MovieWeb - The Maltese Falcon (1941)

Best Film Noirs of the '40s & '50s, Ranked

Erik Nielsen — Sat, 12 Aug 2023 04:25:40 GMT

Though its conception is still argued and debated, there was no denying the strange phenomenon happening in American cinema around the turn of the early 1940s. The term, originally coined by French critic Nino Frank, was the outsider who observed what had been unraveling on the big screen. To define noir by its atmosphere and the list of clichés would be a disservice to the masterpieces that fit into its description, but, it's a good place to start. The films often have a cast of misfits, desperate people, low-level criminals, hard-boiled detectives, the hard-drinking man caught in over his head, and the femme fatale. The noir film had its ingredients but what was present was the use of hard shadows and a sense of melancholy to elevate the pulpy material.

These Remakes Were Even Better Than the Originals

Rachel Johnson — Wed, 02 Mar 2022 19:05:40 GMT

Nowadays, Hollywood remakes are a dime a dozen (or rather, a billion dollars a dozen), with production studios opting to adapt and modernize beloved and previously established pictures to turn a profit. It can be quite the hefty challenge to live up to the reputation of the original, yet when done effectively can yield lucrative and memorable results. Though a rare and special feat, some of these re-imaginings have completely blown their predecessors away and have rightfully taken the title as the best on-screen adaptation. Many of these films have breathed new life into their original source material, building on and expanding a story or character in a deeply impactful manner.

Best Debut Movies From First-Time Filmmakers

Rachel Johnson — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 14:59:14 GMT

Directors in Hollywood have the tendency to come and go; one minute they’re releasing box office hits and the next they’re gone with the wind. The filmmakers with a real, authentic voice and unique point-of-view are the ones that make a lasting impact. Oftentimes, celebrity entertainers decide to shift gears and put on the director’s hat, such as famed actors Ben Affleck and Rob Reiner, or funnyman Jordan Peele. There is no guarantee these ventures will be rewarding, but the bravest decide to roll the dice and embrace the odds.

Fathom Events Is Bringing 12 Big Screen Classics to Movie Theaters in 2021

B. Alan Orange — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 23:36:22 GMT

Fathom Events had grand designs for 2020, but those plans ended early when a global pandemic spread far and wide last March. Things have been touch and go ever since, with theaters closing, reopening, and reclining across the nation for the past 9 months. Now, Fathom Events is ready to get back to providing classic entertainment as they have officially announced their TCM Big Screen Classics Series for 2021. This epic event will be bringing a dozen cinematic masterworks to theaters nationwide starting this January. And they are kicking it all off with the 1941 masterpiece The Maltese Falcon, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary.