AH- Film Noir Techniques

Definition (wikipedia)
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classical film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s. Film noir of this era is associated with a low-key black-and-white visual style that has roots in German Expressionist cinematography. Many of the prototypical stories and much of the attitude of classic noir derive from the hard-boiled school of crime fiction that emerged in the United States during the Great Depression.

What are the techniques used in Film Noir?

• Use of low key lighting which contrasts light/dark images and dramatic shadows
• Dutch angles, low angles shots, wide angle lenses.
• Reflections in mirrors of people
• Faces partially/completely obscured by darkness
• Storylines consisting of aspects such as: flashbacks and flash forwards, voiceover narration, and focusing on crime, heists or cons, false suspicion, double-crosses and accusations
• Morally flawd, misunderstoond characters, stock characters etc