Film Noir weekend

Just revelled in BBC Four's Film Noir weekend and was wondering as someone who likes so much comedy why I get enjoyment out of a film genre that has no comedic elements whatsoever (not even the odd chuckle or smile).

But look a little closer and film noir is like a lot of the best comedy as it seeks to pour endless humiliation and dung on the central character.
Instead following the professional cop or criminal at the heart of the story, it usually involves an everyman whose life spirals into chaos because of events beyond their control, financial desperation, lust or greed.
One mess and disaster just leads to another and inadvertently getting in trouble with dangerous villains, authority figures and scary women is part of the course.

Had some fine pictures on over the weekend including the Big Combo, Force of Evil and Build my Gallows High (a great Noir title if ever there was on).

I missed this, but Noir's great. Films like The Postman Always Rings Twice and Mildred Pierce are sublime.

What's Noir?

Quote: Marc P @ August 24 2009, 11:48 AM BST

What's Noir?

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It's what cool bastards call Film Noir.

There are sub genres within noir and I would posit the private dick ones have some humour in them.

Quote: chipolata @ August 24 2009, 11:51 AM BST

It's what cool bastards call Film Noir.

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And if you're really cool and discussing Coen Brothers thrillers like Blood Simple and Fargo you can drop in the phrase neo-noir

Or Hard Evidence you can use the phrase Punk Noir.

Quote: Marc P @ August 24 2009, 11:53 AM BST

There are sub genres within noir and I would posit the private dick ones have some humour in them.

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I think a lot of noir had humour in them. Blood Simple does, albeit very black. Certainly some Private Dick ones were very funny, such as Robert Altman's The Long Goodbye.

Quote: Marc P @ August 24 2009, 11:56 AM BST

Or Hard Evidence you can use the phrase Punk Noir.

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Or Fuddy-duddy Noir?

Quote: Marc P @ August 24 2009, 11:53 AM BST

There are sub genres within noir and I would posit the private dick ones have some humour in them.

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Your right come to think of it, they showed Farewell my Lovely with Dick Powell as Marlowe and the dialogue was really fast and witty but still remaining very acid tongued. Also sounded strangely British which shouldn't be surprising as Chandler was an English writer.

Yup Chandler was educated in England not sure he was English though. I'll check.

Born in Chicago moved to England with his Irish mother moved to LA after the first world war.

Quote: Marc P @ August 24 2009, 11:56 AM BST

Or Hard Evidence you can use the phrase Punk Noir.

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You're being lighthearted but surely William Gibson is Cyberpunk Noir, so Punk noir could be a subgenre.

Is there a film called Carry on Dick? That would be phwoar noir.

Quote: youngian @ August 24 2009, 11:55 AM BST

And if you're really cool and discussing Coen Brothers thrillers like Blood Simple and Fargo you can drop in the phrase neo-noir

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or sci-fi-noir

Quote: deckard @ August 26 2009, 2:53 AM BST

or sci-fi-noir

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Blade Runner is film noir, you don't need to call it sci fi noir I reckon. And the answer is no they dream of ordinary sheep.

Quote: Marc P @ August 24 2009, 11:56 AM BST

Or Hard Evidence you can use the phrase Punk Noir.

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On a whim I looked for Hard Evidence in an Australian bookstore a couple of days ago, and sure enough, there were two copies left on the shelf in the Crime section. I inquired whether the new one would be coming soon and was told "probably, check with us next month". So there.