Have you ever heard of the term "Noirvember"!? Chances are, unless you're a "cinephile", "movie nut" like myself, you may have never heard of it. 

Noirvember is basically celebrating the "film noir" subgenre of cinema during the month of November. "Film Noir" is a term you may be familiar with. A great example of film noir is John Huston's "The Maltese Falcon" (the film that gave Humphrey Bogart his first top billed role). The term was created by some French critics that described  American made thrillers & crime/detective related films that typically had stark lighting effects and atmosphere, dark/cynical characters, intense/moody themes, etc. 

If you're curious about checking out some "Film Noir" cinema this "Noirvember", then see some of my suggestions below:

• "Touch Of Evil" (1958)- This is my favorite Orson Welles film (yes "Citizen Kane" is brilliant too!!!). Welles also stars as an American police captain who works with a Mexican drug enforcement official (strangely cast Charlton Heston) to investigate a car bombing on the US/Mexican border. There's three different cuts of the film, but most streamers & cable networks show the 1998 restored version of the film, which is the version I frequent the most. The film is a bonafide classic that started off as a box office failure. Watch the preview here!
• "The Killing" (1956)- This is Stanley Kubrick's FIRST masterpiece. The plot revolves around a group of ex-cons planning the heist of a horse racetrack. A now conventional plot that has inspired countless heist films since (including Tarantino's "Reservoir Dogs"). Again, this film bombed at the box office (It didn't even have a proper release in the US!!!). At an 84 minute run time, it makes for a quick, action-packed & intense thrill ride! Click here to watch the preview.
• "The Third Man" (1949)- This is a British film noir (with American actors Orson Welles & Joseph Cotton) and to reveal anything about the plot would be criminal! This is a film you need to go in blind! There's suspense, mystery, amazing plot twists and of course some of the best lighting ever in cinema! SEE THIS FILM! Essential cinema! We discussed this film a bit and if you want to listen, click here!
• "Out Of The Past" (1947)- One of the finest examples of film noirs! Again, I don't want to reveal the plot but will say there's private investigators, Janet Greer as the ultimate "femme fatale", betrayal, theft, murder, etc. All the ingredients for the perfect film noir! Click here to watch the preview!  
• "Leave Her To Heaven" (1945)- This has to be one of the most colorful and unique of all noirs! Stunning & beautifully shot film from start to finish (I mean some of these shots could be paintings). Gene Tierney is hauntingly unforgettable in perhaps her best performance who has nothing wrong with her! "It's just that she loves too much"! Watch the preview here!

There's so many others like "Kiss Me Deadly", "Sunset Boulevard", "Double Indemnity" (Most likely the most popular film noir), "Night Of The Hunter" (Robert Mitchum's finest performance), "Gilda" (Rita Hayworth's signature role), etc.

Savor & enjoy your "Noirvember"!