May Noir: Discoveries, Disappointments, and the Best of Neo-Noir (L.A. Confidential, Angel Heart & More)

Welcome to Cinemajam! This May of 2025, Pablo and Saul dove into the dark and stylish world of Neo-Noir. In this recap episode, they break down their marathon of four impactful films: Alan Parker's Angel Heart, Carl Franklin's Devil in a Blue Dress, Curtis Hanson's L.A. Confidential, and the Coen Brothers' Blood Simple.

Find out what the big discovery of the month was for both hosts, the performances that blew them away (hello, Kevin Spacey and Don Cheadle!), and which characters and moments didn't live up to expectations. They analyze who took the crown for best villain, ambiguous hero, and femme fatale, plus reminisce about the scenes that will remain etched in their minds.

Finally, they review their ranking of these neo-noir gems based on key genre characteristics and announce next month's exciting theme: "June of the Dead," featuring a marathon of the 28 Days/Weeks/Years Later franchise and the cult classic The Serpent and the Rainbow!

Don't miss this fascinating discussion, and remember to subscribe and share Cinemajam with your film-loving friends!

Key Episode Points:

• Introduction to "May Noir" month: Presentation of the four films watched: Angel Heart, Devil in a Blue Dress, L.A. Confidential, Blood Simple.
• Discovery of the Month: L.A. Confidential was a pleasant surprise for both.
• Standout Performances:
• Best Characters by Noir Archetype:
• Biggest Disappointments:
• Memorable Scenes:
• Final Ranking of the Month's Neo-Noir Films (Based on genre criteria):
• Announcement for Next Month: "June of the Dead" featuring 28 Days Later, 28 Weeks Later, 28 Years Later, and The Serpent and the Rainbow.
• Call to Action: Subscribe and share the podcast.

Mentioned Resources (Films):

• Angel Heart (1987) dir. Alan Parker
• Devil in a Blue Dress (1995) dir. Carl Franklin
• L.A. Confidential (1997) dir. Curtis Hanson
• Blood Simple (1984) dir. Joel & Ethan Coen
• 28 Days Later (2002) dir. Danny Boyle
• 28 Weeks Later (2007) dir. Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
• 28 Years Later (Upcoming)
• The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988) dir. Wes Craven