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Best of Film Noir (Black Cinema)

Best of Film Noir

Written by Souranath Banerjee.

Best of Film Noir: Around 1946 Nino Frank, a French film critic first coined the term ‘Film Noir’ to define the series of stylized, high contrast black and white American films of that particular era.

Dark shadows, flickering neon signs, cheap urban settings, dingy alleys and backdoors, claustrophobic interiors, cynical looking men (mostly private detectives or street smart hustlers) wearing long overcoats drinking away, treacherous foxy women (femme fatales)  wearing a mask of innocence seducing away, corruption and betrayal, guns and murders, the certainty of unhappy endings and of course lots and lots of cigarettes. 

Enter the world of Film Noir (literal meaning ‘Black Cinema‘).

And here is a list of some of the best and most popular Film Noirs Hollywood ever produced.

1. The Maltese Falcon (1941).

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phUxnXGhEiI

Maltese-Falcon-posterThis particular film directed by John Huston (his debut) is said to have started the trend and set the mood for the innumerable Film Noirs that dominated Hollywood for the next two decades.

A perfectly twisted murder mystery.

Humphrey Bogart with his crooked handsome looks and the trademark nasal tone soon became the most popular Film Noir star of that era. 

2. Double Indemnity (1944).

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3wjJcuGsVE

double-indemnity-posterDirected by one of my favorite director Billy Wilder, this film is remembered to be the ultimate Film Noir that ever existed!

Brilliant script with superbly corrupted characters full of lust and deceit. Fred MacMurrayBarbara StanwyckEdward G. Robinson at their best.

The film was nominated at the Oscars in se7en categories!

3. Laura (1944)

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6f8jRplej8

laura-posterWith lots of flashbacks and surprise twists in the plot this film tells the mysterious story of a detective falling for the woman whose murder he is investigating!

Directed by Otto Preminger and superb performances by Gene TierneyClifton Webb and stunning Dana Andrews.

The film won Oscar in the best Cinematography category.

4. Mildred Pierce (1945)

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjK97CqVqWA

mildred-pierce-posterGreat storytelling, brilliant acting, chilling suspense and also an unexpected twist in the end. Yes, it has all of these and much more.

Class performances by Joan CrawfordJack CarsonZachary ScottAnn Blyth.

Directed by Michael Curtiz, one of the best emotional Hollywood classics and of course a super cool Film Noir.

5. Notorious (1946).

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8f4UOtLf5Q

notorious-posterAlfred Hitchcock joins the Film Noir wagon and gives us one of the best of this genre.

This film is a classic tale of love and betrayal – of trust and deceit; a dangerous spy game with the risk of frightening consequences if ever get caught.

Starring Cary Grant and beautiful Ingrid Bergman, very romantic and probably the best spy film ever.

6. The Big Sleep (1946)

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjJlBnfyiI4

big-sleep-posterOne of Humphrey Bogart‘s most famous performance and also a most prominent example of Film Noir.

Directed by the master director Howard Hawks this film plunges us into a whirlpool of darkness where blackmail and murder goes hand in hand. 

Lauren Bacall and Martha Vickers all at their best in this gripping thriller.

7. The Third Man (1949)

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjMDg1Z9_gA

The-Third-Man-posterWhen Joseph Cotten learns of his friend’s mysterious death he suspects foul play and is in search of the mysterious third man who might be present at the time of death.

One of the most popular member of this genre, the film is a perfect thriller with Orson Welles in one of his notorious performances.

Directed by Carol Reed the film is a classic by it’s own right.

8. The Big Heat (1953)

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3XA5FEKIx4

big-heat-poster

With vengeance in his mind a cop goes after the city’s most dangerous crime syndicate.

A dirty game of politics and power  challenged by one man’s passion and a thirst for revenge; a film as brutal and vicious as it gets.

Directed by Fritz Lang (who specialized in such dark stories), with Glenn FordGloria Grahame and Jocelyn Brando playing their parts. 

9. The Night Of the Hunter (1955)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8dX6ZKJe2o

night-of-the-hunter-posterRobert Mitchum is determined to get his hands on some hidden money but the children won’t share their secret.

Directed by Charles Laughton this dark film has chilling moments of suspense.

Playing with shadows and silhouettes (the chiaroscuro
lighting technique) has always been an integral part of Film Noir but this one takes it to a different level.

10. The Killing (1956)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAe1CJWH_B8

killing-posterOne of Stanley Kubrick‘s earlier films and a perfect example of Film Noir.

Sterling HaydenColeen GrayVince Edwards playing their parts.

Classic drama full of tension and thrill, edited in a non-linear fashion.

This film is considered to be a huge influence on future non-linear films – the likes of Reservoir Dogs (1992) and Pulp Fiction (1994).

11. Touch of Evil (1958)

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-Oqn2hMp1M

touch-of-evil-posterPerformances by Charlton HestonJanet Leigh and Orson Welles – a thriller that is said to be the last of Hollywood’s favorite genre.

Directed by Orson Welles himself, it has kidnapping, corruption, murder and revenge. As the poster says – it is the story of the strangest vengeance that was ever planned!

A true classic to end the golden era of Film Noirs.

Even in the recent past a few films successfully managed to capture the nostalgia of the classic Film Noirs.

A few examples of such Neo-Noirs are The French Connection (1971), Chinatown (1974), Taxi Driver (1976), Blood Simple (1984), L.A.Confidential (1997), Blade Runner (1982), Memento (2000), Mulholland Drive (2001), A History of Violence (2005), Sin City (2005).

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Poster courtesy: www.imdb.comwww.impawards.com.

Best of Roman Polanski

Best of Roman Polanski

written by Souranath Banerjee.

Known as the ‘truly international filmmaker’ Roman Polanski has evolved as a legendary name in the world of cinema.

Though nominated several times for the Oscars in the best director category Roman Polanski has won the award only once in 2002 for The Pianist.

Roman Polanski has directed four actors in performances that have earned them Oscar nominations: Ruth Gordon (Rosemary’s Baby), Jack Nicholson (Chinatown), Faye Dunaway (Chinatown), and Adrien Brody (The Pianist). Gordon and Brody have actually won the Academy Awards.

There has been many ups and downs in his personal life but as a filmmaker Roman Polanski has consistently given his best.

Listed are some of his best films till date. Let the fun begin!

10. Repulsion (1965)

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO0niGPR5S4

repulsion posterPolanski’s first film in English – a classic psychological thriller.

The first in Polanski’s Apartment Trilogy as well, it is the story of a beautiful girl (Catherine Deneuve) whose repulsion from reality later leads to dangerous alleys of hallucinations and murders.

Scary and twisted yet disturbingly brilliant. A trademark Polanski film indeed.

9. The Ghost (2010)

Fil m Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_AerBW0EcI

the ghost writer posterStylish political thriller that is justified only by Polanski’s superb direction.

A ghost writer (Ewan McGregor) is hired to work for the former British Prime Minister (Pierce Brosnan). Certain secrets get revealed and the writer’s life is in danger!

Suspense and thrill gets a new definition in this film.

8. Bitter Moon (1992)

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69cGkcHEfuU

bitter moon posterPassion or lust, love or torture, victim or the master?

In this film the roles of the characters keep changing as Polanski plunges deep into our human psyche and create such conflicting emotions.

Brilliant performances, one of the most cool and sexy films i have ever seen. And yes, Emmanuelle Seigner is super hot.

7. Tess (1979)

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvGZ5XXPCSM

Tess poster Nominated in the Oscars for six different categories, Tess is visually one of the most beautiful film ever made.

Adapted from Thomas Hardy’s novel “Tess of the d’Urbervilles” it is one of those rare moments when you like the film version even better than the book. 

A slow paced film that gives the perfect picture of rural Victorian England – a delight to watch.

6. Carnage (2011)

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPX6-4Bo7XU

Carnage posterOne apartment as the location, four characters Jodie FosterKate WinsletChristoph Waltz and John C. Reilly as the cast – the film is unique in many ways.

A fight between the children leads to an even bigger drama between their parents.

Master director Polanski plays with the his brilliant cast like puppets and brings out the best in them.

5. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PewtQsgN5uo

Rosemarys Baby poster One of the most popular films of Roman Polanski and probably the best horror film ever made.

Mia Farrow‘s best performance and the second in Polanski’s Apartment Trilogy.

Pregnant wife and her unborn child’s safety is all that matters, isn’t it?

Well,  people can get even murdered to protect the mysterious baby!

4. Chinatown (1974)

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T37QkBc4IGY

chinatown posterPrivate detective (Jack Nicholson) is hired to solve a mystery that gets too dangerous to handle.

This film reminds me of the old Film noirs that Hollywood used to make in the 40s and 50s – the best modern age  Film Noir.

Nominated for Oscars in eleven categories – won only for original screenplay.

3. Knife in the Water (1962)

FIlm Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaBa2Wj3gHk

the knife in the water posterRoman Polanski’s first feature film and it was nominated for the Oscar in the best foreign film category.

Unfortunately the same year Fellini’s 81/2 was also nominated.

But never the less Polanski showed in his very first film his class as a director.

A gripping tale of human psychology and emotions.

2. The Tenant (1976)

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmhIMbdecEU

The tenant poster My personal favorite, very disturbing to watch, this film haunts you  for days after you have seen it.

The last in Polanski’s Apartment Trilogy and probably the most terrifying one.

Polanski acted himself as the main character and did a superb job.

Believe me, getting a new apartment can’t get more scarier than this.

1. The Pianist (2002)

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_jE7-6Uv7E

The pianist posterFinally the film Roman Polanski is known for and it is undoubtedly his best film.

Won Oscar as the best director, the film is about a pianist who being a Jew in the times of second world war had to struggle for his life but his love for piano remained unaltered. Adrien Brody at his best.

A must watch.

and

(The ‘+1′ film is not necessarily the best but certainly the most crazy and innovative one. A must watch)

+1. Death and the Maiden (1994)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cnnz214wwkI

death and the maiden posterWith three characters and one location, a crazy story where you are never sure who is telling the truth – you are afraid to take sides.

A dark film that touches pain and trauma; outstanding performances by Sigourney WeaverStuart Wilson and the legendary Ben Kingsley.

A perfect Polanski thriller.