Director Christopher Nolan, when asked to describe his own style said, “I always find myself gravitating to the analogy of the maze. Think of film noir, and you picture the story as a maze, you don’t want to be hanging above the maze watching the characters make the wrong choices because it’s frustrating. You actually want to be in the maze with the characters, making the turns at their side…I quite like to be in that maze.”

For those of us who enjoy the experience of discombobulation, anxiety and unease, film noir is the perfect genre to satisfy those needs. In essence, the genre is the perfect genre. It is the cynical realist, with a cold and logical grounding in realistic storytelling while on the other hand, it is the romantic, highly stylised feature, dripping with atmosphere and moody ambience.

Hard-boiled detectives pining over the loss of love, rain-drenched streets reflecting the corruption of a darkened city, the dulcet tones of a distant jazz soundtrack; there are very few genres in the history of film that have captured the desolate and existential state of existence like film noir.

Born out of the cinematic revolution in postwar America, Film noir was a genre of cinema, that was heavily inspired by German expressionism and American pulp fiction. Utilising a mix of moody atmospheric lighting, and complicated and morally ambiguous anti-heroes, alongside themes of anxiety, alienation and tension, film noir was an immediate and huge hit with audiences at the time. With titles such as Robert Siodmak’s The Killers and Raoul Walsh’s White Heat, directors at the time told stories of hardened, cynical detectives navigating a maze of intrigue, crime and deadly femme fatals.

The 1960s and 1970s saw a shift in the medium, with the advent of what is now referred to as Neo-noir. Neo-noir saw a switch in style, taking many of the tropes and techniques that made the genre a hit, and modernising them for a more contemporary audience. Gone were the fedoras and the trench coats, and in were a more grounded and less restricted kind of hero. Characters such as Taxi Driver’s Travis Bickle saw a more nuanced and multi-layered anti-hero emerge—psychologically unstable, full of pathos and questionable motives.

While in the 1940s and 50s many of the film noir directors saw their creative visions restricted by the “Motion Picture Production Code”—a set of creative principles at the time that hindered certain story arcs. During that period, it was impossible for a director to film an ending where there was no consequence for their actions. With the removal of the code, in the years that followed, New Hollywood directors found themselves with a new lease of creativity and the possibility to create unique and surprising twists in their narrative. Villains for the first time found themselves evading capture and facing no repercussions for their actions.

In more recent years, the genre has evolved crossing over into other genres in cinema such as science fiction, comic book movies and psychological horror. Titles such as Robert Rodriguez’s Sin City have reconfigured the perception of film noir, pushing it into a supernatural sphere, and through the innovative use of extremely selective colour, have pushed the tropes of the genre to the limits, to create a new and novel experience that is still reminiscent of the 1940s classics.

So to take stock of our love of the genre, and to introduce you to the sphere, here at GATA we have compiled a list of some of our favourite titles to touch upon the world of Neo-noir. This is in no way or form meant to be seen as a comprehensive list in any shape or form, but rather an introduction to and celebration of the genre. Many of these films you will probably be familiar with, some not'; but either way, we hope that this kindly reminds you of the allure and enduring appeal of the most atmospheric of movie genres.

PI

Darren Aronofsky [1998]

The directorial debut of Darren Aronofsky, Pi is a psychological thriller that touches on the motifs to explore the relationship between the irrationality of human behaviour with the structured order of mathematics. An intellectual and cinematic powerhouse that thrust Aronofsky’s name into the mainstream.

Lost Highway

David Lynch [1997]

Like any film of Lynch, Lost Highway continues the tradition of perfectly marrying the dichotomy of dreams and realities to create a sinister and unsettling experience. When a musician begins to receive obscure VHS tapes, containing himself and his wife, he finds himself being sucked into a conspiracy that will alter his very existence. Mysterious and bleak, this film is essential for fans of Lynch and Noir.

Blade Runner

Ridley Scott [1982]

The quintessential blend of sci-fi and noir, Blade Runner remains the innovator in the genre, inspiring a litany of films, that have relentlessly, borrowed and stolen from it. The film follows the story of a burnt-out cop as he is tasked with the job of hunting and “retiring” a group of rough androids. Melancholic jazz tones, moody low-key lighting and epic monologues, Blade Runner remains as relevant today as it did when it came out in 1982.

Sin City

Frank Miller, Robert Rodriguez [2005]

Robert Rodriguez’s comic book adaption was highly anticipated upon initial release but in retrospect may not have gotten the praise that it deserved in the years to follow. A collection of vignettes and short stories Sin City is an ensemble story that beautifully pays homage to all of the classic tropes of traditional noir, while pushing them to absurd limits.

A Colt Is My Passport

Takashi Nomura [1967]

A slightly older entry in our list A Colt Is My Passport is a yakuza-inspired, take on the genre. Inspired by French New Wave, Spaghetti westerns and manga, the film is an innovative and stylist title that carries with it the gritty spirit of early noir.

A Bittersweet Life

Kim Jee-woon [2005]

Described by Variety magazine’s Derek Elley as a “tour de force of nourish style and Korean ultra-violence that will have genre fans nailed to their seats”, A Bittersweet Life, is a perfect representation of the stylish cinema that was the Korean new wave during the early 2000s. Blending themes of revenge and sprinkling them with hard-hitting violence and tone, A Bittersweet Life, modernises noir into a form that is not just appealing to fans in Korea but worldwide.

Dark City

Alex Proyas [1998]

Thrusting film noir into the realm of science fiction, with a twinge of gothic spice, Dark City is a glorious example of production design and art direction. A film that has aged beautifully and remains just as stunning today. The story follows the twisting tale of an amnesiac man who finds himself the suspect of a murder. As he attempts to clear his name and find the key to his identity, he finds himself under the watchful eye of the mysterious group known as the “Strangers”.

Seven

David Fincher [1995]

A classic in the neo-noir genre, Seven follows the story of two detectives as they attempt to hunt down a maniacal serial killer whose method of murder is inspired by torture, Christian virtues and sinister puzzles. A precursor the Saw series, Seven was a dizzying ride of twists and turns, that left audiences flabbergasted and thoroughly entertained. The manner in which the serial killer displays his victims is legendary. Essential viewing.

Memento

Christopher Nolan [2000]

The film that got Christopher Nolan onto the map—Memento is a dizzying story of memory, revenge and storytelling devices. It bewildered audiences at the time, with its unconventional and non-linear storytelling. Extremely innovative, the film remains a wonderful example of the decontextualising of noir tropes in the early 2000s.

Raging Bull

Martin Scorsese [1980]

The film that is the most “noire” on our list with its distinctive, high-contrast lighting and grainy black-and-white image. Raging Bull is the true story of boxer Jake LaMotta rise to prominence as middleweight champion of the world and his subsequent disgrace as he battled with crime charges, domestic violence and troubled businesses. A fascinating story of a character who perfectly embodied his nickname.

Nikita

Luc Besson [1990]

Nikita is the nihilistic action thriller that tells the story of a young girl who is manipulated by the government into serving as a professional assassin, after she is found guilty of murdering a group of policeman. A super, stylish, action thriller, Nikita carries much of the flair and excitement that has embodied director Lucy Besson’s career, with titles such as The Fifth Element and Léon: The Professional

Fallen Angels

Wong Kar-wai [1995]

A film that has become more commonly associated with Pinterest boards and Tumblr accounts than its cinematic contribution, Fallen Angels remains a stunning showcase of the criminal underbelly of Hong Kong. Inspired by the French New Wave and Noir, Fallen Angels, contains some of the most epic monologues and shots from the career of Wong Kar-wai; which is no mean feat considering his body of work.

Brick

Rian Johnson [2005]

The directorial debut, of Ryan Johnson, Brick tells the story of a hardboiled detective who investigates the murder of his ex-girlfriend. Set in the Californian suburbs, Brick embodies many of the techniques that made noir so popular to begin with, but seeing it in the warm glow of the Californian sun gives the film a romantic and unique atmosphere. A cult classic that wowed its viewers with its slick storytelling and unique dialogue.

True Detective

Nic Pizzolatto [2014]

We’re technically cheating with this one as True Detective season one isn’t technically a film, but to anyone who has seen the series can testify that plays just like an eight-hour film. Full of introspective philosophy, themes of time and metaphysics, True Detective is a perfect example of never judging a book from its cover. While from the outside it carries all the appearance of a stereotypical buddy cop relationship; what you are left with is a philosophical treatise on the nature of existence and morality. Gripping and profound storytelling.