The Long Goodbye (1973) - 3/5

This is a sleazy ‘70s version of a ‘40s noir detective thriller, and it works out for the most part. Elliott Gould gives the performance of his career in his own take on the legendary Bogart character, chewing the scenery and irresistibly becoming the best thing about this movie by far. The plot meanders to its passable destination by a workable route, building the world more than the suspense and delivering neither more nor less than it promises. Your enjoyment of this film will vary directly by how much you enjoy or are bothered by its sleaze.

Content warning: female nudity

Closest comparison: It’s like The Big Sleep (1946) by way of Chinatown (1974).

Setting: Noir
Plot: Detective
Tone: Crime

The Killing (1956) - 3/5

This is a solid entry into the 50’s heist genre, but nothing more. It’s clever enough, well-acted enough, intriguing enough, and it all amounts to a perfectly fine movie. Unfortunately, by-the-numbers isn’t the same as ‘great’, so it settles in at ‘good’.

Closest comparison: It’s like Asphalt Jungle six years later.

Setting: Crime
Plot: Heist
Tone: Heist

The Asphalt Jungle - 3/5

A solid entry in the heist genre, but little more. This movie is more matter-of-fact about its goings-on than most of this genre, with practical problems considered and addressed. In a genre flooded with far-fetched setups and over-the-top heists it’s refreshing to have more grounded story with characters that feel like they’ve been peeled up off the street

Closest Comparison: It’s like Rififi but with a less-impressive heist.

Setting: Crime
Plot: Heist
Tone: Adventure