“Thunder on the Stage: The Dramatic Vision of Richard Wright (2024)” by William Blick

BOOK REVIEW: “More than an exploration of Richard Wright’s dramaturgical efforts, it is a story of the development of an artist.”

“A Hybrid Noir Played Hot: The Beast Must Die” by Ken Hall

FILM REVIEW: “A finely crafted, clever combination of film noir, Gothic melodrama, and ‘classic’ detective narrative from Argentina….”

“Complex Nuances in the Underworld: Dusk for a Hitman” by Ken Hall

FILM REVIEW: “A brutal tale of a hitman that is very effectively presented without excessive resort to shock violence….”

“Dead Men Are My Business: Day Keene’s Mrs. Homicide, Naked Fury, and Murder on the Side” by William Blick

BOOK REVIEW: “While not of the caliber of Chandler or Hammett, Keene’s working-class novels show his talent for telling intriguing mysteries at a breakneck pace.”

Preview – “Patrick Tam’s My Heart Is That Eternal Rose (1989)” by Thomas M. Puhr

FILM REVIEW: “Violent, sensual, and at times poetic Hong Kong neo-noir….”

“Soderbergh’s Neo-Noir Heist: No Sudden Move (2021)” by Anees Aref

FILM REVIEW: “Soderbergh knows the genre terrain, soaking up the urban atmosphere through his typically crisp camerawork and editing….”

“Faith, Sport, and Tragedy: Don’t Know Tough” by William Blick

BOOK REVIEW: “As deadly serious as an infected a wound that Billy and people like him live with every day. No humorous anecdotes here. The novel is consistently tragic….”

“La Chienne: Renoir Begins (Preview)” by Christopher Sharrett

REVIEW: “While the film is credited with bringing German Expressionism to French cinema and thus another step toward film noir, the film is notable for its sense of stillness….”

“Noir with a Social Conscience: Ride the Pink Horse (1946)” by William Blick

BOOK REVIEW: “Using a distinct setting, a complex anti-hero, a series of unsavory, as well as empathetic characters, and most notably, a social heartbeat, Dorothy B. Hughes’ Ride the Pink Horse offers an extremely compelling journey.”