Neo-Noir Quest 2

Hammett (1982)

She's a disaster.

Hammett is a fictional story about the great writer Dashiell Hammett (played by Frederic Forrest). The story finds the writer retired from the Pinkerton Detectice Agency and nursing bad lungs and a taste for the liquor. When old colleague Jimmy Ryan (Peter Boyle) comes a calling, Hammett finds himself down in Frisco's Chinatown district in it up to his neck in muck and grime.

The back story to the production of Hammett is long and disappointing, all of which makes for fascinating reading and available at the click of a mouse. The film we have to view now may not be the one originally envisaged by director Wim Wenders, but on repeat viewings it shows itself to be a very loving homage to the halcyon days of film noir, a film of great technical craft and guile. Though not without issues either...

Production value is high, the set design that brings late 1920s Frisco to life is a joy, as is Joseph Biroc's luscious colour photography. John Barry provides a musical score that smoothly floats around the Gin Joints and Alleyways, while costuming is on the money. Cast are led superbly by the under valued Forrest, with Marilu Henner (Biroc lights her so well), Boyle and Lydia Lei striking the requisite film noir chords, while a host of cameos and short order roles will have the keen of eye putting names to the faces from similar films of yesteryear.

The story is complex, which is purposely complimented by narration, canted angles, slatted shadows, billowing smoke, and of course a number of venues that all anti-heroic detectives must traverse to unravel the mystery bubbling away under the seamy surface. The problems are evident of course, it's a very uneven picture, the re-writes etc leaving a disappointing mark. It's also like watching a performance at the theatre, akin to watching a play, the predominantly stage bound shoot - and the almost forced delivery of lines - makes it synthetic.

But ultimately there's a lot of noir love here, enough to ensure that repeat viewings for those of that persuasion should find themselves rewarded for their time. 7/10

The Spikeopath - Hospital Number 217

Oh, not heard of this one!

Hope you get to catch it at some point.





The Spikeopath - Hospital Number 217

I'll be reviewing L.A. Confidential this time around, I love it, 10/10.

Jakarta (2000) - Madeo (2009)

You tell me, do they have noir traits such as fatalism, fatales, interesting photography and camera work?

The Spikeopath - Hospital Number 217

Marlowe (1969)

I'm a trained detective!

Marlowe is directed by Paul Bogart and adapted to screenplay by Stirling Silliphant from the novel The Little Sister written by Raymond Chandler. It stars James Garner, Gayle Hunnicut, Carroll O'Connor and Rita Moreno. Music is by Peter Matz and cinematography by William H. Daniels.

Los Angeles private detective Philip Marlow (Garner) is working on what he thinks is a simple missing persons case, how wrong he is!

Q as in Quintessential - U as in Uninhibited - E as in Extrasensory - S as in Subliminal - T as in Toots!

Another of the interpretations for the great Chandler creation of Philip Marlowe, unsurprisingly met with mixed notices - just as all the others have done. You do wonder what Chandler would have made of the role portrayals that came out post his death? I like to think he very much would have enjoyed Garner's take, because this Marlowe is a quip happy wise guy, unflappable and cool, he portrays so much with just a glance, and the girls love him.

The story is juicy in its little complexities, spinning Marlowe into muddy waters the further he investigates things. His life is always under threat, be it by serial ice-pick users or Asian martial artists (Bruce Lee no less in a nutty couple of scenes) wishing to inflict death, or of arrest by an increasingly frustrated police force. Bogart and Daniels keep the whole thing stylish looking, with film noir camera tricks and colour photography infusing the period details. While the supporting cast, notably the ladies, give Garner some splendid support.

It's a different Marlowe for sure, but a thoroughly engaging and entertaining one. 7/10

The Spikeopath - Hospital Number 217

I watched Hammett last year after it was mentioned (probably by you) on these boards. I did have a bit of a problem with the overly hardboiled dialogue and the delivery of the lines which was way oversold resulting in something that bordered on parody. The milieu was too carefully orchestrated to maximize its noirness and the whole thing became tedious. But it actually was a good story, as you noted, sufficiently complicated with interesting characters.

Point Blank is the film that brought noir into the modern world. That great noir city, Los Angeles, is all reflective glass and steel and the gangsters are businessmen in grey suits who hang out with accountants. The film looks great, filmed in beautifully muted colors. The flashbacks and jumps confuse reality and Marvin plays a classic noir character - the lone wolf. You make a good comment on this film not being for everyone - it's not even for every noir fan. It really is a one of a kind movie.

I'm looking forward to your comments on Memento.

No, Hammett didn't come from me, this was the first time I had seen it. As for the milieu, it would have been so much different if Coppola had left Wenders version to float, something like 80% of the film was being filmed outside at real locations, instead of the 99% stage bound film we actually have to view now.

Yep, no doubt about it, Point Blank stands on its own, even the haters have a grudging respect for its uniqueness.

My Memento review is up mate, just click on the link in the opening post.

Nice to chat again jg 

The Spikeopath - Hospital Number 217