FILM NOIR: A NEW GENRE OF MOVIES THAT I LEARNED TO LIKE

Errol Morris a director, describes in the first ten minutes in the documentary of Film Noir how “Noir is concerned with error and with confusion. The noir idea, is that we don’t know whats going on but we do know something bad is going to happen.” This  quote not only  describes noir films but also Double Indemnity. Double Indemnity is a film that has suspense and mystery throughout the movie. The audience is unaware of what will happen next but the tone and the musical score in the movie makes it obviously  and predictable that something horrible will happen. 

Barbara Stanwyck,  Phyllis in Double Indemnity is the definition of a femme fatale. The trend in the film noir is that the female character is usually a “Powerful sexual female, who is very dangerous” says Scholar, Janey Place.  “She uses sexuality to get what she's after. Not the man, he’s just another tool. She’s after something for herself. ” Phyllis is a character who uses her sexuality to get what she wants. She she sees her opportunity when  Walter (Fred MacMurray) is selling accident insurance. Phyllis uses Walter as tool to kill her husband, While Walter is thinking he is killing Phyllis's husband so that he and Phyllis can be together. However Phyllis has other plans in mind. Woman in film noir movies take on a certain role and a recurring theme of being independent, very smart and extremely sexual. There flirtatious and sexual manner is what gets there victims/men characters in a world of trouble involving murder and death. 

The signature visual tone in film noir movies is the ability to adjust lights and shadows, with an intense musical tone. Film noir movies contain a lot of deep shadows, bright sources with controlled lighting. In film noir it is very economical to stage a seen because its dark shadows with bright lights allows the audience to only focus on the characters while everything else is hidden in darkness. In film noir shadows are important because it adds much mystery to the audience because the audience does not know what lays in the dark. It is like light against the dark which is said to be like good versus evil. It makes film noir more mysterious and makes oneself wonder. In Double Indemnity the scene where Walter invites himself to the  Phyllis’s home with intentions of murder. Phyllis knows what his intentions are and makes the living room and entrance way very dark, turning off all the lights. Adding more suspense and confusing when Walter walks in. In the scene when Walter murders Phyllis’s husband the musical score is purely instrumental which makes Double Indemnity so edging.  An instrumental score in the murder scene in the car make Phyllis look insane, and evil. While the dark shadows add another level of evilness and craziness in  Phylliss’s eyes. 

Comparing neo noir movies and film noir movies with Chinatown and Double Indemnity are completely two different types of genres. They are similar in way they that they are both dealing with the main character narrating the movie. There is similarities with the “same” seductive powerful female character who plays an innocent role but ends off the film with death.  Lighting and color is a major difference when comparing a neo noir film with film noir. When describing the visuals in a neo noir film  a color noir film it is not the same as film noir because the audience needs the shadows to have the feeling of suspense in there guts. With color it takes the fun of the dark tones, shadows and bright lights. The visuals need to be in black and white because film noir creates certain tones with black and white movies that colored visuals can not copy. The musical score for neo noir movies is different from noir films even though they are both still only instrumentals the instrumentals do not adds as much suspense compered to film noir movie in the 1940s. The sound sounds different making it less suspseful taking away the mystery. I would choose the original style of film noir because it is more natural then the copy of a neo noir film that gives it less flavor in certain aspects like shadows for example that the real film noir has. 

 femme fatale

Criteria for a Good Movie

 Criteria for a good movie

Having a great plot can be essential to a film’s success. Depending on the genre of the film, the importance of having a “Great Plot”, can vary.

Cinematography is one of the key elements for a great film. This consists of effects and techniques that make up the movie’s characteristics. These simple effects are often be overlooked by the general viewer but it is important to know that the simple inclusion of shadows, camera angles, movements and other effects add to the overall interpretation of the film.

In my opinion, the inclusion of a great soundtrack is one of the most crucial elements to a top notch film. After all, it is the sound that leads up to prominent points within the film. They are the highs and the lows and the clues to what we think is going to happen next.

·         Comparison

There are obvious differences with films of today and early films such as Le voyage dans la lune and The Great Train Robbery. Although there is difference, there is also some correlation. For instance, the intent of including a plot that catches the viewer and keeps them interested is implemented in the early films and many of our films today. Le voyage dans la lune revolves around space travel, a subject that has been timeless in the art of film from its beginnings.

The effects used in both films seem to be what was accessible at the time. In comparing these films with today, it is apparent that technology has and always will play a major role in the creation of film.

In regards to the soundtracks, Le voyage dans la lune’s music was not the original score for the film and was implemented later, therefore the comparison in my mind could not be adequately made.

·         Favorite films

For a lover of film, it is impossible to have a favorite film, but of course, there are some that seem to directly target my interest.
Gone with the Wind has to be one of these films that I speak of. It is filled with all key elements that make a movie interesting. When I consider that the book was published in 1936 and the film was released in 1939, it completely allowed me to consider all the criteria that made this movie a classic. Present was a great plot, awesome effects, for the time, and a powerful soundtrack that keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat. The inclusion of battle scenes and action keeps the viewer attentive rather than letting them become overwhelmed with the real plot of a love triangle.
The second film that I have chosen to include is Billy Elliott. Once again we have all the key elements that make an instant classic. We have an awesome plot, great camera angles, lighting and shadows, while being accompanied by a blistering soundtrack. This is a move that everyone should see.

Champion Flick!

I Love Them All!

I am not to sure if I have a type of movie I would choose to watch. I like all types of movie ranging from horror classics, to the informative documentaries and to the classic chick flick. I am not a film buff in anyway. I can go on for months without watching a movie. It has been said that I only watch movies to past the time because I describe them as BORING!!! However, I love to watch movies. Classic horror movies like The Shinning, The Poltergeist and  The Omen. I am also a fan of classic 80’s films like the Goonies, Repoman, Valley GIrl, Suburbia, Breakfast Club, The Outsiders, Sixteen Candles and Boys in the Hood. One of my favorite directors is Quentin Tarantino. His comical twisted humor with a great soundtrack make the majority of his movies my most entertaining. Movies like Kill Bill, Pulp Fiction, Four Rooms, Death Proof and Natural born Killers makes for a most entertaining  couple of hours. I also like to watch documentaries about all sort of things, ranging from animals, music, places and all sorts of interesting people. Documentaries of true maters, for example, The Cove, is a interesting movie about dolphin killing, and may stop you from supporting marine life entertainment parks like Sea World. There are all sorts of genres that catch my attention and the movies I listed, I can watch time after time.

Tarantino's Death Proof on of my favorite scenes :)

Scary movies give me the creeps but they are classic and I love them.