The Killers (1946) -- What Makes This Movie Great? (Episode 194)

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[@darthelooi8021]

For some reason I never saw this or added it to my watchlist, I just saw Touch of Evil for the first time so I'm definitely in the Noir mood. Might watch this later this week.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

have fun!

[@fasterpussycatkillkill9650]

This is on tonight’s menu!

[@daltonanderson3718]

Theres also a metaphysical theme of reincarnation as the insurance investigator carries the swede's old hankerchief that held his symbol on it and it feels as if that hankerchief contains his soul and, in a way with the investigator as a proxy, its the Swede walking through as a spectre in Reardon confronting what lead to his forthcoming fate and why Kitty left him.

[@davidcote5637]

Another great analysis, Josh. Is it too much for me to say that you are carrying the Siskel-Ebert torch?

[@drdavid1963]

Citizen Kane said it best with the dialogue exchange
'If you could have found out what Rosebud meant, I bet that would have explained everything'
'No I don't think so. I guess Rosebud is just a piece in a jigsaw puzzle. A missing piece.'
It beautifully sums up how you can't ever know another person's life fully. It remains a mystery.
That perhaps explains (from a philosophical point of view) the mystery surrounding the Swede.
The Killers is, indeed, one of the best film noirs (my personal favourite is Jacques Tourneur's Out of The Past) with elaborate complexity that you managed to summarise succinctly. All film noirs borrow from Citizen Kane both in terms of plot, lighting and camerawork but the truth (or lack of it) comes out of deceit and deception, considering the various characters' motivations, what they wish to hide and why. This kind of complexity that creates a barrier to the truth was expanded from Citizen Kane and draws more on films like The Maltese Falcon and Laura.
Film noir formed the basis of an extremely fertile and creative postwar period in Hollywood that's endlessly fascinating as a cinematic style. Siodmak also made lesser efforts The Spiral Staircase and Criss Cross which are well worth a watch.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you. Out of the Past is also really great.

[@anthonya.1359]

Please review "The Asphalt Jungle " with Sterling Hayden.

[@ametora1231]

unrelated but have you ever watched the films of Harmony Korine? if so, what are your thoughts on him?