HOO BOY Did Gilda deserve a rewatch! It's been over 2 years since I first reviewed it (I was 16 at the time) and in that time I've read up on a lot of film noir philosophy + generally matured as a person, so I feel that this time I'll do this lovely film justice.
Gilda is, of course, just as good as I remember it, if not better. I loved how passion and danger oozed from every aspect, from the music to the setting to the blurred lines between love and hate.
Ultimately, it's a movie about misogyny. Johnny (Glenn Ford) cannot stand the thought of Gilda being outside his control, and he despises her freedom and (sexual/psychological) power over him (he compares women to both laundry and insects), he can only think of trapping her and torturing her to the point she begs to "please let me go". Later, once Johnny is met with his and the casino's ultimate fate, he instead begs her to "please take me". Despite this, Gilda has become a sort of cultural icon of a 'quintessential' femme fatale, something that's always peeved me. Further discussion of this and the idea of a femme fatale in noir in general will be saved for a future essay cause I have quite a few things to say on the subject.

Overall Rating: LOVELY!!!

This is the first film noir I ever watched and got me hooked on the genre. From its (fittingly) dreamy orchestral score to its ever expanding murder plot, there's a lot to say abot Laura Hunt, both as the ill-fated dame and as her oh so hauntingly beautiful portrait. If you like murder plots and are looking to get into film noir, I definitely recommend watching it.

The Big Heat is one hell of a film... It's got everything, from dead wives and half-burnt faces all the way to the main protagonist going "Why I oughta...". Seeing Bannion's gradual decline from a decent father down to a revenge-seeking mess of a man is very entertaining. If you're looking for a crazier film noir, this one's bound to do ya good. No joke, I screamed, cried and laughed watching this film.

With its dark lighting, constant feeling of paranoia and a doomed finale felt from the very beginning, I Wake Up Screaming is truly the father of all noirs. Vicky's untimely demise is what launches the plot forward, yet it becomes almost like a background element as everything surrounding her murder starts to unravel in complex loops and tangled knots. This film is another good starting point for folks who are just getting into the genre.

Phantom Lady was such a thrilling, wonderfully shot noir I'm at a loss of words when it comes to describing it. It's just damn good! It's got all the bells and whistles you'd expect; tense, atmospheric, haunting. A story of unfortunate circumstances, and things beyond our control. What really got me was the cinematography: quiet dark areas hidden in corners of the city, a man standing alone in a desolate train station, a looming shadow whose owner is just out of view. If you like stunning visuals and heart-racing plots, you need to see this one.