Posts Tagged ‘film noir’
Double Feature | Eraserhead and Blue Velvet
As of late I have been diving into David Lynch and Mark Frost’s 1990 series, Twin Peaks. Soaked in vibrant characters, haunting imagery, and an idiosyncratic sense of humor, Twin Peaks is the type of storytelling that only works because of David Lynch’s unique take on the world around him. Having your mind filled with “Lynchian” imagery can be both exhilarating and trying. Picking apart his imagery and themes can also be a rewarding experience. In the following article I will be recommending two films from Lynch, his directorial debut Eraserhead and (my personal favorite) the neo-noir Blue Velvet. Read the rest of this entry »
Scene Stealer | “L.A. Confidential” Bud White enters the Interrogation
Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce in L.A. CONFIDENTIAL
This is my first time doing Scene Stealer here at Filmdogs and I wanted to make sure my opening was a killer one. As I was thinking about possible scenes, one popped up immediately. The scene is from the 1997 Curtis Hanson film L.A. Confidential, a masterful crime drama set in post-war Los Angeles about seedy Hollywood and corrupt cops.
The Stream | Neo-noir Edition
The Stream is a new column that acts a venue for Filmdogs writers to post shorter reviews of movies they have watched on streaming video services such as Netflix, Hulu, or even YouTube. Let’s get started.
This time around I will be reviewing three excellent modern noir films. All are available on Netflix watch instantly. First up the is the best of the bunch, John Dahl’s Red Rock West.
Red Rock West (1993)
Michael (Nicolas Cage) is a down and out drifter who arrives in Red Rock, Wyoming looking for work. What transpires is an amazingly (and at times hilarious) complicated turn of events, where everyone is playing each other and nothing is what it seems. This movie is fantastic. John Dahl uses his locations to absolute perfection, making the setting yet another great character. The scenery is amazing to look at, and the prefect place for Cage to get stranded. It is a treat to watch him struggle to leave Red Rock. I, on the other hand, didn’t want to leave. I could watch this film everyday.
Also, the late Dennis Hopper gives a crazy as hell performance like only he could. Read the rest of this entry »
Trailer Exam | The Killer Inside Me
Michael Winterbottom, the director of such films as Code 46 and Tristam Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story, has a new film coming out this year entitled The Killer Inside Me. The trailer seems to have a film noir style with some American Psycho and David Lynch flourishes. The film premiered on April 27 at the Tribeca Film Festival, and hopefully will get a wider release before its run on dvd. The film stars Casey Affleck, Kate Hudson, Jessica Alba, Elias Koteas, and Bill Pullman. Check out the trailer below.
Under the Radar | Jeff Bridges
This is a new column that will focus on little known films, directors, writers, and actors. The column does not exist to tell you what to watch, but to simply help raise interest in the great art and talent that goes unseen year by year. So let’s begin.
In honor of one of my favorite actors’ recent (and first) oscar win; I will be profiling “The Dude” himself… Jeff Bridges. The following films showcase some of Bridges’ greatest performances, that you may have missed. Read the rest of this entry »
