# Best modern "Noir" movies? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 11, 2013, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-noir-movies/649953 "2013-02-11T07:03:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-noir-movies/649953/21 "2013-02-11T18:53:05Z")
Agree with many already listed, but I’d pick _Blood Simple_. Pure noir, for one thing, unlike many of the above choices. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-noir-movies/649953/22 "2013-02-11T23:11:31Z")
i believe “dead again” to be one of the most perfect movies. it has noir parts. ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-noir-movies/649953/23 "2013-02-11T23:33:47Z")
How about Bound? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-noir-movies/649953/24 "2013-02-12T00:01:20Z")
Excellent suggestions! \*Dead Again \*and \*Bound \*are among my favorites. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-noir-movies/649953/25 "2013-02-12T00:15:46Z")
David Lynch’s _Blue Velvet._ Another vote for _Miller’s Crossing._ As for Quentin Tarantino’s _ouvre,_ I nominate _Reservoir Dogs. Pulp Fiction_ . . . is dark but not really noir. Film noir is characterized by villains who are not so much evil or greedy as sick. ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-noir-movies/649953/26 "2013-02-12T00:44:03Z")
To Live and Die In L.A. The Usual Suspects Blood Simple The Killer ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-noir-movies/649953/27 "2013-02-12T01:32:01Z")
[The Cooler](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0318374/?ref_=sr_1) is a fine, noirish film. ---
**Author:** ![tomcar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tomcar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomcar)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-noir-movies/649953/28 "2013-02-12T02:30:47Z")
Brick and Blue Velvet are the cream of the crop. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-noir-movies/649953/29 "2013-02-12T02:35:22Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > This question is prompted by a recent viewing (by me) of “Payback,” I liked that, too. Another that comes to mind is _A Perfect Murder_, with Michael Douglas, Gwyneth Paltrow, Viggo Mortensen, and David Suchet. It’s a great updating of _Dial M for Murder._ ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-noir-movies/649953/30 "2013-02-12T05:02:45Z")
> [@Nom\_de\_Plume](#): > > Would Kiss Kiss Bang Bang count? Technically, _Kiss Kiss Bang Bang_ is a satire of classic noir (specifically Raymond Chandler–each of the chapters is named after a Chandler novel, and the plot and sensibility is very reminiscent of Chandler’s writing). The same could be said of _The Big Lebowski_ (which is largely a riff on _The Big Sleep_). A lot of good suggestions have been advanced. I’d point at Stephen Frears _The Hit_, Mamet’s _The Spanish Prisoner_, and the little-seen _The Lookout_ as excellent examples of neo-noir. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![denquixote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@denquixote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/denquixote)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-noir-movies/649953/31 "2013-02-12T05:15:45Z")
Stormy Monday Night Moves (1975) Internal Affairs Q and A Trouble In Mind Miami Blues ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-noir-movies/649953/32 "2013-02-12T05:18:33Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > As for Quentin Tarantino’s _ouvre,_ I nominate _Reservoir Dogs. Pulp Fiction_ . . . is dark but not really noir. Don’t overlook _Jackie Brown_. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-noir-movies/649953/33 "2013-02-12T06:26:04Z")
I think some of these suggestions don’t qualify as film noir. To me, a key factor in the genre is the lack of redemption - if the characters end up better than they started out, it’s not film noir. So _Miller’s Crossing_ is noir but _Pulp Fiction_ is not. ---
**Author:** ![GovernmentMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9c0ed/32.png) [@GovernmentMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GovernmentMan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-noir-movies/649953/34 "2013-02-12T06:34:40Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I think some of these suggestions don’t qualify as film noir. To me, a key factor in the genre is the lack of redemption - if the characters end up better than they started out, it’s not film noir. So _Miller’s Crossing_ is noir but _Pulp Fiction_ is not. so LA Confidential is not? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-noir-movies/649953/35 "2013-02-12T06:40:25Z")
By that logic, _Gilda_ ain’t film noir. Which means that probably ain’t the definition. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-noir-movies/649953/36 "2013-02-12T09:52:59Z")
> [@GovernmentMan](#): > > so LA Confidential is not? Interesting question. In the novel, there is no redemption for anyone, and no one even seeks it. The redemption is a Hollywood addition, but it can still be argued that there’s none or very little redemption when all is said and done. Bud ends up alive, but all we know is that he was feelin’ kinda bad about being the Captain’s muscle. Hollywood Jack ends up dead. And Exley realizes LAPD needs a hero, and even though he tells the truth to the suits about what really happens, he’s willing to help them bury it all in exchange for a sweet deal for himself. I was gonna come in and say the best was LA Confidential without question, but there are quite a few other outstanding choices mentioned here that I had forgotten. I would second nominations for: To Live and Die in LA Chinatown Reservoir Dogs A Simple Plan Blade Runner Devil in a Blue Dress ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-noir-movies/649953/37 "2013-02-12T16:18:03Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I think some of these suggestions don’t qualify as film noir. To me, a key factor in the genre is the lack of redemption - if the characters end up better than they started out, it’s not film noir. As long as you understand that’s just your personal take. I think the style elements are more important to defining the genre. Shadows, music, downbeat vibe. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-noir-movies/649953/38 "2013-02-12T16:43:23Z")
[_Delusion_](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101704/) (1991). ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-noir-movies/649953/39 "2013-02-12T17:12:18Z")
_Blade Runner_ (1982) _True Romance_ (1993) _Red Rock West_ (1993) _Fargo_ (1996) _Gattaca_ (1997) _A Simple Plan_ (1998) I thought of movies like _Goodfellas_ (1990) and _Casino_ (1995), but those are more mafia/crime movies than “sad people make bad choices in dreary settings” noir. ---
**Author:** ![President\_Johnny\_Gentle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@President\_Johnny\_Gentle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/President_Johnny_Gentle)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-noir-movies/649953/40 "2013-02-12T18:18:47Z")
Blue Velvet isn’t the only Lynch work that should make this list. I’d include Mulholland Drive. I haven’t seen Lost Highway, but it’s widely considered to be noir as well. And although the OP requested films, Twin Peaks would also fit the category. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-noir-movies/649953.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-noir-movies/649953.md?page=3)