Textual Analysis Summary

This is something that was meant to be posted along with the rest of the research but has slipped our minds up until this point.


Through researching and analysing noir style films we have found a number of recurring themes that seem to be prevalent throughout the noir genre.

Sound: noirs do not appear to use a lot of sound in many of the sequences, instead preferring a single voice speaking at once, broken by dramatic silences and in opening sequences quiet, jazz style non digetic music. This silence brings about an air of mystery to the scene, it is particularly effective in opening sequences where only a few slight details and hints to the storyline are given, leaving the viewer intrigued and wanting to continue watching as the story develops and unravels throughout the film. Also tense sound effects are put to great use to break up the silences and keep audience attention.
Scene/Lighting: the darker, more theatrical neo noirs will take place in a dark city that is a hornet’s nest of crime and villainous characters. A perfect example of this is Gotham city from the Batman films. The films will mostly take place at night, a heavy downpour or other such bad weather is prevalent within the films too, perhaps creating a sense of pathetic fallacy over the city. The night time setting provides high levels of contrast in the lighting, with the pitch black being contrasted by the bright city lights. This could be difficult to film as we would have to use low key lighting, and the contrast does make it harder to make out small details that may be key to the scene. This lighting and scene are becoming more and more popular within neo noir films, allowing for a very dramatic feel. Some films do however take the noir theme and apply it outside of the city. The opening to Road to Perdition is not very dark, although it does use the backdrop of a snow covered region to contrast greatly with the clothes of the characters, who appear to be wearing mostly black. So even when low key lighting is not present, the contrasting images still are. However in the original noirs not a lot of this is as prevalent as it is today, they simply used black and white filming to achieve the same kind of effect. Street lights make ideal lighting, allowing for the characters face to remain in darkness, although if we use this technique we will have to be careful to not make it look too clichéd.
Mise En Scene: The city backdrop for most of these films is seen as being very dark and dirty, often with overflowing or knocked over garbage cans and stray animals roaming the streets. The darkness will also always be contrasted with some bright city lights somewhere in the scene, whether it be coming from nearby windows or street lights. As for the characters themselves, their attire varies depending upon their personality or role. It would appear that both women and men will be dressed in one of two ways; to look very striking with deep colours such as red, which may also symbolise their fate later on in the film. It is usually women who are shown in this way, it is typical of noir to have a very alluring and striking woman; the femme fatale. Some do however also incorporate a very work motivated, more sensible woman dressed a lot more sensibly to add to the story, by making a choice between the two both for the audience and the main character. The other style of costume is the more mysterious character, often worn by the villain or male characters. This seems to mainly compromise of a dark suit with an overcoat and trilby hat. The dark colour allows for them to blend in with the background and may also show the darkness within them, as noirs aim to show all characters for who they really are.
Plot: film noirs seem to centre on a single character that is stereotypically a detective, private investigator or average man who has a fatal flaw of some description. The films explore this characters inner demon and less desirable attributes, making him seem much more real to the audience. The films tend to cover work and home life for the main character, showing his attitude towards both, it is common that his problem, or less desirable side will come out within his own home. This level of deep and dark emotion may be hard for us to show unless our casting and camera work is very good. The films usually follow the conventions of having a hero and a villain, a donor and other such characters. A lot of noirs are crime dramas and centre on a crime or string of crimes that the main character must solve, purely because it is his job or through some personal vendetta (e.g. His wife has been murdered). Noirs can also be linked to the tragedy genre, when our hero is struggling against everything, it would appear to be him against the world. That combined with his Achilles heel, or fatal flaw ultimately leads to his demise. Some noirs do not however follow all of these; they are simply similarities we have noticed.