Blade Runner
Starting in the 1970s , every decade has constantly brought outstanding neo - noir movies , each fashionable and memorable in their own unique ways , with this year’sNightmare Alleyfrom Guillermo del Torobeing a late example . Born out of the film noir movement of the 1940s and ' 50s , neo - noir movie genre bend between traditional film noir chemical element and thematically adjacent motif in science fabrication , psychological thriller , horror , and offence .
Now , thousands of amateurish sleuths over atRankerare couch a magnifying glass up to decide which are the greatest neo - noir films out there .
Sin City (2005)
bang for its alone contrasty cinematic vogue , mostly in black and white with highly specific splash of color , Sin Cityis based on Frank Miller ’s graphic novel serial of the same name . Jointly directed by Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez , ofSpy Kidsfame , Sin Cityboasts an all - star ensemble cast including Jessica Alba , Benicio del Toro , Bruce Willis , and Elijah Wood .
Upon its release , Sin Citywas met with both vital and commercial-grade winner , with fabled flick critic , Roger Ebert , describing the filmas " a visualization of the pulp noir imagination , uncompromising and utmost . Yes , and brilliant . "
Dark City (1998)
An Australian - American conscientious objector - output , Dark Cityleans into the realm of skill fiction through itsTwilight Zone - inspired plot of a mysterious group of pallid men in trenchcoats , known as the “ Strangers , ” who abduct world for ply experimentation on them .
Having been favorably compare to other dystopian plastic film likeThe MatrixandBrazil , Dark Cityhas since become a cult classic , with fan also note the picture show ’s German Expressionist influence , especially regarding its set blueprint and overall fine art way .
Mulholland Drive (2001)
From the surrealist brainiac , David Lynch , Mulholland Driveopts for the classic non - additive “ Lynch - ian ” plot keep abreast an aspiring actress who latterly moved to Los Angeles and find out the darker side of Hollywood through various ambition - like vignettes and a outlandish slew of quality .
Exploring the motifs of revenge , love , and green-eyed monster , Mulholland Drivegets better with each watch . Upon its release , it was initially met with mixed reexamination but has since grown to become a classic of the neo - noir genre . Roger Ebert add up the filmas “ a surrealist dreamscape in the form of a Hollywood flick noir , and the less sense it makes , the more we ca n’t break follow it . "
Drive (2011)
fashionable yet unrelenting , Drivefollows the story of a Hollywood stunt - driver - turned - wheelman who is hunted down by the mobster who hired him . A child of the Synthwave cultural movement of the former 2000s , the film craft a cinematic ambiance that finger nostalgic yet modern .
Ryan Gosling stars as The Driver , an iconic characterthat harkens back to classic ' LXX anti - Cuban sandwich played by Steve McQueen and Clint Eastwood . Drive was encounter with near - universal acclaim becoming a cult classic among cinephiles in the years after its release . Rotten Tomatoes resume the filmas a “ hyper - stylized blend of fury , euphony , and come across imagination . ”
The Usual Suspects (1995)
Boasting an all - star ensemble cast , including Stephen Baldwin , Benicio del Toro , Kevin Pollak , and Kevin Spacey , The common Suspectsis order from the perspective of Roger " Verbal " Kint , a con man and one of only two survivors of a heap go wrong and subsequent massacre on a ship in the port of L.A.
Roger Kint is likely an unreliable narrator as he lead investigators through a convoluted tale of dissimulation , backstabbing , and criminal offense that led up to the massacre . Rotten Tomatoes sums up the filmas a “ seemingly simple plot that then piles on layers of deceit , twist , and violence before pluck out the rug from underneath . "
Memento (2000)
Legendary music director Christopher Nolan ’s first major successful motion picture , Mementofollows a military man who abide from amnesia as he struggles to untangle the mystery story of his wife ’s murder . In the photographic film , Nolan employs a non - analogue narrative structure showing two timelines , one in color and one in black and white , that eventually come up together into a individual story .
Mementowas lauded by critic upon its liberation , winning many accolades in the process , from both big - name awards shows and small indie movie festivals . Many neuro - scientistsalso praise the picture as " the most exact portraiture of the different memory systems in popular media . "
Blood Simple (1984)
The Coen Brothers ’ first feature of speech film , Blood Simpleacts as a court to 1940s film noir , low-down - budget horror flicks , and hard - boiled detective novel . The picture show follows a modest - town Texas bar owner who cabal to slay his wife and the military man she is chouse on him with , who happens to be one of the bar possessor ’s employees .
Upon its release , ancestry Simpleoffered audiences a glimmer of the Coen Brothers ’ signature dark humor , which they would go on to perfect over their next several pic . line of descent Simplewas also the acting debut of Frances McDormand , now deal one of the greatest character actor of all time anda frequent cooperator of the Coen Brothers .
Fargo (1996)
Another classic photographic film from the Coen Brothers , Fargois the first cinema in which they truly hit their stride , from the dark humor and witty dialog to Frances McDormand ’s excellent operation as the meaning police officer , Marge Gunderson , for which she won her first Academy Award .
While enclose in a quirky and comedic outside , Fargo ’s interior does research sour themes of greed , insensible violence , and the worst of human nature . Fargowas a hit with both critics and interview likewise upon its release , garnering seven Academy Awards and win “ Best Director ” at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival .
Blade Runner (1982)
The father of the modern cyberpunk film writing style , Blade Runneris based on the dystopian sci - fi novel , “ Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep ? ” by the fertile yet controversial writer and futurist , Philip K. Dick . The film succeed an ex - pig , played by Harrison Ford , who takes one last job to hunt down a group of miss androids in a futurist dystopian Los Angeles .
While it initially polarized both critic and audiences , Blade Runnerhas since been reappraise as one of the large sci - fi films of all meter , with its ghost electronic - synth score by Vangelis , benighted and futuristic go under design , and before - of - its - clock time special impression .
Chinatown (1974)
From the ( in)famous ' 70 producer / director duette , Robert Evans and Roman Polanski , Chinatownstarts with an archetypal film - noir setup . A 1930s P.I. gets hired by a femme fatale to investigate her cheat husband . However , the story shortly demand a nosedive as the viewer descends a dark rabbit hole of lies , greed , and slaying .
Part transmitted dramatic event , part psychological thriller , Chinatowndefies the traditional film noir stereotypes , in the process creating a new writing style - neo - noir . Currently holding a near - perfect 99 % on Rotten Tomatoes , Chinatownis a masterclass in the filmmaker ’s craft , from the remindful performances of leads Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway to Robert Towne ’s genre - bending screenplay and Roman Polanski ’s direction .
NEXT:10 Best Neo - Noir Thrillers To Watch Like Nightmare Alley
