Kevin wrote:
"Sure, occasionally a modern stab at noir still clicks
(BRICK, parts of HOLLYWOODLAND) but even then there's a
self-consciousness about it that drags it all down."
Haven't seen Hollywoodland yet, but you're certainly right
about Brick. As much as I like it (and I like it quite a
bit), it is as much a commentary on noir as noir itself,
encouraging noir fans like us to feel smug about catching the
references and lineage. The same goes for Kiss Kiss Bang
Bang, but more so.
Now if you want to see a contemporary noir, check out
Unknown, just out on DVD. It's a trim film, cut down to less
than 90 minutes, and might be dismissed by some as a gimmick
film. True, it does flow from a plot device that begs
credulity (no more so than Memento, in fact both rely on
memory loss), but if you're willing to accept it (they do
give an excuse to buy it), the film goes on to tell a very
tight noir tale, with some very nice plot twists. And if
you're the kind to think about the philosophical
underpinnings of noir, as many of us here are, it engages
issues of identity and whether choice or destiny makes us who
we are
(and whether or not we are screwed).
Overall, a nice little film.
Mark
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