From my blog you have already learned a few things about Noir and why I enjoy it so much. But some of you out there may still not understand why I like it or why I think that you should like it. So I’m going to explain it to you as best I can, because let’s be honest here, you all deserve to love Film Noir’s as much as I do… They are great! Seriously great.
I understand that there are a lot of people who just have a distinct problem with watching old black and white movies. They are simply labeled in your mind as taboo and boring. And in some cases this is true, some old films are boring, but not anymore than we have boring films that come out today. So dispel that notion if only for a short time and give a true film noir a try. There is something about film noir and black and white film that just come together to make some of the most strikingly beautiful images you will ever see on the silver screen.
Many of you have probably seen a film noir and not even realized that that is what it was. Let me ask you this, who is one of the most renowned and still recognized filmmakers in American history? Have you ever heard of the movie Psycho? Or maybe the classic movie Notorious? Or even Vertigo? Yes, I am talking about Alfred Hitchcock, the great master of noir. And yes many of his films do fit into the genre of film noir. And most people I believe have seen at least one of his films. He is a piece of American culture, and if you haven’t seen one of his films, you most definitely should get your hands on one of his movies and watch it!
Then we come of course to the debate on the best movie of all time. What are the two most common contenders in this battle? Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane, and Michael Curtiz’s Casablanca. Now people, what do these two films have in common? They are both FILM NOIRS! The cold stark reality of film noir’s has a draw to audiences which is almost inexplicable, but it is obviously there, and they are loved worldwide.
Don’t think that noir’s no longer hold a place in society today because they do. The offspring of film noir’s, the neo-noir is just as prevalent as its classical form. I’m going to list all of the film’s from the last five years that have a heavy noir influence that have been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture: Winter’s Bone, True Grit, and Black Swan (2010). A Serious Man (2009). No Country for Old Men (Won), and There Will Be Blood (2007).
I hope that you are starting to see the trend here. Even though many people don’t know what film noir is, most people have seen them and love them. Film noir is an important part of film culture, a big part of American society. Anyone reading this will have most likely seen one of the many films mentioned in this post. Now that you know that it is not just a movie, but a piece of a much bigger genre of film, I hope that you will learn to respect and love film noir’s as much as I do. They have continually been my inspiration in my own work, and even if you aren’t a filmmaker I think that they can still inspire you.
Noir Place Like Home 
Interesting. It never occurred to me that films like There Will Be Blood and No Country for Old Men would be considered noir style films. I went into those movie not sure what to expect. Though I’m not sure what category I’d put There Will Be Blood, though I’ve only seen it once and I wasn’t sure if I fully understood what was happening. But I definitely feel that No Country pulls off a more modernistic form of the noir genre.
Black Swan? Really you’d put that as a noir? I felt it was more of a psychological thriller with no answer to the main conflict. What is your reasoning to be putting it as a noir category?
Noir is more than just script elements, that is why it is so hard to define as a genre. A lot of people have argued that it is not a genre but a style, which I partially agree with. Black Swan is definitely a psychological thriller but it has a heavily noir influence. The visual style and use of shadows is noir technique and the element of being trapped by fate and uncontrollable circumstances has many similarities to the noir genre. Defining a noir is not easy and it has been argued endlessly on what films can be considered a noir and which can not. Often films that are one clear genre can overlap with noir. There are countless westerns that are considered noir, like Rancho Notorious, and Blood on the Moon. I would not say Black Swan is a noir but it has noir elements and there is an overlap of noir in its making. Some people may disagree with me on this but There Will Be Blood is undoubtedly a noir. And I think everyone will agree that No Country For Old Men is a neo-noir. It is interesting because almost all of the Coen Brothers films are neo-noir’s, even The Big Lebowski, who’s title reflects many noir’s of the 40’s and 50’s like The Big Heat, or The Big Combo.
Also this blog is very well done. I like the written content matter, and the background colors and themes you have chosen fit well with the dark noir concept. Good job! It never really occurred to me when I was watching those films you’ve mentioned above that it could be placed in the noir category. Guess I’ll need to try and recognize these noir characteristics when I rewatch these films, and new ones that I may see in the future.
This is a really cool blog. Film noir is one of my favorite genres, as is its literary counterpart, “hard boiled” detective fiction from writers like Raymond Chandler and Dashiel Hammett. I won’t quibble with any the films you’ve categorized as noir. They all have noir elements, but some are more clearly noir than others. Citizen Kane and There Will Be Blood are very similar in terms of there themes, and especially their protagonists.
A couple of things:
1. I like the images from film noirs in your previous post, but I wish you would put embed them in the blog itself, rather than just have them in the document. They are beautiful, and would make the blog design look more interesting.
2. Not to get to nit-picky, but I don’t think you mean to say that old black and white movies are “taboo.” Taboo means “forbidden.” Cliche, perhaps?
Anyway, great job!
I didnt know too much about film noir until I read your blog. Its very informative and I enjoyed reading it. The colors are a bit monochromatic (i know its because its film noir), but you really have made it fit well and easy to read, which is normally a problem with the blacks and greys.