I grew up watching the films of Brian de Palma.

In those days, he was considered a modern Hitchcock, a master of suspense and an expert at creating worlds full of intrigue and deception. Films such as Blow Out, Obsession, Dressed to Kill, Body Double showed a vast talent for suspense, ambiguity, eroticism, and a masterly control of cinematic technique.

But something happened in the late 80s and in the 90s, and, in a manner reminiscent of John Carpenter, De Palma’s art seems to have vanished during that period (Carlito’s Way being the exception).

It was therefore with some reluctance that I watched Femme Fatale, six years after having almost choked to death in front of Mission to Farce.

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The film noir transported to a present-day high school in Southern California.

Except that in this high school, only a few kids seem to occupy the premises, the principal strikes some unusual deals with the students, mothers offer glasses of milk to gang members and the high school itself and the grounds around it seem to exist somewhat out of time and out of space, a fake reality that plays with our senses, expectations and paradigms.

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A classic French film noir with the great Jean Gabin. Shot mostly at night on the streets of Paris, Grisbi is not quite as poignant and grabbing as Rififi which would come out a year later, but nevertheless offers a captivating story of rivalry between gangsters trying to steal each other’s money.

Beautiful film noir set first in New York city then in the New York state country side, it tells the story of a violent and lonely (played wonderfully by Robert Ryan) cop’s journey towards self discovery and redemption. The crime story only serves to support the more introspective, psychological, ‘man on a quest’ angle. Stunning cinematography.