I don’t usually post movie reviews here. However, since this is a short film noir, I thought in this case I’d make an exception. Especially given the fact that it’s Noirvember or #Noirvember, to use the hashtag. 🙂

Review of The Last Hurrah

The Last Hurrah is both a cinematic love letter to the film noir genre and a story well-told with an economy of words.

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From the opening shot, the movie establishes the social zeitgeist that set the stage for the film noir movement. In short form, it reflects the themes and images of post-WWII anxiety, cynicism, and pushback against society’s expectations with regard to gender roles.

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As is often true of such films, the story concerns a man, a woman, and money. We are left to imagine how they got the money, but their relationship is revealed over the course of a mere 17-1/2 minutes. This is accomplished with the deft use of dialogue and deep focus photography, not to mention a score and set decoration that complement the story. There is even the fleeting bit of foreshadowing squeezed in, here and there.

This is a captivating little film that captures the spirit of film noir, while telling an entire story without wasting a shot. A must-see for film noir enthusiasts.

This film will premiere on Sat., Dec. 10, 2016, at The Film Noir Festival in Albert, France!

filmnoirfest

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