Film Noir is a Cinematic term, it is not a genre but more of a mood, style or point of veiw. IMDB's examples of film noirs are; The Third Man, The Killing, Gilda and Sunset Boulevard. They are a cycle of mainly American films of the 1940s and 50s, usually set in a criminal environment or exploring the consequences of a criminal act.
The moods of a classic noir thrillers are bleak, melancholy, evil, depressing and desperate.
Film noir films are mainly shot in gloomy, dark, black and whites. They emphasis the dark and inhumane side of human nature, and the unhealthy and brutal sides of a human experience. There is a constant atmosphere of anxiety, suspicion and the idea that anything can go wrong.
Film Noir films are marked visually by:
- expressive lighting
- deep focus or depth of field camera work
- jarring editing
- ominour shadows
- Skewed camera angles
- cigarette smoke
- unbalanced/moody compositions
The settings a Film Noir is based in are usually;
- Claustrophobic, gloomy spaces
- low key lighting
- blinded windows
- deep shadows
- wet
- dark alleys
- flashing lights
- abandoned warehouses
Well done for posting this definition, you could add another post illustrating one or two of your points with examples from mise-en-scene from one of your case studies.
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