Recently Hollywood has released two films that are film “noir-ish.” Hollywoodland, and The Black Dahlia both movies loosely inspired by true events. Both movies are set in LA—film noir capital. This is where you’d expect a story that is “dark” and “foreboding” to take place.
Hollywoodland which its director calls the “nouveau noir,” is about the great mystery behind–George Reeves (Superman TV Series). Did he commit suicide or was he murdered? The Black Dahlia is about LA’s most gruesome and infamous crime–the 1947 killing of Elizabeth Short.
The making of these films today show that Hollywood thinks that noir still works. But do these films cut the mustard? According to an article from chron.com …Not Really.
“These films lovingly and entertainingly imitate the look and sound and era of classic noir films, but not quite its dark, foreboding outlook. They are noir theme-park rides. ” ” Noir is not a time period or wide neckties or a way of talking or specific plots or characters. Noir is a tone, a state of mind, an atmosphere. ” (Source chron.com)
These movies are trying too hard—they are missing the mark, it’s not about dress-up–it goes beyond that. I’ve not seen either one—because in my mind they just can’t compare. My verdict: these are just wannabe film noir. They lack, I am sure, the sytle and sophistication of classic film noir. What do you think? Do you think that Hollywood can imitate the film noir of old?
