Rather than going through it all scattershot, I've decided that the best way is to view these works in order according to what shows up when I search for Film Noir. These two videos are among the first.
Film Noir by PlaxinProductions
Two things strike me about this movie: one, it's simple title, which is what it aspires to be and two: What it is. What it is is a Sin City homage. From the opening titles to the cinematography to the music. Initially, I have no problem with this as it is a well made video and definitely emulates what it is paying homage to. In fact, the scene where the main character and attacks his teacher and beats him was one of the scenes I found very striking, but because it tries to be like Sin City so much I feel as though it would be a long shot to title it simply as Film Noir. Being a fan of the graphic novels by Frank Miller, I understand where his work was coming from as well as the movie in terms of drawing from Film Noir, but going as far as paying homage to an homage to film noir and then titling it as such seems too much like a stretch and ultimately displays a lack of understanding of the genre and movement itself. This is a good example of taking something that looks like the original and thinking it's the real McCoy. If there is anything that connects it to what it is trying to be it is the voiceover's resemblance to Fred MacMurray's voiceover in Double Indemnity, but as soon as that's over the credits start and we are back in the world of Sin City again.
Film Noir by ynikomarov
Where as my first discovery of YouTube Noir, mislead me in terms of content, my second one completely caught me off guard. From the beginning, the lighting and cinematography and jazzy musical score evokes the classic or cliched look of what Film Noir is to us. The Handheld camera movements and shots of musicians and use of negative space establish this piece as a minimalist work. But as setting starts to reveal itself a little more, we start to see sparkling and shiny surfaces that evoke less Film Noir and more the visual style of Josef von Sternberg. Already, there is a different take on what I'm watching. Then we're introduced to two characters who have a little conversation in another language. Rather than go look for another video to watch, I've become too involved with the visual style and mood to look away. A few more minutes into their conversation I can see that it is a simple one (they talk about jazz music), and because of its simplicity it becomes somewhat refreshing. Rather than seeing another piece about revenge or infidelity, I get a nice little scene between two people just having a good time. No beatings or shootings or affairs, just two people enjoying themselves. That in itself reminds me that half of Film Noir isn't just mood or rough stuff, it's these little moments in between where characters show a side that is often forgotten.
-Carlos F. Enriquez
