Film Illiterate, wherein the proprietor records movies seen, and sporadic progress through assorted lists of the "best". Originally started after regretfully renting something forgettable for the third time. I've forgotten what, but never again! A tedious endeavour since 2005. Hello. 🙂
I previously referred to it as Veronica Mars meets The Maltese Falcon, but, on reflection, it's more like The Wire meeting Mulholland Drive at Sweet Valley High.
The noir influence is obvious, but the setting -- a high school, of all places -- is a counterintuitive fit. It's an uncomfortable, uncanny juxaposition, and the film is aware of it, plays on it; the result is surreal. The atmosphere is closer to David Lynch than Dashiell Hammett.
And it's excellent, albeit thematically unpleasant. (Drugs and violence, oh my.) I'm not convinced that it's anything more than a novelty, but it's definitely worth seeing once.