Man Alone, a Film List
Man Alone, a Film List
A curation of atomized, androus noir and neo-noir.
A man walks down a dark street. He’s alone with his thoughts, and his thoughts will remain unsaid. There is no room in the world for him to be vulnerable, to express his inner realms, to be seen. Instead, he writes his feelings, love and hate, on the walls of his metropolis with action. One day he’ll die, and the city will roll on without him. Tonight, though, he is alive, and he casts a long shadow across the depths of the underworld.
This is a collected list of films recommended by Futurist Letters and friends. The theme of the list is Man Alone. Some you know, and some we hope will surprise you.
Out of the Past (1947) - A fixer trying to live a quiet life as a gas station owner gets sucked back into a whirlpool of crime, sleuthing, and violence. Fast-paced, absolutely smoldering, an all-timer femme fatale. Some of the best true film noir there is. Starring Robert Mitchum and Jane Greer.
RoboCop (1987) - The thing about Paul Verhoeven is he's always having so much fun that you can't help but have a blast along with him. All the fears of the 80s manifest in this dystopian action flick. An honest cop gets drilled full of holes and becomes a steely robot dishing out justice. A riot and a feast for the eyes. Starring Peter Weller and Nancy Allen.
Basic Instinct (1992) - Without a doubt the pinnacle of the 90s erotic thriller wave. Keeps you going for twist after twist. Incredibly pulpy and strangely timeless for something so of its era. Not for family viewing. Starring Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone.
The French Connection (1971) - Slow, grounded, plausible, cynical, textured. You can smell the cigarette smoke and the exhaust from the enormous 70s cars. A little more on the procedural side. Has an iconic chase that inspired Chris Nolan. Different versions of this are available in various places. Choose wisely. Starring Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider.
Duel (1971) - A pure and simple monster movie, like something out of Sumerian mythology. Early Spielberg. Like Jaws, you have a guy battling for survival, but here he's totally alone and the enemy is an angry eighteen-wheeler. Starring Dennis Weaver.
Body Double (1984) - Brian De Palma does neo-noir with a Hitchcock flavor, combined with hilarious 1980s new wave set pieces and a layer of meta Hollywood absurdity. Stylish and colorful. Starring Craig Wasson and Melanie Griffith.
Body Heat (1981) - An early neo-noir classic on the cusp of the 1980s. Sweaty, sizzling, licentious. Crackling with fiery Lawrence Kasdan dialogue that'll have you thinking back to Howard Hawks. Delivers all the way through. Starring William Hurt and Kathleen Turner.
Blade Runner (1982) - Arguably the single defining piece of neo-noir. One of the most masterfully production-designed films ever made. Everything from the interiors to the costumes to the smoke to the lighting is transportive. You just have to settle into this one and let it pass over you. Starring Harrison Ford and Rutger Hauer.
Alphaville (1965) - An early piece of cyberpunk on film. A tough guy wanders through a world of striking women run by an all-powerful computer. Eventually, the shooting breaks out. Kind of weird. French language. Starring Eddie Constantine and Anna Karina.
Eyes Wide Shut (1999) - A bedrock for conspiracy rabbit holes and esoteric rambling. Kubrick delivers yet another masterwork. Cruise is exemplary, so is Kidman. In my opinion, does the Lynch thing better than Lynch. Keeps you arrested the entire time. Starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.
Chinatown (1974) - 1970s noir played as straight as possible. Potentially the highlight of the entire genre as far as effectiveness and prestige. Oppressive webs of money and power sprawl across Los Angeles. One of the key inspirations for the latter half of L.A. Noire. Starring Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway.
Blow Out (1981) - Another De Palma neo-noir thriller, this one adapted from the French original. Masterfully shot. Beautifully colored. Great set pieces. Some truly standout moments. Travolta is charismatic and highly watchable. An air of cynicism pervades. Starring John Travolta and Nancy Allen.
The Long Goodbye (1973) - Evocative and novelistic. The first twenty minutes are spent trying to get some cat food, and you are invested the entire time. A precursor to noir slices of life set in Los Angeles like Inherent Vice and Under the Silver Lake. Doesn’t disappoint. Starring Elliott Gould and Nina Van Pallandt.
After Hours (1985) - Creates an unmistakable liminal sense as the protagonist explores an increasingly surreal nightlife in the concrete jungle. Gets a little silly after it runs out of plagiarized material, I will admit. I think we’ve all had nights like this. Starring Griffin Dunne and Rosanna Arquette.
Drive (2011) - As a symbol, this movie has become larger than itself because of its reputation among Ryan Gosling wannabes. Still, it kicked off the current electric neo-noir wave. Delivers solid atmosphere and kinetic violence throughout. Starring Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan.
Sweet Smell of Success (1957) - A bit of an Uncut Gems before Uncut Gems, remarkably ahead of its time. Wheels and deals across the city at a breakneck pace. Complexity and double-crosses mark every corner. Starring Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis.
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