Product Description

Film scholar Ronald Schwartz examines the most significant representatives of the Neo-Noir style, beginning with Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho and concluding with Michael Mann's Collateral (2004). Schwartz provides in-depth analyses of over 30 of the best Neo-Noir films and explains the qualities and characteristics of the new noir style. He also explains how it differs from Film Noir of the forties and fifties. In this chronological guide, Schwartz examines such landmark films as The Manchurian Candidate (1962), The French Connection (1971), Taxi Driver (1976), Reservoir Dogs (1992), L.A. Confidential (1997), and Memento (2000). The book also includes an alphabetical filmography listing over 650 films that in plot, style, or subject matter reflect the diversity of the genre. This reference work will be a valuable resource for film scholars and fans who wish to explore the ever-evolving aspects of Neo-Noir cinema.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1185873 in Books
• Published on: 2005-08-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

Customer Reviews

A compelling look at neo-noir
The negative commenter above has a right to his opinion. But his comments provide insight into his personality, rather than this book. Schwartz gave us a fresh viewpoint and interesting insight into this overlooked genre. I was looking for an intelligent, readable overview of neo-noir, and this book delivered the goods. (To the author: there are trolls all over the internet. They are unavoidable, unfortunately. Keep writing!)

A simple list of movies trying to disguise itself as a true work of film criticism and theory.
I am currently completing my undergraduate degree in Cinema Studies with a thesis examining the neo-noir trend in cinema and I have to say that without a doubt this book is just terrible. It has an introduction going through the history of the neo-noir film but the majority of the book, about 99% of it, is just a list of films Ronald Schwartz seemingly enjoyed. His writings on each film are far from enlightening and it basically just functions as a book of film reviews. He gives us the synopsis and through this we can easily determine whether or not he enjoyed that particular film. Truly not worth your time and definitely not worth the price it is sold for. I'm just extremely thankful I got mine from a library rather than ordering it.

If you want a truly good book on neo-noir you should check out Foster Hirsch's Detours and Lost Highways: A Map of Neo-Noir which gives us a much more in-depth and interesting account of neo-noir history. Hirsch also examines sociological issues prevalent during the production of certain films. Detours is a major source for my thesis and a wonderful read. Neo-Noir: The New Film Noir Style by Ronald Schwartz might be fit for toilet paper and not much else. Avoid it.

AUTHOR REPLIES TO ONLY REVIEW POSTED
Schwartz' NEO-NOIR is truly a scholarly work...the single review now posted on amazon is innaccurate, immature, insensitive and vulgar.

There is an excellent introduction, plus 3o+ reviews explaining how each film fits into the neo-noir category...plus an annotated filmography with ratings and plot outlines for the reader...plus a Bibliography, Video &
DVD sources and an Appendix containing notes on the first Neo-Noir conference ever held with Paul Schrader and Donald Westlake in Manhattan.

Like David Thompson who was reviled by a reader for his book on Nicole Kidman, I too feel NEO-NOIR critics should give a chance for something new on the literary marketplace.

There is an excellent review of my book by a critic who really has read my work on film noir...if you go to the following url, you will also find a link to amazon.com

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Thank you for the update. 6 July 2007
Ronald Schwartz