Five years before “Silence of the Lambs” made Hannibal Lecter a household name, director Michael Mann released this stylized neo-noir classic, the first movie to feature the icon… Read More

From director Abel Ferrara and Harvey Keitel as its lead thespian comes Bad Lieutenant, a powerful and intense neo noir, Bad Lieutenant. This movie is not for the faint of heart or the under… Read More

From director John Boorman comes ‘Point Blank,’ a classic early neo noir that includes Lee Marvin, Angie Dickinson, Keenan Wynn, and Carroll O’Connor. It is based on the bo… Read More

‘The Mirror Crack’d’ is a British adaptation of Agatha Christie’s ‘The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side,’ featuring Angela Lansbury playing the… Read More

Today, we look at the 1958 adaptation of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” a Pulitzer-winning play by Tennessee Williams, starring Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor. It may be considered a… Read More

“Brick,” directed by Rian Johnson, is one of the best neo-noir movies ever made. The plot attempts to recreate all the elements of a classic noir in a California suburb, unfoldin… Read More

In the wake of the successful movie Lady Snowbird (1973) came its sequel, Love Song of Vengeance, a year later. Meiko Kaji reprises her role as the ravishing yet deadly katana-wielding assas… Read More

Today, we look at a Japanese classic action movie and revenge thriller that was a huge inspiration for Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill. Directed by Toshiya Fujita and starring Meiko Kaji… Read More

Raymond Chandler’s Phillip Marlowe was one of the most popular fictitious gumshoe detectives of the classic film-noir era. Great thespians like Humphrey Bogart, Elliot Gould, James Gar… Read More

After more than 300 posts on this blog, I am now reviewing a Bollywood movie for the first time. “Manorama Six Feet Under,” directed and co-written by Navdeep Singh, is more a ho… Read More

Vinci Da is a classic Bengali noir thriller by Arindam Sil, featuring Rudranil Ghosh, Ritwick Chakraborty, and Sohini Sarkar in the lead roles. It is a gripping tale of a prosthetic expert w… Read More

In this post, we will look at an early classic neo-noir and slow-burn thriller, directed by Henry Hathaway, starring Marilyn Monroe in a deliciously wicked role. True to its name, it is set… Read More

In this post, we look at a special category of thrillers called slow-burn thrillers. Similar to the preparation of slow-cooked meals, slow-burn thrillers take their time to set the scene and… Read More

Today, we will look at a masterpiece from Malayalam cinema, an all-time classic art house film by acclaimed director Adoor Gopalakrishnan. It is a slow-moving tale of indifference and avoida… Read More

Here we are again with the second adaptation of a Raymond Chandler novel featuring Robert Mitchum as the gumshoe detective, Philip Marlowe. This neo-noir movie, based on Chandler’s nov… Read More

“Farewell, My Lovely” is a neo-noir film directed by Dick Richards and based on the book of the same name by Raymond Chandler. This is the second adaptation of the book; the firs… Read More

“The Big Town,” directed by Ben Bolt and featuring a powerhouse cast including Matt Dillon, Diane Lane, Tommy Lee Jones, Bruce Dern, Lee Grant, and Suzy Amis, is a colorful a… Read More

Once again, we will look at another adaptation of Shakespeare’s “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” but set in Feudal Japan. “Throne of Blood,” a Japanes movie, directed… Read More

Directed by Darren Aronofsky, based on a screeplay by Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz and John McLaughlin ‘Black Swan’ is a psychological thriller-drama from a story written by Heinz… Read More

Here is the second installment of my series of articles on movies based on plays. I suggest that my readers read the first part of this series, where I cover the pros and cons of adapting a… Read More

Ever since the dawn of history, there have been numerous historic and mythical tales of a small group of people holding fort against an overwhelming army. Such stories are ubiquitous all ove… Read More

The Tragedy of Macbeth, one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays, has been adapted in its original form several times now. There have also been other interesting adaptations where the p… Read More

Orson Welles is among the most original and innovative moviemakers of his time, unafraid to explore new themes and take risks. In this post, we look at a one-of-a-kind movie, ‘Mr. Arka… Read More

Mammootty reprises his role as the calm and collected Tamil Brahmin sleuth, Sethuraman Iyer. “Jagratha” is the second movie in the Malayalam CBI movie series and a sequel to &ldq… Read More

‘Oru CBI Diary Kuripuu’, directed by K. Madhu and written by S.N. Swamy, is considered a trendsetter in the Investigative Thriller genre of Malayalam Cinema and would spark the a… Read More

“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” is a movie adaptation of the 1962 play by the same name written by Edward Albee and directed by Mike Nichols. The movie stars Richard Burto… Read More

In my previous post, I provided an introduction to the neo-noir thrillers of director Brian De Palma. If you are new to his movies, I suggest that you read that post before reading this, as… Read More

As my readers are well aware, Brian De Palma is one of my favorite directors. In this post, we will look at many of his best neo-noir movies. He made no secret that Hitchcock was his idol an… Read More

My quest to carefully unearth quality movies hit a roadblock when I watched the Malayalam crime investigation thriller, ‘Anjaam Pathiraa’, directed and written by Midhun Manuel T… Read More

Marlène Jobert and Charles Bronson star in this French mystery thriller, directed by René Clément and written by Sébastien Japrisot. It is a decent thriller about… Read More

Exceptionally well-written by Christopher McQuarrie and brilliantly directed by Bryan Singer, and featuring a tour de force cast, “The Usual Suspects” is one of the greatest neo… Read More

“Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye” is a fast-paced, violent film noir movie with James Cagney in the lead. Upon release, the movie was banned in the state of Ohio for its extreme brutality… Read More

‘The Roaring Twenties’ is a classic film-noir crime thriller starring Hollywood heavyweights James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart, set in, well, the twenties. Directed by Raoul Walsh… Read More

Watching movies with intricate plots or playing games are among life’s best guilty pleasures. In this post, we will explore five of the best among them, all of which I have reviewed in… Read More

Located in Downtown San Jose, Five Points is a trendy yet laid-back cocktail bar that is a great venue for a date night or even hanging out with buddies. There is ample comfortable seating a… Read More

In this post, we will look at a movie based on a real-life incident where Brian Molony, a clerk working at the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, embezzled more than $10 million from the ba… Read More

Sometimes a movie comes along with a refreshingly original plotline, spectacular visual effects that still look impressive today, a great cast, and even receives kudos from critics, but… Read More

In this post, we will examine “The Rise and Fall of Idi Amin,” a movie oddity that breaks from conventional genres but proves to be surprisingly good and worthy of discussion. Ne… Read More

There are both advantages and disadvantages to adapting a play for the big screen (or TV). It can certainly save the filmmakers the cost and time of writing a screenplay for the movie, but i… Read More

This is my third recent review of a Bengali whodunit. I am hooked! In this post, we look at another action-packed investigative thriller featuring Shabor Dasgupta, created by author Shirshen… Read More

As I have mentioned before, there are two movie industries in India that consistently deliver well-directed movies that appeal to the intellect with great plots, impressive screenplays, and… Read More

In this post, we will look at another Byomkesh Bakshi adventure directed by Arindam Sil. Abir Chatterjee, Ritwick Chakraborty, and Sohini Sarkar reprise their roles as Bakshi the sleuth, Aji… Read More

The duo of sleuth Byomkesh Bakshi and his sidekick, Ajit Bandopadhyay, created by Bengali author Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay, were inspired by the eponymous Sherlock Holmes and his partner, Dr… Read More

Today we review a psychological thriller, produced and directed by the “Master of Suspense,” Alfred Hitchcock: “Strangers on a Train.” The movie is based on a book by… Read More

Even a casual perusal of my blog would reveal my passion for movies of numerous genres from all over the world. With no formal education in film or moviemaking, I see myself as a lifelong st… Read More

While it may not be the hottest of places to visit, Concord and Walden Pond hold significant meaning for me. I first delved into the writings of Thoreau on ‘Civil Disobedience’ a… Read More

Today, we will look at “Lady Vengeance,” a stylish neo-noir film from iconic director Park Chan-Wook, who also directed “The Handmaiden.” “Lady Vengeance”… Read More

“Promising Young Woman” (PYW), written and directed by Emerald Fennell, is a slow-burn thriller with a hard-hitting impact and packs a powerful message. It is a female-oriented m… Read More

In this post, we look at a neo-noir with a female antagonist as its lead character. ‘The Last Seduction’ is a steamy neo-noir from the 90s starring Linda Fiorentino, Bill Pullman… Read More

“Sleuth” is a 1972 crime thriller, also based on a play that has some similarities to Deathtrap, the movie I reviewed in my last post, though its lead character is driven by… Read More

“Deathtrap” is a 1982 movie based on a play written by Ira Levin, directed by Sidney Lumet, and includes a stellar cast that features Michael Caine, Christopher Reeve, and Dyan C… Read More

In my last post, I reviewed the classic action movie Hard Boiled, which combined the talents of Director John Woo and star thespian Chow Yun Fat. The Killer is another Hong Kong action movie… Read More

Who could have imagined, two decades ago, that a director and star from Hong Kong would be a worldwide inspiration for stylish gangster movies with gun fights? John Woo and Chow Yun Fat woul… Read More

Directed by acclaimed director Brian De Palma and starring John Travolta, Blow Out is another neo-noir classic. Despite being hailed by critics upon its release, neither Travolta nor De Palm… Read More

“Evil Under the Sun” is a classic Agatha Christie whodunit featuring the mustached sleuth, Hercule Poirot. Peter Ustinov plays the famous Poirot for the second time, following &l… Read More

“The Guilty” is a Danish crime thriller directed by Gustav Möller, with a screenplay Möller co-wrote with Emil Nygaard Albertsen. It is a testament to the fact that one… Read More

As I’ve mentioned before, Denver, Colorado, holds a special place in my heart as it is the home of my second Alma Mater and my first Masters degree in the US. It was the 90s, and the M… Read More

Sleep Tight, directed by Jaume Balagueró is but chilling psychological thriller about a twisted concierge of an apartment building in Barcelona. César (Luis Tosar) the care… Read More

“Handmaiden,” the Korean classic thriller and period film directed, co-written, and co-produced by legendary director Park Chan-wook, is a masterpiece of a movie. It is a story o… Read More

‘Confessions of Murder’ is an absorbing Korean action thriller written and directed by Jung Byung-gil. The movie is set in the 1990s and features a unique and interesting plot, g… Read More

“Purple Noon” is a classic thriller starring French superstar Alain Delon in his first major role. It is the earliest movie adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s novel, &ldquo… Read More

Only a few days ago, I reviewed ‘Memories of Murder‘, the classic Korean investigative crime thriller based on a real incident. In this post, we will look at ‘The Secret in… Read More

In the bustling realm of British cinema, where tales of mystery and suspense often find their mark, “Croupier” emerges as a riveting masterpiece, painting the screen with shades… Read More

For seafood enthusiasts residing in the Bay Area, King’s Fish House stands out as a premier destination. Conveniently located in the Westfield Valley Fair mall, just a stone’s th… Read More

Seventeen years before directing the Oscar winner, Parasite, Director Bong Joon-ho made “Memories of Murder”, a riveting neo-noir crime thriller that won awards in Korea, Toronto… Read More

“′Classic′ – a book which people praise and don’t read.”― Mark Twain Mark Twain’s quote holds good for great movies too. Oftentimes, movieg… Read More

Lone star, directed by John Sayles is a hidden gem, a powerful neo western, starring starring Chris Cooper, Matthew McConaughey, Joe Morton, Elizabeth Pena , Ron Canada and Kris Kristofferso… Read More

In this post, we look at the neo noir classic that launched Richard Gere’s career, American Gigolo. Written and directed by Paul Schrader, the movie packs an offbeat plot and a stand o… Read More

While some may say that the greatest gangster saga has been told in the Godfather movies, the Cohen brothers have given us an overlooked masterpiece in Miller’s crossing. It is another… Read More

When it comes to researching and presenting a political topic, it is hard to imagine that anyone could surpass Rachel Maddow. Having reviewed and relished two of her podcasts, it was only a… Read More

Here are some more highlights of our trip to Houston. Marfreless, River Oaks Shopping Center Concealed in the River Oaks Shopping Center is a Marfreless, a Speakeasy bar worth visiti… Read More

A wedding in the family took us to Houston, Texas where we loved some unique venues. Sri Meenakshi Devasthanam The auditorium Meenakshi temple in Pearland was the site of the wedding… Read More

Sixth Street with its bars and live music, underlines Austin’s place as the live music capital of the world. It’s unique bars give it a one of a kind vibe. Having covered 6t… Read More

Texas State Capitol Building The Capitol building, the seat of the Texas State government is a majestic building with a captivating architecture , situated in Downtown Austin. It houses t… Read More

Austin Texas, as I have mentioned before, is one of my favorite cities to visit. This is my third visit here, but is particularly special, because this is the first time I visited the city f… Read More

‘Stormy Monday’, directed by Mike Figgis and starring Sean Bean, Melanie Griffith, Tommy Lee Jones and Sting, set in Newcastle, England is a great little British Neo Noir movie… Read More

Delightful is not a word typically associated with neo noir movies, but Harper, starring Paul Newman and directed by Jack Smight is a delightful, funny and intriguing watch. The movie is bas… Read More

Compliance, written, produced and directed by Craig Zobel, is an interesting, hard-hitting, disturbing, crime thriller. Its message serves as a warning about the impact of fearing autho… Read More

Memento, is a neo-noir work of art from director Christopher Nolan. The plot of the movie is non-linear that moves across in two parallel lines. One line of the plot is in color where each p… Read More

Directed by Alan Parker and based on the book, Fallen Angel by William Hjortsberg is a psychological thriller neo noir, that packs horror and supernatural elements. the cast of the film i… Read More

Fargo is a superb neo-noir black comedy from Joel and Ethan Cohen that packs a riveting plot and a stellar ensemble cast. Set in Fargo, South Dakota in the late 80s, the movie claims to be b… Read More

For lovers of tasty dishes in the Bay Area, a great place to try out is Water Tower, in Campbell CA. The restaurant offers a great choice of American, Mexican, Italian and even Hawaiian dish… Read More

‘The Lady in the Car with Glasses and a Gun’ (TLCGG), or ‘La Dame dans l’auto avec des lunettes et un fusil‘ is a watchable French Belgian crime thriller direct… Read More

If you are in the bay area, and looking for good Thai (and some good Malay dishes ) food, you cannot go wrong with Oriental Krunthai. The place has descent decor, a sizeable dining area and… Read More

The Lincoln Lawyer is a great legal thriller directed by Brad Furman, based on the novel of the same name by Michael Connelley. With Matthew McConaughey in the lead, the cast of the movie al… Read More

‘Mullholand Drive’, written and directed by David Lynch, is one of the most fascinating movies I have experienced, It is the ultimate ‘deep thinker’s neo noir&rs… Read More

Based on a book by Jim Foley, ‘After Dark, My Sweet’ is another superb neo-noir film. Set in the sunlit city of Palm Springs, California the movie’s cast includes Jason Pat… Read More

Visiting the Universal City Walk complex, is another great place to spent an evening, in the city of Angels. Within just three blocks, the area is studded with great eateries for dining, cl… Read More

Blood Simple, the first movie directed by the Cohen brothers, is a neo noir work of art. While it has many of the facets of a noir film such as an illicit affair, a vengeful spouse, a priva… Read More

‘A Bay of Blood’ is a Giallo thriller, from Mario Brava, the ‘Master of Macabre. Upon release, the movie was heavily criticized for it’s extreme gore and violence, b… Read More

‘Blue Velvet’, from iconic director, David Lynch is another movie that makes the list of greatest noir movies of all time. Packing a talented cast, the movie can be considered a… Read More

Considered by many critics, as the first Blaxploitation movie ever made, ‘Cotton Comes to Harlem’ is a delightful, neo noir comedy with memorable characters. It is based on a bo… Read More

‘Phenomena’ is another good Giallo movie from Dario Argento, that has a very interesting plot, with some supernatural elements thrown in. Jennifer Connelly plays Jennifer Corvi… Read More

Today, we will look at director Roman Polanski’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth to the big screen. This overlooked gem, is his first movie after the gruesome murder of his… Read More

Directed by noteworthy Giallo director, Sergio Martino, The Strange Vice of Mrs. Ward (SVMW) is another good watchable Giallo slasher movie. Like many of Martino’s creations, SVMW is… Read More

From director Brian De Palma, comes The Untouchables, a classic mob movie, with a stellar cast that includes Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Andy Garcia and Robert De Nero. It is loosely based… Read More

In this post, we will look at an early Giallo movie, ”Blood and Black Lace’ (BBL). BBL is directed by Mario Brava, the ‘Master of the Macabre’, one of the most well k… Read More

‘Cat O Nine Tails’ (CONT) is the second movie in director Dario Argento’s Giallo “Animal Trilogy“. It is yet another intense thriller from the ‘Master o… Read More

2 days in the Valley, is another underrated neo noir from the late 90s. With screenplay and direction by John Herzfeld, the movie packs a face-paced rivetting plot, numerous twists and an ou… Read More

Today, we will look at ‘ Cold in July’ a modest neo noir independent movie, directed by Jim Mickle, based on a book by the same name, authored by Joe R. Lansdale . I Michael C… Read More