Films/DVD Asylum

Re: dunno if they 'qualify' for the category.

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In Reply to: dunno if they 'qualify' for the category. posted by kuma on April 08, 2000 at 10:45:58:

Moody high contrast scenes with characters who are losers in stories about The dark underbelly of American life.
What do you think is involved in the "feel"? Perhaps a sense of desperation, perhaps, futility in the story? The antihero? Going for that big win that will make everything worthwhile? Being shot in black and white? Being shot mainly at night?
And your comment about French films, any French or foreign films you like in this genre?

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Re: dunno if they 'qualify' for the category. kuma 22:59:08 04/08/00 (3)
A film noir 'feeling' is elusive something. Bit like try to explain a 'communicative' two channel system. They are equaly vague. :-)
There are certainly familiar ingredients to make a film noir film as you've suggested in your post. A story about ugly people doing nasty things to other people. Always with strong chracter study/observation. Sometime, it can be voy
I don't think they have to be shot in black & white per se. Perhaps, my preference of B&W films over the colour films make the neo-film noir in 70s to date unauthentic. Addition of colour make the scene too real for my taste.
Most film-noir should have artificial feel to it. I can even forgive a few flaw in script sometimes from its striking visual style. No, it does not have to be shot in the night time to achieve necesarry atmosphere.
As for French film noir, Marcel Carne's Jour Se Leve(1939) or try Port of Shadows(1938) both starring Jean Gabin.
- realism vs. art edta 08:54:37 04/09/00 (2)
  You are on to something about artfulness and artificiality being essential to the great films of this genre. "Making the scene too real" is not the best noir. I guess that could extend from b and w, to outlandish dialog & characters, unusual camera angles, etc., etc. Think Dr. Strangelove would classify as noir? Never even thought of that one before.
  I'm compiling a list from a book I just read. Not sure if it would be boring. I know I could use it for my own future viewing. BTW, it includes just about every film you mentioned and is mainly "classic" noir from the 40's and 50's.
  - it's black allright, but... kuma 11:15:04 04/09/00 (1)
    I'd say Dr. Strange Love is more of a 'black' comedy.
    I laughed my ass off watching it. Even though the film is highly stylised (both in script and cinematography), does not belong in film noir category.
    The Fail Safe with Fonda (almost simulteniously released has a similar plot line as the Dr. Strange Love) might be closer.
    - Re: it's black allright, but... edta 11:59:22 04/09/00 (0)
      A great masterpiece & classic.

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