From the deadly hunt for a prized statue in John Huston's "The Maltese Falcon", to the terrifying transformation of a street junkie into a lethal assassin in Luc Besson's "La Femme Nikita", film noir remains the cinema's darkest, most cynical and hard-edged genre -- one that has never lost its hold on the imagination of moviegoers around the world. Now, in the first video renter's guide to film noir, "A Girl and a Gun" presents a comprehensive roster of noir films -- including plot summaries, incisive reviews, and complete screen credits -- as well as canny analysis of psychological and social subtexts in each film, little-known production anecdotes, and probing insights into the directors, writers and actors. Entertaining, informative, and stylishly written, "A Girl and a Gun" is an indispensable resource for everyone from new converts to seasoned noir buffs.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
TURNS "LOST WEEKENDS" INTO NOIR EVENTS!,
By Cherie Stawasz (New York) - See all my reviews
This review is from: A Girl and a Gun: The Complete Guide to Film Noir on Video (Paperback)
I never get depressed.Well,almost never. Maybe three, four times a year.When it happens I don't leave the house and submerge myself in countless videos. So you can imagine how thrilled I was to discover Meyer's first book "100 Great Films" and how even more excited I am to know Meyer might be on to a series or something with his latest "A GIRL AND A GUN," especially since I'm no film expert and have made countless mistakes renting unknown videos recommended by unknown sales clerks. In fact, I am probably the exact person for whom Meyer has written his books. Let me tell you about this past weekend when depression hit with a vengence. It began Friday night when I came home from work exhausted and cancelled all plans knowing I was going under. I browsed through Meyer's book, called up several stores and by midnight I had gathered up La Femme Nikita, Laura, An American Friend and The Third Man. I started with Laura on Saturday morning. I wanted something old and romantic, where women are idealized, idolized and elegant. So what if they have "no personality of their own," as Meyer writes, men adore them! That's what I want to see - a man inflamed by love!,not to mention beautiful clothes, fancy apartments, lunches at the Ritz and super dramatic lighting! and Laura has it all! Then, thanks to Meyer's great guide I rented An American Friend, mostly because I love Patricia Highsmith and her Tom Ripley character and had never known (until Meyer's book) he/it had been made into a film, by Wim Wenders no less! Oh,was it good! Dennis Hopper plays Ripley nothing like Highsmith wrote it but who cares he's so, so good! As Meyer so marvelously describes him,"there's Ripley (Dennis Hopper): a speed freak, a hustler, a stylish, rootless hustler with the attention span of a gnat, the arrogance of a vampire, and the aggressive instincts of a wolverine." Sunday morning begins with The Third Man because I adore Graham Greene and Orson Welles, and because Meyer's Mood! Guide tells me this is a "Witty thriller of moral decadence, where intrigue and broken hearts abound." Once again, Meyer's guide and comments are right on! and finally on Sunday night I end all this movie madness with La Femme Nikita, which I adore because I have dreamt of being a female action hero myself and it just doesn't get any better than Anne Parillaud! By Monday morning I feel absolutely great! Empowered like Nikita, elegant like Laura, ready to return to work!
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Delightful introduction to film noir--highly recommended,
By A Customer
This review is from: A Girl and a Gun: The Complete Guide to Film Noir on Video (Paperback)
This is a fond and engaging look at the dark world of film noir. The book is full of great movie reviews and interesting tidbits. My only minor complaint is the lack of video product code numbers to enable the reader to track down VHS or DVD copies of the movies mentioned in the text. Highly recommended for anyone interested in learning more about the world of film noir.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Noir yet!,
By A Customer
This review is from: A Girl and a Gun: The Complete Guide to Film Noir on Video (Paperback)
Not recommended for the terminally dull and humorless. This book is funny, easy to read and comprehensive. Not as dry as most noir books and the mood guide, as with Meyer's first book, is a great help. I like to know if this is a date movie! Photos and captions are wonderful. I am giving them away as gifts to friends shut in with kids; makes raising kids more than bearable - even enjoyable. Thanks for bringing Ida Lupino back into my life!
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