All the style, none of the humor.
M.Falls is often compared to either "Chinatown" or "L.A. Confidential", or both.
If those two are classics and MF isn't I'd say it boils down to a near complete lack of humor in MF. The other two films both have big laughs and tons of irony. The most humorous thing in the Falls is Chaz Palminteri's issues with his shrink. Did that sub-sub-plot leave anyone rolling in the isles?
It's a shame really because I've long been a fan of L.A.-based noir and really wanted to like this film