What do you consider the best Modern Noir of the past thirty years?

The Man Who Wasn’t There. Can’t think of any better neo-noir film. It has everything you would expect from the genre. Also the best performance of Billy Bob Thornton’s career. And, of course, beautiful cinematography by Roger Deakins.

The Lost Son (1999) – Chris Menges

McDonagh’s IN BRUGES kicks MAN WHO WASN’T THERE’s pathetic ass.

Pulp Fiction

I never thought about it, but i think the argument could be made that In Bruges is a neo-noir. I mean…there’s murder, intrigue, mystery, suspense, a femme fatale, it shows a darker side of life…but it does it all so non-noiry.

also on my list would
Blade Runner
Leon: The Professional
Brick
Memento
Se7en
Blood Simple
Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid

do i have to be the one to say that Res. Dogs and Pulp Fiction aren’t neo-noir? Do i really have to be the one to say that?

say it all u want. it won’t make any difference

Perhaps no American neo-noirs better reflect the classic noir A-movie-with-a-B-movie-soul than those of director-writer Quentin Tarantino; neo-noirs of his such as Reservoir Dogs (1992) and Pulp Fiction (1994) display a relentlessly self-reflexive, sometimes tongue-in-cheek sensibility, similar to the work of the New Wave directors and the Coens. —wikipedia

i knew when i brought them up there would be trouble. here’s a column by our resident noir expert bobby wise

the last seduction
..and i can’t think of any others right now.

I stand corrected. The comparison to Kiss Me Deadly was great too; i never really noticed them at all until i read that article.

Thanks, Ruby!

you’re welcome! xD

The Salton Sea

L.A Confidential was the first film that came to mind but if I can count Pulp Fiction…..:)

^ Just throwing that one out there since it hadn’t been mentioned. It’s not anywhere near my favorite.

DRIVE

Don’t love all of Robert Altman’s work, but how about the Player?

Is Light Sleeper with Willem Defoe considered a noir? How about Abel Ferrara’s Bad Lieutenant? There are other films I’d mention, but they were already said like Blade Runner and Mulholland Drive.

The Killer Inside Me (Michael Winterbottom, 2010). Edgy, violent, sexy, schizoid, disturbing, everybody’s dirty. Jim Thompson original material. What’s not to like . . . oh, that. Remake of a good Burt Kennedy film.

Deep Crimson (Arturo Ripstein, 1996, Mexico). Edgy, violent, sexy, schizoid, disturbing, everybody’s dirty. Ideas borrowed liberally from The Honeymoon Killers (1969) which borrowed liberally from a true story crime spree. What’s not to like . . . oh that.

The Croupier (Mike Hodges, 1998, UK). Edgy, sexy, schizoid, stylish, everybody’s dirty. From the director who gave us Get Carter, an older heralded neo-noir.

Devil in a Blue Dress (Carl Franklin, 1995) Edgy, sexy, schizoid (Mouse), period piece, everybody’s dirty. From Walter Mosely published source material.

The Secret in Their Eyes (Juan José Campanella, 2009, Argentina) Edgy, sexy, first person, flashbacks, lots of dirty tricks, everybody’s dirty. From Eduardo Sacheri novel.

Stormy Monday (Mike Figgis, 1988, UK) Edgy, sexy, corruption, violence, noir-ish kinda thing. With Polish music.

Well, The Long Goodbye is the best film ever made but that one came out before Body Heat and Blade Runner.

Croupier and Mona Lisa are outstanding. Totally forgot about those.

Glad to see some of love for the forgotten 80s noirs. Light Sleeper makes sense on this list to me HAL 9000.

Forgotten 90s noirs – Liebestraum, Mike Figgis.

I would through The Salton Sea and Drive in with my list.

I haven’t seen it but would you lot count Cassavete’s Gloria as a neo-noir? or if it’s even very good? i know he managed to put out some garbage towards the end of his career (not encluding Opening Night of course)

The Salton Sea is very under rated. Sure it has problems but the atmosphere, Kilmer and the score are pure noir. I have never seen Gloria but many feel it was an experiment at Cassavete try to make a somewhat mainstream film. The character of Gloria certainly seems ripped out of pulp paperback.

Brick, Dark City, The limey, Long Goodbye, The Aura and Blood Simple.

The Long Goodbye

“I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead” is a bit of a grey zone too but I think it qualifies. So under rated….

Blood Simple not close

Gloria (Cassavetes) is the best

Arthur Penn’s NIGHT MOVES (1975)

Why are we starting to list movies older than 30?

Blue Velvet
Lost Highway
Blood Simple
Reservoir Dogs
Se7en
Zodiac
The American Friend (oki know it’s from 77)
Série Noire (ooookkk i know it’s 79)
Les fantômes du chapelier
Singapore Sling
Sin City
C’est arrivé près de chez vous
Monsieur Hire
Drive