The Maltese Falcon

Look, what do you want me to say about this? It's an institution of cinema. When you think of film noir, this is the movie you think of, even if you don't literally think of it. And there's a reason it's in that position. Is it flawed? Sure, there's some rough editing, and the pace can be a bit frenetic as it's throwing new characters at you left and right, and the mystery gets stunningly knotted up because of all the double-crosses. But the movie oozes atmosphere and style. Humphrey Bogart is a force to be reckoned with on the screen, cool and yet vicious, truly out for himself and nothing else. Mary Astor is great as the duplicitous femme fatale, trying to play all the angles to her advantage (pretty much the female Bogart). Even when the movie feels anachronistic or campy because of its age, it never suffers for it. It's enjoyable and never slows down, and it as a hell of an ending. I'm more an appreciator of noir than a fan, but this movie is probably my favorite representation of it.