MANHATTAN NOCTURNE

Best, 2016, 113 minutes, Colour.

Adrien Brody, Yvonne Strahovski, Campbell Scott, Jennifer Beals, Steven Berkoff, Linda Lavin.

Directed by Brian DeCubellis.

Audiences enjoying investigative thrillers and they should enjoy this one. It is a murder mystery, not being investigated by the police but by a columnist in a newspaper. It is a mysterious disappearance of a filmmaker, rather ruthless in his filmmaking, taking advantage of all kinds of bizarre situations.

The columnist, played by Adrien Brody, is commissioned by the wife of the man who has disappeared, Yvonne Strahoski, to be something of a private eye. As might be expected, especially with some alienation from his wife, Jennifer Beals, and family, he allows himself to be seduced – later regretting that the seduction had only been a means to an end of his continuing to investigate.

The film has the eerie atmosphere of film noir, the work of the private eye in detail, his relationship with the femme fatale, the flashbacks to the memory of the murdered man, played by Campbell Scott, and the complications of involvement by the editor of the paper, unusual casting with Steven Berkoff. It also involves an elderly lady who was carer for the dead man’s father in an institution, Linda Lavin.

The unravelling of the mystery comes through various files of film – and the dead man’s bequest that the elderly lady send a film each month to his father. And, all is revealed.

A 21^st-century film noir.

1. The title and tone? The focus of New York City, at night, the darkness, melancholic?
2. The visualising of New York City, overview, buildings, streets, business offices, homes, warehouses? The night? The musical score?
3. The tradition of the noir thriller? In this vein? The voice-over, the writer and his being the equivalent of the private eye? Becoming involved in the case, the femme fatale, the mystery, murder, sinister background, lies and betrayals?
4. The character of Porter Wren, his voice-over, the introduction, the lady with her child, the background story, his column for the papers, the write-up and photos? His job under threat? Having to meet deadlines? Going to the party, the encounter with Caroline and the attraction, discussion? His being summoned by Hobbs, Hobbes and his gross manner, autocratic, threats and demands? Porter going home, his relationship with Lisa, love for the children, domestic life, her being an active surgeon, his later comments about marrying, having children, age and prospect of death?
5. The party, Caroline, beauty, her dress, seductive, talking, persuading Porter to be interested in her husband? Going to the apartment, Porter and his reactions, the articles condemning Simon and his idiosyncrasies? Porter going home, next day at the office, the phone number, resisting, calling, the meetings with Caroline, her charm, the discussions, going back to the apartment, the sexual encounter, the consequences?
6. Porter and the injunction from Hobbs, to find the missing video? The secrecy, its being sent regularly to Hobbs, his blaming Caroline? The thug’s following Porter, the threats to family, entering the house and shooting, the injuries to his children, going to hospital? Lisa and her taking the children to her family?
7. The phone call to Hobbs, Porter’s defiance, Hobbes being even more defiant and threatening, the 24 hours? Discussing the videos with Caroline, the collection, his going through them, the revelations about Simon Crowley, the bizarre video of the marriage proposal, so quickly, her acceptance, her needs, the background of her abusive stepfather, the story of the horse (and later hearing it, the abuse, the birthday gift, the stepfather shooting horse)? Crowley and his film career, his treatment of Caroline, love, demanding the questions before she could enter the apartment…?
8. Porter, his being bashed by the thugs? His continuing the search, going to see Crowley’s father, finding the camera in his room? Meeting Mrs Segal? Tracking her down, frightening her in the apartment, the discussions, the explanations of the video being sent to Hobbs? Her last copy? His watching it, the revelation about Hobbs, the physical mutilation, his relationship with Caroline?
9. Meeting Hobbs, admitting that he had seen the video, talking with Hobbs?
10. The mystery of Simon Crowley’s deaths, the demolished building, the photos? His previous visits, the mystery of the key? Going to the site, getting inside, the digging, the shards of jade? The elevator, tracking down the camera, the security?
11. The camera recording the meeting with Caroline, Simon torturing her, wanting to hear the story of the horse, her refusal, his changing her, smashing the wealthy jade gift from Hobbs? The revelation of the death, the piece of jade, Caroline stabbing her husband, then recovering the key, freedom?
12. The final meeting with Caroline, Porter and his talk about life and death, her lies, his regrets?
13. Resuming his life, the separation from Caroline – his driving past to see her?
14. An effective neo-noir?