Memento
Christopher Nolan’s Memento is a psychological thriller that tells the story of Leonard, a former insurance investigator who suffers from a disease that prevents his brain from storing short-term memories. The one thing he can remember is murder of his wife, for which he wishes to exact revenge. Starring Guy Pearce and Carrie-Anne Moss, the movie was released in 2000 to widespread acclaim, launching the director’s successful Hollywood career.
Mystery and deception are used skillfully in one ofChristopher Nolan’s best movies,the psychological thriller,Memento.This noir-inspired story focuses on Leonard (Guy Pierce), a man who has lost his memory, but is determined to track down the murderer and assaulter of his late wife.The further he delves into his investigation, the more he learns about his own secrets and skeletons.
The memory loss that Leonard experiences in the film is a real phenomenon known as Anterograde Amnesia, the inability to create new memories after a traumatic brain injury,
Nolan takes liberties with the Noir genre, creating a definite sense of building suspense and mystery during itstimeline and shocking ending. An example of this comes with Leonard’s identity, or lack thereof, suggesting his identity as a morally ambiguous man who must uncover the results of his decisions.Cinematography and coloring are also used as a way of paying homage to classic Noir, with the stylistic look of several shots, and a black-and-white sequence added in.Mementoalso heavily relies on light and shadow to achieve the look of Noir.
The Batman
The Batman follows a young Bruce Wayne as he investigates a sadistic serial killer targeting key political figures in Gotham. As he delves deeper, he is confronted by the city’s hidden corruption and questions surrounding his own family’s legacy.
Few superhero films incorporate Noir into their style, butMatt Reeves' Batman universedecided to base his version of the “Caped Crusader” in the sultry world of Noir Gotham.The Batmanputs a darker twist on Bruce Wayne’s story, as this version of Batman (Robert Pattinson), manages his disgust for humanity while also tracking down a twisted killer who threatens the welfare of Gotham’s most powerful.
Crime and mystery are more of a focal point in this superhero flick, with the main plot revolving around the concept of corruption and darkness itself, and how this manifests into the criminal activity of Gotham’s underworld.Pattinson’s Batman is also painted as morally ambiguous: overly violent, brooding, and at times, apathetic to his role,ultimately failing Gotham.Lighting and coloring are also used by Nolan to develop a Noir look, with harsh shadows and muted color-grading.
Strange Days
Strange Days is a science fiction film directed by Kathryn Bigelow, set in the near future of 1999. The plot revolves around ex-cop Lenny Nero (Ralph Fiennes), who deals in illegal virtual reality recordings. As the city erupts in chaos, Nero uncovers a conspiracy linked to the recordings, involving a range of characters played by Angela Bassett and Juliette Lewis. The film explores themes of technology and socio-political unrest.
Strange Daysis a 1995 action sci-fi thrillerwith nods to Noir.Bigelow’s film tells the complicated and dramatic story of Lenny Nero (Ralph Fiennes), a former policeman involved in the selling of virtual-reality recordings.When he finds himself as a witness to a murder on one of the tapes, he enlists the help of a friend to uncover the identity of the secret murderer.
In many ways,Strange Daysis a character study. Similar to the traditional formula of Noir leads, Nero is an investigator with a messy past, hoping to move away from his demons, but instead finds himself caught back up in another conspiracy. Conspiracy and social unrest are also utilized inStrange Days, which are two themes heavily based in traditional Noir cinema. Additionally,Bigelow integrates gritty shots and stark shadows in the cinematography of the film, to further create the Noir look.
