Double Indemnity Film Review
In the review by moviezeal.com on Double Indemnity they give you a very good perspective on the femme fatale, they make sure to go into great detail on how Phyllis is basically what is to come for the femme fatale in future movies of film noir. They said "Barbara Stanwyck’s role in Double Indemnity defines what would be the future of the femme fatale. She’s the ultimate schemer, the tried and true conniving hellcat who all kinds of men fall for against their better judgment." They very much understand the role of the femme fatale and how she plays into the film noir category of femme fatale. They also give a very good detailed description on Neff and how he begins to crumble under his own guilt throughout the film, "all through the narration and as the film progresses, his matter-of-fact way of speaking gives way to the tremulous anxiety boiling beneath the surface." They really give you a good understanding of what the two main characters go through during the film and give detailed descriptions behind each point.
What I gained from this reading was that I definitely didn't notice alot of points they had brought up about Neff, and Phyllis. They really opened my mind into many more definitions behind the femme fatale, they said things that I definitily would not have seen without watching the movie more closely or even focusing on one character more. It was definitiely an insigtful article and I definitely am going to watch the movie again and take notes on the characters and try and realize the little things that they do throughout the movie to better my essay. There are so many characteristics behind film noir and there is alot of things that you can find by just observing the little things because that is what definitly makes film noir what it is.
Review by Phillip Johnson
Website: http://www.moviezeal.com/double-indemnity/
I believe that there is so much going on in the film,even if it doesn't seem that way, that it is hard to pick up on all of it from the first viewing. The subtle changes that Phyllis went through from novella to film were completely needed to make the film version. She wouldn't have translated as well were she just copied and pasted from the book. We see, from Neff's perspective, how important and commanding Phyllis really is. This is what makes Phyllis the paragon femme fatale.
ReplyDeleteViewing the film once is just skimming the surface. There really are s many underlyning messages and hidden suggestions in the movie. I am on on my second viewing now and there is so much I missed the first time around. The gestures, and body language to subtle jokes or notions really add a lot to the film, the plot, and the characters themselves. Reading a review of the film, kind of watching it through someone else's eyes, really broadened my horizons to focus of the film as well.
ReplyDeleteFunny, when I first heard of the femme fatale I never pictured her the way she was presented in the film. I pictured her totally different, maybe way better looking with longer hair and with a more voluptuous physique. Red lipstick and long eyelashes with a cigarette in hand at all times, wearing nothing but dark clothes...Maybe I'm going a little too ahead, but the film definitely helped me see the true film noir femme fatale and Barbara Stanwyck plays it spot on with that innocent look she has in the film. She also has that mysterious look to her so I guess that article made sense "Barbara Stanwyck’s role in Double Indemnity defines what would be the future of the femme fatale".
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree with you more Chris I definitely expected more of the femme fatale. But I kind of like they way the femme fatale ended up. I thought It was much better with the way she was. Thanks for all the responses and outlooks
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