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Article: WHAT MOVIES WERE YOU WATCHING 20 YEARS AGO?

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The Line-Up found this best and worst of 1995 crime films in The Armchair Detective in 1996 and was written by Ric Meyers.

It has many now classic neo noir films on both the best and worst lists. It is an interesting time capsule. What films are on the right lists and which ones are not? Personally I would have put the the film in the number 5 spot on the worst list as my favorite from 1995, how about you?

Here is the link to the full article and list

http://www.the-line-up.com/media/flashback-best-worst-movies-1995/

Anybody else find it interesting that Heat did not make this list?

Article: ‘Heat’ at 20: Michael Mann on Making a Crime-Drama Classic

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Here is a great write up on Heat by Jennifer Wood over at Rolling Stone. This is a look at how the film was made and how it became a classic.

http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/heat-at-20-michael-mann-on-making-a-crime-drama-classic-20151215

Everything Noir also looked at Heat for its 20 year anniversary here:

https://everythingnoir.com/2015/03/12/re-watching-the-classics-heat/

 

Article: A Not-So-Golden State The detective stories of Ross Macdonald

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Andrew J. Bacevich has written an interesting and informative article on Ross Macdonald and his character Lew Archer over at The Baffler.  Ross Macdonald was born 100 years ago today! Take the time to read Bacevich’s article on the history of Ross Macdonald and the parallels between the writer and the character, Lew Archer, you won’t be disappointed.  Read the full article here:

http://thebaffler.com/salvos/golden-state/bacevich-lane-rossmacdonald-rgb

Article: The Femme Fatale, Gloria Grahame’s not-so-wonderful life.

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One of classic film noir fan’s favorite Femme Fatales had a bit of a noir like personal life. Karina Longworth has written an intriguing article about the life of Gloria Grahame. It is well worth your time to read the entire article here:

http://www.slate.com/articles/podcasts/you_must_remember_this/2015/12/gloria_grahame_nicholas_ray_and_film_noir_podcast_on_hollywood_history.1.html

Article: Jim Thompson wrote ‘hard-boiled existential noir’

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Jim Thompson is one of the greatest noir writers of all time. If you have not enjoyed his books, you have certainly enjoyed some the films based on his writing.

William W. Savage, Jr. has written a nice article about the man and his books. Check out the full article over at nondoc.com here:

http://nondoc.com/2015/12/11/jim-thompson-wrote-hard-boiled-existential-noir/

Article: Fritz Lang Top 10 Films

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Today is December 5th, Fritz Lang’s birthday. Fritz Lang is one of the most innovative and influential directors in history. He has made some of the best pre-film noir era movies as well as some of the greatest film’s noir. In celebration of his birthday we are looking at two top ten lists. Both of these look at his entire career and vary a great deal.

The first is from B.F.I.:

http://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/news-bfi/lists/fritz-lang-10-essential-films

The second is from Taste of Cinema:

http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2014/10-essential-fritz-lang-films-you-need-to-watch/

Happy 125th Birthday Fritz Lang! What is your favorite Fritz Lang films?

 

Article: ‘The Nice Guys’: First Image Reveals Ryan Gosling & Russell Crowe in Shane Black’s Noir Thriller

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People Magazine has released a picture from the new Shane Black movie. I’m a big fan of Black’s work with him writing and directing one of my favorites, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. He is also the writer of Lethal Weapon and The Last Boy Scout. So when Black describes this new film, The Nice Guys, as a“spiritual sequel” to Kiss Kiss Bang Bang I get pretty excited. Read the full article over at Collider about this film staring  Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe here:

http://collider.com/the-nice-guys-ryan-gosling-russell-crowe-shane-black/

Who else is excited to see this film?

 

Article:7 Neo-Noir Films Worth Watching

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a-texas-judge-cited-the-big-lebowski-in-a-legal-decision

Jeff Rindskopf has made a nice little list of neo-noir films over at CheatSheet.com. This is a great little list and if you are only going to pick 7 films these are all good choices. It is more of a beginner’s list, if you will or a great place to start for new fans of the genre. Check it out and see what you think:

http://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/7-neo-noir-films-worth-watching.html/?a=viewall

 

 

 

News: Dragon Tattoo Sequel May Have Found A New Lisbeth Salander

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Though I’m sad to hear the original cast and director David Fincher may not be back for the sequel to Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, at least a worthy replacement for Rooney Mara is being considered.

Alicia Vikander is the current top choice for the role. I’ve enjoyed her work in a number of films, including my review of Son of a Gun here:

https://everythingnoir.com/2015/03/28/review-son-of-a-gun/

You may have seen her in The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and her best performance so far, Ex Machina.

Now who are they going to replace Daniel Craig and David Fincher with? Read the entire article on this over at CneBlend.com here:

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Dragon-Tattoo-Sequel-May-Have-Found-Lisbeth-Salander-92577.html

Review: Public Morals Season 1

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Public Morals is a new television series on TNT created and starring Edward Burns. Burns plays Terry Muldoon, a plain clothes cop who is in the Public Morals department. This department takes care of vice in 1960’s New York City, mainly in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood. The Muldoon family is on both sides of the law,Terry’s father played by Peter Gerety, is a retired cop while his uncle, Mr. O played by Timothy Hutton is a small time gangster. When Mr. O is shot dead at the end of the first episode, Terry does his best to find the killer and keep the peace between the police and the gangsters battling each other for control of the vice trade.

Some of my favorite characters in the series are:

Charlie Bullman: Played by Michael Rapaport, Charlie has a soft spot for beautiful prostitutes and is a single father living with his mother. Charlie has more than a passing resemblance to a young Popeye Doyle.

Christine Muldoon: Played by Elizabeth Masucci is Terry’s wife. She wants to get out of the old neighborhood and move to the suburbs to live her middle-class dreams. Terry is loyal to the old neighborhood, but wants to keep his wife happy.

Fortune: Played by Katrina Bowden, is a high-class prostitute with a heart of gold or is she the femme fatale that has not shown all her true colors yet?

Joe Patton: Played by Brian Dennehy. Patton is the Irish Mafia Godfather for New York.

Rusty Patton: Played by Neal McDonough is Joe’s son, who is ready to take over for his father and doesn’t mind using violence to get there.

This series has many other great characters and though the series is only 10 episodes long so far, it is very complex and has some great options for story-lines for upcoming seasons.  The fine line of corrupt cops doing what they do to keep things under control and not be to corrupt is an interesting plot device. Are they really on the take to keep vice inline in the city or are they just money hungry men, not any better than the crooks they try to bust?

I really enjoyed this first season and think fans of neo-noir will enjoy it too. This one seems to have flown under the radar, but here is hoping that it gets picked up for a second season.