neo-noir
London Fields feels like it’s trying to accomplish too much, and as a result, accomplishes very little.
Neo-Noir films are full of cynicism, despair and characters who are trying to find a way out of the shadows – here are the genre’s essential films.
Whether basking in the glory of its noir-style lighting, or admiring its Ennio Morricone-influenced score, or even if just a fan of the hodgepodge of films referenced in some way, there’s at least something in Pickings for people to enjoy.
Gemini asks, in a city overflowing with people who want it all, when you’re famous, are you ever really safe?
Twelve Monkeys is Terry Gilliam’s dystopian vision of time travel, in which everything that happens is inevitable, probing into questions of the meaning and purpose of life.
The Persian Connection is a bold, tense, and thrilling film, even if its thematic reach just exceeds its grasp.
In this installment of Take Two, Robb Sheppard reconsiders David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive after a less-than-satisfying first viewing.
For a story we’ve seen over and over, Mean Dreams, Bill Paxton’s last film, is compelling, refusing to take the usual narrative routes.
The Grifters is a films which has largely been lost through time; here, we explore why it might be worth revisiting.
Nocturnal Animals is Tom Ford’s latest film, presented in lavish and bright neon colors; though it also possesses a hopelessly dark view.
Sure, we’ve all heard the rumours: topping the critics’ pick of the flicks for this century, hell, this millennium so far, is David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive. But what exactly happened up in the darkness of those famous hills, on those enticing yet savage switchbacks?
Shane Black’s The Nice Guys couldn’t come at a better time. Actually, strike that. If it had come out just a few months later after the slog of the summer movie season of blockbuster remakes, sequels, reboots, and rehashes had polluted our minds, then perhaps it would be received all the more with acclaim.
To try and properly describe The World of Kanako is quite a tough feat. So far I have a mix of the youth-filled slaughter of Battle Royale, the rapid-fire non-linear editing of John Boorman’s Point Blank, and the grittiness of Sam Peckinpah’s Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia, smashed together in a blood soaked blender and left to sit in the sun. The World of Kanako is a brutal, convoluted and pop-culture infused neo-noir which punctures a bandage-wrapped fist in the face of decency in delivering its twisted story.
Kill Me Three Times is a film which is the right step forward for Australian cinema, done in the worst way possible. For the past decade, Australia has lacked films that have managed to cross international borders and bring new talent to life, which is a process which used to happen back in the day, from George Miller to Phillip Noyce. The only significant films of the past 10 years to really make any impact are David Michôd’s Animal Kingdom, which reminded audiences and filmmakers of the acting talents of Ben Mendelsohn and Jacki Weaver, who have become international stars.
Over at our official Facebook page , we are currently posting daily Film Recommendations, with each week being a different theme. This is a collection of those recommendations! This week’s theme is Underrated Neo-Noir films.