Neo-Noir

Directors discussed include the Coen Brothers, David Lynch, Michael Mann, Christopher Nolan, Steven Soderbergh, and Quentin Tarantino


A world-weary detective, a seductive femme fatale, a mysterious murder—these elements of classic film noir live again in more recent hardboiled detective films from Chinatown to Sin City. But the themes and styles of noir have also spilled over into contemporary films about gangsters, cops, and serial killers, such as Reservoir Dogs, The Departed, and Se7en. New hybrid genres have been created, including psycho-noirs such as Memento, techno-noirs such as The Matrix, and superhero noirs like The Dark Knight. Beginning by showing how neo-noirs have drawn upon contemporary social and historical events as well as the latest technological advances in filmmaking, this book then discusses the landmark neo-noirs, the cult auteur figures of neo-noir, international films, and the remakes that put a new spin on past noirs. The main credits and a plot summary are given for each movies—including Fargo, Get Carter, L.A. Confidential, Mulholland Drive, Oldboy, and Pulp Fiction—followed by an in-depth analysis containing original insights into the film's meaning. Also included are fascinating facts, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and lively quotes from the cast and crew.